Disclaimer/ Authors Note: I do not own Pretty Little Liars characters or anything related to the TV show. I have simply borrowed the characters and turned them into my own story, for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.
I desire you, Emily.
Chapter 1:
Sometimes it was so easy to slip back into old habits, habits that Emily thought she had grown out of…but apparently not. Emily stood at the counter in the Brew pretending to listen to the customer in front of her, a gorgeous brunette, with subtle green eyes, placing her order for a trim caramel latte. Her mind was elsewhere, and had been all morning since the beginning of her shift. How could she get so caught up in the new cook? Hadn't it only been a few weeks since she and Paige had called it quits? Ouch that still hurts Emily thought to herself, that and the realization that there was a very dull ache in her chest. To say things ended on a simple 'I can't be with you' note was such a crock of shit. Emily knew life was never simple, when it came to her love life and her new dilemma had her in such a daze.
Emily heard the kitchen door swing open, and knew that the lithe footsteps that followed belonged to her daydream, the stunning dark skinned, beauty that was Talia. Emily had forgotten that she was busy serving a customer; the flawless brunette smiled longingly at Emily as Talia approached the counter. Noticing Emily's distraction, the brunette paid her money, muttered a quick "Thanks" and headed over to a table by the window. Leaning in towards Emily, Talia cockily piped up "Gee Emily, do all of the customers fawn all over you like that? I know you're cute, but do you realize just how cute you are?" Emily drew in a sharp intake of breath, unsure of how to answer, when she realized just how close Talia was standing beside her now. Wow, that was some compliment Emily thought to herself, say something Fields… "Ummm, she was just being friendly, nothing more".
Sure Talia was being forward, and it did nothing to quell Emily's desire to figure out if this new situation could work. Talia took a step away from Emily and placed a large container of warm apple and cinnamon spiced muffins onto the counter. "Here, take her one of these with her coffee, I'm sure she'll give you her number if you ask nicely. Just flash her your signature 'killer smile' if all else fails. Tell her it's on the house, since you failed to pay her any attention while you were taking her order." And with that remark Talia brushed past Emily, and back into the kitchen, leaving Emily in a fluster.
Emily went about making the brunette her coffee, being sure to fluff the milk just right, carefully spooning the last of the warm froth onto the top of the steaming hot beverage. She normally wouldn't worry about making the latte look perfect, but decided she'd be nice to the girl and add some extra caramel sauce to the top, in the shape of a heart. Sure it looked cheesy but she didn't really care. Emily grabbed a plate from the shelf behind her, and used a pair of tongs to pick up one of Talia's muffins. Damn this smells good, she sure can cook Emily thought as she lifted the plated muffin onto a serving tray and placed it next to the hot latte. Mustering up some courage, she headed over to the brunette sitting by the window, looking out at the hustle and bustle of the street while she waited for her beverage.
It didn't take the brunette long to realize Emily was standing there; trying to think of something more than her usual greeting, and failing miserably, she quickly flashed Emily a brilliant smile and said "Hi" saving her the trouble. "Uh, sorry about before, I really didn't mean to be so oblivious when I was taking your order" Emily smiled bashfully in reply, hoping like anything that she didn't look like a total idiot. "Here, please except this as an apology for my rudeness, it's on the house" as she handed the muffin and latte to the girl. A big grin spread across the brunettes face, "my name's, Kara, and you didn't have to do that Emily, but I'm grateful all the same, at least this means you know my name now" she said with a smirk. Flustered and feeling her cheeks starting to warm with her embarrassment, Emily offered her a quick glance, trying not to get too caught up in her flirting with her, forward, very to the point Emily thought as she slipped her free hand into the back pocket of her skin tight jeans to hide her nervousness. "Nice to meet you Kara, I hope you enjoy your muffin" and with that, Emily walked back to the counter, and internally reprimanded herself for allowing Kara to have that effect on her.
Glancing at the clock above the door to the kitchen, Emily began to figure it was time to start checking there were enough supplies for the lunchtime rush, if it could be called that around here. Nine to eleven was always slow in the brew on a Sunday morning, there were of course the regulars, but in such a small town like Rosewood, everyone knew everyone and Emily could predict who would be in for a lunchtime pick-me-up. Knowing that it was almost eleven thirty, and there would be three more customers coming in any time now, Emily hastily retrieved the bag of coffee beans out from the shelf below the cash register and began to fill up the coffee grinding machine. Machine full, Emily sealed the bag, and slipped it back under the counter as she heard the brew door open, then close quietly. Looking up, she saw Kara walk past the big expanse of glass window and give her a quick wave as she left. A warm smiled tugged at the corners of Emily's lips all of their own accord.
Grabbing a bottle of cleaner and a cloth, Emily headed over to Kara's table to collect her mug and plate, only to notice a note written hastily across a napkin, slipped just under the edge of the coffee mug. Pulling the napkin out from under the mug, Emily could see a phone number, and a little smiley face drawn next to it. Another distraction and a beautiful one at that, Emily mused to herself. She pocketed the napkin into the front pocket of her apron and headed back to the kitchen with the dirty crockery.
Talia heard the kitchen door open, but chose not to look at Emily as she sauntered in, and placed the dirty dishes into the plastic tub on one of the service counters, to wait to be washed up later. She was standing at the island prep table, with her hands gently kneading a big wad of fresh pastry. Without looking up from the mini pastries she was preparing, Talia asked "so, how did that muffin go, did it win her over, Emily?" Caught off guard, Emily turned to face her and gave Talia the biggest smile she could muster. "Sure did, and I even got her number" Emily replied confidently, yet on the inside she was a bundle of nervous energy. Maybe pretending like this desire for Talia could go away could make things easier for Emily, Emily knew she was really fooling herself, but she had to try. Ezra would not approve of a workplace romance, and I desperately need to keep this job to save up money for college. And with that thought, Emily walked back out into the front of the shop expecting the girls to arrive at any minute.
As the kitchen door swung shut, Talia lent heavily against the counter, flour covered hands stilled on the surface of the table, then gently wiped across the front of her apron. Shit, that was too easy; I guess I didn't count on that girl being so confident. Who am I kidding any way, Emily's gorgeous, and of course she'd give her, her number! Fuck it! Talia thought in despair. That idea had certainly backfired, all she was trying to prove was that Emily had no idea just how gorgeous she was. How am I going to fix this now, Talia pondered?
Emily had begun to make three coffees, each one of them very different from the other, but Emily knew how the girls liked them, and remembered each one off by heart. Spencer had a Caffe Americano – no additives, just straight up coffee, sure to zap her awake at any time of the day. Hanna preferred a Caffe Mocca – slightly more girly, with a sprinkle of chocolate on top. And last but not least, Aria like her Vienna Coffee – topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Each coffee was just as different as the girl that drank it. Just as she was about to finish the cream on the last coffee, she heard the front door to the brew open and in came a breeze of laughter and discussion. Of course Hanna was the loudest; she could tell who that laugh belonged to without even looking up. As the girls approached the counter, Emily slid three coffees across to them and flashed them her megawatt smile "Hey, I'll be with you guys in a minute, grab a seat, I have something to tell you" she beamed as she hastily wiped down the machine and checked to make sure the counter was clean.
The three girls exchanged looks at each other and headed for the couch, coffees in hand, to the back corner of the store. Slumping down onto the comfy old couch, Hanna spoke up first "Do you think she's going to tell us about this thing she has going on with the cook? Caleb mentioned it to me. I mean, sure she's gorgeous, I just don't want Em to get hurt…and it's still only been a few weeks since she broke up with Paige". Both Spencer and Aria nodded in agreement as they sipped at their coffees. "I guess we will just have to wait and see Han, I mean, did you see her smile, she looks happy at least" Aria offered from behind her mug. Spencer was too busy eying Emily behind the counter to offer any comment, sure she looked happy but Emily's love life was far from ever being simple.
Checking to see that none of her regulars needed anything, Emily made her way over to the girls on the couch. Plopping down next to Hanna, Emily was grinning from ear to ear as she began to explain her morning. "Sooooo, this stunning brunette came in this morning, I don't think I've seen her around before, but she totally gave me her number! Her name's Kara." Emily couldn't help her enthusiasm as she began to explain how this had come about. Hanna started to list off a few questions, and Aria offered a nod here and there as Emily answered.
Spencer sat and sipped her coffee, noting how Emily seemed to have a small sparkle in her eyes, one that seemed to have been missing since she broke up with Paige, stupid Paige, letting her go Spencer mused to herself. If I'd been the one dating Em, I'd never even let the thought of breaking up even enter into my mind. Emily shot Spencer a grin, noticing how Spencer was staring at her, but not saying a word. "You okay there Spence? You sure are quiet today" Spencer pulled herself away from her thoughts to answer "yeah Em, I'm fine, it's about time you started seeing people again. I was just thinking about how much of an idiot Paige was to let you go, but hey, that's her loss". Emily looked directly at Spencer, trust her to be out right honest with her, then she quickly looked down to her lap to hide the tears begging to burst forth. "Shit, Em I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to come out like it did" Spencer bit down on her bottom lip, annoyed at her stupidity for so easily upsetting her best friend. Hanna lent across and patted Emily on the shoulder "Em we love you, we just want you to be happy, I think that's what Spence was trying to allude to". All eyes were on Hanna now. "What? I know how to use big words when I need them" Hmph! Hanna pouted, causing the other three girls to giggle in unison.
Awkward conversation over with, Emily excused herself and said she needed to head back to the counter, as it was almost twelve, and there'd be more customers in any minute now. Heading back to make sure things were in order, Emily was replaying Spencers comment over and over in her head, 'That's her loss' – yeah it sure was… what's going on with Spence? Is Spence keen on me now, or was it just that she hated Paige for leaving and making me so unhappy? Surely there was nothing going on with Spencer that Emily hadn't picked up on, she was fiercely loyal, that had to be it. Emily dismissed the notion of Spencer liking her, and left it at that.