A/N: so of course this chapter is shorter than the last. I don't think anything can beat that last chapter. Remember that the dashes means it's a different day. This would have been up sooner but my day came home for the weekend before he has to leave for Iraq so I spent time with him. So I recently noticed that my fav lesbian tv couples always includes a Hispanic girl and a blond white girls. Palex (Paige and Alex, of course you know this.), Britanna (Brittany and Santana from Glee), CalZona (Callie and Arizona from Grey's Anatomy), although Ashley in Spashley isn't hispanic she is a brunette with brown eyes and Spencer is a white blond girl. I'm just sayin' =)
Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or it's characters. Also some lines are from Degrassi Goes Hollywood, which I also do not own. I do however own some new poster frames =)
SHOUT OUTS to Amydraw99 for getting her internet back =)
I remember the first day I met Paige and Alex. I remember walking into Alex and her threatening me. I remember asking Paige how to get to the principal's office because I had no idea where I was going. I've been there for their ups and downs these past three years. I've seen them grow and change and become the great wonderful women they are today. But what I just saw, what I just witness is something I don't even know how to begin to comprehend.
"Did she really just walk away and get in that limo to go to a stupid gala?" I ask Alex and Marco.
"Yep," Alex answers.
"I-I can't believe it."
"Well believe it because she just did it." Alex turns around and walks back into the house.
"Marco?"
"Yeah?" he anwers.
"Should I be scared?" I ask seriously.
"Possibly," he answers.
Marco walks into the house and I follow. As we're entering the house Ellie is leaving.
"Where are you going?" Marco asks her.
"A concert," she answers. "Don't wait up."
Marco hangs his head down and shakes it. I pat him on the shoulder. I walk into the living room and lay down on the couch. I grab a pillow and put it over my face. Maybe I can wish this day away. A body lies on top of mine and I'm just gonna go ahead and say that it's Beth. Beth kisses me on the neck.
"What's wrong?" she asks me.
I take the pillow off and raise my head up a little to look at her. "What was Paige like before I got to Degrassi?"
Beth whistles. "Do you really wanna know?"
"Yes please."
Beth sighs and sits up. "Paige was… Paige wasn't the nicest of girls. I mean remember how Alex was when you first met her?"
"Yeah, she was a bully but a nice person on the inside," I tell her.
"Well Paige was a bully but a different kind of bully."
"What?" I am really confused.
"Paige made you feel like nothing," Alex says, out of nowhere.
Alex walks from around the couch, bringing a chair her. She turns the chair and sits on it backwards.
"See I might have been a bully but I just picked on people and kicked their asses. Paige made people feel like utter and complete shit. She knew exactly what to say to make people cry. Paige would get inside your mind and whatever insult she threw at you would bury itself into your mind and a part of you would believe the insult and just like that," Alex snaps her fingers. "The waterworks would begin. Paige was ruthless, mean, and power hungry. At the time it didn't matter who she hurt, as long as everyone knew she was Queen Bee and Head Bitch in Charge."
"Um… I wasn't going to go that far but yeah," Beth says. "Paige was pretty much how Alex just described her, I guess."
I run a tired hand through my hair. "So let me ask you one thing," I tell Alex. "What I just saw out there, will it get worse than that?"
Alex sighs and shrugs her shoulders. "It could," she says. "Right now Paige is on some kind of high horse. We have to remind her that she's still the same Paige that originally moved out here. We have to remind her that just because she's starring in some movie doesn't make her a movie star."
I'm nodding my head, agreeing with Alex's plan. I just hope it doesn't get worse.
Hours Later:
Currently I'm on the kitchen counter eating some Cap'n Crunch. So what it's like one in the morning right now. It's never too late to eat Cap'n Crunch. Beth is upstairs sleeping and Alex is currently at the kitchen island reading a book. I heard someone come in earlier but I have no idea who it was.
Marco walks into the kitchen and he seems a little bothered.
"What's wrong with you?" I ask.
"Nothing," he mutters.
He puts some water on the stove to boil and angrily gets out some bread to make a sandwich.
"Who was that that came in earlier?" Alex asks.
"Oh, that was just Ellie," Marco says angrily.
Alex and I share a look. "Um, what's up with you?" I ask.
Marco walks over to the drawer and gets out a knife. He slams the draw back in.
"Ellie has decided to stay at Craig's," Marco says while opening a jar of peanut butter. "Apparently she needs to be around a friend who won't judge her." Marco violently puts the peanut butter on the bread. "Because Craig is such a good friend who won't judge her but instead will toy with her and then break her heart!" Marco slams the other slice of bread on top of the previous one.
"Ok, I'm going to take the knife away from you now," I say gently as I slide the butter knife over to my side and put it into the sink.
Marco grabs the hot water from the stove and makes himself a cup of tea.
"It's so ridiculous," Marco says.
"Life is ridiculous," Alex says bluntly.
"Wow Alex," Marco says. "Thanks for that insightful message." Marco angrily takes a bite out of his sandwich.
I continue eating my cereal. Cap'n Crunch is the only thing I can rely on right now. I hear the front door open and obnoxious laughing. Paige and who ever that other chick is must be back.
Paige and the other chick walk into the kitchen carrying gift bags and laughing. I find this to be very annoying right now.
"Peeps, this is Hailey," Paige introduces us to the other girl.
Since when did Paige refer to us as her peeps? And since when the hell did she call us her peeps? I just raise my head in greeting and continue eating my cereal. Alex keeps reading her book, not acknowledging anyone. Very badass of her, of course. Paige brings her laptop out and places it on the island. Paige turns on her laptop while Hailey starts digging into her gift bag. I can hear someone walking to the kitchen, can't be sneaky in heels.
Ellie enters the kitchen, holding her luggage. "If you need me I'll be at Craig's, trying to enjoy L.A.," Ellie tells us.
"That's the spirit Eleanor!" Paige says excitedly.
I watch Marco's eyes watch Ellie leave. Wow, someone must be really pissed at someone else.
"I told you should would be fine," Paige tells Marco. "She might even score while she's here. Anyway you missed a tré cool party. It was beyond words."
Hailey is still going through her gift bag, tossing tissue paper everywhere. Marco and I both roll our eyes and continue eating. Hailey suddenly gasps and looks at the laptop excitedly.
"Our pictures are all over the web," she says in an excited and annoying voice. "Perez called you the new celebuslut."
"That, that's good right?" Paige asks, unsure.
"Try great."
Oh so it's not ok to be a slut in high school but it's ok to be a celebuslut? I do not understand Hollywood at all. Marco and I are leaning over to look at the picture. Ugh, I wouldn't be so excited about that picture. Perez drew a witch hat on Paige's head and antennas on Hailey's head.
"Why is there antennas are your head?" Marco asks.
"I was thinking the same thing," I tell him.
Hailey looks over at us. "Sign of affection," she says.
"Or sign of him disliking you," I mutter.
Hailey rolls her eyes. "Of course you wouldn't know that," Hailey says, continuing her comment from earlier.
Marco and I are looking at each other thinking the same thing. What they hell does she mean "of course you wouldn't know that"?
"Oh, why's that?" Marco asks.
"Cause you're not in the biz," Hailey answers in a "duh" tone.
I place my cereal down. "Um excuse me," I say getting her attention. "What exactly do you do?"
"Uh hello, I'm the star of The Shores." There she goes again with that "duh" tone of voice.
"What the fuck is The Shores?" I ask. When I said "The Shores" I said it in an annoying Valley Girl voice. That was my impression of her. Pretty good if I do say so myself.
"It's a fake crappy reality show with really bad acting," Alex says bluntly, while still reading her book. That girl has skills.
"Uh excuse me," Hailey says. "What do you two do?" she asks Alex and me and points at us. Pointing is so rude.
Alex sighs and puts her book down. "I attend school where I get an education so one day when I'm older I can actually say I did something other than make myself look like a bitch on national television on some crappy reality show that people are going to forget about in two years," Alex says and smiles.
"And I make a difference in everyone's lives," I say sweetly and smile.
Alex rolls her eyes. "Being a pain in the ass is making a difference?"
I look at Alex. "You're so lucky I like you so much or I'd really give you a pain in the ass right now, with my foot." Alex sticks her tongue out at. So childish, but I love her.
"So pretty much you two are telling me that you're nobodies?" Hailey asks. "That's what I thought." Hailey laughs.
Alex stands up and balls a fist. "Oh I'll give you a nobody," she says threatening.
"Alex," Paige says in a warning tone. "Come on guys, things are finally working out. Just be happy for me, please." Paige looks at all of us.
I just throw my hand into the air, telling her "whatever". I grab my cereal and begin to eat it again while Alex sits back down in her chair. Paige and Hailey turn their attention back to the laptop.
"Look at this one," Hailey says while pointing to the laptop.
"Oh my God," Paige says. Do you realize how many people are going to see this? This is crazy."
Marco takes a sip of tea with a slightly worried look on his face. Yeah I'm worried too buddy, me too.
So it's the afternoon and I'm chillin in the living room with Alex, Beth, and Marco. After a long morning of shooting I need a break. Jason and I pretty much shot the scenes that didn't involve Paige today. She's not getting any better; she's actually getting kind of bitchier and worse at acting. It's getting really ridiculous.
"Guys, we need to do something about Paige," Marco says.
"I vote no," Alex says.
"But she's getting out of control," Marco says.
I shrug my shoulders. "It could be worst."
"Uh-oh," Alex says.
"What?"
"You just said the most dangerous words in the world," she says in her "I told you so" voice.
"What are you talking about?"
I hear the front door open and heels on the ground. Oh lord, they're back. Paige and Hailey enter the room with large shopping bags in their hands.
"Guess what," Paige says. "Tomorrow I'm throwing a huge birthday bash."
A confused look appears on Marco's face. "For who?" he asks.
"For me duh," Paige answers in her Queen-Bee voice. Uh-oh. "Tomorrow we'll be celebrating my 18th birthday."
Beth looks really confused. "But Paige wasn't your 20th birthday like two months ago?" she asks.
"Hon, youth is king," Paige says.
Where the hell did she get that bull from?
"Paige, what have I told you about using that word?" Hailey says.
"Right," Paige answers like a servant. "Babe youth is king." Paige tells Beth.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Alex says. "Did you seriously just go from 'hon' to 'babe'?"
I look at Alex. "I think she did," I tell her. I turn back to Paige. "Paige why is this celebrity-wanna-be telling you how to talk? You've said 'hon' since the day I met you."
"You've been saying 'hon' since forever," Marco says.
"She can't just call people 'hon' out here," Hailey says. "That's kind of bougie."
Alex and I look at each other. Alex mouths "bougie?" to me. I just shake my head, telling her to forget about it.
"Well we like it when Paige calls us 'hon'," I tell Hailey, speaking for the whole group. "It lets us know that she cares. It makes us feel special."
"It also makes us feel stupid and dumb sometimes," Alex mutters.
I turn my head quickly and look at her. "Shut up," I tell her through clenched teeth. "You're not helping." I turn my head back around and look at Paige and Hailey. "The point is," I continue. "Paige shouldn't have to change herself. We like her for the way she is."
"Paige, is this chick like your girlfriend or something?" Hailey asks.
Beth stands up from her seat and I feel her slide her hand into mine. "No," she says. "I happen to be this chick's girlfriend," Beth says in her slightly pissed off nice voice.
Hailey's eyes widen. "You two are…lesbians?" Hailey whispers.
I raise an eyebrow. "Did she really do what I think she just did?" I ask.
"Yep," Alex answers nonchalantly.
Paige holds up her hands. "Alright let's just all calm down here for a second," Paige says calmly. "The fact of the matter is that tomorrow we'll be celebrating my birthday."
"Ok, 'birthday' girl. Do you have your lines memorized?" I ask. "Because tomorrow you also have to be on set for shooting and if you don't know you're lines then we can't shoot which means we can't make a movie."
"Jordan, calm down," Paige says, once again in her Queen-Bee voice. I think she's about to enter Queen-Bitch mode.
Now Paige is holding up her hand like she's saying "talk to the hand". Oh hellz no. I love Paige, I do, but this is starting to get ridiculous.
"And just know that I do expect presents from each of you," Paige says.
"It's not even your birthday!" Marco exclaims while throwing his hands into the air.
"Marco, whose house is this?" Paige asks.
"Not yours," Alex mutters, but no one notices.
"And who flew you out here in the first place?"
Marco is just staring at Paige. He can't believe what she's saying and neither can I. Paige drops her bags on the floor.
"Now please be dears and plan the party," she says. "It's tomorrow afternoon."
Now she and Hailey are walking away. Alex, Beth, Marco, and I are all looking at each other with our mouths wide open. You've got to be shitting me.
Later:
It's kind of late but I'm heading downstairs because I am in desperate need of something to drink. I think I want this drink to have some alcohol in it to. This whole Hollywood trip has just been stressful. I mean from helping Jason with the movie, to dealing with Paige's bad acting, then dealing with Paige's horrible bitchy attitude, and trying to spend time with my girlfriend. I need a vacation from this vacation.
I turn the corner to walk through the living room to get to the kitchen. Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell? Paige and Alex? Why are they sitting on the couch together? I peer around the corner to watch, because I'm a creeper obviously.
"Paige I don't get what's going on with you lately," Alex tells Paige.
"What do you mean hon?" Paige asks innocently.
"Oh so when Hailey's not around you can say 'hon'?"
"Lexi..." Paige starts.
"I mean, this isn't you. This isn't the Paige Michalchuk I know," Alex says sincerely. "Look at what this place and that bitch are doing to you."
Paige rests her hand on Alex's knee. "Lexi, I'm still the same. Yeah I'm slightly different but in a good way."
Alex sighs. "It's just… It's just seems like you're changing, and not for the better."
"Of course I'm changing for the better. In T.O. I was a college dropout loser assistant to some fashion magazine bitch. Out here in L.A., I'm a star."
I scoff roll my eyes. Star my ass.
"Paige, none of us thought you were a loser in T.O. We all love you and love who you are and what you have accomplished. So what Banting didn't work out? Most people drop out of college after their first semester anyway. It's not for everyone." Alex places a hand on Paige's arm. "Just know that we care about you," she says in a very loving voice. "I care about you."
Paige places her hand on Alex's cheek. Is she caressing her cheek? Alright, now this is getting a little weird for me.
"And I care about you too hon," Paige says.
Oh my God, is Paige leaning in? Is she really going to-? Alex jumps back right as Paige's lips were about to touch hers. Alex is now standing, slightly away from the couch.
Alex laughs nervously. "Paige, w-what are you doing?" she asks nervously.
"Um I think I was about to kiss you hon," Paige says in a "duh" voice.
"Paige, I have a girlfriend," Alex says seriously.
Paige gets up from the couch and approaches Alex. "Yeah and?"
"And I'm in a seriously relationship. Paige…"
Paige scoffs. "Oh come on Alex! We all know why you're with her. She's just a downgraded loser version of me."
Holy shit! Did that really just come out of Paige's mouth?
Alex is shaking her head and pointing an angry finger at Paige. "You have no idea what you're talking aboot."
"I seem to remember the last time I kissed you and you had a girlfriend you broke up with her and got back together with me."
Alex throws her arms into the air. "And look how well that turned out!" she yells.
"Lexi, no need to be angry," Paige says calmly and once again in her Queen-Bee voice. Paige grabs Alex's hand. "I'll take you back."
Holy mother trucker! You have got to be kidding me. Are you hearing this? I hope I'm not the only one hearing this crap.
"You'll take me back?" Alex asks angrily and in disbelief. Alex yanks her hand out of Paige's. "You're the one that broke up with me and then kicked me out on the street!"
Paige crosses her arms across her chest. "Don't you think you're being a bit dramatic?"
Alex scoffs. "Dramatic?" she yells. "Paige you kicked me out and chose your job over me!"
Paige uncrosses her arms. "I thought I was making the best decision for us at the time!" Paige yells. "Besides you said you had an aunt you could go to. How was I supposed to know you were lying?"
"Paige anyone who knows me even a little would be able to see through that lie!" Alex's voice cracks a bit. Uh-oh, she's about to cry. "Jordan saw through it and you know what she did?"
"She had her mommy and daddy take you in like orphan Annie," Paige says cruelly.
I place a hand over my mouth so that neither Paige nor Alex can hear me gasp. Now that was just low. Alex walks up to Paige. Alex just popped the bubble of personal space.
"Jordan acted like a true friend and took me in. Jordan took me in when the girl I lo-, when the girl I loved kicked me out. She was a better friend than you could EVER be."
Alex starts walking away from Paige.
"You're walking away like you're all high and mighty but you're not Alex. Have you even talked to your mom since you left? And I mean you're real mom, not Jordan's mom."
Alex stops. Even from here I can tell that her nostrils are flaring, which means that she is really angry. Alex turns around.
"Fuck you Paige Michalchuk," she says with so much hate and venom in her voice that I'm really scared right now.
Paige laughs bitterly. "You wish Alex Nuñez, you wish."
CRASH!
Yeah, Alex just kicked over the vase she was standing next to. Now there's a million vase pieces on the floor. Someone's going to have to clean that up later. Alex walks by me, not even noticing me. When Alex doesn't notice me then I know she's really upset. Alex stomps up the stairs and slams her door shut.
I have so much anger running through my veins right now that I'm not 100% sure what to do. I enter the living room with my hands in my pockets looking down at the ground while Paige is just staring at the broken vase on the floor.
"Someone is going to have to clean that up," Paige says bluntly.
"So what?" I ask and shrug my shoulders. "You think just because you're a blond again you can be a bitch to all your friends?"
"What did you just say to me?" Paige asks.
"I think the real question is…" I raise my head up and look at Paige. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I ask, trying to keep the anger in me down.
"I think you're forgetting whose house you're staying at hon," Paige says in her Queen-Bitch voice.
I raise my arms indicating the whole house. "This isn't even your house!" I yell. "It's the studio's house." I laugh sadly. "What happened to you Paige? What happened to all that progress we made over the summer? I want that Paige back. Because what you just said and did to Alex back there, that wasn't right."
"I was just being honest."
I point my finger at her angrily. "No, you were being a ranging bitch. Paige, do you even see how you've been acting these past few days? Have you noticed how you've been treating your friends?"
Paige's demeanor doesn't change. I start walking toward her.
"We're your friends," I tell her. "Alex, Beth, Ellie, Marco and I are all your friends. We've been there for you through your ups and downs. We were there when all that stuff with Mr. Oleandor happened. We were there for you when the drama with Manny was escalating. We were all there when Rick entered OUR school and shout OUR friend. And I might have only known you for about three and a half years now but I know that Marco has been there for you. So Paige, please tell me why you're acting like this to us? To your family?" My eyes are starting to sting and I know I'm about to start crying.
"My family?" Paige asks bitterly. "My true family would be happy for me right now. My true family would be happy that I've finally accomplish something in my life!"
I can't even read the emotions on Paige's face right now. Her eyes look like a storm's brewing and she's breathing heavly.
"You think being a Hollywood bitch is accomplishing something?" I'm shaking my head. "You need to set your priorities straight Paige."
Paige laughs bitterly. "Jordan Johnson," she says my name, venom dripping from her voice. "You act all high and mighty. You give everyone advice on how to help improve their lives and how they should act but do you ever for once look at yourself. Beth broke up with you and you became a total waste of space."
Ow, I'll be honest, that one kind of hurt.
"From what I heard you dated some loser girl and you were getting drunk all the time, trying to drink your sorrows away. All you did was whine, whine, whine, saying "woe is me, woe is me". Now that doesn't sound too high and mighty to me. Nor does it sound like you're changing anyone's lives."
"Why are you trying to hurt me?" I ask my voice cracking.
"I'm just being honest hon. I mean that's what family does for each other right? Be honest with one another."
My body is shaking with anger now. I really REALLY want to punch Paige in the face right now but I'm going to walk away. I start walking away.
"Hey Jordan!" Paige calls out my name and I slow down my walking. "You call me a Hollywood Bitch but I'd rather be a bitch than some loser who only hangs out with her high school friends all day and does nothing else important with her life, any day.
I ball my hand into a fist. "I'd rather be a loser than a ranging cunt!" I yell.
I continue walking away from Paige, away from our friendship. I can't fucking wait to leave Hollywood.
A/N: WHEN WILL THE DRAMA END? Next chapter will be the conclusion of the Hollywood trilogy and then we'll be moving on =) please review