Paige is so useful

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

Paige had curled herself up in one of the more secluded wings of the mansion; one that had a fireplace and a couch. She was warm but had just managed to banish away the to the bone chill that came from spending so much time outside and didn't want anything to turn into a cold. A book rested in her lap and the gentle chord of a piano solo played in one ear.

Kitty had been looking everywhere for Jamie, but couldn't find him anywhere. By the time she made it to the far wing tears were silently falling, making it impossible for her to see Jamie, even if she found him.

Her ear by the door picked up the distressed noises Kitty made and Paige looked up, startled. "Kitty?"

"Paige?" Kitty was startled, not really expecting anyone to be down here. "Have you seen Jamie?" She was clearly on the edge of hysteria.

Closing her book Paige stood and crossed over to the younger girl. "No, honey, I haven't. What's wrong?" Concern lightly creased her forehead.

"I... I... Oh God," she cried, burrying her face in her hands. "How do you... how do you do it?" came her muffled voice.

Paige gently led her over to the couch by the elbow, sitting her down. She pushed Kitty's dark hair back with a soothing hand. "Do what, kitten?"

"Jono and Angelo and... God. Doug. I..." She knew she wasn't being coherent, but was too hysterical to try and straighten herself out.

"Come here," Paige said gently, moving over to pull Kitty to her shoulder to cry on. Something in her instantly understood and she gently rocked her as her own hand made small circles on her back. "Shhshh. It's okay. What about Doug?"

Leaning against Paige, Kitty hiccoughed, then tried to explain. "I... I kissed him. All day I've been feeling so... and then I saw him and... God Paige. I think I love him." The tears started falling again, much harder. "But Jamie..." She couldn't go on.

If Paige was surprised she hid it quite well, tilting her head against Kitty's. "Do you love Jamie as well?" She had to ask.

"I do, oh I do..." Kitty's nodded frantically, which slowly transfered into shaking. "But... Oh Paige, he walked in... God..."

"I believe you, kitten, it's okay," Paige replied in a warm tone. "Have you had these feelings, or something similiar, for Doug for a while?"

"I don't know... I've always been fond of him, and he's... he's just so sweet and caring and wonderful." With a little moan, she collapsed down, hiding her head in her lap.

Paige smiled down at her, still stroking her hair. "Well, you like him for the right reasons. That's a good sign," she said gently. "And well... people keep telling me that you can be in love with two people. I guess I'm living proof. It's not easy, but it's possible. Maybe they put something in the computer lab air filters?"

Kitty let out a sound which was half way between a laugh and a sob. "God... Jamie looked so... he was so angry and upset, and Doug practically threw me out."

"What... what exactly happened?" Paige asked cautiously. History seemed to repeat itself faster around here.

Still curled up on herself, Kitty answered, "Doug was being so nice, so sweet. I don't even know what I was thinking, but the next moment I was kissing him, then Jamie was standing in the doorway and Doug was pushing me away. Jamie practically vanished from the room, and Doug told me to go find him, he clearly didn't want me around... Only I can't find Jamie anywhere, and I don't know what I'd say if I could."

This was one of those times where a long whistle was both really appropriate and not at all. "Well, Doug is right. You need to find Jamie. It doesn't have to be right this second, he probably needs some time to punch some holes in the wall, but you do need to find him. Even if you don't know what to say, seeing him will at least let him know that you care."

Kitty seemed to nod, and a sniffle escaped her. "God, Paige, it's so..." she trailed off.

"Confusing? Hard? Painful? The best thing in the world?" Paige put in with a gentle smile. "It sucks sometimes, and will only get worse before it gets better but I wouldn't trade either of them in for anything."

With a little nod, Kitty finally sat up again, rubbing the tears away from her cheeks with her sleeve, another sniffle escaping her. "Yeah..." she said slowly. "I... yeah." The faintest of smiles slipped onto her face and she nodded again. "Thank you."

Paige pulled a hanky from her back pocket and handed it to her, nodding slightly in return. "Not a problem. It's what I'm here for after all."

Taking the hanky, Kitty's smile firmed slightly. She blew her nose, then started folding the fabric up into smaller and smaller squares. "You're the best."

"Not at all. But I am a friend and sometimes that's just as good." Paige smiled a little at her, encouraging. "Would you like to stay here for a bit or are you going to go find Jamie now?"

"I don't know where he is." It was almost a whisper, and something of an admission to herself - Jamie always knew where she was when she ran off, it seemed.

Paige only understood that one too well. "I'm sure if he wants to be found and you go looking for him, you'll find him. And he wants you to find him, you know. He loves you."

With another little sniffle, Kitty handed over the now twisted up hanky. "Yeah, I... you're right. I ought to go look again." She didn't look very sure of herself, but certainly very determined.

"There's my fellow super genius," Paige answered with her typical light and sunshine back into place. She took the hanky, shoving it back into her pocket without a thought. "You're more than welcome to come back later."

Kitty nodded. "Thanks Paige, thanks for everything." A quick swipe of her sleeve over her eyes, and then she gave the older girl a quick hug before standing up and heading out.

Paige watched her leave with a sort of far away look. She thought she'd said the right thing and hoped she was right.