Chapter 1

Thunder roared through Rosewood. The storm was at full force. Rain and heavy winds pounded on the windows as the lightning lit up the room but Emily was sound asleep. It was the sound of a phone vibrating that awoke Emily from her slumber. She looked over at her alarm clock. It was two o'clock in the morning and the only thought going through her head was who the hell was calling her at this time. Emily groggily reached over to her nightstand and grabbed her cellphone expecting it to be A or one of Spencer's SOS's.

She flipped open her cellphone and saw Paige McCuller's name blinking on the screen on top of an envelope. Emily sighed. She was not in the mood for any of Paige's crap about her being captain or being gay for that matter. She didn't even understand why she had even given Paige her number in the first place. Oh right. Team spirit, she thought. Her coach was trying to get her and Paige to get along. Trying being the key word. Emily had no problem trying to work out their problems but Paige just hated her.

As much as she wanted to just ignore the message and go back to sleep she knew that if Paige was texting her at this hour then she had to have a good reason so she opened the text.

"Come outside. Please." read Emily aloud.

Emily groaned. She got up and slipped her feet into her shoes before making her way out of her room and down the stairs. She hoped that Paige hadn't come all of this way to yell at her or get payback for something that was out of her control. She worked harder than Paige and that was why she was chosen as captain. It had nothing to do with special treatment as she thought.

As Emily opened the door the sound of thunder shook the house and a flash of lightening illuminated the front porch. What she saw made her gasp slightly.

Paige was standing on her porch. She was soaked and shaking. She looked behind her and could see Paige's bike laying on the walkway. Emily was confused. As she brought her attention back to her teammate she noticed that Paige was crying. It was barely noticeable with the drops of water that seeped down from her hair and onto her face but she could see Paige's eyes were puffy and red.

"Paige. What are you doing here?" asked Emily worried.

She waited for an answer but all Paige did was stand there and stare at her. She looked broken and Emily was determined to know why. She couldn't even imagine what could have happened to make the feisty and persistent Paige McCullers that she had come to know break down right in front of her.

"Are you okay?" asked Emily hoping that Paige would actually ask her question. She was becoming more and more worried and any anger towards Paige that she had recently had was gone.

"No." replied Paige softly as she held back another wave of tears.

Emily didn't say anything. Paige looked down and hugged herself as she began to shiver. She had just gotten on her bike and rode. She didn't know why but before she knew it she was in front of Emily's house and walking up her steps. She had instantly regretted it once she sent Emily the text but by then it was too late. She couldn't just run. Not this time.

"Paige..." started Emily but was quickly cut off.

"You have every reason to hate me." said Paige as she looked back at Emily.

Emily didn't know what it was but something in her wanted to just reach out and hold Paige. Emily knew that no matter how together Paige put herself out to be she was just as broken as the next person. Her father was overbearing. He demanded that Paige be number one in everything. He had been the most upset when Emily was appointed captain. Emily knew that Paige wasn't happy. She didn't like the way her father pushed her but she couldn't do anything about it.

"I don't hate you." said Emily honestly as she stepped out onto the porch.

She tried to step closer to Paige but Paige moved away from her so she stopped. She didn't want to scare the girl away.

"I would... I do" confessed Paige as the tears started up again.

'She must think that I am so damn pathetic.' thought Paige as she watched Emily.

"Don't say that" begged Emily.

She didn't want Paige to put herself down and what she said was true. She did not hate Paige at all. She thought that Paige hated her. The thought of Paige hating herself hurt Emily. She really felt for her. She wished that Paige could see how amazing she was. She was a great person when she wasn't trying to drown people. She was just lost.

"I don't even know why I came here." said Paige suddenly taking Emily out of her thoughts, "I'm sorry Emily. I just wanted you to know that."

Before Emily could say anything Paige turned around and took off. Emily was not going to let her run away. So she took off after her. To her surprise Paige ran right past her bike and down the road. The rain soaked Emily within seconds but she didn't care. Her focus was on catching up to Paige.

Paige was fast but Emily was faster. After about three blocks Emily was in arms reach of Paige. She reached out and grabbed the swimmer's arm causing her to stop running.

Paige turned to Em

ily expecting to see disgust and hate in Emily's expression. She was taken off guard when she saw worry and confusion. why would she worry about me? After everything I had put her through.

"Paige don't run. Please. Tell me what's wrong." urged Emily, her arm still holding Paige tight.

Paige shook her head and looked away.

"I want to help you." pleaded Emily loosening her hold on Paige.

Emily sighed when she got no response from Paige. She really did want to help Paige but she couldn't do that if she wouldn't let her in. She slowly took her arm off of Paige's. Usually she wasn't one to give up so easy but she knew there was no use in trying to push someone who wouldn't budge no matter what.

After a few minutes of just standing there silently Emily was convinced that Paige was not going to tell her what was hurting her so badly. She shook her head and turned to head back to her house but stopped for a second.

"Paige I'm here for you if you need to talk. I know haven't seen eye to eye in the past but I forgive you and I'm sorry if I ever did anything to hurt you. And I meant it when I said I didn't hate you. I could never hate you." confessed Emily honestly.

Again she got no reply.

She couldn't force Paige to talk to her. It just wasn't going to happen and she had to accept that.

"Emily." said a weak voice from behind her.

She turned and before she knew it Paige's lips were on hers.

Well... Tell me what you guy's think.