Hey guys! So this is my first time writing for PLL, but I thought what the heck, I'll try. Just to let you all know, I suck at introductions, so if it starts to sound terrible, by all means skip over it. Anyways this is a Paily story that I hope you will all enjoy. I'm debating at the moment whether or not to include "A" in this story, but they might pop up in the beginning if everything works out right. The line breaks are suppose to represent a change in scene/time. I'm still in the process of writing the story so I'll try to post every time I finish a new chapter. Bare with me, I do take some time to post and sometimes I need a little reminder. But I promise to never leave a story unfinished! Please let me know what you think of this first chapter, by reviewing. I want to hear what you think, whether it's negative or positive, constructive criticism is always useful. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 1

"Emily, stop, I can't breathe!" I tried to gasp as Emily tickled my sides and stomach. I felt her full weight come onto me as her lips grazed against mine. She stopped me with her hands as I reached up and pulled her closer.

"Paige…" she said breaking the kiss.

"I know…I'm sorry," I said pulling away from her and taking a seat at the end of the bed.

"Paige, you know I want this to happen, but I can't," she said running her fingers through her hair.

"Look Emily, I like you, a lot." I said putting my fingers against my temples.

"I like you too Paige, but I can't do this to him."

"Who? Ben? I can't bare the way that he looks at you, the way he gets to kiss you public, but I can't do anything about it. You're the one who has to decide; I can't do it for you. I don't know how long I can do this Em."

"I choose you," she whispered quickly.

"What?"

"I choose you Paige," she said grabbing my hand. "I like you Paige, a lot, and when I'm with you, I feel like myself. For once, I can smile for a myself or laugh."

"And I want you to feel like you have nothing to hide," I said kissing the top of her hand.

"I want to be with you."

"Then would you say 'yes' to dinner and a movie?" I asked hopefully. A small smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

"Yes, but there is something that I have to do first," she said leaning forward and capturing my lips.

I felt Emily's warm body pressed against mine as she pushed me up against the car.

"So what do we do now?" I asked gripping the collar of Emily's jacket.

"Take it slow?" she suggested.

"I like the sound of that," I said pressing my lips Emily's neck.

"I'll see you at practice tomorrow, Paige," she said laughing and pushing me off of her.

"I guess so," I laughed opening my door.

"Drive safe, text me when you're home," she said closing the door and walking back towards the house.

I couldn't erase the smile off my face; my dad thought my face might crack when I walked through the door.

"Everything okay Paige?"

"Everything's great Dad!" I said giving him a hug before heading up to my room.

Paige: Home safe and sound :)

Emily: Glad to hear you didn't get arrested.

Paige: I'm not a bad driver, besides I'm too good for the law.

Emily: I would hate to see you behind those sexy bars.

Paige: But I would look sexy in those orange jumpsuits.

Emily: It's a win win then.

Paige: Maybe we'll get lucky then!

Emily: Goodnight Paige! 3

Paige: Goodnight Emily 3

(Three Years Later)

"So how did Stanford treat you?" Emily asked.

"Well, I would have done this then," I said handing her a piece of paper. She glanced at the piece of paper before she realized what it was. I watched as her eyes widened.

"Oh my god, Paige! This is great! Oh my god! Ah!," she screamed as she pulled me into tight hug.

"Oh Paige," she said breaking the hug. "This is everything you've worked so hard for. You did it! You're going to swim at Stanford!"

"Emily, it feels great!" I said as tears started to well up. "I can't believe that it's actually happening."

"Oh, it's happening!" Emily said as she tackled me and pulled me onto the bed with her. I felt her arms tighten around my waist. She pressed her forehead against mine, and rubbed her nose against mine.

"So what next?" I whispered.

"Paige, we have to face it."

"Emily, please…don't."

"We won't be together next year. You'll be off at Stanford, and I'll be at Danby."

"It's only a skip and a hop away from each other," I said trying to cheer up the mood.

"I guess we should make the most of the time that we have left."

"I guess we should," I replied quietly.

Emily rolled over and draped her arm over my side. She nestled her neck in the croak on my shoulder. I felt her warm breaths graze my ear that sent a shiver down my back.

"I love you Paige."

"I love you too Emily."

We must have drifted off to sleep because the next things I remember was two alarms go off, one after the other. I jerked up, but was held down by an arm that was wrapped against my waist.

"Paige, if you don't turn that off…" Emily moaned as she tightened her grip around me.

I ran my hand over my nightstand trying to find my phone. I quickly shut off the alarm and rolled over to meet those beautiful chocolate eyes.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Don't you look great this morning," I whispered in Emily's ear. She laughed before shoving me away and getting out of bed.

"Was it something I said," I joked as I sat up. She just laughed and walked into my bathroom. I gave a small laugh before going over to my dresser and throwing on my Rosewood warm-ups. Emily appeared moments later wearing a similar outfit on.

"Ready to go?" she asked grabbing her keys.

"If we have to," I moaned grabbing my bag and following her downstairs.

We grabbed a quick breakfast, before heading out. The sun was just starting to come up as we drove to the school.

"Whoever made it so that we have to be at school before the sun comes out was an idiot!" I moaned as I peeled an orange.

"I guess it comes with the sport and Coach Fulton," Emily laughed as she turned into the parking lot.

"Damn, I guess I better get use to this," I said hopping out of the car.

We boarded the bus that was waiting outside of the school. Coach Fulton checked off our names as we grabbed a seat near the back. Emily took the window seat and I took the aisle. Emily had closed her eyes, and I could already tell that she was falling back to sleep again. Shana took the seat next to me.

"Excited for the last race?" she asked.

"Hell yeah, I'm ready to kick from Knight ass."

"You think Coach is gonna let up on the land training before the meet?"

"Never in our dreams," I laughed.

Coach Fulton has discovered this miraculous way for us to warm up, and that is a long easy run before races. Some people would think that you're insane, but it actually kind of worked. Our muscles were loose and relaxed, and most of our times improved greatly. So now it's become a regular thing, before practice and before races, so now we have to get there a while hour early.

"So, I was thinking that since it's a long weekend, we could do something tonight."

"Would this something involve you naked?" Emily asked seductively.

"Well, that depends, but if your lucky, you might just get such a reward," I said smiling.

"Your such a goof," Emily laughed as she ran.

"You love my goofy nerdiness," I said bumping up against her.

"It's irresistible."

"So how about dinner and a movie?" I suggested.

"You always go for the classics," she said smiling.

"How about I twist it up a bit," I said trying to think of what else there was to do around Rosewood.

"What do you have in mind?"

"I ain't telling you! But we'll be back in Rosewood by 7, so pick you up at 8," I said coming to a stop.

"You're not gonna tell me what we're doing," Emily whined.

"Remember, I'm twisting it up a bit," I said leaving her to join the rest of the team.

We all gathered around Coach Fulton to get the line up for our last race of the season.

"Good morning girls! I'm liking all this land training. I can already see an improvement in your times. As you all know, this is our last race of the season. You will all be swimming your usual events. As for the relays, McCullers, your anchoring your relays and Fields you'll be starting them, if that makes sense."

We all nodded in approval, nothing had really changed, except that Emily and I had switched positions.

"Alright, go to the locker rooms and get changed. Let's go out with a bang!" We all cheered and made our way into the locker room. I quickly changed out of my running gears and into my one piece. They aren't the most flattering outfits in the form of a tank top and short combines into one and squeezed you all different ways, most of them not flattering.

We lined up for the first race, I watched as Shana and Emily went head to head in a first race. Of course Emily beat her, because Emily is one of the most amazing swimmers that I have ever laid eyes on. My races were evenly spread apart, so that I have enough time to recover after each one, 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m breaststroke relay, and 400m freestyle relay. I didn't usually swim the breaststroke, but it was a change up from the previous races, and Coach thought that I have potential.

I watched as Emily drove into the water. It was the last relay of the meet, 400m freestyle relay. Emily started the relay, followed by Shana, Megan, then me. Emily's body cut through the water so gracefully, it didn't even look like she was doing much work. Her turn was tight and perfect, giving her a body length advantage. As soon as her hand hit the wall Shana was off the board and into the water. Shana was a strong swimmer and was able to maintain that advantage. When it was Megan's turn, she lost the length and was head to head with the rivals.

I took a deep breath as I mounted the boards. I pulled the goggles over my eyes and pressed them firmly against my head. I let my feet dig into the board and my hands rest lightly on the edges. I watched as Megan approached trying to get ahead. I let myself count to three in my head, and pushed myself off the board as I dove into the water. And then everything was peaceful. My mind was no longer wandering; it was focused on one thing, the water. The water is my home, the place were I belong. I felt my breaths evening out and I propelled myself through the water. I counted the three in my head, before turning my body and pushing off the wall. I glanced at the two lanes next to me and saw bubbles coming from behind me. They must have just turned.

I concentrated on my breathing and my propulsion through the water. My body was light in the water and I knew how to use that to my advantage, saving the last bit of energy that I had for the final stretch. When the wall was in reasonable sight and gave my hardest strokes, before slamming my hand against the wall and coming up for air. I heard the cheers from my team as they looked at the scoreboard.

1. ROSEWOOD SHARKS (MCCULLERS) 3:17.35

I threw myself over the lane divider. The girl in the lane next to me did the same. She gave me a smile as she caught her breath as well.

"Wow, you were incredible," she said finally getting her breath back.

"Thanks, you were amazing yourself. I've never had a race this close."

"I'm Shannon," she said sticking out her hand.

"Paige," I said shaking it.

We pulled ourselves out of the water and headed to our respected teams.

"Great work out there ladies! We went out with a bang, winning every race! I'm proud of you. Seniors, you made this an incredible season for me, and I hate to see you all go. Come on, bring it in!"

We all huddled together and shouted at the top of our lungs, "When we come, we come like thunder. V-I-C-T-O-R-Y Victory! Victory! That's our cry!" We broke apart and headed to the locker room. I grabbed my bag and found an empty bench. I pulled off my swimsuit and changed into a sports bra and my sweatpants. I was rummaging through my bag trying to find a dry shirt, when another person placed their bag on the bench.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?" I looked up at the person. It was the girl that I swam against, Shannon.

"Please," I said moving some of my stuff. I went back to finding a dry shirt, when I remember that I had given Emily my spare shirt, so all I had was the shirt that I had put on after warm-ups, which was soaking wet.

"Looking for something?" she asked, pulling a sweatshirt over her sports bra.

"Something dry to wear, I think I gave my spare shirt to a teammate," I said emptying my bag again.

"Here," she said tossing something at me. I looked down at the shirt she had thrown to me. In bright red letters it read, Stanford.

"No, I can't take this," I said trying to give it back to her.

"It's cool, trust me! I have like fifty shirts like that; I think I can spare one. Plus, I don't think that people want to see you getting a medal, when you're half naked. I mean I wouldn't mind, but others…I'm not sure," she said smiling.

"Stanford, huh?" I said pulling the shirt over my head.

"Yeah, I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other, and then you can give me back that shirt," she said packing up her things.

"I guess so," I said smiling as I followed her out of the locker room.

"Here," she said handing me a piece of paper, before walking off to join the rest of her team. Thank god Emily wasn't there to see this, she would have thought that I was flirting with her or something.

We stood in line and waited for our names to be called. Then we went up to podium got our medals and walked off. It was a long grueling process, one that I don't wish to repeat, except that feeling you get when that medal is around your next, the feeling of accomplishment. Emily and I each ended up with 4 medals and then a medal for the overall team performance. It was a good way to end the season.

The bus ride home was quiet. The whole team was exhausted. Most of them took a seat by themselves and spread out to sleep. Emily curled up next to me and was soon sleeping. I looked down at the shirt that I was planning with and pulled out the piece of paper that Shannon had given me. I punched the number into my phone and opened a new text message.

Paige: Hey great swimming today!

Shannon: I would say the same, but I swam with perfection. Can't wait to swim with you at Stanford.

Paige: It's going to be a long four years…

Shannon: The more the merrier, plus you gotta give me back the shirt sometime :)

Paige: Oh, I don't think so. I like this shirt way too much to part with it easily.

Shannon: Then I guess I'll just have to beat you for it.

Paige: Good luck with that! :P

I locked my phone and put it away. It was a long day, but in the end I got to spend it with Emily by my side. I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and placed a gentle kiss on her temple. She stirred a little, but her eyes remained shut.

The rest of the ride home, I stared out the window thinking about everything that had happened and everything that has yet to happen. It was a lot to think about. I know that Emily had wanted to go to Stanford, but Danby was the one that would sign her. We would be on opposite sides of the country. We would only see each other at swim meets, and over vacations. I don't know if I can handle that. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

Dad: Paige, are you back from your meet?

Paige: We're about half an hour from the school.

Dad: Come straight home when you get to the school.

Paige: Is something wrong?

Dad: Just come straight home.

I looked at my phone confused. My dad was strict most of the time, but he had a reason for everything. This time, something felt wrong, something wasn't right. I moved uncomfortably in my seat, enough to wake Emily.

"Paige, is everything alright?" she asked turning to face me.

"Yeah," I said a little too quickly.

"Paige," she said a little more sternly.

"Em, I need to cancel our plans tonight. Something came up," I said turning my phone over in my hands.

"Is everything alright?" she asked grabbing my hand.

"I don't know. I need to you drop me off at home as soon as we get back to the school."

"Okay. Paige everything is going to be okay," she said giving me a gentle kiss. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm sure it's just a miscommunication."

"I hope so," I said staring out the window.

When we pulled up to school, Emily and I hurriedly filed off the bus, giving Coach Fulton a hug and a 'thank you' before getting in Emily's car. The car ride was silent. My heart was beating faster and faster as we got closer to my house. When we pulled up, there were two cop cars outside with flashing lights. I felt my body tense immediately as panic coursed through my body.

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