A/N: So I finally figured out where this is heading, so I think I'm about three chapters ahead of this at the moment! To those reading my other works, I should have mentioned I'm on holiday at the moment for another 3 days then back home! That's why I'm mostly updating this one because I'm a bit ahead in it! Patience please :) and prompts welcome :) Thanks for reading and reviewing too =]

Chapter 3

"Oh my god," Emily stood up, "I am so sorry. That was so not okay," she began pacing, "What is wrong with me?"

"It's fine, Em, don't worry about it," Cece shrugged undeterred.

Emily looked at her incredulously, "It's fine?"

"So you have good taste and a thing for hot blonde's," she flashed a smirk, "Who could blame you really? You're only human."

Emily couldn't help but laugh, "God, I'm a mess," she sank back down into the couch beside her friend.

"You feel things deeply," Cece observed, "There's nothing wrong with that."

"I hate it," Emily mumbled.

"You shouldn't," Cece insisted, "Feeling is a good thing. If you didn't feel… well, what would be the point?"

Emily sighed, "I guess," she stood up again, "I should go."

"Whoa, hey, it's barely seven, that's not much of a Friday night is it?" Cece rose an eyebrow.

"It's Thursday," Emily smiled.

Cece laughed, "Well, Thursday is the new Friday, okay?"

Emily laughed, her eyes crinkling as she did so, "You can't just…" she shook her head, "Sounds like something Ali would say."

"Well, I taught her everything she knows," Cece said proudly, before pausing, "Is that why you kissed me, Em? Because I remind you of her?"

"What?" Emily shook her head quickly, "No. No it wasn't that."

"Oh, okay," Cece stood up grabbing herself a glass from the kitchen before returning, "I mean people are always saying how alike we are, so you know, I get it."

"It wasn't that, Cece," Emily insisted, "I swear. It's just… you've been really good to me and I really like hanging out with you. You're funny and interesting…" she sighed.

"Hey, don't stop the wash of compliments, Americana," Cece laughed.

Emily blushed, "I just think you're cool, that's all," she mumbled.

"Well, I think you're cool too," Cece raised her glass, "Cheers."

"I'd say slow down but you never listen," Cece said with a roll of her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're not my mother," Emily half-slurred as she poured herself another drink, slopping half the contents on the table instead of into the glass.

"Yo, Americana, that's expensive, let me," Cece took over the pouring part.

"Thanks," Emily grinned as Cece moved closer to her to pour the drink, "You smell pretty."

Cece failed to hold back a smile as she turned to her friend, "You're so wasted."

"Am not," Emily picked up her drink, taking a long swig.

"Walk in a straight line then, I dare you," Cece challenged.

Emily laughed quickly, "What, are you a cop now?" she shot back, "I bet you'd make a good cop."

"Oh, girl, you don't know me at all if you think that," Cece laughed.

"Well, you'd suit the uniform at least," Emily shrugged.

"You think so?" Cece smirked.

"Totally," Emily nodded enthusiastically, "You're very… bossy."

"And I'd have access to the best handcuff's," Cece's breath tickled Emily's ear.

Emily gulped and nodded as Cece swung one leg over her own, half-straddling her on the couch.

"Not so talkative now?" she asked huskily.

Emily forced herself to look at her friend, using every ounce of energy she had to force herself not to put her hands on her.

Cece laughed, "Come on, Americana, I know you want to kiss me," she winked, her lips hovering over Emily's.

Emily closed the gap and pressed her lips to the blonde's, her hands grasping at Cece's waist pulling her closer. Cece responded hungrily and quickly dominated the kiss, her tongue exploring each crevice of the younger woman's mouth. It wasn't long until she easily pushed Emily's back onto the couch and crawled over her.

"You're not too wasted for this, are you?" Cece whispered.

Emily shook her head, "Definitely not," she whispered back weakly.

Cece grinned as she trailed a hand down a smooth stomach.


"I so don't want to talk to you right now," Emily closed her locker with more force than necessary and turned away from her friend.

Aria ran after her, "Em, I know," she said as she caught up, "It wasn't my idea, okay? It was stupid but just, Em, stop," she grabbed her friends arm, "I need to tell you something."

Emily huffed as she spun around to face her friend, "I don't want to hear it."

"But you need to," Aria pushed, "Please, I swear it's important. Just hear me out."

Emily couldn't help but falter in her resolve at the look in her friends eyes, "Okay," she said quietly, "Talk."

"You have to promise to keep an open mind okay?" Aria said tentatively.

Emily's eyes narrowed but she nodded, "Fine."

"After you left yesterday… Cece said some pretty… weird stuff. Em, how much do you really know about her?"

Emily felt her body tense, "She's been really good to me, Aria."

Aria bit her tongue, trying to phrase things properly, "Okay… but what if she has ulterior motives?"

Emily could feel her blood start to boil, "Why? Because nobody would actually want me just because they like me? It always has to be some kind of game or something?"

Aria took a moment to realise, "Hang on, are you guys seeing each other?"

"I don't know," Emily growled.

"You don't know?" Aria repeated slowly, "Did you – "

"Yes," Emily answered honestly, "We slept together, okay?"

"Em, this is a really bad idea," Aria started, the worry in her voice growing, "I know you like her and I'm sorry but that girl is not stable."

"Are any of us stable? Really?" Emily shot back.

"Em, she was talking about how we were playing right into her hands by fighting with you. About how she'd be the one to pick up the pieces, about how naïve you are and Ali was right saying you were too nice for your own good," Aria rushed out.

Emily shook her head, "She's right, you just keep on harping on about all this crap and it does make me want to hang out with her more than you guys. She's fun, Aria. Remember fun?"

"Emily, she's dangerous," Aria said firmly, "You should have heard her. It was like when Ali used to hold something over you and know that she like owned a piece of you. But scarier. Way scarier."

"She's not Ali," Emily said quietly.

"No, she's not," Aria agreed, "She's worse. Alison was child's play compared to this chick – "

"You don't even know her," Emily's voice was steadily rising, "I just want one free place of A and all this bullshit. Just let me have that," she didn't let her friend reply as she stormed back to her locker, threw her books in and slammed it closed.

Well, that couldn't have gone much worse, Aria thought.


Cece spotted Emily come by the door as she dealt with a customer. She remained smiles and politeness until the customer left the store and she approached Emily.

"Em? What's wrong?" she asked gently, "Aren't you meant to be at school right now?"

Emily nodded, "I don't want to be there right now."

"Okay," Cece nodded, "That's cool. Did something happen?"

"I just want everything to like slow down," Emily said quietly.

Cece squinted, "Slow down? Is this about last night – "

"Oh!" Emily shook her head, "No, no that's not what I meant, sorry."

"It's okay," Cece tried to read her friends expression, "So what do you mean?"

Emily sighed in frustration, "I don't know. There's just so much… noise. Everybody's always trying to tell me what to do and who to trust and it just gets so… loud in my head," she shook her head, "Now I sound like a crazy person."

Cece's expression softened as she took her friends hand, "No, you don't sound crazy at all. You just need to find a way to switch off sometimes…" she hesitated, "maybe a way other than alcohol, as much as I love getting drunk with you. But I'm not going to tell you what to do – "

"No, I know," Emily sighed, "You're right. Do you think I could… just go back to your place for a while?"

"Yeah," Cece took her through to the back room and dug through her bag, "Of course," she handed over her keys, "Make yourself at home, okay? And think about it… there's got to be something you do that you love that quiets the noise for a while."

Emily bit her lip, "I used to swim… but I never have time anymore."

"If it helps you relax, you have to find time, Americana. It's important. All that noise in your head… it can't be good for you," Cece smiled.

Emily nodded, "It quiets when I'm with you."

Cece's smile grew, "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," Emily smiled sheepishly.

"Well then, you'll just have to hang out with me more often won't you?" Cece grinned.

"If you'll have me," Emily shrugged, "I don't want to annoy you or – "

Cece waved a dismissive hand, "You're not annoying, Em. And I'll definitely have you," she winked, "again."