Page After Paige

17. Innocence

Chapter 17

Innocence

Paige~

When I woke up I slid out of mommies bed. She insisted that I sleep with her tonight and I had no objections. I looked around and saw that it was really dark and I didn't like it. I took Mr. Goodbear with me to the next floor to see Mr. Gray. When I peeked into his bedroom he was laying all across the bed. I went up to him and poked his cheek until he woke up. He shot up and gripped something underneath his pillow, but relaxed when he saw me.

"Paige? What are you doing up?" He said in a sleepy gruff voice.

"I dunno, I woke up and it was really dark." I said quietly. He glanced at his alarm clock.

"That is because it's three a.m." He sighed. "Did you have a bad dream?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Mr. Goodbear protects me from the bad dreams." I said giving Mr. Goodbear a squeeze.

"Oh I see, well why don't we go upstairs and get a glass of milk to drink, and then head back to bed, yeah?" I nodded my head and he got up from the bed. He picked me up and I sat on his waist. He held me with one arm and used the other to open the door. We took the elevator up to the common floor. I was surprised to see Mr. No-manners and Brucie awake past their bedtime and just talking. Mr. No-Manners spots us and says with a blank face...

"Barton, are you trying to get yourself killed?" He didn't sound sleepy.

"Relax, Stark" Mr. Gray muttered. He pulled out a glass cup and a plastic reusable cup. He opened the fridge and poured milk into both cups.

"No, I will not relax until that kid is back in bed where she should be right now" He said. He must be scared that mommy will do something.

"I just woke up. I don't feel tired" I said.

"I don't care, you're going back to bed!" I frowned. He must be grumpy because he didn't go to bed yet. That's how you get grumpy.

"Sit," Mr. Gray told me. I sat on the seat and drank my milk from the plastic cup while he drank his from the glass cup. Mr. Gray drank his milk really fast and it left a trail of milk above his upper lip. I giggled and stood up to wipe it off with my thumb. He gave me a small smile and I returned it with an even bigger one, making him smile just a bit more.

"Alrighty, back to bed" He said after a moment. I shrugged and held up my arms for him to pick me up. When he did he swung me around a little bit and I giggled. He carried me to the elevator and we went back down to me and mommies floor.

He sat me in bed waking up mommy in the process. "What's going on?" She asked tiredly.

"Nothing mama, go back to sleep." I said in a whisper. I laid back in bed and got comfortable before playing with her hair. Eventually I fell asleep too.

//

Later that morning it was about 10 o'clock. Everyone should be up by now but I wouldn't know since mommy wouldn't let me out of the room. She hadn't exactly said anything but I would always go with her upstairs in the mornings. Today, she didn't even make a move towards the elevator. She walked towards the small kitchen and began making herself some coffee while simultaneously putting the frozen waffles in the toaster. I didn't question the change in routine. I knew she was having an off day. I'm pretty sure everyone would be having an off day.

"Good morning sweetie." Mommy greeted in a dull tone. I began walking to the square table suited for about four people.

"Good morning, Mommy." I greeted climbing onto one of the high chairs.

"Paige, you never told me about the gift that he gave you." She mentioned casually as she sipped her brewed coffee. I went and pulled the jewel part of the necklace out of my shirt where I had it hidden.

"Mr. Raven got it for me. It was a nice thing to do so I thought he would be my friend after."

"Paige remember what I said when I was driving us home the first day I brought you to work with me?" she asked. She put her coffee down on the counter and began walking over to me.

"You said, 'Honey, not everyone is gonna like you and I'm not trying to be mean but its the truth, and whether they like you or not you shouldn't care. You're too smart to care what other people think of you.'" Mommy grinned as I recited each word she had said to me that day. She was knelt down in front of me being respective of my height.

"That's exactly right. Now I'm gonna tell you something else." I sat patiently and listened. "You're innocence is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Your absence of fear, your inability to do anything wrong, your acts of kindness, how you forgive people after weighing the consequences. Its what make you, you. I'm not saying that one day you'll make a mistake and that innocence will be gone. Its what that innocence does for you that makes you so special, and other people might think you're special too. They might think what you have or who you are will benefit them and they will do everything to get to you. And that's the act of taking advantage of someone. That's exactly what Mr. Raven did and now that you know this you wont let it happen again will you?" I shook my head as an answer.

"Good." She got up and almost turned when I spoke.

"What happened to your innocence, Mommy?" she opened her mouth to say something before closing it again. Something like pain flashed In her eyes. She leaned in to caress my cheek.

"I lost that a long while ago дорогая. At least now I can save yours..." She trailed off and stared at the ground before going back to throw away the burnt waffles. I sat at the table patiently in my seat.

What would really happen if I lost my innocence?

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Hey guys! So guess who just started high school! (if you couldn't guess its moi.) Anyways since I'm starting a new school I may not update that often. Remember to vote for your favorite cover and feel free to give me some high school tips. The people there are like twice my size...Anyway pm me, I could really use the advice.