Sorry guys that it took so long since the last update. I'm struggling with inspiration but I will definitely will finish this one. I think there will only be a few chapters left. Thanks for still reading!
"Look Em! It's like a snow storm outside." Paige shouted full of excitement. Emily came running to the living room window where Paige was standing.
"Oh my God, look at all the snowflakes, Paige!" Emily put her arm around Paige and her head on Paige's shoulder so that they could look out of the window together.
"Can you believe we went for a sunny walk yesterday?" Weather had really changed since yesterday. The sun was nowhere to be seen and they sky was cloudy. Huge snowflakes were falling from dark clouds.
"Weather on the East Coast is unpredictable. I bet you miss it sometimes over there in sunny California."
"I don't know. I got really used to the warm weather and it looks pretty uncomfortable outside."
"Yeah, right now but wait until the storm is gone tomorrow and Rosewood turns into this magnificent white wonderland."
"I totally forgot how much you love snow." Paige admitted and gave Emily a kiss.
"Promise me we take a walk in the snow tomorrow!" Emily was excited like a little child.
"I promise."
Suddenly the light went out. Emily and Paige needed a moment to adjust to the darkness.
"What was that?" Emily asked at bit frightened and looked around the room. There was no light to be seen.
"It's probably just the fuse. Where's your fuse box?"
"Behind the curtain next to the back door." Emily replied. "Be careful!"
Paige gave Emily a kiss. "You're cute when you're worried."
Paige took out her phone to have at least a bit light and went to check the fuse box but she couldn't see anything unusual. So she tried the light switch in the room. Nothing happened.
"Em? It's definitely not the fuse box and there's no light in here either. Check the kitchen please."
"Nothing!" Emily shouted after checking the switch in the kitchen. Paige rejoined her in the living room.
"So there's no power at all in this house, is it?" Emily asked, now even more frightened.
"Don't be scared, Em. I'm sure it's nothing. The power's going to be back in no time."
Emily showed her phone display to Paige. "It's nothing? There's no power at the Hasting's house. My mom just texted me. She's staying over there." Emily's phone buzzed again. "Same over at Hanna's and Aria's."
Paige took a look out of the window. The whole street was dark. "So the storm crashed the power system. It's not that bad. We just light some candles and everything will be fine."
Paige made a step toward Emily and put her hands on Emily's hips. "It's romantic."
But Emily wasn't in the mood for romance. "What if it won't be okay? We have to eat something. Shit! All the stuff in the fridge is going to be spoiled."
"I'm sure it won't be right away. What do you have in the freezer?"
"Nothing much. Pizza and ice cream, I think."
"What do you say? Candles and ice cream?" Paige said with a sneaking smile.
"How could I say No to that smile?"
Paige went into the kitchen to take care of the ice cream while Emily went looking for candles to spread around in the living room. Emily found some stumps. She lit them and arranged them on the window sills and on the coffee table. She took out a blanket and put it on the sofa so that she and Paige wouldn't be cold.
"But I'm hopelessly romantic?" Paige joked when she came into the living room with two bowls of ice cream in her hands.
"It just came over me. Don't complain and come here."
Paige did as asked and handed Emily one of the bowls who put it down on the coffee table. She covered herself and Paige with the blanket and pulled up her feet before picking up the bowl.
"See, it's not so bad."
"Not right now. I just hope that the power will be back on soon."
"Don't worry. I will take care of you."
"I love you." Emily loved how caring and protective Paige was in this kind of situations.
Two hours later the power still wasn't back on and the storm didn't seem to wear off. Emily's excitement over the snow had turned into fear of being snowed by tomorrow. Although Paige and Emily had prepared a salad about an hour ago, Emily wished for something real to eat. There wasn't much in the kitchen which didn't require cooking. Emily just hoped that the storm would wear down by tomorrow morning and she and Paige could have a decent breakfast. At least her mother was safe at the Hasting's house. It was one thing Emily didn't have to worry about.
"You wanna play something?" Paige suggested to keep Emily from thinking about the storm too much.
"I don't know."
"Oh, come on. Humor me. What do you have?"
"Let me think. I definitely have a pack of cards and maybe chess."
"Do you know how to play?" Paige asked. Now that Emily mentioned it, she was in the mood to play chess.
"Chess? My father taught me when I was about 10 years old but I haven't played in a long time. What about you?"
"My grandpa taught me how to play when I was little. I used to have a game with him now and then and after he died my father took his spot. I became really good because I wanted to impress him."
"There is no way that I'm playing against you, you know that right?"
"You don't have to play against me. Play with me." Paige tried to convince Emily.
"Fine but just one round!"
One round turned into three and it didn't turn out as bad as Emily had predicted. She actually beat Paige in the last round and was bragging about it. Paige let Emily have her fun because she knew that was what she needed.
"We should do this more often."
"Playing chess? Oh yes! We can organize small tournaments with friends and family!"
"I don't know about that!" Paige laughed. "I meant this." She pointed around the room with her finger." Taking time for ourselves. Without all the daily stress and diversion of smart phones and stuff."
"You're right. This is actually kind of nice despite the occasion." Emily kissed Paige passionately.
"What was that for?"
"For taking care of everything tonight. I don't know what I would've done without you."
"Don't mention it. I had a great time with you tonight."
"I did too but I think I need to get some sleep." Emily admitted.
"So we call it a night. Where do you want me to sleep?" Paige had to ask since they accidently fell asleep in Emily's bed last night. She hoped that Emily wanted to have her there tonight as well.
"In my bed, Silly!" Emily said. "Well, if you want to of course."
"Of course I do." Paige stood up and pulled Emily up from the sofa. She took her in for a brief hug before leading Emily upstairs holding her hand. Paige offered to give Emily some privacy to change but Emily declined. Paige did her best not to stare while Emily took off first her shirt and then her pants to change into her sleeping clothes. She then pulled out her bra from under her shirt.
"You like what you see?" Emily said when she caught Paige's gaze.
"Oh shit, Em. I didn't mean to!" Paige stuttered.
"Don't be silly. There's nothing you haven't seen already."
"I know but…"Paige tried to find an explanation.
"No but. You're my girlfriend and allowed to look at me like that!"
"I am? You're girlfriend, I mean." Paige was surprised because she and Emily hadn't talked about it since they had started seeing each other again.
"If you want to be…"
"I do! I do!" Paige jumped from the window seat and pulled Emily into a hug and gave her a long kiss. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Emily replied.
Paige changed into more comfortable clothes as well. They both took their turn in the bathroom and were soon cuddling underneath the blanket. Paige was the big spoon and held Emily close to her body. Emily, her girlfriend. Paige's heart jumped every time she thought about it. She didn't know how the two of them would actually make their relationship work with 3000 miles between them but it didn't matter right now. All that mattered was her and Emily being together as girlfriends in this moment.
"Paige?"
"Yes?"
"I'm happy."
"I'm happy, too." Paige placed a kiss on Emily's shoulder.
The two of them enjoyed the warm and secure feeling of holding each other in silence until the both fell asleep eventually.
Paige woke up first the next and decided to let Emily sleep. She sneaked from underneath the blanket and out of the room. On her way out she grabbed her hoodie. In the kitchen she found a major puddle of water in front of the fridge. The ice in the freezer must have melted when the power had shut down. Paige wiped up the water with a rag she found under the sink. She picked up on the clock on the oven. So the power was back on at least, Paige thought. Emily would be relieved. A look out of the windowed told Paige that Emily would be excited as well. Rosewood had indeed turned into a winter wonderland.
"Good morning." Paige heard from behind her and turned around.
"Good morning." Paige replied with a smile. "Look outside."
Emily went to the window and pulled away the curtain. "Oh my god! It's perfect. I wanna go outside, like right now."
"No, no, no. I know you can't wait but let me make you breakfast, okay? We haven't eaten anything real since yesterday and you know how they say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
"Fine but you better make it fast." Emily said and ran upstairs to take a shower. She didn't want to waste any second of her day in her winter wonderland.
Paige laughed and got herself to work. She made French toast and scrambled eggs for the two of them. After breakfast Paige took a quick shower. She didn't want to keep Emily waiting any longer. Emily left a brief note for her mother in case she would come home before her and Paige.
Emily was like a little child once she was outside. She made snow angles on some front yards or left a trail of footprints by walking in circles in the untouched snow. Paige loved that Emily was being that happy. She deserved it.
Suddenly a snowball smashed against Paige's back. She turned around and saw Emily already forming a new snow ball.
"Oh, you didn't!" Paige shouted and looked for cover behind a nearby tree. She took some snow from the ground and carefully formed a snowball herself. There was no way she would have Emily have this win without a fight.
The snowball fight lasted for a long while until Paige finally gave in and let Emily win. She pulled out a handkerchief and waved it around in the air. "Surrender!"
"Fine! I spare you the bloody defeat." Emily joked and pulled Paige into a hug. "Thanks for doing this with me. It wouldn't be the same without you."
"Let's get back. I'm craving for some hot chocolate!" Paige said and Emily linked arms with her for their way back home.