A/N: Hey Guys! Thank you to everyone who favorited/followed my story. I'd love for you all to review and let me know what you want to see/see more of. I decided not to have Hanna be all dark and gloomy in this story, as much as I love her serious side, her fun side makes for more entertainment. Also, I've always loved the idea of a Paige/Spencer friendship, which you'll see I push for. Considering this show focuses so heavily on A drama, and so lightly on actual couples, I can only take this story so far. I'm sure I'll add some drama and definitely try to make this a fun ride (will take any suggestions), but the lack of material to work with when keeping it canon is the reason I look forward to doing an AU at some point, if you guys are interested that is! Let me know what you like/don't like and I'll try to keep you guys happy! If I do end up throwing in a triangle, would you have a preference? Remember I'm a first-timer, so be easy with me!


Paige hadn't asked any questions when she met up with Spencer in front of her house, they'd started running immediately. The run was relatively silent, while Paige knew Spencer had texted her for a reason, she figured Spencer would eventually bring it up. They made small talk, about swimming, field hockey, college, and briefly about Spencer's adjustment to having Alison back.

While Spencer knew she had an underlying reason for meeting up with Paige, she forgot how comforting it was to speak to someone who wasn't directly involved in the torture A was still putting them through. She also appreciated being finally asked how she was dealing with Ali's return, everyone else seemed to be constantly asking about Hanna or Emily's adjustment.

"It's always been a competition with Alison, for nothing particular. She puts me on edge, she makes me question everything and up until yesterday the girls kept scolding me for not trusting her" Spencer spoke honestly.

Paige nodded in understanding, "I'm not going to pretend to know anything about Alison since she's been back, but I've learned your instincts are usually pretty trustworthy."

"The girls wanted to trust her. Hanna didn't adjust well at all, it's almost as if she lost herself once Alison returned." Spencer shook her head, " Emily, her heart is just too big and she wants to find the best in everyone, which is admirable but occasionally naïve."

"Emily does find the best in everyone, she found the best in me when I didn't even know it existed" Paige spoke timidly, "Emily may want to believe Alison has changed, they might all want to, but you don't have to. You don't have to surrender to anyone else's beliefs."

Spencer smiled gratefully at Paige and they continued running in a comfortable silence.

Spencer and Paige had run a mile through the dark streets of Rosewood before finally making their way back to the McCullers' home. Each breathing heavily, they made their way up to the house and collapsed onto the steps.

"I forgot what it was like to run with someone who could keep up with me" Paige threw her head back, panting.

Spencer nodded in agreement, running a hand through her hair. " You always were a decent running partner, McCullers."

Finishing off the last of her water bottle Paige decided to finally approach why they'd gone for this fun in the first place, "why did you call me out in the middle of the night Spencer? Not that I didn't enjoy myself, but this isn't exactly a common occurrence anymore."

"It's about Emily."

At that Paige's entire body stood at attention, " Is she alright? Is she hurt?"

Spencer shook her head and motioned for Paige to sit down, " You always were too impulsive, McCullers. Emily's fine…. She just, Aria told me she saw you out on a date last night."

Paige let her eyes fall shut as she relaxed, "Emily dumped me Spencer, I'm allowed to date. I'm not cheating on your best friend."

"I know that, I just didn't believe you two were really over. I'm not satisfied with the way things have happened." Spencer spoke sternly.

"You better not start pouting, Hastings. Hanna already spoke to me a few months ago about how upset she was about her 'OTP' breaking up."

Rolling her eyes, Spencer let out a chuckle, "That's Hanna for you."

"Listen Spencer, Emily was…. she was everything to me. When she broke up with me I felt like I couldn't breathe for weeks, like there was this weight that collapsed on my chest when she was no longer mine. I kept hoping she'd change her mine" Paige spoke softly, " but she didn't and then she started something up with Alison, almost like she didn't remember how much we'd meant to each other for so long."

Paige wasn't bitter, well maybe she was a little bitter. Paige was heart broken, she'd been left holding her crumbled heart in her hands and trying desperately to keep it together. Spencer lowered her eyes, while Emily was her best friend, she never agreed with how the situation was handled.

"Do you still love her?"

Paige smiled sadly, "I'll always love her, Spencer. That girl haunts me. I go to bed every night and see her in my dreams, it's gotten to the point where sleeping is what I look forward to because that's when she's there. When I wake up, she's just gone and I'm empty."

"What if, what if you could fix it?" Spencer said carefully.

Paige shook her head, "I'm not going to entertain that thought anymore. I'm putting myself back together, I'm trying to move on."

Spencer decided not to push any further, she knew enough. " Alright McCullers, well regardless of how things with you and Emily are, we're reviving our running tradition."

Paige let out a smile, thankful for the subject change. "Definitely, I'm glad I didn't tell you to fuck off when you made me get out of bed to run."

Both standing, they hugged briefly which they both immediately decided was weird. Parting, they waved to each other as Spencer made her way down the stairs and Paige to her door.

"Hey Hastings" Paige called out, causing Spencer to turn towards her, " If you ever need anything, whether it be A or Emily related or not, I'm always on your team."

Spencer smiled gratefully as Paige turned towards the door, "She misses you, Paige. We all do." She left it at that before turning and starting a slow jog home, leaving Paige frozen on her front porch.

She misses you. Those three words were replaying themselves in Paige's mind repeatedly as she readied herself for bed. Paige missed Emily, of course she did. Sure, she'd taken that other girl on a date and was slowly working to mend herself, but she desperately missed her ex girlfriend. 'Don't take it to heart, Paige.' She told herself. Did she still love Emily? Of course. But the damage had been done and Paige couldn't risk wearing her heart on her sleeve anymore. Turning over in bed, she tried to put the thoughts of the beautiful brunette out of her mind.


The next morning the girls had met at the Brew before school, settling into a conversation about their nights.

"I was at Ezra's last night" Aria admitted with a shrug, rolling her eyes at their questioning gazes, "nothing happened, we just baked a cake."

"Was it Red Velvet?"

"What relevance does that even have, Hanna?" Spencer questioned.

"If she had leftovers I'm hoping it's Red Velvet" Hanna said with a shrug.

"It wasn't Red Velvet, it was Funfetti."

"So you guys had sex?"

"What?! NO!" Aria defended immediately while Emily and Spencer sent Hanna questioning glances.

"Two adults do not make a funfetti cake, that's literally the cake you have a 5 year old bake. I would know, I baked a lot of cakes when I ate my feelings."

Aria blushed deeply, " Can we please change the subject! What did you guys do last night?"

Not wanting to even attempt to comprehend the relationship Ezra and Aria had, the girls let it slide.

"I ate dinner with my mom, she's leaving to go visit my dad soon" Emily offered.

"Me and Caleb-"

"Caleb and I" Spencer corrected.

"Whatever, we went to dinner. He's finally stopped talking about Ravenswood and playing with the Ouija board, so we celebrated."

Nodding, Spencer continued sipping her coffee when she saw the three girls sending questioning glances her way, "What?"

"What did you do when we left?" Hanna asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I went for a run."

"Why would you go for a run alone so late?" Emily questioned.

Spencer shrugged, " I just needed to clear my head with everything going on with A and Alison."

"Whatever, if you and Toby were banging you can just say it. We're all having sex, well maybe not Emily, sucks to be you Em."

Spencer rolled her eyes and Emily shoved Hanna. As they were getting up to make their way to school, they caught sight of Paige picking up her coffee. Spencer and Paige exchanged a wave and a smile.

"What was that?" Emily asked once they had stepped outside.

"What was what?"

"You and Paige, smiling at each other? I don't even think that happened when we dated."

Spencer shrugged, "I ran into her last night, nothing special."

"You should hit that, Em. Paige has progressively gotten hotter, and you've finally gotten over whatever you were doing with Ali" Hanna spoke up.

"Hanna, not helping!" Aria scolded.

"What? I'm just saying, Emily and Ali kinda dating was way awkward."

All the girls shook their heads and parted ways to attend their first period class. Emily's mind reeling with thoughts of her ex-girlfriend.


Paige had spent all night and all day overanalyzing her conversation with Spencer. She was glad to finally be at swim practice where she could take her mind off of everything. She swam in her own lane, pushing herself and feeling relaxed in her element. It wasn't until she hoisted herself up on the side of the pool at the end of practice that she found herself in the same space as Emily. Bringing herself to stand up, she smiled at the girl.

"You're still mesmerizing to watch swim" Emily admitted shyly.

Paige smiled and ducked her head, feeling slightly embarrassed about having been watched.

"Do you want to hangout? I mean get food or something, I know you're always starving after swim practice." Emily offered, trying desperately to spend time with the girl.

Paige thought it over, she knew putting space between them was the easiest way to move on, but she really was starving and she really did miss Emily.

"Please?" Emily tried, and Paige was done for the minute she bit into her lower lip.

Nodding Paige grabbed her towel, "Yeah, I could definitely eat."

Emily beamed as they agreed to meet outside the school in fifteen minutes. She excitedly grabbed her phone and sent a group text to the other girls.

Group Text:

EF: Persuaded Paige to get food with me!

HM: Told you guys she was going to start tapping that again. This is my OTP reuniting!

SH: Be careful with this Em, you have to make sure Paige is really what you want this time around.

HM: Stop being a buzz kill Spencer, PAILY.

AM: Awe, get your girl Em!

EF: I am Spence, it's just food anyway. Nothing special.

HM: You two are going out to eat?

EF: Yes, Hanna.

AM: Hanna, don't even say it.

SH: She's going to say it, Jesus Christ.

HM: Just two lesbians, eating out…. But that's none of my business.

SH: Wow. On that note, Good Luck Em.

AM: My god Hanna, Good Luck Em!

HM: IT WAS FUNNY. Whatever, you guys have zero sense of humor. Get it Em!

EF: Never again, Hanna. Thanks guys, I'll keep you updated!

Emily rolled her eyes with a chuckle and shook her head, sliding her phone into her pocket. Paige made her way out of the school doors, swinging her bag over her shoulder and looking towards Emily, "Ready?"

Emily nodded and followed Paige to the parking lot, looking the girl over before throwing her head back with a groan. Get your game together Fields.