A/N: So there's not enough Emaria out there so I thought I'd contribute! Enjoy!
Aria was more than happy to have her friend over. Her parents hadn't even cared it was a school night, considering the circumstances. Emily had been spending a lot of time at her friends' house after her parents less than understanding reactions to her coming out. Her friends had been great, better than she ever thought they'd be.
Still, she couldn't help but be self-conscious when Aria yawned and announced she was going to change into her pyjama's. Emily made some mumbling excuse about needing the bathroom and disappeared. Aria frowned and opened her mouth to protest but Emily was already out the door.
"Em, what are you doing?" Aria asked.
Emily was pulling a blanket over the floor, "I was just…going to sleep down here."
Aria rose her eyebrows, "Uh, why? You practicing to be on survivor or something?"
Emily blushed, "I just thought… You know, it would be more comfortable for you…"
"Em," Aria took Emily's hand and pulled her off the ground, "Nothing's changed. We've slept in the same bed a thousand times, it's not a big deal."
Emily smiled weakly, "Thanks, Aria… It's just… I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable."
Aria rolled her eyes, "As if you could! Besides, if I catch you staring I'll just take it as a compliment," she teased.
Emily laughed quietly, "Yeah, yeah."
"It must have been hard though," Aria thought, "keeping your feelings a secret for so long… And the change room's, the sleepovers… I'm just sorry we didn't know and made you uncomfortable."
Emily shrugged, "It was… I guess I really didn't want to like girls…so yeah, the change rooms sucked because I couldn't escape it. I liked looking at girls but I didn't like that I liked looking at girls," she frowned, "If that make sense."
"It does," Aria nodded, "But you know, it doesn't bother any of us. You're still the same Emily as always."
Emily smiled, "Thanks, you guys have been great. Really."
"Did you really think we wouldn't be?" Aria asked curiously.
"I don't know," Emily admitted, "I think maybe I was projecting my own feelings of not accepting it onto you guys. I just didn't want to lose you."
Aria's eyes widened, "Never, Em," she wrapped her arms around her friend.
Emily returned the embrace.
"So, is there an actual crush or…?" Aria smiled.
Emily blushed, "No," she lied.
Aria quirked an eyebrow, "Okay. So why the blushing?"
Emily cursed internally as her blush only deepened, "I don't know."
"Come on, it must suck having crushes and not being able to gush over them with your friends. Listening to us talk about all the guys at school… " Aria shrugged, looking at her friend sympathetically.
"Well…yeah," Emily admitted.
Aria smiled, "There totally is someone. You have that look in your eye."
Emily shrugged, "It's nothing. The joys of being gay and being surrounded by straight girls."
"Oh, yeah, that must suck," Aria frowned, "But come on, you can still crush, right? It's no different than me being in love with Ryan Gosling," she smiled.
Emily smiled, "Right… but you don't have to see him at school every day."
Aria nodded, "True. So, there is someone! Come on, you know I can keep a secret."
"Well, so can I!" Emily said with finality.
"Oh come on, Em, you've been holding it in for like ever, don't you – "
"It's you," Emily blurted.
Aria blinked, shocked for a moment before she smiled, "Me?"
Emily remained silent, staring down at her hands.
"Em?" Aria watched her friend, "Oh, come on. I don't mind, Em. You're my friend," she shrugged, "So, you have good taste."
"Sorry," Emily mumbled, still staring at her hands.
Aria rolled her eyes and took Emily's hands in her own, "Seriously, it's okay. It's natural to get crushes – "
"On one of your best friends?" Emily asked.
"Sure," Aria shrugged, "I think it's natural. I mean, we're close…and I am pretty awesome," she grinned.
Emily let herself laugh, "Yeah, yeah."
Aria smiled, "Hey, but why me? I mean, you're just as close with Spence and Hanna…"
Emily blushed again, "Aria…" she sighed, "I don't know. You're just…different."
"Different," Aria repeated, "Different, how?"
Emily grumbled a little, "Well, I don't know… you've always been like the least judgmental. You're smart and loyal and funny and cute…" she stopped.
Aria bit back a smile, "Well, thanks, Em," she nudged her friend gently.
Emily looked at her friend, "It really…doesn't bother you?"
Aria shrugged, "Nope. It's totally cool. I don't want anything to change between us, Em. You're my friend and I love you, always will."
Emily nodded, "I love you too. Um, I can still sleep on the floor…"
Aria pushed her friend, "Jeez, Em. How many times do I need to say it? Nothing changes. Unless," she thought, "it makes you uncomfortable?"
Emily thought about it, "No, it doesn't," she mumbled.
"Cool," Aria smiled and pulled her friend onto the bed as she climbed under the covers.
Emily followed suit and tried to get comfortable without invading her friends space.
"I never noticed how small your bed was before," Emily grumbled.
Aria laughed, "Well, stop squirming around and maybe it won't seem so small."
"Well, not everyone is as tiny as you, this is probably like a king size to you," Emily turned to face her friend again.
"Hey!" Aria pushed at her friend, "I can't help being so short, you know."
Emily bit back a smile, "I like that you're so small," she bit her tongue as soon as she said it.
Aria's lips curled into a smile, "Oh, really?"
Emily shrugged, "It's kinda cute," she admitted.
Aria smiled, "Good to know."
Emily closed her eyes before she could say anything else to embarrass herself. Aria smiled and watched her friend for a moment. She looked peaceful falling asleep, pretty too. Aria wondered if kissing a girl was any different than kissing a guy. She yawned, shook the thought out of her head and closed her eyes.