As a freshman in high school, everything is so new and so fresh for my young mind to comprehend. Three months in and my grades are beginning to slip in Math and Science. I just so happen to be a good student, but every since she walked into the classroom about a month ago, I can't seem to focus. Alison Dilaurentis is a seventeen year old senior who just so happens to be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She's the new teaching assistant for the year. My new math class was during her free period. Safe to say, I lacked serious concentration. It was last year when I knew I was different. I haven't told anyone, but my best friends, Hanna, Spencer, and Aria, who loves me no matter what. However, being from a conservative family with a military father and homemaker of a mother, being different isn't something you strive to be. I don't have it all figured out just yet, but for right now, I'm just Emily. Right this second the teacher, Mrs. Sheperd, is handing back the most recent math test.

"Another D?! My mom's gonna kill me," I sigh in frustration. I'm usually a math wiz, but as of late I'm a math failure.

"Emily? Are you okay?" Aria asks from her seat next to me. I showed her my test.

"Again? Damn, I don't think Mama Fields is gonna be too happy with that," Spencer chimes in from the other side of me.

"Yeah. Even I got a C- on this test, and I hate math. What's going on with you Em?" Hanna worries from the seat in front of me.

"I just can't seem to concentration. It's like my mind goes blank once the test gets in front of me."

"Maybe you need a tutor, just so you can really focus. I bet studying with someone one on one might help a lot," Spencer suggests. I shrug my shoulders and decide to ask the teacher about individual tutoring after class. Once the bell rang, I gather my belongings and head to the front of the class. I have to meet the girls for lunch, so I sent them ahead while I talk to Mrs. Sheperd.

"Mrs. Sheperd?" I start tentatively.

"Yes, Emily?"

"I was wondering if uhm, you had any available times to meet for one on one tutoring. I saw my grade and I wanted a chance to improve it with a little help."

"I noticed. When classes started, you were one of my best students and this is your third test where you've had a grade less than a B. Is everything okay at home Emily? With your friends? Or is it just that you're not understanding the material?"

"I'm not really grasping the concept right now and I hope that with a little help, I can get my grades back up."

"Makes sense and I'm proud of you for coming to that conclusion. Well, unfortunately dear, I'm not available for individual sessions, but no worry that's what the TA is for in this class. I would like you to meet with Alison after school and set up a schedule that works for both of you." I gulp at the idea of spending alone time with the very object of my affections. I nod slowly at the instructions before taking my leave and going to the cafeteria to be with my friends.

EAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEA

"I don't know what to do guys. I mean I need to get my grades up because my mom will kill me if I don't, but how am I supposed to spend time alone with her without losing focus?"

"Ask her to be less attractive? Like throw a sack over her head while you're studying," Hanna laughs, joined shortly by the others. I can't help, but giggle also.

"I'm serious you guys. What if I say something stupid? Worse, what if I actually fail the class? I'll be grounded forever," I pout at the possibility.

"Emily, you're just gonna have to get over it. I know she's hot and all, but if I were you, or even me, I'd be more worried about Mama Fields, then some hot upperclassman," Spencer states, making a whole lot of sense.

"Ughhh, you're right! I just have to suck it up and get this all over with." Lunch goes by with much laughter, and meaningless conversation then the bell rings. The last two subjects goes by without a hitch and sooner than I hoped, I'm knocking on Mrs. Sheperd's door to find the TA. It being Monday, I didn't have swim practice, so the sooner I can get started with the tutoring the better.

"Mrs. Sheperd?"

"Come in Emily," a voice that didn't belong to my teacher replied.

"Oh, uhm, h-hi Ms. Dilaurentis. I was just coming to see if Mrs. Sheperd talked to you about tutoring me," I manage to stammer out. She walks towards me from the back of the room and I can't help, but admire her confidence, her grace, her sex appeal. The sway of her hips, the flow of her hair, the glow of her skin, the cut of her-.

"Emily? Emily, are you okay?" I'm snapped out of my fantasy world to see her standing directly in front of me with worry written on her face.

"Huh?"

"You kind of zoned out on me there?" she giggled. Oh dear God.

"S-s-sorry. Sorry, I was lost in thought," I blush a bright red as my ears became heated from the embarrassment.

"No worries. As I was saying, first, call me Alison or Ali, second, I'm available most days after school except Wednesdays and Fridays, cheerleading, and on weekends, all you have to do is text me and we can meet outside of school."

"Oh, uhm, sure. I mean I have swimming on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I can meet any other day after school and Sundays. On Saturdays, I'm usually at a meet, but it's normally over about 1 pm. We can meet after?" I suggest with a shrug.

"Sounds good. I'll meet you here tomorrow after school for our first session. Bye Emily," she smirks before exiting out of the classroom. I take a deep breath, overcome by the rush of electricity I just felt when she smirked at me, and leave as well, heading home. This is definitely gonna be an interesting few weeks.

The days passed into weeks and soon it was just a week before the biggest test of the semester. Thankfully, my grades have improved in such a big way, but not so much that I didn't still seek tutoring from Ali. I don't know how, but I've managed to send my grades on a rollercoaster ride, just so that I could spend the extra time with her. When talk comes up about not needing her anymore, I 'accidentally' earn a D on the next quiz or homework assignment. Doing enough to pass, but not enough to raise my now C- average. I find myself really enjoying Alison's company, and her enjoying mine. When we're together, we just don't talk math, swimming, or cheerleading, or our friends. We talk about any and every thing under the sun. The things my friends sometimes fondly tease me about, she understands. I've learned that she has an older brother who's in college. She's the captain of the cheerleading squad, beating out her best friend, Jenna Marshall. She's sweet, smart, kind, and just interesting... mature for her age. Surprisingly enough, she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. I love being around her, and I'm afraid that if I do better on my assignments and tests, that she wouldn't want to hang out with me anymore. Then today happened...

"I know your secret Em," she smirks sitting across from me at 'our' table at the Brew.

"Oh? And what secret is that?" I smile back sheepishly.

"Well, I ran into one Hanna Marin earlier today and she told me a little something about you."

"Whatever it is, don't believe her. I mean I love her but Han has zero filter and it was probably to embarrass me," I laugh nervously secretly plotting my revenge on one of my best friends.

"Oh, so you're not really good a math, but pretending not to be?"

"W-w-what? What? That's ridiculous! Why would I do such a thing?" I stammer out, face going completely red.

"You know, I asked her the same thing because I just don't understand it myself. But then, it hit me when she just smirked then walked away," she starts to explain. "Why would this beautiful, yet shy, smart, kind, and sweet girl want me to think she was horrible at math? I mean I took notice of the little yo-yo situation with your grades, going from Ds to Cs to As to Cs and back again, but I didn't really mind. I liked spending time with you and I guess in the end you did also, but why did you lie?"

"Alison, look, I'm sorry I tried to trick you. I mean, I love math and science, and any subject really because I love school. But when you walked into my class at the beginning of your term as TA, all concentration totally left my body," I explain shyly. "I wanted to know you, but why would you wanna know a lowly freshman like myself. I honestly didn't know you were gonna be my tutor when I asked, I just thought that Mrs. Sheperd would do it. But she suggested you and even though I was nervous as hell because most the time, you make my head go blank with nothing but images of you," my ears are on fire. "I was also so excited to maybe get the chance to know you and be friends with you. Every time I showed how much I really did know and you brought up ending our sessions, that's when I failed or messed up on purpose. It was an excuse to be near you and for you to get to know me as a person and not just some freshman with a humongous crush on you," I trailed off with that last sentence.

"I mean, uhm, you see, uhm, dammit," I criticized myself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."

"Well you did and as flattered as I am, I already knew about your feelings," she confesses.

"Wha? Wait, how did you know?"

"Oh, Emily, I know when someone likes me. You are always shy around me, you avoid eye contact whenever I initiate contact, you flinch when I touch you, but relax into it seconds later, you blush like crazy when sex is even mentioned, and the way you look at me. You have a way of looking at me like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world to you," she replies in confidence.

"That's because you are," I whisper more to myself, but I know she heard me when she gasped at my statement.

"Emily-"

"No, it's okay. It's totally fine. I just want to thank you for all of your help and for being my friend, even for a little while. I think I can take it from here. You don't have to 'turn me down' or anything, I am fully aware of what you were going to say," I say sadly, slowly rising to leave the little coffee shop. As I walk towards the door, she's calling my name, but I can't stop because if I do, she will see my tears. It wasn't the fear of rejection that threw me, but the little bit of hope that maybe she felt the same way too that was shattered. I didn't get far before a hand grabs my upper arm and spins me around into a heated and passionate kiss. I am still for a moment, completely taken by surprise before giving myself over to the kiss and the girl of my dreams. For several minutes that felt like hours, I basked in the glow of her hungry kisses and loving embrace. When air was not necessarily wanted, but needed, we parted still breathing each others' air.

"I knew about your crush, and it didn't scare me away. I stayed around because I wanted to get to know you too."

"Ali wha-"

"I like you crazy girl. From the moment I saw you, I liked you. I love how shy you get, how kind you are, how smart you are no matter how much you tried to show me you weren't. I love how you are with your friends, how you are seriously happy and free. Mostly I love how beautiful you are even when you don't think so yourself. I really really like you Emily," she ends with a quick peck on the lips. I can't help but smile.

"So what now?" I ask overjoyed at the turn of events. Letting go of me, Ali reaches for my hand instead.

"Well, first we go on our first official date, and then decide what comes next later. Right now I just wanna be with you," she says walking us back into the coffee shop. "Is that okay?" I find every ounce of strength in me and pull Ali into a kiss of my own initiation, happy as ever.

"Okay."