A/N After much debate both here and in my real life, I decided to keep the McHastings shipping (romantically) to a minimum. Although I fall into the category with Wallflower13 of the Lindsey/Troian fangirl moment, I'll keep this strictly Paily (that and they're definitely cannon, duh) I think Spencer has a lot to accept in the way of realizing a lot of things are bigger than her. And no matter how smart or lucky she it, that won't fix everything. As for Paige and Emily kicking some ass, I think it's about time that someone did, and not in a roundabout "lets scare A, there's glass in my hair" sorta way. Thanks for sticking by me y'all, I can't believe that I get such great support and love every time I update! It's still amazing that you guise are enjoying this :)oh and PS Drunk!Paige makes an appearance lol
Emily sunk down into the driver's seat realizing what had just happened. She threatened a man, threatened a man with murder. I cannot believe those words came out of my mouth. My brain thought those words without me realizing and my lips and tongue formed those sounds. I threatened to kill him. My god. This is my life. She was panicking inside, gripping the steering wheel until she realized her knuckles where white.
Paige was still standing outside the car talking to Spencer. "We love you too, but I have to deal with this now. I'm taking Emily home to her house, I'll text you in a while and let you know what's going on." she responded. Paige wasn't sure what Spencer's admission truly meant, but she didn't have time to process it now, she needed to get Emily home before the whole football team was after them. Opening the door and sliding into the car, Paige noticed that Emily was in no state to drive. "Baby, you need to switch with me, there's no way I'm going to let you drive." she instructed Emily but Em was not hearing any of it. "I'm fine" she snapped back to a shocked Paige. "I really just need to be alone right now, you don't get it do you?" she yelled. Paige could see that Emily wasn't so mad at Paige, but more at herself, the situation, the world. She was processing and grieving, she was a churning hurricane with no means of hitting landfall. Paige could logically understand this; she knew Emily had stood up for her, but at the cost of damaging herself, again. The frustration reminded her of their first, unexpected kiss, but this would not be solved by a date or more kisses, Emily needed space to think.
Paige broke the silence, " Okay, I'll leave you alone, but you can't stay here. Please go home or to the Brew or anywhere you won't be bothered by those stupid jocks, just text me and let me know you're safe. Please?" She leaned over and kissed Emily on the cheek. It broke her to know that Emily was so angry, but she knew if she hovered, the situation would only escalate. She grabbed her bag and hopped out of the car as fast she got in it.
Spencer watched the whole altercation in silence from the driver's seat, reading the girl's body language, and noticing that Paige was now left without a ride. Emily backed the car out of the parking space and sped through the parking lot, leaving Paige in the dust. "This is just so fucked" Spencer stated through her now open passenger side window. Paige turned around, "You have no idea" she responded "I guess I'm walking home then." "Seriously McCullers?" Spencer questioned the brunette, "…get in the car now." And upon her command, Paige opened the door and got in the truck.
Paige had never been to Spencer's house, but knew enough about it to know that it was massive. Once she entered, she began to understand all that was Spencer Hastings. Everything in the living room and formal dining room was authentic. Statutes, Renaissance paintings, decorative plates, down to the painted wineglasses in the cabinet, it all screamed Hastings. She couldn't help but take in the sights, the interior was a history lesson in itself, and Paige was wide-eyed in awe.
"You live in a museum" was all Paige could muster to say. "I hate it" Spencer dryly responded, dropping her bag on the counter and opening the fridge "can I get you something to eat?" she continued. Paige was too busy looking at the pictures of a young Spencer Hastings, dressed and posed in perfect formal wear from the prior years. Although Paige was ubiquitously Emily's, Spencer was attractive to Paige in her own right.
"McCullers. I'm making something to eat. What do you want? Earth to McCullers?" Spencer was a mix of annoyed with Paige as well as embarrassed by her family photos. There was one of both her and Melissa for each year they were in school, as well as two graduation pictures of Melissa. She hated that her mother refused to take them down even though both girls made repeated requests for their removal. Lost in thought, imagining a young Spencer Hastings, Paige had not realized that the girl was now right beside her. "Wine or maybe something a little stronger?" Spencer whispered in her ear, causing Paige to jump. "Jesus Christ, Spencer. One, do not sneak up on a girl who decked the star quarterback of the football team not even two hours ago, and two, I don't love wine." She smiled at Spencer who was clearly not amused by Paige's ignoring.
Paige followed her back to the island where Spencer began making sandwiches. "I was serious about the drink. I'm clearly going through a streak of rebellion, seeing as I skipped class and am associating with you, I might as well continue." she laughed. She knew that the whole day was pretty fucked. There was no other way to describe it. And she planned on trying to at least try and lighten the mood. And although she knew they all had terrible experiences with alcohol, she couldn't stop herself from wanting a drink. "It's one thirty in the afternoon" replied Paige. Apprehensive, but knowing Spencer was right, figured she would follow mama bear. "…what the hell. Carpe diem."
Walking over to the freezer, Spencer grabbed a bottle of vodka, two glasses, a lime, and the tonic and proceeded to make the girls a drink. Taking their drinks and plates, Paige followed Spencer upstairs to her bedroom, which followed the décor of the house and complimented Spencer's personality perfectly. Although she didn't mind hanging out with her new afternoon drinking partner, Paige was worried about Emily. Grabbing her phone from her pocket she texted Emily. Hey I just want to make sure you're okay. Please text me back to let me know you're safe and I promise I won't be a haunt. xx
Emily still driving heard the buzz of her phone and quickly glanced to see who it was. Although she was mad at the situation, she knew she was wrong to take it out on Paige, and honestly wanted to make it up to her. She knew Paige was nothing but a life saver which a heart of gold, so in addition of feeling horrible, she was a wreck about hurting Paige. Pulling over to the dirt path near the boat house, she grabbed her phone and texted Paige back I'm so sorry about before, you know my head isn't in a good place, but in my heart I can't forgive myself for yelling at you just yet. I'm at the boathouse, I need to clear my head a while. I'll let you know when I head back home. I love you more than you know. xoxo With that sent, Emily exited the car, grabbing her sweatshirt, and walked over to the structure.
Paige and Spencer were now on their third round of drinks. It was getting later in to the afternoon; the girls had giggled their way through the past couple of hours, relentlessly making fun of each other. To anyone else it would seem if the girls were trading insults, but there was a comfort level that they had settled upon. Paige asked a million questions about Spencer's childhood and Spencer delve into Paige's hobbies, likes and dislikes. And much to their surprise, they found a lot in common beyond field hockey and Emily.
Paige was undoubtedly drunk at this point and Spencer was just a step behind. It was a surreal feeling that within a few short weeks, Spencer had come full circle in loving, hating, and loving this girl again. Feeling a headache coming on, Paige rose from Spencer's lounge chair and stumbled her way to the adjoining bathroom. It was much like her own, but featured a beautiful skylight that was now showcasing the beautiful colors of sunset. In her drunken state, she laid down on the slate tiled floor and looked up at the passing pink clouds. She convinced her drunk self that she had never seen anything as beautiful, watching the golden rays of sun dance across the puffy sky. Lying there she forgot that she was indeed laying on the bathroom floor in Spencer's house, but she was too mystified by the sights to care. She was too drunk to realize that Spencer was now banging on the door, attempting to work its handle to make sure Paige was okay.
Spencer had now gotten the door opened and noticed a giggly Paige now lying on the floor gazing up into the heavens of sunset. It was something she often did when she needed to clear her mind. The cold slate tiles, the view, and the silence of the upstairs proved to be a good meditation spot for Spencer when she wanted to escape from everything that sought to destroy her. Noticing that Paige was now glazed over from her potent and heavy handed bartending, she walked back into her room, grabbed a throw blanket and situated herself between Paige and the claw footed bathtub. Covering them both up, they just laid there and watched the sky dance in the fall breeze.
On the outskirts of town, Emily found herself wrapped up in her sweatshirt sitting on the dock of the boathouse. She found it ironic that she was escaping to a place that held so many mixed memories for her. She had first come here with her dad when she was just a kid; he launched their canoe here so many times on father/daughter fishing trips. They had spent a many summer days when he was on leave just floating on the small lake, not caring if any fish were caught, relishing the bonding they would do. There was no topic that was off limits to them in that canoe. Later she would bring Maya here to escape from the constrictions of Rosewood, the ever mindful eye of the occupants of the town, the strange looks they would often receive from the older generation whenever they would kiss in the streets. It was now their spot and they could do anything and say anything, it was their safe place. After Maya went missing, Emily would sneak here and sit on the dock, skipping stones, praying for her safe return. Bringing Nate there was a mistake, but without that interaction she would have been left with questions in her mind about Paige, and now she was there, mind full of thoughts surrounding Paige.
The longer she sat there on the dock, the more she felt at ease with her thoughts. She watched the sun set, and watched the lake ripple against the fall breeze, small green leaves brushed past her, on their resting place upon the water's surface. It was like Maya was secretly there with her, letting her know that everything was going to be alright.
In that moment, Emily let go, silent, but relieving tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm sorry everything happened this way. I'll always love you Maya. But Paige makes me happy and you'll always be in my heart."
Sunset soon began to turn into twilight as the hours began to pass and with this Emily packed herself up and got into her car headed for home. Once she got in the car she noticed two texts from Paige. In case you don't hear from me, I'm at Spencer's. Liquid lunch. xx followed by Love your lips, miss them which was sent sometime later. If she knew Spencer, which she did, she had an inkling that they would still be a little tipsy even at this hour. Deciding to head over to the Hastings residence, Emily buckled her seatbelt and put the car in drive.
Twenty five minutes later, Emily pulled into the driveway, noticing only Spencer's truck was parked. Big surprise, the Hastings weren't home. I'm shocked. she thought to herself sarcastically. Walking around to the back of the house she found the spare key and let herself in the house like normal. With as many incidences in this town, no one felt the need to move their spare keys or keep the alarms on in their houses. Some things would never change. Emily proceeded to call out Spencer and Paige's names with no response.
Figuring they were in Spencer's bedroom, she walked up the stairs and entered the room, finding evidence they had drank quite a bit of vodka, she peered into the bathroom. Both girls laid asleep on the floor, Spencer curled, spooning Paige, Paige drooling off to the side. This was too good for words. Taking out her phone, she clicked three or four pictures of the two snuggle bunnies. One week they're ready to assassinate each other, the next they're snuggled, sleeping, and drunk on the bathroom floor.
Before deciding to wake them up, Emily savored the moment, I guess this is the new normal. This was the start of a very beautiful friendship.