Emily couldn't stop her eyes from floating to Alison every couple of seconds. She hadn't seen the blonde in three years. That was a long time to not see someone you were in love with. Of course, Emily wasn't in love with Alison now. She was sure of it. Why would she be? She hadn't seen her in years, or spoken to her, or tried to. She hadn't even kept up with Alison through social media anymore.
Okay, so she stopped keeping up with Alison two years ago because it hurt to see her move on with her life without Emily, but Emily did stop looking on her Instagram and Twitter eventually. And on top of all of that, Emily had a beautiful girlfriend who loved her and that she loved. She couldn't still be in love with Alison.
But like clock work, the brunette's eyes flashed over to Alison, who was in the pool drinking and talking to Aria. Alison looked so happy that it made Emily feel happy. Her smile was contagious and her laugh was still as cute as ever. Emily's memory of how adorable Alison's dimples were was perfect. The blonde was so captivating.
"When is Victoria coming?" Spencer asked Emily with a bit of sarcasm laced in her voice. Emily turned her head to Spencer to receive a pointed look from her best friend. Busted. Again.
"Em, you can't keep eye fucking Alison. Especially if your girlfriend is coming," Hanna stressed, following along with Spencer's scolding. "Yeah, your beautiful, hot, sweet, amazing model of a girlfriend," Spencer reminded Emily.
The professional swimmer sighed, "guys, it's not like that. I just haven't seen her in a long time. You two would be like that too if you saw Travis or Wren." Hanna shook her head, "nope, you're definitely wrong. If I saw Travis, I wouldn't stare at him like I want to strip him naked and make love to him until the sun came up."
Spencer chuckled, "creative, Hanna. But she's right, Em. You're lusting her. And I suggest you stop before Victoria gets here and sees your eyes glued to Alison's rear."
Emily took a sip out of her margarita. Her friends were right, she needed to stop staring at Alison. Victoria definitely would have gotten upset. Her model girlfriend wasn't the jealous type, but something about Alison had always upset Victoria. Emily had talked about previous girlfriends and flings in the past, but when Alison was mentioned, Victoria seemed to get bothered. Emily had always wondered what it was about Alison that struck a nerve with Victoria, but she never asked. Emily didn't want to stir the pot when it didn't have to be.
"She'll be here in about two hours. I'm fine and I'm not worried about Alison. Victoria is my girlfriend and I love her," Emily said. Hanna smirked at Emily, knowing the brunette was trying to convince herself more than her friends. "Good, because this needs to be a stress free week," Spencer replied.
"Is Victoria coming with us to Bora Bora?" Hanna questioned. "No," Emily replied, "she has a shoot the day after the wedding. She's actually leaving that morning." Hanna nearly chuckled at the coincidence. What were the odds that both Alison and Emily's significant others would be missing on a couple's vacation for a full week in paradise?
Spencer caught on to Hanna's thought, but remained silent. Neither girl knew if Emily knew that Alison was engaged. Alison was a sore topic for Emily and versa Emily for Alison. In fact, none of the girls knew if Alison knew that Emily had a girlfriend either. They had thought about warning each other, but decided it was best to keep it quiet.
"Aria, your rehearsal dinner is in two hours. We need to head back to the hotel," Spencer called out, keeping a close check on the time. An excited cheer came from Aria as she and Alison made their way to the steps in the pool.
Emily tried her best not to glance at Alison, but when she failed, two pairs of eyes were glaring at her as her punishment. Emily slid her glasses from the top of her head back down over her eyes. She was tired of getting busted.
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Each of the five girls had booked their own hotel room in Rosewood. Of course, these hotels weren't the five star luxury hotels that the girls were used to in cities like New York City or Los Angeles, but it would certainly do. Staying with their families wouldn't have been as fun as staying in a hotel together. They could be more mischievous that way.
Alison showered and waited patiently in her room for the other four girls to get dressed. They were heading to Aria's rehearsal dinner soon.
The blonde checked through her emails to keep herself busy. There was always someone trying to contact her. Her agent, her publicist, a casting director, someone from Hollywood was always in her inbox. As she was clicking through her emails, a knock echoed through her hotel room. She made her way across the room and opened her door to see a smiling Hanna Marin with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Alison chuckled at her friend. Hanna had always had an outgoing, fun vibe about her. That's what she loved most about Hanna. Even in the worst situations, Hanna was the one to always lighten the mood and know how to make someone laugh or break into a smile. Alison and Hanna's friendship grew stronger as they grew up. Alison couldn't have been more thankful for her look-a-like blonde best friend.
"Wine? Before the dinner?" Alison asked, letting Hanna in the hotel room. "Wine is fine," Hanna replied, walking to the kitchen to pour herself and Alison a glass.
Alison watched as Hanna poured the two glasses half full with red wine, picking them both up afterwards and handing one to Alison. The two blondes clinked their glasses together before raising it to their lips and sipping the drink.
Alison watched as Hanna was exceptionally quiet. The Hanna she knew was talkative and bubbly when she had alcohol. Hanna and alcohol was like a college girl at a party. So when Hanna didn't bust out into conversation instantly or suggest they play a silly drinking game, Alison knew something was wrong.
"Hanna?" Alison questioned, getting Hanna's blue eyes to flash up to Alison's. "What happened?"
Hanna set her glass down the kitchen counter, "nothing, I just wanted to come hang out before the dinner." Alison raised her eyebrow, "then why aren't you talking?"
Hanna looked as if she was in conflict. Alison had no idea what was going on, but she knew something was weighing heavy on Hanna's heart. "I think maybe we should go sit down in the living room," Hanna said, already making her way to the couches.
Hanna sat on one while Alison sat on another facing each other. Alison took a sip from her glass. She was nervous. She could tell Hanna was too. But why? What did Hanna have to say that could have been so bad?
"Ali, there are things that me, Spencer, and Aria haven't told you because, well, we just didn't know how to, or if it was any of our business," Hanna started, looking directly into Alison's alarmed eyes. Alison didn't respond, she just waited for Hanna to continue.
"We don't know if you know, or if you even care anymore, but Emily is seeing someone," Hanna slowly delivered, reading Alison's eyes carefully. Alison felt her heart sink but she kept her face straight.
This shouldn't be that big of a deal and Alison wasn't stupid. Alison knew how beautiful Emily was. She knew that Emily's sweet, caring, perfect girlfriend personality would have girls lined up to date her. Alison always figured Emily was going out on dates and seeing other women. It's Emily. She's too flawless to be single for too long.
"No, that's great," Alison said, forcing herself to believe her own words, "she deserves to be happy. Do you think she'll date this girl soon?"
Hanna broke her eye contact from Alison to look down at her wine before looking back up again. Alison's stomach dropped. She knew she was about to hear the answer she didn't want to hear. Hanna didn't have to say anything, Alison already knew the words that were about to come out of her mouth before she said them.
"She's been dating her," Hanna replied. "How long?" Alison cautiously asked. She didn't want to know the answer but it slipped out from her mouth before she could stop herself.
"It's been a year now. A little over that," Hanna softly replied. Alison's stomach turned. A year. A full year and then some that Emily had been committed to another girl. A girl that Emily had been exclusively dating for a year. That Emily had been committed to for a year.
Alison almost had wished that it was multiple women. That Emily was playing the field and seeing different women. At least that meant she wasn't committed. At least that meant she wasn't all about just one girl.
Hanna could tell that Alison's heart was hurting. That's why she nor the other girls had told Alison about Emily. She knew what the reaction would be. She knew how broken Alison had been when Emily left her four years ago.
Alison finished her wine glass and stood up to head to the kitchen. "That's great," Alison forced again, "I'm happy for her."
Hanna stood and followed Alison to the kitchen, "Ali, there's more." Alison put her glass in the sink and brought her eyes back up to Hanna. More. Great. What more could there possibly be?
Hanna played with her hands, picking at her perfectly manicured french tip nails. Alison was getting antsy. "Just tell me," she said after a few silent moments.
"She'll be at the wedding," Hanna sighed, looking back up at Alison.
Alison felt her stomach turn again. She took a deep breath. The wedding wasn't until tomorrow. She had tonight to prepare herself. Everything would be okay. She would be fine by tomorrow.
"And she's here, Alison," Hanna finished.
That did it. That brought nerves and hot tears to Alison's eyes. The blonde blinked them back before they could surface but Hanna didn't miss it. Hanna didn't miss how Alison's hands started shaking or how her big eyes saddened or the way her bottom lip quickly quivered before Alison got it under control.
Alison felt sick. Emily's girlfriend was here. A girl Emily chose to be with instead of her was here and Alison had to be around her and accept her. Alison didn't even have time to process all of this. Within the next few minutes she would be meeting Emily's girlfriend. Seeing Emily with her. Alison wanted to throw up. She wanted to stay in her hotel room and lay in bed for the rest of the day with Hanna's bottle of red wine.
"Ali, I'm sorry—,"
"It's okay," Alison cut, trying her hardest to get herself together. She couldn't let anyone see how much this did effect her. She knew she couldn't. Emily may have been in a relationship, but Alison was engaged. She was engaged to a handsome, successful man. A man that millions of girls swooned over every week watching football. "Jackson will be here tonight anyway. I'm engaged, Han. I've moved on," Alison finished.
Hanna couldn't buy in to Alison's pitch. She knew Alison was still caught up on Emily. It radiated off of the blonde like the sun on water. Hanna wanted to pull Alison into a hug and allow Alison to cry on her shoulder and let her express her pain but she knew Alison would never admit to hurting. She knew Alison's ego was too big for that.
Alison touched the two million dollar diamond ring on her left hand. It was a huge gem that caught everyone's attention. Alison had said thank you more than a hundred times now in response to people commenting on the rock.
Alison and Jackson were a beautiful looking couple. They just looked like they belonged together. To the world, they did belong together. They posted perfect Instagram photos of each other, kissed in public, and went on the cutest dates imaginable, but not everything was as it seemed. And with Jackson on a plane en route to Rosewood, looking at her ring made her only made her want to take it off.
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Emily stood outside of the hotel, leaning against a wall. Victoria was minutes away from arriving. Emily was excited to see her girlfriend. She hadn't seen her in a week. Victoria had to flyout to New York City for multiple photo shoots and meetings.
Emily was nervous however about Victoria coming to Rosewood. Having Victoria around of Alison wasn't ideal for Emily, but if Emily didn't invite Victoria to the wedding and she found out that Alison was there, Emily might not have had a girlfriend when she left Rosewood.
A black Escalade pulled up and Emily smiled. The door opened and before Emily knew it her blonde girlfriend popped out of the door. Victoria skipped over to Emily in four quick leaps before jumping on Emily, landing in her arms.
Emily wrapped her arms around of her girlfriend's waist as Victoria gripped around Emily's neck. "I have missed you so much," Victoria chimed, tightening her arms around of the brunette. Emily smiled against Victoria's head, "I've missed you too."
Victoria pulled back to lean forward and press a kiss to Emily's lips. The kiss didn't last long, but long enough for Hanna, Spencer, and Aria to walk outside and catch the two in the act. Alison's laugh boomed through the entrance of the hotel and as she was beginning to step outside, Hanna quickly jumped in her direction to turn Alison back around.
Alison's laughter made Emily pull back from Victoria and look around of her girlfriend, but falling short of seeing her ex. Emily knew that laugh from anywhere. She was sure of it. Emily saw Hanna swiftly move to the entrance of the hotel, but couldn't see where she was going.
"Ali, come with me, I left something in my room," Hanna stated, taking Alison's hand and pulling her the opposite direction back into the hotel. Alison seeing Emily kiss Victoria was not the way Hanna wanted Alison to first see Victoria. She refused to let Alison get hurt by that.
Emily heard Hanna say Alison's name and her hands slipped from Victoria's waist. It was Alison's laugh. Emily's heart suddenly became more heavy. Being that close to Alison and not seeing her made her chest ache.
Victoria heard Hanna and immediately her lips straightened into a hard line. When Emily looked back at Victoria she was greeted with blazing green eyes. Emily knew she had already messed up.
Before Emily could open her mouth to say anything, Victoria beat her to it. "That's strike one already," she said so quietly that they were the only two to hear it. "Vic, I didn't—,"
Victoria took one hand off of Emily to raise it to the brunette's lips, "please don't make an excuse. Just don't let it happen again, Emily."
Emily felt guilt run its course through her body. Victoria had just gotten there and already they were in dispute about Alison. It was going to be a long twenty-four hours.