A/N: Once again, siophiefandom did the betareading and as usual, she did an amazing job. Thanks again! ;)
When she saw them, it was too late. Too late to run again, too late even to try to do something. The older one already had a firm grip on her arm, and the younger cop, the one who had that smug grin on his face, was facing her, blocking the way.
"Okay Miss, it's over," said the older cop in a calming tone. "No more running. You'd better cooperate now, and everything will be fine, okay? We don't want anybody to get hurt, do we, Darren?" he added, glancing at his colleague who just shrugged.
"Do you have any ID?" the man asked, and Emily handed him her purse. Her hands were trembling, despite her efforts to stay cool.
The older cop looked at Emily's ID and frowned. "You're a minor," he said.
"I turn eighteen in two weeks," Emily objected, before biting her lip and looking down. It was true, but it was pointless, really.
"Whatever," the other cop barked. "We have to tell your parents. I'm sure they will be delighted to learn that their teenage daughter has been arrested," he said with a sneering grin.
"You're... you're going to arrest me?" Emily stammered. "But I didn't... I mean, I didn't really steal anything..."
"Only because the security guard called you. And we saw you running from the store, and dropping the item you stole. There's no use denying it, Miss," said the older man.
Emily sighed. Well, I guess I'm trapped. Damn it, Hanna!
Hanna Marin, her long-time friend, was the one who had the idea in the first place. It had started with a bet - she challenged Emily to do something risky, for once (of the two, Emily was always the quiet and even shy girl, while Hanna was the wild one).
Emily suggested something she knew she could handle, like a physical challenge (climbing the school fence during night hours, for instance), but Hanna had other ideas. She had even written a bucket list for the "soon-to-be-eighteen gals", as she called them. Stealing something from a store was on the top of the list, unfortunately.
And now Emily was there, surrounded by two police officers, and about to be arrested for something she didn't even want to do. She felt on the verge of tears, but she didn't want to cry now, especially in front of this young blonde cop, who was staring at her with such arrogance.
"Emily Fields," the younger cop read, looking closely at Emily's ID. "Fields... Fields... that rings a bell... hey, wait, your old man is in the army, right?"
Emily looked down, mortified. Of course, he has to know. Rosewood is such a small town.
"He'll certainly be thrilled when we tell him we've arrested his teenage daughter," the young cop continued, his eyes sparkling with triumph.
"That's enough, Wilden," his colleague warned him. "Just read the girl her rights and get her in the car."
Emily couldn't look at the man when he read her her rights. Her head was buzzing, and her heart was hammering in her chest. It was like being in a movie scene, except it was real, and it was happening to her. Of all people. She had never done everything wrong, in all her life. Well, so far.
She gasped when she saw the young obnoxious cop waving some handcuffs at her, but the older cop stopped him.
"We don't need these, Darren. Right, Miss?" he asked Emily in a softer tone.
Emily nodded, her throat tight, and followed the two men to their car, which was parked at the entrance to the alley.
Wilden opened the back door and motioned for her to get in. Emily obeyed, and did a double take when she realized that she wasn't alone. A teenage girl was already there, handcuffed to the backseat.
"Hey," said the girl in a husky voice. "Welcome on board, Dream Girl."
Her tone was a strange mix of irony and despair. Emily glared at her, but the girl's face was hidden by a tangled mass of auburn hair. She was wearing worn out blue jeans, and a black leather jacket.
"Shut up, McCullers," Wilden barked. "Don't talk to her. She's not a jailbird like you. Well, not yet," he added with a wink, looking at Emily in the rearview mirror. Emily curled up in her seat. She had never felt so miserable in her entire life.
The car drove off, and for a while the only sound inside the vehicle was the muffled noises coming from the police radio.
Emily kept her eyes glued to the floor, trying to collect her thoughts. What was going to happen now? Surely they were going to take her to the police station, but they couldn't put her in jail, right? Emily shuddered at the thought. No, she was overreacting. They would probably call her mom first. Which wasn't much better. Pam Fields was a loving mother, but Emily knew all too well what her reaction would be in such a circumstance.
Integrity and honesty were among the core values of the Fields family. And her dad... Emily felt her heart aching at the mere thought of Wayne Fields. The serviceman was still stationed in Texas, and hadn't seen his family for months. He would be devastated to learn that his daughter had been arrested.
Emily let out a sob, unable to stop the tears from welling in her eyes. That went unnoticed by the two cops, who were casually talking in the front seat, but wasn't lost on Emily's unfortunate companion.
Emily felt something touching her right shoe, and realized it was the other girl's foot. She sniffled and glanced at the girl, who was staring at her with a concerned look.
"You-okay?" the auburn girl mouthed, and Emily just nodded.
"It's gonna be all right, Dream Girl," the girl whispered. "Unless you've killed someone, but I highly doubt it."
Emily couldn't help but let out a small laugh, surprising herself and the girl.
From the front seat, Wilden glanced at them. "I said, don't talk," he warned. "Especially you, McCullers. Next time I hear your voice, I swear... you don't want another black eye, do you?"
"Darren!" the older cop said in a warning tone, and Wilden mumbled something, but looked back at the road in front of him.
Emily's mind was racing. Who was this McCullers girl? What had she done? And did she really have a black eye? From where she was, she couldn't see the girl's face well enough to tell.
As if she was guessing Emily's thoughts, the other girl turned slightly to her left, facing Emily as well as she could muster, considering she was handcuffed to the seat.
She looked right in Emily's eyes, her own deep brown orbs challenging Emily's, and the tanned girl gasped. The teenager really was sporting a black eye, and also a small cut on her right cheek. And she had red marks on her wrists, where the handcuffs were fastened.
Is she hurt? A worried Emily thought. Are the cops responsible for that? Are they going to hit me, too?
As if their minds were connected, the auburn girl shook her head and winked at Emily.
"Don't worry, Dream Girl," she mouthed, and Emily stiffened in her seat.
"Don't call me that," she warned, before remembering she wasn't supposed to talk. She took a glance at the cops, but the two men weren't paying attention to her anymore.
The auburn girl made a face at Emily. Her big brown eyes were now sparkling with mischief. Emily shrugged, and turned her eyes to the window at her left. They were approaching downtown Rosewood, where the police station was located.
Suddenly, the radio went off, and a woman's voice said "Officers, I need you at this new bar, the Brew, there's a fight right outside. Three men involved, possibly drunk."
"We're on it," the older cop answered, and the car turned left.
"I hate Friday nights," Wilden mumbled, earning a small laugh from his partner.
"What were you expecting when you enlisted, Darren?"
The blonde cop didn't bother answering, and parked the car on the next street, just in front of the bar. He turned to face the girls in the back seat.
"Listen, you two. We have to take care of that. We are going to lock you in the car, so just stay quiet. Don't even dare to move a finger. Understood?" he barked.
The auburn girl shrugged, without even looking at the young man, who rushed outside the vehicle, slamming the car door behind him. His partner was still in his seat. The older man sighed and cleared his throat. "Okay girls, just be nice, and stay right here."
"It's not as if we have a choice," the other girl snapped. "Me especially, with the fucking handcuffs and all. By the way, it hurts like hell."
"Language, Paige," the man said, before stepping out of the car.
Paige? That's a pretty name for a tough girl, Emily thought. And how come he's calling her by her first name, all of a sudden? I guess she's a regular...
"He's my uncle," the girl said in her raspy voice, startling Emily.
"What?"
"The good cop. He's my uncle."
"Rea... really?" Emily asked, puzzled.
"Yeah," Paige shrugged.
"And... he arrested you?"
"Well, technically, yes, he did. He had no choice. I was breaking the law, you know," she said in a low voice, her eyes challenging Emily's.
"What... what did you do?" Emily asked. She couldn't help but being intrigued by the girl.
"Tonight? Not much. Just tagged a couple of walls, smoked a little pot. Nothing too bad, but when Wilden showed up, he started to threaten me, and then I spat on him," the girl explained.
"You... what?"
The auburn girl shrugged again. "I know, it was stupid, he was just trying to get on my nerves. Well, it worked. Again. And then, we started to fight."
"That's how you got the black eye? He hit you?" Emily asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah. But you know, I hit him, too. Right in the groin. That's why he's so pissed at me," the girl said with a cocky grin.
"Wow," Emily said, at a loss for words.
"Yeah," Paige said proudly. The two girls remained silent for a while, looking outside at the two cops who were still trying to calm down the drunk customers.
"So, what did you do, Dream Girl?" the auburn girl asked suddenly.
Emily frowned. "Why do you keep calling me that?"
"'Cause you're so beautiful that you don't seem real. Don't tell me you don't know that. You even look like... Princess Pocahontas," Paige said, in a surprisingly soft tone.
"She... she wasn't a princess," Emily objected. Pocahontas was her favorite character growing up, so she couldn't help but feel flattered, but she wasn't going to admit it to that girl. Certainly not.
"Wasn't she?" Paige asked, looking surprised. "Okay. My bad. Still, you really look like her. It's the hair, I think. You've got beautiful hair. It's so dark and long and... silky. Well, I guess."
Emily glared at her. "Are you... are you flirting with me?"
"And what if I am?"
"We're... we're in a cop car. We've been arrested!"
"Yeah, I know. It's not the end of the world."
"For you, maybe! It's obvious that it's not your first time!"
"You're right, it's not my first time," Paige said with a wry smile. "Do you want to know about my first time? About all my first times?" she asked in a teasing tone, raising her eyebrows.
Emily shook her head vigorously, not believing her ears. "No, I... I just want you to leave me alone. Please," she squeaked, berating herself for sounding like a kid.
She could feel the girl's eyes on her, scrutinizing her.
"O-kay," Paige said after a while. "Okay, Drea... sorry, but what's your real name?"
"It's... Emily," Emily answered reluctantly.
"Emily," the girl repeated. "Emily. I like it. It suits you."
"Thanks." I guess. And how come I feel flattered, again?
"By the way, you didn't answer me, Emily. So, what did you do?"
"I... it was nothing, really. Shoplifting," the black-haired girl confessed. "And it wasn't even me who..."
"Yeah, yeah, we're all innocent," Paige cut her off. "Blah-blah. Please don't try to sell that to the cops. Especially to Wilden."
"I... no, it's the truth, it was just a stupid bet," Emily protested.
"Whatever it was. Just say that you're sorry, and that you'll never do it again. Don't argue with them. Don't try to be a smartass."
"Oh no, I guess that's your department," the raven-haired girl replied in a beat.
"Touché," Paige said. "You're right. How do you think I know all this?" she added with a disarming smile, dipping her head.
She was cute, Emily admitted to herself. Very annoying, but cute. Very, very cute. Despite the black eye, and... All of a sudden, Emily's hand reached Paige's face, grazing the fresh cut on her cheek.
"Does it hurt?" the tanned girl asked softly, letting her fingers linger there a little longer than necessary.
"...A little," Paige said in a whisper. "I've had worse."
"Yeah, I guess you're a tough girl."
"And... you don't like ballsy women, Emily?" Paige ventured.
Emily felt her cheeks turn red. She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could even speak, she was interrupted by the return of the two police officers.
"Okay girls, party's over," Wilden barked. "We're heading to the station and I can't wait to call your folks. Especially your dad, McCullers."
The auburn girl shrugged, looking unimpressed, but Emily could swear she saw her shiver. Is she afraid of her dad?
The ride to the police station was very short, and silent. Wilden parked the car and his partner stepped out of the vehicle, before opening the back door and removing Paige's handcuffs. The auburn girl whispered a 'Thanks' to her uncle, and started to rub her wrists, which looked red and swollen. The older cop gave his niece a brief squeeze on the shoulder.
The two teenagers followed the officers inside the building. Without even realizing it, Emily was walking very close to Paige. She felt the other girl's fingers graze her arm, and when she looked up, Paige winked at her. Emily felt her heart racing, without really knowing the reason.
"Okay Fields, you're coming with me," Wilden barked. "Let the McCullers clan deal with their usual family drama, right, Mike?" he said to his partner.
The older man shrugged and took Paige's arm, leading the way to another room. Emily looked over her shoulder, just in time to see the auburn girl smirk at her.
Two hours later, Emily was set free. She followed a very upset Pam Fields outside the police building. Her mother had barely spoken three words to her. Not that it was surprising, Emily thought; She was expecting the cold shoulder.
What Emily wasn't expecting was to see Paige outside, apparently free as a bird. The auburn girl was casually sitting on a bench, just in front of the police station. When she spotted Emily, she waved at her, and the raven-haired girl peered at her mother, who was busy trying to find something in her purse.
"Where is that damned cell phone..." her mother muttered, and Emily cringed. It wasn't normal for her mother to curse. She must be really mad.
"I guess I left it inside," Pam Fields said in an exasperated voice. "I have to go back, and talk to that obnoxious police officer again. Thank you, really, Emily."
Emily dipped her head in shame. Without waiting for an answer, her mother turned away and walked back inside the building.
Emily sighed, her eyes still glued to the ground. Then she heard a small cough, and looked up to see the auburn girl standing right in front of her.
"Hey, Emily," said the girl in her low, raspy voice.
"Hi," Emily mumbled.
"So, how did it go?"
Emily just shrugged.
"Your mother looked pretty pissed off."
"Well, she is."
"It won't last. Trust me."
"You don't know my mother."
"You're right. But I can tell you're quite the perfect daughter, so I guess she doesn't have to worry. It was a one-time thing."
"How can you... you don't even know a single thing about me," Emily hissed. The girl was getting on her nerves. I can't believe I found her cute before. She's just so... exasperating.
Paige raised her arms in surrender. "Okay, Dream Girl, okay. I mean, Emily. Sorry. I just wanted to check on you. The first time in this situation... it can be tough."
"How come you're free already?" Emily asked in a defiant tone. "Didn't you hit a police officer? And they let you go?"
Paige smirked. "I guess having a cop as an uncle has its perks."
"Yes, it must be so convenient," Emily grumbled.
"It is, sometimes," Paige said with a small grin. "But don't worry, my father won't be so easy on me."
Her tone was casual, but Emily remembered Paige's reaction when Wilden mentioned her father before, and she studied the girl's face. Paige was still smiling, but there was something else in her expression, something unreadable, something which made Emily feel uncomfortable.
"Enough about me," Paige said in a brief tone. "What about you? What will your... punishment be?"
"Community service," Emily confessed. "For five weeks. "
Paige smiled. "It could have been much worse. I'm sure you'll still look pretty, even in those orange suits."
Emily looked at the other girl in disbelief, but Paige's smile was a gentle one, not a teasing one. And she was right - it could have been much worse. The cops hadn't called her father in Texas, despite Wilden's earlier threats, and had agreed to let her do community service for her sentence. Mike McCullers himself had called the shop owner, and the man had settled the agreement.
"Your uncle was nice to me," Emily blurted out.
"Yes, he's one of the good guys. Too bad his niece is such a jailbird."
"You're not that bad," Emily retorted. Why am I saying that?
"Glad you think that," Paige grinned, and Emily rolled her eyes at her.
Why does she have to be so cocky? And so cute... damn it!
"Emily!" Pam Fields' angry voice sounded from behind. "In the car! Now!"
Emily mouthed a 'bye' at Paige and rushed to the car.
"Who were you talking to?" her mother asked her once in the vehicle.
"Oh, just this girl... who was with me in the Police car," Emily answered in a cautious voice.
"She was arrested, too?" her mother asked, frowning.
"Well, yes."
"What did she do?"
"I don't know," Emily lied.
"Well, I don't want you near her. This girl is trouble, I can tell."
Two days later, on a Sunday morning, Emily was in her bedroom (Pam Fields had grounded her for one month, and had confiscated her cell phone and her computer) when she heard a weird sound coming from outside.
Approaching the window, she realized that someone had just thrown small rocks against it.
She smiled, hoping that it was one of her friends –Hanna, probably, because rock-throwing wasn't very Spencer-y. Emily had been really mad at Hanna for the last few days (after all, the bubbly blonde was the reason she got caught in the first place), but it hadn't lasted, and, now, she was missing her friends. Especially with no way to phone or text them.
Emily opened the window and leaned out. She did a double take at the sight of Paige McCullers. The auburn girl was standing on the lawn, looking up, a bright smile on her face. She was wearing the same worn out blue jeans she had in the cop car, but instead of her black leather jacket, she had a fake army jacket over a white t-shirt.
"Hey, Emily!" Paige said in her husky, sexy voice.
"What… what are you doing here?" Emily stammered. Oddly, the sight of the auburn girl was both thrilling and scary. "How do you know where I live?"
"I had your name, so it wasn't that hard. You're well known around here, Dream Girl. The most beautiful gal in the neighborhood," Paige said with her most charming smile.
"What are you trying to do?"
"What do you mean? I just thought you could use some company."
"I mean, are you… are you trying to hit on me, again?" Emily asked. This girl is impossible.
"And again, I'm asking: do you mind?"
"You're really… you're really full of yourself, aren't you?"
"Oh, and what about you? Thinking that every girl around is hitting on you?" Paige challenged.
Emily's eyes shot daggers at the girl outside.
"Whatever," she said in a sharp tone. "The question is, what are you really doing here?"
"I missed you," Paige answered simply.
Her tone sounded sincere, and against reason (and maybe against herself), Emily agreed to let her come in.
"But you have to climb up here," the raven-haired girl pointed out. "My mom locked me inside."
"No problem," Paige answered, before starting to climb up the façade.
"Be careful," Emily couldn't help but whisper. But the auburn girl was probably used to that kind of thing, because in the blink of an eye she was at the window, her face very close to Emily's.
"Hi, Dream Girl," Paige said with a broad smile, and Emily, her cheeks slighty red, grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, a little bit rougher than necessary. The two girls landed on the window seat with a loud sound.
"Easy there, tiger," Paige teased, and Emily slapped her on the shoulder, before getting up and taking a step back.
"Shut up, McCullers. Just shut up," she mumbled.
"Wow, I love it when you say my name." Paige's tone was light, but she wasn't joking. She loved Emily's voice, Emily's words, everything about Emily.
"Your black eye looks much better," Emily said abruptly.
"Yeah, it's healing," Paige said with a shrug.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Not anymore," Paige lied. Her eye was still sore, but she was supposed to be a tough girl, wasn't she?
She glanced around, an approving look on her face. "Nice room. And that window seat... I've always wanted one of these."
"My dad built it for me," Emily explained. Why am I telling her that?
"Yes, I'm not surprised you're a daddy's girl," Paige said in a heartbeat, before adding quickly: "Not that it's a bad thing. Not at all. I mean, who could blame him?"
With a mischievous grin, she settled herself on the window seat, her back against the window, her legs crossed. "So, Emily. Want to join me on that wicked window seat of yours?"
Emily stared at the other girl, not really sure how to react.
"...And what for, exactly?" she asked in a defiant tone.
"Whatever you want, Dream Girl," Paige retorted.
"I already told you not to..."
"Not to call you that, I know, I know. I won't do it again, I promise."
"You really think you're irresistible, don't you?" Emily said in an exasperated tone.
"Not really," Paige said. "But you are."
She is so annoying, Emily thought. But her smile is so disarming. And she's got those doe eyes, and that cute nose, and those perfect lips, and...
As if she were reading Emily's mind, Paige smiled, and got up swiftly. She came near Emily and gently took her hand in hers. Emily gasped. Her heart was beating faster. Paige was leaning close to her, really close to her, her eyes darker than before.
"You okay, Emily?" the auburn girl asked in a surprisingly soft voice.
Emily didn't answer, but leaned forward to whisper in the other girl's ear:
"I know what you're really here for. Don't even dare deny it."
"I wasn't gonna," Paige answered in the same hushed tone, before placing a tentative kiss on Emily's cheek. "It this okay, or...?"
Emily's reaction surprised both girls.
She kissed Paige's mouth decisively, and then grabbed the other girl's hips firmly, and led her backwards onto the window seat. Paige's eyes widened in surprise, but she wasn't gonna complain. Certainly not.
She managed to quickly take off her shoes and her jacket, while continuing to kiss Emily. The raven-haired girl smiled, and made room for them on the seat, pushing some cushions away.
"Where's your mom?" Paige asked between kisses.
"At church. It's Sunday morning."
"Oh yes, of course," Paige said, biting a smile. "Lord's day. I wonder what kind of sermon the minister will give today."
"Don't push your luck, Paige."
"Sorry, sorry," Paige grinned, before kissing Emily again. She slid her right hand under Emily's shirt, up her back. Emily shivered.
"If you want me to stop, just say so, Emily, and I will," Paige muttered.
"Uh-uh," Emily said, her own fingers softly grazing the bare skin on Paige's slender neck.
They made out for a while, before Emily pulled back and asked: "Don't you think that we should, um, talk first? I mean, before… this?"
"You mean… this?," Paige asked, before leaving a trail of wet kisses along Emily's neck.
"And… that?" she added, her hand venturing under Emily's shirt, very close to her breast.
"Yes, that's… that's just what I meant," Emily moaned.
"Are you having second thoughts, Emily Fields?" Paige asked in a teasing voice.
"No, I…no, not at all. Please, don't stop," Emily begged.
And Paige didn't.
Half an hour later, Pam Fields came back from church. Her mood had improved significantly; she intended to really talk to her daughter (their previous talks, since Emily's arrest, had quickly turned into yelling sessions).
She began to climb up the stairs and stopped dead in her tracks when she heard giggles coming from Emily's room.
"Emily?" she asked in an alarmed voice.
The noise inside stopped instantly.
"Mom!?" Emily squealed.
"Emily, what's going on in there?"
"Nothing! Nothing, Mom, I was just… reading out loud... something really funny…" Emily answered in a panic. "Don't come in yet please, I'm... I'm naked!"
That wasn't entirely true; Emily still had her jeans on, and her bra, though one strap was down.
Paige, who was trying not to laugh out loud, was pretty much in the same state.
'Reading something funny?' she mouthed. "That was so lame."
"I know!" Emily said. "I panicked!"
She heard the key turning in the lock.
"Hide!" Emily hushed Paige. "Hide, anywhere!"
The auburn girl looked around her, her mind racing, and the next thing Emily knew, Pam Fields was in the room, and Paige was nowhere to be seen.
"Emily!" Pam said in a stern voice. "What is going on here? Why are these clothes on the floor?"
"I was... reorganizing my closet, and... trying on some clothes," Emily said, stumbling over her words.
"Really?" Pam Fields frowned. "Don't you have better things to do? And I thought you said you were reading?"
"I... I was doing that, too," a flustered Emily answered. "You know, you took my phone, and my computer, so..."
Pam Fields sighed. Teenagers.
"Okay, Emmy. I guess I was a little too hard on you before. Please put on a shirt, brush your hair, and come on downstairs after that. Lunch will be ready soon."
"Yes, Mom," Emily answered, dipping her head.
"I don't remember you owning this jacket," Pam Fields added, pointing out to Paige's army jacket, which was on the floor.
"Oh... yes, it's... it's new," Emily answered, her face beet red.
"Well, I'm not sure it's really your style, but why not," her mother shrugged, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
"Oh god," Emily sighed in relief. She sat on the floor, her legs feeling weak all of a sudden.
Paige crawled back from under the bed.
"Wow, that was close, Emily," she grinned.
"It's not... it's not funny," Emily protested.
"Oh yes, it is. But don't worry, Dream... Emily," Paige corrected herself quickly. "I know how to slip away unnoticed."
"Oh," Emily said, feeling relieved and disappointed at the same time. "Okay, then."
Paige leaned towards the raven-haired girl, and whispered huskily in her ear:
"But, I'll be back. If you want me to, that is."
The smile Emily gave her then was the cutest and the brightest Paige had ever seen.
"Seriously, Paige, do you even have to ask?..."
A/N …I know, I know. Badass!Paige, and (not so)Shy!Emily, it has been done (and much better), nothing really new under the sun.
But, well, this one was lingering in my mind, and I really had some fun writing it. I hope you had some fun reading it.
Oh, and Keith Urban's song 'Cop Car' had a lot to do with it, too. ;)
Edit: this story was meant to be a one-shot, but well, it seems I'm not done with this fic. Sooo, a sequel is on the way, if you guys don't mind... ;) Let me know what you think!