Hi! This is my first fic (I published it previously on my tumblr page and I thought I may as well publish it here too). Reviews and stuff would be great, just to see how I can improve :)
"Em, they're gonna know I stayed over!" Alison looked incredibly anxious; her hair was messy (for her anyway…Ali's hair didn't know how to do messy) and her clothes ruffled (Emily still thought she looked amazing, like always). She was wearing the same jeans that she'd wore yesterday, and a top Emily had lent her. In addition to the top, Emily had also lent her a jacket. They were late, and so, Emily had picked up the first jacket she'd seen and threw it at Ali before they headed out the door. It was the most conspicuous jacket she could have picked. It literally screamed Emily. Varsity. Ali wouldn't have worn a varsity jacket in a million years, even nowadays.
"Look, Ali, if you make a big deal out of it they're going to know. Just relax. Act cool." Emily breathed in, internally panicking at the thought of her friends knowing just exactly what she and Ali had been doing the night before. "If they do ask, then just say you fell asleep watching a film on the sofa, and my Mom didn't want you going home too late."
Ali rolled her eyes, "Emily your Mother is in Texas."
"Well then, just say I gave you the jacket this morning after I picked you up. Or you could just not wear the jacket." As soon as she said it, Emily cringed. There was no way Ali was going to get out the car and head into the pouring down rain without a jacket. "Anyway," Emily smiled wryly, the dimple on her left cheek making an appearance, "I think you look cute."
Ali quirked an eyebrow, "Seriously?"
Looking at her in full, Emily genuinely smiled, "Seriously."
Ali attempted to hide her smile, unable to stop the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, "Define cute?" She tilted her head inquisitively at the brunette, "Cute like- 'Aww, she looks 12'- or cute like-"
Emily lurched towards her unexpectedly, resting her mouth just below Ali's right ear, "Cute like I really wanna go home and carry on doing what we did last night."
Ali smirked mischievously, her eyes locking with Emily's in a sensual glance, "Remind me again why we're sat in the school car park when we could be doing that."
Emily furrowed her eyebrows, "Because they'd probably be a lot more suspicious if we both just didn't turn up. And if one of us stayed home then…Well I don't think I could go a whole day without seeing you."
Ali leaned back slightly, looking up and down at the brunette in front of her, and then reaching over the joystick to take Emily's hand into her own, lacing their fingers together. "Me neither." Ali smiled sweetly and leaned towards her, their lips joining in what began as an innocent kiss.
The girls exited the car, their lipstick smudged slightly, and their hair somewhat messier than before. If Ali wearing Emily's clothes looked suspicious before, Emily didn't want to think about how suspicious Ali and her walking late into class together looked.
As the two girls hurried towards the school entrance Ali took Emily's hand into her own, the brunette's fingers parting automatically to allow the blonde's fingers to slide through. The rain had gone off, much to Ali's delight; but she hadn't took the jacket off. It stayed where it was.
It was only as Emily approached the school doors that she realised where it was they were: School. In public. And Ali was holding her hand.
"Ali?"
Ali turned to face Emily, her hand still laced with hers, "Hm? Something wrong Em?"
Emily stopped walking suddenly, tugging at Ali's hand slightly, not willing to break them apart, "No- No, it's just- We're holding-"
"Hands." Ali smiled the typical Ali smile, the one that said, 'Oh I know. I know everything'. And somehow, Emily knew she did. That smile made her feel 15 again. But it also reminded of her a time when Ali was less than willing to hold her hand in public. It reminded of the vulnerability she used to feel around the blonde, the non-reciprocated utter love and devotion she had felt for her. But then Ali tugged on the hand she held in her own, pulling Emily closer to her. She leaned forwards, capturing Emily's lips with her own. The kiss was soft and quick, but it reassured Emily of the way Ali truly felt, bringing her back to the present in an instant, any reminders of who Ali, or herself, used to be erased instantly. Emily attempted to pull away but Ali snaked her free hand around the back of Emily's neck, resting her forehead against hers.
"We're holding hands because we're together. We're together and," Ali stepped back away from Emily, taking in the sight in front of her. The brunette missed the feeling of her body against hers instantly, "I don't care who the hell knows."
"So…" Ali looked up from her lunch to see three pairs of eyes boring into her soul. Or so it felt like. It was Aria who decided to speak up first. Well, stutter up first. "So- um- Like-What's- Are you-"
"Is this about Emily?" Ali had a slight smirk upon her face. Emily had been called into the Swim Coach's office so Ali had gone to lunch on her own, accompanied by the other three girls. She was sort of glad the Coach had called Em into his office. She could just imagine the deep shade of red Emily's cheeks would have been right now, and the girl's hadn't even mentioned anything yet. Hanna spoke next, her rashness and braveness allowing her to broach the subject.
"What's going on between you two?" She looked kind of pissed, but Ali couldn't understand why. "And don't- do not- even try to tell me it's nothing because you're wearing yesterday's jeans and that is so not your jacket. It's Emily's favourite jacket." Ali had to hide her smile. She gripped the sleeves of the maroon jacket with her fingers, grinning as she felt the material. Emily's favourite jacket? And she was wearing it?
"I'm not going to try and tell you it's nothing." Ali smiled as her fingers ran over the soft material.
"What so there is?!" Spencer was next to speak, her logical mind clearly taking time to process the sliver of information out loud. "Something is going on?"
Hanna turned to Spencer, "Well DUH. Ali's whole outfit screams ga- I mean Emily."
Emily suddenly appeared from nowhere, a tray of food in her hands, and a confused look upon her face, "What screams Emily?" She scanned the faces of the four girls in front of her.
A smirk played across Hanna's face as she muttered, "Probably Ali every night," under her breath. Only, Hanna's 'under her breath' volume was audible to everyone at the table, including a previously oblivious Emily.
Spencer looked up awkwardly, wanting to change the subject, "We were just talking about-"
Ali interrupted Spencer, smiling up at Emily as she did so, "We were talking about me and you."
Emily's eyes widened, and her cheeks blushed, "You were?" The brunette placed her food on the table, and sat down. Her gaze never lifted from the table beneath her.
"Yeah," Ali reached over to where Emily's hand lay next to her tray of food, and pried it open, sliding her fingers through hers like she always did. The other three girls watched on in confusion, and intrigue. Definite intrigue. "Hanna wants to know why I'm dressed like a teenage Ellen DeGeneres."
"I'm just saying, Ali is blazers and jeans, you're- you're basketball jerseys and shorts." Hanna stuttered, not wanting to insult Emily's fashion sense. Hell, she didn't think she dressed bad. She dressed well. Just. Well just sometimes, she was kinda, a little, (a lot), gay?
"Pam Fields is my mother Hanna Marin. I haven't wore a basketball jersey since-"
Aria butted in, a smirk on her face, "Like last month?"
"It wasn't even a real one!"
"Still a jersey…"
Ali was laughing properly, cracking up each time she glanced over at Emily. The thunderous look upon the brunette's face was enough to provide Ali with a lifetime of laughter.
"Hey do not talk to me about fashion Carrie Bradshaw. I may have worn a basketball jersey but at least I don't wear forks for earrings."
Aria reeled backwards in mock horror, "How dare you!"
Ali laughed again, her stomach aching, "Guys stop!" She continued to laugh, her eyes crinkling each time she opened her mouth.
Emily glanced over, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the sight of the beautiful blonde laughing at her. Ali rarely laughed these days. It was a rare and extremely beautiful sight. She wanted to make some remark about how she glad someone was enjoying her victimisation, but Alison had rendered her speechless. The other girls continued to laugh and joke, but Emily sat with her gaze fixated upon Ali, watching as she giggled, her eyes crinkling each time, and her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe from laughing. She watched her eyes light up each time one of the girls made a silly joke about the "gay" side of Emily's wardrobe.
Ali glanced over at Emily, feeling her eyes upon her. She mouthed 'You ok?' at her, a slightly worried look upon her face. Emily must have looked strange. She'd been staring intently at Ali for a long period of time. Seeing the look of concern upon Ali's face made Emily's chest swell with happiness. She smiled, taking the blonde's hand underneath the table and squeezing it.
"I'm more than okay."
"Oh but Ali, just so you know, if you hurt her-"
Spencer jumped in, her eyes wide and eyebrows raised, "Hanna-"
Hanna interrupted her, continuing with what she was about to say, "If you hurt Emily, I will not hesitate to shave off that pretty blonde hair of yours."
Both Aria and Spencer's eyes widened, and Emily's brow furrowed. Ali just looked amused. It was Spencer who responded first, seeing the humour in the situation, just like Ali.
"You see, Han, she could just wear a wig. I mean it's Ali," Spencer looked up, eyeing the blonde apprehensively, still not sure if their relationship was repaired, "No offence," Ali grinned, answering her silent question, "She probably has like a whole wardrobe of them."
The four girls laughed, whilst Hanna scrunched up her face in concentration. "Fine. Fine then." Her face lit up as another, clearly amazing, idea popped into her brain. "I'll just shave off her eyebrows."
The five girls laughed collectively, the sound echoing through the cafeteria. Spencer retorted quickly, "Could just draw them on. Simple." The girl's continued laughing, drawing attention from their fellow students surrounding them. It was a sight some weren't happy to see, but not a single one of the five cared for the opinion of anyone other than each other.
As the laughter died down, Ali looked up, a nervous look upon her face. "Look Han, I know you're just kidding," Ali's words were met with a raised pair of eyebrows from her fellow blonde, "But you don't have to think of some evil master-plan. I'm not going to hurt Emily." Ali's hand squeezed Emily's beneath the table. "I care about her. A lot. I know it's been really difficult learning to trust me again, but I promise, I promise I'm not going to mess this up. She's the-" Ali glanced at the brunette to her right, feeling her hand squeeze her own, "She's the one good thing in my life and I don't intend on messing it up." She looked up to see three smiles, and relaxed instantly.
Hanna smirked, "Hey, what about us? We're good too." She laughed, and genuinely smiled at the other blonde; she'd finally accepted Ali's apologies about the way she'd behaved to her prior to her disappearance. "Don't forget that."
Emily dropped Ali off at her house later that night, and they kissed until they were dizzy on her porch, teeth colliding with teeth, and tongues grazing against tongues. It was a prolonged and reluctant goodbye, Ali refusing to go into the house until she'd watched the back of Emily's car drive away into the night.
Ali recalled the feeling of the brunette's lips on hers as she sat on the bench on the porch, her head buried in a biology text book. She'd spent the last half hour attempting to do her homework on the poorly lit porch but it was pointless. She could barely see what she was writing and her handwriting was messy from having nothing to properly lean on.
Old Ali would haven't even attempted to do her homework; she would have strolled over to the Hastings, more than likely barged through the backdoor, invading the little personal space Spencer had in that house. These days, Ali was more apprehensive to invade any of the girl's personal space. She only went to their houses if she had been invited prior, and if she knew she was fully welcome. She didn't want to push any of them into uncomfortable situations, especially Spencer. They'd only recently mended their relationship, well, what was left of it. After Ali came "back", she and Spencer hadn't gotten on well at all. In fact, Spencer had been the first one to turn her back on Ali completely. But after they finally got rid of A; the real A, the two girl's came to an understanding, and eventually, began to develop a proper friendship, rather than the competitive one they'd had prior to her disappearance.
She'd text her Dad to come home with some keys but she had no idea how long he was going to be. He spent most of his time at the office these days, burying himself in his work. Ali barely felt like a daughter to him; he was more like a lodger in his own home, stopping over only to sleep and drink coffee of a morning.
When a car rolled up outside the house she looked up in anticipation, assuming it was her Dad bringing her the house keys. The headlights of the car illuminated the dark night surrounding her, but she couldn't make out who it was at the wheel. She still felt a slight twinge of panic in her gut, a part of her always anticipating that the person driving could be wearing a black hoody and carrying a hatred for her within them.
Much to Ali's surprise, it was Emily. She recognised the car as it stopped, and then the brunette's face as she came into vision on the steps of the house.
Emily looked inquisitively at the blonde, and stopped in her tracks, "What are you doing sat out here?"
Ali sighed, "My Dad's still at work. I forgot my keys." It was Alison's turn to quiz Emily, "What are you doing back here Em?"
Emily held up the object in her hands: her jacket. She smiled at Ali, and took a few steps forward, "You left this in my car."
Ali furrowed her brow, looking on at the brunette in confusion, "That's your jacket…"
The brunette smiled and leaned down to place the jacket in Ali's hands, "No." She made eye contact with the blonde, "It's your jacket now."
Ali shook her head, a smile playing across her face, "I can't accept this. It's your favourite jacket." Emily went to protest, but Ali continued, "And don't even try to say it's not. Hanna told me."
Smiling, Emily sat down next to Ali, "I want you to have it," she smirked, "You look better in it anyway."
Ali held the jacket in her hands; no one had ever given her anything like this. Yeah, it was just a jacket, but it was Em's favourite. And now she had it. Her heart swelled as she felt the material, pressing it to her face to inhale Emily's scent.
"I love you." She muttered it in to the jacket, barely audible.
Emily pried the jacket from her hands carefully. Ali was worried she hadn't heard what she'd said. They'd both said 'I love you' before, but never in the light of day. Well, never in a non-sexual situation.
But then the brunette placed the jacket carefully around the blonde's shoulders, kissing her temple as she did so. It was such a simple, loving action, again, something no one had ever done for Ali. Not even the people who had raised her; the people who she had had the displeasure of calling her "family" for her entire life.
Sighing softly, Ali rested her head against Emily's. A moment passed and then the brunette stood up from the bench slowly, taking Ali's hand in her own. "Come on." The brunette stepped forwards towards the steps of the porch, glancing back slightly at the beautiful blonde seated, wearing her jacket. "You're coming to my house."
The blonde smiled, but shook her head slightly, "Em, I can't stay at your house two nights on the run. My Dad-"
Emily raised her eyebrows, and then stepped towards her girlfriend, pulling her hips towards her. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned forwards pressing their lips together in an innocent kiss. "He's not here Ali. Just tell him I came by to pick you up."
The blonde's lips tugged upwards, and she tilted her head, "And what am I going to do for clothes?"
"We'll stop by here on the way to school." Ali raised her eyebrows. "I promise you," Emily giggled, "You won't have to go to school dressed like Ellen DeGeneres."
Both girls laughed at the thought of their group's conversation during lunch. Emily reached for Ali's hand, "I can't believe you've been sat out here all this time. You must have been freezing." She frowned slightly, her brow creasing, "Why didn't you call me? I could have come by sooner."
Ali shrugged, "I don't know- I guess," she bit her lip; something she only did when she was nervous, "I guess I was trying to- I don't know I just didn't want to take up your personal time." Emily looked at her, urging her to go on with her big brown eyes, "I thought you might want some time alone- sometimes- Sometimes I just get scared that, "Ali hesitated, and Emily suddenly became aware that the blonde was baring all her vulnerability to her, "I get scared that I'm going to suffocate you all with my presence. You in particular."
Emily took a moment to understand what Ali had just said. Suffocate her? Emily didn't want to spend a minute away from her. She leaned forwards and kissed Ali's forehead. "Don't ever think that," she muttered, her lips still resting against her forehead. "There's nothing I want more in this world than to be with you. I'll never be able to spend enough time with you."
"Emily-" Ali stuttered, her breath hitching in the back of her throat, "I lo-"
"I know," Emily nodded, her eyes locking with Ali's own, "I heard you before." She smiled, and took both of the blonde's hands into her own, running her thumb across the smooth pale skin. "I love you too." She pressed a kiss to each of Ali's hands before glancing upwards, her brown eyes locking with Ali's blue one's, "Always have. Always will."
