So...this is my first Paily and PLL story. Any original characters are mine. I don't own anything else besides them. Reviews and reads are welcomed and greatly appreciated. I just had this story stuck in my head for a while and couldn't figure of haul to write it for and then I started watching PLL and got completely sucked in. So, enjoy. Thanks! SGB

Chapter One

2052

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Paige McCullers opened the cover of the black moleskin book. She flexed her hand, trying relieve the dull ache of arthritis. Her eyes blinked behind the frames that aided the dark brown eyes as they adjusted to the dim light. She smiled as she grabbed a pen and began writing, hoping that the pain in her hands would allow her even a few minutes of writing...
'Have you ever looked across a crowded room, and instantly found exactly who you were looking for? Almost as if your brain could track the person like ships and rader? And in that instant, everything just clicked. Just, everything finally made sense. I still could remember the day that happened. I still remember how it felt. The second I laid eyes on her, it felt like a punch to the stomach, knocking the air from my lungs and buckling my knees. I still remember her laugh, and beautiful smile, and how her eyes sparkled when she did either. She still makes me feel like that...
It was the year after I graduated college. After swimming my entire college career, pulling through 4 long years of competitions, classes, wins, loses. I was ready to put it all behind me. I was ready to start a new life. I had an engineering degree. And as proud as my father was, the anger took over when I told him I would rather take time and travel before settling down outside of Philly and starting the family he wanted from me. I didn't want to become his errand boy in the church, nor did I ever plan to. I was ready to start living life for me. He was livid when I walked out of the house and straight to my car, not looking back for a year. I spent my long year traveling up and down the east coast. Learning as much as I could, before I returned to Scranton and started my next adventure. The west coast was my destination, but I never made it. Because the day I walked into the Rosewood, my life did a 180, and I couldn't have asked for it any other way.' Paige wrote as she sat back, remembering the day her life changed completely.

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Flashbacks-2020
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Paige had been on the road for about 3 hours at this point. She had just spent 2 months in DC, working in a small gastro pub a few blocks away from the Potomac river. The fast pace environment, the long hours and the lack of money finally took its toll on her. She knew the restaurant business wasn't for her. It paid her bills and nothing more. With the end of a terrible relationship behind her, and the promise of a new start in front of her, she decided that making her way back to Pennsylvania would bring the fresh start she needed. Her eyes caught the township sign and pulled off at town a couple hours outside of Scranton. Rosewood, it read. She drove her '93 Harley into the first place she saw. The Bar was busy, filled with college aged kids and locals. She made her way to the bar, and patiently waited as the bartender walked in front of her. Ordering a beer and taking a menu, Paige reviewed the menu, before making a quick decision. Her beer was delivered and with the promise of a speedy reliever, Paige relaxed into her stool. She scanned the bar, taking in the scene as she drank her beer. Her eyes fell on a table in the corner. A tall girl sat with her glass of red wine, casually swirling it as she listened to the bubbly blonde. She was talking the ear off of the intimating brunette as she sipped the deep red liquid. The bubbly blonde pulled out a folder and presented multiple documents and waited for a response from the brunette, who began to respond as her phone rang. The blonde sat back as she sipped her margarita, listening to the brunette's conversation. Paige chuckled as she turned back to the bar and continued to drink the cold brew in her hand. She looked into the mirror in front, only to see her. She turned her head as she passed her, her dark hair laid flat against her shoulders, her body encased in a light blue dress and a smile on her face as she and a shorter, oddly dressed brunette walked passed Paige. Paige's eyes stayed on her as she sat at the booth with the stern brunette and the bubbly blonde.

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Emily Fields walked beside one of her best friends, Aria Montgomery. They walked passed the bar to the booth where Spencer Hastings and Hanna Marin waited for them. Her eyes made contact with the new face in the bar. The auburn haired girl sat in a stool, sipping the amber colored ale in her hand, and smiled coyly into the mirror in Emily's direction. She wore a tight black leather motorcycle jacket and dark blue skinnies, and her eyes stayed on her, watching as Hanna eagerly jumped into her arms. Shaking the stare from her mind, she eagerly hugged Hanna and Spencer, happily listening as Hanna went off on her wedding tangent.
"Spencer has been absolutely no help planning whatsoever." Hanna said as Spencer rolled her eyes and drank her merlot.
"I just happen to think a California wedding in Rosewood is a stretch. You have beautiful woods, fall scenery and you want beaches and ocean." Spencer argued as Emily laughed. Her and Maya were nowhere near wedding planning. Even after 6 years together, Maya couldn't fully commit. She was content to stay girlfriends, but for Emily, now working on her masters at UPenn, and ready to commit completely to her partner, it felt like Maya would never change. She was happy for Hanna. Her and Caleb had been engaged for three years now, and their wedding was finally happening in June of next year, making her the first of the four friends to walk down the aisle. Emily sat back and tried to relax as Hanna presented the possible bridesmaids dresses to Emily, hoping for a pick from her friend that reflected her own beach wedding desires.
"It's Hanna's day. If she wants to turn Rosewood into the beach for the afternoon; I don't see why she can't." Emily said as Hanna bounced happily at Emily's answer. The girls continued to talk, but Emily's eyes kept drifting to the stranger sitting by herself at the bar. She would sneak a glance at their table every once in a while before turning back to her drink. It peaked Emily's curiosity. She had never seen her in Rosewood before, certain that if she had, they would be friendly to each other. She was mysterious, cool, and starting to bother Emily. The girls were all getting ready to head out, but unable to leave just yet, Emily stayed seated.
"Coming Em?" Aria asked as the three girls turned towards their friend.
"You guys go ahead. I'll meet you at Spencer's. I gonna go to the bathroom real quick and follow you guys there." Emily said as she gathered her purse. Without a second thought, they bid her goodbye, reminding her to come by Spencer's when she was done doing whatever it was she was doing. She looked back at the bar, and with a reassuring breathe, she walked over and sat next to the mysterious brunette. The bartender smiled, recognizing her from high school and took her drink order, before turning his attention to The mysterious brunette.
"Another Yuengling?" He asked as the brunette nodded and smiled at him before handing him the money for the pint.
"And whatever she wants." The auburn haired girl said as he nodded. Emily blushed as she turned towards the woman next to her.
"Thank you." Emily said as he delivered the IPA she ordered.
"It's no problem." She answered as she lifted her beer and took a sip of the cold brew. "I figured you for a girl who liked an umbrillabin her drinks" She said as Emily laughed and shook her head.
"I happen to like Flying Fish Hopfish IPA, thank you very much." Emily said as she fully turned towards the stranger. "I'm Emily." She said extending her hand to the stranger.
"Paige." Paige said as she shook Emily's hand and smiled wide. "It's nice to meet you, Em." Paige said as Emily smiled, hoping the blush on her face wasn't noticeable. Paige chuckled as she took a sip of her beer and turned back towards Emily.
"So are you from around here?" Emily asked awkwardly as Paige turned, revealing a simple white tank top under her motorcycle jacket. Emily's eyes dropped to her beer when she caught herself staring at Paige. She was beautiful, and she was most definitely flirty. As they sat there, getting to know one another, the time passed them by. They talked about how they got to Rosewood, Emily originally being from there, while Paige was passing through. Their careers and their interests came up soon after, and while learning about each other, Emily's phone buzzed in her purse. She continued to ignore it as she learned more about Paige. She was laughing wholeheartedly as Paige told her a story involving her, a lost bet, and the song "it's not unusual" by Tom Jones.
"As drunk as I was, my pals still wanted me to do it. Pru practically pulled me in front of her, Jack and a bunch of other people and forced me to do the Carlton dance from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I'll never live that down." Paige said as Emily laughed and finished the last sip of her beer. Reaching into her purse, she finally saw the five missed calls and dozen text messages from her friends. She sighed as she caught the time. Her and Paige had been speaking for hours. She knew she had to get back to Philly tomorrow morning, but...this person in front of her. This person who had made her laugh, and made the time disappear was who she wanted to be with in that moment. She had forgotten how miserable she was how unwanted Maya was making her feel, and how she desperately wanted it to change. Paige sat back and watched the conflict play out in Emily's eyes. "Everything ok, Em?" Paige asked sincerely, sliding the glass back to the bartender and shaking her head when asked for another.
"Yeah...I was supposed to have a girls night with my friends from earlier. Hanna wants to talk wedding and spend time with us before we all go back to school next week." Emily said sadly. "I just..." Emily started as Paige grabbed her phone and typed on it real quick before handing it back to her.
"Go on. We can continue this Another night? I hope." Paige asked as Emily looked down, only to see that Paige programmed her number into her IPhone. Emily blushed as Paige stood. "I'll walk you to your car."
"I'm heading home to Philly tomorrow." Emily said as Paige smiled.
"Nice. I'm heading in that direction myself." Paige said, letting the small white lie out as she and Emily walked out of the bar. They walked over to a Toyota Corolla and stood there as Emily fished through her purse for her keys.
"That's great. We can hang out around the city!" Emily said as Paige nodded.
"Absolutely." Paige said as Emily blushed and looked down at her heels. Emily reached out, pulling out the pen from her purse, and grabbed Paige's hand. She quickly wrote the note and forced Paige's hand closed, not wanting to let go as she turned and got into her car. Paige, confused, looked down at the writing on her palm. On it was Emily's number and a small message.
'I just wanted a reason to touch you.' It read with Emily's number scribbled below it. a huge smile grew on Paige's lips as Emily pulled out of the parking lot of the bar, catching Emily's eyes in the mirror as she drove away.
"Philly or bust." Paige said as she grabbed her helmet and phone, texting the only person she knew in Philadelphia.