And also, I know I labeled this as a Palex. Though Paige isn't actually going to be a major character in this story just yet. Alex has to go through some growing first. But don't worry, there will be Palex. I know the general direction of the story, I just haven't got the details worked out yet. I'm also still playing around with the title. That might change too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or the characters.

Chap 1:

I look at the piece of paper in my hand. It is my freedom, but it means nothing to me. It's over and now I am done. It's time to start a new life for myself. It's time to become a fresh new person away from my past and toward the future. My future. I should have been thinking about that three months ago. Things could have been different. Now I have to face it alone. I sit down on the edge of my bed and I tell myself I am over everything that has happened in the past four years. I tell myself I have moved on. I tell myself a lot of bullshit that keeps me going through the day. I tell myself it's true. I feel like I am about to cry. I close my eyes and hold back my feelings. I don't open them again until I hear my mother's voice as she steps into my doorway.

"Watcha got there, Lexi?" She is holding a beer can and I can tell she is buzzed. I look down at the piece of paper still in my hand.

"It's my diploma. I just opened it." I say.

"Did you graduate already?" She says.

"Three months ago." I inform her.

"And you're just getting that now?"

"Mom, I've had it. They sent it a few months ago. I'm just opening it now."

My mother takes another sip from her beer can. I zone out for a moment before coming back to reality.

"I have to go to work now." I stand up from the bed. I walk over to my night stand and place my diploma in the top drawer. I then grab a sweater. My mother shrugs before moving out of the doorway for me to pass. I don't look at her as I walk by and she doesn't say good-bye. As I leave my apartment I can feel the September wind on my face. I close my eyes and take it in and it relaxes me. I spend a moment pondering whether I should walk or take the bus. Both take the same amount of time, considering all the stops the bus makes. I decide on walking. The irony in my life was impeccable. Why of all places did I get a job at the mall? The one place I hated to be regardless of for-what-ever reason. It didn't matter though, money was money, and my memories there were bittersweet.

I had been working at a small clothing store in the mall for almost two solid months. It was a steady job and the pay was good. I did my best to be friendly and helpful and I got a good discount. Not that I used it much. My wardrobe expanded only slightly. I was saving up my money. I wasn't able to decide if I wanted a car or just spring for a place of my own. I often thought of how nice it would be to get out of my apartment. I wouldn't have to live with the drama of my mother and Chad anymore. I felt a little happier at the thought of being on my own, but then I was quickly brought back to reality at the sight of the mall. All the memories I had there. I blocked them from my mind and proceeded to go to work.

Work, like always, was a load of shit. I spent most of my time putting cloths back on the racks. At least I didn't have to deal with a bunch of customers. Listening to all the youth go on about the newest rage and all the parents picking out "cute" cloths for their children. I was just glad to be free of them all. At least for the evening. The air was still cool and the breeze was a little stronger. Despite the fact it was dark outside I decided to walk home. I need to clear my head, these days that was all I needed to do. I finally got to my apartment building. I became stricken with a overbearing sickness. I didn't want to go home, if that's even what you wanted to call it. I already felt like something was wrong. Despite that, I really didn't have a better place to go. So I preceded inside the building. As I reached my floor I could hear yelling down the hallway.

"Don't talk to me that way!"

"Well you let the girl do whatever she wants!"

"That's not true!"

"Who knows how long! I don't need this right now, Emily."

I continued to walk down the hallway to my door. The muffled voices grew louder. I knew it was my mom and Chad arguing. I couldn't tell what they were fighting about. Maybe I shouldn't have came home that night. But perhaps it was better this way. Sometimes things happen for a reason, even if we can't see it right away. I unlocked the door. I hadn't been in the room for two seconds before I was knocked to the floor. I couldn't see anything and my face was stinging badly. I could feel the blood trickle from my lip.

"Get out!" I heard. "Get out and don't come back! This is the last time!" I looked up to see Chad over me. He was waving a bag in his hand. "Do know what will happen if we get caught with this?" He was holding an old bag of dope. I hadn't used in well over year, to tell the truth I had actually forgot it was there. My mother had probably been snooping through my room after I left and came across it. I don't even remember were I had hid it. I didn't even try to explain. I stood up. I didn't bother to wipe the blood from my face nor rub my tender check. I wouldn't give Chad the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt me. I look at my mother who was crying but refused to tend to me, then back at Chad. He met my stair. I turned around and walked out the door, not even bothering to shut it on the way out. I didn't cry as I left my apartment. I didn't cry as I walked the mile and half to the woman's shelter and I didn't cry myself to sleep as I laid hungry in their stiff bed waiting for morning.

This was just a kind of get the ball rolling chapter. The next chapter should get interesting. I'm in the process of finishing it up. It should be up soon.