xp_logs | Em finds a thoroughly miserable Angelo...

Humming quietly to herself, Marie pattered down the stairs to the second floor, still in her pyjamas, and made her way to Alex's shared room where she knocked on the door lightly. "Alex? Anyone?" she called.

Angelo registered the knock at the door, stirring slightly to look in that direction. Recognising Marie's voice, he roused himself enough to call, "Come in..."

Marie opened the door and looked in, smiling. "Hey, angelo. I just need to borrow a couple books that Alex got his hands on before I did." She looked him over then and, her smile fading, she came in and closed the door behind her. "Then again, maybe I'll stay for a few minutes," she said more seriously. "You look really rough, Angelo. What's up?"

Angelo looked away from her. Knowing there was no point lying, he just muttered, "How long have you got?"

"The way you look, I can make time if you need it. Will I do or should I go get someone else?"

Angelo managed a weak grin and a teasing, "You'll do..."

Marie sat down on the end of his bed and wrapped her arms around her shins, resting her chin on her knees. "Now that I've assumed the neutral-third-party position ... Talk to me."

Angelo sighed. "Oh... where do I start? I've screwed everything up..."

"Everything?" She shook her head. "Sounds like you dropped your perspective and it got a little trampled. What's the real problem... forget 'everything'. Tell me the really horrible bit."

He closed his eyes, remembering. "I hurt Paige", he said flatly.

Marie sighed. "I can see where that would rank up pretty high on your disaster list. Did you do it on purpose?"

"No!" he snapped, eyes suddenly flashing. "But I hit her, Em. I didn't mean to... but it happened."

She bit her lip, looking thoughtful. "I know she probably forgives you, because, well, she's Paige. You made a mistake, Angelo, and you hurt someone you... love? It happens and it's dreadful, but we all do it at some point, and if there's no malice in it, then we pick up and keep going. What's underneath this? There's more to it than that going on, yes? It's more than just hitting her by accident that's the problem here. Is hurting Paige the problem... just not with your fist?"

Angelo let his head fall back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. He swallowed hard before answering. "I don't know what's going on. I don't... I don't think I hit her by accident. I just don't remember... And for the last bit... maybe?" he finished in a small voice.

"Angelo, I know you. You're a decent, sweet person at the core and you'd never hit Paige on purpose. Not Paige, for crying out loud. You've got more fortitude than to end up huddled in bed because you hauled off and popped Paige one by accident. So what's the real scenario here? Why the guilt?"

Angelo sighed, preparing to tell the whole truth. "I flipped out, okay? Jono hit me, which I deserved, and I flipped out. I don't remember anything after that until Jamie's dupes holding on to me outside the gym. I don't know what's wrong with me, and I think I should just not be around people for awhile..."

Marie sat looking at him for a long moment and then nodded. "Okay, first... Jono hitting you? Out of line. I don't give a shit what you did, we don't do things like that around here. As much as I'd like to haul off and belt people at times, it's just not done. It's not the solution. And given what happened to you, the way your friends turned on you in the past, I'd say you have every damn reason to flip out when someone who's supposed to be on your side assaults you in what should be a safe place. Yeah, you flipped out, but with good reason. And not being around people? Not the answer. Not for you. Maybe that's hypocrisy coming from me after the last couple months but that was me and this is you."

Angelo listened to her patiently, until she'd finished her speech, then almost smiled. "Maybe you're right. I just... I don't feel like facing the world right now..."

"I completely get the need to hide out but holing up and turning in on yourself just makes you more of a ticking package and I can promise you, that package is addressed to someone you love. It's going to go off in their face if you don't deal with it. Just don't hide out too long. You did nothing wrong, okay?" She reached out to pat his shoulder. "I know it feels like you ruined 'everything' but most of 'everything' just wants you back in the swing of things."

Finally managing something close to a real -- and grateful -- smile, Angelo told her, "Thanks. And I will talk to people. Just need some time..."

"Hey. I am the Queen of Needing Time," Marie said with a wry smile. "I'll leave you be, okay? I see those books on Alex's desk. And, look, I'm not going to be around my suite much over the next little while and it's just me in there, so if you wanted to go hang out there today and avoid people, you're welcome to it. Always happy to share the hermitage with a friend in need. I promise to ignore you, if that's what you prefer."

"Thank you", Angelo said again, looking at her seriously.

Marie got up and collected the books, then stopped to ruffle Angelo's hair lightly. "No problem. I'll make sure my door's open if you want to hide out. Take it easy on yourself, okay?"

Angelo nodded. "Okay."

She smiled at him. "Good. I'll talk to you later." She let herself out and closed the door behind her.

With another sigh, Angelo curled up on the bed. Em had given him a lot to think about. But not right now...