Life. No one knows what tomorrow could bring. It's a complete mystery. It could all end in the blink of an eye, yet all began in one breath. You could be miserable one minute and be extremely happy the next. You never know who can just walk into your life and completely change everything. It could be the way their smile brightens up a room. The way they look at you like your the only person on the planet, or even the way they hold the door open for you. You try to protect yourself, close yourself off, but you just can't resist the person, it's just to hard. Once you let yourself just feel and completely let go, then you might just end up being the happiest damn person in the universe. ~Alison Fields

April 6, 1998

Alison Dilaurentis got comfortable on her air plane seat. She placed her purse in between her legs, and buckled her seat belt. This was her first time going home to Rosewood in years. She hadn't been home since she left for college in Texas four years ago, not to say she was ecstatic. She would have stayed in texas but she graduated from collage, and now had no here to go so now since she had to go home to live with her family which she could not stand what so ever. She noticed that the seat next to her was empty and hoped that no one would sit there, she really didn't want to have to deal with anyone right now.

The blonde sat back in her seat and let her head fall back on the chair. She thought about what her parents would say to her when she got home, and how they would judge her, and then tell her all about how well her brother was doing. Alison had a younger brother Jason that in her parents eyes could do nothing wrong. He was always there favorite, and even though she was older, Jason always shined while Alison was stuck in his shadow. And when Alison told her parents she was gay, they sent her to texas to "clense" herself so to speak. Being gay in this point in time was not acceptable. Alison took a deep breath and closed her eyes trying not to let her thoughts consume her.

She was about to fall asleep but then she heard uneven footsteps. Curious as to what they were, she opened her eyes only to see a young women in an Army uniform using crutches with a knee brace on her left leg. The women stopped next to the row Alison was in and turned to Alison locking their gazes. Ali tried to hold her shock seeing how breathtaking the women was. Her brunette hair was pulled back into a tight military bun, she had tan skin, with chocolate brown eyes that you could just get lost in. She was fairly tall and she had a camo hat to match her uniform.

"Is anyone sitting here?" She asked in a soft voice motioning to the empty seat next to the blonde, waiting for her reply.

"Uhhm" Alison shook herself out of her daze and stopped staring at the tanned beauty in front of her. "Um No!...I mean no one is"

The women softly smiled with a curt nod of her head. She leaned all her weight on her uninjured leg as she tried to keep her balance while taking the camo back pack off. Once the brunette got it off successfully, she sat down in the chair next to Alison letting out a small sigh. She tucked her back pack between her legs on the floor just like the blonde had done earlier.

The man across the row from them tapped her shoulder attempting to get her attention. She turned her head to look at him.

"Did you just get back?" he asked eyeing her curiously

"Yes" the women nodded

"How was it out there?" He asked. Who asked that type of question? Alison thought Is he serious right now?

The brunette's face scrunched up in irritation before opening her mouth to speak

"I don't talk about it" she answered just above a whisper, but in somewhat of a stern voice.

"I understand. I'm Steven Carter, United States Marine Corp" He stated, holding his hand out for the women to shake. Her face softened and placed her hand in his firmly shaking.

"Corporal Emily Fields U.S Army" she answered before disconnecting their hands and placing hers in her lap. Emily, that's a hot name Alison thought.

The man gave her a firm nod before turning back to his book. Alison knew she didn't want to talk to anyone during the flight, but for some reason the brunette intrigued her.

"Why are you going to Rosewood?" Alison asked. Emily glanced at the blonde women with a confused look, causing Alison to cover her mouth in shock at her word vomit. "Oh m-my gosh, sorry you don't have to answer that, it's none of my business" Alison said nervously

Emily's face fell into a small smile at the actions of the blonde in front of her. "No its fine" she insisted "I'm going home to see my friend" she said softly locking eyes with the blonde women next to her, even though her answer wasn't the truth.

The blondes features relaxed "Oh that's cool" she said not knowing what else to say.

"If I may ask, why are you going to Rosewood" she asked politely

"I'm going home to move back in with my family for a while, I also have to attend my brother's wedding" she answered. Emily nodded in reply, they sat in silence for a bit as the plane took off before Emily spoke up.

"Did you grow up in Rosewood?" she asked softly as she fixed the collar of her jacket

"Yes, I did" the blonde confirmed " Did you?" she asked wanting to keep up the conversation with the mysterious brunette.

Emily broke their eye contact, looking out the window "Sometimes I was there, it depended on where I was placed" she said quietly, not explaining any further. Alison nodded, sensing that the brunette didn't want to talk about it.

"When did you join the army?" Alison asked

"When I was seventeen" After she replied the two women sat in an awkward silence. Unlike Alison, Emily was never good at socializing, the only time she really talked was when she was spoken too. Once Alison wanted to talk she could go on for hours.

"Do you think we can talk for a little while" Alison asked casually, as Emily raised her eyebrow in confusion

"I'm not very good at talking" She breathed "And I also don't know your name"

"Well...I'm very good at talking. So how about I talk and you listen, and by the way my name is Alison DiLaurentis" Alison chirped, not knowing where this urge to talk to this women came from.

"Its good to meet you Alison, I'm Emily Fields which you probably heard already" Alison nodded her head in reply, with a small smile on her face.

"So since we agreed to talk, I would like to tell you about my friend situation" Alison said, turning her body so she could face Emily.

"Oh so we're gossiping now eh?" Emily smirked. Alison nodded excitedly seeing that Emily was willing to listen to her.

"Ok so my brother Jason is getting married to my high school friend Aria" She breathed glancing at Emily seeing that she was really listening. "Aria had always told me that I would be her maid of honor but guess what she did?" Alison exclaimed throwing her hands up

"What did she do?" Emily chuckled

"That bitch went and choose her friend Spencer that she met in college, and forgot all about me" She said sadly Emily didn't know what to do so she just looked at the blonde women with sympathy

"Hey, if she thinks that little of you then she doesn't deserve your time" Emily said, and Alison felt a weird fluttering sensation in her stomach at the way Emily spoke to her.

"Yeah your right" She sighed "How old are you anyway?"

"I just turned 21" Emily said "How about you?"

"Oh me, I'm 22"

Emily and Alison talked, well mostly Alison talked and Emily listened, for the remainder of the flight. Alison enjoyed talking to someone who didn't judge her for once in her life. Her whole life was full of her family judging her and putting her down. But here she was spilling her life to a complete stranger on a plane on her way back to Rosewood. When the plane landed she was actually quite upset she had to leave her new friend.

Emily stood from her seat careful not to hit her injured leg, slung her back pack over her shoulders the grabbed her crutches from the floor placing them under her arms to steady herself. She moved out of the way so Alison could get out. The blonde stood next to Emily and reached above the seat so she grab her carry on bag. She stood on her the tip of her toes in order to reach it.

She tugged her bag, but there was a bag in front of hers so as she glanced up the bag fell from the shelf she clutched her head preparing to have a bag fall on her head but it never did. She took her hands away from her face, and saw Emily holding the bag up with one arm as the other arm was clutching the seat to keep her balance.

"Be careful" Emily said softly then handed Alison her bag.

"Thank you" Alison replied

They both exited the plane, Alison walking next to Emily as she crutched thy came to a stop as soon as they reached the air port.

"I was really great meeting you Alison DiLaurentis" Emily smiled causing Alison to mirror hers

"And it was really good meeting you as well Emily Fields" Emily smiled one last time before turning around. Alison stood in her place as she watched the brunette walk away, she did want this to be the only time they meet.

"Emily!' she shouted causing the women to stop and turn and face her.

"Yeah?" she raised her eyebrow

"Can I have your...number" she asked shyly "Its just you seem like you would be a really good friend and I-I would like to continue this but if-if that not what you wan-" The blonde rambled

"Alison" she chuckled "Calm down" she smiled shaking her head "Well I would give it to you, but I don't have one at the moment" Alison dropped her head, feeling disappointed, Emily sensed this so she reached out and touched Alison's shoulder "When I see you again, I promise I will give it. So plan on it because I don't break my promises"

Alison looked up into Emily's kind brown eyes " How can you be so sure that we will see each other again?" Alison challenged raising her eyebrow.

Emily grinned " I just know" was all she said before turning around and crunching out of sight.

I know it seems like they are going to get together really fast but they aren't. This chapter was really slow and so will the next couple because its setting up for stuff later. Thanks for reading chapter 1!

~Sky