Season 6 - The Reunion

An Alex B plot episode. Who would have guessed! Season 6 to this point has been completely Palex-less. We see that Alex is back at Degrassi, trying to beef up her grades to try and get into university. It would appear that all that Paige nagging paid off, its just too bad they're not together anymore to celebrate the fruits of Alex's labor. The fandom might have gone into heart failure if we'd actually been shown THAT though. But oh what a way to go. Anyway, after a test, Miss Hatzilakos sidles up next to Alex, and oh so subtley reminds her that extracurriculars look great on college applications, and unfortunately Alex doesn't have any. So she tries to persuade her to join the lacrosse team. Apparently Alex was always a natural in gym class. Our favorite badass declines, but with a smile on her face, which leads us to believe that she's actually contemplating it.

We cut to the Dot, where Paige is back from Banting for a bit, and it would appear as though this is the first time Paige and Alex have seen each other since Paige moved away. She immediately grills Alex on if she's seeing anyone, if she knows the person, if she's cute. Paige wants all the details. Alex is a resident of single boring lameland though. She mentions how school is the only thing going for her right now, and how Miss H wants her to join the lacrosse team. Paige finds that completely inconceivable. Alex and team sports just don't mesh. Alex shares with Paige that she's trying to be a nicer, gentler version of her former self. And the subtext underlying that goes completely over Paige's head, she just scoffs and makes a crack about tigers not being able to change their spots. Poor Alex looks hurt, because all this change screams of side effect of Palex loving. But Paige doesn't get that. That seems to motivate Alex to prove Paige wrong, so she does join the team afterall. But she immediately runs into an issue with an underclassman named Serena. They butt heads immediately, and Alex can't figure out what has crawled up the girl's butt. Eventually we find out that BadAss!Alex wronged the girl back when she was teensy weensie freshman. Alex apologizes, but that doesn't seem good enough. Eh, who cares about Serena anway, we saw Palex for the first time all season!

Poor Paige. She apparently can't hack it at Banting. Because she's sitting in class and having a panic attack. It escalates to the point where she ends up running out of the room and trying to pull herself together in the stairwell. It's looking more and more like it was a good thing Alex didn't uproot her life to move to Kingston. Speaking of our favorite badass, she apparently is on Paige's mind as well. Staring at an adorable picture of Alex, Paige picks up her cell and calls her ex girlfriend. Unfortunately she just reaches her voicemail, but she does leave a rather cryptic message about feeling as though her lungs are collapsing and her ribcage is being crushed. And then she leaves off, almost begging in the hope that Alex will be at Darco's Thanksgiving soiree that weekend. Well, we've always known Paige to be a bit on the dramatic side afterall. A meet with her professor ends up with a pile of take home work for the weekend.

Upon arrival at Darco's, Paige gives Dylan a kiss, Marco a hug, and Alex a freeze out. Yeah, Alex wasn't all that happy about it either. But as evidence of the new softer gentler Alex, she presents Paige with her welcome home banner. Paige of course has to make fun of it, accusing Alex of being hostile. Wait now, who didn't hug who? In any case, Alex insists that it's not hostility, it's affection. And the Palex fandom swoons once again. Can I have an Alex too? Paige sits down to study, but Alex has other ides, they do need to catch up afterall. We skip ahead to later that night. No, get your heads out of the gutter, we're not THAT lucky. But after Marco heads up for some hot manlove with Dylan, Paige invites Alex to have a sleepover. After a naughty little smile from Alex, she agrees. Oh yeah, these two were TOTALLY sleeping together. Alex shares the news that she now has a girlfriend, no longer a member of single boring lameland apparently. Paige doesn't believe her. She makes one wonder about her sanity. Alex is hot, why would she be single? Alex doesn't push the issue, instead confessing that Paige might be getting some company at Banting next year. She's apparently become quite the student. Paige is disbelieving at first, but she gets over it, snuggling up on Alex's lap and going to sleep. Ah, gotta love the comfort level they still have with one another.

Cut to the next morning, Palex is on the couch semi snuggling. Until Paige wakes up and realizes that she didn't get any studying done. Alex rolls off the couch and heads into the kitchen, to the grilling of Marco on why she slept over. Paige meanwhile is freaking out over her schoolwork, complicated by her mother showing up, and putting even more pressure on her. Alex, not realizing that Paige is becoming prone to panic attacks, makes fun of her in the middle of one. But she quickly figures out that something is not right and goes to make it up to her and also to find out what's wrong. She tries to sweet talk Paige, but our blonde scholar isn't having any of it. Mid panic attack, she bites poor Alex's head off, bringing her to tears. Alex takes off, leaving Paige alone to freak out. She finally comes out of the bathroom to see Darco arguing about the Thanksgiving dinner. Paige relieves them of the stress though, insisting on making it herself.

Flash forward to dinner, Marco and Paige and Dylan's parents are gathered around the table, when Alex comes in, new not so fake girlfriend in tow. Paige bites her head off once again, obviously a little thrown by the fact that Alex really wasn't making her new relationship up. Paige escapes to the kitchen to bring the turkey in, which, as a karmic payback no doubt, blows up the second she sinks the knife in. Alex laughs, which ends up being slightly uncalled for, but she still is Alex afterall. After a conversation with Marco, Paige packs up and heads back to Banting. In her dorm room, she sits staring at her completely untouched assigments. In a truly Paige move, she impetuously tosses everything into the garbage can, along with her forbidden candle. And promptly catches her dorm room on fire. Of course its a to be continued.

So Paige didn't burn down her ENTIRE dorm room. Just like, well, half of it. And she STILL doesn't have any of her assignments completed. On her way to her professor's classroom to beg and plead for yet another extension, her cell rings. Surprise surprise, its Alex, calling to apologize for being obnoxious at Thanksgiving. Paige forgives and forgets easily, asking Alex how she's going to celebrate her latest A plus in biology. Alex replies that she's not doing anything special, just having dinner with her girlfriend at the Dot. And we're given a glimpse of just how much Alex truly values her current relationship. Yeah, she's still completely hung up on Paige. The girls hang up just as ProfessorCrankyGrumpPants walks up to Paige, basically telling her that there will be no extension, her paper needs to be in by that afternoon or else. Paige decides that or else is too scary, so after not being able to punch much of anything out in her word program, she surfs online and ends up buying an essay. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't the only with the same idea. She promptly gets a zero from CrankyGrumpPants, who was already familiar with the paper and immediately knew it was plagarized. Paige is fed up, she tells the prof off and storms out.

We cut to Alex scarfing down a hamburger while her girlfriend Carla looks on in horror. Dear God, red meat! Out of nowhere, Paige floats in and starts poaching Alex's drink. Alex wonders what she's doing in Toronto in the middle of the week, but Paige skirts around the mini interrogation, instead wanting to celebrate Alex's glorious studiousness. And apparently bonding with Carla as well, much to Alex's bemusement. Palex head back to Casa de Nunez, where Alex offers to make Paige a couchbed, but not without first questioning why Paige isn't staying with Darco. Paige balks at first, saying it simply because its a full house now that the holiday is over. But Alex knows her better than that. Paige admits that she really did just need herself a nice heaping helping of Alex goodness. After a few moments of friendly cuteness, Alex goes to tuck Paige in for the night. Paige seems to want a bit more though, like a goodnight kiss. She pulls Alex down and gives her a smooch. Alex is surprised, and wonders what Paige was thinking. And Paige, once again being Paige, shrugs it off, sending Alex off to bed pissy.

The next morning, as penance, Paige makes Alex and family waffles. Alex tries to get her to talk about the kiss, but yeah, no go. So she tries to worm out the real reason Paige is in Toronto instead. That fails just as miserably. But before running out the door, Paige tells Alex to rally the troops for kareoke night, she's got some news she wants to share. Feeling rejected, and knowing something is going on with her ex, Alex quietly contemplates all the scenarios. Paige meanwhile heads off to the admissions office at Toronto University. Things don't go as planned though, she needs her Banting transcripts to get in. Transcripts that more than likely will reflect her plagarism. Upset Paige breaks down in her car, sobbing in frustration. She pulls herself together to meet the gang for chinese and kareoke. A curious combination no doubt. She comes up with some fake story of how she got a full ride to TU and is moving back home. From the look on Alex's face, she doesn't believe a word of it.

Later, as Paige is filling up her gas tank(the Banting scholar ran out of gas? Very curious), Alex confronts her once again. We see just how well Alex knows Paige, but yet again, she gets the brush off. While searching for paper towels in the trunk though, she finds Paige's failed tests and botched papers for her classes. Paige is unaware, though I'm not sure how considering the look on Alex's face is clearly full of disappointment and hurt. The next day Palex is sitting in the Dot, Paige looking through the classifieds for a cozy little apartment for two. Girlfriend or not, she's determined to live with Alex. Her potential roomate is distracted though, and we soon find out why. She's brought in re-inforcements, in the form of Paige's mother. Paige of course feels blindsided and betrayed, but Alex does the mature responsible thing, and lets mother and daughter alone to talk. Once outside, Paige give sher mother a half hearted hug, the talk happening offscreen.

Alex is sitting solemnly on a bench, probably just waiting for Paige to tear her apart. But the lashing out doesn't really come. Alex explains why she ratted her out. Paige has been playing games since she arrived back in Toronto for Thanksgiving, and by telling her mother, it was the only way Alex knew to finally get the truth out, one way or another. Paige accepts that, wondering where she goes from here. All Alex can do is ask her want she really wants to do with her life. As we fade out on Paige's contemplation, we all wonder just where Palex is heading next as well.

The episode opens with Paige playing hostess at a going away party for Dylan. He's heading off to Europe to play hockey, much to Marco's distress. After a mini conversation with Jimmy and Spinner regarding a job managing t-shirts for them, Paige runs into Alex in the kitchen. We find out she's moving into the Darco Den of Lurve. Paige immediately wonders where Alex's girlfriend is. Cause ya know, that's SO normal, asking every two minutes where your ex's current is. You're not fooling anyone Paige. Paige randomly mentions that she's going through a romantic dry spell, and then looks to Alex for.....well comfort, advice or some hot reunion sex, we don't really know. But Alex either doesn't fall for it, or doesn't want to get burned, offers to help Paige look for a hot guy or two to water her desert(minds out of the gutter people!). Unfortunately we're treated to Spinner making bedroom eyes at Paige, with Alex rolling her eyes in the backround. Yeah Alex, we know, we don't understand how Paige can go from you to Furby either.

Next we see Paige, newly hired as the t-shirt boys new shop manager. She's hitting Ellie's boyfriend for ad space in the campus paper. And being single and all, immediately flirts with him. Jesse seems to forget he has a girlfriend and flirts back, and we watch on, rolling our eyes, seeing the set up a mile away. Alex meanwhile is going ahead fullsteam with Project Paige. On the search for guys, but not before ever so sneakily asking Paige quickly that she is indeed looking for dudes, not an Alex replacement with another chick. Paige confirms that her days of bisexuality are past, men only need apply. Cue Spinner slithering his way to meet Paige for his date, much to Alex's horror. Or not horror so much as complete disbelief. Yep, we're still with you Lexi. Paige bids Alex goodbye, leaving a parting shot for Carla as well, with Alex looking on mournfully. And we see the first real insinuation that Alex is indeed jealous as all hell. Oh yeah, she wants Paige back. This could prove interesting. Paige goes on her 'date' with Spinner, smooching him a few times just to test our gag reflexes. They agree to be casual. Friends with benefits. Alex finds it funny when Paige recounts her afternoon at the mall. Not so funny though when Jesse pops up to show Paige the ad he ran in the newspaper for her. Plus a little article on t-shirt boys as well. Well wasn't that just so sweet of him. There's that gag reflex again. Alex doesn't hide her annoyance, bringing up Ellie, which earns an annoyed glare from Paige. Who seems to STILL be completely unaware of Alex's growing jealousy. We know you're blonde hon, but come on! Jesse oh so casually asks Paige to see some band at a local university bar. Paige gets all excited at the prospect of dual dating Spinner and Ellie's newly minted ex. Poor Alex, she's not a happy camper at all. We won't go into details about the 'date' with Jesse. Yawn worthy describes it just well enough. And there is no dancing for Paige, unless it's with Alex, m'kay Degrassi writers? K thanks.

Back to t-shirt land we go, where Paige has talked Alex into modeling for the fashion show at the mall. This is a key scene, just for the fact that the audience can truly appreciated just how whipped Alex really is. Paige has her wearing a pink hoodie. A PINK hoodie. The things that girl will do for Paige seem endless. As they discuss Paige's plan for double dating her boys that night, Alex oh so subtley asks her out too. Ok, not asks her out so much as invites her over for a 'post game wrap up'. We're hoping that translates to Alex convincing Paige to come back over the fence from Boysville. Paige nods her head, turning Alex back around to fix her sweatshirt. In the process, fixing her hair, leaning her head on her shoulder and making 80's movie references while smiling away. Remember Paige, Alex is your ex, not your current? Yeah, we forgot there for a second too.

Jump to the next afternoon, because we'll just pretend Paige making out with Spinner AND Jesse never happened, it's better for one's mental health that way. We see Alex trudging up to the Squatch Wear both, clad in her pink hoodie, black shirt underneath of course. She IS Alex afterall. Uh oh, trouble in paradise, she's not real happy with Paigey. And with good reason, apparently she got stood up for wrap ups and whatnot because Paige couldn't pull herself away from Jesse. Or Spinner. Well one of them anyway. She apologizes half heartedly to Alex, but it's not good enough. Alex is still angry, and jealous too, lets not forget that part. Paige goes on about how Jesse might be special, and she might really like him, rubbing salt in poor Alex's gaping chest wound. Can Paige REALLY not tell what's going on with her former girlfriend? Cause at this point it's pretty obvious to everyone else. Alex storms off, just as Spinner and Jesse butt heads in regards to Paige. Spinner is being all needy and annoying, and Jesse is being Mr.Smooth. At this point, Jesse is the lesser of two evils. But they're still evil, lets not forget that. Paige starts having another panic attack, not able to juggle her man candy as well as she would have liked. Alex swoops in for the rescue, calming her down by sweetly petting her hair. Super cute, but unfortunately we have to cut to Spinner, way to kill the Palex mojo Degrassi. Alex breaks up the testosterone match, sending each boy to their corner, and then once again storming away before Paige can apologize.

Apparently the fashion show was a roaring success, because the gang is celebrating at the Dot. Alex looks positively miserable once again as Paige rambles on about her Spinner vs. Jesse dilemma. Not able to take it anymore, we see a glipse of the badass version of Alex that Paige had tamed. She storms out the back door, but this time Paige chases after her. She wants an apology for Alex's behavior, and once she gets a half hearted one, she demands an explanation about Alex's recent behavior. Yes, apparently she is THAT blonde. Alex grabs her and plants a passionate but way too short kiss on a surprised Paige, before declaring her love. Whoa. So wasn't expecting that. A teary Alex explains that seeing Paige date guys, casually at least, was a much better alternative to having her fall for another girl. Paige, being Paige, shoots our poor Lexi down, but not before almost reciprocating the I Love You. Yes Paige, we're onto you now. She turns tail, leaving Alex standing alone in the alleyway.

We last saw our beloved Palex falling apart at the seams. Or moreso, Paige stomping all over Alex's heart. Only the true angst of super couples, right? We can hope so. This episode starts off with Paige and Alex hanging out with Alex's mom and the bum boyfriend. Um, how did THAT happen exactly? We go from Paige shooting Alex completely down to them hanging out, folding t-shirts and being all in personal space-y. Sounds like there's a missing scene somewhere out there. Maybe something to look forward to from the DVDs. In any case, before they have a chance to start randomly making out on the kitchen table, there is a knock at the door. Uh oh, the boys in blue have come to arrest Chad for credit card theft, among other things. Alex is visibly upset, and understandably embarrassed. Paige asks her if she's ok, before offering to stay and watch tv. And we can hope, maybe snuggle too. But Alex's pride gets in the way and she asks her to leave. Paige obliges, looking worried.

The next morning we see Alex hunkered down studying when he mother walks in the door, back from the Toronto PD. Chad apparently didn't just steal credit cards, he stole from his girlfriend. Although Emily admits to giving him his own card, linked to her account. Love makes you blind, but dumb as well? Alex is upset, naturally, wondering like the rest of us how she managed to avoid getting the stupid gene from her mother. Six thousand dollars worth of stupid. Alex vows to help her mother get them out of the hole she dug by trusting her drunken boyfriend. Reason number 1009 why we love Alex, she's incredibly loyal to the only family she's got, even when her mom is a dumbass. Who wouldn't want someone like that? Yes Paige, we're looking at you. That loyalty is proven by our next glimpse at loveable Alex. She's once again donning her theatre polyester, apparently getting her job back shoveling popcorn and pumping the ooey gluey nacho cheese for demanding customers. Alex is hard at work when Paige strolls up, lamenting about not missing said cheese pump. Alex is once again visibly embarrassed, not wanting Paige to see her in her less than flattering uniform. Which considering they worked together there before, is cute, yet not exactly logical. And no reason to worry there hun, you're hot no matter what you're wearing. Paige seems to agree but still offers Alex a job peddling t-shirts. We know it's just her way of asking Alex to come spend eight hours a day with her. Alex declines, but tosses out the info on her mom's boyfriend being an ass and needing cash fast. Paige offers to lend her what she can, but as expected, Alex immediately refuses to accept help. Paige nods, letting it go, knowing Alex far too well. Money issues forgotten, Paige leans down on the counter, forgetting she's not wearing a revealing top, therefore not being able to reel Alex in that way. So she tries a different tactic, oh so subtley asking if Alex is still with Carla. Because all ex girlfriends REPEATEDLY ask where the new girlfriend is. That's very normal. Paigey, you're really starting to show your hand. Alex casually mentions that they've broken up, citing the ever popular 'nothing in common' as the reason. The ability to be less than subtle is apparently catching. Those two smooches lately must have passed it along to Alex. Paige is happy to hear that and bans Alex's newly minted ex from attending her house warming party. The girls smile at each other, the invisible little bubble above both their heads repeatedly playing the vision of movie premiere naughty dances no doubt.

Later that night Paige is serving Hor'dourves when Alex shows up, Paige smiling brightly upon spotting her. Until she sees that she's brought guests, in the form of Jay and his new girlfriend. Alex flashes Paige(unfortunately not THAT way), asking her quietly where she can change out of her theatre uniform. Before Paige can reply, presumably to offer up her bedroom, Jay jumps into the conversation, mentioning that his girlfriend's place of employment is hiring. Paige bristles, making a caustic remark about it being a strip club. Who knew Ms. Michalchuk was psychic. Mel, the girlfriend, assures Alex that she's just a waitress, staying fully clothed the entire time. She promises to get Alex an interview at Club Zanzibar. Alex looks intrigued, the tip haul already cha chinging in her head, while Paige looks unsettled. Alex needs money, and fast, so the next time we see her, she's at Zanzibar, having obviously gotten the job. She goes up to the bar to thank Mel when the owner, Vlad, slithers over to welcome her to his staff. He indicates that he'd much rather have her as one of his exotic dancers, instead of a waitress, but Alex respectfully declines, shrugging off the idea of stripping as ludicrous.

We next see Alex in a slinky little cocktail dress, already raking in the moola apparently. Another conversation with Mel leads to the ethics of stripping yet again, leaving Alex pondering what could make a woman go to such lengths. Her shift done, she heads home, finding a depressed Emily counting coins. Alex's exuberance at her tip heavy payload vanishes when her mother presents the eviction notice to her. An argument ensues, with Alex wondering what they can do now to keep from getting tossed on the streets. She comes to one conclusion. Yep, you guessed it. And hello Deanna Casaluce. The girl was born to wear the red mini skirt she's donning as she practices her stripper moves in front of a full length mirror. There is a knock on the door, and the fandom at large is crossing their fingers and toes that it's Paige. Unfortunately we're not that lucky. It's Mel, who Alex has called to help her perfect her poll dancing routine. Mel can barely watch. Not sure why considering again, this IS Deanna. Sure, it's a little awkward, but it's supposed to be afterall. Alex finally realizes Mel isn't really paying attention, instead trying to hold in her laughter. After a brief discussion that something, anything, has to be better than stripping, the conversation turns to Alex asking Paige for help. Which she once again resolutely refuses to do.

Next we see Paige playing tutor to Alex, helping her cram for her exams, after they've obviously had a quaint little romantic dinner evidenced by the table set only for two as the camera pans in. Alex needs a break from the interworkings of mitochondria and the like, so she gets up to grab some coffee in the kitchen. Paige's eyes follow her as she goes, of course, who's wouldn't? She drops the bomb that she has some news, she broke up with Jesse. Alex stops midpour, surprised. Not sure why, since just about everyone, Palex fan or no, was totally expecting that. When asked why, Paige uses the same excuse Alex made up for her breakup with Carla. Hmm, yes, we believe you Paige, THAT's the only reason why you're not with Ellie's man meat anymore. It certanily doesn't have anything to do with the girl you've been eyeing up all episode long. Alex tries to be casual, telling Paige that she sounds like she has everything figured out. Oh we bet you do Paige. Doubtful that Alex cooked the little pre-study date dinner for two. Paige gets up, inching her way towards Alex, recounting for the audience how Princess!Paige was supposed to be at Banting, earning her MBA, making new friends and sipping cosmos with airheads. But instead of being where she's supposed to be, she's with Alex. And nothing could feel more right. Paige really isn't sure why that is, though ask any Palex fan and they'd drop you a list of at least a hundred reasons on the spot. Instead, Paige decides to see if Alex's lips hold any of the answers. And so we get our third kiss of the season, even though the girls aren't really back together. Not too shabby really. Unfortunately Alex pulls away quickly, hurt easily coloring her features. Awesome job Deanna! *cough* Anyway, poor Alex is tired of the push and pull that Paige keeps playing. I want you, I don't, come here, go away. It's easy to see how she would be feeling this way, it's been the name of the game since 'Free Falling'. Paige insists that it's easier for Alex, being comfortable in her skin as a lesbian, whereas she herself doesn't know what label to slap on. Alex argues that she doesn't need a label, but Paige disagrees. Heck, who wouldn't want to wear an 'Alexsexual' stamp on their forehead? But that's besides the point, she's worried about what her parents will think, already having one gay child. And that answers the year long question on if Paige had ever told the rents' that she was involved with Alex. Apparently a resounding 'we snuck around for over two months' is the answer. The argument spirals downward from there, Paige trying to make Alex understand that she can't possibly realize the pressure she's under, her parents want grandkids someday. Which is an interesting tidbit, it definitely shows that Paige has been thinking of making babies with Alex in the future, the equipment is just lacking. Jokes aside, this is a small, yet pivotal piece of information, tacked on to the end of an argument that never would have happened with Season 5 Palex. In it we see that Paige has definitely been thinking of long term future plans, that she obviously wants Alex to be a part of. And it seems that's the crux of her indecision. Because if she decides to be with Alex, it's going to be for the long haul, and that will have direct consequences with her parents plans for her future. It's a heartbreaking conversation, but something that on the whole, gives the fans faith that this is indeed deeper than a high school relationship. Alex unfortunately is triggered by the word 'pressure', spinning around on Paige, angry that she could insinuate the grandchild issue is more important than her own predicament. But of course Paige doesn't understand the outburst, because Alex has been a little less than open about how dire her situation is. Paige offers comfort to a now crying Alex, but she's shrugged off. She can't break her heart, and then comfort Alex all in the same night it would seem. Lets not forget who broke up with who all those months ago though Alex.

A few nights later we assume, Alex is returning home from work, her mother couch surfiing. Real productive there Emily *glares*. Apparently her attempt at seducing the building manager failed. Huh, wonder why that could have been. The Nunez girls are facing imminent eviction, but Alex knows what she can do to save them from going back to the women's shelter they're obviously familiar with. We next see Alex, all slutted out, prepared to debut herself, or rather 'Lextasy', at Zanzibar. Mel comes in, trying to talk her out of it, wondering what could have changed Alex's mind on the ethics of exotic dancing so dramatically. Alex is out of options though, she's backed into a corner and this is the only way to keep her mother and herself off the streets. So when the announcer introduces her, Alex slips the 'Lextasy' mask on, and proceeds to the stage. Our final glimpse of her is a shadowed image of Alex dropping her robe as she swings around the stage end poll.

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