The girls spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach tanning in the sun and enjoying the seawater. Over the afternoon, Emily and Alison had exchanged a few looks, and it made the blonde feel like a fool. She couldn't help herself noticing a certain glaze in the brunette's eyes. She didn't know what to think of it. She didn't even know if it was real - Alison was tired and maybe it was her imagination playing games. She groaned. She was not just tired, she was exhausted. Her weeks were never easy but this week, this week had been the worst and it had just started. What did the girls think when they brought her here? Right now, she could be home by the side of her pool. Right now, she could be with a girl or a boy that would have hit on her. Alison closed her eyes. But no, right now, she was on a vacation with her ex and her new girlfriend. If Hell was different for each person, she knew her Hell would look just like that; her, having to observe Emily and Ophelia. Having to be this close to Emily, knowing she wasn't hers was… a hard thing to accept. Alison sighed as she opened her eyes.

It was already dinner time and so, the girls were back into the house. Sitting at the table between Hanna and Aria, Alison was facing Spencer. She had traded her white bathing suit for a delicate summer dress and had let her blonde hair loose on her shoulder. As usual, she was pretty. Over dinner, Aria had asked Spencer about her work which ended up in a roundtable discussion. Knowing that Ophelia didn't know much about her background, Spencer explained that she had been to law school but that she was now working in politics as a lobbyist. She went over some of her job aspects, trying to clarify them as much as possible for the girls to understand. All five kept looking at Spencer, nodding their heads, having no clue what she was talking about. Hanna and Alison followed up, pointing out that they were working in the fashion industry. In Aria's turn, she described the new book she was working on. Over the years, the small brunette had released a couple of volumes and was beginning to make a name for herself in the industry. Right now, it was Ophelia's time to speak. She told the girls that she was working as a model and that she was currently represented by Elite Model, one of the most prestigious private modelling agencies. Working in the fashion industry, Hanna and Alison knew the company. However, it confused Alison that she never ran into the girl, not that she was complaining. She just thought it was funny since the fashion industry was a small world where everyone tended to know everyone. Looking at Ophelia with daring eyes, Alison speaks up, "so, what was your last campaign? It's funny I haven't done a collab with you yet".

Ophelia giggle and politely replied, "it's normal, I don't do runways or catalogues. I'm an editorial model and so, I only work with high-end fashion companies or magazines. But I'm sure you know what editorials are, as you work in fashion. They tend to be very selective."

Alison was surprised by the last sentence. Was the girl implying something? In Alison's first years in the fashion industry, she worked as a runway model. Over time, she tried to become an editorial model. She went to many castings but never was selected. After several failures, she came across her actual boss who offered her a place in his business. Alison kept staring at the girl sitting on the other side of the table, staying silent. Was Ophelia attacking her? Alison didn't know how to reply to the striking comment, wondering if it was just her imagination. Was Ophelia aware she wanted to be an editorial model? Seeking help, she looked over at Hanna.

Her friend looked back at her questionably, not getting the point. "You don't know Ophelia? She made Vogue's cover a few months ago." Alison rolled her eyes. Of course, she did.

Alison reminded silent as she took a sip of her wine, never letting her eyes go off her rival. The two blonde locked eyes, as if it was some kind of contest. Feeling the constriction between the two, Emily's body stiffened. Clearing her throat, trying to ease the tension, she uncomfortably articulated, "well it looks like it's my turn to speak!" Alison's eyes turned toward the brunette. She couldn't wait to hear what the girl was going to say. With a forced smile, she kept her eyes on Emily as she poured herself more wine.

As the discomfort around the table faded away, the brunette swiftly went over the past few years. She explained that she fully devoted the last years to swimming and training. Emily had swum a few years in division 1 for Princeton University, breaking several records. She pointed out that she had been scouted professionally in the ISL and that she was now represented by a great agency. The brunette clarified what was ISL about, specifying she had to travel a lot for the swim meets. Alison watched Emily talk. Her dark hair was falling over her shoulder. She was captivated by the girl's beauty. She tore her eyes from the brunette when she heard Aria speak, realizing she had been staring at her breasts. Oops.

"Wow", Aria happily commented, "what team do you swim for?". Aria knew Emily was swimming professionally, but she hadn't caught up with the brunette in a long time.

Quickly answering before Emily, Ophelia boomed, "she used to be part of the New York Breakers, but she was recently traded to the LA Currents!"

Hanna and Alison exchanged looks. "LA as in LA?" Hanna carefully attempted.

"Lol yeah, LA as in Los Angeles. We're going to be neighbours!", Emily cheerfully replied. Alison's blood went cold. Emily. Here. In L.A.

Ophelia took Emily's hand in hers and rested it on the table, their fingers intertwined. Looking straight into Alison's eyes, she innocently left out "we rented an apartment together."

Alison felt all the air leave her body. What was this girl's problem trying to get to her? Alison could feel herself becoming jealous of the brunette's girlfriend. She held her glass of wine and finished it in two gulps. She couldn't do this. She sarcastically smiled back at Ophelia as she chuckled, "I'm happy for you guys, you make such a beautiful couple". As the words left her mouth, she took a quick peek in Emily's direction.

The brunette was looking right back at her with such an intense gaze, it made the blonde shiver. The sight made Alison hiccupped, as she forced every inch of her body not to hurl over the girl. Emily's eyes were full of something Alison couldn't describe. Was it desire or curiosity?She couldn't mixed signals, she tore her eyes from Emily, knowing she would only collect deception from it.

The rest of the dinner went well. All the girls had eaten and were now enjoying their drinks as they continued to catch up on each other's lives. Throughout the meal, Emily's eyes stumbled over Alison too many times. She was finding it hard not to keep her eyes on her. The blonde had her mesmerized. Alison was now talking to Aria, and Emily's eyes were focusing on her lips. When Alison's laugh boomed, Emily smirked, wondering what other noise her mouth could make. Noticing her girlfriend wasn't paying much attention to her, Ophelia followed Emily's eyes that were linked to Alison. Looking up at Emily, she scanned her girlfriend's face. Something didn't feel right. Ophelia grabbed Emily's hand, feeling the urge to be close to her. At the same time, Emily looked down at her and was met by suffering eyes. The brunette felt horrible. Not wanting to hurt her girlfriend more, she forced herself to stay away from Alison for the rest of the evening, but when she pathetically failed once again, she decided it was time for her and Ophelia to retire to their bedroom.

Emily was laying in her bed, Ophelia next to her. The brunette turned to her side to face her girlfriend. Even when she was sleeping, the girl was stunning. She passed her hand over the blonde ear, affectionately moving hair from her face. They had an argument earlier about the looks Emily had been giving Alison during the evening. The brunette had tried to convince her it was nothing, but she wasn't sure if her girlfriend had believed it. Emily wasn't even sure if she was believing her own words. Feeling guilt rush in her stomach, she turned herself to lay on her back.

She had been staring at the ceiling for some time now. Coming to the conclusion she wasn't going to be able to sleep, she got out of bed. Walking out of the room, she wrapped herself in a black silk kimono. As she closed her bedroom door, her eyes lurched on Alison's door. She wondered if the girl was sleeping. Shaking her head, she walked down the hall toward the living room and the kitchen.

Alison was sitting on the kitchen counter under the pale kitchen light. Her hair was stuck in a messy bun, and she was wearing the same t-shirt from the night before. Walking into the room to that view, Emily's vision became blurry. Alison was a fucking masterpiece. Her thoughts were running wild in her mind. Not noticing the silhouette in the dim light, Alison licked the spoon in her hand hungrily before it made it's way back into the ice cream bowl on the counter. Letting out a light moan, Emily kept staring. The vision was pure poetry.

Alison lifted her head, feeling observed. Noticing Emily, she smiled, "hey". The brunette didn't respond. In fact, she didn't even move. Emily knew her silence was kind of creepy, but she couldn't help herself to examine the blonde. She stayed still, lost in her thoughts. Looking at Alison from that point of view, she was noticing details she hadn't before.

Moving the spoon in the bowl, Alison took a piece of ice cream before carrying it back to her mouth. "You're staring".

Coming out of her gaze, Emily walked into the kitchen toward the refrigerator, making her way around Alison. "I'm not, I just have a lot on my mind".

"mhm", Alison absently replied, focusing her attention on the last bit of ice cream in her bowl.

Taking out an orange from the fridge, she turned to face Alison's back. Her eyes examined the blue t-shirt her friend was wearing. Walking around the counter, she leaned against it beside Alison. "Nice t-shirt", she said softly, peeling her orange.

Alison was wearing a blue, Rosewood High School Shark, t-shirt. Hearing the comment, Alison froze. What were the odds of Emily coming around, seeing her wearing that? She kept her eyes down on the bowl, not daring to look at Emily. Biting her lips, Alison timidly replied, "it's Hanna's".

Emily wasn't a fool. She smiled. "I don't recall giving one of my t-shirts to Hanna".

With an embarrassed smile, Alison looked up at her friend. "Why are you up?", she asked trying to subtly change the subject.

"I wasn't able to sleep. You?", Emily replied.

"I get cravings at night, sometimes", Alison innocently answered.

Emily locked her eyes into Alison's. "Yeah, me too".

Alison blushed a little at the implication, but she reminded silent. Was Emily flirting with her? No, she couldn't. She had a girlfriend. "Ophelia seems nice"

Emily raised her brows, "she is".

Both girls stayed in silence for a moment, awkwardly. They were surrounded by the light noise of the waves crashing down on the shore. It was calm.

It was Emily who broke the quietness. She had a wistful smile on her face. "Do you remember that night?" she delicately asked.

Alison tenderly smiled. "Yeah…", she murmured as the memories flooded through her mind.

"Where do you want to go?", Emily slowly said looking over her shoulder at the blonde. Alison entered Emily's Jeep, sitting in the passenger seat. "I don't know, I just want to go for a drive". "Okay", Emily nodded. It was 03:00 in the morning. Alison wasn't able to sleep so, she had texted Emily who by surprise, had quickly replied. Before Alison knew it, Emily was in front of her house. The blonde smiled. She knew she could always rely on the girl to make her feel better.

They had been driving for over an hour. Emily's Jeep was top-down, and Alison was standing up, her arms in the air, feeling the cool breeze. She was happy. The music was blasting from the speakers. Summer, by Calvin Harris, was playing.

Emily glanced at Alison's side, amazed by the blonde. Alison looked down, their eyes meeting. At the same moment, it began to rain. The girls laughed as Emily quickly stopped the car on the side of the road to put the Jeep's top on. Emily smiled looking at the blonde, "you better sit down; I'll put to roof on before we get drenched".

Alison sat and looked at Emily as if she had just been struck by a lightning. "What?", Emily giggled. Without saying a word, Alison quickly unbuckled herself and moved her body over Emily, her knees resting on each side of the brunette's lap. Her hands made their way to Emily's face, taking a hold of each cheek. Alison kissed Emily. It was pouring rain, but she felt warm. She was home.

Unable to resist it any longer, Alison's eyes looked down on Emily. "Why did you leave?"

Emily was cut short. "I-,". She stayed silent but quickly shook her head. "What do you mean?"

Alison sighed, "you know what I mean, Emily".

"I don't know what you want me to say", Emily replied, "it was a long time ago".

"A long time ago? That's all you are going to say?"

"I don't know what I am supposed to tell you, Alison"

"I don't know, maybe explain to me why you fucking disappeared? You just left and gave me no news for over four years!" Alison's voice was shaking. She mumbled, "how could you do that to me?".

Emily was looking at the blonde in silence. She could see the pain in her eyes. She hated herself for making her feel this way. She wanted to hold her, tell her how sorry she was and that everything was going to be okay. But she couldn't. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. She was standing there, leaning on the counter, froze. Her emotions were starting to take over her.

Seeing Emily looking at her, Alison stopped talking, hoping the girl would say something. As Emily was remaining silent, Alison continued. "I loved you. I was so in love with you. I wanted you, I wanted us." Her voice cracked, "why did you take it away? How could you deny us? How was it that easy?"

Emily was still silent. Alison cried, "aren't you going to say something?!"

All of Emily's suppressed emotions came rushing back. It ripped her heart to see the blonde cry. "I don't know, okay? I was scared. I fucked up. I don't know what to tell you. I just ran. I don't have a reason."

"I'm done with your empty answers, Emily"

"I don't have answers! I loved you so much it scared me. I got scared of you and me, of our past. We have been through so much, I panicked", Emily stated.

"You panicked? Are you being serious right now? You left me because you panicked? Why didn't you talk to me? I was scared too - we were so young. But I never doubted you, I never doubted us!" Alison sharply fired back, disbelief on her face.

Emily was feeling overwhelmed. Emotions were flying inside of her - guilt, regret and heartache. Alison opened her mouth to talk again, but Emily put her hand up, stopping the blonde, feeling the urge to speak. She needed to say this.

"I fucking loved you. I loved every inch of your soul, your mind, your body. I was so in love with you, it hurt. When I was away from you, I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip my heart out of my chest. I was suffocating." Emily paused. "I loved you so intensively… I was 21 Ali, I panicked. I got scared and I ran". Tears were rolling down from the brunette's cheeks now. "What was I supposed to do? You were in my vein like fucking heroin! I was terrified."

Emily brought her eyes back to Alison's, her voice breaking, "I was in the dark for weeks after that. Each night, you would steal my sleep. I was a mess. When I finally came to realize my mistake, it was too late."

Alison became frustrated. How dare Emily think she was too late? "You never stopped having me! I waited for you for months, for years."

"I don't know what more to tell you…" It came out of Emily's mouth as a whisper, but Alison perfectly heard every single word.

They stayed silent for a moment.

"Do you love her?" Alison asked, defying the brunette.

"What?" Emily was caught off guard by the question. She was astonished.

"Answer", Alison angrily replied.

"Yes, I love Ophelia"

After a few moments of silence, Alison ran her hand across her face. "I'm going to call it a night", she said softly. Emily wanted to apologize for all the damage she had done to the girl but instead, she watched Alison walk away, in silence. Once again, Emily ran from her emotions.