As ever thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing and favouriting and following….everything. I'm so overwhelmed by it all genuinely.

Recklesslittleliar: I'm so sorry I haven't given you a shout out before now, I always read you're reviews. I didn't realise I hadn't mentioned them before. Thank you so much for sticking with me it means the world. You will get a shout out every time from now on!

Sofiaocampo: hmmmm….they won't really be cut any slack this chapter but hopefully you'll like where it's heading.

Breyanaxo: I'm so glad you think I'm doing the right thing :)

Beautifuldreamerr: uh oh! This chapter has a lot of Josh :/ But hopefully there will be lots more cute Spemily moments soon.

Soooo….Spencer's going on her date with Josh. Everyone hates him but let's see what happens.

I don't own Pretty Little Liars.

Enjoy…

Chapter 10:

The slightly euphoric feelings of Saturday night had dulled by Sunday morning, both girls realised they had to face reality. Well at least they did once they were out of bed; it was still pretty exciting to wake up in each other's arms with the memories of the confessions and kisses from the night before still fresh in their minds. But everything had to go back to normal, or at least as normal as they could manage. Spencer felt like she might cry when Emily had left after breakfast, there were no hugs or kisses goodbye; neither girl was sure if they could stop themselves if they started. Although Spencer knew she had a lot to figure out and had to get a lot of things straight in her head the idea of taking things slowly still stung. She wanted to be able to hold and kiss Emily whenever she felt like doing so, but she knew that Emily was right, she wasn't sure if she was ready for the ramifications of being with a woman. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the looks and the questions and the comments. She had just got out from underneath –A's constant gaze, she didn't want to feel like all eyes were on her all over again.

Both girls had decided to go on as usual, no avoiding each other or over thinking whether to call or text the other. They would go on like always, just with the knowledge that they both wanted each other, which should be easy right? Their Monday night trip to the movies wasn't as awkward as they thought it wold be, they had even managed to make light of the situation when Emily joked about avoiding the back row of the theatre just in case. All in all the night went by without too much tension, they began to think that maybe they do this after all. That was until Emily realised that tomorrow night was Spencer's date with Josh and she got that all-consuming feeling of jealously that she was learning to associate with the boy. Emily had gone silent pretty quickly at the thought of him, Spencer of course had noticed and the tension that had been missing all night reared its ugly little head.

It was now Tuesday and Spencer was getting ready for, and dreading, her date with Josh. She'd called Emily before the other girl left for swim practice and asked her if she really had to go. The swimmer had reluctantly explained again why it was necessary for her to make sure she had explored every avenue. Spencer felt guilty for stringing Emily along and for deciding before the date had even begun that it would go badly. Josh was a nice guy, a good guy, he deserved better than someone who wasn't really interested. So she had decided to give it her best go, he deserved that at least, but more importantly she had promised Emily that she would.

When Josh had called to arrange the date he had told Spencer to pick a restaurant, which she guessed was sweet…or lazy, she hadn't decided yet. Either was she had chosen a small bistro just off the beaten track and made a reservation for 7.30. Josh had seemed happy with her choice and had promised to pick her up at 7, it was now 5.30 and Spencer knew that if she stood any change of being ready on time she had to start moving now. She reluctantly dragged herself off the couch and headed for the shower, she washed her hair quickly before stepping from underneath the water and wrapping a towel around her body. Walking into her bedroom she slipped on some underwear and sat on the edge of her bed in front of her vanity mirror to blow dry her hair. Once she was done and happy with the way her hair curled and fell around her face she moved over to her closet .Pulling the doors open she scanned the contents, she wanted to find something that would impress, this was a date after all, but also something that wouldn't make her look like she was trying too hard.

The first dress that Spencer tried on was a peach colour with frills, it looked nice but maybe a bit too summery for December. She slipped the dress off and threw it into the corner of the room. The next outfit she tried was purple scoop necked top and a high waisted skirt, but she wasn't happy with this either, she fished through her jewellery box pulling out a few necklaces and throwing them around her neck hoping this would help. She looked in the mirror and sighed, she looked too much like she was going to a job interview. She dragged this outfit off too, throwing it on top of the dress in the corner of the room. She started again, she was starting to feel a little nervous and she had no idea why. This time she went for something a little more casual opting for a deep blue blouse which she tucked into her tightest skinny jeans before putting on brown boots. She looked in the mirror groaning, this wasn't right either. She pulled the clothes off, throwing them onto the growing pile and walking over to her closet for the fourth time. She looked down the rail again, she was getting frustrated now, why did she care so much, she didn't even like Josh but she was stressing over her outfit so much. Her eyes fell on a dark grey spaghetti strap dress, she pulled it on hastily, she was pretty sure this was the one. The dress stopped about midway down her thigh, again she wasn't sure if it was really suitable for winter, but she could fix that. She slipped on a tightly fitted blazer which she added a thin belt around to further accentuate her tiny waist, she then pulled on her above the knee black boots. Spencer looked in the mirror and was finally happy with what she saw. She sat back at her mirror and spent the next ten minutes getting her make up perfect; when she was done it was twenty minutes to seven. She picked up a handbag that complimented her outfit and went out into the living room to track down all the items she would need for the evening. As she picked up her cell phone it began to buzz in her hand, she looked down at the caller ID, it was Josh. Was he here already? Fifteen minutes early, she was impressed. She answered the call, "Hello?"

"Hi Spencer" Josh said, he sounded nervous and Spencer couldn't help but smile, there was no denying Josh was sweet. "You're gonna hate me"

The smile slipped from Spencer's face, she was confused. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Josh just seemed to pick up where he left off before. "And you should hate me, because I'm the biggest jerk ever, its only fifteen minutes until our date. You are going to hate me" he rambled.

"Ok" Spencer cut him off. "Can you tell me why I hate you? She asked.

Josh took a deep breath. "Some friends and I entered a knowledge bowl" he paused ""It's kind of like a quiz thing." he began to explain.

"I know what a knowledge bowl is Josh" Spencer cut in sounding short.

"Yeah, right" He stuttered. "Well we got knocked out before the semi-finals, but a team got disqualified so we got called up. And….the semi-final is tonight" He paused.

"Oh" Spencer breathed, she looked down at her outfit that she had spent so long picking out and began to feel entirely stupid.

"We called everyone we could think of but no one can take my place. I can't let my team down" Josh said quietly.

Spencer had to save some of her shattered pride, she didn't want to seem too bitter. "No of course you can't I completely understand" she said trying to keep her voice even, it was threatening to crack at any moment.

"I'm so sorry Spencer" Josh offered. "I'll make it up to you I promise" he said.

"Don't worry about it Josh. Just….win ok" Spencer tried to sound reasonable.

"We'll try" Josh said, felling stuck for what more to say.

"Ok, well I gotta go" Spencer lied, scared her voice would betray her very soon if she didn't end this conversation.

"I'm so sorry" Josh said again.

"Good luck" Spencer offered before hanging up the phone. She flopped backwards onto the couch and threw her arm across her eyes, attempting to stem the tears that were flowing from them. She felt so stupid, she'd taken so long getting ready, she'd made sure her hair, her makeup , her outfit was perfect, she'd made reservations that she would now have to cancel. She felt like a fool and she was embarrassed. She hadn't even wanted to go on the date; she didn't know why she was so upset. But she just felt pathetic, she'd been stood up by a guy she didn't even like. Spencer looked at the phone still in her hand, she wanted to throw it at the wall, she pressed a button to light up the screen and she caught sight of her background. It was a picture of her and Emily taken in the bathroom of a club, Emily was laughing at the stupid face Spencer was pulling, it was candid and Emily looked so beautiful. The tight knot of anger and embarrassment in Spencer's chest loosened a bit at the sight of the swimmer. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips but it quickly disappeared as she sighed, she had a phone call to make.

Emily's practice had gone well, she felt good. The heavy work out had served to ease some of the tension that had built up over the last few days. She'd decided to shower at home so she could take her time under the hot water and work out all the kinks that had appeared. Right now she was stood in the middle of her room in just her underwear trying to decide what to wear for the rest of the evening she had planned. She heard a noise coming from her duffel bag, realising it was her phone she fished around I the side pocket until she found the device, her heart skipped a beat when she saw who was calling. She answered quickly "Hey Spence, aren't you supposed to be on a date?"

"Yeah, Yeah I am." Spencer said sounding distracted. "I got stood up" she said so quietly Emily almost missed it, she could hear the tears in Spencer's voice and it made rage erupt within her.

"What the fuck!" she shouted. "He stood you up? Seriously" she asked incredulously.

"Yes seriously. I feel so stupid Em" Spencer admitted.

"Believe me Spencer you are not the stupid one. Who does that grinning idiot think he is? He stood you up?" Emily asked again. Before Spencer could say anything Emily began again. "Has he looked at you? You do not stand girls like you up. He is an idiot" Emily ranted as she dug through her closet. She pulled out her skinny jeans and started to tug them on.

Spencer laughed an emotionless laugh. "Thanks Em. But god I feel so stupid" She said again. "I tried on four outfits tonight" By now Emily had slipped on a cream floaty blouse and was looking for her boots.

"Four? Really? Emily said, jealousy flaring up inside her that Spencer would try so hard for this guy.

"Yeah I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard" Spencer replied as Emily laced up the boots that she had finally found under her bed.

"Did he just not show up?" Emily asked still incredulous that anyone could stand up Spencer Hastings.

"No he called" Spencer said. Emily was now grabbing her handbag and looking for her car keys.

"Well I hope he had a good excuse" The swimmer sad sternly.

"He called around 6.45 to…" Spencer began but was cut off by Emily.

"Wait he called at 6.45? He was meant to pick you up at 7!" Emily shouted as she attempted to close her front door quietly behind her.

"I know right?" I'm completely ready. My hair is done, my makeups done, I'm all dressed up. My purse is even packed Em." Spencer said sounding small. It made Emily's heat melt at the thought of Spencer sat there ready with nowhere to go. She hit the elevator button a few more times impatiently.

"God he's such a jerk. If I didn't hate him before, I do now. I'm gonna kill him if I ever see him again" Emily said angrily.

Spencer couldn't help but chuckle at Emily's reaction. "You sound like Hanna" she joked.

"I don't care. I will" Emily replied.

"Why did you hate him before?" Spencer asked hoping she already knew the answer.

Emily paused before she answered, smiling because she knew why Spencer was asking. She decided to give her this once since she was having a bad day. "Because he was going out on a date with you and I was jealous" she said in a matter of fact tone.

"Well you don't have to worry about that now" Spencer said sarcastically. Emily was now making her way out of her building and heading towards her car.

"Spencer I'm not happy that this happened to you. I'd rather feel jealous than have you ever be upset" Emily said sincerely.

"I know that Em, I'm sorry I'm just mad" Spencer replied.

"It ok, don't apologise" Emily reassured. "So did he tell you why he didn't come?" she asked as she shut the car door.

"What was that?" Spencer asked having heard a loud bang.

"Nothing" Emily replied quickly. "So why didn't he come?" she asked, trying to change the topic as she put Spencer on loud speaker and put her phone in its cradle on the dashboard.

"Ok so like I said he called and he was ranting about how I was going to hate him" Spencer stopped when she thought she heard a car start. "Are you in the car? she asked.

"No I just opened my window" Emily lied. "Now carry on" she demanded as she pulled away from the curb.

Spencer sighed. "Basically he isn't coming because his knowledge bowl team got into the semi-finals when some other team got disqualified. The semi-finals are tonight" Spencer summarised.

"What a tool. He needs to sort out his priorities" Emily said.

"I think he has his priorities in order Em. I'm just not one of them" Spencer said sadly.

Anger washed over Emily again, partly that someone had made Spencer feel bad and partly that she seemed to care so much.

"Well you should always be the priority Spence" Emily snapped. "People as amazing as you have to be the priority" she said without thinking.

"Em" Spencer said gently, sensing the other girl's anger and wanting to calm her. "I don't want to be his priority" she said, hoping the other girl would understand that she meant she wanted to be Emily's.

Emily sighed, letting go of some of her frustration. "I know Spence. But god I'm so mad at him" she growled.

"Me too. I wish I never agreed to go out with him, I didn't want to in the first place" Spencer said, her own frustration showing now.

"Then why did you?" Emily asked.

"I don't really know. We had just argued and I was mad at you. You were having such an affect on me and I hated it, I was scared. I saw you in that take out place and then Josh came in and he kept me from you" Spencer paused, she wasn't sure where she was going with this. "Everyone seemed to be able to affect me so much, I just wanted to take some control. I wanted to see how me going out with Josh would affect you" Spencer stopped, realising how terrible that sounded. "I deserved to be stood up tonight. I'm a bitch."

"No you didn't spencer. You're human, we all make bad decisions sometimes. It doesn't mean you should be punished." Emily reassured.

"Thanks Em" Spencer said while Emily pulled into a parking space and shut off the engine of her car.

"I can't believe he'd rather be with a bunch of geeks than you" Emily huffed as she removed her phone from its cradle and got out of the car.

"He said he tried to find someone to fill in for him" Spencer said.

"Don't you dare defend him" Emily snapped her raised voice masking the sound of her car door closing.

"I wasn;t, I was just…oh I don't know" Spencer stuttered. "He sounded really sorry"

"Spence" Emily said incredulously, unable to believe Spencer seemed to have an sympathy towards Josh.

"Urgh" Spencer let out an exasperated sigh. "I need to call the restaurant and cancel our reservations. How mortifying" she said sounding embarrassed.

"Wait" Emily shot out, she really needed Spencer to stay on the phone for a few more minutes. "What…erm…" she stuttered trying to think of something to say. "Spence, what is a knowledge bowl?" she asked as she entered the building she was heading for.

Spencer chuckled slightly at Emily's question. "It's like a quiz, you have a team of people that answer questions on anything basically. It can be history, maths, science…anything. I guess he's important for the politics and law questions" Spencer explained.

Emily smiled to herself as she stepped into the elevator and pushed the floor number. "Really spencer? You were going to go out with a guy in a knowledge bowl team?" she joked.

"Shut up" Spencer said, pretending to be offended. "He's funny in class and in my defence I didn't know he was on a knowledge bowl team" she said smiling, amazed that Emily had managed to get he out of her funk.

"You need someone exciting and spontaneous Spencer, someone who can make you laugh and who keeps life interesting" Emily said in what Spencer thought was a flirty tone.

"Really? Do you have a certain swimmer in mind?" Spencer asked with a sultry voice.

"hmmmm" Emily hummed pretending to think. "I don't know, I think Holly has a girlfriend. But I can check for you if you'd like?" she asked and Spencer could hear her smile through the phone. She was about to answer back when she heard a knock at the door. She looked around confused, she wasn't expecting anyone, she had no idea who it could be.

"I've gotta go Em, there's someone at the door" she said.

"Oh ok" Emily said sounding disappointed. "Well call me later ok?" she asked.

"Sure, speak to you later" Spencer said as she hung up. She made her way to the door, on the way she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She sighed thinking about how stupid she was going to look answering the door all dressed up. Spencer stepped forward opening the door, as she did she was sure her heart stopped for a millisecond. There stood Emily in skin tight jeans and a cream blouse that showed off just enough cleavage to be torturous. Spencer's mouth went dry.

"Hi" Emily said ginning. "Sorry I was almost late for our date, traffic was a nightmare" she joked with a wink. Spencer didn't say anything, she grabbed Emily by the hand dragging her into the apartment. She pushed the door closed behind the swimmer before slamming her backwards like she had a few nights ago. Spencer kissed her full ion the lips, she couldn't believe how sweet Emily was, she had come all this was over here when she was most likely exhausted from training. Spencer slipped her hands into Emily's still damp hair and grabbed a handful of the locks, pulling the girl further into her. Spencer deepened the kiss, gasping when the intoxicating taste of Emily burst across her tongue, she couldn't believe how much she'd missed this. She felt Emily start to pull away.

"As much as I'd love to carry this on if we don't leave now we'll miss your reservation. Please tell me you haven't cancelled it yet?" Emily asked.

"Nope" Spencer said grinning.

"Good, let's go" Emily said opening the door. "You look beautiful by the way" she added as she tucked a strand of Spencer's hair behind her ear.

I'm gonna be really busy over the next week, I have family staying and it's my mums birthday so it might be two weeks before I can update. I'm so sorry. Please, please, please keep reviewing. Let me know if you like where it's going or if you NEED it to go somewhere else haha. Let me know how you feel you amazing people. Thanks for reading.