To the person who reviewed as GUEST I can't reply to your message so I'll reply to it here, this is going to be a Paily fic, but not right away, Im actually not a huge fan of Emaya, but it was fitting for the story,

Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) don't own Pretty Little Liars

Chapter 2

PPOV

I stayed at the lake for what seemed like hours, and it might as well have been. By the time I got home both of my parents were asleep, and I didn't even have the energy to change out of my clothes and just flopped onto my bed in defeat. Sleep taking me almost instantly. The next morning I got up early, my joints stiff from sleeping in skinny jeans and a leather jacket, but I hopped in the shower before changing into running clothes and blotting out of the house before either one of my parents were awake. The air was chilly from the morning, and the sun was just starting to rise. I jogged through the town, watching the houses and stores slowly wake up with the rest of the world, my music blasting in my ears keeping me in my own little world. The lyrics distracting me from any thoughts that threatened my brain. I focused on the steps I was taking, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left. Soon my little mantra was becoming ineffective as a certain girl started to invade my thoughts again. i shook my head violently and started sprinting. it was getting harder to breathe as i pushed myself to go faster and faster. the houses and yards passing me by, I took a sharp right and collided into something, causing us both to fall.

"Ow, shit" I grumbled as I rubbed the arm that I landed on. I looked over to see Spencer Hastings on the ground looking equally annoyed with the early morning collision. "Sorry, I didn't see you there, I guess i came around the corner a little to fast." I said sheepishly standing up and offering her my hand.

"It's okay, you're Paige right?" she addressed me, I looked up at her in surprise that she even knew my name.

"Umm. yeah, your Spencer Hastings right?" I say, extending my hand, she grabs it nodding her head confirming her name. "How'd you know my name?" I ask curiously. but she just smiles and laughs a little, I give her a bewildered look to show that i was being serious and she stops laughing and looks at me shocked.

"We've been going to school together since second grade, Paige. Plus I'd be a pretty crappy School President if I didn't know all the students in my grade." I just look down in embarrassment, I should've known she'd know my name, Spencer is literally the smartest kid in school, with her parents both being lawyers there's really no surprise. "So what's got you so worked up to be running that hard this morning?" she asks.

"Oh.. umm.. you know.. life.." I say quietly. I can't exactly tell her that I'm practically in love with her best friend.

"I know what you mean McCullers." she says while slapping me on the back, "Come on, run with me." she says, it wasn't a question and I could tell because she had already turned and started running towards the middle of town. I followed closely behind her letting her lead, but soon her pace was becoming to slow, and my thoughts began to flood again, so I started to pass her, I heard her scoff and push her self to go faster to stay in the lead. Never being one to back away from a challenge I narrowed my eyes and caught up to her so that we were running side to side, alternating between who was in the lead, neither one of us wanting to back down. Soon enough we were nearing the Brew, the coffee shop in town and we both came to a stop, bending over to rest our hands on our knees and gasping for breath.

"Damn McCullers, I've never had someone challenge me like that." She says in-between breaths, I just laugh a little and stand back up, reaching my hands over my head to stretch, sweat dripping down my neck.

"Same to you Hastings," I reply after I catch my breath. She nods her head to the door of the coffee shop and starts walking, I hesitate for a second not sure if it was an invite, until she turns around and dramatically waves her hands towards the door. Quickly I snap out of my doubts and rush to pull the door open for her, gesturing for her to go first. She says thanks as she walks in heading for the counter to order a coffee.

"Do you want anything?" She says to me turning her head to look at me.

"Oh I um, didn't bring any money with me." I say nervously, she raises an eyebrow at me questioning and I look to my feet no sure what else to do.

"I didn't ask if you brought money with you, I asked if you wanted anything" she says with a playful tone, is Spencer Hastings offering to but me coffee? I ask myself, I'm to stunned to speak until i hear Spencer call my name again.

"Oh what?" I say looking back up at her, she's looking at me with a confused expression, "No I'm okay, I'm gonna go to the bathroom" I say quickly. I rush to the bathroom, and lock myself in a stall. Okay, why are you freaking out? It's just Spencer Hastings? One of the most popular girls in school, best friends to the girl you love and also best friends to the girl that hates you with every fiber of her being. "Fuck." I say out loud to myself. After a few more deep breaths a exit the stall and of to the sink. I splash water on my face and use paper towel to wipe the sweat from my neck. I wash my hands and throw the other paper towel away. Opening the door, i collide with another person. our foreheads knock into each other and my eyes close in pain, and a hand comes up to rub my forehead, "Oww, sorry, I wasn't watching where I was go-" I apologized until i looked at the person, and see Emily Fields in front of me also rubbing her forehead where we bumped into each other. My mouth went dry and I forgot how to talk as all the words left me,.

"Sorry, that was my fault as well," she says while giving me a small smile. She takes a step back and sweeps her hand past allowing me to pass, and I snap out of it, mumbling a quiet 'thanks' not trusting my voice for anything else. I quickly scan the coffee shop for Spencer and see her sitting in the front by the windows with two steaming mugs in front of her. Emily must be joining her. I though to myself, until Spencer sees me walking and waves me over.

"Well seeing as you didn't tell me what kind of coffee you like, i just kinda guessed." she said pushing the cup towards me.

"What? oh you didn't have to do that." I say quickly. I don't know why Spencer is making me so nervous. I'm never nervous in front of people. sure i don't talk much, but I've never been this bad before.

"I wanted to," she says earnestly while i bring the cup up and take a sip, relishing in the warm liquid and the sweet yet bitter taste it has to offer. "Emily says thats the house favorite." she adds in. I nearly do a spit take all over her but settle for choking on what was already in my mouth, coughing very unattractively.

"Sorry," I apologize while she hands me a napkin.

"You okay?"

"Yeah sorry, it went down the wrong pipe." I say, I don't say much else as she beings to talk about the up coming field hockey tryouts, nodding occasionally and replying when necessary. "So are you gonna try out?" she asks suddenly.

"Who me?" she nods her head, "oh well i don't know.. I mean-"

"We could really use a runner like you," she persists. She placed a hand on mine, as she looked at me.

"I'll think about it" I say, if i can get Spencer Hastings of all people to want me on her team, then maybe I can find the courage to talk to Emily. Probably not, but you're supposed to shoot high right? Spencer doesn't give up on the field hockey subject and persists. I know she wants a definite yes, but I can't find it in my voice to make that commitment yet.

"Here, you guys look a little hungry," I hear someone say. I look up to see Emily Fields once again talking to us, she's stunning and wearing a red apron, which confuses me a little.

"Thanks Em, do you want money for them?" Spencer asks, while reaching for her wallet.

"No, they're on the house." She smiled at Spencer. "I hope you like blueberry" she says so me. it takes me at least a full twenty seconds to process that she is actually speaking to me before I nervously reply.

"No yeah, they're my favorite, thank you" I smile at her.

"So Em, I've been trying to get Paige here to join the Field Hockey team, what do you think?" I can feel my cheeks flush and I look down, not able to handle the pressure. "She really pushed me past my limit with running this morning."

"Wow, you pushed Spencer? That is saying something, I can never beat Spencer at running," she says before turning to me, she placed a hand on my shoulder causing me to look up and gaze into her eyes, "If you're as good as Spencer thinks, then I say go for it, I think you'd be great." she smiles. I can't believe my ears, Emily freaking Fields is complementing me, and touching me, all in the same day, hell within the same minute at the same time!

"Thanks, but I don't know, I'm not really good at-"

"Come on McCullers! just say yes! its not like I'm asking you to marry me! its Field Hockey and we NEED someone fast and strong! We NEED someone like YOU on the team!" Spencer practically shouts. I jumped a little in surprises at her outburst, but Emily just chuckles.

"You'd better just do as she says, no one ever says no to Spencer Hastings and gets to live to tell the tale." I can see Spencer about to defend her self but Emily walks away, I watch as she walks back behind the counter and starts wiping the coffee machine. So she does work here…

"McCullers!" She shouts again, I must have spaced out because she looks mad now.

"Im sorry, what?" i question.

"Were you even listening to a word i said?" i don't answer except give her a sheepish shrug,

"God you're worse than Emily and Hannah put together! I said, are you going to at least promise to show up to tryouts and let coach decide?" she compromises. in defeat i say yes, because judging by the look Spencer started to give me after i paused for a few moments was scary. and i believe Emily when she said that no one lived to see the next day after saying 'no' to Spencer Hastings.