"And I wanna cry, I wanna learn to love
But all my tears have been used up
On another love, on another love"
(Another love - Tom Odell)
It's been days since Emily last saw Alexis, who happens to be the same girl she saw at the park.
It's a Sunday and she's more than glad she could spend the time in her dark room developing her pictures.
Emily's cellphone's alarm startled her, a sticky note on her phone reminded her of her Skype conference video call with the girls in 5 mins. Another notification followed, showing a text message from a number not registered in her phone book. The text message says, "Coffee girl, heard you're free tonight? Can I take you out for dinner or something? Not a serial killer, I promise. - Aly."
Emily lightly pinched the bridge of her nose. If there's anything Jake's good at, it's giving out her mobile number without her permission to all the pretty girls he thinks she should date. He didn't really know the whole story behind her and Alison, neither the reason as to why she has not been in a serious relationship since she moved to Boston. He's just made it his lifetime quest to set her up with practically every girl he thinks she should date-straight or not. But Emily's not looking for a relationship. She's learned to be reserved. She's lived alone in Boston for years. Her hands are already full, a relationship is just... Too much.
Emily replied to Alexis' text message, "Jake gave you my number, didn't he?"
She received a reply instantly, "I have my ways coffee girl. :) Sooo, see you at 7 tonight? Pick you up outside The Brew?"
"I'm not sure I can go," Emily replied politely, as she always does.
"We'll have fun, I promise. You're too pretty to be staying at home. Might as well go out."
"I'll think about it."
"I don't really take no for an answer, gorgeous. :p Next time I'll be hearing a yes from your sexy lips, promise you that. Night, coffee girl."
Alexis' last text inevitably elicited a smile onto Emily's face.
"Good night too."
Emily placed her iPhone on the table and opened her macbook. It didn't take a while til she saw the Skype request for a conference call.
The girls all said "Emmmillyyy" in unison. She missed Spencer, Aria and Hanna. It's been over a week since she last had a conference call with them. They usually call each other every Sunday nights. They all promised to each other they'll get in touch no matter what. That was one of the promises they've made to each other, and has not failed in keeping it since they all graduated and parted ways for college.
Spencer is taking her pre-law in UCLA. While both Hanna and Aria are enrolled in NYU. Hanna's taking up a fashion course, while Aria is getting a degree in Psychology. The girls have been her rock all these years. Emily couldn't be more grateful for still having them in her life.
Hannah: Emily, you've got to see the girl in my class. You are so gonna like her. Hang on, I'm looking at her Facebook page. Awesome, she also swims. Oh, wait. She's also sporty. She jogs. I don't. Oh, who cares. (Hanna spoke mindlessly, flipping through the screen of her phone)
Spencer: No, Em. I have the perfect girl for you. We're in the same class. She's pre-law like me, obviously smart. She's confident, outspoken, pretty hot, VP in our Org, and she's interested in seeing you this coming weekend. She's flying to Boston to see her family. Bonus points for being a local in Boston.
Hanna: Great, Spence. You just described yourself, except the Boston part.
Spence: Excuse me, I'm the President of our Org. Emphasis on "the President", thank you. My classmate is an inaccurate description of myself.
Aria: Na-uh. You guys. My org mate beats all your girls pegged for Emily. Look at her! (Aria put her mobile phone close to her webcam, showing a model-like blonde girl.)
Hannah cut Aria off, "since when did Em go for models? $50 bucks she'll go for my girl."
Spencer: Since Lily, duh. Han, no way Em's going to date someone from NY. She don't do ldr's. She's gonna see my girl. That's $75 bucks for you, Montgomery.
Hanna: No, Spence, this is so not a contest. My girl's prettier and smarter. Wait. I'm trying to find out her iq in her Facebook page. Hang on, Em.
Aria: Maybe her iq's in her breasts.
Aria's comment elicited a laugh from all the girls since Hanna's vid froze to herself showing off her classmate's picture who's awfully blessed on the chest area.
Hanna: Wait, what's so funny. Shit, shit, shit. Did my video freeze again?
Spencer, Emily and Aria teasingly said "no" in unison.
Hanna: Great, stupid vid's frozen.
Emily: Guys, I'm still here (arms waving towards her webcam, smiling, catching the attention of Spencer, Hanna and Aria.
Emily finds it funny how their conference video always starts. Usually with the girls getting all competitive, showing off the girl of the week they think she should date. Which often ends to her declining. The girls just never falters in making an effort in convincing her to go out. Just like Jake, it sort of became their lifelong quest to make sure she go out for a date. The thing is, Emily is just not ready. She doesn't. She feels she won't be anytime sooner.
"I told you guys I'm not... interested," Emily responded.
Aria: Shoot. There's a "but" in that sentence. I feel it.
Hanna: Are you a shrink now?
Spencer: Real smart, Han.
Hanna: What did I say now?
Aria: $100 bucks Em's finally interested in someone.
Hanna: Crap, there goes my $100 bucks. Are you seeing someone already, Emily? You don't like big boobs? Fine, I'll look for smaller ones.
Spencer: Han! It's not about the boobs.
Hanna: Are you sure?
Spencer: Have you been drinking again?
This time Aria and Emily are both trying to contain their laughs.
Emily: I'm not seeing anyone. Yet, I think. I don't know? I mean I barely know her. Jake gave her my number.
Hanna: Wait, hot Jake? He still has a girlfriend?
Spencer: Not about you, Han
Hanna: But he's hot (said in a defeated tone)
Aria: Go ahead, Em. We're listening... But?
Emily: She reminds me of Alison.
Hanna: Why?
Spencer and Aria: Hanna!
Hanna: Whaaat now? I'm just asking (shrugs)
Emily: I just keep seeing her. Ali. I can't do it. Im not ready.
Spencer: Then when, Em? When will you be ready? I know it's been the hardest for you. But she's gone, Emily. We don't even know if she's coming back ever since she-
Aria: Which is exactly why dating isn't too bad of an idea. Just try, Em. We're not forcing you to. We understand you have to come into terms first. But as long as you live in her memories, then that only stops you from moving forward. You owe it to yourself to be happy.
Emily thought to herself, "what if she comes back?"
Hanna: And that my friends is the spirit of The United Shrinks speaking through Aria. May the spirits be everrr in your favourrrr. Now can we see her?
Spencer: Excuse me, Han. Grown up convo going on here.
Hanna: Em, please tell Spence I'm a grown up too.
Emily: Spence, you heard the lady. Sorry, Han. I don't have a picture. Wait, I do. I took some stolen shots when I saw her at the park last week. Hang on.
Hanna: Wait! why did she remind you of Alison?
After a few minutes, Emily came back with a developed picture of Alexis. The picture shows Alexis slightly looking up with a definite smile of her face.
Hanna: I have to say she's gorgeous. Queen B material. Can pass as Ali's sister. No for big boobs then.
Spencer and Aria: Han! Enough with the boobs!
Hanna: What? Just saying.
Aria: What's her name?
Emily: Aly.
Spencer, Aria and Hanna: Wait. Back up. You said what?
Emily: It's Aly. A-l-y (imitating how Aly spelled her name back at the Brew, with fingers tracing the letters thru the air). Alexis Pettersen.
Hanna: Cool. Sounds British. You have got to love the accent.
Emily: She's half-French actually.
"What's stopping you then?" Spencer asked inquisitively. "She's gorge. And you sorta know her because of Jake."
Emily: Myself, I guess.
Hanna: Well "Emily Fields sexy on the sheets" you can tell yourself she can go out with the gorgeous girl. I checked her Facebook, she looks fun.
Aria: Han! That's invasion of privacy. Really? Wait, can we see?
Hanna showed her phone in front of her webcam with Alexis' Facebook page.
Hanna: Just google her like I did. Says here, status: Thinking of coffee girl. Oh nice! 47 likes. Now, 48 likes. I just liked it.
Spencer: You don't know her, Han. That's rude.
Emily: Coffee girl could have been about someone else.
Hanna: (ignoring Emily's comment) Not my fault her posts are in Public, c'mon like her post too. I'll add her up. Maybe she can hook me up with Jake.
Aria: You just heard Em. Jake, off the hook. Jake, still with girlfriend. Jake, so off your limits.
Hanna: A girl can dream, Aria.
Spencer: Okay, can we go back to Emily please.
Emily: It's okay, Spence. I like seeing Han drool over Jake. Never gets old.
Han: I'm not drooling. Wait, am I? (Instantly reached for her lips, sensing if there's any drool on her face)
Spencer: She meant it figuratively, Han.
Hanna: Ohh. Well, be clear next time, Em.
Aria: Wait, so what's up with this girl? Hmm. Likes parties. Likes boys. And girls. No, says here likes girls more. Emphasis on more. Yadah, yadah. Just moved from France, transferred to UMass Boston. She looks loaded. Oh! You two are in the same Uni. Yadah, yadah. Not in a relationship. Check! Looking for a pet cat, prefers it to be fat. Check!
Hanna: There, Em. Now you know her.
Spencer: Not helping, Han.
Hanna: Again, not my fault her page's in public.
Emily: It's okay, Spence. I feel like she's coming in too strong? She said she doesn't take no for an answer. She asked me out earlier but I declined. So that's her being persistent. I don't know. I'm not sure if she's worth the time. I don't know if I like her?
Hanna: No way of finding out if you're not gonna try. Even better, sleep with her first. If you guys are compatible, in bed, you know what I mean, then take it as a sign that you two should go out more.
Both Spencer and Aria threw her dagger looks.
Hanna: What? I can't give an advice? Trust me, Em. If I were into girls, I'd totally jump her.
Spencer: In-appro-priate, Hanna Marin
Hanna: Prude
Spencer: Child
Aria: You guys. Finish your playtime, okay? We're talking about Em.
Emily couldn't help but smile at the petty arguments of Spencer and Hanna. Which usually ends up with Aria making them stop.
Hanna: Child-er
Spencer: That's grammatically incorrect.
Aria: You guys, enough okay?
Spencer and Hanna: Fine, she started it.
Aria: Seriously, Emily. Maybe You should give Alexis a chance?
Emily: Maybe. I don't know.
Emily glanced at Alexis' photo, plastering a sweet smile on her face.
Hanna: See! You like her! Haven't seen you smile like that since Alison!
Spencer and Aria: Hanna Marin!
Emily: Guys it's okay. I'll think about it?
Hanna: Think fast, Em. My $100 is on that girl.
Spencer and Aria: Again!
Hanna: Just sayiiiing.
Spence: Seriously, Em. I think it's worth giving her a try. It's about time.
"There never was a time," Emily again thought to herself.
Spencer, Hanna and Aria all bid their goodbyes. Leaving Emily and her macbook alone again in her apartment.
Glad that the four girls are still friends? Lemme know whatcha think by hitting the review button.
And did I mention that Alison will finally be in the flesh next chapter?