Disclamer: I do not own any of the PLL universes.

Thank you to rcampdel for getting me to start this fic. Without her, I wouldn't be reading fic either.

HopeWasHere, you are who pushes me to keep going now. Thank you for your input and for sharing yours with me as well. I love ya sis.

Hope you enjoy this!

Paige's POV

I woke up this morning with a par of dark brown eyes on my mind. I couldn't help but smile when I thought about whom they belonged to. The smile that spread across my face was unmistakable. If Mallory was here right now she would assume it was for a boy.

Emily.

Just even thinking her name has an effect on me. What am I thinking?! Ok Paige, just get up and get ready for school. For starters, you are not gay! And second, she is your MOMS friend! I turn on some music to help me get in the mood to start my day. Some Brittney Spears' 'Circus' so I can get my dance on and wake up before I shower. I find myself jumping around and singing as I gather my clothes up. Next up, 'E.T' by Katy Perry which has me wishing even more that I could dance because I love this song. After my shower I go wake Mallory so she can get ready.

As I am leaving her room I hear the text sound go off on my phone from the other room. Somehow my thoughts leave my mouth and I find myself saying "who the hell is texting me at 6am?" Being both confused and annoyed as I walk back to my room, I hear Mallory jump out of bed to follow me.

Standing in my doorway she gives me a sly smirk and starts to speak "Paige, do you have a secret boyfriend that I don't know about? Also, is he cute and does he have an older brother that I can take advantage of?"

I try hard to not run and kick her out of my room to shower but I just stand there with my phone in hand and tell her "it's none of your business Mal. Go take your fuckin' shower or we won't have time to get your coffee before school." While she knows that I'm just avoiding her question she just turns with a laugh and goes down the hall. Sometimes I feel like it's just boys and food with that girl! Everything else is just a means to impress a guy to get them…..

As I go to check my phone my eyes almost bulge out of my head. It's from Emily. I just got a text at 6 in the morning from Emily. Holy crap….uh, what do I do? It's only a text, right? I did give her my phone number after all. I didn't think she would actually use it for anything other than meeting up for the gym though. I open it to see what it says.

"Hope you have a good day -Emily

If that was all it said then how come there is a lump in my throat and a huge smile plastered on my face? What do I say back to her? Why exactly am I so nervous? I can talk nonstop and now I have nothing to say? I've never felt like this before. Emily is a girl. How can a girl make me giddy and on edge?

Just then I realized Mallory is watching me from the door again. Now she has a cocked eyebrow and a smirk on her face. It's the same smirk she had last night before we went to bed. I can tell she doesn't even need an answer to whom the text is from. I wipe my face of all expression but it's far too late now. I drop my gaze to the floor and cuss under my breath. We are both still in the middle of getting ready so she turns back to go to her room laughing. Something tells me that she knows exactly what's going on in my brain right now. Like she knows the hell taking over my head right now.

I take a few more minutes and throw on some light make up and my boots before I hear Mallory yell she's ready and to hurry up. My first class is at 8am and hers is at 9am but she likes her coffee so we always go to the Brew before school. It's only 7am but the place is unusually busy today. I always send Mal to go find us a table while I grab her coffee and my hot tea. I'm just trying to keep my place in line and not bump into anyone when suddenly I'm falling forward from a crash into the back of me. I catch myself and turn to apologize when I meet the same amazingly stunning eyes I saw in my half asleep brain this morning. My breath hitches as I just stop mid turn. I do manage a small surprised half smile as I dip my head. Suddenly I feel this overwhelming shyness that I can only say I've gotten once before, when I was interviewed on TV for a swim meet that took us to state. I feel a pressure on my shoulder as she leans in and whispers hello in my ear. I can feel my small smile turn into a full on grin as I feel her breathe on my neck. She's even beautiful at 7 in the morning. For some reason I have this urge to just turn my head and press my lips to hers. But, I know that could cause a panic on both of our parts. I just can't help my feeling right now so I touch her hand on my shoulder and whisper hello back in her ear. She blushes with the cutes smile and I can almost swear that my knees want to give way right there.

Emily's POV

(A few minutes earlier)

Wow. I can't believe how damn hot she looks at 7 am. I can't help but to smile and look her up and down from behind. Paige has on the same combat boots I noticed her in last night. As well as a red tank over a tight black one that I can tell hugs her in all the right places. Today she has on some dark flare blue jeans. Instead of the leather jacket she has on this black and red pin striped vest that matches her shirts perfectly. How have I never seen her here before?

After she didn't text me back this morning I just figured she was still sleeping so I just got ready for class. This is where my best friends and I hang out before we go out separate ways for the day. I must have been staring too long because Hanna knocks into my arm with her elbow and laugh, along with Spencer and Aria. I look down and blush with embarrassment. If they saw me gawking then who else did?

They all lean in to tell me to just bump into her on "accident." But before I can protest Hanna takes her hand and casually shoves me forward into Paige. My heart races at the contact of her skin on mine, even if only for a second. As she turns around I see those beautiful chocolate eyes that I can't help but be drawn to. I smile at her a little too wide I guess because she looks down. She's probably thinking I'm a weirdo because I just smiled at her. I mean she's my friends' daughter, should I be happy to see her? I lean in and whisper hello into her ear. The whole time I can feel three pairs of eyes on me, watching my every move.

My knees weaken when I feel her touch my hand back and whisper in my ear hi as well. I step back and we both smile at each other. This gets me looks of 'WTF?' from my friends next to me. All of a sudden I'm being pulled back by Hanna and the other two demanding that I explain to them what just happened. I'm so unsure of what to say to them that I have a look of mild fear on my face. What exactly can I say? She's a friends' daughter and I'm totally not a perv for checking out her ass in those nice tight jeans? They saw me do it. There is no getting out of that. But Aria fell in love with our English teacher so I know she's not going to be all judgmental about her age or anything. Spencer could be a different story though. Sure she liked older guys and stuff, but she has been with Toby now for almost 4 years. He was only a year older. But, I don't actually know how old Paige is so that may not be an issue. Hanna just wants me happy and she knows I'm not right now. Hanna is never a problem when it comes to me. I decide it's not a good idea to tell them the truth right now so I lie.

"It's nothing guys, she's just someone I met at the gym a couple days ago."

Their faces at mixed with happiness and worry. I know why and I give them a reassuring smile to let them know I'm ok. I turn back around to see Paige turned fully around smiling at me. Oh god. That smile is going to be the death of me.

"How are you this morning?" she says smiling her adorable smile.

Uh oh Hanna has pushed in front of me to talk "Hi, I'm Hanna. This is Spencer and Aria. I should say Emily forgot her manners." She says with a wink. All I want is to choke her right now. I don't know what I'm doing and already I know she is planning our first date for me. Paige just smiles sweetly at them and says hello to each.

That's when it's Paige's turn at the counter. She orders two things so I guess her friend/cousin must be here somewhere. She turns to catch me off guard with my head tilted and watching her legs from behind. So embarrassed I almost stumble behind Hanna to hide.

Paige just smiles and asks "what would you like Emily. My treat, please."

"You really don't have to do that. Really, it's ok." I manage to stammer back. But she doesn't give up and asks Hanna what I normally get. After she orders I thank her and she walks off.

It's our turn now and I step up to the counters with three pairs of eyes on me again, now with mouths slightly ajar, stunned. "I'll explain when we sit down ok?" I tell them and then nod in unison agreeing. I leave them to go grab our spot on the couch in the back now. I sit with my legs curled under me at the far left of the couch near the wall. I curl my arms up and lay my head on them to figure out what I'm going to say to them while I wait.

Paige's POV

I take the seat facing the window since that is what Mallory left me. As I put her coffee in front of her she puts down her copy of 'Beautiful Creatures' to take a sip. We talk about her reading group since we didn't last night. There is a boy in it that she, well, crush just sounds like the wrong word for how she feels. It's more like she wants to rip his shirt off and feel his abs on her face, if you know what I'm saying. As Mallory goes on about Andrew I kind of zone out a little watching the sun rise behind her. Suddenly her face changes from lust for Andrew to a look of mischievousness. I turn to see what she is looking at. Emily. She's behind us on the couch. Although we are hidden slightly because of the curtain in between, I can't help but feel like I should run. I really can't peg why.

Mallory picks up on my sudden change. "Aww, Paigey! Do you finally have your first girl crush?!"

My jaw drops. I have no words for her right now. I glance back again to make sure Emily didn't hear her. She still has her eyes close. Good. "What do you mean finally? And why would you even think that about me?"

"Sweetie, I love you. But it was obvious last night when we walked in the door. Plus after you got that stupid grin on your face over a text this morning, I knew." She said matter of fact. "I just didn't realize it was Emily."

Caught, I didn't know what to do. I could deny it, but that seems pointless now. The fear on my face gives me away though. "Paige, it's going to be fine. Don't worry. It's safe with me ok? I don't care if you fuck men or women. I just want you happy. Why don't you go say hi? She's alone." Mallory says trying to comfort me. It's not helping.

I must have blushed from ear to ear because she just jumps in her chair clapping and asks me to spill the details. "There isn't much to tell really. She bumped into me while I was in line and we talked for a second and I bought her a coffee. Also, she's not alone she has three friends with her. And there is no way in hell I'm going to go talk to her now." I say still freaking out about what Mal just said.

I can't look at Mallory. How could she have known? Maybe I really was obvious and didn't know how to control it. Passed that now, she knows.

I guess Mallory took the silence as her way of doing what she does best, freak me out. All of a sudden she gets up and walks to the couch. Oh, fuck. FUCK FUCK FUCK! WHAT IS SHE DOING! I turn in my seat to watch as she strolls up to Emily and her friends. I can't hear what they are saying but I have a sinking feeling as Emily glances over at me. I can't help it and I turn back around like I didn't see. This could be bad.

Emily's POV

Mallory is here with Paige. Of course, but why exactly is she coming over to us? The sight of her makes me look around for Paige. There she is, just a little in front of the curtain next to the window. I smile as she quickly turns around. She's worried about something. I saw it on her face as she turned. I'm forced to look up as Hanna elbows me at my name being said by the girl in front of us.

"Hey Emily, I'm Mallory. We met last night at my Aunt's house." Mallory says to me.

I widen my eyes and give a weak smile. I remember who she is but I haven't gotten around to telling the girls next to me how I really met Paige yet so this is going to be interesting. "Hi. I remember. How are you this morning?" Is all I can manage to say to her, unsure of how to continue.

"Oh, I'm good. But what I really came over here for is to ask if you could tutor me in my Psychology class. I'm having trouble with distinguishing the lines between some of the different types of diagnoses. Any chance we can get together later for like a dinner study date?" Mallory asks me.

As I pretend to think about her question I can see the wide grin on Hanna's face as she goes to speak. "Would Paige come? I mean, it's not like you drive right?" With that she turns to me and gives me a wink that makes me blush on the inside.

"Of course Paige would drive me. I would have to let her stay as well if that's not a problem. She doesn't have to sit with us if you wouldn't want her to." Mallory gives Hanna a wink now.

"Yeah, I'm free tonight if you are. The Grille, I can do 6 if you are good with that." I tell her. She agrees with a smile and a nod and goes back to her table. Hanna has a wild grin on her face; Spencer and Aria are looking at me and trying to hide the smile that's working its way across their lips. It's like I just made a date with someone in front of them. "It's just for studying. What's wrong with you three?!"

I watch as Paige and Mallory go to leave and can't help but grow ever more curious as I see Mallory look back and wink at Hanna. Instead I just brush it off and go back to my coffee and hope the questions can wait till after classes today.