Title: Express Yourself

Fandom: Degrassi: TNG

Character(s): Paige Michalchuk, Alex Nunez

Word Count: 359

Rating: PG

Summary: Being Paige Michalchuk wasn’t easy. Few people ever got to see that.

Author’s Notes: Palex fluff because they never got any on the show.

Being Paige Michalchuk wasn’t easy. Few people ever got to see that. What they see was the reigning school bitch, even if that wasn’t her anymore. They never got to know what her brain screamed out. They never got to know her heart.

They just looked her over. Bitch, several said. Cold hearted, even more agreed with. Yeah maybe she did do stupid things. Like that night with Dean. That was stupid. Come dressed up as Harlot in Training. Did she deserve what she got that night?

Paige claimed to put it behind her. Yet some nights she thinks about it. Dean cracked her. Dean stole something from Paige, something vital and important. Something she’d once thought about giving to Spinner.

Alex made her feel good again. Spinner, bless him, couldn’t even do that. So maybe it was her fault when he turned to Manny. Maybe it was why Paige didn’t make too big of a deal when they broke up.

What was left of her? That girl that used to have supreme confidence, that had not only frozen Ashley Kerwin out of their little group but took over her role?

Nothing…

And now, at night she is being held by strong arms. Strong arms that smelled faintly of some talcum powder. Alex wouldn’t hear of using something as girly as the body oil that Paige liked. Still, whenever she would smell talcum powder, Paige would think of Alex.

Alex whispered something into her ears. Paige giggled and turned to her. She felt safe spooned up against her lover. Safe and loved and respected. Alex often seemed in awe of her. Like she was something…perfect.

It made her feel good. Like she was that old Paige almost, except she’d been given her heart back. Alex had her heart now. It was up to Alex to keep it, to cherish it. Paige wondered if she could handle the job. She kissed her on the lips, a soft kiss.

Alex’s dark eyes grew soft, loving. Paige wondered if this was what feeling special was like. Marco said it was what being in love was…but…no.

She wasn’t in love yet.

Was she?