First Pretty Little Liars fic, so be nice and let me know what you think.
Maybe this is it…
Paige decides to go on a date and see if she can let go of Emily, it just doesn't work. But she feels forced to keep moving on, when Hanna lets it slip what happened between Emily and Alison…
Chapter 1: Friends will be friends
Friends will be friends,
When you're through with life and all hope is lost,
Hold out your hand cos friends will be friends right till the end
Queen
Paige just keeps pedaling as fast as she can. Breathing is getting hard and she can feel her lungs aching for some release, her legs feel like iron and it hurts thinking about the cramps that would come later. Her back was cold now, her sweat was dripping and the once tightened bun was now a mess of hair. She sighed as soon as she saw the cabin and started pedalling even faster.
As soon as she was at the door, she threw the bike on the floor and knocked. It was dark outside, and there were no lights on in the place, but she was almost sure that Caleb was there. Her presentiment turned right when Caleb opened the door.
"Paige? What are you doing here?" He asked while rubbing his eyes and trying to focus.
"Hey! Were you sleeping? I'm sorry, I can come back later…" she said while turning around, but Caleb's eyes noticed her sweat, the bike that she was usually so careful with on the floor and how tired and breathless she was.
"No, apparently this is important, come in," he said turning on the lights and opening a little bit more the door, letting her in.
Paige walked in and saw him walking towards the refrigerator and take two cold beers, she shook her head almost imperceptibly, making him hesitate, so he put them back, and served two glasses of water.
He walked parsimoniously towards her and put her glass in front of her, while drinking his.
"So… " he said, paying attention.
"I'm glad you are back," she blurted, making him smile, "you are my only real friend," she added staring intently at the rim of her glass. "I know we haven't talked in a while, you suddenly stopped calling and didn't reply my texts. And the last time I visited you in Ravenswood you were distant and…"
"Paige, I know." he said, looking uncomfortable. "Back then I was going through a lot, I still am… It's just complicated." He sighed and Paige looked intently at him.
"I'm sorry for not being there," she said, looking shy, but still facing him.
"I know, but there are things I'm still not ready to talk about, you know?" he rubbed his eyes again.
"I know, and when you need someone to talk to, I'll be here." she said firmly, he looked at her and smiled sadly.
There was silence among them for a couple of minutes, but it was comfortable, nice and familiar.
He stood up, and started to prepare some coffee after seeing Paige starting to shiver, Paige felt enthralled by his actions, pouring two cups and adding three spoons of sugar to hers.
She couldn't help wondering how he knew her that well, but then, they spent a lot of time trying to find out who A is, their motivations and their lair. It was during that time, when she realized that besides Emily and sometimes Emily's friends, she didn't really have other friends, some acquaintances clearly, and very good teammates, but not friends, and certainly not friends that she could discuss A with, so Caleb turned out not only to be a good 'partner in crime', but also understanding of the situation in a whole new level. Becoming really close friends was just the next step.
Her thoughts were interrupted by him leaving her mug in front of her and offering a blue hoodie that was hanging at the entrance.
"Thanks. At least it's not a black hoodie, huh?" she tried to laugh, but the joke fell flat.
"Is this A-related?" he asked after taking a sip at his coffee. Paige just shook her head. "Then what is it?"
"Emily," she simply said, as if it explained everything. And it did, because Caleb just nodded and drank some more coffee. "I had a date and…"
"You had a date with Emily?" he interrupted.
"No, her name is Sophie and she's part of the soccer team. She's nice and funny, but it all just felt, well, forced," she leaned back on the couch and sighed while staring at the ceiling.
Caleb made an agreement noise and looked at her. "You and Emily have been through a lot, you've been in love with her for years, you love her. It's not like you can just forget that overnight."
"It feels like she has, though." She replied without looking at him, "She seems okay with all this, she wants us to talk about our situation, and I said we would. But I don't know if I'm ready to hear her say one more time that she cares about me and that we should be friends. Because no matter if it's hours, or days, or even months, I can't bring myself to let her go."
"I know, you've tried a couple of times before and it didn't work out," he added and Paige chuckled, but it was sad.
Caleb knew how it felt, that need to let go, he tried it with Hanna and had had as much success as Paige. He could see the lump in her throat while trying not to cry, he wanted to tell her that it was ridiculous, that she could cry in front of him, that he understood, that he's been there and done that. But that would also mean that he had to explain his reasons, and he didn't know if he could do that.
He was about to say something, when he was interrupted by a noise in his door. His first reaction was to stand up and step forward so he could protect Paige. He just sighed after seeing familiar bright blue eyes.
"Hanna! I've told you to knock! You scared the crap out of me." He said while walking towards her and taking the bags with groceries she had from her hands.
"Yeah, I know. But your face is priceless…" She replied while shrugging. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Paige sitting in Caleb's couch with a coffee cup in her hands.
"I guess this is my cue," Paige said, starting to stand up.
"No, " Caleb said, "you can stay, I can cook," he said sheepishly.
"Are you trying to convince me to stay or making me run away as fast as possible?" Paige asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Stay Paige, I'll cook and last-case-scenario, I'll pay for the pizza," Hanna shrugged while smiling.
"Thanks," she replied and Caleb smiled.
It felt good, Caleb thought, somehow Hanna and Paige never got to interact that much, which is weird. Maybe the fact that Emily and Paige were no longer dating had something to do, but still. They seem to get along, and he's glad. Paige is one of his closest friends, he's certain that when the time comes, she'll be one of the first to know about Ravenswood.
They all started to help, Hanna started to talk about cuts with Paige and how to save oil and some other stuff and he offered to put water to boil for the pasta. They made idle chitchat while putting the pasta in the boiling water, cutting veggies and then serving, but it wasn't until they were seated with food in front of them that the silence started. For one, they were all hungry, clearly Paige was famished after all the exercise, Caleb hadn't eaten anything since lunch and Hanna was just simply enjoying her food.
They were interrupted by many messages in a row. Hanna stood up and checked them and rolled her eyes.
"What happened?" Caleb asked, barely waiting until he had finished chewing.
"Alison," Hanna huffed, "as always…" she added, rolling her eyes and focusing in her food again.
Paige didn't make a sound. No matter how long had passed, nor what Alison had - allegedly - gone through. For her, Alison DiLaurentis would always be the person that would whisper 'pigskin' in her ear whenever she could, the person that would taunt her and laugh at her for being in love with one of her best friends, the one that would blackmail her and threat her with forcing her out of the closet.
"I don't know why you guys keep being her minions, seriously." Caleb said, "we all know what she can do, how toxic she can be. You guys need to let it go, let her go, too." he added looking impatient, messing his own hair.
"That's what I'm trying to do, but it's not easy…" Hanna said, leaving her fork on her plate and slouching in her chair.
"Tell me about it," Paige said looking at her plate.
"I think you all need a clean slate, maybe go on vacation together, leave Rosewood for a couple of days, I don't know." Caleb added.
"It's not easy, there's an on-going investigation keeping us here. Remember?" Hanna said closing her eyes, looking tired.
"If you ever need to escape for a while, let me know. My parents have a cabin near the lake. Maybe you just can think clearly if you are exposed to fresh air," Paige suggested and Hanna smiled at her.
"Thanks. What bothers me the most is that now everything is even more messed up. Alison's presence brings the worst out of all of us, and now we are fighting as never before! Spencer doesn't trust Ali, Aria thinks she's the same Ali that left when we were 15, and Emily was too busy holding her hand and kissing her to keep her mind clear…" Hanna suddenly felt the atmosphere change and Caleb looked at her intently. Paige immediately looked at her plate, like trying to process the new information. "Oh my God! I'm sorry Paige. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm…" She tried to finish, but she couldn't.
"Don't… Worry, Han. I'll just… I have to go," Paige said, standing up. "I'm sorry I can't help you guys with the dishes. Some other time," she added distractedly.
"Paige…" Caleb started, standing up.
"No, Caleb… I'm okay, I'll…" she stopped mid sentence trying to organize her chaotic thoughts. "Maybe this is what I needed, you know?" she said looking at Caleb who looked worried, and at Hanna who still looked regretful.
"I'm sorry," he said with sadness.
"I'll see you tomorrow, guys." She said walking fast towards the door and closing it in a sharp movement. She took her bike and started pedalling even faster than when she arrived. Trying to contain the bile coming up, making her want to vomit and cry asking why?
That's it for now, guys. Let me know what you think and what you'd like to happen!
