Last year was a tough year for the group of girls. During a sleep over the fifth member and leader of the clan vanished during the night. She was missing for close to a year before the body was found and since then life has been a series of adjustments for the girls. Allison was not very well liked and it and seemed like they were getting punished for her sins, and today they knew was going to be one of those days. Her parents had returned from one of their many disappearing trips and decided to have a memorial for their daughter's death today instead of her actual anniversary because of something about a nonrefundable cruise.
So they were all on their way to the local church run by the McCullers family. The daughter Paige had hated Ali the most of everyone in Rosewood high and her hatred had rubbed off onto them now which made this service and outing very uncomfortable. Their had so many brawls both verbal and physical between Ali and Paige that the girls had lost count. The most frustrating thing about the situation was that out of the four of them none of them knew why the rivalry began or what it was about, but for whatever reason Paige was Ali's number one target. They couldn't blame Paige for her animosity but wished she didn't hold them accountable.
Lucky for them she would be the first person they would see on their way to the service. She was leaving her house about to get on her bike when they were passing. She was wearing a pant suit that was sure to wrinkle the moment she got on her bike seat. Paige looked up and when she saw them her movements seemed to increase as way to get away from them. When Emily saw this she too quickened her pace.
"Hey Paige! Wait up a second" Emily called after the girl who was doing her best on a bike in a pant suit and loafers to get away.
The shock of Emily actually calling out to her startled Paige so much she stopped short and tumbled off the side of her bike. Emily ran up to her to help her feeling guilty for startling the girl.
"I don't need your help! I can do it" Paige snapped and the dark haired beauty as she began to pick the bike and Paige off of the ground.
"Fine I was just trying to be nice" Emily said with a biting tone.
"Yeah, I wouldn't be on the floor if it wasn't for you either."
"Sorry" Emily mumbled out realizing Paige had a point.
"So, did you want something?"
"Yeah" Emily paused gathering her thoughts about what she had wanted to say."I just wanted to say I know today is going to be hard for you, memorializing someone who was so horrible to you and I just wanted to say thank you for not telling your father not to do it. I was also going to ask you to walk with us as to not ruin your suit"
Paige was flabbergasted. She couldn't believe one of those girls was being so kind to her and even asking her to join them. All they reminded her of was the horror that Allison DiLaurentis put her through because of a mistake Paige had made freshman year.
"Um sure. just let me put my bike back"
—
The walk to the church was silent Paige had nothing to say to any of the girls and the rest of them did not know how to behave around the girl who had no trouble showing her animosity towards them. When they got their Paige took off in a different direction like she was on fire and water was anywhere they weren't.
The pews were filled a little more heavily today as anything to do with Ali whether she was alive or dead had a flare for the dramatics and everyone wanted a front row view. Pastor McCullers started the mass as an ordinary one his sermon was all about the love and memory of a person who was lost and how that stays with everyone that person touched, an idea Paige did not like to think about when it had to do with Allison. Afterwards he brought up a few guest speakers to speak in memory of Ali. The last of these speakers was Emily Fields.
"I have to say that I never thought that at the age of 17 I would have to speak at the memorial service for one of my best friends. But as I have learned all too well recently tragedy happens and that it is the people around you the help you through it. I want to thank Pastor McCullers for a lovely sermon because it sure does resonate with me especially now. I know Allison was a tough person to love and even harder to get to know and that she made quite a few enemies along the way. Despite the tough exterior Ali was a good friend to go into battle with. She forced you out of your comfort zone, and pushed you to your limits a part our friendship I will always be thankful for.
As Emily spoke her eyes kept connecting to Paige's wide brown eyes that were looking at her with turmoil and confusion. It seemed as if she was hanging on every word that Emily said and she was. The more Emily spoke about Ali the harder it became for Paige to keep down her own memories of Ali and the torment and power Ali wielded over her for months.
