An update! Thank you as always for all the reviews/follows/PM's etc on the last chapter. Feedback would be much appreciated on this one, it took a few rewrites to get it up. Enjoy :)
Paige groaned, the sunlight blazing through the windows waking her at what she knew was far too early for a Sunday morning. A smile tugged onto her lips as she turned, seeing Emily sleeping soundly beside her. Unable to stop herself, she moved closer, her hand gently trailing over the smooth skin of Emily's back. The night before had been perfect. She shook her head slightly in disbelief, still finding it fairly hard to believe the way things had turned out. Two months, a year ago, waking up alongside Emily Fields, as her girlfriend, after a night of lovemaking, hearing her express how much her feelings mirrored Paige's own, she wouldn't have believed it was in the realm of possibility.
"That tickles," Emily said groggily, one eye flicking open to look at Paige, whose hand stilled but smile never wavered. Scooting closer Emily pushed Paige onto her back, wrapping an arm across her waist and resting her head on Paige's chest. "Why are you always awake so early,"
"You really aren't a morning person are you?" Paige teased, her hand resuming its movement. Emily simply shook her head, kissing Paige's neck lightly before snuggling closer with a sigh.
"I love waking up to you…" Emily began, lifting herself lightly so she was now looking down at her girlfriend. "Even if you do wake me up at…" she paused to glance at the clock. "6.30? On a Sunday, really Paige?"
"I can't help it," Paige shrugged, rolling Emily over so that their positions were reversed. "Besides now that we're awake…" Emily shook her head with a smile, Paige leaning down to kiss her softly. Maybe she could be a morning person, she thought to herself, if every morning was like this.
"It looks pretty murky…" Emily said as she looked down, poking her toes into the water from her spot on the jetty before pulling back, raising an eyebrow in question as she looked to the left to find that the look on Paige's face was nothing short of devious. "Don't you dare…"
"Dare what?" Paige smirked, moving forward to wrap her arms around Emily from behind. They had ventured out to the lake around 11, Paige insisting that as wonderful as staying in bed all day sounded, they should really make the most of the day ahead before they had to make their way home.
"Push me in there, I know you're up to something, it's written all over your face…" She felt Paige giggle slightly before kissing her shoulder lightly, her hands that were linked across her stomach parting to trace small circles on the skin just above the waistband of Emily's shorts.
"That's not what I was thinking of doing…" Paige said, her voice a shade huskier than normal, the small kisses she began to trail from Emily's shoulder upwards along her neck twinned with the movement of Paige's hands running lightly beneath her shirt causing Emily's breath to hitch.
Feeling the mood go from playful to something more, she spun around in Paige's arms, wasting no time to capture the other girls lips, finding herself with an uncontrollable desire for her girlfriend, one that had been ever-present and never sated since they had settled in the night before. She felt Paige nip her bottom lip playfully before deepening the kiss, her hands slowly trailing from her hips all the way down to the tops of Emily's thighs, pulling her closer, Emily unable to stop the small moan that slipped out as they pressed into each other. She could feel Paige grinning as her grip tightened, the kiss growing more frantic as she used her position to lift Emily onto her hips, the other girls legs instinctively wrapping around her girlfriends waist.
"Emily…" Paige gasped as she broke the kiss, Emily looking down at her in confusion as to why she had pulled away, desperately wanting to continue what they had started. Paige began to grin before speaking again. "You are far too trusting…" Emily looked at her in confusion as Paige grinned up at her, pecking her lips lightly once again, before it finally dawned on her what that devilish grin really meant, shrieking out a pleading no as Paige simply laughed and launched them into the lake with a running jump, the girls untangling as their bodies met the water.
"You tricked me," Emily sputtered out as she resurfaced, splashing water Paige's way in annoyance, the other girl still laughing as she swam toward her.
"Forgive me?" Paige said, attempting to wrap her arms around Emily's waist once more, her girlfriend squirming out of her grasp and splashing her once again.
"You're mean," Emily said, trying her best to look angry, unable to fully stop herself from mirroring the grin on Paige's face as the other girl swam towards her once again, their feet tangling beneath the water. "My clothes are soaked,"
"You should take them off…let they sun dry them out while we swim," Paige winked suggestively, tugging at the hem of Emily's shirt lightly.
Emily simply rolled her eyes with a laugh, smirking at her girlfriend and allowing her to pull the shirt over her head, watching Paige as she flung it upwards onto the jetty. "Smooth Mccullers,"
"Race you?" Paige grinned, Emily taking a moment to take in the sight of the girl before her, overjoyed to see Paige so relaxed, thankful that they had this time to themselves to just be.
"No swimming…" Emily said catching a hold of Paige's arm as she turned with a shake of the head. "Just...kiss me."
"I'm going to kill Carly Manford," Emily said, catching sight of Paige's still blackened side as her girlfriend searched for her shirt. After an hour or so by the lake they had made their way back inside, distractedly making their way upstairs and eventually deciding to shower and change. Paige's wincing hadn't gone unnoticed over the past 24 hours. "Are you sure you don't need that seen to? Shouldn't it be healing by now?"
"First of all, you are not going to murder anybody," Paige said finally pulling her shirt over her head, perching on the edge of the bed. "Secondly, it's fine, stop worrying, I know the difference between a bruised rib and a cracked rib,"
"Oh you do, do you Dr Mccullers?" Emily said jokingly as she began to towel off her hair.
"I do actually."
"And how's that?" Emily turned, pulling her own shirt over her head.
"I've cracked a rib before…it's way more painful than this," Paige said nonchalantly, motioning to her side.
"In a fight?" Emily asked, dropping her towel to the floor and leaning against the dresser to give Paige her full attention. Paige opened her mouth to answer, before closing it as she remembered how it had happened. "I was joking…wait it was actually in a fight?"
"Not really…"
"Paige?" Emily asked, watching the look that had come over Paige's face, the memory of whatever it was Paige had been referring too clearly having sent the other girl deep into her thoughts.
"it was when I first found about my Mom, I'd been at the park…" Paige stilled, wondering whether it was really necessary for her to be telling the story, contemplating whether a simpler explanation would suffice. Emily was looking at her expectantly now, she knew Emily would be able to tell she was holding something back. She sighed knowing Emily wouldn't let it go if she didn't continue. "I was with you. In the park, that night…the last night I saw you,"
"When you told me to forget about us…" Emily began, trailing off and deciding to not rehash the events she knew Paige was referring to and allow her girlfriend to continue with her story.
"Yeah that's the one. I was so pissed off at myself for being such a wimp, for being the way I was, and everything else that was going on…my Mom was dying, we were leaving Rosewood, I screwed up with you…It was just too much and I just sort of….wiped out riding home," Paige couldn't read the expression on Emily's face, only able to describe it as a mixture of love and concern. "Hit the curb, went flying into a guard rail on the East Bridge, cracked rib and a concussion. My dad went apeshit." Paige chuckled sadly at the memory.
"Is that why you didn't return my calls?"
Paige shrugged with a small nod. "Partly. I didn't want you to know…I figured you wouldn't want to hear from me anyway,"
"Did you…" Emily stilled, unsure of how to ask her question, unsure if broaching the subject was entirely appropriate, whether it was really something she should be asking, could be asking. She was afraid of the answer. "Was it on purpose? Did you want to..."
"It doesn't matter anymore," Paige sighed, moving to take Emily's hands in her own as she began to protest, pulling her towards herself on the bed so their knees were touching, resting her head on Emily's stomach as she stood in front of her. "Yeah, I think it was. If I hadn't of bounced back off the guard rail…I guess I would have went over it. And at the time…I don't think I would have minded." Emily felt her heart sink, a million thoughts flooding her mind about that night and the time she'd spent with Paige prior to it, realising then that she would gladly take the hurt of Paige leaving without saying goodbye all those years ago ten times over so long as she would never have lived in a reality where Paige hadn't made it home that night. Staying silent, she wrapped her arms around the girl sat before her, holding her close. "It doesn't matter anymore," Paige uttered again, pulling back to look up at Emily, sadness etched over the other girls face. She stood, rubbing her hands across Emily's forearms soothingly before linking their hands. "I ended up here, with you. And maybe neither of us have had the best things happen to us in the past, but it's the past. Sometimes it'll sting…but all I have to think about when that happens is now, here with you, and I remember that no matter how bad things used to be, I got through it all and found my way back to you. I'm beyond lucky,"
"I'm the lucky one," Emily said, kissing Paige's cheek lightly before wrapping her arms tightly around the other girl. She pulled back, wiping her eyes quickly as she realised she had teared up.
"I didn't mean to upset you…"
"You didn't," Emily smiled, Paige's hand coming up to lightly brush a stray tear from her cheek, resting there gently. She lifted her own hand to cover Paige's, turning to kiss the other girls palm softly. "I just...I don't know what I'd do without you,"
"I don't intend on you ever having to find out," Paige smiled softly, kissing Emily lightly on the nose before resting her head on the other girls shoulder, Emily burying her face into the crook of Paige's neck.
"I don't want today to end," Emily said, wrapped around Paige on the couch, her girlfriends hand running slowly through her hair. She didn't know how long it would be before they got another chance to be alone like this, to be so carefree.
"It's only 2.30," Paige smiled, leaning down to kiss Emily lightly.
"I'M COMING INSIDE…PLEASE DON'T BE DOING IT ON THE COUCH!" Emily startled a little, feeling Paige shuffling away and laughing lightly beside her as they took in the sight of Hanna walking through the door, eyes covered, bellowing out to make her arrival known.
"They're clothed Han," Spencer said dryly as she followed behind, pushing the other girl forward so that she and Aria could follow in behind her, the smaller girl throwing them a small wave. "And expecting us,"
"We are?" Emily asked, looking from her friends to Paige who simply shrugged.
"Surprise?" Paige said, the same goofy grin plastered over her face as she'd had when she'd said that the day before.
"How were you expecting to get home Em?" Spencer added, Emily nodding in understanding as she remembered neither she nor Paige had driven out to the lake house.
"Great, looks like we get to have that barbecue after all," Emily said, standing with a smile and relieving Aria of one of the bags she was carrying inside. "Thank you, by the way…for yesterday, best surprise ever," she said with a small blush, all the girls simply shrugging, Paige coming from behind her to grasp her hand before offering her own thanks.
"No problem, sorry for cutting your alone time short, but there are about 5 hours of decent sun left and I have a date with a sun lounger, come get me when the foods ready," Hanna smiled before making her way outside towards the lake, Aria and Emily soon following.
"I guess we're cooking," Spencer said, motioning for Paige to follow her outside before firing up the grill.
Emily smiled to herself as the afternoon passed by. She had been slightly disappointed that her time alone with Paige had been cut short, but the day had been fun, the girls relaxing in the sun and stuffing their faces with food fresh off the grill. She was happy to see Paige interacting with her friends with such ease, the awkwardness and uncertainty that had plagued the majority of their previous meetings no longer present. She smiled as she watched Paige talk, the girls laughing as she told them story after story, managing to keep up with the many tales her friends had spent the day telling. Unable to help herself she found herself moving forward to wrap her arms around her girlfriend. Sighing contentedly as they allowed the day to fade away, Emily committed the past 48 hours to memory, wishing somehow that every weekend could be like this.
It was hard to keep the grin off her face the entire ride home. They'd left at sundown, sadly having to say goodbye to Emily at the lake house, Paige riding with Spencer as she was heading to her sisters in Philly for the night while the other girls headed back to Rosewood. After making plans to meet later that week to go over her college apps, she bid Spencer farewell, climbing the stairway to her apartment with the grin still plastered on her face.
Her father was waiting for as she walked through the door, lips pursed, arms folded across his chest. Her brow furrowed as she looked at him.
"Sorry I'm late back, the girls wanted to spend some time in the city…"
"I know you weren't with the hockey team," he said flatly, Paige dropping her bag to the floor, wincing at the look on his face.
"Dad I…"
"We don't lie to each other any more Paige," he said, sighing to himself, Paige unsure whether he was radiating anger or disappointment. "Where were you? With who? You promised it wouldn't be like it used to be Paige. We both made that promise. Answer me."
"I was with Emily, and her friends," Paige began, surprised to see her Dad's own surprise. Where else would he think she would she be? "Spencer invited us to her lake house…I thought if I asked you you'd say no…"
"We don't lie to each other any more Paige," was all he said in response, standing and making his way toward his room, before stopping to turn back. "Maybe I would have said no, maybe it would have been fair of me to, unfair…I don't know." He paused once again, pinching the bridge of his nose before shaking his head. "I'm trying hard Paige, I really am. We came here to start over, so you could trust me again. But I need to be able to trust you too,"
"I should have told you the truth…Dad, I'm sorry."
"I guess we still have a lot of work to do," he sighed once more, turning his back to her once again and walking down the hallway, closing his door behind him.
Paige watched him walk away, picking up her bag and making her way to her own room, collapsing onto her bed with a sigh of her own. She knew it wasn't just anger or disappointment he had felt, she had hurt him. Her Dad was trying hard. Ever since he had walked into Emily's living room that day, he'd been trying hard not to be the man she once knew, to be better, for her, for them. She knew deep down, she couldn't say she was making the same effort. He had kept his promise, maybe she hadn't. Maybe she had been too focused on her relationship with Emily to notice. She knew deep down that he was right, they both had to make an effort. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, Paige managing a small smile as she saw who was calling.
"I miss you," she heard Emily say as she answered.
"It's been an hour Em," she chuckled lightly, wrapping her arm around her pillow to get comfortable.
"I know. I just...miss you," Emily sighed.
"I miss you too," Paige replied genuinely, a comfortable silence falling over them. "My Dad knew I was lying,"
"Are you in trouble?"
"I have no idea," Paige answered honestly. "He just sort of went to bed without really saying anything. He seemed…kinda sad more than anything. Not to tempt fate, but I kind of wish he'd of just blown up at me like he used to, at least that way I'd know where I stood,"
"I'm sorry I got you into trouble…"
"I'm the one that lied," Paige said again, shaking her head. Of course Emily would try to take the blame. "Not your fault. I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow if I'm getting punished,"
"So maybe we should cancel tomorrow night?" Emily said sadly; they had arranged to meet the next night earlier in the day.
"Maybe," Paige agreed, perhaps it would be a good idea to spend a little more time focusing on home.
"Paige?"
"Mhmm?"
"I wish you were here."
"I know," Paige replied, sighing sadly. She'd only had one night of sleeping by Emily's side and it had spoiled them.
"Do you think one day, every morning could be like this morning?"
"I'd like to think so," Paige said with a small smile, thoughts of what they could be one day easing some of the confusion about what she was going to do about the present.
Spencer Hastings was a machine. When the other girl had mentioned her list of prospective colleges the week before, Paige hadn't expected it to be so long. The detail was both admirable and disturbing for what had been Spencer's back up research; the depth it went into obviously having taken some time. And Spencer was intent on showing her each and every one without pause. The process was exhausting, Spencer's enthusiasm (and apparent caffeine high) was unfortunately not infectious. Still she soldiered on, immensely appreciative of the sheer amount of effort Spencer was putting into helping her.
Her Dad hadn't mentioned anything since she'd arrived home on Sunday, Paige deciding to take the opposite approach to the past few weeks, instead of going out, getting Spencer to come to her. Another thing to thank her for. Her Dad had been polite enough as he'd passed them sitting at the table, still somewhat giving her the silent treatment, Paige putting it on her list of things to sort out after she'd gotten through Spencer's college-a-thon.
"You're sure you want to stay in state?" Spencer asked, Paige nodding frantically, actually quite terrified Spencer was about to pull out a list of god knows what size for the entire country and begin to trawl through it with the same vigour she had the rest of the afternoon.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Paige nodded. "It's for the best. I want to stay near my Dad, and I never thought I'd be saying that."
"And Emily of course," Spencer smiled.
"Of course," Paige grinned at the mention of Emily, before becoming slightly more serious. "Do you think I should try for Penn State?"
"Do you want to try for Penn State?"
"Maybe…I don't know. Honestly, I'd only be going there because of Emily…I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing." Paige answered hesitantly, unsure whether Spencer would interpret her words in the wrong way.
"I don't think it's a bad thing…I also don't think you should be going just for Emily,"
"I think I'm…I think I'm a little jealous of her. And if I went…I'd get more jealous. Swimming, it used to be my thing you know? And now…I don't really have that anymore…I'm so proud of her, and so happy for her, I just in a way, wish we had that…together. Does thinking like that make me a bad person?"
"Not at all, I get that you might feel that way from time to time." Spencer shrugged, Paige relaxing slightly as she saw Spencer wasn't going to react badly. "You guys are solid. After everything you've both gone through to get here, I'm sure if you end a couple of hours apart in different places, it wouldn't make much of a difference. Unless you go all douche-y like you did in Baltimore,"
"I'd like to think I'm over that," Paige stated as Spencer glared at her warningly, before flicking through the papers, fishing out three and laying them out. "Screw it. Penn State, Pittsburg, Drexel. These are my three,"
"Lets do this," Spencer said with a grin.
By Thursday, she had managed to meet Spencer in Rosewood with the approval of her Father, the other girl kindly going over some of her entrance essays. Choosing to meet in Rosewood had its perks as well; taking over an entire table at the Brew meant that she was able to spend any time not focused on the information before her watching Emily work, much to Spencer's chagrin. Hours passed, and finally she had gotten somewhere, confident that by the end of the week she would have everything sorted. Once Spencer left all that was left to do was wait for Emily's shift to finish, using the time she had to go over her information again.
"Ready to go?" She looked up to see Emily standing patiently, nodding with a smile in response as she began to gather up her things. Linking their hands together, they exited the Brew and made off in the direction of Emily's house. "Everything go okay with Spencer? Sorry I couldn't come over much,"
"Yeah, very helpful. Hastings' is a machine," Paige said with a small laugh, Emily just nodding slightly in agreement with a laugh of her own. "I think I've managed to get somewhere though, hopefully,"
"That's good," Emily said, not wanting to press any further, knowing that Paige, as best as she attempted to hide it, was finding the whole thing a little overwhelming. They walked in a comfortable silence, idly chatting now and then as they walked, Paige smirking to herself as she looked down to see Emily wearing the bracelet she'd given her out at the lake house.
"Do you want me to give you a ride home? It's pretty late for the bus," Emily asked, breaking the silence as they arrived at her house, not really wanting Paige to leave so soon after not having seen her since the weekend, the extra time that driving would allow greatly appealing. She was disappointed to see Paige shaking her head.
"Is your Mom home?" Paige asked with a smirk, quietly stuffing her hands into her pockets whilst staring at the house. Emily broke out into a sly smile and grabbed her arm, shaking her head and pulling the other girl towards her door.
"Does this mean I get you for a few more hours?"
"It's your lucky day Fields," Paige smirked, following her girlfriend into the house.
"I suppose it is," Emily grinned, closing the door behind her, pushing Paige up against it to kiss her fiercely. "Finally," she sighed out before reconnecting their lips, the kiss full of intent.
"Evening girls," they heard Pam say, breaking apart quickly, Emily cursing her luck.
"You're home early," Emily said in surprise, Paige's eyes fixed on the floor.
"It appears so," the older woman smirked. "Nice to see you Paige,"
"Likewise Mrs Fields," Paige smiled sheepishly, giving a small wave.
"It's getting a little late, I hope you brought Paige in here to offer her a ride home,"
"Just came inside to get my keys," Emily smiled, Paige trying her best not to scoff at the unconvinced look Pam Fields was giving her daughter. Grabbing the keys from the table by the door, Emily jingled them in the air for emphasis, everyone saying quick goodbyes before Emily yanked Paige out the door and towards the car, shaking her head and pulling the other girl toward her once more. "Not so lucky after all,"
"We still have the car ride," Paige smiled, leaning forward to kiss Emily's cheek.
"I guess we do."
By Friday, Paige could feel things beginning to fall into place. The feeling usually made her feel uneasy, she wasn't used to everything going so smoothly and it always left her with a feeling of impending doom. She'd spent the past few days working on her applications, feeling a great weight off her shoulders when she managed to send them off. Steadily keeping up with her schoolwork and continuing to impress during hockey practice, establishing herself as a solid member of the team, she felt content that she was beginning to get some control over the things that had worried her.
"Paige, sweetheart?" She heard her Dad gently knock on the door, opening it slightly. Signalling it was okay for him to come in, she shut her computer and turned to face him as he leant against the door frame. "Working hard?"
"Almost done," she smiled. Pleasantly surprised to see her Father so relaxed, surprised even more that he'd voluntarily walked into her room to begin a conversation. "I've been doing my research and I may have a chance at applying for a scholarship with Drexel, a slim chance with my inconsistency but…a chance none the less,"
"Don't be fretting about that okay? Scholarships…Paige that's not important," Paige couldn't help but shake her head with a laugh, unable to link the man before her to the Father who would constantly push her for perfection as a child.
"It's a lot of money Dad…"
"Once we sell the house in Baltimore I'll have money set aside for you, you're Mother did too. Go wherever you want, be whatever you want, I'll be proud of you no matter what." She stood cautiously before pulling him into a hug, feeling him chuckle lightly.
"Thank you," she said as her grip tightened, suddenly overcome with emotion at the level of acceptance her Father was offering her. "Are we okay Dad? I'm so sorry about last weekend…"
"We're okay," he said, kissing the top of her head lightly.
"I'll try to be better Dad…"
"Just be you sweetheart, that's enough for me," he said, squeezing her tight. "Just…don't be afraid to talk to me. About anything. I know we're not…I know talking isn't something we did, but I'd like it to be something we can do,"
"Okay."
"You'll be okay this weekend?" He asked, having mentioned the night before he was once again going away on business. Paige nodded as she pulled away, perching on the end of her bed. "Will Emily be coming over?"
"Would it be okay if she did?" Paige asked cautiously.
"I suppose there isn't any reason it shouldn't be," he said after mulling it over. "No sleepovers Paige. And Pam has to say it's okay first,"
"Sounds fair. Thanks Dad," she said, jumping up to hug him again, this time her Dad returning the hug fully.
Everything was coming together.
"Hi it's Paige, is Emily there?…No wait, I want to speak to you actually," Paige said changing her mind, Pam chuckling lightly on the other end of the phone.
"And what can I do for you dear?"
"I was wondering…well my Dad is going away tomorrow and well he said Emily could come over and I wanted to check with you to make sure that it would be alright with you also," Paige said in one long breath, finding herself rather excited about the prospect of the next day. "No sleepovers! Just…to y'know hang out, as long as Emily wants to of course," she added quickly, hearing Pam laugh a little louder this time.
"I don't see why not," Pam said, Paige allowing herself to relax slightly. "I think that's just what she needs. It'll do her good after the day she's had today." Paige was about to question the older woman meant before Pam began speaking once again, "I'll go get her for you, hold on a second."
"Paige?" Emily said softly, her voice small.
"Hey you," Paige replied, smiling at the sound of the other girl's voice. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…just tired that's all,"
"You sure? Your Mom said..."
"Why did you call the house phone?" Emily asked instead of answering.
"I needed to speak to your Mom for a second," Paige said, a smile tugging onto her lips. "My Dad wants you to come keep me company tomorrow night, do you want to?"
"Come over?" Emily asked, not really for an answer. "Of course I do,"
"Great, say 7?"
"I'll be there," Emily responded, happy to be getting out of Rosewood the next day. "Um Paige I don't feel so great tonight, is it okay if I call you in the morning? I need to get some sleep,"
"Of course, sleep sweet okay? I'll see you tomorrow,"
"Paige wait..." Emily said, glancing over to see her Mother smiling softly at her from the doorway.
"What is it Em?"
"I love you," Emily said softly, Paige's heart melting a little as she heard it.
"I Love you too."
Paige smiled, closing the door with a click, smirking as she pulled Emily towards her. "I've missed you," she said, Emily wrapping her arms around Paige tightly. "Feeling better today?"
"Now that I'm here, yeah," Emily responded as Paige pulled back, her hand twisting into Paige's shirt to tug her closer, their lips connecting. As much as Paige had been craving this since they had last seen each other, she begrudgingly pulled away, much to Emily's dismay. "I cooked, if you start making out with me I'll get distracted and it'll burn."
"You can cook?" Emily asked mildly surprised as Paige ushered her into the kitchen, watching the other girl move around preparing their plates.
"Yeah," Paige said, grinning cockily. "I know, just when you thought I couldn't get any more perfect right?"
"Ever so modest Miss Mccullers," Emily said with an eye roll as she took a seat at the counter. "It looks amazing,"
"Only the best for you," Paige smiled, leaning over to kiss Emily before sitting down beside her. They ate in a comfortable silence, Emily reaching out to grab Paige's hand as they ate. No matter where they seemed to be she always found herself wanting to be nearer, closer to the girl, the subtle touch a reminder that they were real. "Are you sure you're okay?" Paige asked with a squeeze of her hand, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong with Emily as she took in the far away look on the girls face, thinking back to Mrs Fields on the phone the night before.
"Yeah, I'm fine. So your Dad is okay now?"
"I think so, like…I really think so," Paige smiled, a genuine smile Emily noted, it was easy to see how much it meant to her. "We're good,"
"And you're okay now? That college is…kind of out of the way?"
"Just need to wait now," Paige said, "I'll worry about it when I get replies,"
"There shouldn't be anything to worry about,"
"I'll take your word for it," Paige said, standing to clear their plates. "Movie?" Emily nodded, making her way to the couch as Paige finished clearing up.
Once the movie was sorted it didn't take long for Emily to cuddle into Paige, her girlfriend placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Emily adjusted herself, soon finding herself looking up at Paige as she watched the movie, the reflections in her eyes, the content smile on her face, taking in every inch of the girl before her. "What?" Paige said, the corners of her mouth turning up, her focus still on the screen as she felt Emily's gaze upon her.
"You," Emily said with a smile of her own, shifting up to lightly kiss Paige's cheek. Paige turned to look at her, adoringly, shaking her head lightly as she moved forward to capture Emily's lips. They kissed slowly, no urgency, no need to take things further. "Did I tell you how much I love you?" Emily said as she pulled away, her face suddenly serious, tucking her head into the crook of Paige's neck as she spoke.
"Not today no," Paige chuckled lightly, pushing a stray strand of hair away from Emily's face as she looked down at the girl beside her, frowning slightly when she saw Emily wasn't smiling. "Are you really okay Em?"
"Yeah. It's just…things could have ended up so differently Paige," Emily replied forlornly. "What you told me at the lake house…"
"What happened to focusing on right now?" Paige interjected, seeing Emily's brow furrow.
"I know, I'm sorry. I can't stop thinking about it," Emily said dipping her head slightly. "I can't imagine a world without you in it. Even when you left, before we were even together…I still felt better knowing you were out there somewhere. I thought about you all the time, I really did even if I shouldn't have been. And when you came back…I knew even before anything happened between us that you had me, that no matter what I did…I'd want you. I am terrified of being this in love with you Paige, terrified."
Paige sat in silence for a moment, looking at Emily in confusion and awe, wondering where that had come from. She knew Emily loved her, could see it plain as the day, the pained expression on Emily's face as she'd spoke beginning to worry her.
"I'm sorry," Emily said bashfully, sitting up, turning away from Paige.
"Em," Paige said softly, scooting closer to the other girl, lightly cupping her cheek in an attempt to get her to look at her. "Emily…I'm not going anywhere, you have me, completely,"
"I know I do," Emily said with certainty, finally meeting Paige's eyes. "But sometimes…it's not in our control is it?"
"Maybe not." Paige nodded after a moment in agreement, slowly moving the hand that was resting on Emily's cheek to wrap her arm around the girl she loved so much. "What was your Mom talking about yesterday? What's brought this on Em?"
"Yesterday, the police arrested someone. They think he killed Maya," Emily said, not failing to notice Paige tensing slightly, if only for a moment, the news clearly as unexpected to her as it had been to herself. "My Mom said they'd been looking for him for weeks, and they found him in Rosewood last night. He was an old boyfriend of hers, and they have substantial evidence that he…that he killed her,"
"That's a good thing, right?" Paige said softly, understanding the frustration the lack of knowing had caused, how never knowing who or why kept Emily from getting much-needed closure.
"It will be everywhere Paige. My Mom told me when she got back from the station last night that they're releasing a statement tomorrow, and then there will be a trial…big new's in a small town." Emily said, taking in the look of concern on Paige's face as she spoke. "I'd forgot that he was still out there somewhere. Can you believe that? I think about her a lot, but not like before…I'd stopped thinking about how any why and who and just focused on the good thing's we'd had, and now…everyone's going to be focusing on the bad again…"
"Em," Paige said softly, her heart breaking for her girlfriend.
"I don't want to think about it. I don't want to go back to that, I was past it, Paige, and everything is going so well now, I have you, and a future and…"
"And that doesn't have to change," Paige said cutting her off. "You have me, and you still have everything you've worked for, it's yours and this won't take it away from you. It'll be hard, but you're tough, and if sometimes it's all too much, well I'll be tough for you."
Emily finally turned to face her, nodding appreciatively as she saw the sincerity in Paige's eyes. "I know. Thinking about it just…reminded me of how fragile everything really is. How you're here, but you won't be forever. But mostly it made me realise how happy I am to have you. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you Paige, anyone, and I needed you to know that today. Every day." Emily said, before sinking into her girlfriends arms, Paige shifting back so they could lay down on the couch.
"You know the feelings mutual right?" Paige smiled softly.
"I do," Emily said, finally managing a small smile. "Paige?"
"Yeah?"
"We missed the movie,"
"I guess we did," Paige laughed lightly as she saw the credits rolling on the screen. "Want me to start it over?"
"Can we just stay like this for a bit?"
"Of course," Paige replied, turning off the TV and pulling Emily closer, holding Emily protectively to her as she attempted to soothe her.
Paige woke to the gentle buzzing of her phone in her pocket, extracting herself carefully from Emily on the couch, leaving the other girl sleeping soundly. "Hello?" she said as quietly as she could manage, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Paige? Is Emily with you?" She heard Pam Fields worried voice on the other end of the line. "She isn't answering her phone,"
"Yes, sorry Mrs Fields, we were watching a movie and we must have fallen asleep,"
"It's awfully late," Pam said after releasing a relieved sigh.
"I'm really sorry," Paige said glancing to the clock to see that it was indeed far later than she'd thought it would be. "She was pretty upset about Maya, I guess she kind of wore herself out. I'll wake her for you, I know she should have been home hours ago,"
"You had me worried," Pam continued. "Don't wake her. She didn't sleep at all last night. And I don't want her driving home alone at this time of night anyway. I'm trusting you be sensible,"
Paige stomach flipped as she took in what Pam was suggesting, desperately not wanting to leave Emily alone when she was so clearly unsettled, before frowning slightly as she remembered her conversation with her Father the night before. No sleepovers. No more lies. "I don't know if my Dad would be happy about that,"
"You let me worry about your Father," Pam said, causing Paige to laugh lightly, chewing her bottom lip nervously in contemplation. "This will be our secret,"
Paige didn't want to keep any secrets from her Father, but looking over to Emily, lying on her couch looking so peaceful, an offer like Pam's was hard to say no to. "Okay,"
"I'm trusting you," Pam repeated. "Be here early tomorrow, I'll take you both out to breakfast. Goodnight honey,"
"Goodnight."
Paige placed her phone down, slowly walking to Emily and crouching down beside her. Brushing the hair from her face, she leant forward to lightly kiss her forehead, tempted, as she looked so peaceful, to cover Emily with a blanket and leave her sleeping, before deciding against it. Nights together were few and far between, to miss out on Emily sleeping soundly in her arms would be something she'd regret. "Hey, sleepy head,"
She watched as Emily stirred slightly, before shooting up, groaning when she looked at the clock. "My Mom is going to kill me," she sighed, standing and quickly gathering her things.
"Not so fast," Paige smiled, grabbing her hands, Emily looking at her curiously as she took the bag from her and placed it back on the floor. "Your Mom called…she thinks it's best if you stay here tonight,"
"I'm still asleep aren't I?" Emily said causing Paige to smile.
"No," Paige chuckled lightly, grabbing Emily's hand in her own and pulling her forwards. "She's just worried about you, doesn't want you alone tonight. Neither do I. She's going to meet us for breakfast tomorrow."
"What about your Dad?"
"He'll understand," Paige said softly, deciding to deal with his reaction should she come to it. Emily not needing any more convincing, tugged lightly on Paige's hand before frowning as Paige stood still. "Go get into bed, I'm just going to clear up a little. Borrow whatever you need, spare toothbrushes are in the cabinet,"
Emily nodded, stretching slightly as she made her way to the bathroom, brushing her teeth quickly before making her way into Paige's room. She rummaged absent-mindedly through Paige's dresser, pulling out the first sweater she found, deciding it would be enough as she undressed and pulled it over her head. She took comfort in the fact it smelled of Paige, climbing into the other girls bed, deciding that there was nowhere on earth she would rather be at that moment.
"Okay?" Paige asked, as she walked inside, Emily nodding as she shut the door with a click. She walked over to the bed, leaning down to kiss Emily softly before sitting on the edge to tug on her pyjamas.
"Sorry it's a little cramped…" Paige said in a moment of self-consciousness as she squeezed in alongside Emily in her single bed. It didn't take long for Emily to bury herself into Paige's embrace, Paige shaking her head at herself as she realised cramped wasn't a bad thing where Emily was involved, her girlfriend simply moving closer as she spoke.
"I'm glad I'm here," Emily said after a while, fearing for a moment that Paige had fallen asleep as the other girl failed to reply. "Thank you for letting me stay,"
"Anytime," Paige responded, turning to face the other girl, keeping her arms wrapped protectively around her. "Try and get some sleep okay? We can worry about tomorrow tomorrow."
Emily sighed, afraid of what the next few days would bring, content that for now she was safe in Paige's arms.