Disclaimer:
I don't own the characters, the places, or anything really, I'm just borrowing them. Please don't sue me, I have nothing you want.

Author's note:
Thanks to those who faved/followed/reviewed this story so far. It means a lot, and I love getting feedback about your thoughts on the story. And to those who review every chapter (whether on here or on Twitter), you are amazing!

**** Chapter Ten ****

Emily drove into the parking lot. She felt unsure about just turning up like this. If that girl was Paige's girlfriend she wasn't sure what to do, she wasn't going to speak to Paige if she was with someone.

Killing the engine and stepping out of her Toyota, Emily locked the door and looked at the Hungry Owl Tavern, preparing herself. As she walked over and into the tavern, the noise hit her instantly.

Glancing around at the chairs, Emily noticed that the booth she and Paige sat at the first night was free. Ordering a drink at the bar and walking to the booth, she took a seat.

It was Friday, and once again there was karaoke. Looking around in more detail, she couldn't spot Paige.

"Hey, girl."

Emily turned around, recognising the woman from before, "Hi, Peggy."

Peggy was holding the karaoke folder out to her, "Wanna sing something tonight?"

Emily shook her head, "Do you know if Paige is coming tonight?"

Peggy gave her a sympathetic look, "I don't know sweetie, but I know she's back. I saw her the other day."

Emily nodded. "Did you tell her I was looking for her?" she asked, remembering what she said to Peggy last time she was there.

"I haven't spoken to her yet, I just seen her when I was driving."

Emily nodded, "Thanks, Peggy."

Emily looked at her drink. This is a waste of time, Paige isn't coming tonight. I'm just making a fool of myself.

She watched the couple singing karaoke and kept thinking of the night that she was up there. She finished her drink and ordered another.

Studying the faces around the bar, she recognised some of the people who were in the crowd the last time. It was quieter than it had been that day.

"Paige is here, girl."

Emily looked up. "What, where?"

Peggy pointed to the other side of the bar; Paige was there, alone, having a drink and flicking through a book.

Emily smiled, "Does she know I'm here?"

Peggy nodded, "I told her you were asking about her."

"And what did she say?"

Peggy shook her head, "She just nodded I guess."

Peggy left, going round the other tables with her karaoke folder. Emily looked at Paige. She looks beautiful. She was wearing an olive shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a tight black waistcoat and pants. On her feet were the same boots as the last time. She didn't look over at Emily. Maybe she's waiting on the blonde girl arriving?

She kept glancing over at Paige but she didn't look her way. Emily considered just going home but something inside her wouldn't let her. Peggy walked past her table, suddenly giving her an idea.

"Peggy?" she called, Peggy instantly turning round.

"Yeah, sweetie?"

Emily signalled to the white folder in her hands, "are you still looking for people to do karaoke?"

Peggy beamed at her, "Sure am sweetie, are you interested?"

Emily smiled, "Maybe."

Taking the folder, Emily flicked through the pages for something she could use. Her finger scrolled along the titles, lingering on "Christina Perri - Arms". She remembered hearing that song recently and how it reminded her of Paige. Putting her name and song choice down, she handed the folder back to Peggy.

Surely Paige will look at me if I am up on stage singing? If the blonde girl comes in, I'm not invading anything. I'm just a girl, singing in a bar.

The first night she had met Paige, Paige started to sing to her. Emily was going to do the same.

If the blonde girl wasn't Paige's girlfriend, and Paige was interested perhaps she would join Emily in the booth.

The girl stopped singing and left the stage. Peggy went to the microphone with the white folder, she looked down the list. "Emily" she announced, nodding at Emily, who got up and walked to the stage, suddenly feeling very self-conscious and unsure if this had been her best decision.

She glanced at Paige's side of the bar. She had looked up and was watching Emily curiously. It didn't last long before Paige looked down again, playing with her phone. Emily let out a sigh. She's waiting for that blonde girl.

The autocue displayed the first line of the song, and the music started. Emily gulped, suddenly regretting this bold decision.

"I never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart" Emily sang, her voice shaking just like she was. "But you came around then you knocked me off the ground from the start."

She looked at Paige, "You put your arms around me and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go. You put your arms around me and I'm home."

Getting into the song, she let the emotions sing it for her and stopped being so afraid. "How many times will you let me change my mind and turn around, I can't decide if I'll let you save my life or if I'll drown" she sang, Paige finally watching her.

"I hope that you see right through my walls, I hope that you catch me cos I'm already falling. I'll never let our love get so close, you put your arms around me and I'm home."

Paige looked around, realising that Emily was singing to her.

Emily's feet started tapping to the music; feeling a little more confident now that she had Paige's attention. "The world is coming down on me and I can't find a reason to be loved, I never wanna leave you but I can't make you bleed if I'm alone. You put your arms around me, and I believe, that it's easier for you to let me go. I hope that you see right through my walls, I hope that you catch me cos I'm already falling. I'll never let our love get so close, you put your arms around me and I'm home."

Paige was watching her now, her plan had worked. She smiled at Paige, "I've tried my best to never let you in to see the truth, and I've never opened up, I've never truly loved till you put your arms around me and I believe, that it's easier for you to let me go" she sang.

Paige was smiling at her now, hopefully realising that Emily was trying to explain through the song how she felt. "You put your arms around me and I'm home."

The crowd clapped and she returned to her booth. Peggy placed a drink in front of her, "Thank you for that."

Emily smiled, "Thanks, Peggy."

Taking a sip from the glass, she glanced at Paige, who was still looking at her. Emily smiled back, then turned away. She'd done it. Paige might be waiting on her girlfriend, but now she knew Emily was interested, she hoped that she would know that anyway and she hadn't just made a fool of herself on stage for nothing.

She looked over to Paige's seat again, it was empty. She started looking around, Shit. Paige had left.

"Emily?"

Almost choking on her drink, she turned round. Paige was standing there.

"Hi" she said, not able to stop a massive smile from breaking out on her face. "I thought you'd left."

Paige shook her head, "No."

"Would you like to sit down, or is your girlfriend joining you tonight?"

Paige looked confused, "Who?"

"The blonde girl that you were with at the Brew."

"She's not my girlfriend."

Emily nodded, and Paige sat down. "Were you singing to me?"

Emily looked at her, she looked just as she remembered. "I was."

Paige nodded slowly, looking at her, a crease developing on her forehead. "Why?"

Emily frowned, "Can I get you a drink?" she asked, noticing that Paige didn't have one.

Paige nodded, "Okay."

Wow, this was awkward. Emily went to the bar, ordering a whisky and returning to the booth.

"Emily, that morning, you kissed me" Paige started. Emily looked into her eyes, and nodded. "And then you left."

Emily could see pain in those eyes. She nodded again, "I was wrong to do that. Paige, I'm sorry I did that. I was confused. But I'm not anymore."

Paige searched her face, the crease still there in her forehead. Emily reached over, taking Paige's hand. "I've been thinking about you since that day. Punishing myself for driving off like that. I guess I couldn't admit to myself that I was..." she paused, looking at Paige. "You surprised me that night when you kissed me. I didn't know what to do and I panicked." Paige was still looking at her, she hadn't said a word. "Please Paige, can you say something?"

Paige looked down at their hands, sliding hers out from underneath Emily's.

"Paige?"

"I guess I just don't get it. Why now?"

"I tried to find you before, but Peggy told me you had left. I went to your uncles but he didn't answer. Then you walked into the Brew and I thought you might come here again since you were in town, so I came here tonight to find you… Can we go somewhere to talk? Somewhere more private?"

Paige searched Emily's face again, "Okay."

They walked outside to Emily's car.

"Haven't you been drinking?" asked Paige.

Emily shook her head "Only one and a half glasses. I think I will be fine."

Paige nodded and they got into the Toyota, Emily driving but not really going anywhere in particular. She stopped at the roadside on a quiet road, a picnic area not far away. Paige looked at her.

"It'll do."

They got out of the car and made their way over to a bench; Paige hugging her arms around her in the chilly night air.

Emily noticed this, "Maybe this is a bad place, are you cold?" She touched Paige's arm and kept it there as Paige looked at her. Her heart jumped a beat again. They stood there, looking at each other; Emily getting lost in those deep brown eyes.

Straightening herself so she was standing directly in front of Paige, Emily put her hand out; Paige took it in hers. Emily looked down at their hands, the heat from Paige's hand feeling good against hers. She moved her thumb over Paige's hand; it felt like little bolts of fire on the tip of her thumb as she glided it along Paige's skin. She heard Paige let out a small gasp and looked up, "Sorry."

Paige raised her free hand and placed it on Emily's arm. She was being really quiet. She sighed, pain in her eyes. "You hurt me that morning, Emily" she said, her voice breaking.

Emily moved her hand from Paige's arm to her cheek.

Paige looked at her, "I don't want to be hurt again." She blinked and a tear escaped down her cheek.

Emily wiped the tear away with her thumb. "I don't want to hurt you again." Paige smiled at her, Emily leaned in and kissed Paige deeply. They rested their foreheads together, "I can't believe I found you" Emily whispered.

"Do you believe in fate?" Paige whispered back. Emily smiled and looked up. Paige kissed her again and led her back to the car, holding her hand. "It's late. You should go home."

Emily nodded, "I guess I should. Will you still be here in the morning?"

Paige laughed, "Of course I will. Give me your phone." Emily let go of Paige's hand and searched her pockets, pulling out her phone. Paige keyed in her phone number and handed it back. "There, I'm now just a phone-call or a text away."

Emily grinned, "Give me yours." Paige handed her phone over and Emily keyed her number in, "There."

They got into the car and Emily drove back to the Hungry Owl Tavern, dropping Paige off before going down the road back to Rosewood. She sang to herself as she drove home, "...You put your arms around me and I'm home."