[b][center][h2]Paige Kennedy[/h2][/center][/b]

Paige looked from the window as the streets went past. She had spoken little since they left the lobby of the high-rise and though she still had Milo’s coat over her shoulders, she only briefly glanced in his direction. Coming down from the high of the night was colliding with a mixture of emotions and fatigue that she could see in her reflection from the dim backseat. The foremost of which was guilt. [i]Who are you even, Paige?[/i] A voice continued to question. She thought about Ana, still in Delta and she felt lower than dirt. She still hadn’t told her about Milo and now she felt in her heart like she was driving closer to a cliff and had just hung two tires over the edge before jerking the wheel back. The thoughts were quickly sobering and when her building came up in sight, she was relieved. Maybe going back to work tomorrow was the best thing.

When the car pulled up, she knew she would have to acknowledge him again and she did her best to gather some resolve to face him. “Thanks for the dinner and the drinks.” She said and squeezed his wrist above the sleeve a couple times, not wanting to touch his hand. The gesture was simple enough, though she still felt like it was another betrayal. Her eyes looked at his again only momentarily as their gaze collided once more and she got out of the car leaving his jacket behind. A cutting gust of wind whipped through the air and bit against her exposed skin as she walked away. Gritting her teeth, she hung on to her purse and crossed her arms in a paltry defense against cold that nearly took her breath away. When she made it into the lobby, she stopped and rubbed her exposed arms attempting to regain some warmth and was thankful that no one had seen her. 

Stepping around a maintenance sign for one of the elevators she slapped the button on the next one open and waited, still shivering. She took her phone out and read Sio’s text. At least she looked like she was having a good time, but her question about Milo’s whereabouts hit her with another pang of guilt. [i][b]You[/b] lack integrity, Paige[/i]… the same voice from before barked as soon as she read the words. Sighing in exasperation, she thought about inviting Sio over as the doors opened, again thankfully empty, but the thought of her warm bed began to overrule everything else. [b][i]Just got back in, you can tell me about it tomorrow, kinda tired[/i][/b]. She texted back. 

Now knowing exactly where the switch was, she turned on the light and kicked her shoes off as soon as the door was closed behind her. [i]Until home do we part[/i]. She said to herself rubbing her feet. A small bar bordered her kitchen area and she removed her gun from her purse before hanging the bag over one of the high chairs. As was her custom since getting “settled”, she checked the false bottom of a small display table where she kept her actual service weapon and then tossed her keys into the visible drawer remembering she’d have to uber back to the parking garage where she’d left it in the morning. Might be a good time to catch up with Sio, she thought.

She thought she would again be asleep as soon as she hit the bed. Going to bed twice in the same day never felt quite normal, but she’d grown accustomed to taking sleep when she could get it. However tired her body may have been though, her mind kept racing. Thoughts of Ana, Milo, home and her job all blinked to the forefront and flashed away as she laid there awake. She tossed and turned for what felt like hours, still asking herself the same question: [i]Who are you, Paige?[/i]

[@RoccanIronclad]