"And then I left." Paige said. She had just gotten done telling her mother what had happened. Her mom came home a few minutes ago to find Paige in her room, curled up on her bed crying.
"I don't know what to say, dear. Maybe this will be good for the both of you." Lisa said.
"What if she figures out she doesn't want this. Doesn't want me?" Paige asked.
"I doubt it will happen. But if, on the huge off chance I am wrong, you will be ok Paige. Yes, it will be the worst pain you will ever feel, but you will live." Lisa said.
"I don't want to live without her." Paige whimpered.
"I know. Are you hungry?" Lisa asked.
"No." Paige stated, rolling over in bed to face the wall.
"I'll be downstairs. Caleb is on his way over to see you." Lisa stood and walked downstairs. A few moments later Paige heard her door open and felt her bed dip. Knowing it was Caleb, Paige rolled over and curled into the boy who put his arm around her shoulder and held her while she cried.
Across town, Emily and Hanna were in the same position. Hanna held a broken Emily as she cried. Hanna had gone to Emily's house the moment she received the text from Paige. She walked in to find her laying on the starring off into space.
"So she wants you to see Sydney?" Hanna asked after she had calmed down.
"Yea. Wants me to see if our imprint was a mistake." Emily said.
"Are you going to do it?" Hanna asked.
"I don't know. I don't feel anything for her." Emily said.
"You have to see. If anything, for Paige." Hanna said.
"For Paige." Emily repeated.
The next seven days, both girls got ready for school. They were sluggish and reluctant go go. But Hanna and Caleb both made sure they were there on time everyday. Sitting at opposite ends of their first period class together, they looked up when Aria came into the room and yelled for Paige.
"Hey Paige!" Aria yelled.
"What's up Aria?" Paige asked as Aria took the seat opposite her.
"Did you see who transferred back in today?" Aria asked.
"No, who?" Paige asked just as someone entered the classroom. "Sarah Miller." Paige whispered. The girl approached the teacher and handed him a note before turning and looking for a seat. When her eyes landed on Paige, her whole face lit up.
"Paige?" She said as she made her way to the empty seat in front of Paige. "Oh my God! How have you been?"
"I've been good Sarah. How about you? What are you doing back here?" Paige asked, intrigued by the other girl. In the opposite corner of the room, Emily was watching the entire interaction.
"I'm good. Hoping this is my last transfer. Mom was moved back her for work, which is so good because Nebraska, is boring as hell." The two laughed at the comment. "So, still swimming?"
"No, not anymore. Decided to try something new this semester." Paige said.
"Really? I thought you were Olympic bound McCullers." Sarah said.
"Not anymore." Paige said as she lowered her head and cleared her throat. "What about you? You still sinkable?"
"Hey! That was one time, and you tricked me. But I do believe that the reward at the end, was totally worth it." Sarah said as Paige's face lit up. "Good to see I can still embarrass your ass."
"Psst. McCullers." A girl two seats back whispered. When Paige turned she saw Becky from the swim team.
"What's up Becky?" Paige whispered back.
"Party tonight at my house! It's Friday after all, need to celebrate you returning." Becky said.
"I'm not sure Becky." Paige hesitated.
"Losing your edge Paige?" Sarah whispered into the girls ear. Too close for Emily's liking.
"Alright Becky. Your on. As long as you go, I do believe you owe me a rematch in beer pong!" Paige said after she made brief eye contact with Emily, noticing the fire in the girls eyes.
"Who the hell is that Aria?" Emily whispered to the girl.
"That is Sarah Miller. Paige's ex." Aria said. "They were together for awhile before Sarah's mom was transferred to Nebraska for work. They tried to make it work, but broke up like two weeks after she left."
Emily sat and watched as Sarah flirted with Paige and held the girls attention. She then heard Paige agree to go to the party that the swim team was hosting tonight after she looked Emily's way. Emily knew she was glaring at the two as they talked and hopes that that wasn't the reason that Paige had agreed to go to the party. Their conversation was cut short when the teacher started class.
At lunch Emily decided to skip and go to the natatorium and sit. She sat watching the water for awhile until she heard the door open again. When she looked up she saw Paige standing at the door.
"Going to the party tonight?" Paige asked Emily.
"No." Emily said, looking back at the pool.
"Too bad. I was hoping to get to dance with you at least once." Paige said. Emily looked up at the girl. "Did you do what I asked?"
"No." Emily said. Paige walked over and sat next to her.
"Em." Paige started.
"I'm going to go to the party tonight. Maybe I will see you there." Emily said as she got up and left.
"Emily. Whoa." Sydney said, when she ran into Emily in the corner.
"Sorry. I was just heading to class, wasn't paying attention." Emily said.
"You going to the party tonight?" Sydney asked.
"You know what? Yes. Yes I am." Emily said.
"See you there?" Sydney asked.
"Pick me up at 8?" Emily asked.
"Yea, 8." Sydney said.
Paige walked into the party with Caleb to see that it was already in full swing. She spotted Toby and Spencer in a corner talking to another couple. Aria was standing with Hanna beside the drink table as Emily stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing Emily, Paige stopped what she was doing, causing Caleb to walk into her back.
"A little warning there, Paige." Caleb said with a laugh. He looked up and saw what Paige was seeing. Emily was talking to Sydney as she made herself a drink at the table. "Here." Caleb handed Paige two shots, taking them both quickly. "Alcohol will effect us." Caleb whispered into her ear.
"What do you want to do?" Paige asked as she took the mix drink Caleb handed her.
"McCullers!" Paige turned to see Sarah had spotted her. "Bring your boy, and your weak ass over here and play doubles!" She yelled from her spot at the beer pong table where she was standing on one end with Laura.
"Your on!" Paige yelled nack, pulling Caleb with her, stopping tp ick up a bottle of vodka off the mix table. An hour later found the four still held up at the pong table in a winner takes all game. By this time Paige was so drunk she was missing the cups terribly.
"Come on, Paige, I'm practically carrying us now!" Caleb said as he took another drink from a cup that Laura had landed a ball into.
"Losers have to dance with the winners." Sarah said, looking at Paige.
"Don't worry Rivers, I'm more afraid of Hanna than anything." Laura laughed out as she saw the surprised look on Caleb's face at Sarah's comment. They all held their breaths as Laura launched her last ball right into ther final cup, their side of the table errupting in cheers as they realized they won two out of three games.
"You suck, McCullers." Paige said as he walked away with Laura to find Hanna.
"So, that dance?" Sarah asked as she held her hand out to Paige, who accepted it and pulled Sarah to the dance floor.
In the opposite corner, nursing her fifth mixed drink, Emily stood by herself watching the scene before her. Her blood was boiling watching as Paige pulled Sarah to the dance floor and threw her arms around her waist. As the song progressed and turned into a fast one, Sarah got more and more confident in her moves, slowly grinding into Paige.
"Hey." Sydney said as she slid up beside Emily. Emily turned and looked at the girl before her eyes returned to Paige one breif moment before she leaned in and kissed Sydney, before everything went black. The next thing Emily remembers is waking up in a room she doesn't recognize, in a bed that is not hers, with an arm around her waist holding her close.