xp_logs | LOG: Marie and Jane, plotting

Jane seeks Marie out to find out how she can help Paige, Jono, and Angelo.

In her suite, after classes, Marie was taking the time to check over Artie's essay for Junior English.

"You've got everything right here, honey," she told the boy. "Good work. Your spelling is great! Go on and find Miles now, he'll be waiting." She handed him his essay as he hopped off his chair and the gangly boy left the suite at a full run, charging off to see his best friend. Marie shook her head at the thunder of Artie's feet on the floor - he was such a noisy kid sometimes - and turned back to the assignments in front of her.

Jane knocked on the open door and came in just as Artie ran out. "Hi, Marie. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure." Marie greeted Jane with a smile and pushed the papers aside. "Close the door if you like."

Jane closed the door solemnly, just in case one of the parties she was hoping to discuss with Marie should happen by. "So, I was talking to Angelo earlier. He's missing Paige. And I've heard that Jono is being more sarcastic than usual, so he's probably missing Paige, too. And I know that she's missing them. And I was thinking that maybe she had to get away because of everything between them? Well, I dunno. But you sent out those emails and I said I'd help, but I don't know how. What can I do for them?" She looked at Marie helplessly.

Marie pointed at a chair next to her at the table. "Have a seat if you want," she offered. "I don't know why Paige left - she's not a runner, though, so I think there must be something up at home. How to help? Well, a good swift kick in the ass isn't really on the agenda, though it works for some people. I hardly know what to say to Paige because she doesn't talk much about anything that's bothering her."

Jane sat down with a sigh. "I guess I don't really understand what is going on with them, anyway. She loves them both and they love her, so what is the problem?"

"I don't see a problem, personally," Marie said with a shrug. "But relationships are hard, even if there's just two people and they're completely committed to each other. And Paige is from a pretty traditional background, so maybe she feels it's not something she can cope with. I just see a real stand-off there and it's not fair to the boys on one level, even though this is still their choice."

"Why would it not be fair? Love is love, right?" Jane was frankly confused. "And what does 'traditional background' mean? Why would that matter?"

"I mean not fair right now that they're stuck in a kind of limbo, waiting for her to be okay with things. It's not her fault, I just feel bad for them. And traditional means... well, her family seems to be the 'one man, one woman, forever' kind of family. Not very flexible. And she loves her family a lot," Marie explained. "This kind of thing could make it hard."

"Oh." Families must be complicated, Jane thought. She liked her family here, although she wouldn't mind knowing what she'd had before her memory loss. "Well, is there anything that I could to to make it easier for her? For them? Do you know?"

"Oh, honey, that is the million dollar question. Paige is a slippery one to talk to, but you know..." Marie eyed Jane speculatively. "You might be the one to get her to talk because you can ask questions that other people can't get away with."

Jane grinned. She knew that. She didn't know a lot of things about the world, so she was always asking questions that made people think about the world. "Okay. What should I ask?"

"Why not just ask her what you've been asking me? Why aren't the three of them together? Can people have relationships like that? What does she want? Just be yourself, Jane. You are the girl of many good questions." Marie smiled warmly. "And many surprises."

"Okay!" Jane jumped up, ready to go on her mission. As soon as Paige was back, she would be cornered and pestered with questions. Maybe it would help. "Thank you, Marie!"

"Don't be hurt it she gets snappy at you, okay?" Marie warned. "But I think it'll go well. I don't know how anyone could get grumpy at you."

"Right. Don't worry, I understand that she might be snappy. I'll be okay. I just hope she comes back soon."