Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of the characters.
Rating: PG or PG-13, not really sure yet.
Summary: This story takes place during the fifth season, shortly after they first start dating each other and Paige is just starting to understand how hard Alex’s life really is at home.

Chapter One

Paige looks over at Alex as she is getting nachos for a customer and sees that Alex has spaced out again. This is the fifth time that Alex has spaced out at work that night. Paige also notices the large sodas Alex is filling are starting to overflow. Paige takes the Pepsi, Mt. Dew, and diet Mt. Dew off the pop machine and puts lids on them, then hands them to the customers along with their nachos and popcorn. After she has taken care of the customers, she grabs a rag and wipes up the spilled pop.

Paige: Lexi honey, is there something wrong?

Alex just continues to stare into space and does not answer Paige back. Paige walks up to Alex. Paige then taps Alex on the shoulder to get her attention.

Paige: Earth to Lexi!
Alex: Did you say something, Paige?
Paige: Lexi honey, you having been spacing out all day is everything ok?
Alex: Yeah, I am tired is all. It has been a long day and Merri had me close last night.
Paige: Go take a break and get a cup of coffee. I’ll cover for you till you get back!
Alex: Thanks.

Paige kisses Alex on the lips, then waves at Alex as she walks out from behind the counter and starts walking toward the food court to buy a large coffee from the Starbucks. No sooner than Alex leaves, a rush of people comes up to the snack counter. Paige gets back to work taking orders just as Merri comes out from the back. She walks up to Paige with her hands on her hips.

Merri: Where is Alex?
Paige: She is on break, Merri.
Merri: Alex knows that she is supposed to wait till the rush slows down to take her break.
Paige: It was dead when she left for her break, Merri!
Merri: How long has she been gone?
Paige: She just left a minute ago. Give her a break, Merri, she is tired from closing up last night. You know that Sunday is a school night and that she has to get up early and go to school in the morning.
Merri: Fine. Just let her know that both of you are closing up tonight. I have to leave and pick my three-year-old daughter up from daycare. She is running a fever.
Paige: Ok.