Since the last one apparently went well, I've decided to give the proposed idea of Emily's POV a shot in this chapter! Here we go…

"Then I thought, 'If I disappeared forever, she would win.' and I wouldn't let her win. I couldn't."

I put my mug down and pulled her to me. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't watch this beautiful girl, my girl, fall apart like this. She's been through so much. More than I ever knew. I held her close and rubbed her back, trying to soothe her the only way I knew how. I couldn't fix it; I could never take back what Alison had done. I wanted to cry with her, but I had to be strong. I had to be strong so she knew I would be there. No matter what.

Her crying started to slow and she pulled away enough to look at me. She was so beautiful, so strong. I looked at her and I wanted to hold her forever. I wanted to protect her from everything, keep her close to me, safe from the world.

She still looked like she was going to cry. She was trembling and her breath was shaky. As I looked at her, I couldn't handle it anymore. I kissed her. I wanted us both to get lost in the little pocket world we slipped into every time we were alone together. There we were safe.

I stroked her cheek with my thumb, trying to erase the pain by erasing the tears.

We kissed and I never wanted it to end, but my mind wouldn't fully rest. I was so angry and confused. I had to tell her how sorry I was. I had to let her know that I wouldn't have ever let Alison hurt her if I had known. If I had been in her life, seen how she felt, maybe I could have stopped it. Maybe she wouldn't have had to go through everything alone.

I pulled away, breaking the kiss.

"I'm sorry, Paige. I'm so sorry I didn't know. I'm so sorry she did those things to you. If I had known…"

"Emily no," she said as she sat up, "it was all her. She was who she was and…"

"She's done a lot of damage, but I don't think I will ever be able to think of her the same. I'll never forgive her for hurting you. I don't want anything to hurt you. Ever."

I just looked at her again. I wanted her to look at my face and see how serious I was and how much I meant everything I was saying. Paige always doubted herself, always believed she wasn't good enough. I had to show her, let her know I saw her for who she is. I saw all of her and I wanted more.

She was looking back at me as she always did: in amazement. She looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She looked at me like I was a rare piece of art, a beautiful painting. No one had ever looked at me like that. No one had ever wanted me the way Paige did.

More and more, as we grew closer and I saw her more completely, I realized how much I was amazed by her too. This beautifully flawed, incredibly passionate girl with one of the hugest hearts I had ever seen. She felt with all of her and at that moment it occurred to me how incredibly lucky I was to have her in my life, to know her.

Her breathing had steadied now. She leaned back to regain some level of control; control was something she held onto fiercely. I checked my phone to see what time it was and then quickly turned my attention back to Paige.

"More tea?"

"No I'm good," she said as she patted me on the knee. "I'm gonna go wash my face."

She was calmer. She was smiling. That was all I wanted. I could breathe again.

Still, my mind raced. My brain was spinning with thoughts of my friends, how they treated Paige. She didn't deserve that. All I needed was what was inside of me to know that Paige would never hurt me. I trusted her completely. Why couldn't they see that? How could they do this?

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a noise in the yard. I turned to see what it was.

"Jenna?"

"I need to talk to you about your friend."

"What's going on?" I started to panic. Was someone hurt? Had something happened?

She looked down at the mugs sitting on the porch.

"Oh, I thought you were alone." She backed away then. She was acting as if she was afraid of something. Afraid of what, Paige?

"Why? What's the matter?" She was backing away but I walked towards her to make her answer me. "Jenna, what did you come here to tell me?"

She whipped around to look at me.

"Be very careful with who you spend your time with, Emily. Very, careful."

She walked away and headed down the street. She was afraid of something, someone, but who? Who was she talking about?

I walked further down the yard to see her get into a cab as the driver put her stuff in the trunk. There was a lot of stuff. Was she going away? Was she running?

I watched her more, a million questions running through my mind, but as I turned around I saw Paige standing on the porch, hands in her pockets. My beautiful Paige. I walked to the porch, grabbed my phone and lead her inside, closing the door to everything but her and I.

We walked into the kitchen to clean up the tea. We were quiet, thinking about the evening and everything that had happened. Everything was such a mess. Jenna, everything with Nate recently, my friends. It was too much and it was hurting Paige. Being with me was hurting her more than she even realized. I wanted to cry or scream or anything that would give me some peace.

"Emily," she whispered, bringing me out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry about everything. I shouldn't have pushed to go with you. I shouldn't have put all of that..."

"No," I interrupted. I turned to her and pulled her into me, brow furrowed. I had to make her see. I had to be clear and she had to see. "You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing. So don't."

Knowing her and knowing the doubt and guilt she was likely inflicting on herself made me want to scream. I needed her to see. I looked at her so deeply to try and see if anything I was saying was sinking in. I needed some sign that I was getting through to her.

Then, she kissed me.

She had never kissed me like that before. I was overcome with want. I wanted her. I needed her and it felt like she needed me too. She kissed me like she wanted to just let go of everything and get completely lost in each other.

I couldn't handle the passion. Something almost primal came over me and I pushed her into the counter, forcing more of her against me. It was messy and hungry. Our tongues danced, our hands wandered and the want became too much. I was turned on more than I had ever been in my life. I wanted to fuck her.

"Paige," I breathed out in a whisper. "I want you. All of you."

She looked confused, conflicted. I panicked. Maybe she didn't want me too. Maybe she wasn't ready and now I pushed her after everything she's been through, after everything that has happened tonight. I backed away, so incredibly sorry.

She stopped me, pulled me back to her.

"I want you too."

We were both breathing heavily and I stared at her. She wanted me too. She wanted me like I wanted her and it was happening now. Our breathing was labored and our eyes locked. The realization of what was happening hit me and I couldn't stand it anymore, I kissed her. I kissed her and she moaned. Arousal shot through every part of my body. I was wet. I was ready and the best part? She was too.

"Upstairs?" I questioned. I looked at her to make sure I didn't see any doubt. I had to make sure she was certain. This step was everything and I wasn't about to mess it up.

All she did was take my hand. Without a word, she guided me upstairs. My heart was pounding with excitement and panic in my chest. My stomach flipped and knotted. I was scared and nervous. My nerves burst with anticipation.

I shut the door and walked us to the bed. We kicked off our shoes and I sat her down and looked down at her, never letting go of her hand.

I grabbed her other hand too and as I began to speak it came out in a whisper, half because my confidence was waning and half because I didn't want to break the quietness that was all around us.

"We don't have to. Tonight has been so intense, so draining. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do."

I meant it with everything I had in me. She was in control of where this ended up. She swallowed and I began to panic, her voice reassuring me.

"Emily, I want you. All of you. I want you to see me. Especially tonight."

I couldn't hold back my smile. She was perfect. She was everything.

She swallowed hard and continued, "I've never…"

"I know."

She had never been with anyone else, I knew that. The boys see had kissed made me sick to my stomach, but I knew I was the only girl and that helped ease the jealousy in a way. We had been together in so many ways but this was entirely new territory and we both knew it.

"Can we just…take it slow? I don't want…" She inhaled sharply, trying to collect herself. She was trembling. "I don't want you to be disappointed."

"You could never disappoint me."

I said it without thinking, without hesitation. I didn't have to think about it. It was just true. Nothing had even happened yet and it was enough. Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed. She was enough.

I looked at her and was filled with happiness. I let go of her hands and brought them to her neck, bringing her to me, pulling her in. As our lips met my fear and conflict disappeared. I poured every emotion, every thought, into it. She did too. We couldn't stop. We needed more.

I needed her. I needed her to touch me. I needed to touch her. We were breathing heavily as we pulled away. Our eyes locked and I pulled my jacket off my shoulders and pulled my shirt over my head. I was exposed, open to her. She was seeing me, all of me, and I felt my whole body flush. I was scared and embarrassed, but most of all I was excited. Seeing how she was looking at me, at my body, I somehow felt even more aroused.

I kissed her and as I did I suddenly felt her hands reach around to my back, running them up and down. My skin was tingling. Her hands felt electric and as she moved them to my front, to my breasts, I broke the kiss. "Paige…"

I couldn't take it; my body was screaming. It felt so good. Her touching me like that was the most erotic thing I had ever experienced.

I pushed her back further on the bed and crawled on top of her. Instinctively, my leg found its way between hers. My center was throbbing and as we connected I felt myself swelling for her.

We found each other's lips again and I reached for the button of her pants, undoing it. I sat back to pull her jacket off and she helped me as I reached for the bottom of her shirt, pulling it over her head and tossing it to the floor. I looked at her. She was perfect. She was pale all over, milky. Gorgeous.

I had to taste her. Feel her skin. I started off slowly, kissing her jawline, behind her ear, and down her neck. I let my tongue slip out, tasting her and teasing her at the same time. I nipped and lightly sucked and when I got to her breasts, she stuttered out my name.

I grinned into her. She was turned on. She was turned on and it was because of me. I started easing my hands under her to the clasp of her bra. I undid it and she started to tremble more, shiver even.

I slid her bra off and went directly to her breasts. I latched on.

"Fuck," she groaned as she arched off the bed, rubbing against me in just the right way.

I toyed with her, sucking and nipping. Savoring every minute of it. Then, slowly, I kissed down her torso, over her stomach. I reached the top of her pants and looked up at her. There was no turning back if this barrier came down. I had to know that she was in this.

"Do you trust me?"

She didn't hesitate or flinch she just replied simply, "Completely."

This was happening. We were having sex. I had had sex before, multiple times, but this felt different. Her and I were different. When we were together, we couldn't keep our hands off of one another. One way or another, we had to be connected at all times. I had to be touching her and I never stopped wanting to kiss her. Even before when we weren't together, I didn't know it then, but it was her. She was what I wanted, what I longed for.

Here it was. Our moment. Every bit of sexual frustration, wasted time, and pain was bubbling over and I was nervous as hell. I couldn't not be good because I had to show her what she means to me.

I took a deep breath and unzipped her pants. The noise of the zipper sent a shock straight to my center. Paige was watching me, magnifying everything I was feeling and experiencing by a thousand.

I slid her pants down, licking my lips, craving her. I bit my lower lip to try and stop myself from moaning as I tugged her pants off completely.

I looked at her, making sure. She looked at me with eagerness, silently begging me to continue. To finish what we had started. There was only the moonlight shining on us and as I stood back to look at her, take her in, I was in awe. All she had on was her underwear and there she was on my bed, waiting for me to take her. I had never been more turned on, more wet, more excited. I looked at every part of her. She started to look away as my eyes shamelessly roamed all over her body.

"Look at me, Paige."

She sighed, but opened her eyes to meet mine. We had to be equal. She had to see me too, so I reached behind myself and undid my bra, dropping it to the floor. I was as uneasy as she must have been as I looked down at her moments before, but as she looked at me her face lit up. Her eyes were suddenly wide open. Her breath hitched and she moved forward. I gave her my hand and she pulled me back on top of her.

Her hands instantly connected with my breasts and I moaned. Loudly.

I kissed her harder and as she massaged me I poured all of my pleasure into our kiss. She moved her hand; I pressed my mouth harder to hers.

She didn't stop there. She moved her hands from my breasts slowly and began slipping them further and further down my sides. Then, suddenly, she grabbed me from behind, inadvertently pushing us together in all the right places. We both moaned, her head dropping to my shoulder and my head falling to hers. I shifted, placing my hands on either side of her head, propped up above her, my hair falling around us.

I stared down at her, unable to think straight. This was the sexiest moment of my life. My mind was clouded over and my mouth was open. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to find some release. I started moving my hips, trying desperately to build up some friction. She moved back and forth with me, against me, rubbing us together through the thin layer of underwear still between us.

We had both left everything else behind. We were lost in each other. The pleasure was too much and we couldn't fight the weight of our eyelids. Our eyes closed, but our hips still moved, I pressed my forehead to hers. Connected, together, like always.

I felt her. I felt how wet she was and rubbed her into me harder. I wanted her all over me.

I knew she felt me too. I was so close.

Suddenly, though, I stopped. This was happening too fast. This was her first time; she wanted to take it slow. I couldn't be selfish.

Control. I needed some control.

I tried to slow my breathing. My eyes were still shut, but I knew she was looking at me.

"Emily?"

"Slowly..." I opened my eyes to her and blushed, embarrassed at my boldness.

She looked at me, confused.

I started again, kissing her softly, gradually making my way to her neck and shoulder. As I kissed her, I started moving my hand down her side. She arched up into me again and groaned, knowing exactly where I was headed.

I reached her underwear and pulled at them, easing them off slowly. I watched my hand as it slid the garment off of her. She was exposed. This was all of her. She was blushing, embarrassed at the exposure, but to me this was the most stunningly amazing thing I had ever experienced.

As I pressed back onto her, now making direct contact, she made a noise and I thought for a second I had hurt her.

"Are you okay?" I stammered into her ear, barely able to put together a complete sentence.

"Yes. Just please…don't…stop."

She was breathless. She was begging and then all of a sudden she was pulling at my underwear impatiently. I helped her remove them. No more barriers. Nothing between us.

Now, completely naked, I moved my leg back between hers. We both moaned loudly. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to have her.

I kissed her and then began dragging my hand downward between us. I connected with her and she broke our kiss to cry out my name. Her eyes closed as I started rubbing her, teasing her. I pressed down, increasing the pressure, and then dipped my finger inside of her. Her breath hitched and she dug her fingernails into me, making me cry out too.

I didn't pull out, but I stopped moving my hand as I whispered to her, "Look at me."

She looked so different under me like this, undone. She struggled to open her eyes, but when she did it was the most intimate moment I had ever shared with anyone. I was watching Paige McCullers let go. I was causing it.

Never looking away, I leaned down and grazed her lips, not kissing, just lingering. I wanted to feel her breathing change as she lost control, rode out her orgasm.

Then, I slid another finger inside her. She was so tight, so warm.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but only for a moment. Undoubtedly, remembering my request.

I pushed in and out. Slowly.

She was pulling me to her, gripping me. I felt her starting to climax, but instead of letting go she started moving her hand between us. I knew what she was doing, but as she made contact I screamed and let out this throaty moan, unable to control myself.

I was lost and surprised and realized I had almost completely stopped moving my fingers in and out of her. As I resumed my motions she responded by entering me. My eyes nearly popped out of my head and I grunted. We fell together, entwining our bodies in a way that made it possible for us to give and get.

We rocked back and forth, in perfect sync. Our breathing, our whimpers, the swearwords all mixed together.

Then, it happened. We let go. The top popped off of the bottle that held everything we had poured into one another and into ourselves from the world outside. It trickled out of us and onto each other.

It was beautiful. It was us.

Through all of this, we were still looking at each other. We laid there for a minute inside each other, trying to steady ourselves. I kissed her cheek and moved to place soft pecks along her jawline, her neck, and her shoulder. Ending up, finally, at her lips.

She pulled out of me first and brought her hand to my cheek. She had this look of awe, like what we had done was some kind of miracle. She never looked more beautiful to me.

I moved my hand back up between us and cupped her face. I kissed her gently and then replaced my mouth with my fingers. Her tongue lightly slipped out of her mouth to taste what was there. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen; it was my turn to stare at her, completely amazed.

I removed myself from her and we both relaxed down onto the bed. I wasn't on top anymore, but instead beside her. Equal with her. She looked at me with a smile, brushing my hair from my face. Our bodies tangled together. We were silent like that for a minute until the gravity of what had just happened began to sink in. I looked in her eyes and asked, "Are you okay?"

Paige grinned back at me and leaned in for a kiss.

I don't even know what continuing this would look like (especially since Emily is super hard to write for!), but I'd be game.