Old Beginnings

A/N: I don't own PLL

Two years ago...

Emily's POV

"Congratulations Fields, pack it up your ready to go home." My headmaster said.

I thanked her profusely excited about going home, although I did meet good friends here, I had missed being away from my family, friends for the past year.

"Thanks, I guess I should go let my friends know I'm leaving and say my goodbyes." She nods and leaves my room that's been my home at ACID Academy for more than a year.

After the tearful goodbyes and memories shared, I was finally on a plane back to Rosewood. I'm excited to see everyone and a bit anxious, but I know deep down that that feeling's for a certain blonde I used to know.

Four weeks later…..

I had managed to rekindle some of my friendship, which wasn't much considering I only really hung out with one person before I left, but I did manage to start up a new one. I met Cece Drake on my first day back to work back at The Grill a three weeks ago.

3 weeks ago...

"Hi what can I get you?" I said looking down writing the name on the cup in my hands from the previous order.

"Can I get a strawberry smoothie with a banana nut muffin and your number."

I look up to from the cup and my breath instantly caught in the back of my throat, the blonde bombshell looked eerily a lot like the blonde bombshell that at one time I couldn't live without.

I must've looked shocked because she spoke again. "It's ok you don't have to give me your number, I'll just take the muffin and the smoothie, I haven't really seen you around and thought were cute and you seem pretty nice um….."

"Emily. "

"Emily. " she said as if she were testing out my name. "Well Emily are you new here?"

"Not really I've lived here my whole life, but I've been away at a private school in Texas for like a year and a half." I said not really sure why I was giving away so much information. "But I haven't seen you around here….?"

"Cecilia Drake but everyone calls me Cece. Yeah I know I just transferred here a year ago from Cape May." Cece said.

"That explains a lot." I smiled.

"Now that we know a little more about each other, would still wanting to get your number be a crazy idea?" She laughed and I had to admit I liked it.

Someone in line cleared their throat clearly annoyed that Cece had been holding up the line that we didn't realize had formed during our conversation.

"Emily? " Cece said looking at me waiting for an answer.

"Uh….yeah that would be fine" I said looking around for something to write it on but I eventually just gave up and just wrote it on her smoothie cup, which hadn't noticed before.

"Uh that'll be $3.50." I told her.

After she finished paying for her order we said our goodbyes.

"Don't work too hard." She winked before she turned and left out of sight.

Cece and I have hung a lot since then. She's a lot of fun but I can't help but feel there's something missing. But today I've decided to take a day for myself, no family, no friends, or potential girlfriends, just me myself and the water. I haven't been in the water for the past year and a half and I wasn't going to wait any longer.

I contemplated going to the kissing rock but it just held too many memories I wasn't really ready to deal with, so I just went to the country club pool. I go to the outdoor pool to have more privacy everyone seemed to be in the indoor pool to escape the heat except those who were here to just work on their tan.

After a while I just got in my zone swimming, not caring about anything at the moment, I just felt free for the time being gliding through the water.

"Merma Merma Merma!" I heard a toddler yell then start to giggle.

But then I heard it, the voice I've been waiting and dreading to hear. "Maybe one day you'll swim like that, you certainly do love the water enough isn't that right Nate."

"Yep that's my little champ." Nate said rather proudly.

Everything went black after that.

2 Hours Later…

"Ughhh." I groaned as I woke with a splitting headache

"Oh thank God you're awake I thought I'd have to take you to the hospital if you were out any longer."

There she was Alison Dilaurentis the girl the stole my heart those years ago, and after a year and a half she looks more beautiful than ever. Her blue eyes seemed to brighten when I looked at her but there was also worry and a tinge of sadness behind them and I can guess why. I had left without any warning or goodbye to her or anybody really.

"Here take this." Alison said handing me an Aspirin and a glass of water that had been on the bed side dresser. I took the water and Aspirin thankful for anything that would get rid of this horrible headache.

"Thanks. What happened? I remembered hearing then everything went black" I asked confused as to why I was in Alison's room holding a bag of frozen peas to my head and taking an aspirin.

"You swam into the pool wall and knocked yourself out." She said not really looking at me

"Ughh." I groaned this time out embarrassment

" I didn't know you were back." She said.

"Yeah I've been back for almost a month."

"Oh I see." She says a little irritation hidden on her voice.

"Listen let's forget everything and put it in the past. It's been a year and a half I'm sure we've both changed. " I said.

Alison opened her mouth to say something when her phone rang. I looked down to see Noel Kahn's picture on the screen with Bae and heart emojis across the screen. She quickly ended the call and locked the phone then looked at me.

"Em I have to tell you some-" she tried but I cut her off.

" Tell me what that your with pretty boy now? " I said starting to get upset. I got up and walked to the door determined to just leave while my heart was still intact.

"Em!" she pleaded.

"Like I said Alison we've both change since the last time we've seen each other, it's cool we can be friends. I have to go I have to meet Cece for dinner." I know I only said it to hurt her and let her see she's not the only one who's moved on. I saw her visibly tense at the mention of me being with someone else but why couldn't I be happy if she could? And with that thought I turned and walked out and this time she didn't try to stop me.

I didn't speak or see Ali for the rest of the summer, I think both of us avoiding each other for a while is for the best. She can focus on Noel and I had the chance to really focus on Cece while after I unintentionally got the closure I didn't know I was looking for. By the time school came back around Cece and I were officially a couple and it felt good to someone to focus on, to have someone my heart will beat for. But I knew deep down that my heart still beat for another blonde, a beat that I fear may never go away.