Hey Friends!

This is a repost of my original story from back in the Paily days. I hope some of you enjoy re-reading it. I'm working on posting chapter by chapter and will hopefully have most, if not all uploaded by the weekend. Unfortunately I can't find the first four chapters but I do not want to delay posting what I have so for now it will be starting with chapter 5. I will either find the originals eventually or rewrite the first four chapters after I've completed posting the original story.

Thanks for reading and enjoy some Paily romance/angst :)

Sincerely,

Sarah

Paige POV

I was floating. Huh? Where on earth was I? I panicked and tried to move but my mind had no control over my body. I opened my eyes and all I saw was fuzzy blue. I was in the water? How did that happen? I remembered seeing Chelsea swing something at me and that was it. Now I was drifting to the bottom of the pool. The only thing I could feel was the throbbing in my head. I momentarily forgot where I was and tried to take a breath. That was a mistake. My lungs screamed in protest but there was nothing could do. Everything started to turn fuzzy and I was strands of black around my face and a warmth pressing against my back holding me down by the waist. I began to drift into my mind again, I was sure I wasn't going to wake up this time.

I came back, feeling strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me down. No, pulling me up! My head made it to the surface of the water and I coughed up the water I had swallowed. It was still very hard to breath and I couldn't quite find the control to open my eyes and let the world in again. I was aware of a lot of screaming and swearing coming from every direction but it was muffled and faint. Again, the only thing I could really focus on was the throbbing in my head and trying to get a good breath again. I was now out of the water lying on my back against the cool ground. My mind was beginning to find my body again and I opened my eyes and took in the scene in front of me.

Emily was hovering over me, cupping my cheek and holding my head up, trying to help me clear the water from my lungs. The look on her face was heartbreaking. It was a mixture of anger and concern but her eyes were focused on mine. Her mouth was moving but I still couldn't make out any words. Finally, I was able to clear the last of the water I swallowed, and take a deep, satisfying breath.

"Paige…Paige? Come on can you hear me? focus Paige you need to keep breathing" her voice was panicked and I realised that I was still very loopy from my blow to the head. "Someone call an ambulance, she's still not awake!" She was panicking, tears streaming from her face. Ambulance? No they couldn't do that! They would call my parents and I would have to sit out of swimming if it was bad.

I fought against the need to close my eyes and sleep, finally opening my mouth, speaking as loud as a could "No..No S' fine! No ambulance… just need to lay here for a bit" I did my best to smile at Emily and she looked at me in relief at seeing me finally respond. I wonder how long I was out? It felt like seconds but it would have been hours for all I knew. She caressed my cheek softly and I didn't want her to let go.

"She's fine Em, chill out" Someone called. I focused my eyes on the blurry figure and recognised Chelsea standing next to us with her arms crossed. Everyone was circled around us, leaving me, Emily, Megan and Chelsea as the center of attention.

Emily caressed my cheek once more before standing up and turning towards the two girls. Emily got right up in Chelsea's face.

"Fine? You think she's fine? She probably has a concussion thanks to your stupidity! She could have drowned tonight Chelsea and you think she's fine? You had better hope she's alright because if she has to sit out for this, Coach Fulton is going to get the full story and you can kiss your spot on the team goodbye!" Chelsea was about to fire back and I realised I needed to help Emily before she ended up in the pool as well.

I sat up, ignoring the throbbing of my head. Everything got fuzzy again for a minute but I fought it with everything I had. Emily needed me. I needed Emily.

"Shut up, Emily! I barely hit her! Why are you so angry? I'm sure Paige doesn't want to deal with your lesbian crush on her anyways!" Chelsea spit the words at her and I noticed Emily cringe slightly.

Did I hear that right? Was Emily really gay? Not that it mattered right now, Emily was about to lash out at Chelsea. Head injury or not I had to protect Emily. I stood up, stumbling and almost falling head first to the ground. Emily rushed to my side, putting her arm around my waist and holding me up. I wrapped my arms around her, needing her support. My speech was slurred but I think I got my point across.

"Emily….S'don't worry about.. her. Let's just get…I just want to be out of here." I could feel my cheek and eye swelling shut and I knew if I didn't get home and put ice on it I would have a shiner for the rest of the week.

Emily held her ground, looking torn between helping me and beating the stuffing out of Chelsea. I tugged at her and she finally began walking with me around the house. She stopped to grab my stuff, and helped me keep my balance as I put my tank top and sweat pants over my swim suit. Emily was quietly sobbing and began rambling.

"I can't believe she did that! She actually could have killed you! She is so lucky you're alright. Oh, Paige I'm so glad you're alright. I'm so sorry about everything I mean it, please.. please just tell me you'll forgive me eventually? I just need you to forgive me." We stopped when we got to the end of the driveway and she looked at me with nothing but care and concern.

I was pretty much leaning my entire body on her now so I straightened up with my best effort, trying to look as coherent as possible. I looked into her eyes that always took my breath way. "Em, I'm alright now. Don't worry. After you saved my ass from drowning I think I can forgive you. I mean what kind of person would I be if I didn't forgive you after that?" I laughed and Emily joined in. She was still crying so I reached up and wiped her tears away with my thumb.

My mind was still foggy, and I was a little intoxicated so I held myself closer to her, taking her in to an embrace. I nuzzled my face into her neck and wrapped my arms tightly around her waist. She returned the hug by wrapping one arm around my neck, and her other hand cupping the back of my head. She ran her fingers gently through my hair. The hug lasted a few minutes before she began to worry again. She pulled back and looked at me but I kept my arms securely around her body.

"Come on, I need to drive you to the hospital" She began walking me towards her car.

I stopped moving and she looked at me in shock "Emily I'm ok, I don't need to go the hospital they're just going to tell me to sleep it off" I couldn't risk hearing the wordsconcussion along with bed rest and worst of all, no physical activity.

"Paige, you got hit pretty hard, I'm pretty sure you have a concussion and not diagnosing it could have some serious long term effects" She looked at me pleadingly.

"Look.. I really just want to go home and rest alright? I'll get it checked out tomorrow just let me go home and put some ice on this before I can't see" I tried to joke but I could tell she wasn't happy.

"Fine, but I'm taking you home, walking you to the door, and explaining to your parents that you might have a pretty serious injury."

I laughed and tried to play it off. I didn't need her to know that I was alone, she wouldn't let me stay by myself tonight if she knew. Not that I would have minded her staying with me, but I was feeling the line between friendship and something more blur with Emily, and tonight of all nights, with me a little drunk and loopy, well it wouldn't be a good thing if she stayed with me.

"Trust me I'll be fine, but your worrying is sweet. I'll just drive myself home and text you when I get there okay?"

"Paige, there is no way in hell you are driving home tonight. First of all, you've been drinking, secondly, you hit your head and you can't even walk straight. And sorry, I don't believe you will actually tell your parents about your injury and I am not letting you lie to them." She smiled at me and began dragging me to her car.

"Wait! I can't leave my car here, Chelsea and Megan will totally bust it I know it." It was my last excuse and I hoped she would buy it.

She reached into my purse she was carrying and pulled out my keys. "Come on I'm driving you home" she walked me to the passenger of my car and opened the door for me.

"Are you gonna do up me seatbelt for me to?" I mumbled. She laughed and shut the door. I looked out the window and saw she was on the phone. She then took her keys and put them under the tire of her own car. She walked over to my car and climbed in.

"Spencer and Aria are going to pick up my car. They'll meet me at your house to pick me up in a bit. What's your address?" Well I guess I couldn't keep this from her any longer if she was going to drive me home.

"I live in the apartment above The Brew" I explained. She looked at me questioningly as she started the car and drove towards downtown Rosewood.

"The one bedroom? Spencer's boyfriend used to rent that place. That must be tough living in such close quarters with your parents. Are you just staying there until you find something more permanent?"

I could have easily lied, she gave me a perfect opportunity to, but I thought that would only come back to bite me later on. "Actually, I live there alone. My parents still live in Philadelphia, it's just me here in Rosewood."

Emily's POV

My chest tightened at Paige's words. She lived alone? How was that even possible? I didn't understand how her parents could just leave her here completely on her own. My own parents have an anxiety attack if I don't see them for one night for crying out loud. My eyes began to water as I realised how alone she must really feel. No more of that. Tonight was the last time, I wasn't going to let her deal with this on her own anymore.

I reached out across the console and took her hand. I squeezed it gently, trying to let her know I wasn't going to let her go. "I wish you would have told me sooner" I spoke softly. "I'm going to get you home, come inside, get you some ice and Tylenol, and then you are going to tell me everything"

I could see the tears streaming down her cheeks and there was nothing I wanted more than to hold the beautiful girl beside me and make her pain go away. She squeezed my hand tighter and closed her eyes. She always tried to fight her emotions. I needed her to open up to me more than anything. She sighed.

"I think that might be a good idea" She mumbled.

We drove the rest of the way in silence. I parked behind the brew, and sent Spencer a quick message, telling her to leave my car at her house, I was going stay the night at Paige's. I walked briskly to the passenger door and wrapped my arm around her waist, guiding her up the stairs and into her small apartment. I walked her over to the coach in the living room, letting go of her. I looked at her thoughtfully before I went to the kitchen, getting her a bottle of water, two Tylenol, and a bag of frozen peas to put on her cheek.

I sat next to her and pulled her close to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and gently combing through her auburn hair. I looked at her sad chocolate eyes and brushed a few tears away with my thumb.

"Alright Paige, tell me what's going on".

She sighed and looked down as she spoke. "Basically, my relationship with my parents has always been shit. If you knew my dad you'd understand why. He puts so much pressure on me to be the best and nothing I have ever done has been good enough for him" she began crying again.

"I… I can't even remember the last time he said 'I love you' or 'I'm proud of you'. Anyway he always pushes me to do better and when it comes to swimming, he expects nothing short of perfection. When he saw the opportunity to move me to Rosewood, he transferred me. I didn't even know about it until the three weeks before school started. I couldn't say no. Emily, I can't even explain what would happen if I tried to stand up to him" she was trembling and I felt tears of my own begin to fall. "They set me up here and just left. The only thing my dad asks for are good grades and weekly swim times. He's never asked about my friends or anything." She cries turned into sobs.

I held her impossibly close, "Shh.. Paige, you're ok, I've got you hun" I tried to calm her down. It was breaking my heart seeing her like this. So much was going through my mind right now but I had to stay strong for her.

"I'm just an investment to him, Emily. And moving me to Rosewood was the best way to cash in on my talents".

I didn't know what to say so I didn't say anything. I just held her close and let her cry. I hated her father. I hated everyone who ever caused her any sort of pain. A few minutes passed by and she finally calmed down.

"How's your head?" I looked at her in concern again. The swelling had gone down on her cheek but there was a large purple bruise forming underneath her eye.

"S'okay" She whispered softly.

It was my turn to speak now. "Paige, I need you to let me help you. I'm not going to let you go through this alone. I knew this was hurting you but I didn't notice how bad it was. Please, let me in Paige, I'm not like your parents, I'm not going to hurt you. Same with the things at school. You are not going to deal with them alone. I can't let you. You are way too good to deserve this."

She looked at me in awe. "I really don't know what to say right now so I'm just going to go with a thank you" she smiled lightly at me and I laughed.

"I don't need to hear anything from you Paige, but you better get used to me spending a lot more time here. Your own apartment? Just think about the trouble we could get into here" I didn't realise how bad that really sounded until I said it.

Paige looked at me with wide eyes and I couldn't help but laugh. "Not like that you pervert!" I playfully swatted her shoulder. "Come on let's get you to bed. If you don't mind I'm going to spend the night here just in case your head gets bad and you need something. You can say no but that just means I'm going to sleep in your car"

Paige laughed again. It made me smile to hear her adorable chuckle again. "You can stay here, I don't mind"

We went to her bedroom and I noticed how bare it was. There were several boxes in the corner so I figured she hadn't completely finished her unpacking yet. She wandered to her dresser and pulled out a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top and tossed them at me. She grabbed the same for herself and began changing.

I couldn't help but watch in awe and she lifted her shirt over her head. I couldn't stop staring at her perfect body in that swimsuit at Chelsea's party her abs were perfectly defined and her ass looked so good that I almost got caught staring a few too many times. I felt heat flash through my body as a watched her change now. She was still wearing her swimsuit so as she began stripping that off I forced myself to turn around. And I just called her a pervert, I thought to myself. I quickly changed, facing away from her and headed for the bathroom.

"Emily!" Paige called but I had already opened the door. I let out a gasp as I took in the shattered mirror and the pieces all over the bathroom floor. My first instinct was to run out and yell at her for even thinking about punching the beautiful reflection of herself. I shuddered at the thought that she must have done this after our fight in the locker room. Was I responsible for this? It certainly felt that way.

I was being strong for her. So instead of yelling I closed the door behind me and began cleaning up. I swept the pieces and put them garbage, cleaned the pieces around the sink and covered the shattered mirror with a towel. I didn't want her to look at a broken image of herself in the morning. I composed myself and went back to her bedroom, ready to face whatever she was going to tell me.

"Emily, it was a mistake okay? I was just mad I could have hit anything" she explained desperately. She was lying on her bed now with the covers pulled back. I pulled myself up next to her and draped the covers over us, tucking us in.

"Paige, just let me see it" I murmured. I took her right hand and examined it closely. There was a bandage over her middle knuckle and some slight swelling but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I couldn't help myself from running my thumb along her skin. I then raised her hand gently to my face and placed a few chaste kisses on her knuckles. She shuddered but didn't pull away. I looked at her face and saw her looking at me with the slight smile.

Why would anyone ever thing of hurting her? She was so adorable in everything she did. I reached my hand to gently caress her bruised cheek. I ran my thumb across her cheek lightly and she sighed and leaned into my touch. If I moved a little more I could run my thumb across her lips but now wasn't the right time to show her how I felt. She needed a friend, and I could put her needs before my desires.

Her eyes closed and her breathing evened out. She wasn't quite asleep but she was getting close. I gave up, leaning over and pressing me lips to her bruise. Once, two more times then I moved away from her, rolling to the other side of the bed.

"No please" Paige called out, reaching for me desperately. My stomach flipped as she pulled me back to her and draped her hands over my stomach. "Please just stay with me" she begged and I wondered if she was completely awake or not. "I need you Emily, please just stay" She nuzzled her head to my neck and the feel of her hot breath on my skin sent my thoughts and my body on a roller coaster.

I gripped her tightly in return, putting everything I had into our embrace. "I won't let you go Paige" I whispered softly. She smiled against my neck and I closed my eyes and drifted into a happy slumber, glad to be holding my amazing girl.