A/N: Apologies in advance but I just let this run and this is where it went! Let me know what you think and what you want to happen! :) Just for the record, I have no idea at this stage who is endgame.

Chapter 12

"So how serious is it with you guys?" Spencer asked as the two sat studying.

Aria bit her lip as it curled into a smile, "I don't know," she mumbled, "I really, really like her."

"You guys are pretty cute," Spencer grinned, "So like, have you guys had se-"

"Spence!" Aria exclaimed, hitting her friends arm, "No! I mean, it hasn't been that long… plus, it can be sorta hard to get time to ourselves with our parents all over the situation," she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah… well, at least your parents are cool with it," Spencer shrugged before her eyes lit up, "Hey! I have an idea. You guys could go up to my lake house. It's basically unused just sitting there… you could just tell your parents all of us are going," she sensed her friends hesitation, "I mean, you don't have to actually do anything, it might just be nice to have some alone time out of Rosewood."

Aria thought about it for a moment; it sure would be nice to have some completely to themselves, away from prying parent eyes, "Hmm," she wondered, "You think we could do it this weekend?"

Spencer nodded, "Sure, I'll bring the keys in tomorrow!"

"This weekend?" Emily asked hesitantly as her and Aria lay in Aria's bed.

Aria nodded, "Sure, I mean, we didn't have anything else planned, right?"

"The lake house…"" Emily pondered.

Aria's propped herself up on her elbows, looking at her girlfriend, "You think it's a bad idea."

"No, it's not that. It's just I think my dad might be coming home this weekend. I'm not sure, mum's waiting for the call," Emily smiled apologetically.

"Oh," Aria nodded, "Well, sure, we can always do it next weekend, I guess."

Emily nodded, "Sure. Sounds great," she smiled.

Aria watched her girlfriend closely, "Are you okay? You seem a little quiet the last few days," she said a little nervously.

"Sorry, I guess I haven't been sleeping so well," Emily offered. It was true, after all.

"Yeah," Aria nodded quietly, "Have you been thinking about Alison?"

"Alison?" Emily said quickly.

"I've thought about it too, Em," Aria stated, "I mean, we all have… It kind of came pretty out of the blue and all…"

"Uh-huh," Emily replied numbly.

"Em?"

"What?" Emily asked.

"Are you sure you're okay? I know it's different for you so if – "

"It's not," Emily cut in, "And I'm fine."

Aria frowned, not buying it, "Okay… but you know it's okay not to be fine."

"But I am," Emily said firmly.

Aria was losing her patience, "Fine, you're fine. Great," she crossed her arms.

Emily was confused, "Now you're mad?" she asked incredulously, "Why are you mad?"

Aria sat up fully, moving to the edge of her bed where Emily quickly followed, "You're not the only one who was friends with her, Emily," there was a cool edge to her voice Emily didn't like.

"I know that," Emily said.

"Then why didn't you ever ask if I was okay? Didn't you ever think about how this might affect me? Or didn't you care?" Aria was getting fired up now.

"Of course I care," Emily replied guiltily and wide eyed.

"Just because you're in love with her doesn't mean you're the only one who this affects," Aria snapped but bit her lip the moment she heard her own words.

Emily stood up, "You think I'm still in love with her?" her voice was rising now, "Why would you say that?"

"You act like she was your girlfriend and the rest of us were just your little minions or something," Aria was standing now, "Like you're the only one that cares."

Emily's face was burning and she didn't know if it was in anger or embarrassment or shame, maybe all three, "I know you care," she got out between gritted teeth, "I just don't know if you really want Ali to be alive."

Aria's eyebrows raised so high they disappeared under her hair, "I can't believe you just said that. Why the hell wouldn't I want her to be alive?"

"Because it might change things," Emily snapped before biting her tongue.

The two stared at each other for a few moments.

"Would it change things?" Aria asked, unable to hide the hurt in her voice.

Emily's uncrossed her arms, "I… I…," she struggled, "I have to go," she muttered before turning and walking out.

Aria shook her head, too mad and sad and confused to follow her girlfriend right now. They were both too fired up to have a rational conversation anyway. She sat back on the edge of her bed and put her head in her hands.

Maybe it had been too soon, she thought miserably, maybe she hadn't given Emily enough time. There were so many signs she'd ignored. She just really liked Emily. She lay back on her bed and wondered how a sweet cuddling session on her bed had turned into… Whatever this was. Were they even together? Why hadn't Emily been able to answer the question?

Aria groaned as she curled into a ball under the covers.

Emily was in tears by the time she got home. She had ran home, hoping to burn off her angry energy but it hadn't really helped. She was glad her mum had left for Texas today. She stomped up the stairs. Emily wiped her eyes as she walked into her bedroom. She huffed.

"You ruined everything," she glowered, crossing her arms.