They strutted through the store searching for something that was worth their time. Emma veered to the right mesmerized by the multitude of scarfs while Miranda went to the left her eye catching the various sunglasses displayed in the case.
"Can I see those to?" Miranda smiled at the employee
"I can't take that many sunglasses out at once"
"But there all maybes" Miranda gave him a bigger smile hoping her flirty nature would help her
"Is this scarf me?" Emma asked spinning around wearing a thick scarf around her neck
"Or is it your mom?" Miranda laughed
Emma made a disgusted face ripping the scarf from her neck and replacing it with a thin purple one. She glance over her shoulder briefly knowing what the next part of their plan was. Emma grabbed her bag slipping it back onto her shoulder slowly walking out of the store never looking back once, leaning on the side of the building as she waited for Miranda to join her.
"Nice sunglasses" Emma grinned seeing her friend walking up next to her
"Nice scarf" She replied pushing her sunglasses onto her head "Now I would like the cheese fries you promised me"
"Of course, let's go" Emma linked her arm with Miranda's as they headed off to the Grille
"Can I get an order of cheese fries, please" Emma asked politely
The Grille was empty only a few people scattered in various tables Emma took her seat next to Miranda grabbing her phone from her pocket only to see several texts and missed calls from her mother.
"Oh crap" Emma groaned reading the first message
"What's wrong with poor Emma?" Miranda babied her "Did you get in trouble for skipping school?"
"I wish" She shook her head as she passed her phone to Miranda
"You're freaking kidding me right?"
"No, apparently my mom thinks it's a good idea to have the gang over for dinner" She reached for the basket of fries which had just been brought to the table
"Does that include Queen of the Bitches?" Miranda joked her mouth full of fries
"You mean Alison Kahn? Beats me"
"She's probably going, your mom's like the nicest person ever she couldn't deliberately leave her out"
"Miranda, did you read my mom's book? It basically calls Alison a selfish, no good, lying, bitch who only looks out for herself"
"Sounds like someone else we know, hint" Miranda paused for dramatic effect "It's her daughter" she whispered a smile creeping onto her face
The basket was empty now the only thing remaining was a few drops of cheese which Miranda happily scooped up with her finger. Emma's face still held the disappointed look she had when she read her mother's message. She was against this dinner from the start but she knew once her mom thought of something there was no going against her.
"My house?" Emma asked starting the car
"Do you even need to ask? You house is a billion times better than mine"
"Doubt it" Emma laughed backing the car out of the spot driving it quickly down the street in the direction of her house "At least you don't have to deal with Ella"
"I'd rather have Ella as a sibling than Connor. All he does is annoy me and get drunk" Miranda rolled her eyes
"Is he still in his rebellious phase?" Emma asked "I had that phase but I got out of it like freshman year"
"Got out of it?" Miranda said "Then how do you explain that red hair of yours?" her fingers grasping one of the red highlights
"Independence, that's how I explain it" Emma pulled into her driveway unstrapping her seatbelt and stuffing her new scarf into her bag knowing that her mother would think she stole it
"Independence is overrated" Miranda said beginning their previous conversation again as they stepped through the front door
"Tell me that next time you want to do something and your mom says no" Emma threw her keys into the bowl near the door dropping her bag alongside it before turning to the stairs
"Your such a smart ass sometimes" Miranda whined tossing her bag down
"Sometimes?" Emma repeated sounding slightly insulted "Sometimes! I'm a smart ass all the time"
"Oh, I apologize" Miranda chuckled as the two entered her bedroom
The two remained hidden in the room talking about how terrible the dinner would be and how the hell they would get through the awkward small talk.
"Emma"
"Coming Mom" Emma responded sliding off her bed and running down stairs into the kitchen where she found her mom slaving over the hot stove "What's up?"
"Can you please dress up for tonight? I want everything to go smoothly" Aria asked turning her attention away from the boiling water and towards her daughter
"What's wrong with this?" Emma asked looking down at her outfit which consisted of black skinny jeans a white t-shirt black studded leather jacket and a black beanie
"It's nice, I just done think it's right for dinner" Aria tried to explained gently
"Okay, I get it" Emma said annoyed "I'll go put on a pretty dress and high heels"
She stormed up the stairs slamming her bedroom door shut causing a picture to fall from the wall.
"Let me guess, you have to change?" Miranda said already knowing the answer
"Of course" Emma whined moving to her closet and pulling out a white dress "But I'm not putting on some pink fluffy dress"
She slipped into the white dress wrapping a black belt around her waist finishing the outfit off with her back studded leather jacket and her matching back boots. Miranda remained face down on the bed mumbling incoherently to herself.
"What even is love? Does she love him? Do I?"
"I'm going to pretend like I know what you're talking about" Emma joked throwing herself onto her bed
"Liam" Miranda almost screamed into the pillow "I just don't understand how I feel about him"
"That's an interesting dilemma" Emma observed
The door opened revealing a smiling Ezra "Emma, Miranda how nice to see you two considering I should have seen you at least once today"
"We…ummm…." Emma tried to explained
"We were busy helping freshman around we didn't really pass your classroom to much"
He seemed to buy the story, at least for now "Mom needs you downstairs the guests will be here in a minute of two"
"Oh joy" Emma and Miranda said in unison
"You two spend way too much time together" Ezra laughed examining the friendship
"Blame mom, she's the one that forced us to play together in pre-school" Emma smiled getting to her feet and reaching for Miranda's hand "Come on, we have to go"
"Urggg!" Miranda moaned
The doorbell rang signaling that someone had arrived the only question was, who? Emma stood at the top of the stairs with Miranda watching as her dad raced to the door. As it opened Emma's heart leaped when she saw the face of her angel. He wore a neat button up shirt a loose tie around his neck his previously messy hair combed back, he walked into the house greeting her parent's politely than noticing her presence on the stairs.
"I spy with my little eye, someone checking you out" Miranda broke the silence "Go talk to him"
Emma took a step forward only stopping when she became aware of the other presence in the room. Jess. Her blonde hair wrapped in a tight bun mirroring the look of her mother.
"Emma" Aria called "Come say hello"
Emma grabbed hold of Miranda's hand once again dragging her down the stairs with her "Hi" she said shyly her eyes firmly locked on Noah's
"Hey" He smiled back
The doorbell rang a second time as two more families piled inside the house.
"Emily!" Aria exclaimed throwing her arms around the girl
"Hello, I'm here to" Spencer said waving her hand in front of the smaller girls face
"Shut up Spence" Aria laughed pulling her into the hug
"This is freakin weird" Miranda whispered "I've never seen them act like this"
"You're telling me, there acting like high schoolers"
"I don't act like that!" Miranda said
"Miranda!" Emma shrieked throwing her arms around her waist "It's so good to see you!"
"O-M-G" Miranda giggled over pronouncing each letter "Emma Fitz!"
The adults looked at the two girls knowing that they were making fun of them "I see Emma gets her sense of humor from you" Spencer said intertwining her hand with Toby "Where's Hanna?"
"She's on her way" Aria said leaning her head comfortably on Ezra's chest her eyes darting between her friends
"Hi, Ali" Emily said quietly noticing the blonde beauty for the first time "I didn't see you there"
"It's fine, I'm not really into all the hugging anyway" She gave a faint smile obviously hiding the disappointment of not being involved in all the excitement
"Where's Noel?" Spencer asked looking around the room
"He has work so he couldn't make it" She explained "He sends his best though"
The tension in the room was growing although no one seemed to want to address it. Emily swayed in her spot next to Paige unable to stop herself from moving, Spencer held tight to Toby's hand never releasing him for a moment, Aria escaped to the kitchen with Ezra the two of them putting the final touches on dinner, while Alison leaned on the wall her eyes fixed on Emily's.
"What up bitches!" Hanna yelled as she busted into the house "Sorry" she whispered noticing there surprised faces "I brought wine" she attempting to diffuse the extreme tension and discomfort that filled the room