xp_logs | Sam, Paige and ...news

x-foliate.livejournal.com posting in

The 23 of last week. Before Paige's talk about Angelo with Em.

Sam steps out of the shower, feeling a little better after his run and ride. A little part of him, he knows, is incredibly depressed...but really, not much has changed or will change. He'll always love Alison just as much, and they'll always be the best of friends, and really...it's just better than way. After getting dressed and thinking for a minute, sprawled in his desk chair, he knows that despite how he's been acting with regards to his little sister of late, he has to talk to her now. Right now. And so he gets up, more than a little lethargic, and treks down to her room. He knocks and steps back, wringing his hands. "Hey, Paige...it's, uh. It's me."

The door opens and Paige is standing behind it, posture perfect and features blank but for a smile that holds steadfast. "Hello, Sam. What can I do for you?"

Knowing exactly what's going on for once in his life, Sam takes a deep breath and gets right to it. "Just put up with me for a second. I got somethin' to tell you. I don' know if you'll care or anythin'...but I figured you'd wanna know."

Paige doesn't reply to that verbally, only issuing him a little bit of a nod and brightening her smile, indication to continue.

Figuring she wouldn't want him to come in anyway, he doesn't ask, and instead leans against the doorframe. "Um. Well," he shuffles his feet a little. "I just wanted to let you know that Alison and I, uh. Aren't...I mean," he sighs, heavy with reluctance. "Paige, we broke up."

Eyebrows going up into her hair line Paige regards her brother for a long moment, arms crossing around herself without thought. "You broke up," she finally responds, voice quiet.

Nodding, looking more over Paige's left shoulder than at her face. "Yeah," he answers, equally quiet. "I just...thought you...I don't know. You probably want me to leave you the heck alone, dontcha?"

Paige pulls at her sleeves of her shirt, yanking them over her knuckles. "Thank you for telling me," she replies honestly. "I appreciate it."

Sam can't decide if he should say something else, or leave it at that. Not quite realizing just how stupid they're both acting, he pushes onward. "It wasn't messy. Just. Decided we're better off as friends like we always were before. No time for each other, and the heat just kinda. Fi--" he catches himself before he goes too far, not really knowing what Paige is willing to stand there and listen to. She didn't tell him to get lost, but she also didn't tell him to come in and sit down and spill the beans.

Paige seems content to neither push him away nor draw him any closer. "Then you were both very mature about the matter and dealt with it accordingly. It was the smart thing to do." She nods, and her words are truthful. "I hadn't even heard about it yet."

"Well, we didn't really need to. Broadcast it or anythin', since not much is gonna be different. And it just happened and I don't know..." It's pretty easy to tell that there are other things Sam wants to say and either can't, won't, or isn't sure about them.

"Mhm?" Paige hummed, an eyebrow raised.

He stares at the wall for an uncomfortable minute, and decides to go ahead with it. "Nothin'. Just wondered if we're gonna go on pretending like we're not-not-talking. After this, I mean."

Paige smiles oddly and tilts her head. "There's no pretending, Sam, at least not on my part. We're not talking."

"Pretending that we're not not-talking, Paige. Apparently we're not listening, either," he clarifies, disconcerted by her odd smile.

"Apparently you're just dense, then. I am not pretending that we're not not talking. I am fully aware of, and have just moments ago admitted to, it. You are pretending that we're not not talking," Paige replies in a smooth tone. "Should I repeat that? The overuse of not not is confusing to the best of us."

Sam shakes his head, hardly believing they're actually having this conversation. "To everyone else, Paige, nothin's wrong. But nevermind, 's not important. The point is that we ain't talking, and I want to know if we're going to keep it up, or if I can joke with Gee again someday."

Paige smiles sadly at him, patting his shoulder. "You can call me Gee when you stop calling my boyfriends whores, brother darling."

Sam looks taken aback, knowing that Paige knows he would never say that. "I never called anyone a w-whore."

"I'm sorry. You're right, you didn't," Paige admitted, pulling back her hand. "You merely insinuated to it."

Sam shakes his head, not quite sure how to explain himself. "I'm sorry, too. Look. I know I offended you both, an' I can't help that. But you can't deny that your whole...relationship...ain't quite the norm, and it's causin' you a lot of trouble you wouldn'a had otherwise."

Paige stares at him for a long moment. "You are giving me a lecture about normalacy. You, an X-Men, mutant, freak if you want, are giving me a lecture about normalacy. How it would be easier."

Sam looks horrified, taking a step towards Paige and putting his hands on her shoulders. "Paige. I...I don'. How can you just say that? God has blessed us with these amazing gifts, and He wants us to be this way, to help everyone else less fortunate than we are. You prayed for years, Paige, to be like this. To be like me. He answered your prayers, Gee, and he gave you this ability...we're not freaks. We're children of God just like everyone else, and life may not be easy, but He is here to help us and guide us and...and. How c'n you possibly compare that to choosing who to date? Goin' out with someone who causes you pain is not the same as being one of the X-Men."

"Sam, do you ever listen to me? Ever? Or do you just like to pick out what you want to hear?" Paige shakes her head and takes a step back, wrenching her shoulders away. "I can't even explain myself to you because you just don't, can't listen. I'm sure you have the best in mind but..." She shakes her head, wrapping her arms about herself. "I need people in my life who will challenge me but support my decision in the end, no matter what it is. You don't seem willing to give me that. Maybe when I'm a little bit tougher we can try this again, okay?"

Sam holds his face in his hands for a moment, so confused and frustrated he can hardly respond. "Yeah, okay, sure. Fine." He sighs with resignation and walks back down the hall, the way he came. "Later, then."

"Love you. See you later." Paige didn't wait for an answer, or his possible lack of, and shut the door quickly, resting her forehead against it with her eyes closed.

Turning his head briefly just in time to see the door close, he answers "Love you, too," to the empty hall.