Hellooooo! So happy to get this chapter up! I hope you like it. I'm still looking for more prompts for my next story!
Love you all! Enjoy reading!
Chapter 21
Emily felt the summer sun warm her face as she sat in her window seat. It was only second week of summer, but the past two weeks had felt like years to Emily. Emily's room still had unpacked boxes and bag scattered around the floor.
"Emmy, you in there?" Emily heard her father ask.
"Yeah."
"How ya doing kiddo?" Wayne asked, taking a seat next to Emily.
"I really miss her dad," Emily said, resting her head on her father's shoulder.
"I know…" Wayne responded, wrapping his arm around Emily's shoulder. "Back in the old days when your mother and I were dating, the summer's were the hardest. Your mother lived in Chicago, and I lived in Texas, and now I'm in Texas, and she's in Philly. The hardest thing to do is say goodbye to someone, especially if you're not sure whether or not your going to see them again. I know it hurts, trust me, every time I leave my heart breaks a little. But the time I get to spend with you and your mother is the time that I cherish. The time that I'm given is what I look forward to the most, even if it's only for a day or two. Time will fly, and soon you'll be getting off that plan and into Paige's arm…"
"Thank daddy," Emily said, kissing her father on the cheek.
"I'm always here if you ever need someone."
"Okay."
"I love you Emmy."
"I love you to dad."
"Make sure that you look after yourself too, okay?"
"I will."
"Now, your mother and I are going out for dinner if you'd care to join us."
"I'm good. I should actually finish unpacking my things," Emily said, looking at the pile of boxes.
"We'll make sure to pick something up for you," Wayne replied, kissing the top of Emily's head.
"Thanks."
Emily waited to Wayne to leave the room before she grabbed her laptop, and searched for some up beat. She ended up picking a driving playlist had Paige had made a few months ago.
Emily grabbed a few boxes and bags and placed them on her bed. Almost all the boxes and bags that remained had her clothes. The rest had been put in the attic for her to take to college.
Emily slowly started taking her clothes out and laying them on the bed. Once she had empty all the boxes and bags, there was a huge mound of clothes resting on her bed.
"Jesus lord, how do I have all these clothes?" Emily whispered to herself. She rested her head in her hands momentarily. She grabbed an empty box and started to throw clothes that she was never going to wear again into. Emily found that most of her clothes ended up in the box.
After about an hour she was left with a smaller mound of clothes. Satisfied with her work, she started to fold the clothes and put them in her dresser.
A beeping from her computer, got Emily's attention. She picked up her laptop and noticed Paige's face in the middle of her screen. She quickly accepted the call, and Paige's face appeared on the screen.
"Emily!" she said happily.
"Paige!"
"I was doing some work and saw that you were online…" she replied still smiling.
"Well, I'm glad that you did. I'm drowning in clothing," Emily said showing Paige the box and mound of clothes.
"Wow, I think you own more clothes than I do," Paige joked.
"So what have you been up to?" Emily said, taking in her window seat.
"Working…swimming…missing you…working…missing you," Paige said. Emily could tell by the paint in the background that Paige was in her room on her bed. "What about you?"
"Well, I snagged a job working at the brew. I work there a couple days a week and visit Hanna, Spencer, and Aria when I'm there. Coach Fulton let's me use the pool whenever I'm in town. And I think I've shaved about a second off my time."
"Emily that's incredible! Berkeley's lucky to have you."
"We'll you better watch out, I might beat you one day," Emily joked.
"One day," Paige laughed. "So what else have you been doing besides working and swimming?"
"Well, at the start of the school year, I made this long summer reading list. I think I've gotten through about 8 of the 75 books on that list."
"Jesus, do you just read all day?"
"Well, it's not like I have anything else to do. Most of the time my mom and I just sit outside and read."
"Awww, that's too cute," Paige smiled.
"Yeah, I figured I'd spend some quality time with her before I leave. After all, she's going to be all alone once I leave."
"You're an amazing daughter, you know that?"
"Yeah, I try at least."
"So what about you? What else have you been doing besides missing you, working, and swimming?"
"Well, all the late-night shifts at the bar really do a number on you. I usually get back around 3am, and the sleep until like 2pm, then go to work around 8pm. Thank god they give me the weekends off. I think I would actually die if I worked 7 days a week."
"Well I better not to rudely awoken at night when I come to visit."
"Well, you're in luck, because I got the whole week off," Paige smiled. "I'm all yours."
"I like the sound of that," Emily smiled deviously. "God why can't the weeks go by fast."
"I know. I wish they would," Paige said, playing with the ring on her finger. "So you never told me what Hanna said when she saw the bruise I made."
Emily had meet Hanna for coffee a few days after Paige left. And Emily being Emily, forgot to put a layer of make-up over the hickey. It was one of the first things that Hanna noticed when she saw Emily. Hanna had texted Paige a compliment about Emily's enormous hickey.
"I think she was happier than shocked. I couldn't tell. She just kept this awkward smile on her face when I told her what happened."
"Well that's Hanna for you," Paige laughed. "Always trying to get the juicy details."
"So have you talked to Hanna?"
"Yeah, we talk regularly."
"Oh yeah, and what do you talk about?"
"You, work, just random stuff really. She tells me all about her fashion expeditions, and everything she does with Caleb. I think they're actually going on vacation together or something."
"Yeah, Hanna mentioned that they were driving down to South Carolina for a week or somewhere around there."
"I can't wait until we go on a road trip!" Paige said excitedly.
"And where would be road trip too?"
"Well there are a few little place I know in California that I know. Oh, and there are some great places in Oregon and Washington. Oh and don't forget about Canada," Paige said excitedly.
"Well, how about when I come out this summer, you take me to one of these places."
"I would really love that."
Paige and Emily talked for a few more hours before Paige had to get ready and go to work. The time difference was a little bit of a challenge for them. Three hours doesn't seem like a big difference, but when Paige was getting back from work, the sun was just starting to rise in Philly. On the weekends they spent more time together, and usually Emily fell asleep talking to Paige.
Emily's dad was right, Emily cherished the time that she got to spend with Paige, whether it was on the phone, FaceTime, or even texts. Every second she cherished.
"Emily, honey, you awake?" Emily heard her mother ask, knocking slightly on the door.
"Yeah, mom, come in."
"Hey, sweetie. We brought you back some dinner. I can heat it up if your hungry."
"That's been great," Emily said, following her mother downstairs.
"So how was dinner?" Emily asked, noticing that her dad was in a suit and tie.
"It was lovely. Your father ordered us this amazing salmon dish." Emily thought back to her and Paige's first date. The dish that Paige ordered her.
"I guess we both have a love for salmon," Emily laughed.
"Oh really, since when?" Pam asked amazed.
"Since I met Paige. We went to this fancy restaurant near campus. They had the best salmon I've ever tasted."
"You know Emmy, I'm glad you found Paige. After everything you went through with Maya, you deserve be happy."
"Paige makes me unbelievably happy."
"Oh to be young once again," Pam laughed.
"So what's Paige up to this summer?"
"She's bartending at this restaurant and training."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, she's been working late hours, so we don't get to talk that much during the week."
"I know. It can be hard sometimes, but you two are strong. You'll make it!"
"Five weeks seems like such a long time."
"In no time, you'll be boarding that plane. I remember when your father and I lived on opposite sides of the country. I would count the days until a hopped on a train or plane to see you father. A hundred days soon turned into ten, then five, and then before I knew it I was getting on a plane to visit him."
"How did you and dad meet?" Emily asked, taking a seat at the table.
"Well, it was the summer before we all left for college. And a group of my friends, went down to Florida to do some service work. You know one last hoorah before we all left."
"So let me guess, you two met on the beach and fell in love," Emily said, making lovey-dovey noises.
"Of course! A few on my friends went to this beach luau for our last night, and what do you know your father's there. We danced all night. And then well, I went back to Chicago."
"You didn't get his number or anything?"
"Well, back in my day we didn't have cellphones or computers."
"So what happened?"
"Well, I spent the rest of the summer trying to find a Wayne Fields, but in the end, I gave up and embraced the time that we spent together that night. Then I went off to college, and what do you know, Wayne Fields was sitting right behind me in Psychology."
"AWWWW!"
"I remember finding this slip of paper of in my bag that afternoon."
"What'd it say?"
"Can I take you out to dinner? –Wayne."
"Stop, oh my god!"
"And well, after that we starting dating, and 30 years later…"
"AW!"
"You'll find love just like your father and I."
"I think I already have," Emily smiled.
Both Pam and Wayne were right. 35 days, soon turned into 20, then 15, 10. Emily tried to keep herself busy with work and friends. She found that the heartache soon stopped, and she found herself quite busy. She picked up a few more hours at the Brew, and spent more time with Hanna, Spencer, and Aria, but she made sure to keep her weekends free for Paige.
"So, are you excited! Only one week left!" Paige said excitedly.
"I can't wait! I think my parents are getting annoyed by how antsy I am."
"We get ready because I've planned out a few things to do."
"Road trip?"
"Maybe. You'll just have to wait and see," Paige smiled. "Trust me, you'll really enjoy them."
"Oh! I'm sure I will."
"I can't believe how quickly time flew."
"I know. I remembered how slow the first two weeks were, but now it's as if time is on our side once again."
"I can't wait to hold you, and kiss you!"
"God, I've missed that."
"One week. I promise!"
Emily kept herself very busy for the next week to the point were she was busy from the time she got up to the time she went to bed.
"So Em, you ready for some Paigey love," Hanna asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"More than you know it."
"Have you packed yet?"
"Yes and no."
"Well, let's see what you've packed," Hanna said, making her way up to Emily's room.
Hanna examined the clothes that Emily had packed. She pulled out a few, before going to Emily's dresser and looking through it.
"Alright, let's see. A few of these outfits will do, but these…" she said tossing some clothes aside. "Okay, let's see."
Hanna began rummaging through a few drawers, before making her way over to Emily's closet.
"Oh this sundress will be perfect! Oh and this shirt, and I guess this flannel."
"Maybe I should let you pack my bags."
"Don't you worry. It will all fit."
Hanna and Emily packed the rest of Emily's things. Surprisingly everything managed to fit in Emily's swimming duffle.
"Alright, now I got you a little something," Hanna said holding out a bag.
"Hanna, please tell me this isn't what it looks like," Emily said, taking the bag.
"Well, I wish I could, but everyone need something sexy to spicy up their night."
"Hanna. I don't even know if Paige is into this."
"Well, I do. After you live with someone for a year, you learn about them."
"Okay first of all ew, and second, Hanna you're straight."
"Doesn't mean I don't have eyes and ear. Just trust me on this one."
"Fine," Emily said, packing the bag.
"Good! So what time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"My flight's at 3, so around 1 I think."
"What time does your flight get in?"
"Seven, California time."
"And Paige is picking you up at LAX?"
"Yup!"
"Oh! Em! You're going to have so much fun! Call me when you land okay."
"Of course! Thanks for help me pack and everything."
"Any time."
Emily could hardly sleep that night. She spent most of the time tossing and turning, wishing that time would go by faster. She was up before the sun came up. The spent most of the morning packing and repacking, making sure that she had everything. She put the special gift that bought Paige, in a special pocket.
"Emmy, breakfast's ready," Wayne said, knocking on Emily's door.
"Thanks dad, I'll be down in a minute."
"So sweetie, how'd you sleep last night?"
"I don't think I slept."
"Trust me the night before I went to see your mother, I didn't sleep a wink," Wayne said, smiling on Emily.
They ate breakfast as a family. Emily relished in the fact that her family was back together. Her father was leaving at the end of August to return to Fort Hood, and in December he would be in Virginia.
Emily helped her mom clean up breakfast, before showering and getting ready. She chose a comfy pair of shorts, and a shirt, before throwing on Paige's sweatshirt. Emily felt her phone start to vibrate on her nightstand.
"Hey babe."
"Hey! I can't wait to see you!"
"What time does you flight come in again?"
"7."
"I'll be there waiting!"
"I can't wait!"
Emily felt herself bouncing up and down in her seat. Her hand tapped impatiently against her knee as the plane began to descend. When the plane landed she quickly unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her things, but the line to get off the plane was long.
About twenty minutes later, Emily finally stepped onto the terminal. She quickly made her way down to baggage claim. Emily found Paige waiting for her near the exit.
"PAIGE!"
"EMILY!" Paige shouted, practically running up to Emily. Emily felt Paige's strong arms wrap around her. "God, I've missed this." Paige gently cupped Emily's face and gave her a much needed kiss. Emily felt a tingling sensation spread throughout her body. She'd missed that feeling.
"God, I've miss you," Emily said, kissing Paige once again.
"Here let me carry something," Paige said, taking Paige wrapped her arm around Emily's waist as they made their way towards Paige's car.
"There might be a little bit of traffic. But we should be back in about an hour."
"As long as I'm with you, I don't care," Emily said, kissing Paige's cheek.
"I really have missed you."
"Me too," Emily said, kissing Paige's free hand.