Chapter 10
Author's note: This chapter will be longer than previous ones. As always the characters don't belong to me.
No one's Pov
In the afternoon Emily, Hanna, Aria and Spencer were crowded inside Spencer's bedroom. They were going over information that Caleb had brought over while Emily was in the hospital. Emily had invited Alison, but her dad refused to let her out of his sight. That was the other reason Emily was glad to have the others there. She wanted to plan something special for Alison and herself. Even with Alison back they have yet to go on a date. Emily brought her attention back to the conversation just in time. Spencer held a paper up that Caleb had said held one of the ways A has been able to escape being caught. "Caleb explained that A seems to be moving through different accounts, numbers, and protected files that are harder to hack. But he figured out that if he could find a backdoor to any of the accounts he might be able to get us more information." She finished as she sat the paper down waiting for their reactions.
Hanna looked confused "so wait a minute you're saying if we can link these accounts to one person, we will unmask A?" "Yes essentially that is if A doesn't catch on to what Caleb is trying to do for us and erase everything." Spencer said answering Hanna's question and earning nods from Emily and Aria. A has proven that he or she could erase any evidence of his/her torment of the girls. Just thinking of what A is capable of made the girls feel slightly paranoid, and caused their phones to feel like bricks in their pockets. "So what do we do now?" Emily said voicing the question on all of their minds. "I guess we just have to wait and see what Caleb can find out." Aria answered in a defeated tone. "On a brighter note. I need your help with something ladies," Emily said. "With what?" Hanna, Aria, and Spencer answered curiously.
Emily's Pov
"It's no secret that I have had feelings for Alison for a while. But now I think she feels the same too." I answered "So what does this have to do with why you need our help-ow." Hanna yelped as Aria elbowed her in the ribs, I chuckled. "I want to surprise Ali with a date but I want it to be perfect." "Aw how sweet Em I'm sure she would love it." Aria cooed "I don't know Em. I mean are you sure? I know how much she had hurt you before." Said Spencer, her skepticism showing. I replied "I'm positive. I've waited so long for this, and now I finally have an opportunity to. I can't let her slip away again." I stood up from my position on the bed before continuing " will you guys meet me at the Kissing Rock to set my plan up?" The girls agreed all at once, and I couldn't help but smile at my friends. I went home, and started to prepare my surprise for Alison hoping she would like it.
A few hours later I texted Alison, and told her to sneak out and meet me at the Kissing Rock. When she responded I laughed, of course she would be too curious to let me surprise her. I texted the girls and made sure everything has been set up. I grabbed my jacket and made my way over to the Kissing Rock. When I got there Spencer, Aria, and Hanna were putting the final touch on my plan. I hugged each of them while thanking them profusely for helping me make this happen. Fifteen minutes later I heard leaves crunching and Ali came through the clearing. " What do you think?" I asked as she looked around the area with a bewildered look on her face. "I-it's beautiful Em, how did you pull this off?" Alison asked as I sat down on the rock, and watched the tea lights reflect the light off her face. "I called in some help from the girls. I wanted to do something to surprise you." I answered her as she came over, sat next to me and held my hand.
Alison and I sat in a peaceful silence until I remembered something. I reached into my pocket and pulled out an envelope. I handed it to her gently and watched as she opened it carefully. Inside it was a letter, some postcards and old pictures of us. She pulled the letter out and scanned it, before looking at me. I had wrote how I felt about her and her being alive as well as mentioned some of our memories in the letter. "With you being back now I don't know about you but I would like a fresh start rather than how things were left." I said nervously as she looked at the pictures, smiling fondly at some of them. Alison looked up meeting my eyes "Em you don't know how much I regret hurting you. If I could go back in time things would be so different." She said as tears pricked her eyes before continuing. "I would love a fresh start with you. I know I have a lot of damage to repair." I gently wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek, and she leaned into my hand. I hugged her gently and sighed when she hugged back tightly.
I led Alison back to her house so she wouldn't get in trouble with her father. When we got to her doorstep I hugged her again. As I released her, and turned to go I felt her hand grab my wrist. I turned around to face Alison. "Thank you for tonight I really enjoyed your surprise." She said before leaning forward, kissing me goodnight, and going inside. I touched my lips as I went home with a love struck expression on my face.
Alison's Pov
I went inside the house, and crept up the stairs trying not to get caught. I still couldn't believe that Emily went through all that trouble just to surprise me. I thought back a minute or so to our kiss. We just seem to fit perfectly together, and I can't wait to eventually call her my girlfriend. I sat on my bed, and took out the envelope Em gave me. There was a Paris postcard in there, and it surprised me she remembered that day. I want so badly to make that dream come true. To not only be free of A, but to spend the rest of my life in paradise with Emily. My thoughts were interrupted as my phone vibrated. I picked it up, and saw that I had a text from Spencer. How did you like your surprise?- Spencer
It was great. I replied back, and looked through my window into Spencer's room. She was currently finishing homework for her different classes. I looked back at my phone as her reply came. I'm glad you liked it. Alison please don't hurt Em, she's been through quite a bit. Especially after you disappeared, and after losing Maya around the same time.-Spencer
I thought about what Spencer just said. It kind of hurt that the girls would think I would purposely hurt Emily again. But I also felt a great deal of respect towards them for wanting to protect Emily's wellbeing. In order to repair the damage I've inflicted I know as soon as I return to school I have to apologize. I took out a piece of notebook paper, and listed some of the people I hurt. I am going to cross every name off that list no matter how long it takes.
No One's Pov
A sat watching an old home movie while putting a picture of Emily and Alison kissing into an envelope. After a few minutes, the movie was paused at a clip of two little boys. A tear rolled down a masked cheek. A pulled it down to wipe it revealing a set of blue eyes. Tossing the envelope onto a desk, A continued the movie. Jessica Dilaurentis could be seen holding a baby and asking the boys to say hi to her. A looked to a bookshelf where a few blocks letters spelled out a name. How A despised it, and wished that part of the past would disappear. Leaving his workplace A decided to pay a visit home. The Dilaurentis home was quiet. Kenneth was working on things for his business, and Jason had went to a movie. A wondered when Jessica was going to get home. She had money and supplies that was desperately needed.
A left the Dilaurentis home, and went to the event Ashley Marin was helping Jessica host. A sent Jessica a message to come meet in the woods. Rustling was heard, and she came through the brush. "It's all there. That should hold you for a while." Jessica stated before going back to her event. A went back to the lair, and continued to work on the plans he had in place for the girls. A few hours later A went back to the Dilaurentis house to thank Jessica. He was devastated to see her lifeless body. Tears poured quickly as A cried in denial "no no no please wake up mom no!" A continued to cry before searching for a shovel. Once the shovel was in hand A dug a hole before gently placing his mother inside. A finished burying her before running off in despair back to the lair.
The next day
Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily waited for Alison in the courtyard of the school. They all were nervous considering this would be Alison's first day back. A crowd had gathered, and whispers and rumors floated around about her return. Emily hoped Alison's father wouldn't change his mind about letting Alison come. A few minutes later all heads turned as Alison walked up to the girls. They walked in tandem up the pathway to the entrance to the school. Alison stopped walking, causing Aria, Hanna, Emily and Spencer to stop too. She walked up to Lucas Gottesman and said "I know I was terrible to you before I went missing. I am extremely sorry for any hurt I caused you Lucas. Can you forgive me?" Lucas looked at her with wary and skeptical eyes. "How do I know this isn't some trick? That you aren't going to go right back to your old ways." Alison nodded "I understand your concern. If it was me in your place I probably wouldn't trust myself either." She finished before offering a gentle smile and returning to the girls.
As the day went on the girls had to endure many stares. Emily walked Alison to most of her classes before going to her own. After her fifth period class Emily went to put her books away. She felt eyes on her back, and turned catching a dark haired girl staring. "Yes I am the girl who is friends with the dead girl who isn't dead." She snapped before the other girl raised both of her hands. "I wasn't going to ask you that. I'm new here, and I was looking at the girl's swim team pictures. I saw you and recognized you from them, I'm Sydney by the way." Sydney finished, offering her hand for Emily to shake. Emily shook the outstretched hand and apologized. "Sorry for snapping. I have been getting stared at all day and it is leaving me on edge." Sydney nodded "it's cool. If it wouldn't be such a hassle, can you show me where the pool and locker rooms are?" Emily smiled "sure I am actually headed that way right now. Come on follow me."
Emily opened her gym locker, and got her stuff she would need. Sydney walked up, and stood next to her after she had changed into her swimsuit. "Ready to go?" She asked as Emily grabbed her stuff "Yeah let's go." Emily replied, and they walked into the pool area. After their sixth period was over, Emily said goodbye to Sydney and Paige before meeting up with Alison. They waited for the others in a comfortable silence. Emily looked at Alison before intertwining their fingers and asking "how was your day?" Alison looked shocked for a moment at Emily's boldness. Once she got over it she replied "it was good. I can't believe how much I have to catch up on." She released Emily's hand to get the books she would need for her homework. Aria, Hanna, and Spencer came over to them soon after. As they left they passed Mona in the hallway. Mona gave Alison a look of disdain and went the other way. Each of the girls with the exception of Alison and Emily, went to their own homes. Emily and Alison went up to Emily's room to do their homework.
Emily's Pov
I placed my backpack on my bed and took out my books. Alison did the same and we started our work. We only got through half of our work before Ali said "I need a break." I finished my essay I was working on before asking "are you thirsty?" She nodded yes, and I went and got the two of us some water. After a fifteen minute break, and chatting about the events of the day we got back to work. As I started to work on my math Alison gasping caught my attention. I looked up and asked "what's wrong?" She replied "when I opened my English book an envelope fell out. It's addressed from A." She grabbed the envelope and opened it, pulling out a picture. The picture was of the two of us kissing from last night. On the back a note was written in red pen. It said
Let's see what daddy says when he finds out his daughter likes kissing her best friend. -A