Too tired to play pretend [open]

[Paige Lawson]

Paige was bored. She was simply bored, sitting in her apartment mid-day. She listed her options through her mind: she could stay home and continue to be bored, or she could go somewhere. The second sounded much better. So Paige went to her bedroom and began digging through her dresser. She didn't want to go anywhere she would have to dress up, but she definitely didn't want to go somewhere so casual that she might end up naked and drunk. She pulled out clothes and tossed them on the floor. Right now she was wearing board shorts and a gray tank top, and that just wouldn't do. Finally she decided on a small AC/DC t-shirt and a pair of loose jeans. Sliding her sneakers on, Paige had finally decided she was ready.

Like any woman, though, she had the right to change her mind. Sure, she had managed to put clothes on, but that was it. She hadn't put anything in her pockets, or checked her hair. Paige grabbed at her keys and cell phone off the dresser, then made her way to the kitchen. She grabbed some money out of a candy bowl on the table and shoved everything in her pockets. Paige then looked across the room into a mirror that hung on the wall. Her hair was messy, but not unrepresentable. With that quick glance, Paige headed for the door.

After locking up her apartment and checking her mail, Paige was headed toward Main Street. She still wasn't sure where she was going but Main Street was closest to her apartment so there was bound to be something there for her. Paige turned onto the street and stopped in front of a shoe store. She had just boughten new clothes, so this probably wasn't the best decision. She kept walking until a certain smell enveloped her. It was familiar enough to recognize, and sweet enough to make her realize just how hungry she was. Paige looked up at the big glowing sign for the Brothers Pizzeria and took a step toward the door.

She headed straight for the counter when she got inside and smiled at the girl behind the counter. "Hey Paige, how's it going?" The girl said absentmindedly, looking over her shoulder at a larger man who was pulling a pizza out of the oven. "It's going good," she began, looking down at the piles of menus in front of her. "I'll have an eight cut with extra cheese and sausage, please. For here." She looked back up and began digging out her money. The girl didn't even have t say anything before Paige handed her thirteen dollars. She smiled one last time and made her way to an abandoned table toward the back of the restaurant.

The pizzeria was normally pretty deserted, since people were normally at a fast food restaurant this time of day. But this was a regular place for Paige. She loved the people who worked there and she adored the food. Unfortunately, she normally could never finish even half of the pizza alone, which made her take it home. Pizza never really tasted as good a second time around. Finally, the girl who was previously behind the counter was coming at her with a pizza tray, steam rising from the top. She flashed a smile before returning to her original position as Paige pulled off a slice slowly. She took a tiny bite but winced just as soon as it hit her tongue. She always managed to burn her tongue in the anxiousness to taste the pizza, and this time was no different.