Hi, guys! Thank you for your comments.
The story starts when Alison was still alive, and it follows Paige's difficult coming out. Emily will have to deal her feelings too, of course. I'll write about some of the scenes from season one and I will change their story, because I want to try another storyline that doesn't involve Maya. Enjoy!
literarylesbian37: Yeah, I hate her too. That's why I wanted to write about Ali harassing Paige.
ov4arenko: Thank you! We will see a courageous Paige, but she will be having tough moments too. And we will also see her psycho outbreaks. xDDD
Emily's POV
These last days have been very difficult for me, I'm having very strong feelings for Alison and the other day I couldn't hide them anymore. We were talking in the library, it was empty, there wasn't a soul in sight, so I couldn't hold my feelings for her and I kissed her. Her reaction was good, I mean, she smiled at me. But a few days later I kissed her in the neck when we were in the locker room and she got furious. Why is she so adorable one day and unkind a few days later? I don't understand her strange behaviour and I've got mixed feelings about it, she's my friend, but sometimes it seems like she wants to be more than friends. I don't event know why I am her friend, she's evil and she treats people like crap. She has caused too many problems for me, and I don't want to be another one of her victims, I'm done suffering from things that don't matter. I am pretty sure she's playing me, and with all the doubts I'm having and my and problems with Ben this is becoming a huge problem. I need to do something about my relationship with Ben, I don't want to be with him and like it or not, now I am very convinced that it wasn't just a phase, I definitely like girls. As if I didn't have enough on my mind. I have to make radical changes in my life, because I can't pretend to be someone I am not. First of all, I need to tell my friends, not Alison, because she obviously knows it. I am pretty sure my other three friends will be okay with it, it doesn't concern me at all, but I can't help to be nervous. Then I should talk to my parents, but I am not sure how my mother will react to the news. I mean, she's an open-minded woman, I don't remember her saying mean things about being gay, but I also know that things can change if it affects your family directly. Anyway, it's got to be done as soon as possible, otherwise my head is going to explode.
"Hey. Good morning!" Paige says while I am still deep in thought.
"Hey. How are you?" I answer smiling at her.
"I'm fine. How about you? Is something wrong? You seem worried about something," she asks.
"Well… it's nothing. I was thinking about… It doesn't matter. I don't want to bore you till death about my philosophical views on my life," I say laughing.
"I didn't think you were 'that kind' of person."
"What do you mean? I am a very reflective girl, and I was having a deep moment of introspection. Are you telling me you thought I was dumb? I ask her grinning.
"Well, yeah, I am surprised about it. So, your head is not empty, you have brains in it. It's a real shocker!" she says laughing and touching my head.
"You are a dork," I tell her with a wide smile in my face.
I can see Alison is looking at us, she's standing next to the classroom at the end of the hall. She's glowering at Paige, and when she looks at me she frowns disapproving my companion. What is wrong with her? Maybe a few days ago I'd say she's jealous, but she made it very clear that she's obviously not interested in me, so I don't understand why she's behaving like this. Besides, lately she's obsessed with ruining Paige's life, although Paige didn't attack her, she just defended Mona when Alison was teasing her. I don't care what she thinks anymore, I mean, I love her, because she's been a friend of mine for as long as I can remember, but I'm tired of playing games.
"I know she's your friend, but Satan is looking daggers at me," Paige tells me grinning.
"Yeah, she is. But don't worry, these last days she's acting weird. I will talk to her, she thinks you are her enemy and that you want to destroy her," I tell her raising my eyebrows.
"What?" Paige says loudly and shocked about what I've just said. "I just told her what everybody in this school thinks about her disgusting comments and her bullying methods. The problem is that her victims don't dare to tell her what they really think of her heinous behaviour because they are afraid of her. She's a bitch, and she enjoys tormenting them, but I won't have her acting like that, not in front of me," she says really pissed off.
"Well… Maybe you're right," I say not knowing how to defend my 'friend'.
It's the first time I see her so furious and beside herself, because she's always very nice and polite. Actually, I am glad Paige confronted Alison, someone needs to stop her when she's hurting people. I liked Paige since the day we met, but I think I like her even more now. Her response was kind of sexy.
"I got to go, but I'll see you in the natatorium after this class, right?" I ask her.
"Sure. Prepare to get your ass kicked!" She chuckles.
"Good luck with that!" I tell her laughing. "Paige…" I say while I hold her arm when she's leaving. "Maybe we could grab a coffee after practice."
"Yeah, I'd love that. See you later!" She says waving at me.
Alison is still staring at us, she can't even hide her anger. When Paige leaves and I am closing my locker room she approaches me with an evil expression in her face.
"So… Is 'No neck' your new girlfriend?" She says sarcastically.
"What are talking about? She's nice, you should make an effort to get to know her, Ali," I answer.
"You know perfectly well what I am talking about. I know your little secret, Emily. Don't worry, your secret is save with me, but you should know I like boys."
"You are wrong about me, Ali. I'm not…" I can't say the actual word. "I have a boyfriend, what happened the other day was nothing. I mean, I acted on impulse, it was stupid, I don't know why I did that, but I can assure you I'm not… You know," I say speaking quietly.
"I think I know why you did it, I know I am irresistible, Em," she says grinning. "You kissed me TWICE, Em," she says lowering her voice. "Well, if you want to pretend you like boys, I don't mind. Does 'No neck' know your secret?" she says smiling.
"Stop it, Alison. I don't want to talk about it," I say.
"Okay, give 'No Neck' my regards, will you?" She says laughing loudly.
Paige's POV
I walk into the classroom and I leave my bag on my desk. The teacher is not here, so I take my cellphone from the bag and I see I've got two texts:
Paige, the Coach told me you've got a meet this weekend, are you anchoring?
Didn't you see my text? Come home after practice, the pool is waiting for you. You got to practice harder to be the best swimmer in the team. I love you, honey.
I love you? I think to myself after taking a deep breath.
Hi, dad. Tomorrow I have an exam, so I have to study. I will get home for dinner. See you later. I press the send button and I try to forget about his stupid texts. I know lying is not okay, but I won't go home to swim some laps when I can be with Emily. No way!
As for my father, I am sick of him, I don't know why he doesn't understand that Emily is a better swimmer than I am. I mean, I've been in the team for a few weeks now, it's almost impossible to be the anchor in the upcoming meet. He thinks I am Superwoman, but I can't stand his obsession, he's putting pressure on me, and it won't work. I sit down on my chair and I try to calm down thinking about Emily and her beautiful smile. I know I don't have a chance with her, she has a boyfriend, she doesn't like girls, but she wants to have a coffee with me, so I am excited about it. I look at the door and I see Alison is walking into the classroom. "Okay, not now, please," I think to myself.
"Are you deaf, idiot? Didn't you hear what I told you about Emily?" She asks coming up to me.
"Can you give me one good and convincing reason why you are so mean to me?" I ask her, although I know she won't give me a logical answer.
"I just hate you, plain and simple. And I don't want you to talk to Emily, I told you so the other day and you ignored me. Today I saw you two laughing and having a great time. Stop it, she's my friend and I don't want her to become a loser, you know it's contagious," she adds with a hate face.
"She's my teammate, I can't ignore her. Besides, who are you to tell me what I should do with my life? Get lost!" I tell her frowning.
"You don't know what I'm capable of, McCullers. I'm warning you! I don't want you to be near Emily, I don't care if you are on the same team. Figure it out."
"Or what? You are gonna call the police? You are going to hit me? If so wear high heels, dwarf." I tell her pissed off.
"I would be scared if I were you, 'No neck'," she tells me defiantly while she goes to sit down on the desk next to the window.
I am not scared, but I am sick of her bullshit. She's been saying stupid things to me everyday since the Mona incident happened. I have a lot going on in my life, my father, Emily, my sexuality… and I don't want to have to deal with her too. I hope this class is not as boring as the one before it, because I am willing to see Emily in the natatorium, and I am excited about us going to have a coffee, so I concentrate on what the teacher is saying. Maybe if I pay attention time will go by faster.
Emily's POV
I look at my watch impatiently over and over again, the class is almost finished.
I don't know if the teacher saw me looking at the watch nervously, but if she did, it has worked, because she decides to stop the class, we will continue learning the exciting
quadratic equations tomorrow. I get my bag and I am off the natatorium when I bump into Ben.
"Hey, what's the rush?" Ben asks leaning in for a kiss.
I take a step back and he looks at me obviously furious.
"What's wrong? Why didn't you kiss me?" he asks frowning.
"I have practice now, so, I don't want to be late," I answer although it's not so late. I don't think telling him that I am willing to be with another person would be okay.
"Do you want to meet me after practice? I miss you," he adds, staring at me.
"Actually I have plans, I am having a coffee with a friend. What about tomorrow?" I ask nicely, although I don't want to meet him.
"Who is that friend? We don't do anything together anymore, Emily. You are my girlfriend, I want to spend time with you, but you obviously don't," he says frowning.
"I'm sorry, Ben, but I won't change my plans. Tomorrow I'm free…" I add when he interrupts me.
"Bullshit! Go with your friend, I don't care, Emily," he shouts at me. In that exact moment I see Paige is in the hall looking at us. When Ben is gone she approaches me.
"Hey, I saw you two fighting, are you okay, Em?" she asks nicely.
"Yeah, I'm fine. He's a jerk, he gets angry over the slightest thing," I tell her. I am not disappointed because of the fight with Ben, I am sad because I don't want to live a lie.
"What happened?"
"He wanted to meet me after practice, I told him I had plans. It's not big deal, I mean, do you think he had the right to get angry?" I ask him raising my eyebrows.
"Well… he's your boyfriend, he wants to spend time with you, it's logical," she adds.
"Honestly I prefer to spend time with you."
"Okay, it's an honor," she smiles at me. "But put yourself in his shoes, he loves you, and you've been avoiding him."
"You don't know him, he is not perfect, and I've got a lot of things going on in my life, I have problems too. I could use a friend," I tell her with a sad expression in my face.
"I don't have any friends, so I don't know if I meet the requirements for a good friendship," she says smiling.
"Of course you have a friend, Paige. And you are great, by the way. Thank you," I say while I hug her tightly. I knew she would smell great, I don't want to stop hugging. It's not just the hug, I feel great when I am with her. I mean, my other friends are great to talk to too, but talking to her it's very easy, she makes me feel comfortable. I think I am starting to fall in love with her, because now I'm not all day thinking about Alison, I want to be all day with her. Sadly it won't happen, she's not gay, so I am happy if she wants to be my friend.
At this very instant Alison is leaving the classroom and she sees us. She is not happy, but instead of saying something hurtful she looks at Paige disapprovingly and continues walking.
"Yeah, I was hugging her even if you told me not to come near her. Do you have a problem?" Paige says frowning.
"I warned you, 'No neck'. It's on," she adds raising her fingers and separating them to make the sign of victory.
…
Paige's POV
After a great practice I get dressed so I can meet Emily, who is already waiting outside the locker room. I usually stay in the pool longer than my teammates after the practice is finished. I love swimming some laps calmly, I enjoy the water slightly hitting my face. But this happy moment only happens when I'm not being under the pressure of my father, and it's kind of relaxing,
"I'm sorry about my lateness, you know my everyday ritual," I say shyly.
"It's okay, I was playing Angry Birds," she smiles. "Besides, you took a long time to get dressed, but you look very nice. I love your t-shirt, it fits you perfectly, well… You have a perfect body, so… that's easy," she says while I blush.
"Thank you, you look nice too," I add shyly while I stare at the floor.
We get in Emily's car and we go to the cafeteria that is next to my house. We walk into it and we sit down on the only table that is not occupied.
"So… are you feeling better?" I ask her looking at her eyes.
"Yeah, I started feeling better right after talking to you. But I've got a lot of things in my mind, and that's not healthy,"
"I guess you are talking about Ben. Am I right?"
"Yeah, but that's the least of my worries. I mean, I don't love him, I am not attracted to him, so I am thinking about breaking up. It's not fair for him," she adds.
"Yes, if you feel that way, you should break up with him," I nod.
"What about you? Is there anybody in your heart?" she asks me smiling.
"No, there isn't. I mean, maybe there is, but I am not sure about it. It's difficult," I answer shyly.
"Are you blushing? I thought you were a badass, but you are a little bit shy, McCullers," she says smirking. "That's a shame, because you are a catch: nice, funny, attractive…"
"I am smart too, don't forget that, Fields. But I'm not the philosophical type, I guess you are the only one in here who likes that bullshit," I chuckle.
"So, what's the problem?" She asks with a serious face.
"I've dated some guys, but I guess I didn't choose well, it didn't feel right. I don't know, I guess I haven't met 'the one', you know."
"Do you believe in that stupid theory? Do you really think there's someone out there who is your soulmate?" she asks surprised.
"I don't know, it's possible. Hope is the last thing you lose." I smile at her, she didn't expect me to make the soulmate remark.
"I'm not so sure, but you are adorable, you won't have a problem finding your 'soulmate'," she nods and smiles at me.
We spend almost three hours talking and laughing. I really like Emily, I am glad she's in my life, because she's the only friend I have and I can talk to her about anything. Well… not anything, I mean, I can't tell her I have a crush on her, but I am happy that I've got someone to call to if I am not feeling well. When we leave the cafeteria is almost 8 pm, Emily gives me a ride home and we hug each other after saying goodbye. It's been a fantastic day, so I don't care if my parents are angry with me for being late for dinner. Besides, they think I've been studying in the library for my calculus exam, so I've got a convincing excuse. When I open the door they are both looking at me and crossing their arms, but I can see they are not really annoyed, so we have dinner and I go to bed with a wide smile in my face.
The next morning I wake up feeling very happy, Emily has that effect on me. I walk my way in the school's hall and I go directly to my locker. When I open it I see an envelope falling to the floor. What the hell is this?
I bend down to pick it, and when I have it in my hands I see it says 'From Emily to Paige'.
Okay, this is definitely a surprise. Why did she write a letter when she could talk directly to me? What does it say? I put the letter in my right pocket, I close the locker and I make my way to the classroom where I will read the letter. Today I won't be paying any attention to my teacher, I've got more important things to read.
To be continued…
