Hey y'all! Usually I don't think it is important to write some kind of "author's note" before and after each and every chapter of a story – but now I have an announcement to make: I'm going to create a poll on my page concerning the question "Who do you want Emily to end up with in my story? Spencer vs. Melissa" Actually I planned this story being SPEMILY all the way, but while writing I fell in love with EMISSA, too. Now I'm having a hard time deciding who is going to be endgame – I don't want to face this decision on my own, so please vote for your favorite. Thanks! Also thank you for all the support and reviews I got from y'all. I promise there will bea few more chapters coming up soon :)
After another day with successfully avoiding Emily at school, Spencer feels happy and relieved when she finally closes the door of the Hastings' house behind her. She is about to head upstairs to take a warm and relaxing shower as she hears her mom shouting something out of the kitchen, "Spencer!"
The girl enters the kitchen and faces her mother, who is standing at the stove and obviously preparing something elaborate to eat for dinner. "Would you mind helping me in the kitchen? Surprisingly, we have an important event coming up this evening and dinner has to be ready in about an hour," Mrs. Hastings says.
Her daughter looks confused, "What's up with today's evening? Did I miss anything? Please don't tell me that dad brings all of his former friends from college over, I really hated that last time."
"Come on, it wasn't that bad, Spencer. But don't worry; it's something important for your sister. Melissa told me about having to introduce someone special to this family," the woman explains calmly. "So, that's why she said that we have to make a delicious dinner and set up the table for five people."
It immediately clicks in Spencer's head. She has the urgent feeling to freak out completely. No, this is not going to happen. Not after what happened at lunch and more than ever not after their night together.
Again, a mixture of anger and disappointment rushes through Spencer's veins; apparently Emily really doesn't remember anything. Melissa and she just got back to their normal selves with all the secretly flirting and dating. It is like noting has ever happened between Spencer and Emily. And that's something that Spencer in fact couldn't stand at all.
One time, Spencer thought about telling Emily what really took place that night – but then, she remembers how lucky she seems to be in a relationship with her sister. Emily has had a hard time with being in love with someone who didn't love her back – apparently she even had to go through the horrible feeling of unrequited love once because of her, Spencer Hastings.
Now, Emily deserves being happy, that's for sure.
The girl flashes back to reality and for just one second, Spencer's brain has a total blackout. The words come from her mouth; uncontrollable and unstoppable.
"Mom, Melissa is going to bring her girlfriend. She is gay," Spencer pauses shortly, taking a deep breath, "Oh, by the way, it's Emily."
She turns around and finally walks up the stairs. Her legs feel heavy and tears rush into her eyes. What's just got into her? What was that comment for?
Mr. Hastings laughs loudly, "So, that was when you accidentally cannonball-dived into the pool and still made first place at the meet?"
Emily nods heavily, "Basically they weren't any real opponents for me anyways. But it is quite comforting to know that even if I don't catch a perfect start; my swimming skills are good enough to still be better than all of the other swimmers."
Melissa looks around the kitchen. She has to pinch herself in order to be convinced that all those happenings are not just part of a wonderful dream: Her girlfriend gets along with her parents perfectly. After Spencer told their mother that Melissa is gay, the situation was kind of awkward. Mrs. Hastings shortly inducted her husband; but Melissa hadn't really had any time to explain because Emily was almost at their house.
So, the family decided to just give it a shot and to make the best of out the unknown situation.
And now, it definitely turns out to be the best possibility that Melissa had ever imagined:
Emily takes a bite of the lasagna that Mrs. Hastings made for dinner. "I also really had luck that the scouts from the University of Pennsylvania weren't at that meeting. I probably would have scared them away for the rest of my high school swimming career. But they were at the next meet and then, they offered me a scholarship!" she explains in excitement.
"Wow, the University of Pennsylvania. As far as I know, they have a really good swimming team over there. Furthermore, it's the university that Melissa goes to; it would be perfect, wouldn't it?" Mrs. Hastings replies with a blink. For some reason, she really starts to like this girl. Her older daughter seems to be very happy with her according to the smiling glances they share every now and then.
But Spencer couldn't believe it, "Mom, they are a couple for like three months or something – I'm pretty sure that they don't even think about a possible future together. There probably won't even be one."
Mr. Hastings interrupts her daughter, "Spencer, zip it! Stop being so rude."
"What? You act like they are getting married in a few weeks. Did you forget about the fact that your daughter is gay?" Spencer gets up and leaves the kitchen in a hurry. She couldn't stand it anymore, seeing Melissa and Emily being so happy together. Plus, her parents supporting them – it's just too much for Spencer, she doesn't even know why…
About one hour later, Emily has to go home, "Goodbye, Mrs. and Mr. Hastings. Thank you for the nice dinner, it was really good. Maybe even a little bit better than my mother's lasagna, but don't tell her." Emily blinks with a friendly smile and earning a little chuckle from Mrs. Hastings.
"We were lucky to have you here, Emily. Melissa apparently made a good catch," Mr. Hastings says as the girls closes the door and gets to her car.
Melissa smiles at her parents. "Mom? Dad? Thanks for not freaking out too bad," she says in an unsure and silent voice. "I know this wasn't necessarily what you expected for me and for my future, but I want you to know that this is the only way for me to be happy. I like girls; I have always liked them…"
Mr. Hastings interrupts his daughter, "Melissa, don't apologize yourself for who you are. There's nothing wrong about it. Besides, I like Emily way more than all of your other ex-boyfriends." He puts an arm on Melissa's shoulder and squeezes it gently.
"Peter is right. Of course, I would have preferred it when you told us by yourself and it didn't have to take Spencer for you to come out. Still, I think I have to get used to you being in a relationship with Emily, but I want you to know that we will support you no matter what."
"And if somebody says anything different, just tell them that your parents are the top-lawyers of Pennsylvania. We could sue them anytime," Mr. Hastings adds smilingly.
"Does Spencer have problems with you being gay, Melissa? I don't really have any other explanation for her behavior lately," Mrs. Hastings asks.
"I don't know what got into her, but she will calm down. I don't think me being gay is the problem, it's rather about me dating Emily…"
"Em, I want to apologize for my behavior. I'm really sorry for freaking out at dinner. To be honest with you, I am basically just very hurt because you cannot remember the night after the Kahn's party. Now you are probably thinking why this night was so important. Well, I can tell you, maybe that's the best. We kissed at the party. Later we went to my house and there, well, we made out until we fall asleep. Pretty bad, huh? But I won't tell Melissa. You were pretty drunk and so was I; I don't know who started it. To you, it was just a mistake, wasn't it? But apparently it wasn't to me. I don't know how to put it, but I felt something during the kisses and touches. Maybe it was just the alcohol, but it felt good to me; better than with anyone else before. I know that you are dating my sister and that I already had a chance with you, but now I'm feeling like you reject me all the time and that really hurts. I probably sound completely insane and freaked out; you know that I'm not that good at talking about my feelings and stuff. But if you ever get interested in hanging out with me, I'm yours. I'm sorry again; I just have some serious trouble with seeing you and Melissa as a happy couple. That's why I have been acting so weird lately."
Spencer presses the "Send"-button and sighs heavily as she falls down on her bed.