Author's Note: This is my first ever fanfic and my first attempt at actually writing. I have spent years trying to get something solid so here goes and I hope anyone who reads this enjoys. I will definitely try to do regular updates, probably once a week or so depending on the time allowed with my job and real life and such.

Chapter 1: Emily

Emily sat just on the edge of the pool after her swim practice letting the cool pool water drip from her hair down her toned body. Swimming was always a calming space for Emily and even after the long and hard practices she had now she always wanted to stay behind for a few and let all her worries drip away from her much like the water dripping from her body. After quite a bit of sitting there breathing in the chlorine smell filling the pool area and she was almost completely dry save for her hair and her calves which were still swaying in water, Emily decided to get up and go get changed.

The locker rooms were empty and there a serene silence with the only noise coming from her footsteps sloshing water from all the activity of her swim team coming in after practice. As Emily opened her locker the sound echoed across the room louder than she had anticipated. It sent a shudder through her aching muscles but she continued grabbing her shampoo and conditioner to wash her chlorine damaged hair. The quietness that filled the room still left Emily with a slight fear that someone, somewhere was watching her ready to attack at any moment. Emily always felt like she was being watched or a text on her phone was going to be another threat. No matter how many times she reminded herself that Charlotte/Charles/A was safely locked up in Rosewood, the anxiety and fear was always one step behind her.

After a slightly hurried shower and changing into her street clothes, Emily gathered her swim bag and decided to head back to her dorm. She wasn't quite expecting that the sun would have set by now, not realizing how much time she had spent after practice lost in her own thoughts. With only the sidelights that lined the sidewalk to light Emily's path, she briskly walked the lengthy path from the swim center to her dorm. In the light of day, the campus looked vast and beautiful, the stone buildings lining along multiple brick paths, the trees that were red and orange as the seasons changed from summer to fall. She loved sitting on a bench reading whatever course material she had that day as fellow students walked from building to building trying to reach all their classes. However, here in the night the campus was quiet and almost eerie. Even though she could look up and see a few stars, being dampened by the lights of the University around her, it still gave Emily slight anxiety to walk by herself. She wasn't quite sure how much she had truly quickened her pace trying to reach the doors of her dorm until she had practically run face first into the glass door that lead into her destination. Quickly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her key-card giving her access to the dorms. Once the door has closed behind her a sense of relief washed over her. Her taunt muscles relaxing slowly as the light of the dorm lobby spread in front of her.

The lobby was quaint and had such a homey feeling to it, Emily's homesickness dulled whenever she sat on a couch or chair in front of large flat screen TV that hung on the opposite wall. Emily rubbed the back of her strained neck as she made her way from the lobby to the stairs that led up to her room. When she looked down at her keys trying to find the right one that opened her dorm on her way up the stairs, Emily was not expecting to slam straight into what felt like a brick wall of flesh. She felt her balance falter when suddenly a hand was on her arm giving her balance.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She said without looking up and a blush heating her cheeks.

"That's obvious." The other person said chuckling.

Emily was hit in the chest at the sound of that voice much like when she had run straight into its owner. She would know that voice anywhere, even though it's been almost a year since she heard it last. It always made her heart race, butterflies fill her stomach and her muscles tighten almost instantaneously. Emily's gaze raised from the spot on the stairwell she had previously been so enthused by, and up the so familiar calves covered by a tight pair of running pants traveling up to the tight abs, that Emily missed running her hands over, covered by a loose fitting running shirt, up the too familiar and supple breasts, finally coming to rest on the pair of big brown eyes she could get lost in forever and almost had again.

"Paige." She squeaked more than said as she had lost her own voice.

"Hey, Em." Paige said while rubbing her hands through her hair and down to the back of her neck.

Paige's go to nervous move, Emily chuckled to herself. Though the sound of her nickname so familiar to Paige's lips still filled Emily with a rush of heat throughout her entire body.

"Wha- What are you doing here?" Emily stumbled over her words as her breath caught in her throat.

This was a person she was sure she would never see again. When Paige left for California with her parents Emily was sure she was out of her life forever.

"I-uh-I, I transferred here this week actually. I was just setting myself up in my new dorm room." Paige again struck her hands through her hair and against the back of her neck.

Emily's breathe caught in her throat as she bit her lip trying to suppress a gasp. Paige was going to be not only in her school but literally right down the hall.

"Oh." That was all Emily could muster to say, her throat suddenly dry.

Without a second thought or a breath between the two Emily suddenly darted from the lobby and back out the door into the cold night.

She didn't know what she was doing, or where she was going. All she knew was she had to get out of there. Emily couldn't breathe, a panic washed over her at the sight of Paige standing not two feet away from her. She could almost feel the heat radiating from the other girl's body; assuming Paige was just as nervous to be there in front of her high school girlfriend. The panic not just from seeing each other but also from all the memories, both good and bad, that had washed over each of them. High school was the toughest time for Emily, and for Paige as Emily knew. What was supposed to be some of the greatest years of their lives, were just filled with panic, danger, and an anonymous threat breaking each of her, and her friends; Spencer, Aria, Hannah and Alison; lives. Even though Emily knew the threats were long behind her and the culprit, not so anonymous anymore, was safely locked away in Rosewood, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every time her phone buzzed, she cringed that maybe it would be another A threat. Seeing Paige again had brought back all those memories of A trying to tear them apart, of everything that had gone wrong in Rosewood, of Paige leaving her standing there at the airport as she got on a plane with her parents. At the same time, it brought back the memory of every kiss, every hug, the way Emily felt when Paige had her in her strong arms while lying in bed trying to comfort her after another A attack. The feeling of Paige's hands exploring every inch of her. This train of thought flushed Emily's face with heat and she was sure her cheeks were a deep red right now, luckily she was alone in the dark. It was then that Emily finally looked up at where she was. The light of the library shown just ahead as she found a nearby bench to lay herself down on. The anxiety finally leaving her as she realized she had put a good distance between her and the girl who, even after all these years, had Emily feeling like she was a young school girl again.

The cool air felt relaxing as it hit Emily's still heated skin. When her eyes started drifting close, she decided it was time to head back to her dorm again. Hoping that Paige had retreated out of the lobby, Emily crossed back towards her dorm and struck her key-card into the door again. With hesitancy, she looked around the corner and saw the staircase abandoned, a breath of relief and disappointment rushed out of Emily. Emily had hoped maybe she'd be able to explain herself, but she also wasn't sure how to go about that. She pushed her backpack up farther on her shoulders and headed up the stairs towards her dorm room. The quiet again falling back around her as she used her key-card again to get into her room. The dark settled around her again, as she slung her bag down in some corner and made to short stretch to her bed. Falling upon it with a soft thud it didn't take long for sleep to take over.