Hey guys! I'm back. I tried really hard to get this out before we went to Disney, and I was so close. But I wrote on the plane there and finished on the way back. I wanted to get the end of this chapter perfect. Now, my daughter only has 3 days of school left, which means summer break. I'm excited about it, but it means updates might get farther apart. I'll try really hard to find time to write, even if it's a few sentences at a time. I promise this story will come to an end, I don't know yet what the end will be, or when it will happen, but i will not stop and leave you guys hanging. So don't worry if a couple months go by without an update. Thanks for sticking with me and being patient, and for all the new follows and favorites. I sat here thinking that I could easily split this one in two and tried to figured out where to do it, but in the end i just kept is as it is. This is my longest chapter yet so hopefully that makes up for the time between this update and the next :)
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wishesnstars- i don't know if you've read my other A/N's but i have a kid and i've stated many times that i do, and i have to write when i have free time which, with a child, is not much. i do the best i can to get chapters out, that's all i can do. i just hope that you like the story enough to be patient with me.
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Chapter 10
Saturday was spent at Spencer's again. Paige found math to be the worst thing in the this new world. It was a frustrating day to say the least. She was even glad relieved when Emily left for work so she could let her frustrations out and not feel ridiculous in front of the seemingly perfect girl.
And at the end of the day Emily, once again, crawled in bed beside a sleeping Paige when she got home from work. Her guilty had been growing a tiny bit every time she did this, thinking she was taking advantage of the other girl for her own need of comfort. She told herself it was ok though, she thought maybe Paige needed the comfort as well, being practically alone in a place that was so different to her. And she was turning into a really great friend, she was sure Paige would say something if it bothered her. She wished for more than friendship, finally admitting it to herself, but didn't think Paige would ever like her like that. Let alone be into girls. Knowing the time Paige came from she figured the thought never even crossed the other girl's mind.
Emily woke up excited on Sunday morning, ready for a day of shopping.
While she waited for Paige to wake up she made pancakes and skimmed over all the clothes she had bookmarked on her laptop that Paige said she liked.
Paige made her way groggily into the kitchen to find a very cheery Emily.
"GOOD MORNING!" Emily yelled.
Paige cringed slightly, "How do you have so much energy?" Paige asked. "I'm exhausted, and you got home way later than me."
"Aw poor thing. Do you have a math hangover?" Emily teased.
"Not sure what a hangover is, but yes, I probably have it. Math is a horrible horrible thing." Paige replied in anguish.
Emily laughed loudly at the grimace on the other girls face, "I'm sorry to say, it probably won't get much better."
"Great." Paige said dryly.
"Spencer is a great teacher though so she might get you to understand...some of it." Emily explained, "Here. Sit, I made pancakes." she gestured towards the table.
Paige's mood lifted a bit at the sight of food as she sat down.
"Oh! And your coffee of course!" Emily said setting a mug in front of Paige.
This made Paige's face brighten, and her grumpy mood disappeared with every sip.
After eating, washing the dishes, and getting ready for the day they sat down to get their shoes on. As Paige was about to put one of her boots on Emily grabbed it out of her hand and handed her a pair of red converse.
"Here, I don't wear these very often, they might be more comfortable and we're probably gonna do a lot of walking today." Emily said when she put the shoes in the other girls hand with a smile.
"Oh, thanks." Paige replied gratfully, half smiling.
Emily melted a little. That is definitely my favorite smile. She thought.
"You can keep em." Emily said, getting up and starting to check her purse to make sure she had everything. "I forgot my wallet upstairs, hold on."
Emily ran up the stairs and as soon as she reached the top she heard her phone ringing in her purse, that she left sitting next to Paige.
"Can you get that?" she called. "Just touch the green button."
"Yea...ok." Page called back.
Paige grabbed the phone out of Emily's purse, seeing a picture of Hanna on the screen, and found the button Emily was referring to. She put the phone to her ear like she'd seen people doing, but before she could say anthing Hanna's voice was very loud in her ear.
"HEY! You ready for your little date today?" Hanna asked in a teasing tone.
"Hanna?" Paige asked confused.
"Oh! Hey P! Forget what I said. Where's Em?" Hanna said knowing Emily is going to kill her now.
"She went up to get her wallet." Paige responded still confused.
"Ok, well just tell her I called and to call me back when guys get home. Have fun!" Hanna said excitedly and hung up before Paige could get another word in.
"Ok then..." Paige laughed just as Emily was making her way down the stairs.
"Who was it?" Emily asked.
"Hanna. She said you should call her when we get home." Paige explained still with confusion in her voice.
"Alright, ready?" Emily asked.
"Uh huh. One question though." Paige got a nod from Emily to continue. "What is a date? I mean besides, like, the day and month? Hanna made it sound like there was another meaning."
Paige looked up at Emily and noticed her face drained of color and her mouth was hung open.
Emily didn't know what to say, she closed her mouth and clenched her jaw, mad that Hanna had put her in this position. She couldn't lie to Paige, she didn't want to, and she would find out eventually. So she braced herself for the embarassment of explaining it to someone she was attracted to.
"Um...well you see, when two people like each other...have feelings for each other...they go out on a date. Just, like, an outing of some sort. To get to know each other. When you go on a lot of dates with the same person, you're dating them. Maybe courting is the word you'd use? And then when the two people decide to be exclusive and only date each other and nobody else, then they're in a relationship, which is probably a term you know. So then they are either your boyfriend or girlfriend."
Emily took a deep breath. She decided halfway through her explanation that she was just gonna get it all out there so they wouldn't have to have another conversation like this. She chanced a quick look at Paige and noticed the other girls brows furrowed in confusion. Cute.
"Ok, I get it. But, Hanna asked if you were ready for you little date today. Are you meeting someone else later? Cause we can go shopping another day if you want?" Paige asked not being able to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
"No..." Emily replied quietly.
"Wait...did she mean you and...me?" Paige asked, her heart pounding.
"Probably. That's just Hanna though. She's crazy." Emily rushed out before she could stop herself. Would it really be that bad? At least I would know what she would think about the idea.
"Oh." Paige whispered, eyes on the floor.
"I mean, that's crazy right?" Emily asked hopefully.
"Yea, definitely." Paige responded quietly.
Emily deflated at Paige's answer, which Paige missed because her eye were still on the floor.
"Well...I guess we should go." Emily stated her voice cracking slightly.
This time Paige didn't miss a thing. She heard the sadness in Emily's voice, and as much confusion as that brought on, she also felt a small glimmer of hope rising in her chest. Holding on to it, she stood and opened the door for Emily, sweeping her arm out towards the door and bending slightly at the waist.
"After you, my dear."
Emily smiled, just with that gesture Paige brushed away her disappointment. Maybe I do have a chance. She thought as she walked out the door.
"Oh my God. You're such a dork!" she shot over her shoulder with a laugh.
Paige laughed along, not knowing what it meant, but the way Emily said it made her think it was a good thing.
The awkwardness from their earlier conversation didn't last long. As soon as they got to the mall they were back into their normal easiness.
Emily enjoyed watching Paige rush around the mall, excited by everything she was seeing. She also loved picking out clothes for the other girl and making her try them on. The thought about it being a good excuse to check the girl out mulitple times may have crossed her mind.
Paige was having so much fun. She was actually liking all the clothes Emily was picking out. If she didn't know any better, she could swear this seemed like a date the way Emily had described it. It was an outing. They were getting to know each other better. And most important, all the comments Emily was making every time she came out of the dressing room. She even heard the raven haired girl mumbling, only being able to understand one word she said, sexy. Spencer needs to make me a list of terms, like now. She thought.
At the end of the day Paige left the mall with a pair of Nike running shoes, 5 v necks in various colors, a couple vests (which seemed to be Emily's favorite), 5 thermals also in various colors, and a couple hoodies for the upcoming colder weather. She got 3 pairs of jeans, pajama bottoms, 2 basketball shorts, a swimsuit, underwear, and bras. That was awkward. She was worried about how much Emily was spending, but the other girl assured her that most everything she got was on sale and that it really was ok.
"Once I get a job, I promise, I'm gonna be the one to take you out and buy you things." Paige stated as they made their way out to the car.
Emily blushed, but she was positive Paige had no idea what that statement sound like. She smiled sweetly and nodded in agreement anyways. No way I'm gonna turn that down. Even if she doesn't know what she just implied.
Not wanting to home just yet, Emily got an idea, "I want to show you something."
They drove for awhile, through the woods on a winding road that turned to dirt just before Emily stopped the car and turned the engine off.
"Come on." Emily gestured to Paige as she got out of the car.
Paige followed Emily to the edge of a cliff where she found the other girl leaning with her eblows on a wooden railing. When she took her eyes off Emily and looked in the same direction as the other girl, she saw the whole town laid out in front of her.
"Wow." Paige breathed out quietly.
"Yea. It's prettier at night but I wanted to show you during the day so you could see how different it is from your time.
"It is. It's bigger. Not by much though. A lot more houses, buildings, and businesses. Less trees." Paige said the last part with a bit of sadness in her voice.
"That's true. But we have the forest still, and it surrounds almost the whole town." Emily explained.
"Yea, you're right. And from what I've seen so far, the town is amazing." Paige said perking up a bit.
"You just think that cause you're new here." Emily laughs. "I can't wait to get out of here when I go to college." she sighs.
Paige felt sadness wash over her before she shook it away. She had no right. She also had a lot of questions that she didn't know how to ask. Questions about what would happen to her if all the girls are planning on leaving Rosewood in a few months.
"You ok?" Emily asks.
"What? Oh, yea I'm fine. There's just a lot to get used to I guess." Paige replied, she'd think of a way talk to Emily about it later.
"Understandable." Emily sighed again and laid her head on Paige's shoulder. And with a quick glance up to the other girls face she wrapped an arm around Paige's bicep and grabbed on with the her other hand.
Paige smiled and draped an arm over Emily's shoulders, leaning her head against Emily's.
They stood like that for awhile, just enjoying each others company, before relunctantly moving and going home.
Emily woke up the next morning feeling pretty great. And she really needed to talk to Hanna. She loved all her friends, but when in need of talking things through, Hanna was always the most positive. Her amazing pep talks really helped too.
She scribbled a quick note for Paige and rushed to school.
When she got there she found Hanna in the courtyard sitting at a table with her coffee.
"Hanna!" Emily shouted.
Hanna jumps spilling some of her hot coffee on her hand.
"Seriously Em!?" she shouts back.
"Sorry. I need to talk to you." Emily says.
"About?" Hanna asks, although she has a feeling she already knows.
"Paige." Emily responds bluntly.
"Mmmhm." Hanna breaths out.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emily asks.
"Oh come on Em, you know you can't get anything past me." Hanna laughs. "I've seen the way you look at her."
"That obvious? I hope she hasn't noticed." Emily says worriedly.
"Why the hell wouldn't you want her to notice? You've seen the girl, she's hot! And it's not like you have a girlfriend anymore. I'd say go for it." Hanna responds confidently.
"I can't Han. I don't want to ruin what we have it turns out she doesn't like me back. Besides, she's from the past, even if she is gay, she probably hasn't realized it. I don't think people thought about those kinds of things did they?" Emily rambled.
"It's not like being gay a new thing Em. It just wasn't out in the open. Trust me." Hanna explains putting a reassuring hand on the raven haired girls shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
"What do you know Hanna? Has Paige said something to you?" Emily asks eyeing the blonde suspicously.
Hanna smirks, "Even if she has, I can't tell you. Paige doesn't know anybody else here, I can't break her trust like that."
"Hannaaaaa..." Emily whines, but seeing the glare from the blonde, she stops, "Fine, I know, I understand." she finishes coldly.
Of course she understands. And she loves her friend even more for what she just said, knowing that she'll be there for Paige if need be.
"Ugh! I just don't know what to do. I thought maybe you could help. Should I just, I don't know, take her out without calling it a date?" Emily asks, "Oh, thanks for that by the way. I had to explain all that to Paige. And i was so nervous that I went ahead and explained realationship terms too. It was so awkward."
Hanna bursts out laughing, "I would have loved to see that!"
Emily glares at her, "Help Hanna.." she wimpers.
"Alright alright. Yes, do something date like. Go for a walk on your running trail or something. A picnic! That's romantic." Hanna suggests.
"You're the best! That sounds perfect! Thanks Han." Emily gets up and gives Hanna a big hug making the blonde spill her coffee again, "Sorry!" she yells and rushes off the class.
When Emily got home she told Paige that she wanted to show her something else, but not until the weekend, and left it at that.
To Emily the week went by extremely slow. She was anxious and jumpy. Paige kept asking her if she was ok, but she just brushed it off. Emily wanted this outing to be perfect. She wanted to know by the end if she was wasting her time hoping for something to happen with Paige. Or if she got a obvious sign that she should just go for it like Hanna said.
The two girls spent their nights sleeping in the same bed. No excuses anymore, it just became the routine. They didn't talk about it. They eash just assumed that the other was finding comfort in it. Neither letting themselves hope for more than that.
Friday after swimming Paige went with Emily to The Brew. Emily having to work, and Paige meeting the girls to hang out. Spencer has started Paige on English and actually made her write an essay, so Spencer wanted to meet up and read it.
When Paige and Emily walked in they found Spencer, Aria, and Hanna all sat on the couch that Paige had been passed out on her first day in Rosewood.
"Hey guys, how's the swimming going?" Aria asked.
"She's getting really good. I think I regret offering to teach her now." Emily said with a laugh. "I'm gonna have to fight her to keep my anchor position when the season starts."
"We don't even know if I'll make the team." Paige mumbled shyly.
"You're gonna make the team Paige. I have no doubts. You're a natural swimmer. We've only been at this for 2 weeks, granted we've been swimming for hours on end, but still, you're almost beating me every time we race. And I've been swimming since I was 3!" Emily stated with excitement and pride.
Paige blushed and waved her hand towards Emily waving off every thing the other girl said.
"Besides, there's still 3 weeks til tryouts, for you that's plenty of time. You're amazing cowgirl." Emily said sweetly.
The other 3 girls sat on the couch exchanging knowing glances throughout the conversation.
"Aw, aren't you guys adorable!" Hanna exclaims.
"Hanna!" Spencer and Aria yelled at the same time.
"What? They are." Hanna stated simply.
At this comment Paige sat down in a chair across from the girls and moved to get her essay out of the backpack Emily let her borrow.
And Emily, not wanting to agree or disagree, just turned around and walked away mumbling, "I gotta to clock in."
Spencer moved to the arm of the chair Paige was sitting in and grabbed the paper from the other brunette.
Paige watched on nervously. She studied the other girls face, but she couldn't read it, which is why she was surprised when Spencer finally spoke up.
"This is really good Paige. A few grammatical errors, but we'll work on that. You definitely have a way with words."
"Really? Thanks." Paige said quietly. "I am having some issues with the grammar. It's a bit confusing."
"We'll do more this weekend, don't worry. You're looking really good to start school. I'd say within the next couple weeks. I know you have to start before swim team tryouts, it shouldn't be a problem." Spencer explained.
"She can't study tomorrow." Hanna interrupts.
"I can't?" Paige asks.
"Nope, Emily has plans for you two, didn't she tell you?" Hanna asks back.
"She told me she wanted to show me something this weekend." Paige replied.
"Yep, it's gonna take most of the day I think." Hanna explains.
"Ok, Sunday then, we'll have to make it an all day thing if you're missing tomorrow." Spencer says.
"That's fine." Paige says to Spencer before turning to Hanna, "What's she planning?" she asks.
"Now why would I go and ruin a perfectly good surprise?" Hanna asks teasingly.
"Because you're the best friend anyone could ask for?" Paige suggests.
"Nice try. Not gonna happen." Hanna states.
Paige sits back in her chair, crosses her arms, and huffs.
"Real mature P." Hanna laughs.
Hanna gets up with the excuse of refilling her drink, to have a word with Emily.
When she reaches the counter Emily smiles and take her mug.
"So, Paige barely knew that she had plans with you tomorrow." Hanna says slowly.
"Really? Shit. I don't know Hanna, I've been stressing all week. Are you sure this is a good idea?" Emily asks, glad to finally get some of her doubts off her chest.
"Absolutely." Hanna states simply and surely.
The confidence in Hanna's voice gives Emily the boost she needs to go through with it.
"Ok." Emily says with confidence.
"You're all set for tomorrow then? The food and location and everything?" Hanna asks.
"Yea, I know where to stop on my running path. And I have to get the food together in the morning and get it in my car before Paige wakes up. I think I got this." Emily answers.
"You do! You got this! Get your girl Em!" Hanna exclaims a little too loudly.
"Hanna! Shut up!" Emily scolds.
"Sorry, I'm excited for you, that's all." Hanna says in response, smiling widely.
Paige had watched Hanna walk away and sat there deep in thought wondering what her and Emily were doing the next day.
She couldn't deny being excited. Any time she spent with Emily alone is time she loved. But this felt different somehow. More important. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. She thought.
"So Paige, how are things going at Emily's?" Aria asked shaking the girl out of her thoughts.
"Good. Really good. I'm really lucky to have met you guys. Emily has been amazing." Paige said, not being able to stop the dreamy smile from taking over her face when she spoke the last part.
"That's great. I think we're all pretty glad that Hanna found you and didn't scare away. Who knows where you'd be now." Aria said jokingly.
"Probably sleeping in the woods, scared out of my mind." Paige joked back.
The three girls all laughed at that and carried on comfortable conversation when Hanna came back. And as soon as Emily got off work all the girls went their separate ways and headed home.
Emily woke up Saturday morning with a lot of nervous energy. She woke up way earlier than planned, having a couple hours to spare, she decided to go for a run before getting everything ready for the day.
While she was running she was coming up on her secret spot where she was bringing Paige later. She stopped her run and made her way to it to make sure is would be the right spot. Definitely is. Looking around she had an idea, she hid something in the trunk of the tree for just in case things turned out well tonight.
She got home and got all the food ready, put in all in a small cooler, and put the cooler in a picnic basket. After she put the basket in the trunk of her car and threw some blankets in the back seat, she went to the kitchen to make a light breakfast and wait for Paige.
She was eating her oatmeal at the kitchen counter checking the weather on her phone, thankful she grabbed the blankets, when Paige walked into the kitchen.
"Morning cowgirl, sleep ok?" Emily asked cheerily.
"I don't think I've slept so well in my entire life. It must be the bed." Paige joked. It wasn't the whole truth, but she wasn't about to admit to Emily that having the raven haired girl next to her helped a lot as well.
"Good!" Emily exclaimed, "I made you some oatmeal. And we can just take our time getting ready. We don't have to rush to get where we're going. Oh, but, where something comfortable." she smile at Paige and handed her the oatmeal.
And that's what they did. By the time they were both done it was almost noon which, Emily thought, was the perfect time to start since the days were getting colder.
Emily was just holding it together. She kept telling herself that this is no big deal, it's just a walk and a picnic. With a beautiful girl that i might be falling for. She thought. It didn't help her nerves when Paige came down the stairs wearing basketball shorts and a tank top that allowed a sliver of skin to show. Emily stared until Paige grabbed her hoodie and pulled it down over her stomach. Emily blinked a few times and shook her head laughing at herself. She opened the door and the two girls walked out of the house and got into Emily's car.
Instead of walking through town like she would normally do on her run, she drove them to the entrance of the path.
When she parked the car she looked over at Paige and smile weakly, not able to manage a full one since was so nervous.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yea, but where exactly are we going?" Paige asked in return.
"Don't worry about it, I promise you're gonna love it." Emily's smile grew wider now. That's the only thing she is sure about right now.
"Alright, I trust you." Paige said confidently and smiled back.
Chills ran up Emily's spine at Paige's words, and it made her a bit less nervous about this idea.
She got out of the car and grabbed the picnic basket from the trunk.
"Would you mind carrying the blankets?" she asked Paige, pointing to the back seat.
"Nope. What's that for?" Paige asked looking curiously at the basket.
"Lunch." Emily answered simply.
Paige just shook her head and laughed. She's adorable when's she trying to be sneaky.
"Let's go, it's kind of a long walk." Emily continued, heading towards the path.
"It's really pretty out here." Paige commented after a few minutes of walking in silence.
"Yea, I love it. It's the best right now, or in the spring." Emily explained. "It's where I run usually. Although I haven't been doing that since you got here. Except for this morning, I went when you were still sleeping." She rambled.
"You run...just to run? For fun?" Paige asks curiously.
"Well, I wouldn't say it's entirely fun, sometimes. But yea, I run for excericise, it's good training for swimming." Emily explained. "You should join me if you want, I really need to get back to it with the season coming up." She suggested.
"I suppose I should huh? If I want that anchor spot?" Paige teased. She loved that she could be this way with Emily. She also loved that while teaching her to swim Emily had explained about all the different races, strokes, rules, and terms that go along with the sport. She loved being able to share in the other girls interest, and be a part of it.
"Not gonna happen cowgirl. That spot is mine." Emily teased back.
"We'll just have to wait and see now won't we." Paige smirked.
Emily laughed and nudged into Paige's shoulder with her own. Are we flirting? Does this count? She wondered to herself.
They walked for another 20 minutes in comfortable silence. Both with wide grins on their faces. Their hands brushed every so often, but neither girl was brave enough to just grab on.
When Emily stopped suddenly in the middle of the path, Paige looked at her with her eyebrows furrowed.
Emily noticed and started to explain. "We have to in now." nodding her head towards the trees.
"Um...ok." Paige responded faintly.
"You trust me right?" Emily asked charmingly.
"Of course." Paige breathed out.
"Don't worry then, I know where I'm going." Emily reassured the other girl. She grabbed Paige's hand and led the way.
Paige's hand went tingly when Emily took hold. Her heart started beating fast against her chest, which had nothing to do with the fact that she was in the woods and didn't know where she was going.
Emily, with the possible flirting that had happened, was feeling brave and didn't let go of Paige's hand. They walked for another 15 minutes dodging branches, roots, and pricker bushes.
Right before the clearing Emily stopped walking. She reached out and moved a leaf covered branch out of the way.
Paige gasped, it was amazing. A big clearing with trees all around, and one towards the center on the shore of a small lake.
A huge smile spread across Emily's face, all her nervousness washed away at seeing Paige's eyes glittering in amazement as she scanned over her secret spot.
"This is awesome. How did you find it? It's a ways from the path." Paige asked.
"When I was 12, I ran away from home," Emily said using air quotes. "I came to woods, I always loved it in here, I thought maybe I could live out here." She laughed. "I found this spot and stayed for awhile. Laid under the tree, took a nap, went swimming. But I didn't think to bring food with me, so around dinner time I was starving and decided to go home. Luckily I stumbled across the path on my way out and found my way back. Then a few days later I came back and found it again, I marked the trail in a way nobody else can see. Ever since then I've come here to think or get away. Even the girls don't know about it." She finished.
Paige's eyes widened at the last part. "Really? You've never brought anyone else here?" she asked.
"Nope. You're the first." Emily said feeling confident enough to make eye contact with the other girl.
"Why me?" Paige asked curiously.
Emily stared into eyes trying to think of how to explain what she was feeling.
"You're special." Was all she could say. Not ready yet to give away everything. She hadn't figured out if she had a chance.
Paige's heart jumped to her throat and her face turned red, but she didn't look away this time. Instead she grinned widely at the raven haired girl.
"Thank you. You're special to me too." She said softly.
Emily felt butterflies taking over her stomach again. It's now that she realized she was still holding Paige's hand. She gave it a small squeeze, leaned in and gave the brunette a soft kiss on the cheek before she let go and walked over to the tree by the lake.
Paige's heart stopped, her cheek felt warm where Emily's lips had been. When Emily let go she snapped out of her daze and followed her. She laid out one of the blankets under the tree and sat down. Emily joined her and set the picnic basket beside her and started taking the food out.
"I made sandwiches and a fruit tray, and I have cheese and crackers. Um...and I brought wine. I don't know if you drink, but I thought it would be a nice touch." Emily explained as she took out each item. "I brought water too though if you don't want the wine."
"Wine is fine." Paige said. "I don't have it very often, I stuck with beer mostly."
Emily grabbed plastic cups from the basket and poured them each some wine, and they started eating.
When they were done eating, they leaned their backs against the trunk of the tree and relaxed for a bit finishing off their second cup of wine each.
"Ready to swim?" Emily asked getting up.
"Sure!" Paige answered excitedly. I don't have a suit though."
"I didn't bring one either, no big deal." Emily said as she started taking off her pants.
"What are you doing?" Paige asked nervously.
"Going swimming." Emily stated, now taking off her shirt so she stood there in nothing but her bra and underwear.
Paige had tried to look away, but with the slight buzz she had, she couldn't manage it. She sat there looking Emily up and down.
"You ok?" Emily smirked. I think I just found my sign, I might have a chance after all. She thought, noting the way Paige was looking at her. "You coming or what?"
"Uh..Y-Yea...yes! Right behind you." Paige stammered.
"Alright." Emily said and ran into the lake, diving under the water. She knew Paige probably want some privacy.
Paige sat there in shock for a few more seconds before getting up and taking her clothes off. She walked quickly to the lake, taking a few steps in before following Emily and diving under the water.
When Emily came up she heard a splash behind her and turned around, but didn't see Paige anywhere. But she did see the ripples on the surface of the water where the brunette had dove in.
"Paige?" she called out. After a few more seconds she started to get worried. "Paige?!" she yelled.
Just when she was about to call out again Paige jumped up in front of her and Emily screamed.
Paige burst out laughing and couldn't stop.
"That was not funny Paige!" Emily scolded and smacked the other girl's arm.
"Yes, it was. You're face was priceless!" Paige said between laughs.
Emily stood there pouting, her chin trembling slightly. She had been really worried. More than she thought.
Paige noticed and stopped laughing immediately putting her hands on Emily's shoulders.
"Hey, Em. I'm sorry ok?" Paige said. "What's wrong?"
"I was worried about you when you didn't come up." Emily explained softly, her voice shaky.
"Oh Em, I didn't even think, I'm so sorry." Paige apologized again taking the other girl in for a hug.
"It's fine. I'm just being stupid." Emily responded.
"No, don't say that. It's ok to be worried. What you feel isn't ever stupid, ok? Thank you for worrying about me." Paige said into Emily's neck.
"It's just...the only other time I've felt that scared is when my dad was fighting overseas and I didn't hear from him for weeks at a time." Emily explained as tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"Listen, I'm really sorry I made you feel like that. But I have the best swim teacher ever, she taught me everything she knows. I'm ok, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." Paige said trying to reassure the girl. She pulled back from the hug and gently cupped Emily's face, wiping away tears with her thumbs.
"How about a race?" She asked.
Emily nodded and the corners of her mouth turned up into a small smile.
They raced to shore and back a few times. The first ones where serious. But once Paige had had enough losing she started to mess around. Grabbing Emily by the ankles and pulling her back. Jumping on her when turned to head back to shore.
They were both having so much fun they didn't realize what time it was until the sky started to darken.
They headed back to the blanket and sat down. Emily wrapped the other blanket around both of them and they leaned against the tree again. And they watched as the sun set.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Emily asked. She turned to look at Paige, her eyes full of affection for the brunette.
Paige wasn't looking at the sunset, "The most beautiful." Paige stated when their eyes met.
It took Emily a few seconds to realize what Paige was implying. But before she could blush or respond in any way, she felt Paige's lips on her own. Soft, gentle, and hesitant, and her breath caught in her throat. When Emily felt Paige start to pull away she grabbed the back of the brunettes neck to pull the girl closer and deepen the kiss. She needed Paige to know that she wanted this too.
Paige gasped when Emily pulled her in and she smiled and sighed into the kiss. She's not sure where the boldness came from, maybe the slight fog from the wine was dampening her nerves. But she knew that she couldn't let the moment pass. Not after all the signs she had hoped were signs. And not after the way Emily was just looking at her. She needed to take a chance. And she was more than ecstatic that she had.