Hey, guys. I'm really sorry for taking such a long time to get back on updating this fic, it's been crazy with all of the 'trying to get into college' thing. And guess what? I did. So now I'm on vacation and have enough time to continue writing. I probably need more inspiration, which explains the short size of this chapter, but I think it's kinda good. I think. Enjoy!
Chapter three: The first punch
Three days went by and no more texts from 'A' arrived for Emily. The Filipino girl couldn't help but to feel extremely suspicious due to that. It meant they were waiting for the right time – which would be whenever she displayed a moment of weakness – to strike. Her anxiousness caused her to constantly look over her shoulder and get startled every time a loud noise echoed out of nowhere at school or at any other place she was. Needless to say, the rest of the liars quickly took notice of her sudden paranoia and started wondering whether she was keeping something from them. It was all too strange, especially when she suddenly shifted from immensely alert to completely alienated, when she started drowning in her thoughts.
"Uh… Em?" Aria hopelessly tried to catch her attention for what was probably the fifth time during lunch on that dull Tuesday. The swimmer had been distractedly playing with her food with apparently no will to eat and her gaze was fixated to the surface of their table. "Emily!"
"Oh, for God's sake!" Hanna exclaimed before poking her friend's ribcage, not caring to measure the amount of strength she was using.
"Ouch!" Emily protested, frowning at the blonde. "What was that for?!"
"Can you tell us what's going on already?" Hanna pleaded, a bit annoyed. "There's been, like, this off energy coming from you since Saturday." Emily sighed.
"I can't."
"But…"
"I just can't, Hanna!" The brunette hissed, standing up from the table. "Please, don't do this. Don't question me. I've got too much on my mind."
"Haven't you thought that maybe we could help?" Aria stated. "We're your friends, Em, that's what we're here for."
"I know…" Emily sighed again, the expression on her face softened for a second, but she soon shook her head and the coldness returned. "But I've got to figure this out alone… before I put more people in danger."
"In danger…?!" The petite girl looked startled by that last sentence. "What do you mean with danger?!" Before Emily could answer, Spencer approached the group holding her own tray of food.
"Hello, ladies… " She purred with her usual Hastings cockiness. "What are we discussing today?"
"Nothing, I was just leaving." Emily spat. Spencer sent her a look of confusion – one of the many she had sent her since the beginning of that week.
"I was wondering if-"
"No."
"But, Em…"
"You stay away from me!" With that, the brunette stormed out of the cafeteria. Spencer sat down beside Aria and grabbed her forehead with both hands as she let out a groan of pure frustration. She just couldn't process the fact that her best friend, who had been closer to her than they used to be only a few days before, was now avoiding her like the plague. There was no doubt that the Filipino girl was hiding something and, whatever it was, it was slowly ripping the group apart. They couldn't be like that any longer, not with 'A' watching their every move.
"Tell me, what did I do wrong?" The brown haired asked in a hoarse voice, trying her hardest to avoid tears from rolling down her face. Hanna bit her lip and gently caressed the other girl's shoulder.
"You did nothing wrong, Spence. " She replied. "I don't know what's going on between you two or what's going through Emily's mind… but you guys have to solve it. Quick."
"And how am I supposed to do that? She won't even speak to me properly." Spencer said and her face twisted into a hysterical expression. That was the second in which Aria's face lit up in realization.
"Spence… I don't really know if I should say this… but doesn't this situation remind you of when you shut Toby out to keep him safe?" She suggested, feeling a bit hesitant, after all, she could be wrong. Even though the signs that Emily had been sending told her exactly the opposite. Spencer's hazel eyes locked with her green ones and her mouth fell open.
"Are you saying that…?" she started.
"I think she has feelings for you." Aria completed. "I mean… Hanna and I joke a lot about that possibility. But, especially now, I really think she does. And maybe 'A' has threatened her for it. I really don't see another reason for her current behavior. She wouldn't push you away for nothing, she adores you." The lacrosse super star breathed in deep, looking thoughtful. Aria's last words got her more confused, if that was even possible.
"So, since we're talking about that, I must ask… what about you, how do you feel?" Aria questioned. Spencer raised an eyebrow, as if trying to show her friend that the answer was obvious.
"Aria, I've got Toby."
"That's true…" The short girl nodded calmly; then stared at her friend intensely. "But how do you feel?"
The girls locker room was a big, silent and empty space when it was not crowded by Rosewood High's swimming team. Emily found herself sat on one of its corners; she simply needed a few minutes of peace, away from all of the problems that had been driving her mad and that had been drifting her from her friends. She needed to organize her mind before she had another nervous breakdown and ended up in Spencer's arms once more.
Spencer. Always Spencer. Couldn't she think of anything else?
No. Unfortunately, she couldn't.
She rested her head on her knees and closed her eyes shut, feeling a familiar agony take over her. If she didn't find a way to get over the brown haired athlete, she would end up losing her and the other girls. And that was something she just couldn't afford.
Sobs left her throat before she could realize it and warm tears streamed down her cheeks. It was unbelievable to her the level of ability she had to ruin things. How much longer would she have to keep Spencer away from her? She had no idea. She only knew that shutting her out was killing her.
The swimmer was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't hear the sound of steps that echoed through the locker room.
"Emily..?" a husky voice called. The brunette lifted her head and her heart nearly exploded.
"Spencer." She said weakly and wiped the tears off of her face; any toughness she had showed earlier was now gone. "I can't deal with this right now." The older girl kneeled in front of her and grabbed both of her hands, which made her gulp.
"But you have to." Spencer said, serious. "We have to."
"Really? And what exactly do you want me to say?!" Emily tired to protest, but it came out as a plea.
"Whatever you need to say." Spencer said, comprehensively. Emily's wide eyes softened and she took a hesitating breath before feeling safe enough to let out her next statement.
"You…make me feel things." She looked down, blushing.
"I make you feel things." Spencer repeated with a mix of nervousness and amusement. She couldn't help but to smile at her friend's current massive shyness.
"Yes."
"And what kind of things would those be?" It was a risky moment, obviously. Despite the fact she was almost certain of the answer, somehow Spencer still feared it and what it could mean. Emily remained silent for a while before staring back at her.
"Do you really want to know?" she asked. Her brown eyes had never been darker than at that second. They pierced through Spencer's hazel ones, causing a shiver to run down her spine. She bit her lip and nodded. That was when Emily got on her knees, facing her. Spencer froze. Their breathing was heavy. Their noses were touching. A split of second later, the small distance that separated their lips was nonexistent. Soon enough, Spencer's hands reached for Emily's waist, increasing the closeness of their bodies with a groan as the other girl pulled at her hair. They had no idea of who had kissed first, but at that point that didn't matter. All they knew was that it felt incredibly right.
And yet, it didn't.
"Em, wait." Spencer let out in a muffled voice before gently grabbing the brunette's shoulders in order to stop what they were doing. Emily frowned, already anticipating what was about to happen. "We…"
"…can't, I know." Her voice tone emanated both guilt and disappointment. Spencer sighed and gave her hand a light squeeze.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I wish I could, but it's not that simple. I can't hurt-"
"Toby." Emily was now completely taken over by guilt. She hadn't once considered how the young carpenter's heart could get shattered because of what was happening. Because of her selfishness. "I-I understand, Spence…he is also my best friend."
"I just…need some time to think, ok?" Spencer smiled at her. However, her sad eyes made her expression easy to unmask. Emily nodded and proceeded to avoid looking directly at her. She couldn't avoid feeling hurt by all of that confusion. Noticing that, Spencer softly kissed her forehead to try and reassure her before getting up and offering her help to do the same.
"Come on…let's get out of here."
As they walked out of the locker room, Spencer's cell phone beeped. They both stopped on their tracks, startled, and Spencer felt her stomach twist as she read the text message.
I see you. -A
Please review! I will very much appreciate it.
~angstylullaby
