It was finally the day that Hanna had been dreading, her bridal shower. She was now thankful that Jordan decided not to come, because she hadn't exactly told Emily that she couldn't stay with her anymore. She hadn't even seen her since the morning before when everyone was over to set up for the party.
Emily had stayed at The Brew for the majority of the day and even drove into Philly that evening to meet Paige and her parents for dinner. When she had finally returned to the loft, she quietly let herself in and tip-toed as quickly as possible to the bedroom.
Emily still wasn't sure what the kiss with Hanna meant, but all she knew was that she didn't want to think about it. She was with Paige now and they had a good thing going. She didn't want to screw that up for someone who wasn't even available. Someone that was getting married. Someone that couldn't feel the same way.
Emily wasn't exactly looking forward to the bridal shower either, but knew she couldn't avoid it. She knew she had to show up, she lived there after all. Thankfully Aria and Spencer arrived early, so there was very little time that Hanna and Emily were actually alone in the apartment together.
As other guests began arriving, Hanna was pulled in a million different directions, greeting everyone and thanking them for coming. It was challenging at first to sidestep the dozen or so questions, mostly from her New York friends, as to why Jordan wasn't there, but eventually the lie became a well-rehearsed script.
Hanna's mom noticed her irritation and while they were still technically fighting, she wanted this shower to fun for Hanna. After all, Hanna would only get one bridal shower and she would only get to be the mother of bride once. A role she took very seriously.
As the party continued, Ashley began rounding up guests to play some games. She knew Hanna felt like she hadn't given Jordan enough of a chance, so she had stayed up late the night before putting questions together that all had to do with Jordan. She wanted to show Hanna how much she did know about him and prove that she really did like him.
"So for 25 points, where did Jordan propose?" Ashley asked.
Spencer was fidgeting in her seat, she loved competition and knowing more than everyone else, so she quickly yelled out the answer.
"Correct!" Ashley exclaimed before launching into the next question. "Ok, for 50 points, how did the bride and groom meet, Aria?"
"Umm…yeah…I think it was at a mutual friend's party?" Aria answered tentatively, not seeming to recall if that was the right answer.
"Nope, sorry. Spencer, since you answered the last question, you have the chance to steal…" Ashley chimed in, keeping the game going.
"Wait, I know this…" Spencer responded as she racked her brain trying to remember if Hanna had ever told her the story of how they met.
Emily knew the answer, or at least the story that she had crafted in her head when she learned that Hanna had moved on after their break up. That story, even though it probably didn't match the actual truth of how they met, always bothered Emily. Now, given the events of the last several days, it was affecting her even more than she cared to admit.
Hanna could feel the tension rolling off of Emily and couldn't take any more questions about Jordan either. Hanna wasn't even sure whether there would be a wedding. He hadn't forgiven her and he had barely even spoken to her since their conversation a few nights earlier when he found out about Emily. She couldn't exactly tell anyone that though.
"You know...this game is kind of silly. Isn't there one where you take a shot everyone someone says the word bride?" Hanna tried to interject jokingly as she stood up to get a much needed cocktail.
As Hanna left the game, Emily took this as an opportunity to stand up and try to shake off the jealousy and irritation that she was feeling. The living room was feeling crowded so she headed towards the dining room area where it was more quiet, needing a second or two to clear her head.
Emily felt her phone vibrate, so she sat her drink and purse down on the ledge of the fireplace to retrieve her phone and check her message. She assumed the text would be from Paige, checking in from her family party but was surprised to see it was actually from Hanna.
I can't take the awkwardness anymore. Can we talk tonight, after the party? Please? – Hanna
Emily hesitated a second before beginning to text back, unsure at first of how to respond. However, she was quickly interrupted though by extremely loud heavy metal music that began blaring through the loft.
"Mom, turn it off!" Hanna yells from across the room.
"I'm trying, it's stuck!" Ashley responds, frustrated with this whole "smart loft" thing that doesn't actually make any sense. All she was trying to do was put on some fun and upbeat background music, since clearly the games hadn't gone over well with her daughter.
"Here, let me try." Hanna yells, as she snatches the tablet away from her mother.
Hanna hits a few more buttons, but doesn't make things any better. She finally got the music off, but it was replaced by a loud panic alarm. The tablet was flashing "Total System Failure" at her in large red letters but she kept looking for some kind of override button.
Just as she finds a way to turn off the system, she hears a loud whoosh sound and a blood curdling scream. She would know the scream anywhere and instantly felt her entire body break out into a cold sweat.
The fireplace that Emily had been standing next to had turned on, full blast. The flames engulfed her for several seconds before she fell to the floor in agonizing pain.
Without thinking, Hanna felt herself running towards Emily and the flames. Spencer grabbed the tablet as Hanna ran past her and eventually got the system to turn off entirely.
The next half an hour was a total blur for both Emily and Hanna. Emily was in shock from the trauma and was slipping in and out of consciousness from the pain. Hanna spent the time trying to comfort Emily, she couldn't remember exactly what had all happened. All she remembered was screaming and crying. Hanna wasn't sure though if they were coming from Emily or from herself.
When the ambulance finally came, Hanna demanded to ride with Emily. She hadn't let go of her hand the entire time since it happened and refused to even as the parameters loaded her into the vehicle. Ashley followed in her car behind the ambulance, as the Spencer and Aria stayed back to clean up and close down the party.
When they got to the hospital, the doctors wouldn't let Hanna go back with Emily. She wasn't family, so instead they directed her to the waiting room. Hanna and her mother sat for what felt like hours in worried silence.
Finally, Ashley took Hanna's hand in hers and broke the silence, "Hanna, are you-"
She broke off when Emily's mom came bursting into the hospital and headed straight over to the nurse's desk for an update.
Both Hanna and her mother stood up instantly and moved closer to the congestion. Hanna was thankful that Pam had arrived because the nurses had refused to give them any updates directly, since they weren't family.
Hanna watched on anxiously while Pam spoke with the doctor. Ashley could feel the tension and worry coursing through Hanna's body. She so she instinctively put her arm around her daughter's shoulders.
"Well, they are going to admit her for the night. She has second degree burns on her arms and legs, but they said she'll be alright and hopefully will have minimal scarring." Pam turned and announced to Ashley and Hanna, before being lead back to see Emily.
Hanna let out the breath that she had been holding since she had heard Emily's scream from across the loft. After hearing that Emily would be okay, she finally let herself relax into her mother's comforting embrace.
"Mom…I'm really sorry for being such a bridezilla. Clearly I haven't been doing a good job of including Jordan in my life, not the other way around." Hanna said apologetically.
"Can I ask you a question? Is there more to Jordan's absence today than just work?" Ashley asked tentatively. She genuinely wanted to know what was going on in her daughter's life, but was not looking to start another fight.
"Yeah…I lied to him about something pretty huge and he isn't ready to forgive me. I'm honestly not sure if he ever will…" Hanna confessed.
"Does this have anything to do with Emily? You two have been acting so strangely around each other the last few days…" Ashley asked, not daring to bring up the intense intimacy and protectiveness that Hanna displayed after the accident.
"Yes…but honestly, I'm not ready to talk about it. Not at least until I can talk to Emily about it." Hanna replied, hoping her mother would accept her truth and not push further.
"Ok…well just know that I love you no matter what, OK?" Ashley responded as she squeezed Hanna's shoulder.
"I know, thanks mom." Hanna said quietly. "Look, why don't you go back home... I think I'm going to stay a while longer and make sure Emily is okay."
Ashley understood what Hanna was trying to say and pulled her daughter in for a long hug before collecting her things and leaving the hospital.
Once her mother had left, Hanna quickly texted the update to Spencer and Aria, knowing they would be just as worried, before she headed to the cafeteria and gift shop to prepare for the long night ahead.