The next Friday, the four girls are invited to one of the famous parties of Noel Kahn and his older brother Eric in their family's lake house. Everyone in the school knows that these parties always involve a lot of alcohol and consequently also some kind of trouble. But anyways, the friends mostly enjoyed hanging around with the others and have some fun while dancing and drinking in this wonderful location. That's why they decide to accept the invitation and to join the party after getting dressed up together:
"Guys, are you finished? We have to go in a few minutes. I mean, unless you don't want to get some of the alcoholic drinks. I heard that Eric's friends from college are really bad drunkards. So, come on," Spencer shouts at her three friends, who still are putting some make up on or doing their hair.
Hanna replies, "Wow, Spence. Seems like you are really looking forward to have some fun tonight." She finishes her heavy make up by applying some more rouge to her face.
"Okay, I'm finished," Aria tells the girls. She checks out her hair in the mirror one more time, then she grabs her keys. "I'm going to drive; I don't want to drink anyways."
Emily grins, "Aria, what's wrong with you? Is there anyone at the party who you don't want to see your drunk self?"
Aria blushes and all of the girls start to laugh. Yes, they all knew that her small friend is madly in love with Noel and as a matter of fact, Aria always gets really crazy and brings herself in awkward situations when she is drunk – so, maybe it's a good reason to stay away from alcohol this night.
"Em, are you coming?" Hanna asks while leaving the room with Aria in order to get to the car.
Emily struggles with the zipper of her dark blue dress, "Spence, could you please help me to zip my dress?"
Spencer's heart sinks into her boots. She stares at Emily's back and her half-open dress.
"Spence?" A soft voice brings her back to reality. The girl finally walks over to Emily. While pulling the zipper up, she feels the warmth of her friend's body and wonders how soft her tanned skin might be.
"Thanks," Emily turns around and gives her friend a sweet smile, which makes Spencer feel hot and cold at the same time. "Now let's get out of here!" she shouts, ignoring the weird feelings in her stomach
The girls could hear the loud music already from like miles away. The Kahn's lake house is only a few minutes by car away from Rosewood. As Aria pulls up on the drive way, the friends step out of the car and make their way towards the house. First of all, the girls grab something to drink and take a few shots of Tequila while mingling with the other party guests.
"Way to start a good party," Hanna shouts out as they clink glasses one more time.
Later that night, the atmosphere at the lake house gets more and more heated up. The dance floor is full of people and many couples look for some quiet place to make out. Basically, it is a typical party of the Kahn brothers.
Hanna, Aria, Emily and Spencer stand at the buffet and pour themselves some more drinks. Suddenly, Caleb approaches Hanna and pulls her away from the group. Hanna, being her drunk self, giggles goofily and follows her boyfriend to the dance floor.
Just a few minutes later, Noel comes up to Aria. "Hey, do you have a few minutes? I would really like to talk to you," he smiles. Aria's face obviously turns red as she nods and leaves with the boy.
"Looks like it's just the two of us today," Emily slurs.
Spencer grins goofily back at Emily. Crap, what is wrong with her today? She can barely function with Emily standing next to her. "Do you want to dance?" she asks nervously, not knowing what she is getting on by saying that.
They get on the dance floor and start dancing and singing to several songs; both girls have a lot of fun.
Then, a slow song comes on and all the couples shift closer together. Spencer gives Emily a glance as she turns around and is about to leave. No, she is not going to slow dance with her gay best friend who used to have a crush on her. That would be so weird.
But Emily pulls her back and puts her arms around Spencer's neck, moving to the music slowly.
Shocked by Emily's step, Spencer couldn't help it but puts her hands on Emily's hips, pulling her body closer to hers. "It's the alcohol," she decides. "Emily's drunk and I had a little too much, too. So, it's nothing wrong about dancing with her. Maybe she won't even remember it tomorrow."
She gives in this time and sighs as she and Emily dance to the sound of the music. Actually, it is pretty romantic. But still, Spencer doesn't dare to look into her friend's eyes. She couldn't decide whether she feels comfortable or uncomfortable right now. Emily's body is warm and fits into her own shape perfectly.
As Emily lays down her head on Spencer's shoulder, Spencer's heart skips a beat and she dares to look up to her friend. She sees her long, black hair and her tanned skin, which is revealed at some spots on her back. "She is really beautiful," Spencer thinks. That is the moment when Spencer finally loosens up and enjoys their dance.
As the song comes to an end, Emily pulls away from Spencer and gives her a cute grin. "Come on, Spence. It's too warm in her, do you mind going outside with me and chill down a little bit?"
Spencer nods; Emily takes her hand and pulls her to the buffet. "Do you want something to drink, Spence?" she asks politely. Yes, she is well-educated regarding manners, even when she is drunk.
"No, thanks. I think I already had too much this night," the other girls replies. Yes, that's probably why she feels so warm and fuzzy all the time. It's the alcohol.
"Doesn't matter, honey. We are here to have a good time, let's have some more shots before heading outside," Emily states.
The girls walk, or rather stumble, away from the party and settle down at a small river down in the woods a few minutes away from the lake house.
They put out their shoes and let their bare feet bathe in the cold water.
"So, how are thinks going with Melissa?" Spencer asks nervously, not sure about whether she really wants to know her answer.
Emily smiles with glassy eyes, apparently she had way too much of the Tequila. "Well, I really like her. Melissa is awesome. She's understanding, sweet, caring, funny, smart, sportive and actually pretty hot, too. Plus, she's a really good kisser."
Something behind the girls makes a loud cracking sound. Spencer flinches and moves closer to Emily. That girl puts her arms around her friend and giggles silently. "Poor Spencer. You were scared of a cute little rabbit, who might have only felt interrupted us." She points onto a small animal at the other side of the river.
Spencer finally breathes out. Wow, she is really easy to scare, but now, right here in Emily's arms, she feels safer than ever…
"So, how is everything with Wren?" Emily asks.
"Fantastic," Spencer sets up a happy facial expression.
"I'm sure he is very happy with you as well. You are Melissa's sister and if she is that perfect, you probably are, too. It's a Hastings' thing, isn't it?" Emily slurs.
Spencer laughs at Emily's comment, "Yes, when Wren tells me what he likes at me, it's mostly the same things that you just said about Melissa."
"In conclusion to that, you are pretty hot and a really good kisser, too? Emily smirks.
Woah, where is this conversation leading? She knew that Emily has a low tolerance for alcohol in comparison to her, but today is pretty extreme.
"Um, maybe, I think so…" Spencer stutters shyly, looking away from her friend.
"Prove it," Emily demands suddenly with a cocky smile on her face.
"Wait, what?" Spencer turns around hastily, not sure about what the other girl just said.
But before she could even react to her best friends demand, she feels Emily's lips on her own. Her eyes fling open and she could taste the Tequila and the pizza they had before leaving to the party. She takes a short glance at Emily's face. She looks content and happy with her eyes closed and her mouth on Spencer's.
Before Spencer could respond to the kiss or examine her friend closer, Emily already pulls away. "Hastings, was that all you can give?"
Spencer, still shocked, but somehow also turned on, looks into Emily's eyes. She could see her longing for another kiss or a touch of her.
Without even thinking about it, Spencer leans in to kiss Emily once again. This time, the kiss isn't as chaste as the first one.
Their lips move slowly together in one rhythm. Emily's lips are soft and warm and as Spencer puts up her hand in her friend's dark and wavy hair, Emily takes the chance and deepens the kiss by slipping her tongue inside of Spencer's mouth. It runs across her friend's lips and tangles up with Spencer's tongue, which has willingly made its way into Emily's mouth as well. A firework of good feelings starts in Spencer's stomach; she really enjoys kissing her best friend.
Both girls fight for dominance during the kiss, but Spencer wins over Emily by letting her finger slide under Emily dress at her back. She gains a silent moan from her friend and pulls away, leaving Emily gasping for air.
"So, I guess this was better?" Spencer manages to say after catching her breath. This is so unreal; she could still feel her hard pounding in her chest.
"Way to go, Hastings. But I'm pretty sure you could still do better."
Spencer grins cockily, "You are right, I am good at kissing. But it's not my very best strength."
"What is your very best strength?" Emily asks curiously with a longing glimpse at her best friend.
Spencer smirks, unsure about what she just said, but still very turned on by kissing Emily, "Come on, let's get away from here. Maybe I can show you."
The next morning, Emily wakes up with a major headache. As she flings up her eyes, she has problems with keeping them open. Light falls into the room through a big window and it blinds her.
Where is she and especially, how the heck did she get here? She remembers that she went on a party with her friends at Noel's lake house yesterday. Aria drove them up and she drank and danced with Spencer. And then…
She tries to remember anything that happened after that, but she couldn't. She has a mental blackout for the first time in her life. But at least that explains her headache.
Emily's finally succeeds with opening her eyes. When she is about to sit up, she feels the blanket moving on her bare skin. In shock, Emily looks down on her. She is just in her underwear.
Looking up again, she lets her eyes trace around the room that she is in. Emily finds her clothes scattered on the floor on a nice and a familiar carpet.
Suddenly, the scales fall from her eyes. This is Spencer's room.
She hears a single snore next to her and as Emily turns around, the girl sees Spencer laying next to her.
She carefully checks out under the blanket again. It is as bad as she expected it to be: Spencer is not wearing very much either.
Quick-thinking, Emily gets out of the bed silently, gathers her clothes from the floor and puts them back on. She doesn't want to wake up Spencer; this is too embarrassing for her. Did they make out yesterday? Or did they even have sex? What would Melissa say to that? Maybe Spencer doesn't remember anything either, but what if she does?
Many questions run through Emily's mind - A few months ago, this would have been anything she wished to have: Waking up next to Spencer, the girl she has been in love with since years. But now, she is with her sister…
The girl opens the door. It is early in the morning, so none of the Hastings' family is awake yet. Emily leaves her best friend's room and a snoring, half-naked Spencer in her bed.
