-Alison's POV-
"So how are you and Hanna?" I overheard Spencer asking Emily.
"We're okay but not that okay but we're okay" Emily whispered back. I think they didn't notice how loud they both were.
"You sound like Hanna right now Em…Ali are you done?" I shook my head so they'd think my attention is still on the review sheets Spencer gave me. Not to brag but I am smart but I still need the Hasting's power to be sure for my AP Chemistry.
"We're okay…as friends. She doesn't want to get back together just yet. I love her Spence. I want to be with her and I'm planning to win her heart again" I look at Emily discreetly. She doesn't look so happy hell she's not happy at all. I know just what could make her happy or rather who.
"I think I'm done Spence. Will you check my work" I cut off their 'secret' conversation and handed Spencer my paper. I gathered my belongings before standing up.
"I'm gonna head out now too. I still need to drop off something for my mom at the precinct." Emily said standing up too. Her mom was now working back at the precinct. I didn't mind the results of the review Spencer gave.
When I got home I left all my school stuff and grabbed the keys of the car my dad gave me. I didn't want it but he insisted. The drive to Hanna's house was rather quick. There was no other car parked outside but Hanna's. She was surprised to see me I could clearly tell.
"Alison, come in" She motioned for me to get in. "Do you want anything? Soda? Tea?" I smiled and thanked her politely. We sat across each other wordlessly until I decided to kill the silence.
"I love Emily." She cut my words off
"I don't think I should be listening to this" I sighed and continued
"I love Emily and she loved me…but she loves you now. I can't force her to choose me. If only I can…well I can't blame her though. After all what I did to her, to all of you, being loved by her at some point is good enough for me." Years ago I wouldn't have been saying these things. I wouldn't have been this vulnerable with anyone. "You're an idiot you know that?"
"Excuse me?" Hanna quite snapped with what I just said but it was right. She was an idiot.
"Emily loves you don't you get it? She wants to be with you. You make her happy. You were the hope she needed at time of despair. You were the light on her darkness. While I, I am the darkness. I remind her of pain and of the heartaches and betrayal."
"But it still hurts. What I heard at the lake house still hurts. Seeing you two makes me hurt. She already said sorry and I forgave her but how can I look at her…and you…and not feel the pain?" Hanna was biting her lower lip that I feared that blood would come out of it soon
"What you heard at the lake house was nothing. I forced her to say it. Well not those words but I provoked her. I wanted to hear those from Emily. I want to hear her say that she still loves me and I did but it didn't make me feel any good. She said it out of spite for me. You wanna know one of my secrets?"
"Here goes the secrets again. Alison is this your way of making us special again and worship you and give in to what you want?" I understood why she had that impression.
"Hear me out. I guess I never told anyone this, maybe Emily but no one else. You know what my biggest regret is? It's not being a bitch to people. Yes I feel sorry but not as much remorse as it. The biggest mistake of my life was telling Emily that all the kisses were just for practice. She believed that lie for a long time that when the time came and I told her the truth she doubted me. She didn't tell me she did but I felt it. So you see letting someone like Emily get away brings you this big hole in your heart and even with my regrets and wishes, I was too late." I didn't hide the tears. I'm not the old Alison who doesn't show her emotions. I wanted Hanna to see that I was serious.
"Where are you getting at? I love Emily okay. I want her but if we're going to get back together I don't want to feel insecure anymore. I don't want to feel scared that one day she's going to leave me for you. It's not something you could help me with or neither can her. This is me now Alison. I need time to reassure myself that Emily and I are something I could hold on to…if possible forever." I reached out to squeeze Hanna's hand. Hanna had always been my second favorite.
"I understand. I just wanted to help. I want to see Emily happy, even if it's not with me. She's broken Han, she needs you. But I think you need to fix yourself first too." She squeezed my hand back and moved herself to hug me.
"Thank you for understanding Ali. If Emily and I work things out you're the first to know…and I promise to take care of your killer. But I just need more time" She said without pulling away.
"Don't take too long Han" I rubbed her back in random patterns. We both pulled away and smiled. Funny how Hanna and I have so much in common. I know I have to make it up to Hanna big time for all the things I've done, this one's a start.
"Stay for dinner. My mom's going home late tonight." She offered.
"How about you tell Mona to come over. The three of us could maybe bond over episodes of Gossip Girl. I haven't got the chance to binge when I was in hiding." I was unsure if she'd like the idea. If there's someone whom I should make up to too it's Mona. I've made her suffer too much. "I mean. I've regretted the way I treated you girls especially her. We've worked together but I didn't get to make it up to her. So...so what'd you say?" Was I rambling?
"Who knew Alison Dilaurentis rambles aside from when she talks to Emily?" I raised a brow at her before laughing with her. Hanna Goofball Marin. "That would be nice Ali"
Hanna, Mona and I ended up having an impromptu sleepover to which I hope the other 3 girls wouldn't mind. It was a sunny Sunday morning when I went home from Hanna's. It was a nice surprise to see Jason around talking about business with dad. If only mom could have seen this.
"Hey Ali" the two men in the house greeted me. I walked to them and planted a kiss on both of their cheeks. I was mean but I did love my family.
"It's nice to see you around Jason. Business huh?" I peeked at the scattered papers on the desk
"I guess it's time to learn something about our family business and put my education into good use." He said proudly putting an arm around my shoulders. Jason had really changed. I was even surprised he graduated from an Ivy League School. Who would have thought?
"Why don't you go upstairs honey. Jason has a surprise for you." My dad said and it made me wonder. Now that A's gone I think I'm up for a good surprise.
I went up to my room to see what the surprise was, turns out that what was a who.
"Cece? Oh my God! Cece!" I ran to my long time best friend and tackled her keeping my arms wrapped around her tight.
"I see you've missed me" she hugged me tighter before she pulled away looking at me from head to foot before pulling me in again. She was always there for me even joining the A team to spy for me.
"When did you get back? You should've called me you bitch. How are you?" When we revealed A's identity I asked for a plea bargain for Cece so that the police would consider her killing of Wilden a self defense. Eventually her name was cleared when the police had connected everything and ruled out that it was indeed self defense.
"Did you like my surprise?" Jason entered my room. I didn't even notice him with how much focused I was on Cece.
"Thank you Jason but wait…how?" Cece walked to Jason and intertwined their fingers together and Jason turned his arm so he could wrap it on Cece while they still hold hands then kissed the top of her head.
"No way!" The two of them just laughed. "Details. I want details"
"Okay. I kept tabs on you. I felt scared when you teamed up with Mona to pull that stunt so I flew back to get closer to you in case something might go out of plan. I coincidentally met with him on a store and he wouldn't let me go until I tell him everything. Did I kill Wilden? What was I doing out in the open? Did I know who killed your mom? The basic questions. I ended up telling him everything I know. To make the story short we got back together." I listened close to Cece's explanation. It was like a story from the movies. Well our lives were too. "and…" Cece didn't continue talking but just showed me her left hand instead. The ring on her finger couldn't be more obvious. RING?!
"What? Wait. For real?" I look at them with astonishment. Cece Drake and Jason Dilaurentis are getting hitched? They both nodded with wide grin on their faces. "Congratulations you two" I wrapped my arms around them. To be honest I couldn't imagine anyone fit for my brother but Cece.
"You, Cece Drake, is a woman full of surprises" I said still hugging them
"Still wondering why we're best friends?" I shook my head
"Could I join the group hug?" My dad said from behind them.
"Come here dad" He joined us. For the first time the Dilaurentis's wasn't all about drama.
Cece and I exchanged more stories before lunch and now that we are eating. Wow! Is this what having a real family feels like?
"So Ali, Jason and I are thinking of going somewhere for a while before settling down. Maybe Greece or Italy " Cece opened up
"What about Paris? It's sweet and romantic" I suggested
"Oh not Paris. I went into hiding in there right? I was thinking of somewhere else…and we were thinking that maybe you want to join us?" she trailed of
"I-I'm not so sure" I just came back and now I'm going away again?
"Think about it Al, you've said it yourself Emily's not into you anymore" Jason butted in the conversation with an amused look
"Hold it. You're into Emily? Emily Fields?" I rolled my eyes and shot Cece a glare. My dad just chuckled.
"Yes. Continue" I motioned for Cece to continue but Jason butted in again
"Wow. How come I didn't know about this? So you really are into jocks sis" he laughed earning a nudge from Cece and a snort from me
"Moving on" I emphasized my words and glared at Cece for mentioning that sad fact
"One of your reasons to come back was Emily but now that you and her can't be something else anymore then the only reason you have is your dad and Jason. With all that had happened don't you think it's nice to have a fresh start? Move somewhere and start over a new." Cece said in a serious tone
"as a family" Jason added now having the same tone as Cece.
"Family" I said the word with a smile. I now have a genuine family. This house, it's not just a house anymore, it's a home. It feels nice.
"Think about it okay?" Cece squeezed my hand but my mind was still amused with the word family.
After that sweet moment with my family, wow family, I'm still dazed with the word, I called Spencer and Aria to help me up with something. I still haven't stopped thinking about the talk I had with Hanna. I realized that in the end I'm still Alison Dilaurentis and I still wanted and could make things go my way.
"Alison are you sure about this? What if Em-" I put my hand over Spencer's shoulder. She was nervous as hell for my surprise to Emily.
"Emily's going to love it. Right Aria?" I looked over to Aria who just nodded. She looked confused though.
"Okay so you know what to do right? See you there" Aria and I ran down through our plan again before I went out of the brew where we met and went to Emily's house. Spencer had already left ahead of me.
"Emily! Emily wait!" I called out when I saw Emily headed to her door.
"Ali. What a surprise" She looked at me and smiled. That was the smile that melts my heart in a blink of an eye
"Can you come with me today? I just need to be somewhere" she looked hesitant. "Please?" I gave her my best puppy look which hopefully she can't turn down
"Fine. I'll just put these grocery bags inside first." She went in and let me wait for her on her porch. It didn't take her long to come back and I drove us both to Spencer's lake house. She didn't ask where we were headed and even fell asleep on the way. God she's so beautiful. I love the way how Emily trusts me.
"Where are we?" She asked when she woke up. I was almost at Spencer's lake house. "Ali?" she looked at me curiously when she had taken in where we were headed
"We're here!" I looked at her and smiled then took the keys out of ignition before going out of the car.
"What are we doing here?" she asked looking around. Emily Fields, the girl with thousands of questions.
"Come on" I took her hand in mine and guided her inside the house. When we got inside the lights were dimmed and there were petals on the floor with fragrant candles lit up. All thanks to Spencer.
"What's this?" Emily asked looking around her
"Being loved by you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I wasn't just loved by anyone. I was loved by the most amazing girl I know, you, Emily Fields. Letting you believe that it was one sided all those time was the biggest mistake I made. I love you Emily. I love the way you smile. I love the way you look when you don't seem to have a clue on what's going on. I basically love all of you. I want to be with you Emily…but maybe not on this lifetime. We've had our chances you were right, we missed all those. I only want you happy Emily and that happiness is not something I could give. I'm…" I almost choked on my words with my tears. "I'm setting you free." I walked closer to her. My feet almost didn't move. I felt so heavy but I was able to move closer to her and kiss her forehead. I stayed in there a little longer before pulling away. "In another lifetime Em, in another set of chances where we could be together, I swear I'll never let you go." I walked away leaving Emily with tears. When I opened the door there was Aria and Spencer looking at me with sympathy. I nodded at them. Phase 2 of the plan.
Aria then guided the blind folded Hanna from her car to the house. I never left my place by the door and neither did Emily who was at the center of the house. I looked at Hanna then looked back at Emily. Before Aria and Hanna could reach the house I rushed back to Emily and pulled her in to plant a real chaste kiss on her lips. One last kiss.
"I love you" I said then I left as fast as I went. When I went back by the door Aria was just about to let loose of the blind fold. Hanna was surprised to see everyone more so the setup inside the house. I gave her a tight embrace and whispered to her ear. "Take care of my mermaid" I brushed past her running to where the cars were parked. I cried my heart out. I haven't felt like this in my whole life. It hurts so much. I love Emily that's why I'm setting her free.
"Ali" I could a hand rubbing circles on my back. I hastily wiped away the tears on my face and composed myself.
"That was the bravest and most selfless thing we have ever seen of you" Spencer said still rubbing my back.
"Thanks for the help guys" They pulled me both in their arms and I broke down. How could I not?
"Ssshh. It's going to be okay" Aria consoled me. I know it would. When I was finally capable of holding back my tears we looked at the couple inside the house. They were talking to each other seriously and I'm almost sure they were crying.
"I think those two would take a while. Aria and I are gonna go now. So, what do you have in mind Ali?" Spencer asked. I thought about it for a moment.
"I'll stick around for a bit, just see how it turns out." They nodded understandably
"See you tomorrow Alison" once more we gave each other a hug before they went inside the car. I waved and waited for them to be gone before I slowly walked to the porch of the lake house. I sat at the very first step of the staircase. I could hear Emily and Hanna talking but the words weren't audible. I could also hear the background music playing. It was Mine by Taylor swift but on Naya Rivera's version. It was part of the plan that when Hanna enters Spencer would start up the song and play it on repeat. I turned around to see what was happening on them two. I saw that they have made up, surely they won't be kissing passionately if they haven't. Emily pulled away and stared at Hanna's eyes the way she used to look at me or even better than that. I was part of Emily's journey but not her destination. Hanna was her soulmate. I stood up and started to walk away. I could still faintly hear the song.
'She is the best thing that's ever been mine'
Yeah. She was, Emily was the best thing that I missed the chance to call mine.
I entered my car and drove away leaving the two lovebirds. As I traveled the road something crossed my mind. I have two paths to travel, one was to stay, the other was to move away…for good.