She arrived at the place that she and Tatum had agreed upon meeting. She waited for a few minutes and then she saw him. He was standing straight and tall as if he were full of pride. He walked past several figures without a single glance and walked straight to her. He was so flawless! How could she have possibly met someone so perfect? She was living the life of a popular, teenage girl who got everything she wanted. And that she thought when she saw him walking reluctantly towards her. Then, she saw the girl behind him. She had long, brown, curly hair. Her eyes were the color of the sky. She had curves that gave her the figure of a model. Her fingernails were buffed and polished. She was absolutely stunning. Paige almost instantly hated her. " Paige, this is a really good friend of mine. Her name's Alaina." Alaina looked at Paige shyly. Her cheeks had turned red and her eyes were focused on her feet. She mumbled the word "Hi" in such a hushed way, Paige had strained to hear her. That's when she'd realized that she had been staring at her very intensely and backed off. " Oh. Hi. Tatum, I just remembered. I have to meet somebody else at the baseball field. For, uhm, yeah. I'll talk to you later, and it was nice meeting you, Alaina." she lied with a smile she forcefully plastered to her face
She gave a little wave and then disappeared behind tall, leaf-less trees. She walked along the banks of a shallow creek as the sky faded from color until the only color left was the brightness of the stars and moon. She looked at her feet with her hands in her pockets. She paused and looked up at the sky. Just then, she thought of every minute her and Tatum had ever spent together. Her breathing increased to heavy,short pants.She stood silently for just a moment. Suddenly, she was sitting on the ground, hugging her legs until she felt a single tear fall from her face. Paige silently waited, but for what? To wake up from another nightmare? No. She knew this was real. She began to hear rustling of the fallen leaves underneath someone's feet. Then she heard a voice.
It was his! She ran to the closest place she could. That place being the creek. She stood behind a giant wall of mud while her feet were immersed in the cold water. When she saw him, he was alone. Just as she had done, he looked up towards the sky and then sat. Tatum's hair was entangled with the wind. His eyes matched the stars. Why did he seem to matter so much to her? She couldn't help loving him. His voice interuppted her thoughts. He was talking to himself. Paige could hardly believe what she was hearing. " I want to tell her, but I can't. I've tried so hard. She doesn't seem to realize how much she means to me." he'd said. Who was he talking about? She knew it wasn't her. Well, she thought. She wasn't for sure. Jealousy set in when she came to the conclusion that it was Alaina. Her eyes narrowed and her blood began to flow quickly. She fought back tears as she registered what he was saying. She walked quietly out of the water and onto the grass. From there until she was out of his hearing range, she tip-toed. Paige began to sprint towards her house. Next came a full-on run. She reached her door,opened it, and then slammed it shut. She ran to her room. There on her bed was where she cried for hours at a time.
Silent , hurt, and confused, Alaina refused to sleep. She paced around her bedroom floor. Every so often, tears fell from her eyes. How could he love Alaina? There is absolutely NO way she knows him as well as me! Who is she? God, why did you do this? You know I love him! Please. Please, understand what he means to me. It was three A.M. when Paige finally fell asleep. She didn't know what to do. Her heart felt as though it were slowly cracking. What had she done? Why is this happening? What's happening? Paige woke up and did her usual morning ritual of showering, eating breakfast, grooming herself, and left. She needed to think. Somehow, she ended back up at the creek. " Paige, what the hell is wrong with you? " she thought out loud. That's when he appeared. Austin Malord. " Well, I'd like to know as well." she heard him. " What the hell is wrong with you, Paige? You've peaked my curiousity." He smiled and looked at her. He hadn't seen Paige in a few months. " Austin! Damn! You scared me! And nothing. Don't worry about it. Oh, and thanks for trying to make me piss my pants." Paige had no idea where he had come from, but she was glad he had shown up. She'd really missed him.
Austin's P.O.V. He was sitting in a tree just listening to what was around me. That's when I heard her voice. " Paige, what the hell is wrong with you? " He knew he had to say something, anything. He missed her. The last time he talked to her was when he ran into her while she was outside at a lake. He decided to taunt her with her own question. " Well, I'd like to know as well." I smiled as I saw her facial expression change. " What the hell is wrong with you , Paige? You've peaked my curiousity. " He said teasingly, but truthfully. " Austin! Damn! You scared me! And nothing. Don't worry about it. Oh, and thanks for trying to make me piss my pants." He laughed at this. Only she had ever made him laugh like this. Why did he like her so much? He shouldn't. She didn't feel the same way. Then came the expected blow as she turned and claimed she had to go. Man, he hated to see her go. He had so much to say , but what? What would he say? Oh, hey Paige! Before you leave, I just wanted to say I love you and that I wish you'd stay. I miss you ? Hell no. I don't want to creep her out. So instead, he said " Okay, well, I hope I get to talk to you again, soon. Bye." He turned and left.