DISCLAIMER: Pretty Little Liars and all its characters is the intellectual property of others. Some characters used in the writing of this fic belong to PLL. Events that transpire, will transpire and have transpired in this story are entirely of my own creation.

So I'm posting this chapter from Canada because the Wi-Fi on the plane sucked big time. Sorry for the über late post.

Thanks for the reviews!

sampledbeats, EyeOpener16 and Drives-me-crazy... Thanks for the PM.

PART TWO: "Sic Infit"

~ So it begins. ~

CHAPTER TEN

Three Years Ago...

"So what do you think are the odds of Anne getting first pick and not choosing me for her team?" Jai asked as she and Paige sat beside each other on rubber mats on the gym floor during their PE class, their knees drawn to their chests.

Paige pursed her lips, pretending to think long and hard about her answer. "Hard to say. Anne getting first pick is same as the odds of me sleeping with Tia Martinez tonight." She answered, lifting her arms to fix her ponytail. "But in case that happens, the odds of her not choosing you for her team is still the same as the odds of me sleeping with Tia Martinez tonight." She repeated.

Jai's eyes widened. "No way. It's finally happening?" She asked, surprised.

Paige rolled her eyes. "No. You've completely missed the point of this conversation. I'm trying to tell you what the odds are of either scenario happening and it's slim to none." She pointed out, grinning. "You always get chosen first, Jai. That's the burden that comes with being you."

Jai gave her best friend a short laugh. "Funny, Paige." She muttered before running a hand through her short hair wearily.

"Here's something that isn't." Paige said, leaning closer to whisper to her friend. "Did you know... that the name Naomi, when written backwards, spells 'I moan'? I figured that out last night while I was writing Naomi Turner's name in the bathroom mirror after I took a shower." She revealed proudly.

Jai pulled back and stared at her friend. "Paige, why the heck would you write some other girl's name in a bathroom mirror?" She asked, confused. "I thought you were trying to seal the deal with Tia? Is Naomi even gay?"

Paige shrugged. "I don't know. Just kinda had the urge to write her name so I did." She explained. "Fine. I was playing FLAMES on the bathroom mirror with several girls' names. Satisfied?" She finally confessed when she saw Jai's dubious look, making her friend laugh. "I was bored. And I'm tired of fooling around, Jai." Paige admitted. "I want to commit to someone again."

"And you think a game of FLAMES will tell you who you're supposed to be with." Jai concluded, looking at her friend. "Paige, you know your dad won't allow it."

"I know. But maybe we can see each other in secret. I don't mind. I just want to stop being with different girls." Paige confessed. "I need help. Bad."

"What you need is to find someone like Emily. She can handle your dad." Jai said confidently, staring at her girlfriend who was currently standing in the middle of the group with Anne to do a coin toss.

Paige made a face. "Thanks but no thanks. She's all yours. I don't want her anywhere near me." She said, shuddering.

"Like I'd give her up. Especially to someone who's done nothing but make her feel like crap." Jai shot back, looking at her friend. "I'm saying find a girl with Emily's qualities to bring home to your dad."

"A concrete post has more qualities than your girlfriend. Hell, even a traffic cone has more qualities than Sniffles. I'd rather take that home and introduce to my dad." Paige muttered.

"Suit yourself. But those things don't kiss back and don't get turned on. Think about that." Jai advised, tapping Paige's shoulder twice before getting up when she heard their instructor blow the whistle. "Put your game face on. We'll probably be on rival teams again."

Paige sighed before getting up as well. It was true. Other than Jai's girlfriend and Anne Samuels, she and Jai are the best dodgeball players in their class. Since Emily and Anne were chosen as team captains again this morning, she and Jai would automatically be on opposing teams with her being picked by Anne since the girl always loses in a coin toss.

"I think it's 2-0 with me on the lead." Jai said teasingly. "I'm aiming for 3-0 today."

"Ha! I'm aiming to close that gap. No 3-0 for you my friend." Paige promised before focusing her attention to the front of the class.

"I get first pick and I choose Jai." Anne said, much to Paige's surprise. Well, well. This should be interesting. Paige thought, keeping her expression neutral. I guess my chances of sealing the deal with Tia tonight are 50-50 then.

Jai walked over to Anne and gave her girlfriend an apologetic look. Emily stared at her other classmates, thinking of her first pick. If she chose someone else, Anne would definitely pick Paige next and her team would surely lose if they were against those three girls.

"I pick Paige." Emily finally said reluctantly, immediately getting anxious when the girl slowly approached her with a smug grin.

"Aww. You look like you're about to cry, Sniffles. Someone steal your lunch money?" Paige asked with a pout, stopping in front of the girl. "I suppose you're expecting a thank you from me? Captain." She added, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No need. It's not like I had a choice." Emily replied, studying her other classmates as Anne picked another person for her team. "The only reason I chose you is because Jai wasn't available but if she was I'd always pick her." She explained. "Daryl." Emily called out, choosing her next teammate.

"Like that's supposed to be news." Paige shot back. "Too bad a coin has two sides and you're stuck with me today. You can always trade me with another player though so I can play for Anne's team. I don't mind." She added, shrugging. "But... just keep in mind... I have good aim and a strong arm. I have no problem taking you out first." Paige said offhandedly. "I wonder how that would look to everyone, though. The captain of the team taken out so soon."

Emily glared at the girl before looking away. "Can I count on you?" She asked quietly.

"Not really. I'm not in the mood to play dodgeball today." Paige answered, looking around her with a bored expression. "I'm reserving my stamina for other after-school activities."

"Perfect. I can't believe I'm stuck with you." Emily muttered. She didn't want to trade Paige for another player knowing once the girl changed sides she won't hesitate to attack her.

"Oh like I'm looking forward to being on your team." Paige shot back. "I'd rather throw balls at you until you're on the ground whimpering so stop acting like a spoiled brat and deal with it." She snapped before walking past the girl.

Present Day...

Emily slowly led the way outside her house and waited until she and Olga were standing near the sidewalk before turning around to face the girl.

"I'm sorry." Emily began, lost for what to say next. "My mom. She..."

Olga shook her head. "It's fine. I had a good time tonight." She said reassuringly, smiling at the girl.

"I did too." Emily admitted. She really didn't expect the night to go well but Olga turned out to be really charming and a good conversationalist. The dinner wasn't the least bit awkward and the three of them ended up laughing and sharing stories like they've all known each other for years.

"But..." Olga urged, sensing there's a 'but' coming her way.

"But I'm still trying to get over my girlfriend of three years. She died not too long ago." Emily explained.

"The plane crash." Olga supplied. "Sorry. Your mom told me." She added apologetically when she saw Emily's surprised look.

Emily nodded. "Yeah. And things are complicated right now." She continued.

"Are you seeing anyone?" Olga asked, giving Emily a small smile.

Emily looked behind the girl and saw that her mom was trying hard not to look at them from the living room window. "Not really." She lied, returning her attention to Olga.

Olga studied Emily closely. "But there's a girl." She guessed.

Emily swallowed hard. "Like I said. It's complicated." She repeated.

"Is it serious? Or can you see other girls?" Olga asked, the smile on her lips returning.

"We're not exclusive. If that's what you meant." Emily answered.

"Then why can't you start seeing me? Who knows? Maybe you could end up liking me more." Olga suggested lightly.

Emily smiled faintly and took a deep breath. "The thing is... this girl. She drives me crazy." She began, placing her hands inside the pockets of her denim jacket.

One of the reasons why Emily had a good time during dinner tonight is because she felt comfortable talking to Olga. There was just something about the girl that made her feel at ease. And now, standing here, just the two of them, Emily just knew that Olga wasn't going to judge her. It was the first time that she had someone she can talk to freely about Paige since she started seeing the girl and it felt refreshing, not having to lie. So she decided to take it.

"Or at least she used to. And not in a good way. We never got along even if we've been in each other's lives for years." Emily continued. "It wasn't until recently that we started this thing between us. When I realized how attracted I am to her and I can't imagine not being near her. So you're probably right. Maybe I could like you more if I started seeing you as well. But right now I'm really crazy about her." She confessed.

"So why did your mom set you up?" Olga asked, confused.

"Because she doesn't know. No one knows." Emily admitted, glancing at her mom who was now busy reading the paper on the couch before looking at Olga again. "Like I said, it's complicated. So I don't want anyone to know. I'm still trying to figure things out with her. How to do this thing between us, what it really is. I just want to keep this thing to myself for now. Until I'm sure."

Olga nodded understandingly. "Is she the girl who drove you here?" She asked, gesturing to the house behind her. "You and your mom were in the kitchen and I got up to stretch my legs. I saw her alight from her car and head for the backyard so I figured you know her. Is that her? Don't worry. I'm not gonna tell anyone." She promised.

"Yeah. That's her." Emily answered. "Her name's Paige."

"I didn't see her that well but I can tell she's really gorgeous. I can see why you'd be crazy about her." Olga admitted, placing her hands inside the front pockets of her capri pants.

"She is. But there's more to her than her looks though." Emily said, smiling as her thoughts drifted to Paige. "She's really sweet and funny among other things. I could go on and on about her but I don't think you agreed to have dinner with me and my mom tonight just so you could hear me talk about another girl. Sorry." She added ruefully.

Olga laughed. "Yeah. I'd be lying if I said I'm not disappointed that you're seeing someone. Especially when my first thought when I saw you walk inside that room earlier tonight was 'Thank God I didn't cancel this time and I agreed to accompany my aunt to the hospital last week.'" She confessed. "I guess I'll just see you around then. Tell your mom I said goodnight." She said before walking past Emily to head to her car.

"Yeah. Goodnight." Emily repeated, watching the girl for a few seconds before taking out her phone to try calling Paige again.

Emily looked towards her house and contemplated coming over to Paige's house when the girl still won't answer her call. But it was late and she didn't want to disturb Paige in case the girl was already asleep. I'll just visit her first thing tomorrow. Emily decided before pocketing her phone and heading back inside her house.

Paige emerged from the shower on Saturday morning, her body wrapped in a powder blue bath towel as she stood just outside the bathroom door. She strained her ears to listen for any sound; sure that she heard the doorbell ring a few seconds ago. She headed for her dresser when she heard it again. Someone was really at the door and she didn't know if there's someone in the house with her to answer it.

Just in case, Paige hurriedly donned a pair of gray gym shorts and an apple green t-shirt before towel-drying her hair briskly and combing it, bolting out of her room when she heard the doorbell ring again. She took the steps two at a time and jogged towards the front door, pulling it open quickly.

"Hey." Emily said in greeting.

Paige stared at the girl for a second, trying to recover from her surprise. "Em. What are you doing here?" She asked, looking past the girl to see if anyone was outside. "I thought we agreed to see each other on Sunday?"

"I know. But I couldn't wait." Emily admitted. "Let me in." She said, taking a step forward.

"Wait." Paige uttered, holding Emily's arm. "Dad? Dad?" She called out, trying to see if her father was already back from California. "Okay, come in." She said, stepping aside when the house remained eerily silent.

Paige closed the door behind the girl and took Emily's hand, quickly leading the way upstairs to her bedroom. I can't believe I'm taking Emily to my room. She thought, hoping her palms weren't starting to sweat. The situation was entirely different from the time Emily came over so they could write that paper for their Film and Literature class.

"So I take it you're alone?" Emily asked once they were inside the girl's bedroom.

"We're alone." Paige corrected, turning around to face Emily.

"I like the sound of that." Emily replied, taking in the girl's appearance. "You ran?"

Paige nodded. "Just got back a few minutes ago." She answered before studying Emily this time. "Where does your mom think you are?"

"Out running." Emily said, gesturing to her running attire.

"Running." Paige repeated, taking a step closer to the girl.

"What? This counts as a workout too." Emily argued, pulling Paige close to her and kissing the girl.

"This is crazy." Paige uttered when they came up for air.

"But good, right?" Emily asked, leaning forward and kissing Paige quickly.

"Yeah." Paige answered, capturing Emily's lips on hers again. "Really good." She said in-between kisses.

"Hey Paige?" Emily began, slightly pulling away so they could talk.

"Yeah?" Paige said, trying to focus on the girl and not on the girl's lips.

"About last night. Sorry if you overheard that." Emily continued.

"Overheard what?" Paige asked, not sure she wanted to have a conversation about last night right now. She didn't want to hear Emily say that she's going to start seeing another girl while they're here that's why she couldn't bring herself to answer any of the girl's calls.

"What me and my mom were talking about." Emily clarified. "I know you heard it."

"Oh that. It's fine." Paige said, waving her hand dismissively.

Emily sighed. "Will you ever stop saying 'it's fine' whenever I'm trying to apologize?" She asked, frowning.

"Will you ever stop apologizing for still being in love with Jai?" Paige said in reply.

Emily bit her bottom lip. "Paige..."

"Em, I know what I'm getting myself into." Paige insisted.

"But you'll tell me if you want to end things with me, right?" Emily asked hesitantly. "Paige?" She urged when the girl won't answer her.

"If you stop liking me then I'll end things." Paige promised. "How did things go with that dinner date anyway?" She asked, trying not to sound jealous. "Your mom must really like that girl if she set up the whole thing." She added, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

"Okay first of all it wasn't a dinner date. Technically it's just dinner with another girl. I think I know when I'm on a date." Emily began, following the girl and standing in between Paige's legs. "And don't get jealous but I'm not gonna lie. It went better than I expected. I get why my mom likes her." She admitted, slowly wrapping her arms around the girl's neck. "Olga's a lot like Jai actually. Serious, ambitious. She has everything planned out and I have a feeling she's this overachiever."

"Like Jai." Paige continued, wrapping her arms around Emily's waist as she looked up at the girl.

"Yeah." Emily answered, meeting Paige's eyes.

Paige nodded. "That's why your mom set you up with her. She saw their similarities." She said quietly, trying to smile. "Your mom knows she's good for you. Like Jai was."

"Yeah but by the end of the night I made up my mind about her. That's the last time I'm going to see her." Emily confessed.

"Why?" Paige asked, trying not to sound hopeful.

"Well if you'd just taken one of my calls I would've told you last night that I like being with you right now." Emily answered, gently playing with one of Paige's earlobes.

Paige tightened her arms around the girl's slim waist. "I'd rather hear you say it now." She admitted.

"I like being with you." Emily repeated softly, staring into the girl's eyes.

Paige's lips slowly broke into a huge grin.

"Finally. A real smile." Emily said, leaning down to give Paige a kiss on the lips before intertwining their hands. She liked seeing Paige smile. "I know we agreed that I should spend time with my friends today. But I can do that tomorrow instead. Let's just spend the entire day together. Do a movie marathon or something." She suggested as she studied their hands.

"My dad's coming home any minute now." Paige confessed, looking up at Emily worriedly.

"We don't have to do anything. I just want to be near you." Emily admitted, focusing her gaze on Paige's face. "And who knows? When he isn't in the living room maybe we can steal a few kisses."

Paige laughed. "I was hoping you'd say that. I don't think I can take it. You sitting so close to me and not being able to kiss you." She said, her eyes drifting to the girl's soft lips.

"We'll figure something out later. But your dad isn't here yet and we have the house to ourselves so..." Emily trailed off, firmly pushing Paige backwards so the girl was lying on her bed. "We can still do this." She whispered as she landed on top of Paige, eagerly meeting the girl's lips with hers.

"How about a bottle of perfume?" Kayla suggested as she and Paige passed by a stand full of perfumes at the department store, smiling courteously at the sales lady behind the counter as they did so.

Paige shook her head, frowning. "I don't think Emily's into perfumes." She said, studying the perfume bottles that came in various sizes and shapes in the display case.

It was a Sunday afternoon and Kayla was surprised when Paige called her a few hours ago, asking if she would accompany the girl to the mall for a last-minute Christmas shopping. Kayla readily agreed and said she didn't have any plans, admitting that she was actually planning to do some shopping herself. She was really glad that Paige called. Her father spent most of his time at the hospital, either seeing patients or devoting all of his free time on the Gray Matter Foundation that Kayla ended up being alone in their house. She contemplated calling Paige several times to ask if they could hang out but decided against it in the end, thinking the girl and Emily were probably spending time together behind everyone's prying eyes and she didn't want to be the third wheel. Nor did she want to hear the girl lie to her. So she was really glad that Paige called her. Even though the reason was so she could help the girl find Emily a Christmas gift.

Kayla thought Paige already forgot about her. Something she realized she feared. That just like her dad, Emily and Paige would forget her now that they're seeing each other. They're going to forget about being part of her family. And she's going to be alone. That's why she didn't want to say anything to the two girls. About knowing their secret. Maybe if she pretended she didn't know, they wouldn't feel ill at ease spending time with her. Plus she wanted the two girls to tell her when they're ready.

"Jewelry?" Kayla suggested next when they passed by several glass cases displaying gold and silver bracelets and necklaces among other things. She was trying to ignore the fact that this wasn't normal behavior for Paige. Shopping for a Christmas gift for Emily when for years all the girl did was complain about the holiday season.

"I'm not really comfortable giving her jewelry." Paige admitted. "Besides. I don't think she's into shiny, flashy stuffs. I'm starting to think I won't be able to find anything in this place that I would want to give as a gift to Emily." She said, looking around the packed department store as they continued to peruse the various display cases.

"Don't worry. You'll find the perfect gift." Kayla promised. "Speaking of Emily. How long has she been eating and drinking inside your car?" She asked out of the blue, causing Paige to bump hard into the pointed end of a display case filled with cosmetics.

Ow. "What?" Paige asked, rubbing her right hipbone gingerly as she winced. Great. Just when my wound's healed now I'm going to have a bruise.

"Emily spilled that coffee in your car last Friday and you were so worried that she could've burned herself, you were close to taking off your shirt to use as a mop." Kayla pointed out matter-of-factly. "I was waiting for you to blow up at her but instead you were so busy trying to make sure you wiped the coffee off her that neither of you noticed I was already inside the car. How long?" She repeated.

"I don't know." Paige answered, trying to avoid having a discussion about her feelings for Emily.

"How many times?" Kayla asked instead.

"Just a couple. It's not like she's always in my car, Kayla." Paige said, hoping her voice sounded annoyed and not panicked.

"Does she know?" Kayla continued.

"What do you think?" Paige asked wryly.

"I think you know that you care more about her than she does about you." Kayla guessed. "And you're not gonna tell her since the two of you aren't even together. Right?" She added, giving Paige the opening to correct her and let her in on the secret. But the girl didn't take it.

Paige nodded. "Right. I don't even know how she feels about me. We're not on the same page but I don't mind. I know a part of Emily cares about me and that's enough for now." She said earnestly.

Kayla studied the girl out of the corner of her eye. She didn't know when the two girls started sneaking around but she's sure that when she saw them two weeks ago in Paige's apartment they weren't together because they were going to study. They were having dinner. Like most couples do.

"So you and Emily have been spending a lot of time together lately. Are you two…?" Kayla trailed off, trying to get the girl to tell her something.

"No." Paige answered, unable to meet Kayla's eyes. "No we're not. Can we please talk about something else?"

Paige really thought she wouldn't have a problem with it. Back when her feelings for Emily were unreciprocated she had no problem talking to Kayla about it. But now, even if she didn't want to lie to the girl, she realized she wasn't comfortable telling Jai's sister that she's seeing Jai's girlfriend. She can't even bring herself to go to the Hayes' this holiday season and share a meal with the two people who have considered her as one of their own for years.

Kayla nodded, accepting defeat for now. "So are you coming over to spend Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve with us this year?" She asked as they made their way around several racks filled with Sunday dresses. "I know it's not the same since Jai isn't around but..."

"My dad is going to be home this year so naturally I want to spend time with him." Paige interjected apologetically. "I don't know if I'll be able to make it." She added even if she already knew that she'd be spending the holiday season by herself.

"Oh. Okay. Well just know that you're always welcome in our house. Whatever happens." Kayla promised, knowing Paige was feeling guilty. "How about a Christmas card?" She suggested, trying to return their conversation to the girl's gift for Emily.

Paige frowned. "Yeah... no. I don't think that's something I want to give her as my first Christmas gift." She answered, walking past the rows of Christmas cards without looking at them.

Four Years Ago...

"Care to tell me again why we've been following Paige since she left school?" Spencer asked impatiently, looking at the girl standing next to her as they hid behind a wall that strongly smelled of disinfectant.

"I told you. I need her help. It's my first Christmas with Jai and I want to give my girlfriend the perfect gift. I figured if anyone knows her best it's Paige." Emily replied, craning her neck to see where Jai's best friend went.

The two girls were currently loitering around the halls of Rosewood General Hospital, neither having a solid excuse if anyone asked what they're doing there. In a few days, Emily and Jai would be celebrating Christmas morning together for the first time and they agreed to give each other their presents before joining Jai's family for breakfast that day. Emily had been racking her brain for days for a gift but she couldn't think of anything until finally, she decided to enlist the help of the one person who knows Jai best. Paige McCullers.

Emily had been building her courage to come up to the girl the entire day. When she realized that she couldn't do it by herself, she finally asked Spencer to come with her after school but before they could approach the girl, Jai's best friend mounted her bike and pedaled away. Emily didn't want to wait until tomorrow so when Jason came by the school a few minutes later to give Spencer a lift, she begged her friend's half-brother to follow Paige. Spencer eventually convinced Jason to help them and told her brother not to wait once they realized that they followed Paige all the way to the hospital. It was easy to catch a ride home since the bus stop is just across the street.

"Yeah but are you sure about this? You'd get better help asking someone working behind an information desk than trying to talk to her. It's like talking to this wall." Spencer said, pointing to the wall they were hiding behind. "Maybe you should ask Jai's sister instead."

Emily shook her head. "Kayla's still in Girard and I don't know her number. I can't ask Jai. She'll know." She pointed out. "Besides. It's the holiday season. Maybe Paige won't be in a foul mood." She added optimistically.

"Riiiiight." Spencer said, trying not to laugh. "Maybe she won't be in a foul mood and Santa is real."

Emily ignored Spencer's sarcasm and risked another glance down the hall. "What is she doing?" She asked when they saw Paige take a seat outside the daycare center.

"I don't know. Planning to kidnap a child?" Spencer suggested, loud enough that it made several heads turn in the waiting area across from where they were standing.

"Keep your voice down! You'll get her in trouble." Emily reprimanded her friend urgently. "She looks sad."

"What? Are you blind? She's smiling, Em." Spencer said, pointing to the girl without looking at Paige.

"I know but... she looks sad." Emily repeated, unable to explain to her friend why but she saw it in Paige's posture. "Uh-oh." She said, suddenly moving away from the wall and taking a step back.

"What?" Spencer asked, confused when she heard the panic in Emily's voice.

"We should go. I think she saw us." Emily explained, turning around to head back the way they came.

"But I thought the reason we followed her here is so you could ask for her help?" Spencer reminded her friend as she struggled to catch up to the girl.

"Yeah but she looked pissed. I don't think she's in the mood to help." Emily admitted as she exited the hospital.

"When is she ever not pissed? I told you this was a bad idea." Spencer said, finally catching up to Emily.

"Hey you two!" Emily cringed when she heard Paige's angry voice behind her. Apparently the girl can run. She and Spencer slowly turned around.

"What are you two doing here?" Paige asked as she closed the distance between them. Good thing her appointment wasn't until six or the two girls would've seen why she's actually there. "You've been following me around the whole day. What's up with that, Sniffles?" She continued, giving Emily a withering glare.

"We're not interested in your after-school activities if that's what you're accusing us of." Spencer answered defensively, stepping forward like she can somehow protect her friend from Paige's anger.

"Sorry." Emily said, finally speaking up. "I'm not following you because I'm trying to invade your privacy or anything." She explained gently. She knew her girlfriend's best friend hated her for some reason but she's trying to get on the girl's good side for Jai's sake. "I actually need your help. You've been Jai's best friend for years so I was hoping you could help me find a gift for her this Christmas."

"Why would I do that?" Paige retorted. "Aren't you two dating? You're her perfect girlfriend." She emphasized. "You're supposed to know these things."

"But I don't. That's why I'm asking for your help. Jai and I have been together for a few months. You've known her longer." Emily reminded the girl. "I'm still getting to know her."

"Jai already has everything money can buy. You want to give her a gift? Don't look for it in the mall. It isn't something material." Paige said, barely able to keep the annoyance out of her voice. "But I don't really expect someone like you to understand." She added, staring at the girl disdainfully.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emily asked, hurt.

"It means you're having a hard time thinking of a gift because you're materialistic and superficial so you wouldn't know the first thing about giving gifts that come from the heart." Paige spat out.

"Hey!" Spencer exclaimed, glaring at the girl.

"Thanks for the help." Emily said quietly, feeling her cheeks redden in embarrassment. Apparently Jai's best friend really thinks the worst of her. She gave the girl one last look before heading for the bus stop.

"What's your problem?" Spencer asked, giving Paige a confused look. "Why do you hate my friend so much? You're saying all these hurtful things every chance you get when you don't even know her."

"Don't need to. Not interested." Paige said offhandedly.

"Then just ignore her. Stop treating her like crap everytime she tries to be friends with you. She just wants to get along with you for Jai's sake but you're not even willing to try." Spencer said, her heart going out to her friend. She can't believe Emily has to put up with this girl's attitude just to be with the girl she loves. "You can't even be bothered to be civil around my friend and you have the nerve to call yourself Jai's best friend? Here's a thought. While we're on the subject of giving gifts that come from the heart, I suggest you grow one this year. God knows that's the best gift you could give to Jai." She muttered, shaking her head before walking away to follow Emily.

Present Day...

Emily carefully scanned the display cases in the department store, trying to find something she could give Paige for their first Christmas together. She and her friends have been strolling around the mall for hours doing some last-minute holiday shopping like the rest of the Rosewood population and she already bought her gifts for Logan, Kayla, her friends and her mom but she can't think of something to give Paige.

"Are you guys done?" Aria asked, turning around to face her friends.

"I am." Spencer answered from beside Aria, gesturing to the shopping bags she was carrying in both hands.

"Almost." Hanna replied from beside Emily. "I can't think of a gift for Caleb." She confessed, referring to the guy she started seeing back in New York. "He wants me to give him something that's inherent in Rosewood but I'm drawing a blank. It's frustrating. Help me?"

Emily chose not to join the conversation and looked around the crowded store instead, her pulse racing when she suddenly saw Paige walking around with Kayla. She followed the two girls' progress across the store and frowned when she saw Paige bump her hip on a display case. That's going to hurt later. She's so awkward sometimes but it's cute. Emily thought, biting her bottom lip to keep from grinning.

"What about you, Em?" Aria asked when she realized that her friend didn't reply. "Are you done shopping?"

"I'm one gift short." Emily admitted, for a brief second averting her eyes from Paige to look around the store before returning her gaze to the girl again.

Emily saw Kayla point Paige to several rows of Christmas cards but the girl just walked past them without so much as a glance. They didn't really talk about getting each other gifts but she wanted to give the girl one. She finally looked somewhere else when she lost the two girls in the crowd and her eyes landed on a display for several running equipment. I could buy her something that's related to running. She thought, biting her bottom lip hesitantly.

It means you're having a hard time thinking of a gift because you're materialistic and superficial so you wouldn't know the first thing about giving gifts that come from the heart.

It wasn't too long ago that Paige said those words to her with such disdain and to Emily, those words really cut deep. I probably shouldn't give her a Christmas present of something she already has. She thought, running a hand through her hair wearily. She didn't want Paige to think she was shallow.

"Actually, I just realized I'm done as well." Emily said, looking at her friends. "Let's help Hanna find a present for Caleb so we can go home." She suggested, walking past Aria and Spencer to lead the way this time. She won't be able to find a gift for Paige in this place. But other than running, she didn't really know anything about the girl.

Four Years Ago...

"Have fun tonight." Jai said, placing an arm around Emily's waist as they exited the school building.

"I wish you could spend the night here with me." Emily admitted, looking at Jai wistfully. They haven't even parted ways and she was already missing her girlfriend.

"I know. But as much as I would love to stay, I kinda need to have a mom for me to participate tonight." Jai pointed out, their eyes drifting to the tarpaulin above them that was hanging outside the school building.

"Sorry." Emily uttered, feeling guilty for bringing up the subject.

Jai shook her head. "It's okay." She said, moving to hug her girlfriend. "My mom's been dead for six years. That's a lot of mom-related school stuff that I missed out on growing up. I'm used to it." She promised before pulling away. "I want to know how your night went so tell me all about it tomorrow." Jai added as she checked her watch for the time. "I have to go. I promised my dad I'll have dinner with him and some of his colleagues from the hospital so he's waiting for me." She explained, looking at her girlfriend apologetically.

"Okay. Take care." Emily said, leaning forward to give Jai a quick kiss on the lips.

Emily watched her girlfriend descend the steps and make her way to the well-lit parking lot before turning around to head inside. She pulled the door open and entered the building, taking a few steps before stopping in her tracks when she saw Paige round a corner, blindly heading towards her since the girl was busy rummaging inside her messenger bag for something.

"Are you leaving?" Emily asked lightly as her way of greeting Jai's best friend when Paige was near her.

Paige stopped searching her bag for her phone and looked up when she heard Emily's voice. "Yeah. What's it to you?" She asked, her temper immediately flaring at the sight of the girl.

"Nothing. I just... it's the annual mother-daughter sleepover." Emily reminded the girl. "Aren't you and your mom participating?"

"Nope." Paige answered curtly, returning her attention inside her bag as she searched for her phone again.

"Why not?" Emily asked, confused.

"Just not in the mood for a night of lame, touchy-feely stuff." Paige replied offhandedly. "Activities like this make my skin crawl."

Emily studied the girl. She heard the rumors surrounding Paige's family. But she figured Paige still saw her mom occasionally. "But your mom knows about this school activity, right?" She asked cautiously.

Paige finally gave up trying to look for her phone and looked at Emily again. "I don't want your pity, Sniffles." She said resentfully when she saw the girl's eyes. "It's not like I'm missing out on anything exciting. Of course she knows. And she's okay with me not participating. She doesn't want to go to these things because like me, she thinks it's lame and for spoiled kids like you who need to be coddled constantly." She spat out. "Now if you're done being nosy about my life, I have to go. So move."

Emily wordlessly stepped aside before Paige could shove her out of the way. She followed the girl's retreating back, torn between following to make sure Paige was okay or just forgetting what happened. She finally chose to do the latter and headed for the function room where the activity was being held.

It really shouldn't bother her since she was slowly getting used to Paige's condescension towards her. But tonight it did. Because even though Paige was angry the entire time they were talking, Emily never heard the anger. She heard the pain.

Present Day...

Emily looked around the spacious living room as she sat on Paige's couch on Monday afternoon, waiting for the girl to return from the kitchen. They have been hanging out for a couple of hours now, just watching a movie and stealing a few chaste kisses every now and then. They couldn't engage in a full-on make out session even if they wanted to since someone could arrive and see them.

Paige said her father was at work and Gwen went out to run some errands and buy some things from the grocery so when Emily got the text from Paige saying she has the house to herself for a few hours, Emily immediately decided to come over, making up some lie to her mom about meeting her friends to see a movie on her way out.

Emily stood up when her gaze landed on the vestibule near the front door and she walked over to it to study the framed photos again, trying to find any indication of Paige's mom's presence in the girl's life growing up. But like the first time that she saw these photos, she still couldn't find any now.

"So the pizza will be here in twenty minutes." Paige said as she entered the room and returned the cordless phone on its cradle.

Emily turned around and walked over to the girl. "Sorry. I just wanted to see those photos again." She explained, gesturing behind her. "I had no idea you were so cute when you were a kid." She added as she sat back down on the couch.

"Hey I'm still cute now!" Paige protested.

Emily smiled. "You have your moments. But most of the time you're just really gorgeous." She said, making the girl blush.

"Nice save." Paige replied, walking over to sit next to Emily. She leaned forward to grab the remote from the coffee table and pressed play to resume watching the film before leaning against the couch's backrest.

Emily studied the girl out of the corner of her eye, contemplating whether she should ask her question. "Paige..." She began.

"Yeah?" Paige answered, looking at the girl.

"You can tell me if it's too personal but... where's your mom?" Emily asked gently.

Paige's posture became rigid for a second and she glanced at the photos on the vestibule. "Oh. Um. Well you and everyone else know that she left. When I was ten." She added, looking at Emily. "She didn't exactly make a big secret of it. She left my dad out on the street in the light of day for everyone to see."

"But you still see her, right?" Emily continued, inclining her head to the side.

"You mean, like, do I visit her from time to time?" Paige asked hoarsely.

Emily nodded. "Yeah. I mean, most kids do that when their parents divorce. Live with one parent for a few months then with the other one for a few months." She explained.

"No. I don't visit her." Paige answered. "I'm not like most kids. Ever since my mom left it's just been me and my dad and I'm okay with that. The one who stays is the one who cares. Or something that sounds wiser than that." She said, shrugging. "And I don't really know where she is." Paige revealed, her voice hoarse. "So even if I want to see her..."

"Do you miss her?" Emily asked softly.

Paige bit her bottom lip, thinking of her answer. "Sometimes." She finally said. "A lot when I was a kid and I see all these other kids with their moms. But now not so much. Like I said, my dad's enough. I'm not mad at my mom or anything." She added hurriedly. "I get why she left. Although sometimes it still hurts. But then I see my dad and how much he loves me and that's all that matters really."

"So what do you miss most about her?" Emily asked, slowly trying to get the girl to open up to her.

"A lot of things. Like out-of-town road trips… birthday breakfasts… bedtime stories… going to carnivals. White Christmases." Paige added, smiling a little.

"White Christmases?" Emily repeated.

Paige nodded. "It's this thing my mom does every year during the holiday season. My dad isn't into decorating as you can see." She said, gesturing around them.

Emily looked around and noticed for the first time the lack of holiday decorations around the house.

"So my mom does all the work around here. She's like Mrs. Santa." Paige revealed, smiling faintly at the memory.

"Is it too personal if I ask why she left?" Emily asked cautiously.

"Kinda. I'm just not ready to tell you why. I hope you understand." Paige answered quietly.

"I do. Of course." Emily said, reaching for Paige's hand and squeezing it lightly. "Sorry if I made you sad."

Paige shook her head. "It's okay. I just haven't talked about my childhood to someone in a while." She explained. "So can we go back to watching the movie until the pizza arrives?" She suggested in an effort to lighten the mood.

Emily smiled. "Yeah. Sounds good to me." She said in agreement before facing forward to resume watching the film.

Paige studied Emily out of the corner of her eye. When they were in public they couldn't act on their feelings but they were alone right now. No dad, No Gwen. Just them. And although the notion of being alone was enough to initiate a hot and heavy make out session between them, they both knew that they couldn't risk going to her bedroom since her dad or Gwen might come home anytime soon so they had to stay in the living room and kiss like they were in grade school.

But Paige wanted to do something different right now. Just once she wanted to feel what it was like to put her arm around Emily's shoulders like she's her girlfriend but she didn't know how Emily would react. Paige swallowed hard. You won't know unless you try.

At the moment, Emily was busy reading a message she just got on her phone and she removed her hand on top of Paige's to compose a reply using both of her hands. It's your chance. Paige mentally urged herself. She took a deep breath and moved her body a little closer to the girl. She then raised her arms, pretending to yawn and stretch and then slowly lowered her left arm behind the girl. She scooted a little closer before lowering her arm on Emily's left shoulder, resting her hand lightly on top of it.

Paige waited for the girl to move away and felt her heart hammer when even without looking up from her phone, Emily instinctively moved closer to her instead, the girl leaning her head on her shoulder as she continued typing a reply. Paige turned her head slightly to look at the girl seated next to her and her lips ended up brushing the top of Emily's head. She inhaled the scent of Emily's hair and smiled, moving to kiss the girl's head softly before turning her attention to the TV again. She could definitely get used to this.

Two hours later, Emily exited Paige's house through the rear door which led to the girl's backyard. She didn't want to leave just yet but her talk with Paige just gave her an idea for her perfect first Christmas gift to the girl. She headed for the side of the house, hoping no one would see her once she emerged but stopped short when she saw a familiar-looking red Ford Fusion pull up on the driveway. She debated whether or not to go back the way she came but in the end decided to step outside. There are a lot of reasons why she's leaving through the back anyway. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it wasn't Paige's dad but Gwen when she saw the woman alight from inside the car.

"Hey, Gwen." Emily said in greeting as she approached the woman.

Gwen looked up once she opened the trunk and smiled at the girl warmly. "Emily. Are you here to see Paige?" She asked.

Emily shook her head. "I was just inside the house actually." She replied, leaning her hip against the car.

"Oh. You're leaving already?" Gwen said, a little disappointed.

"I wanted to stay but I'm doing a last, last-minute Christmas shopping." Emily explained. She contemplated her next words, whether to ask her question or just leave. But her curiosity got the better of her. "Um. I don't mean anything bad by this but this car... is it yours? I'm sorry. That's a really weird question." She said hurriedly, now feeling embarrassed that she might have insulted the woman.

Gwen smiled. "No it's okay. It's mine but Paige won it for me in that hands-on-a-hybrid contest at the mall last year." She revealed.

"That's why I thought it looked familiar." Emily commented, smiling as well. "I joined that contest too. I had my hand on this car for hours." She said, touching the surface of the car briefly.

"To be honest, I really didn't think Paige was serious about winning a car for me." Gwen revealed. "I thought she would lose interest in it eventually so I just let her go on and on about how she planned on winning this. But then Paige promised me before she left that morning. She said, 'Gwen, when I get back tonight you'd have a car of your own so you won't have to commute all the time.'" Gwen recounted. "You should've seen her face when she said those words to me. She was so earnest and determined."

"I really thought she wanted to win this car for herself." Emily admitted. "I mean, I joined the contest because I wanted to have my own car. I guess it's a good thing she won if she did it for you."

Gwen smiled. "I live in the city and most of the time, the commute to and from here is just awful. I barely have time for my own kids when I get home. Paige saw that and decided to join the contest for me." She explained.

"That's... amazing." Emily said, staring at the car. She's amazing.

"Your secret's safe with me by the way." Gwen suddenly said, her eyes drifting to Emily's clothes.

"What?" Emily asked, getting nervous.

Gwen moved to fix the scarf the girl was wearing around her neck when she saw the love bite. "You and Paige?" She continued, smiling at the girl understandingly.

Emily swallowed hard. "Oh we..."

Gwen shook her head. "You don't have to lie. Not to me. I want to see that girl happy so I'm not going to tell anyone and I'm not going to spread the word." She promised. "I know why you two are hiding and how hard it must be in a place like this. I just wanted you to know that you have one less person to worry about."

Emily let out a sigh of relief, torn between crying and giving the woman a big hug. "Thank you." She said, smiling gratefully. "Actually it's perfect timing. I kinda need help with something. It's a surprise. Can I count on you?"

"For Paige?" Gwen asked. "Absolutely." She answered when Emily nodded. "Tell me what you have in mind."

"Okay." Emily said, leaning closer to the woman. "Here's the thing..."

One Year Ago...

Paige stood on the tip of her toes as she reached for the mistletoe hanging above the doorway of the front entrance to the Brew, ignoring the disapproving looks people were giving her. She didn't care if they thought she was crazy. She was on a mission this holiday season.

"You're hogging all the mistletoes." Paige turned around when she saw Emily standing behind her, about to enter the café to start her shift.

"Is this some devious plan of yours to get girls to kiss you?" Emily asked, walking past Paige to head inside.

Paige moved to follow the girl. "What? No. This is a plan to make sure girls don't kiss you." She emphasized.

Emily rolled her eyes. "They can try. Doesn't mean I'm gonna let them." She reminded the girl as she went behind the counter and donned her apron before tying her hair into a ponytail.

"If any of them manages to sneak up on you, you won't get the chance to push them away before they land a wet one on you. This way they don't get to kiss you at all." Paige said confidently.

Emily sighed. "Paige, I know you have good intentions. You're just looking out for Jai. But this is overkill." She pointed out, managing to wrestle one of the mistletoes the girl was gripping and placing it under the counter so she could hang it back on the doorway later. "You need to tone it down. No one is cheating. I know you have trust issues..."

"I don't." Paige interjected indignantly.

"But I'm not going to hurt Jai." Emily finished, ignoring Paige's comment as she grabbed a tray to bus some tables.

"I don't have trust issues." Paige repeated, moving to follow Emily again.

Emily exited the café to clean a table when she saw two customers leave. "Then will you please stop taking down all the mistletoes around Rosewood? You're like the Grinch." She commented, placing the used cups, plates and utensils on the tray before wiping the surface of the table with a dishrag.

"I have Christmas spirit!" Paige exclaimed, offended.

Emily walked past Paige to get back inside the café. "Yeah. You're like the Grinch's incarnate." She shot back. "Paige, Jai is the only girl I plan on kissing underneath the mistletoe." She promised as she stopped to face Paige with one foot inside the café.

The two girls looked up at the same time and saw a new mistletoe hanging on the door frame for some reason. Without hesitating, Emily reached for it and gladly handed the plant to Paige before walking back inside.

"Point taken!" Paige called out after Emily before turning around to leave, ignoring Emily's friends who were trying but failing miserably to stifle their laughter as she walked past them knowing they were the ones who kept hanging those things everywhere.

Present Day...

Emily turned off the faucet and wrung her hands on the sink as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of the Brew. She then reached for several paper towels in the dispenser and dried her hands, throwing the used rough, brown tissues in the trashcan before leaning closer to the mirror to study her appearance. She was wearing a colorful scarf around her neck although the hickey Paige gave her yesterday was hidden with a concealer, just to be sure that her friends won't see it.

The four girls have been sitting outside the café for a few hours now, wiling the time until they had to return home to celebrate Christmas Eve with their families. Emily had been busy the entire morning, locked inside her room as she finished her present for Paige. She was just done cleaning up the mess she made when Hanna called to ask her to have coffee with them and she readily agreed, thinking she had to find a way to keep her mind occupied or she wouldn't be able to stop obsessing about her present. Her gaze suddenly shifted from her reflection when she heard the door to the bathroom open behind her and she smiled when she saw from the mirror the identity of the person who just came in.

Paige let the bathroom door swing close and walked a few steps inside, her eyes never leaving Emily's. She sauntered to the stalls one by one and casually pushed the doors open, trying to make sure that they were alone before she actually talked to Emily.

"I saw your friends having coffee outside and guessed you were with them." Paige explained as she walked over to Emily when she was sure that they were alone.

"Good call." Emily said, her pulse beginning to race at the mere sight of the girl. "What do you have behind your back?" She asked, looking at Paige suspiciously.

Paige moved her hand to show Emily the mistletoe she was holding. "I've been carrying this around town in the off chance that I run into you." She admitted, raising her arm above them so they were technically standing underneath it.

"Paige, you don't need a mistletoe to make me kiss you." Emily said, reaching for the girl's arm with her left hand to lower it while wrapping her right arm around the girl's neck before leaning forward, depositing a quick kiss on Paige's lips.

"I was hoping for more than a peck." Paige admitted.

Emily smiled. "I seem to remember you telling me that making out in public bathrooms is unsanitary." She reminded the girl.

"It is. But I am willing to make an exception in the spirit of Christmas." Paige answered before lifting a hand to remove a shining speck on the girl's cheek. "Have you been rolling around glitters or something?" She asked, giving Emily a teasing smile when she saw that it was a silver glitter.

"Maybe." Emily answered vaguely. "So what are your plans tonight?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Spending Christmas Eve alone. Well not alone." Paige corrected. "Gwen is spending Christmas Eve with me then going home to her family so she can spend Christmas Day with them. Told you my dad would end up being called for work." She added wryly.

"You're really not going to the Hayes'? But I thought you spend Christmas Eve with Jai's family?" Emily asked, trying not to sound panicked. Now she had to change her plans for the night. Good thing she had Gwen's number.

"I used to. But I'm not really comfortable going there and sharing a meal with the family of my best friend while thinking about her girlfriend the entire time." Paige admitted.

"So I guess I'm not the only one feeling guilty." Emily said wryly. "I should probably go. My friends might be wondering what's taking me so long here."

Paige nodded and stepped back a little. "Will I see you tonight?" She asked hopefully.

Emily shook her head. "Probably not. I don't want to leave my mom alone on Christmas Eve." She said apologetically.

"Hey. Don't feel guilty. I completely understand." Paige promised, touching the girl's cheek softly. "We'll just see each other on Christmas morning."

Emily smiled. "Okay." She agreed, moving to kiss Paige on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow morning then." She said before exiting the bathroom. She walked a few steps and took out her phone to dial Gwen's number once she was outside. "Hey. It's Emily." She said in greeting once the woman picked up. She looked behind her to make sure Paige was still inside the bathroom before slowly making her way back to her friends. "Slight change in plans. I know we agreed that I'll come over early but Paige said she's not leaving the house. You might have to let me in when she's asleep…"

Eleven Years Ago…

"Barbies?" Olivia McCullers asked, turning around from the passenger seat of the car with a smile to look at her seven-year-old daughter.

Paige made a face. "Eew. No. I don't like Barbies, mom." She answered, shaking her head so hard that her soft, long, brown hair swayed from side to side. "But it's really close."

"Oh, I think I know this one." Nick chimed in from the driver's seat of the car. "Did you ask Santa for… candies?" He guessed, meeting his daughter's twinkling brown eyes in the rearview mirror.

The family was currently on their way home back from the mall on Christmas Eve and Nick and Olivia have been trying to guess the entire drive what their daughter asked Santa this year. They knew what the girl wanted. It's been the same wish ever since Paige was four. But every year they pretend not to know, wanting to hear their daughter tell them again and again what she wanted more than anything in the world. It made them feel accomplished as parents. To have raised a child that didn't want material things despite growing up in luxury.

"Candies?" Paige repeated, her eyes widening in horror. "I can buy truckloads of that with my Christmas money from Uncle Tom. No. I didn't ask Santa for candies. But you're getting really close too." She said, starting to get excited.

"Well I'm drawing a blank." Olivia said, pretending to concede. "Nick?" She asked, looking at her husband.

Nick nodded his head solemnly. "Me too. I really don't know what else our daughter could want." He said as he pulled up in front of their house. "We give her everything she asks for."

"Not everything." Paige corrected, pouting. "I want a baby brother."

Nick and Olivia shared a look and smiled when they finally heard Paige's yearly wish. "Let's get inside." Olivia said, unbuckling her seatbelt and alighting from the car. She headed for the backseat door and waited for Paige to get out of the car before crouching to hug her daughter. "You're growing up so fast. Soon I won't be able to call you my baby anymore."

"That's why you and dad need to spend more time together." Paige insisted, hugging her mom tight.

"Tonight?" Olivia asked, pulling back to look at her daughter. "But I have a surprise for you."

"Okay. Tomorrow then." Paige said, changing her mind and smiling. "What's the surprise?"

"Close your eyes first." Olivia instructed before standing up and taking Paige's hand. "No peeking." She said as she led the way to their house.

"I'm not." Paige answered, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Okay." Paige heard her mom say once she heard the front door open.

"You can open your eyes now." Olivia whispered near Paige's ear and the girl did as she was told.

"Wow." Paige breathed when she saw the inside of their house. Everything was white and sparkling like it snowed. "But it's not Christmas morning yet." She said, looking at her mom in confusion. Her mother usually transforms their house into a winter wonderland when she's asleep.

"I know. But I wanted to give you your White Christmas early this year." Olivia answered, kissing her daughter on the head. "I know how badly you want your wish to come true. I promise we are trying to give you what you ask from Santa every year. So don't stop wishing for it."

Paige nodded. "I won't." She promised earnestly. She kissed her mom on the cheek and ran inside the living room, heading for her dad when she saw him looking at the gifts under the white Christmas tree. Paige sat on her father's lap and reached for one gift, shaking it hard to guess what's inside before grinning when her dad moved to give her a hug.

Present Day…

Paige slowly opened her eyes on Christmas Day and felt her eyes widen in amazement. For a second she thought she was dreaming. Like she was seven years old and her life was almost perfect. She studied her ceiling, mesmerized by the silver Christmas balls and big snowflake cutouts covered in silver and blue glitters that seemed to be suspended in midair if she didn't take a closer look and saw the transparent nylon cord that was supporting it.

That's how she knew that she wasn't seven now. When she was a kid she would've thought everything was magical when she saw these things floating in midair. So why did she wake up to this?

"What..." Paige whispered, slowly getting up to look around her bedroom.

It still felt like a dream. But once the first rays of the sun entered her room, the place transformed and everything became magical again. Everything was white and sparkling like it snowed because of the glitters. Her bedroom windows were filled with snowflake cutouts; a small, white, plastic Christmas tree was sitting on her bedside table; a snowman made from various sizes of Styrofoam balls garbed with a scarf and a top hat was standing in the middle of her room smiling at her; and her floor and windowsill were littered with... snow?

Paige moved and leaned over the edge of her bed to touch it. It's fake. But it looked so real. She smiled and looked around her room again and when her eyes drifted to the girl curled up and sleeping soundly on the couch in the corner of her room, she felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her chest.

Now she understood. This was Emily's Christmas gift to her. The girl's own version of her mom's White Christmas. But it was better. And amazing. And her waking up to see Emily sleeping in the corner made everything perfect.

Paige slowly opened the drawer on her bedside table and took out a medium-sized black box with a red bow on top. Her gift to Emily wasn't this great and she knew she couldn't give the girl something that would make people ask questions about where she got it or who gave it to her. So she opted for something simple.

Getting up, Paige grabbed her comforter when she noticed that Emily was sleeping without one and made her way towards the girl. She wrapped the material around the sleeping girl and smiled when she saw Emily stir.

"Hey." Paige whispered, crouching in front of the girl whose eyes were still closed. She kissed Emily's forehead gently and smiled when the girl finally opened her eyes.

"Hey." Emily repeated before slowly getting up. "What time is it?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Five." Paige said, immediately leaning forward and kissing the girl, unable to hold back her happiness. "Thanks for my winter wonderland." She added before taking a seat next to Emily.

"Did you like it?" Emily asked, looking around the room.

"I love it." Paige answered. "How did you do all of this? When?" She asked, surprised.

"I had help. From Gwen." Emily admitted. "She knows about us but she promised not to say anything to anyone." She added when she saw Paige frown. "I made all of the decorations in my room then last night I came over when she said you've finally fallen asleep. I snuck out of my house and she let me in. I was afraid you were going to wake up and see me but apparently you're a heavy sleeper so I was able to do all of this."

Paige shook her head, looking at Emily with awe. She wanted to say those three words to the girl. But instead she just leaned forward and kissed Emily again. "Now it's my turn." She said when their lips finally broke contact, handing the box to Emily.

"Paige, you didn't have to give me anything." Emily said, staring at the gift.

"I know. But it's our first Christmas together. I want to." Paige insisted. "Go ahead. Open it." She urged despite being nervous.

Emily took the box and slowly untied the bow, wondering what the girl got her. She creased her brows in confusion when she saw a piece of paper but didn't ask what it was when she saw Paige's smile. She took out the paper and unfolded it, her eyes widening when she saw what she was holding in her hand. "Paige..."

"I know you don't want anyone to know about us. And I thought anything material I give you; you'd have to explain if people see." Paige began softly. "I know it's not the most romantic gift. But you talked about missing him so much; I figured this could help lessen that feeling a bit. Make you feel better that even if you don't see him all the time, he's just somewhere up above, watching over you."

"You named a star after my dad." Emily uttered, her voice hoarse as she stared at the name on the star certificate. "This is romantic." She said, looking at Paige and hugging the girl. "Thank you."

"And you don't even have to explain how that happened. You could just say that it was your idea." Paige pointed out.

"Stop talking." Emily whispered, feeling like she was going to explode from happiness as she moved to capture Paige's lips on hers.

One Year Ago...

"So who did you kiss on New Year's Eve?" Emily asked as she and Paige made their way to swim practice.

"Not. Gonna. Tell. You." Paige answered, pushing the door to the locker room and entering it with Emily close behind.

It was their first week back from the Christmas break and for lack of a better topic of conversation; they decided to ask what the other did during the break since the two of them didn't see each other at all. Emily hung out with her friends and visited a few relatives, unable to talk to Jai as often as she would like since the girl was swamped with her internship in London. While Paige spent most of her time training and continuing Jai's charity works around town and outside of it.

"Tia?" Emily guessed, not letting the subject matter drop.

"No." Paige said, heading for her locker.

"Dominique?" Emily continued as she headed for hers.

"No. Drop it." Paige demanded. "I'm not gonna kiss and tell. Stop asking how I spent my New Year's Eve. I'm not asking you who you kissed." She pointed out.

"My mom." Emily quickly replied.

"Seriously?" Paige asked, surprised.

Emily shrugged. "Hey, no one said it should be a romantic kiss." She reminded the girl. "So who did you kiss?" She repeated.

"Carla." Paige finally admitted.

"What?!" Emily exclaimed. "Carla the girl who tried to hit on me then hit on you? That Carla?!"

"What?" Paige uttered slowly. "She was passing by and I ran into her. She invited me to her friend's New Year's Eve party outside of town and since I had no plans, I decided to indulge her." She explained.

"And landed a wet one on her when the clock struck midnight." Emily finished.

"Hey, she landed a wet one on me. I did my part by standing there when midnight struck. I'm not seeing anyone, she's not seeing anyone. I think." Paige added, frowning. "Nothing's wrong with that." She pointed out.

"I can't believe you still haven't contracted Mono. It's like you're immune to it or something." Emily muttered before heading for the shower room.

"Whatever! You're just jealous because I got to kiss someone who isn't my mom!" Paige called out smugly.

Present Day...

"So. I guess I still haven't told you that my mom practically ordered me to stay away from you. Not totally away. Just... spend less time being alone with you." Emily explained as she and Paige walked home from Rosewood General Hospital on the afternoon of New Year's Eve.

"And yet here we are." Paige said, smiling wryly.

Once Christmas was over, the two girls realized that they could only avoid the Hayes for so long. They each got a call from Logan the next day, asking if they could volunteer a few hours of their time everyday to help out with the preparations at the hospital for the Gray Matter Foundation's New Year's Eve fundraising event, an all-age rooftop party with a kissathon once the clock struck twelve. The pair with the longest kiss will win an all-expense paid cruise for Valentine's Day and a lot of people paid to join the affair. Logan told them that the proceeds will go to the research for treating brain injuries and despite feeling guilty, Emily and Paige agreed to volunteer out of genuine desire to help continue Jai's vision.

"Let me guess. It's because of the whole me being Jai's best friend and you being her girlfriend and how everyone is probably talking about us as we speak." Paige continued.

Emily nodded. It wasn't the only reason but she didn't want Paige to know the rest. "I didn't think it'd be such a big deal. I mean I knew it was. That's why I wanted to keep things between us a secret in the first place. I just didn't think that seeing us together people would immediately speculate it. We're not even together all the time." She added, shaking her head wryly.

"That's Rosewood for you." Paige commented, smiling faintly.

"Good thing we decided not to attend the party at the hospital tonight." Emily said, glancing at Paige.

"Yeah. I don't think I want to hear the countdown to midnight and see you kiss someone else when it reaches zero. I want to be your New Year's Eve kiss." Paige admitted.

"I want to be your New Year's Eve kiss too." Emily answered.

"Maybe we can find a way to ring in the New Year together without anyone seeing us." Paige said, trying to sound optimistic.

"Crazier things have happened." Emily added, smiling at the girl.

"Paige." The two girls stopped in their tracks, waiting for the person who called out to one of them to approach.

"Um." Paige uttered when she finally saw who it was.

"Carla. Remember?" Carla said as she stopped in front of the two girls.

"Yeah. I do. I remember. I'm sorry. I was just surprised." Paige admitted. "I didn't think I'd see you again after..."

"The New Year's Eve party last year." Carla finished. "I know. Neither did I. But I'm in town visiting my roommate again." She explained, gesturing behind her. "I'm glad I ran into you actually. I was just about to call you. There's a New Year's Eve party at my friend's house tonight. You know where it is. I thought we could continue where we left off."

Paige cleared her throat, trying to ease her discomfort. "Continue." She repeated, feeling Emily's withering glare at Carla, then at her. "Um, Carla, you remember Emily, right?" She said, gesturing to the girl standing next to her.

"The one with the girlfriend. Yeah. Hi." Carla said, smiling at Emily. "You two still together?"

"No. I'm seeing someone else now." Emily answered.

"I see. So you're still taken." Carla commented, immediately losing interest in the girl. "So. What do you say?" She asked, focusing on Paige. "I don't mind being your New Year's Eve kiss again. You're a pretty awesome kiss..."

"I can't. I have plans with this girl right here." Paige interjected hurriedly, jutting her thumb at Emily.

Emily struggled to remain unaffected. "What are you talking about? It's not urgent. You can totally go to that party, Paige." She said, smiling at the girl encouragingly.

"But... I thought we were gonna do that thing." Paige said, looking at Emily pointedly.

"What thing? There's no thing. Go to the party." Emily repeated calmly.

"You know, you can come too if you want." Carla offered. "If you and your girlfriend don't have any plans for the night, come with Paige."

"I'd rather not." Emily answered, shaking her head.

"Come on." Carla coaxed. "You and Paige seem to be a package deal. She won't go unless you do and I want this girl to come. Just tell your girlfriend to meet you there so she'd have no choice but to follow." She suggested. "Think about it. The party doesn't start until eight. Paige, you have my number in case you want to meet up before going to the party." She reminded the girl, touching Paige's arm familiarly before walking away.

Paige bit her bottom lip uneasily as she followed Carla's retreating back, unable to believe that the girl said all those things and left her there to be eaten alive. She slowly turned around, steeling herself for Emily's questions.

"So..." Paige started, trying to smile but it felt like a wince.

"You have her number?" Emily interjected, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she stared at Paige.

"She took my phone and put it there. I forgot I even had it." Paige explained. She waited for Emily to say something but the girl just stared at her wordlessly. "And I will delete it now." She continued, taking out her phone and searching for the number hurriedly. "There. See? Carla. Delete." She said, pressing the button and showing it to Emily.

"We're going to that party." Emily decided before walking again.

"Wait, what? No. No, no, no. I don't think that's a good idea." Paige said, catching up to the girl.

"Why?" Emily asked without looking at Paige as she continued walking towards her house.

"Because I don't want to be in that party. You're supposed to be my New Year's Eve kiss." Paige reminded the girl. "How am I supposed to do that when I can't get you alone?"

"It's a house. I'm sure there are several bedrooms there." Emily pointed out. "We should go to a New Year's Eve party tonight. It's out of town, right? Carla said you know the place since you've been there."

"Yeah. I have." Paige replied. "But I don't want to go. I don't want to kiss you in a bedroom. I want it to be in a place where..."

"We're going." Emily insisted.

"But you're supposed to be my New Year's Eve kiss." Paige repeated, pouting as she followed the girl. "Em, come on. I don't want to go." She called out but the girl pretended not to hear her. "I can't believe she's so jealous." She muttered under her breath.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Emily asked, looking at the girl who was seated on the porch steps next to her four hours later. She took another sip of the beer in her plastic cup before offering it to Paige.

"No thanks. One of us has to remain sober." Paige explained, moving her head away from the cup. She looked around the crowded front yard, nodding her head slightly when she saw Carla looking at her again.

The two girls arrived in Paige's car with the party already in full swing. Emily immediately made a beeline for the keg while Paige just stood in the entrance, trying to find a place where she could kiss the girl once midnight struck. But as the night wore on, she realized this place is hardly romantic and Emily getting drunk beside her just made being there all the more frustrating.

"Lighten up. This is supposed to be a party." Emily pointed out.

"Which I said I didn't want to go to." Paige reminded the girl, annoyed. "Why are you getting drunk?"

"I'm not." Emily argued.

"Yes you are. That's your third cup of beer." Paige said, looking at the red plastic cup the girl was holding in her hand. "And you're almost done with it."

"Why are you upset?" Emily asked, leaning her head on her hand and studying Paige.

"Because you're supposed to be my New Year's Eve kiss but instead you're getting wasted." Paige answered. "The only reason I agreed to come to this party is because you said we can just find a room here tonight. So I drove you here. Even if the last place I want to kiss you on New Year's Eve is in a party with drunken college students puking their guts out once the clock struck twelve. But then we get here and you've spent the better part of the night drinking that beer like it's water. It's like you don't even want to kiss me." She said, barely able to hide the annoyance she was feeling.

"Or maybe you're just using my drinking as an excuse to pick a fight so you can kiss someone else since you've done nothing but stare at Carla ever since we got here." Emily shot back.

"What? She's the only person I know here. I can't exactly ignore the one person I know in this place other than you." Paige pointed out. "Especially since you've been so busy making out with that plastic cup to be bothered to pay attention to the girl you're seeing. At least Carla acknowledges my presence." She added before she realized what she just said.

"Then I guess you should go find Carla. She thinks you're an awesome kisser, right?" Emily reminded the girl, getting up.

Paige sighed. "Em, come on." She said, unable to believe that they're fighting so close to midnight.

"I'm gonna grab a refill." Emily said before heading inside the house.

Paige knocked on the door of the last room in the second floor of the house, hoping she would finally find the girl she's been looking for all over the place once she opened it. "Hey. There you are." She said, releasing the breath she was holding in once she saw Emily lying on the bed. She entered the room and locked the door behind her, standing still as she let her eyes adjust to the darkness.

Emily lifted her head from the pillow to look at Paige. "Wasn't that hard to find me once you managed to avert your eyes from Carla's ass for a second." She retorted before resting her head on the pillow again. She was dizzy from all the alcohol she just consumed downstairs. That and she had been drinking on an empty stomach.

Paige sighed and walked over to the girl. "I told you I didn't want to go to this party." She said, sitting on the bed next to Emily.

"Why? Because I'd find out that you were really interested in Carla?" Emily said accusingly.

"No. Because now you're drunk and jealous and I just wanted to spend the night kissing you." Paige explained, brushing a strand of hair away from Emily's eyes. "But you're drunk. And jealous. So I can't kiss you right now without feeling like I'm taking advantage of you."

"I'm not drunk." Emily argued.

"But you're jealous." Paige pointed out. "Em, I promise I never hooked up with Carla. We kissed on New Year's Eve. That's it. It was a one-time thing and I wasn't seeing you then. You were with Jai." She reminded the girl before taking Emily's hand. "I want to say let's get out of here but I think we should stay for a bit. Until you're not so drunk anymore."

"Sorry I made out with a red plastic cup four times." Emily said, looking up at Paige.

"Good thing I don't get jealous when it comes to inanimate objects." Paige replied, kissing Emily on the forehead.

"I hate being jealous." Emily confessed.

Paige smiled. "I know. I hate it when you're jealous too. But I'm glad that even if you came to this party and got drunk, you're here with me." She added, caressing the girl's cheek.

"Oh yeah?" Emily asked, her voice hoarse.

"Yeah." Paige repeated. "Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?"

Emily moved a little to let Paige share the bed with her. "Not tonight. No." She answered, resting her hand on Paige's waist when the girl was finally lying next to her.

"Well you are. Gorgeous. All I want to do is kiss you." Paige admitted.

"Me too." Emily replied, smiling at the girl.

"Wait, you want to kiss yourself too? That's awesome. Show me!" Paige exclaimed, trying to make Emily laugh.

Emily lightly hit Paige on the arm before kissing the girl on the cheek. "I want to kiss you too but my breath smells of alcohol." She said, frowning.

"I don't mind. Just so long as you don't think I'm taking advantage of you." Paige hurriedly added.

Emily leaned forward and kissed Paige on the lips softly. "You're not. And I know you won't." She told the girl reassuringly.

"Well just to be safe, I think I'd rather hold you right now." Paige admitted, smiling when Emily moved her body closer and the girl rested her head on the crook of her neck. "I locked the door." She added before Emily could ask, earning a small laugh from the girl.

"Where are we?" Emily asked once Paige put the car into park. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward in her seat to look past the car's windshield and study her surroundings.

"A place outside of Rosewood." Paige answered vaguely before rolling down the car windows. She turned the engine off but decided to keep the stereo on so they could hear the countdown until the ball drops from the New York Times Square in just a few minutes. "Come on. The view is way better outside." Paige promised, turning up the volume of the stereo before alighting from the vehicle. She quickly made her way to the passenger side of the car so she could open the door for the girl.

Emily smiled as she alighted from inside the vehicle. "Where exactly outside of Rosewood?" She asked, looking around them.

Paige closed the door and took Emily's hand, leading the way to the front of the car. "I don't know what this place is called actually. But sometimes I call it the bluff. For obvious reasons." She added, gesturing to the wide expanse of land around and below them. "Few people know of this place because the access road is far from the main road." Paige revealed as she leaned her back against the hood of her car.

While Emily slept off her drunkenness for a few minutes earlier, Paige finally thought of the perfect spot for them to ring in the New Year together without anyone seeing them. When the girl finally woke up, she asked if Emily was up for a little drive or if the girl was still too drunk to leave the room and Emily got up and told Paige to show her this place.

"So how did you find out about it?" Emily asked, moving to stand in front of the girl with her back turned to Paige.

"I got lost when I was a kid and I ended up here." Paige admitted as she wrapped her arms around Emily's waist from behind.

"It seems private." Emily said, looking around them as she angled her body to face the girl.

Paige nodded. "It is. That's why I like coming to this place. And the view of Rosewood from up here is amazing especially at night." She added, nodding her head slightly to indicate the twinkling lights in the distance.

"It is breathtaking." Emily said in agreement as she stared at the lights, mesmerized.

"I thought so too. But then I met you and this place just doesn't compare." Paige confessed, depositing a light kiss on the girl's cheek.

Emily smiled and slowly turned around to face the girl. "I'm glad you thought of this place tonight." She said before wrapping her arms around the girl's neck. "And we got here just in time. Countdown's starting."

Paige strained her ears to listen to the stereo, her eyes never leaving Emily's. She was waiting for the countdown to end and the fireworks to begin so she could ring in the new year with the girl she was holding in her arms.

"6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"

Emily leaned forward to kiss Paige softly on the lips the second the countdown ended. "Happy New Year." She whispered, smiling at the girl just as fireworks went off around them.

Paige returned Emily's smile. "Happy New Year." She repeated. She cradled Emily's cheek and stared into the girl's eyes, the fireworks exploding in the night sky all around them illuminating Emily's exquisite features. She didn't know it was possible to be this happy. But she is. "Em…"

"Yeah?" Emily uttered, looking at the girl with twinkling brown eyes.

Paige opened her mouth to speak but at the last second leaned forward to capture Emily's lips on hers instead, letting her kiss say the words she couldn't tell the girl.

I love you.