Chapter Three
It’s now 2:40 P.M. and Alex is cleaning the tables by the snack counter off when Paige walks over to her. Both girls look at each other, then Paige takes the towel out of Alex’s hand and takes over cleaning the tables off . Alex heads behind the snack counter and refills the cheeses for the nachos. After she finishes filling up the chesses, she puts more popcorn kernels into the popcorn maker. During the time Alex was refilling the popcorn kernels, Paige refills the pop in the pop machine. They get everything refilled just in time for the after school movie rush to begin. As they are getting the customers what they ask for, Paige and Alex are talk to each other.

Alex: Paige, I thought you had Spirit Squad practice after school today?
Paige: No, we had practice before school because I was on the schedule to work today.
Alex: That’s right. I just forgot.
Paige: Lexi, what time are you getting off work tonight?
Alex: At closing time, why?
Paige: I just want to know, honey. You look and sound exhausted. If you want to leave early, I will cover for you, Lexi.
Alex: That is nice of you, but I need the money.
Paige: Lexi, you can only push yourself so hard before you have to take a break!
Alex: Paige, you do not understand what it is like for me having to deal with your mom’s drunk, live-in boyfriend who likes to beat people up when he has been drinking.
Paige: Is that why your mom in the hospital, Chad beat her up again?
Alex: (Yawns) No!
Paige: Go home and get some sleep, Lexi and tell me why your mom in the hospital?
Alex: I cannot go home. (Yawns) I have to pay the rent on Friday. (Yawns) And pay Emily’s hospital bills that are getting bigger each night she stays there. (Yawns) And Emily’s in the hospital because she fell down four flights of stairs to our apartment.
Paige: Lexi, you worked an extra shift already today. Working two more shifts today is not going to do you any good. Just go home at the end of this shift. I can close up by myself tonight.
Alex: (Getting popcorn for a customer) I cannot go home after this shift Paige. Chad is out of work again and my mom is not going to be (yawns) able to go back to work ‘til September 2006.
Paige: (Filling pops for a customer) Fine. At least let Dylan give you a ride home tonight.
Alex: Fine, That will be really nice. I will take you up on the ride tonight.

Alex pushes herself through work till Paige and she has close up the theater. Then Alex slowly walks out of the mall and to Dylan’s car with Paige. Paige has her left arm wrapped around Alex’s waist as they walk out of the mall. They get to Dylan’s car and Paige and Alex got into the back seat . They are holding eachother hands during the ride to Alex’s apartment building. Alex is resting her head on Paige shoulder. Dylan, Paige, and Alex are talk to eachother on the way to Alex’s place.

Dylan: Nice to see you again, Alex. How are you doing?
Alex: I’m doing well.
Paige: You missed the Biology test today during fifth period. That is really going to lower your grade.
Alex: I’m taking a make up test tomorrow.
Paige: How? Mrs. Hatzilakos does not let people make up tests if they skip school to work an extra shift.
Alex: Chad called the school and told them I was sick.
Paige: He did something good for once.
Alex: Yeah, he did. Paige, thanks for bringing me the schoolwork I missed today.
Paige: It was no big deal, Lexi. I bring all my friends their schoolwork when they miss school.
Alex: I can’t believe it’s raining again today.
Paige: I know. It’s the fourth day in a row that it’s raining.

Dylan pulls into the parking lot of Alex’s apartment building and pulls into a parking spot by the door, then puts his car in park. Alex kisses Paige goodbye on the forehead and Paige kisses her goodbye back. Alex then gets out of Dylan’s car and heads into the building and up the stairs to the fourth floor. Once inside the apartment, Alex goes and takes a steaming hot shower, then changes into her PJ’s and goes into her bedroom and goes to bed. She falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillows.

Meanwhile, at Paige parents house, Paige is working on her homework for math class, but is having a hard time staying away. She was up all night the yesterday, night worrying about Alex.

Chapter Four

Alex got up on Wednesday morning, she throws on a pair of jeans and a black tank top. She then grabs a long-sleeve black jacket and puts it on. Alex goes into the bathroom and finishes getting ready for school. She starts walking towards the door when Chad looks up at her. He then stands up and walk in front of Alex so she can’t get out the door.

Alex: Chad, I need to leave for school now!
Chad: Lexi, you should eat breakfast before going to school.
Alex: I don’t have an appetite this morning.
Chad: Are you up to going to school today, Lexi? I could call the school and tell them you’re sick again.
Alex: No, I need to go. I have to take a make up Biology tests during fifth period.
Chad: I am worried about you, Lexi. You do not have an appetite, you took a two-hour steaming hot shower when you got home from work last night, then crashed till your alarm clock went off this morning. Now you are shivering, Lexi.
Alex: I’m fine, Chad.
Chad: Ok, but if you change your mind and want to come home from school sick, just go to the nurse and have her call me and I’ll come pick you up.
Alex: Ok.

Chad steps away from the door and lets Alex leave the apartment and head to school. When she gets to school, Alex sets down at one of the picnic tables outside of Degrassi and puts her head down on the table. After a few minutes, Marco, Ellie, and Jimmy come over and join Alex at the picnic table. Marco sits down on Alex’s right side, Jimmy wheels up to the end of the table, and Ellie takes a seat across from her.

Marco: I think Lexi sleeping.
Jimmy and Ellie: Yeah.
Marco: (Lightly shakes Alex) Lexi, you need to wake up!

Alex lifts her head up and starts rubbing her eyes. She then looks at Marco, Jimmy, and Ellie before lying her head back down on the table and closing her eyes again. Marco, Jimmy, and Ellie look at eachother and roll their eyes at eachother.

Marco: Lexi, is everything ok?
Alex: Yeah, I’m fine. I’m tired is all.
Ellie: Lexi are sure, because you missed school yesterday?
Alex: (Looks around before talking) I overslept, so Chad just called the school and told them I was sick.
Marco, Jimmy, and Ellie: Oh!
Alex: How long do we have until first period?
Marco: Ten minutes, Lexi.
Alex: Thanks, can you wake me up when the bell rings?

Just then, both Paige and Hazel walk up to the picnic table. Hazel sits down next to Ellie at the picnic table. Paige comes up behind Alex and wraps her arms around Alex and kisses the top of Alex’s head. Alex pulls her girlfriend onto her lap, then kisses her on the top of the head.