"Soul Mates"
I had to go back to practically the beginning of this story and reread parts so I can tie things together. I like consistency unlike the actually show Pretty Little Liars. They just don't care enough to make things make sense. But I do care about my stories and I do care that they give you what PLL failed to.
I really do hope I do that for you ;)
Rated T for Teen.
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"Well, if I don't see you later, make sure you remember to close your drapes."
I freeze. Chills roll up and down my spine! Why did she say that! And what do I do!
"Maya I'm ready," Em walks over just in time to save me. "Is everything all right?" she asks sensing my uneasiness.
I clear my throat, "Yeah, let's just go."
"Bye Spence," Emily waves.
"Bye guys," Spencer says like she's not the creeper that she is!
I turn and smile hooking Emily's arm walking quickly out the door and away from –A!
Chapter 37: Valentine's Day
Maya POV
It's Valentine's Day! I'm getting ready for my date with Emily…keeping the drapes closed. I mean after what Spencer said, I don't think I'll ever open them again!
I decide on black straight leg jeans and calf length low heel black leather boots with straps in the back. Since its still winter, I choose to wear a handmade black cotton grunge sweater. Its design is unique, not a typical knit style because it's double knitted throughout making it a little thicker to withstand the cold. The sleeves are extra-long, resting near the fingertips, and it has a thumb hole in the cuff if I want to still use my hands easily without rolling up the sleeves or I can just hang them long without putting my thumb through. The shoulders, chest and arms have a wider design giving it a sexier look by exposing my light brown skin. I think Emily will like what she sees. I'll save the red for the gift wrap and the pink, I'll save for, well never you mind…
Okay, so I have everything I need: keys, wallet, present, my bag, phone and my black pea coat with a scarf and black leather gloves, all set to go. I should be wearing a ski jacket or something but I don't care; I'll freeze from the house to the car and from the car to Emily's front door and from Emily's to the car and from the car to the restaurant. You get the idea!
I pick up the roses, (more red!) off the table by the front door and go pick up my girl in my dad's car because he doesn't want me driving my convertible in the snow. And who could blame him. His Lexus SUV will do rather nicely. My parents have my mom's car.
I knock on Emily's front door with roses in tow. She opens the door with a beaming smile looking absolutely radiant! I step into her house, we kiss, and I hand her the roses.
"Oh Maya, they're beautiful," she breathes in their scent then scan her eyes over me, "and so are you."
"Thank you, baby, and you look amazing."
"I wasn't sure if I should wear a dress so I opted for the black leggings and knee high leather boots with this black sparkly top. Do you like?"
"Oh I like and thanks for wearing a low heel," I wink. "I don't want you towering over me since it would be harder to kiss you whenever the feeling arises," wink again.
"Does my height intimidate you?"
"Nope. It arouses me."
"Shh, my mom's in the next room. We better hurry before she tries offering you a drink or something."
"Is she okay by herself?"
"Yes, definitely yes or I wouldn't be going."
"Should I say hello?"
"I think she'd like that but don't get sucked in," she warns.
Half an hour later, we're on our way to the city. It's a good thing I left early otherwise we might miss our reservation!
As we drive peacefully to our destination I say, "This is nice. I like the quiet. I like not thinking about stuff, ya know?"
"Yeah, I do know. It does feel good. I just want to think about us, especially today."
"Agreed."
Narrator POV
Emily and Maya head to the city completely unaware of the Toyota Highlander following them…
Maya POV
"Well, here we are. Do you like it?"
"Oh Maya, I love it. It's the perfect little getaway. And I'm so glad to be getting away with you."
Kiss.
We're seated at a table in the back, low light, perfect for two soul mates as the evening plays out just as I intended it to. We laugh, we talk, we gaze, we flirt, we touch, we caress, we kiss, and we say with our eyes what our hearts long to relay, a love that could never be undone or replaced…
Dessert arrives interrupting our romantic thoughts and gestures. It's chocolate lava cake with two spoons. We each take a bite but I'm kind of anxious to give her my gift and I can tell that she's anxious to give me hers.
"Do you want to go first or shall I?"
"Do you mind opening mine first?" she gets all shy about it.
"No baby, I don't mind."
I make her smile with that tiny dimple on the side of her face, only one side though, and I love that it's such a revealing part of expressing her emotions.
I accept her gift with a kiss.
It's a small box which makes me automatically assume jewelry but I could be wrong.
I unwrap it and open it. My eyes react with surprise and my mouth reacts by falling slightly open.
"Oh my god, Emily, I love it! And I love you."
I kiss her and immediately want her to clasp it around my neck. It's a silver chain connected to the beginning and end of our names written in script.
"Emaya. I love it! I'm going to wear it all the time! Thank you so much!" I kiss her which calms me, softening my excitement, so I can share with her my heart, "I love you baby, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever…"
"Oh Maya, I remember when you said those words to me on Christmas Eve. They mean so much. I love you too."
We smile and we kiss and we kiss and we kiss…
And this is for you. I, too, hand her a small box. She opens it hurriedly taking off the top so she can see what's inside. Her hands cover her mouth as she can't believe what she's seeing.
"Maya, it's your grandmother's ring. How did you get it from me? I've been keeping it safe for when we say our vows."
"Your mom."
"What! Are you serious?"
"Yep. So, how 'bout you read inside the band."
"Is it going to make me cry?"
"Probably."
"Soul Mates 9-7-10," she tears up.
"Aww, baby, come here."
"I'm sorry, I can't help it. That date is the day we met. I'll never forget that day. It's the day my life began."
I hold her against me as her tears can't help but fall from her beautiful brown eyes.
She sits up handing me the ring, "Will you do me the honor?"
"Absolutely."
I take the ring and slip it onto her finger. She looks at it with eyes agleam and then looks at me, "I love you yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever."
She takes my face in her hands. She smiles. She takes a breath. She sighs. And finally her lips brush against mine, again and again and again…
Her hands relax one on my leg one at my waist, "I love you Maya."
It's my turn now; I place the palm of my hand tenderly against her cheek willing her lips to mine. Our eyes stay locked til the very last second before our lips meet and our hearts surrender...
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
"Mmm, who's phone is that, yours or mine," she says not wanting to give up my lips.
"Mmm, I guess we better just check. It might be important."
Our lips part so we can check our phones. Our eyes pop as we read the text we both received.
A romantic getaway Italian style.
How nice.
Now I suggest you do getaway from sleuthing into -A.
-A has been done with u2 since Xmas day.
It's up to you if I return to stay.
Leave Spencer alone.
Or Shana will go home.
-A
"What the fuck!"
"I know Maya what the fuck! And why now! It's not fair. This was our night and oh my god how did A know we were here!"
I hold her close, "No one is going to threaten us, not tonight, not any night."
"But Maya.."
"I hate to say it but we must have been followed. I was just so happy and excited about everything. It never even dawned on me that –A could still be watching us."
"Maya, I'm scared. And what's this about Shana?"
"I don't know Em but we need to be careful. I know Shana tried to come between us but she doesn't deserve to have her secrets exposed, whatever they might be."
"It must be big if –A is using her to stop us from digging into who –A is."
"I agree. We need to think this through but first we need to get out of here."
"Yes, please, but where can we go?"
"Em, my parents are at the apartment not too far from here. Do you want to hang out there for a while? They should be finishing up their final performance of the night. We wouldn't be alone though I kind which we were. But under the circumstances, do you mind?"
She looks up at me, "I'd like that. Let's go."
I pay the bill and take Emily to my parents' apartment. I don't feel like we were followed. The doorman lets us in and we hurry to the elevators waiting to be taken to our safe haven.
As I unlock the door, my phone buzzes scaring the shit out of both of us. I quickly close and lock the door behind us. Emily checks her phone but she didn't get a text. She stands next to me as I see who it's from.
"Oh my god, it's just my parents."
"Phew. I got so scared for a second."
"Yeah, me too. They say they're going out to celebrate Valentine's Day after all."
I text them that Emily and I are at the apartment.
My phone rings. It's my mom.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah mom, Emily and I are just super full and wanted to relax before heading home."
"Umm, Maya, since the two of you are just hanging out at the apartment, why don't you spend the night."
"Okay but when will you get here?"
"We won't dear. We're meeting friends in Brookhaven for a late dinner. And then we were going to keep the romance going at home."
"Eww! Mom! La, la, la! I don't want to know about that!"
"Well, we're not dead Maya, not yet anyway."
"Fine, mom. We'll stay here."
"Thanks honey and Happy Valentine's Day!"
"Yeah, Happy Valentine's Day."
"I can't go home now. Em, call your mom, see if you can stay or if I should drive you home."
A few minutes pass…
"She said I can stay as long as I sleep in a different room. Then she laughed."
"What is up with Pam? She is too much these days," we both find humor in the moment.
"Maya, tonight was so special, too special to let a text from –A spoil it."
"You're right baby. How 'bout we just cuddle?"
"Yeah that would be perfect."
"I'll get a blanket and we can watch a movie on the couch."
"I love it. That's exactly what we need to do. Total distraction."
We take off our coats and boots and Emily snuggles into me under a blanket. It's quite comfortable having her in my arms. We make each other feel safe and I know she likes it when I take on the protective role. I slip my necklace between my fingers, Emaya, it's perfect. It really is. And I love that ring on her finger. That's where it will stay for the rest of our lives.
But something still bugs me. That text said to stay away from Spencer which would imply that Spencer isn't –A, but I know she is. She has to be. So what the fuck is going on? Could Spencer have sent that text herself? Ughhh, I can't do this right now. I can't put Spencer or Shana before Emily. It will have to wait another day. But rest assured we will figure it out. You will make a mistake Spencer, and when you do, we'll be there to put an end to –A…
Back in Rosewood…
Hanna POV
Caleb and I finish our romantic dinner out when we bump into Toby. He's alone, which is strange, because it's Valentine's Day and he should be out with Spencer.
"Toby! Hey!"
He stops and walks toward us.
"What's up?"
"Just took Hanna out to dinner," Caleb says.
"Ah, yes because it's Valentine's Day. I'm glad you guys could do that."
"What about you? Where's Spencer?" I ask.
"She's throwing up at home and that's something I just can't deal with."
"Oh my god! Me either, just the thought of it makes me wanna, ghah, sorry," I can't help but gag it's so gross!
"That sucks, poor Spencer," Caleb agrees.
"I feel like I should go over but I can't afford to get sick. I have to work."
"Well, you can celebrate another night. It will still have the same meaning," I say kind of surprising myself, I do, do that sometimes ya know.
"Well, anyway, Happy Valentine's Day you two."
"Thanks man."
"Thanks Toby," I hug him and say, "Have a nice not February 14th Valentine's Day."
He laughs and heads home.
"That's too bad about Spencer," I say.
"Yep it is. So are you ready to go Han?"
"Sure."
I get in Caleb's car and as we head away from town we stop at a four way intersection. There's a car already stopped so it takes its turn driving across the intersection. I'm not really paying attention but something makes me look up. That car…
"Caleb! That's Spencer car! What the fuck! I thought she was puking, ghah, sorry! I thought she was at home puking, ghah, oh my god sorry again!"
"Spencer's not the only one who drives a Highlander in Rosewood ya know."
"Yeah, well that Highlander is headed towards her neighborhood."
"Let me guess. Follow that car!"
I just give him a look and he knows to follow that car!
We stay back so as not to draw her attention. The car is taking the route to Spencer's house I know it. We're almost there. Yep, it's Spencer…
"Now what Hanna?"
"I don't know. I just don't know…"
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To Be Continued…