Emily was sitting on the couch in Hanna's living room. Nervously, she looked at her phone to check the time. It was already 10 am and she had to be at Alison's before 11 am. Hanna was supposed to drive her there but clearly, the blonde was late. Why did she accept to go to Alison's? The brunette wasn't ecstatic to go, especially knowing that the blonde was the main reason for the situation she was in, but it was better than renting a hotel room for a week. After the unpleasant situation with Ophelia, the girls had decided to head back to L.A. to assist Emily with her temporary relocation. Yesterday, with the help of Aria, Spencer and Hanna, Emily moved out some of the things of her apartment. They transferred her things, mainly clothes, to Hanna who had agreed to let Emily live at hers for some time, but she would have to spend the first week at Alison's due to the Airbnb situation.
As if it would help to pass the time quicker, Emily looked at her phone again with growing impatience. Where the hell was Hanna? She got up from the couch and began to look around. She had slept in the house Friday and Saturday night, but it was her first time alone in it and she couldn't help herself to be curious. Hanna's house was beautiful. Located in Brentwood district, it had European-Mediterranean vibes. The decoration was minimalistic, but it had a welcoming, cozy accent. Somehow, Hanna had succeeded to mix the original sunny southern and modern style. Emily walked toward the fireplace, and carefully opened the small wooden chest resting on the mantelpiece. She smiled as she noticed it contained old photos of the quintet. She took some out, carefully looking at each of them. As she moved her attention to the next photograph, one fell out of her hand. She bent down to pick it up from the floor. At the same moment, Hanna walked into the room.
"There you are! I have been calling you for the last five minutes", she said noticing the pictures Emily was holding. She paused and continued in a friendly tone, "I love those pictures! It's crazy how quickly the time goes by".
Looking up at her friend, Emily kept quiet for a moment as she held the picture she just picked up in her right hand and the rest in the other, "hi, sorry I didn't mean to be intrusive". She was embarrassed that her friend found her looking through her stuff.
Hanna must have noticed as she smiled, "what picture are you looking at?"
The brunette handed her the picture she had picked up from the floor. Hanna took it, taking a moment to observe it before she quickly replied, "I guess you have reasons to like this one, you can keep it".
Emily looked at her friend with questioning eyes as Hanna handed her the picture back. Her eyes rested on the photograph. It was a photo of Emily and Alison, sitting on the hood of Emily's jeep. Emily was tenderly looking in Alison's direction with her arm around the blonde's neck, while Alison was looking at the camera, smiling. Examining the picture, Emily laughed. Of course, it had to be a picture of Alison and her. "I swear I didn't know what this picture was about, I just picked it up", she answered, annoyed.
Hanna scrutinized Emily's eyes as she replied, "yeah… whatever, keep it. Now let's go, we have to go see your Mama Dilaurentis".
Emily sighed internally at Hanna's comment. She placed the pictures back in the small chest and walked to the couch to grab one of her bags that was leaning against it. The blonde grabbed the other one and began to walk toward the entrance as the brunette quickly followed her.
"I'm sorry you have to go to hers for the week, but you can come back to mine for as long as needed after", Hanna said as she put on her shoes.
"Don't worry about that, it's already super nice of you to welcome me into your home", Emily replied as she walked out the door.
Hanna opened the trunk of her jaguar and dropped Emily's bag in. At the same time, her phone buzzed. The blonde looked down at the screen to read the notification. She approached the brunette to take the bag in her hand, and she placed it next to the other in her car. "We don't have to rush anymore", she said.
"What do you mean?", Emily replied.
"Alison texted me she had to leave early. She said she left a spare key under the mat of the front door and to make yourself at home", Hanna answered.
Emily sighed. She was glad to avoid Alison for some time, but it felt weird to go to the women's house alone. She has never been to Alison's, and she was embarrassed to run around the residence and invade her intimacy. It was weird to have that much access to the girl's life knowing that she had no right to. "Good, I will get to pick my room then", Emily replied, faking to be unbothered.
The two girls stayed silent during the 12 minutes drive to Alison's. The blonde lived in Holmby Hills, which was about 5 miles from Hanna's. Turning in Alison's driveway, Emily was surprised to see gates. Hanna drove toward the numeric keypad, quickly pressing on the button as she entered the code. "I thought your house was more incredible than hers?", Emily asked. Hanna turned her head toward her friend as she laughed. "Her house is totally better than mine. She's just trying not to be full of herself, I guess". The gate opened then, letting them access the synergistic, tree-lined entrance. As the car rounded a bend, Emily finally saw the house. Her jaw dropped to that view. "How can she afford that?", she questioned.
"Working as a model has its benefit - she had very paying contracts when she was in the industry! But I guess all of it mainly comes from her parent's inheritance", the blonde simply replied as if it was no big deal. Emily nodded her head to the response. Hanna continued, giggling, "if I have a baby, Alison will totally be the godmother. That kid is going to be so spoiled".
Emily chuckled and winked at her friend, "yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't mind".
Hanna finally stopped the car near the front door. She exited her driver's seat to help Emily carry her bags. "Hey Em, the key is under the mat".
"Yeah, I know, you told me earlier", Emily replied. The brunette unlocked the door, opening it to let Hanna enter first. The blonde dropped the bag she was carrying to the floor and turned around to hug her friend.
"Now you call me if something happens, okay?" Hanna asked as she leaned out.
"Don't worry Han, it's only a week. Besides, Alison works pretty much all the time, and I must attend swimming practices", Emily replied, "it's not like we are going to be around each other a lot".
"Whatever just don't be a jackass Em", Hanna answered, "remember she is trying to help you". The blonde stopped for a moment and pointed her index in her friend's direction. "Remember that you put yourself in the situation you are in. It's not completely her fault".
Emily internally groaned at what her friend was implying. She knew it wasn't Alison's fault if Ophelia wanted a break but somehow, she was the reason for it. She rolled her eyes and replied to Hanna. "Yeah, I know, go now or you will miss your flight!"
"Yeah, I better go, Caleb will kill me if I'm late", she paused. Looking at Emily with amused eyes, she continued "don't do nothing I wouldn't do!"
Emily winked, as her friend walked out the door, "I won't".
Closing the door behind Hanna, Emily turned around. She stayed in the same position for a moment. She was alone in Alison's house. She never would have believed it if four years ago, someone had told her she was going to be here. The brunette knew it was dangerous for her to be here, all alone with Alison. Last week in Malibu, Emily had to do violence to herself not to urge at the blonde. But last week, she wasn't alone – she had friends and a girlfriend to ground her. Now, she only had her determination to rely on and she didn't know if she could trust herself. Emily sigh and shook her head, she would have to resist temptation.
Emily grabbed her bags and began walking toward the staircase of the classic traditional house, figuring the room must be upstairs. Emily looked around. She was feeling intrusive - as if she was invading Alison's privacy. She could sense the blonde in everything. From the decor to the subtle scent floating in the air. Being here, sensing Alison again after all this time, Emily knew she was trespassing her limits. For a moment, she pictured the life she would have had if all those years ago, she stayed. She pictured herself with Alison, coming home to her every day, making love to her right here on this staircase or on that entrance furniture she had just walked beside. For a second, she wished it was real. Emily shook her head. She had no right to imagine such things, she had no right to interfere with Alison's life. She knew she had lost the right to four years ago.
Emily began walking upstairs, leaving these thoughts behind. Stepping on the second floor, she was astonished by the size of the house. In front of her, there were five doors, and she could see three others down the hall to her left. Seeing a door ajar at the end of the hall, she figured it must be Alison's room. As if she was compelled, she walked to it. In some way, the embarrassment she was feeling earlier had been replaced with comfort. She had no reason to be, but somehow standing here, Emily felt at home. She opened the door and observed Alison's room. It looked calm. The bedroom was bright and decorated with care. The large windows let in the light, flooding the room with a warm atmosphere. Emily smiled as she stepped in. She wandered, letting her fingers delicately touch the furniture. In some way, touching what Alison had touched was electrizing.
Emily's phone rang and she panicked noticing Ophelia's name on the screen. What was she doing? She knew she shouldn't be in Alison's room. She had no right to feel what she was feeling. Guilt flooded through her body as she quickly exited the room. She grabbed the bags that she had dropped near the entrance of the bedroom and made her way to the next room, throwing her luggage on the bed. She ran a hand across her face, trying to comprehend the emotions she was feeling. She let her phone ring, not answering Ophelia. She was not in the right mood to talk to her. Noticing a pool in the backyard from the window, she decided to go for a swim. She needed to clear her mind. She opened a bag and grabbed a swimsuit.
"Emily?", Alison asked. Alison had been home for some time now, but she couldn't find the brunette. She knew the girl had been to the house because her luggage was in a guestroom. Alison almost ran downstairs. She wanted to see Emily. She had to make sure the girl hadn't left. Walking toward the kitchen, she passed the glass patio doors. Looking quickly outside, she stopped short. She swift her head to face the silhouette in the pool. Alison smiled as she observed Emily who was in her element. She opened the door and began approaching. Emily hadn't noticed her yet, so Alison decided to take in the view for a while. She dropped into a lounge chair, staring at the brunette. Her long powerful arms were slicing through the water in even strokes as her body propelled her forward. Observing, Alison bit her bottom lip. Emily looked so damn sexy.
"Ali?", Emily said, surprised to see her sitting near the pool.
"Mhm?", Alison replied, being cut out of her gaze.
"You are the one staring now", Emily chuckled softly.
Alison smiled as she stood up to walk toward the swimming pool stairs. She sat on the edge, dipping her barefoot into the water. "I always loved to watch you swim".
Emily swam over to the edge of the pool where Alison was sitting. "Your house is beautiful".
"Thank you", Alison softly replied, admiring Emily's profile. "I probably spent too much time decorating it though".
"Why do you have such a big house?" Emily questioned. "I counted five bedrooms".
"I don't know", Alison murmured. "I always wanted a family. When I first visited the house, I couldn't help but imagine children running around. That's why a bought it, I guess".
Emily arched her brows, curiously looking at Alison. "I didn't know you wanted a family".
Alison shrugged as she smirked. "I didn't know either until a few years ago. I guess I changed".
Emily floated closer to Alison and rested her arms on the edge of the pool. "We all did".
The girls stayed silent for a while, not daring to look into each other eyes. "I'm sorry about your dad", Emily suddenly blurted out.
"How do you know?" Alison answered, surprised by the abrupt change of subject.
"Hanna told me earlier", Emily replied honestly. "She said your parent's inheritance helped you to buy this house and I figured you could only have access to it if your dad, you know…"
"He had a car accident three years ago", Alison scoffed.
"I wish I could have been there", Emily sighed.
Alison nodded thoughtfully, observing the girl. At the same moment, Emily pulled herself out of the pool. Alison gulped, repressing a moan that was threatening to escape her mouth. The sight of an almost naked Emily turned her on a little too much. Emily had the sexiest body she had ever seen.
The brunette took her towel from the lounge chair and ran it over her body. "What do you want to eat for dinner?"
"I don't know, what do you feel like eating?", Alison smirked.
Emily looked at the blonde with a wry smirked and sigh. "What do you have in your fridge?", she asked.
Alison shrugged, observing Emily. "I don't know. Let's go inside, I'll see what I can cook us".