Good afternoon! :) Here I'm again. I'm really happy that you're still interested and I loved reading your reviews. I hope you like it and I'd love to hear from you, just say anything you want, I'm all ears. ;) Have a nice week you all! ;)

PD2: I didn't have time to proofread. Sorry, guys. ;)

naiel2017: I chose Alison because I secretly hate her, so this character will make you hate her if you still don't. :D I hope you like this chapter. Thanks! :)

siophiefandom: Alison and Paige are together and I know you hate it, that was the reason why I chose her. xD Things get better soon enough, don't worry about that. Thank you! ;)

MariCG: Thank you for your review!

Guest #1: I'm glad you liked it. Thank you!

Guest #2: Paige has to brave now, she will have to fight for Emily once she dumps Alison, right? :D I didn't disappear again. :D Thanks!

Viva33: Alison happened! :D Now you'll have to be patient. :) Thank you for your review! :)

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

: Chapter 36 – Contact:

I feel anger when I see Alison's lips touching my ex-girlfriend's. I know I'll never stop having feelings for Paige, but I really thought, after five years not hearing from her or seeing her was going to make those feelings go away at least a little bit. I was obviously wrong, and this makes the hurt I'm feeling increase. I know she's free to be with whoever she wants, but I feel like she's a little bit mine. That thought makes me feel nauseous. I've never been like that, not even Maya, and not being in control of my feelings frightens me. I still remember the last conversation I had with Richard. He kept insisting that I hadn't forgotten Paige. He said that I was always mentioning her but I didn't notice that I was continuously doing that. I guess ignoring the fact that I still had her in my mind was easier than dealing with the hurtful truth. She had hurt me and I couldn't let her ruin my life now that she was out of it. Now that she's in front of me I know Richard was right. And the fact that she has moved on and is dating Alison makes me feel like shit. I set my eyes on her for a few seconds and I see that she's feeling pity for me. This is too humiliating. I need to leave this place right now. I suddenly remember that I'm holding the baby. Caleb suddenly approaches me to hold the baby. He obviously comprehended I needed some help to escape that room that felt more like a jail to me.

I take a few steps forward to get closer to Hanna's bed. "I need to leave," I add, giving her that look that I know she will completely understand. Although I know she realized that I was having a hard time and needed to go outside and get some fresh air.

She squeezes my hand. "It's okay. I guess you're tired too. I'll call you later, okay?" She winks at me and I try to smile but fail miserably. Then I approach Caleb and give him a hug.

"Congratulations, daddy," I add, making him smile proudly. I walk past Paige and Alison and I avoid any eye contact. I don't even say a word and I leave the room. I walk at a fast pace through the corridor until I make it outside. I stop walking and take a deep breath and then continue walking until I see a taxi getting closer. I raise my hand and get inside. I'm eager to get to Spencer's and just sleep. It's the only solution I can come up with if I'm lucky to close my eyes and fall asleep. When I open the door I see her eyes fixated on me. She looks worried. I must have a shitty look. She jumps from the couch and gets closer to hug me. The moment I feel her arms surrounding my shaky body, I break into tears. I was feeling anxious the whole trip home, now I know why. I was holding back tears and she doesn't deserve them.

"It's okay, honey. I'm right here." I keep sobbing while she holds me in her arms.

"I'm fine, Spence. I just…" I wipe the tears that are covering my face and I sigh.

"Take a seat." She points at the couch, I follow her orders and then she sits next to me. "I know you still love her. You shouldn't be ashamed of that, okay?" She gives me a reassuring look and it makes me feel better. I just nod. "I know it's easy to say it, but you have two choices; forget her or try to get her back." I look surprised.

"She's a girlfriend, Spence!" I exclaim.

"So? Toby cheated on me and is now having a relationship with another woman. Nothing is impossible, Em." I see a hint of sadness when she says his name. I instantly feel bad. I was so focused on my problems that I didn't remember that Spencer and Toby had broken up because of an affair he had. She was hurt too. The only difference was that she wasn't crying like a baby. I need to toughen up.

"I'm really sorry, I was tactless. I forgot about that." I squeeze her hand and she smiles at me.

"It's okay. So…" she smirks at me before speaking again. "… the big question is, what are you going to do about that?" I frown at her.

"What do you want me to do?" She laughs.

"I don't know, Em. I'm pretty sure about your feelings, but I know you're hurt."

"Are you implying that I should try to… you know…" Her smile grows wider while I try to say it out loud. "She left me five years ago for no reason. I won't go through it again, not that she wants to." My friend shakes her head, showing me her disagreement.

"You're meant to each other, Em. Anyway, think about it. You're clever enough to make a good decision." She caresses my arm. I didn't expect Spence would say something like that.

"You always surprise me, Hastings," I add, smiling at her.

"I'm glad about that. And if you decide to move on, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Venting can be good sometimes."

I laugh. "Do you really think I'm the mood to pick up strangers in bars? I barely can hold my tears, asshole!" I jokingly push her.

"I would love to help you in that matter, but I'm not into girls yet, my friend." I can't help but laugh loudly. At least she's making me forget about Paige for a few minutes. That's what friends are for.

"I'm sorry, you're not my type," I joke.

"Damn it!" she jokingly exclaims. Her laugh is contagious.

"I guess you're staying, am I right?" She changes the tone of her voice, making it a serious conversation again.

"I will search for a job. I will start here in the city and if it doesn't work then…" I make a pause. "I'm not afraid of leaving the country, you know that." I joke. She gives me a sad look. I know she missed me, but I have no attachments and if I don't find a job here I will give it a try in other countries.

"I don't think you'll have to when they see your résumé," she assures me.

"I will start with that process tomorrow, I'm tired now." I yawn. "Besides, you know my mom is coming to visit tomorrow, so I need to rest." She laughs. I missed her a lot, but I know she will exhaust me with her continuous questions and advices.

"I totally get you. My mom is like that too. Good night, Em."

"Night, Spence. Thank you for everything." I hug her and then walk to my bedroom. It's weird to be back to this place, but it feels good at the same time. It's the first moment since I laid my foot on this city that I feel like home. According to Hanna having positive thoughts is helpful, so I will try to apply myself to that theory. Tomorrow will be a good day, I'm sure of that.

I open my eyes when I hear a strange sound and a light that makes me close my eyes again. I open them again when I realize it's not a dream. The cellphone on the nighstand is vibrating. I extend my arm as fast as my drowsy body allows me to. When I see who's calling me my heart skips a beat. Why is she calling me? It's 3 AM. I ignore the call and I close my eyes again, even though I know it won't be easy to fall asleep after this. I hate her for that. Five minutes later, the light makes me open my eyes again. I check the phone to see that she texted me.

WE NEED TO TALK.

Those four words that are in theory inoffensive were enough to agitate me. Tonight will be a long night.

I wake up next day and I find Spencer having breakfast. She just started and she makes me a signal to join her.

"Morning," I add.

"How did you sleep?" She is eating cereals but looks at me at the same time.

"Good. How about you?"

"Fine." She frowns at me, she knows something is going on. "That 'good' didn't sound good at all," she teases me. I pour milk into the bowl of cereals and then look at her. She knows me really well and she realized something is off.

"She called me last night." Her surprised face makes me laugh. "At 3 AM," I add.

"What the hell?" she exclaims. I smile.

"I don't understand anything. I didn't answer the call, obviously." She nods at me in agreement. "Then texted me saying that we needed to talk. She's acting weird. I mean, I knew she'd try to contact me, but calling me at wee hours is really weird. Anyway, I'm going to ignore her. Let's change the subject," I say, trying to forget about that.

"I don't get it. Why?"

I shake my head. "I don't know, Spence, but I don't want to talk about that. What time does your shift start?"

"I have a night shift, so the pizza-movie combo will have to wait," she jokes. "Besides, your mom is coming to visit you today."

I sigh. "I hope she doesn't interrogate me." She laughs.

She's supposed to get here in two hours, so I have a moment to get some groceries and go for a walk. I will be meeting her in the café that's next to the apartment, so I have enough time before going there. I take a shower, say goodbye to Spencer and leave. I need some alone time if I want to handle my mom all day.

I know last night's call was not a good idea. I'm not a teenager anymore. I still don't get why I did that. I felt the urge to talk to her after being five years without any interaction. I should have waited so I didn't look like a mad person, but I screwed again because of my damn impatience. I checked the phone first time in the morning, but she hadn't answered. I knew this would happen. Given the reaction she had when she saw me at the hospital, this was predictable. I'm so overwhelmed and I can't focus on the project. The deadline is coming closer and I have enough on my plate to start thinking about Emily. I know coffee is not good when you're nervous, but my head is asking for one, so I decide to go to café where my sister-in-law works. She will not be there because of the maternity leave, but they know how I like my coffee. That is a perk of being a good client. I take the stairs and walk there while I try to focus on being calm, but it's not that easy. I enter the establishment and walk towards the counter. The bartender instantly nods at me, meaning she knows what I want. I take a seat while I wait. Suddenly I feel someone is tapping me on the shoulder, so I turn around to look who it is.

"This city is huge but I had to run into you," the woman adds. She seems bothered.

"I'm sorry, I don't know you. You must have mistaken me with some other person." I turn around to pay the bartender, get my coffee and I'm ready to leave, but she talks to me again.

"Paige." When I hear my name I realize she was right. I take a closer look, but my mind doesn't recognize the woman that is standing next to me.

"Why do you know my name?" I ask, acting surprised.

"Do you really not know who I am?" I shake my head. She's getting angrier.

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

"I'm Pam, Emily's mom." My heart wrings when I hear her words.

"Oh." That is the only word that comes out of my mouth. I don't know what to say.

"Is that all you're going to say?" She frowns at me.

"I don't know what do you want me to say," I state, getting more nervous every second that passes by.

"You're the reason why my daughter left for five years and you don't know what to say?" I blush. I didn't expect she would say something like that. I already feel shitty enough and she's not helping at all.

"I'm sorry that happened. I really am," I admit. She looks me with her eyes wide open, she is waiting for me to finish. "However, I don't think I should be talking about this with you. Don't you think? I don't want to sound rude, but that is something between your daughter and I."

Her eyes are directed towards me and it doesn't look like a friendly look.

"I'm glad this is over. You don't deserve my daughter. You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady," she exclaims, really upset. She takes a seat on a table nearby. I leave at a fast pace while I try to assimilate what just happened. I'm in shock and I feel even more awful than before. This was a low blow for my already damaged conscience. I drink the coffee in a gulp and I luck up in my office. I need to be alone. I hope nobody bothers me today. I grab the phone and I text her for the second time even though I didn't get an answer.

I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME, BUT SENDING YOUR MOTHER TO SCOLD ME WAS NOT VERY NICE. IN SPITE OF THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU, EM.

The moment I press the 'send' button I feel a little bit better. I hope this works.

To be continued…

Stay tuned! ;)