Emily's P.O .V

It was the end of the school day, Hanna and I had spent the whole morning block together and it had been awesome I got to learn more about Hanna and I opened up a lot more to her. I am standing at Hanna's locker waiting for her to get here to drive her home or wherever she needs to go. It hasn't hit me yet that Eric's leaving, it probably will only hit me when I get home and his not there to ask me how my day went or help me with my homework. Looking around the hall I smiled when I saw Hanna waking towards her locker but it sort of faded when I saw Alison with her and further behind I saw Aria and Spencer following behind. After the whole Hanna and Alison text session earlier this morning which had left Hanna very upset, I decided that she should spend lunch with her friends and I'd hang out with mine. I really wished our group of friends would merge into one big group, it's slowly happening with Sean and Aria getting closer with each other; I'm still not sure what's going on but he'll fill me in if anything major happens. The big obstacle in the way of us all becoming one group is Alison, I really wish I knew what I had done to make her not like me and know how to fix things.

"Hey," I heard Hanna's voice saying breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Hi," I peck Hanna on the check before more to the side so she could open her locker.

Hanna asked "How are you doing?"

I replied with "Yeah I'm fine; it hasn't sunk in that his gone."

Hanna asked "How about the boys?"

I answered with "Sean okay his eating a lot more then he normal does but that's how he deals with change and Noe his quiet, not really talking so it was a very quiet lunch today."

"That sucks let them on if they want to talk I'm here," I smiled and peck her on the top of her head.

I asked "How was the rest f your day?"

Hanna replied with "It's been good, we got given a group project together and I was wondering if it's okay with you if I go to Spencer's to work on it."

I said "It's fine by me, do you need a lift or?" I looked over at her group of friends.

Hanna replied with "No it's okay; it's not really in your directions."

I said "That's true, though I should probably go see Melissa. I was going to ca her but even better now I can go over and still see my girl," I smiled at Hanna who smiled back.

Hanna said "I'll still go with the girls because we need to get supplies before going back to Spencer's."

I replied with "That's totally cool."

Hanna asked "Are you sure?"

I answered with "Of course I am, there's no reason I wouldn't be."

Hanna smiled, looking over at Aria I asked "Have you spoken to Sean today?"

Aria replied with "No, why is something wrong?"

I said "I'm not sure with him but if he calls or texts can you answer them please."

Aria replied with "Yeah of course."

I said "Thank-you so much," Aria smiled and nodded her head.

Turning to look at Spencer now, I asked "How's Melissa?"

Spencer replied with "As far as I know she's okay, she was a bit sad at breakfast and looked like she was trying not to cry."

I nodded my head and said "Looks like I'm going to have my work cut out for me, good thing I packet my emergency supply today."

Hanna asked "What's that?"

I replied with "It's just something I do for Melissa, I have been doing for her ever since we've met and now that I have Eric's car I keep it in there."

Hanna said "Yeah but what exactly is it?"

I replied with "If I tell you, you'll think I'm like a sap or something."

Hanna replied with "So I already know that."

Smiling I say "Okay, Melissa is a very emotional person and I realised that within five minutes of meeting her."

Spencer interrupted me with "She is not, I'm fairy sure I know my own sister," I started to have flashbacks of everything that Melissa has done that her family has no clue about.

I replied with "Believe me, you have no idea what Melissa gets up to and you also don't want to know," I shrived at the memory of walking in on Melissa and Eric having sex white Spencer and her parents were in the house.

Hanna said "Go on."

I replied with "Okay, so I made up this basket thing for whenever she would call to say she needed me or something had upset her. In the basket I keep her favourite chocolate's, movies that make her cry, laugh and scare her. There's my basketball jacket from freshmen year it's her favourite jumper of mine but she will only wear it when she's upset and there's a few other things that I keep in there for her."

Hanna said with a smile on her face "You are a total sap but the most adorable one," Hanna leans forward and pecks me on the lips.

Spencer asked "Why do you d that for Melissa?"

I replied with "I don't know, I just thought it's what best friends do for one another and Melissa doesn't mind, it makes her smile which is the whole point.

Alison asked "I thought Eric was your best friend?"

I replied with "He is, you can have more than one best friend."

Hanna then said "Can I ask a question?"

I replied with "Of course you can," I saw the scared look on her face and I tried to give her my warmest smile so I didn't scare her off from asking.

Hanna asked "Did Melissa know you were gay before everyone else?"

I thought before answering with "Yes, I told her before anyone else and she said she knew."

Hanna asked "How did she just know?"

I replied with "The short version is when I was like blind drunk with her, I try to kiss her but instead I passed out on her. I don't have the memory of it; it's just what she told me when I asked her how she knew."

Aria asked "And she didn't like defriend you or something?"

I replied with "Sort of, she said she acted weird towards me for a few weeks because it took her by surprise but after that she hate herself because she knew how much I struggled with, especially with the crazy family I had and she also told me she should have picked up on it."

Hanna asked "How come you didn't go live with the Hastings when you got kicked out?"

Alison asked "You got kicked out?"

Looking at Alison, I replied with "Yeah, I'm from a military family so they weren't exactly on the board with the whole gay daughter thing. We more like my Mother wasn't and my Father just went along with it because there wasn't anything he could do, you know with him being in Afghanistan or wherever the hell he got sent that time." Thinking about the whole situation with my parents made me so angry, taking in a deep breath I tried to not let it get to me but it was extremely hard.

Hanna asked "Are you okay?"

I replied with "Yeah, I'm just mad at my parents but what else is new," Hanna didn't say anything she just wrapped her arms around me and I felt the anger drift away. Wrapping my arms around Hanna, I rest my head on top of her and take a deep breath in of her and peace is just washed completely over my body.

"Thank-you," I say when Hanna pulls back with a smile on her face.

Spencer asked "Where did you go after being kicked out?"

I replied with "We Noel and Sean had an idea that I was gay, so I couldn't really go to their place especially with Sean's Dad being a persist. I slept in the only place I could which was on the streets or in doorways, granted I always got woken by a bucket of ice cold water but whose complaining, meant I didn't have to shower that day."

Aria asked "How long where you on the streets for?"

I answered with "I can't remember maybe a week because I kept avoiding Sean and Noe because if I saw them, I would have just broken down and cried. Which I never do so they'd want to know what was wrong and I just wouldn't be able to lie to them. They eventually went to my house to ask what was up, to be tod by my Mother that she doesn't have a daughter and then the door was slammed in their face."

Alison asked "How come you didn't go to the Hasting? Melissa already knew."

I replied with "I was there a lot that week, no one ever saw me."

Spencer asked "When were you there?"

I replied with "Probably everything singe day that week, Melissa didn't know what had happened but she let me shower and eat your food and she would cover for me. I think she went that whole week with not seeing Eric because she sensed I didn't want to see him, Melissa was like my guardian angel that week."

Hanna asked "Did you call her that?"

I replied with "No, she said that to me when she found out that I wasn't giving at home anymore."

Aria asked "So you've been on the streets this whole time?"

I answered with "No, I start off leaving at Sean's but his Dad kept forcing me to go to church with them every Sunday and after everything that happened church what the last place I wanted to be. I was going to run again but Sean saw something in me that told him I just couldn't be there and my last options was Noel's and that's where I've been living for the last two or three years now."

There was a lot of silence for a few minute before I said "We should probably go, I need to see Melissa and you guys have a group project to do."

Spencer replied with "Right, come on let's go," I followed behind the four of them leaving the building. When we got to the parking to our cars were the only ones left which wasn't a surprise, Hanna was sad that she couldn't come with me I think it was because after everything I just told her friends she wanted to make sure I was okay. I told her we would talk about it later; she nodded her head and waked over to Spencer car where the others were waiting for her.

Arriving at the Hasting's resident's I opened the boot of the car to grab the basket for Melissa and made my way up to the door, I noticed on the way up that Mrs Hastings and Melissa's cars where both in the driveway. Getting to the door I rang the doorbell and stood there waiting for it to open, when then door was open Mrs Hastings was standing there.

Mrs Hastings said "Emily hello," she didn't really me because she thought I as a bad influence on Melissa.

I replied with "Hey Mrs Hastings, is Melissa home?"

Mrs Hastings said "Yes, come in," she stepped back from the door to allow me in even though she didn't want to.

Mrs Hastings said while closing the door "She's upstairs in her room," she then left me standing there to go into the kitchen. I made my way up the stairs, I didn't rush but I didn't go slowly either I went at the right pace. Walking down t Melissa's old bedroom, I wondered why she was up here and not down in the barn but that was a question for later. I knocked lightly on the door and entered the room, I found Melissa laying on the bed crying with tissues laying all around the room.

"Hey beautiful," I whispered quietly to her.

Melissa sat up and asked "What are you doing here?" she started to wipe her tear away.

"I came to see if you were okay and by your state your obviously not," I sat down n the bed.

"No, I'm okay really."

"No Melissa you're not because if I'm not okay there's no way you can bed okay," I tried to hold back my tears to be strong for Melissa. I felt Melissa wrap her arms around me and I rested my head on Melissa shoulder while bring my arms to wrap around her.

"It's going to be okay Emily, his not that far from us and if you ever need him you can just call him, you know he would drop anything for you."

"He would do the same for you."

"Yes but he would think about it before doing anything."

"He loves you Melissa."

"I know that but you and Eric have this special bond that no one will ever come between, not even me and I'm okay with that."

"Well this is a sucky cheering up session."

Melissa gigged before saying "It's okay. Oh my god you brought the basket," Melissa unwrapped herself from me and slip down onto the floor. I watched as she opened the basket up, she pulled everything out one at time but stopped when she pulled out my freshmen girls' basketball team jacket and I watched as she inhaled the jacket before standing up and putting it on.

"It still fits," she said in a very exciting tone.

I replied with "That it does."

Melissa said "Thank-you for doing this, you don't have it," I just shrugged my shoulder and smiled when I felt Melissa peck me on the cheek.

I then suggested "Why don't you pick out which movie we will start with today and I' go get us some water."

"You really want to face my Mother alone?"

"No, can you come with me," Melissa tipped her head back and laughter.

"You really need to get over your fear of my Mum."

"She is a really scary person, I find her scarier then you're Dad," Melissa just shook her head while continuing to laugh. We eft Melissa room and when we came to the end of the stairs, the front door open and in walked Spencer, Alison, Aria and Hanna; they each carried two bags but I couldn't see what was in them.

Melissa said "Came over to see if I was okay, really?"

I replied with "I did, it was just an extra bonus that she was going to be here," Melissa smiled and shook her head.

Melissa said "You're lucky you brought the basket in or I'd make you face my Mother by yourself."

I gasp and replied with "You are so mean."

Melissa said through laughter "Go help your girlfriend carrying her things while I go get us water," I nod my head and walk over to where the four girls are standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Taking the bag from Hanna's hand I asked "Where are you guys needing this?"

Spencer replied with "Up in my room," I nod my head and start to go back upstairs.

I hear Melissa shout "Emily!"

"Yes," I replied with while turning back around I was almost all the way up the stairs.

Melissa said "Aren't you going to grab the rest?" she gave me that look of do it or I'll hurt you. Sighing very quietly to myself I walk back down the stairs, I take Aria's bag first, then Spencer and I take Alison next, it took a bit of time to get hers but when she did she glared her eyes at me.

Melissa said when I walk passed her "Good girl," I shake my head at her and continue up the stairs.

I hear Hanna say "You need to teach me how to do that."

Melissa replied with "Just ask her, she would do anything for you Han or just threaten to leave her in the same room with my Mum that's what normally works for me," I see Melissa walk away and head towards the kitchen. I knew where Spencer's room was because when you are sneaking into someone else house at night you need to learn your route fast, Melissa had given me a key to the house a few years back so when she wanted to get drunk and wanted me there she wouldn't need to learn how to walk or unlock doors. I was thankful for Spencer bedroom door being open because I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to open it and I need to drop these bags fast because they weren't exactly light, I walk quickly over to Spencers bed and lift them up nt her bed.

I heard Spencer say behind me "Thank-you Emily but you didn't have to carry them."

I replied with "Yes, I did. One time I didn't take her threats seriously, she left me alone with your Mum for three hours, never again," I shake my head at the memory of being alone with Mrs Hastings.

Hanna said "You are extremely adorable when you're scared." I went to reply but then my phone started to ring, it sang 'Shake Your Grove thing, Yeah-Yeah!' it brought a smile to my face because I knew who it was.

I say "Sorry, have to take this."

"He, you have reach the sexy hotline please tell me what you are after today," I had to resist laughing because a four girls eyes bugged out.

The caller reply was "Don't make me slap you kid."

"That just rude and after I was so nice to you," he just bursts out laughing and I do to because his laugh is catchy.

He asked "How are you kiddo?"

I replied with "I'm good Charlie, how are you?" I immediately see Hanna relax and a smile comes to her face.

Charlie replied with "Good, I just got your message from this morning. The part you are after I won't have any more until mid-next week, so I was thinking you could bring over to the shop on say Tuesday have dinner at the café and sleep there as well. Sophie and Sophia really want to see you, catch-up you know girl stuff and you can stay the night of course; don't worry about getting to school because Sophia can drive you. How does that sound?"

I didn't even have to think about my answer "Yeah that sounds great, when will my car be ready?"

"It should be ready by the time you finish school on Wednesday, if it's not you can either stay at the café again or Sophia will drive you home."

"Yeah okay, sounds really good."

"Sweet, I'll also give the car a once over check as we as install some new windows free of charge."

"Thanks Charlie, I'll let the owner of the car know and he' transfer over some money to me so I can pay you."

"Anytime Kiddo, remember mate discount will be in effect."

"That's really not need, it's not like I'm paying."

"It doesn't matter if you're paying or not Kiddo, they are a friend of yours which means they are a friends of ours."

"Aright, I'll see you next week then," I heard a loud scream come from the other side of the phone which made me laugh.

"That you will Kiddo," he said before we both hang up and I have the biggest smile on my face.

Hanna asked "What's wrong with your car?"

I replied with "I don't know, Eric and Tim had a look at it last night and one of the parts is do and needs to be replaced. I have no clue what they are talking about but I trust them and I'm sure if nothings actually wrong then Charlie will tell me."

Hanna said "So there is something you're not good at."

"Yeah which makes Noel, Eric, Tim and Sean all upset with me but Judy is extremely happy."

Hanna asked "So when are you taking your car to Charlie's?"

I replied with "Next Tuesday."

Hanna asked "What about school?"

"I'm going to have dinner with them and sleep at the café, then Sophia will give me a lift to school and pick me up and hopefully the car will be ready by then."

"Okay, can I come?"

I asked back "Do you want to come?"

Hanna replied with "Yeah can't have my girl sleeping by herself at a café."

I said "I won't, I sleep on the floor in Sophia's room and we only sleep I promise."

"I trust you Emily, I just want to spend some time with you and your third family."

"I love it, Sophie will be all questions I hope you know that."

"I do know that but it's okay, she sweet and so humbling."

"That's true, so is Charlie," Hanna nodded her head agreeing.

Melissa walked in and asked "Who are you two talking about?"

Hanna looked at me and asked "She hasn't met them."

I replied with "No, it's my escape away from my life so why would I take her there."

"That's true but you took me there."

"Because I want you in ever part of my life, there, here, school and at Noel's place, I just want you in my life Hanna."

"You do?"

"Of course I do, you are the most important person in my life," Hanna didn't say anything she just stepped forward and kissed me on the lips.

"Okay, okay, let's go," I heard Melissa's voice say while pulling me back from kissing Hanna.

Melissa dragged me all the way back to her room and I say "Was that needed?"

Melissa replied with "Sorry," I smiled while shaking my head at her.

"What movie are we watching first?" like I even needed to ask I thought as Melissa picked up the Bratz movie, it's one of her favourites and a guilty pleasure of hers. I close the door while Melissa puts the DVD in the player and we joined at the bed, to get in together with chocolate and snuggle with each other.

We were halfway through the movie when Melissa said "You love her, don't you?"

"What are you taking about?"

"Hanna, of course, you love her don't you?"

"I'm not sure because I've never been in love before."

Melissa asked "How do you feel around her?"

"As light as a feather, she makes me feel incredible special and lucky to have her in my life."

"That's love Emily, you love Hanna."

"Yeah," I felt a coy smile come upon my face.

Melissa said "Oh yeah, you love her and you know you do."

"Yes but I don't want to scare her off we've only been dating for a few months and I'm still learning new thing about her."

"That's understandable but I'm so happy for you," Melissa capped her hands together before squeezing me really tight.