Maya's POV

I had tried calling Emily throughout the weekend, but kept getting her voicemail. The whole weekend I kept replaying the scene in my head between Emily and I on the street. She said that she was in love with Hanna, but she had chased me from her house to tell me that. If she didn't have any feelings for me, she would have just let me leave, but instead she followed.

I knew those feelings would probably never be romantic again, but at least there was something there. For some strange reason, I needed Emily in my life. We hadn't spoken in over six months, but now that we had, I knew I wanted her, even if as only a friend.

I even tried calling Hanna's house trying to reach her, but her mom mentioned that the girls had gone away for the weekend and they would be back Sunday. By the time Sunday evening rolled around, I couldn't take it anymore. I drove into Rosewood and parked outside the Marin's. I didn't want to go inside, but having never actually met Mrs. Marin, I just sat outside and hoped Emily would be home soon.

After about an hour later, I saw headlights pull into the driveway and turn off. With the lights off I could see that both Emily and Hanna were in the car. They hadn't noticed me yet and were clearly lost in their own world.

I could see Emily turn towards Hanna and lift her hand up to caress her face. Pulling it towards her, she kissed Hanna sweetly. It was an innocent kiss but I felt embarrassed witnessing it. Seeing how Emily looked at Hanna when they pulled away from each other, I knew that I had no chance as anything more than a friend with her. The love in her eyes was what I had always hoped she would have for me, but never did. That love had always reserved for Hanna and I was just a detour in their journey.

Feeling my heart ache in my chest, I knew that I still needed to speak with her. I needed to know if she read my letter and know that while I still have feelings for her and regret what happened, I want her in my life.

As Emily and Hanna approached the front door, bags in hand, Emily spotted me and immediately stiffened. She turned towards Hanna, wanting to gauge the other girl's reaction to my presence.

I didn't know Hanna well but I did know that she usually spoke her mind and was sometimes overly brazen, so I prepared myself for the worst.

"Hey Maya…I'm glad you're back in town." She spoke seemingly sincere before turning back towards Emily and grabbing her bag, "Em, I'm going to head inside. You two should talk."

As Hanna walked inside and shut the door, I looked at Emily who seemed as surprised as I was. She quickly snapped out of it and tentatively walked towards me.

"Hey…" I stammered out, suddenly not knowing what to say.

"Hi Maya. Why don't we go around back and talk?" She responded.

We walked around the house in silence before sitting on the bench just outside the kitchen. Once we sat, I finally spoke.

"So…did you read my letter…" I asked.

"I did." She said simply.

"And…?" I urged her on.

"And I don't really know what to say. I wanted to hear you say those things for a long time, but it's too late now. Hanna and I have finally gotten to a good place and I can't lose that. I love her. I've always loved her." She responded honestly.

"I know. I could see that between you two tonight. And I think a part of me has known all along. You were always holding something back when we were together, I just didn't know what it was at the time…" I stated, trailing off at the end.

"I'm sorry. I want you to know that I wasn't using you or stringing you along. What we had was real. And you helped me learn to accept who I am, and I'll be forever thankful for that." Emily assured me.

"I meant what I said in my letter…that I want you in my life. I know it can't be in the way that I might want it to be, but at least as friends…" I said, hoping she would consider it.

"We can try to be friends. But not friends like we were before we got together. Real friends with real boundaries. I won't do anything that will hurt Hanna." She agreed, but with obvious conditions.

"Of course. I don't want to do anything that would hurt either of you. I do love you Emily, and I want you to be happy, even if it's not with me." I said, conceding to her boundaries.

"Thank you. And I care for you too, which is why I do want to be your friend. But it's getting late and Ashley made dinner, so I should go in. I'll text you later tonight and we can make plans to hang out…?" Emily stated with the last part as more of a question than a statement.

"Sure. Have a good night Em. Give Hanna my best!" I said as we stood and hugged goodbye awkwardly.

Hanna's POV

I was a little annoyed that Maya was the first person we saw when we got back to Rosewood, but I couldn't blame Maya for wanting to be in Emily's life. Emily is an amazing person and an even better friend.

I knew that if that's what Maya wanted, that Emily would agree and they would be friends, because that's just who Emily was. That's not to say though that it wouldn't bother me a little.

After Emily returned inside and we had dinner, I made my feelings known as soon as we were alone. Emily agreed, being the reasonable and caring girlfriend that she is, that affection and prolonged physical contact with Maya was off the table. Given their history, we agreed that she would not interact with Maya, regardless of how good of friends they became, the way that she did with Spencer or Aria. There would be no sleepovers, no hand holding, no cuddling on the couch.

Our talk wasn't long and I think I was as supportive as possible about their wanting to be friends. After we were done, we went back down to the kitchen to finish up some homework that we had obviously neglected all weekend. Throughout the next few hours, Emily's phone buzzed several times. I didn't bother to ask who she was texting with; her tentative smile at each message gave it away that it was Maya.

Bothersome or not, I knew I couldn't let Emily see my annoyance and occasional jealousy, because she would take it to mean that I didn't trust her. I trust fully that Emily would never hurt me or cross any lines with Maya.

Emily's POV

I was very impressed with how mature Hanna was about the whole Maya situation. Last Friday she wasn't even speaking with me because of Maya and now she seemed fine with letting me go out to dinner with her.

Maya and I had made plans to have dinner on Thursday night, knowing that the weekend was already booked because my parents were coming in town for the father-daughter dance.

When Thursday night rolled around, I could sense Hanna's anxiety, even though she was trying hard not to show it. It was cute that she was secretly jealous or nervous about my dinner with Maya, but I knew deep down under those insecurities, she knew I would always be hers.

Maya picked me up a little before 7pm and we headed off to the Rosewood Grille, which was sadly one of the only really good restaurants nearby. The car ride to the restaurant was slightly awkward, neither of us really knowing how to act since it wasn't a date.

Thankfully when we got to the restaurant Maya had started up conversation about a new band that she likes and the conversation started to feel more natural. We ended up staying at the restaurant until closing just catching up. I had forgotten how easy things had always been between us.

When she pulled up into the Marin's driveway, she put the car and park and turned off the engine. The gesture made me nervous that she was planning on walking me to the door, which I definitely didn't want. As cool as Hanna was being with everything, she would not want to see Maya walk me to the door and linger on the front porch like a date would.

Hoping to eliminate the chance for that, I unbuckled and leaned in towards her for a hug. She hugged me back, a little longer than necessary. When I pulled away I felt her hand move from my back to my neck, pulling me in for a kiss.

Our lips only touched for the briefest of moments, but I would be lying if I didn't feel the spark that had always been between us. Panicking, I quickly pulled myself out of her grasp and fled from the car.

Once finally inside the front door, I leaned back against it, letting my emotions wash over me. I felt shame in knowing that I betrayed Hanna's trust; guilt that I felt passion in her kiss; anxiety, unsure of whether I should tell Hanna; and fear that Hanna would never forgive me.

Just as I was peeled myself from the door and began walking somberly up the stairs, my phone beeped.

Once a cheater, always a cheater. First with steroids and now with a kiss. You never told you coach, are you going to tell Hanna? You'd better or I'll reveal both. Sweet dreams! – A