Sam and Paige have A Talk

[x-cannonball.livejournal.com]

Around October 4th...

Paige expected to find someone in the television room when she went downstairs. There was always at least one person in there these days; everyone needed a little cheering up or down time. She didn’t, however, expect to find her brother sitting there, watching country music videos in wide screen surround sound. The room was void other than him, but she checked both ways just in case before taking a running dive into his lap.


“Hiya Sammy! Did you go and frighten everyone away by singing along again?”


Managing to just barely suppress a not-too-manly yelp, Sam dumped Paige off his lap with grunt. "Geeze, you could give a guy a little warnin', dontcha think?" He chuckled in spite of himself, jolted from his trance. "And even if I was singin' along, I ain't that bad. Everyone else's just busy or somethin', I reckon."


Looking up at him from the ground, Paige gave him her best pout, arms crossed. She betrayed herself by showing off her teeth in a wide grin. “You are just no fun at all. None. Zip and zero. What am I going to do when the brats mail me and ask how you’re doing? Do you think I want to have to tell them that their favourite older brother has become no fun? Think of the children.”


Sam smirked at her, raising an eyebrow, "Well, it won't be too hard on them. They've experienced you already, so they know what it's like." Reaching out a strong arm, he pulled her back onto the couch, pressing her to his side with a sigh.


Oofing dramatically, Paige snuggled in after giving him a quick punch to the arm. “I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that, otherwise I’d have to get up and leave. And I like this couch.”


"Well ain't you just snippy..." He smacked at her playfully, simultaneously taking a careful look at her face. "So. What's on your mind, baby Gee?"


“Not too much, brother darling. Just came down to enjoy some of the wonderful company of my fellow students and you happened to be here instead.” She softened the teasing blow with a giggle and a tossing of the hair. “What about yourself?”


"Mm...just gettin' my mind off things, takin' a break. I'm tired as a dog on Sunday afternoon." He glanced casually at the walls, the TV, then back to Paige. "And I think there's more than not too much. But I don't guess you'd tell me what it is, would you?"


Paige smiled warmly at him, tilting her head. “If I knew what you were talking about I’d most likely share.”


He noded, a little disappointed. "Thought so. As if I couldn't tell when somethin's up after knowing you your whole life. 'Sokay, though. Maybe you just haven't figured out for yourself yet." He gave her a sidelong look.
"It's not..." Cocking his head to the side, his hoped his tone implied what he meant.


"You, my dear, have been hanging out with Alison for too long. I really just do not under stand hidden meanings." She shook her head, trying to smile a little. "So, could you please stop speaking to me in riddles? I could answer plainly and honestly then."


Rolling his eyes, Sam blurted out with a raised voice, "Fine! Gee, are you still lettin' Jono get to you?"


Switching from taken aback, to hurt, to embarrassed and back again, Paige stared at him for several heartbeats before answering. “I am letting him get to me. But he’s letting me get to him too. Needless to say, I don’t mind too much.” She pulled away, folding her arms over her chest protectively.


Sam grabbed her shoulder lightly, concern creasing his face. "Paige. What are you saying?"


“I’m saying I like him. And there’s a possibly that he likes me too.”” She shrugged; raising his hand up and lowering it back down again. A small smile, shy and embarrassed, crossed her features. “I make it sound so grade school.”


Her smile softening him a little, Sam shook his head, breathing a deep sigh. After a moment, he set his mouth in a grim line. "Paige...I warned you about this! You know I warned you. I don' want you puttin' your heart in the hands of someone who could just...crush it! As your older brother, it's practic'ly my job to put my foot down and harass him and lock you up in your room for your whole life..." Sliding his hands over his face, he groaned in the back of his throat, "But I want you to be happy, too. So what'm I s'posed to do?"


“Does that mean that I’m not allowed to see you anymore? Or Ali? Or, well, anyone in this school? Because whether they know it or not, every single one of them holds a piece of my heart in their hands and every single one of them has the power to crush it.” Paige regarded him a distant fashion, glad he had moved his hand so she didn’t have to. “You can’t pick and chose who you’re going to protect me from, Sam. Heck, you can’t really protect me at all anymore. Not the way you used to, you just need to realize that."


"I do, that's the whole problem." He shrugged, sagging back against the couch. "It's real hard to get used to. I dunno, I'm not good with big changes 'n stuff..." He glanced at her, a little pain in his eyes, but also the beginnings of acceptance.


“It’s not that big of a change, really. You just decided not to see all the little ones leading up to this,” Paige said sternly. Her voice softened as she looked at him, gnawing lightly at her lip. “Sam, I’ll always be your little sister, that will never change, but… I have to grow up too.”


"I guess the little ones should be glad I ain't at home anymore, or I'd turn all my older-brothering on them, since you're gettin' all grown up," his saddened look fades and he chucks Paige gently on the arm.


Paige smiled, letting him deck her playfully before giving him one of her own. “Hey, I’m not going out to pick out a ring or something.”


Sam raised an eyebrow, about to make a comment about getting married before certain events took place...but silenced himself before he could be too blatantly hypocritical. "Well, that's good at least."


“Come on, stop looking like I just offered to take a B instead of an A on a paper, here. Or is there something I should know about? Some horrible gene that you’re keeping a secret from me?” She tried to smile teasingly, but his look before made it come out somewhat dull and worried.


Trying to ignore that particular thought as much as he could, he laughed casually, "Just don't let him take you to any of those weird parties Emma insists on providing access to."


“Who says I don’t have a secret fetish for leather, hm? It would certainly explain a lot…” she trailed off suggestively, grinning with all her teeth.


Blinking owlishly, Sam shook his head. "I'd better leave right now before I lose control and lock you in your room," he muttered, standing and stretching. He glanced at the TV and reaches for the remote, shutting it off with a click.


Paige laughed in a sort of giddy fashion. “More television for me.” She stretched at the last minute, wrapping her ankles around his knee and smiled up at him. “I love you, Sammy. Lots and no matter what you do. Okay?”


"Same, Gee. Love forever and ever." He mussed her hair with a soft smile, and waved as he sauntered out of the TV room to resume his work. His step seemed lighter, and his mind seemed clearer than it had in a long time.