Chapter Nine
"Yeah, Mom, I'm on my way to the hotel," Emily explained from the back of a cab. Since Jon's family lived in Rosewood Emily was thrilled they let her stay at their hotel for free in exchange for doing some shifts at the bar.
"And how is Alison? Is she still being difficult?"
"I don't know," Emily licked her lips, "She's temperamental so I never know what will set her off."
"Just remember, Emmy, she's the mother of your child," Pam paused, "Always treat her as such okay?"
"I will, Mom, I promise," Emily smiled.
"Alright, well I'm going to get to my book club but have a good evening, Sweat Pea," Pam said goodbye, disconnecting the call just as Emily pulled up at The Radley Hotel.
The hotel was gorgeous, Emily could appreciate some nice décor when pushed. She'd sent Alison a simple 'I'm here. E x' text when she'd arrived, not receiving any reply. Jon's parents had been more than welcoming, taking Emily out for dinner with Jon's younger brother, Noel.
She was working in the bar at 10.30 pm when the woman she was waiting for a text from walked in with a tall guy, holding her hand. Emily's eyes roamed over Alison's tight dress appreciatively, paying extra attention to the blondes ample cleavage before she looked up to find bright blue eyes on hers and a shocked expression. Emily gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile and watched the pair take their seats. She grabbed the drink menus and made her way over.
"Hello, I'm Emily and I'll be your server this evening," She smiled, "Here are your drinks menus and we also have a specials board."
"I'll take a whiskey, Glenlivet if you have it," The man nodded, making eye contact with her. Not that Emily noticed, she was too busy staring at Alison while she looked at her hands, "And she'll have your finest white wine."
"Coming right up!" Emily grinned, taking the menus and making her way back to the bar.
She was fixing their drinks when she received a message.
From Alison: I didn't realise you were staying here.
To Alison: I told you I'd be close by.
She took the drinks over quickly, politely nodding and returning to her position behind the bar. She watched as Alison took a sip of her 'wine' and smiled.
To Alison: How's your apple juice?
The corner of the blondes lips turned up as Emily watched her read the message.
"Emily Fields!"
A voice exclaimed, Emily turned and her mouth fell open in shock.
"Paige?" she blinked, a smile creeping onto her face, "How are you?"
"I'm good," Paige said, "How about I buy you a drink and we can catch up?"
"I'd like that," Emily's eyes sparkled.
"How's your life Emily?" Paige took her hand, "What's changed since we were together?"
Emily's eyes flickered to Alison before back to Paige, "Well Jupiter Surf has gotten more popular, Jon has way more girls to pick from now," She chuckled, "And uh...my Mom is doing better. She attends some groups and she keeps herself busy."
"I don't think Jon needs anymore encouragement," Paige laughs, "But that's great about your Mom though, Em."
"What about you?"
"I live here now, I have a job at the high school. Athletic supervisor, it isn't the Olympics but I love it," Paige paused, her gaze bouncing from their clasped hands to Emily's eyes, "Are you seeing anyone?"
"Oh please," Emily rolled her eyes, "You know you have been my only serious relationship."
"Maybe I could take you on a date some time then? We seem to both be in a better place since our break up," Paige said, earning a shy smile.
The pair shot apart when someone cleared their throat. Alison's eyes narrowed at Paige, while Emily gulped, being this close to Alison made her feel a little overwhelmed. Her eyes flickering from Alison's face to her flat belly.
Alison lent against the counter, waiting for Emily's eyes to fall to her cleavage before purring out, "Can I have another special drink, Emily?"
Emily licked her lips, too busy admiring the view to catch the wink Alison sent Paige.
"Of course, Ali, I'll make you as many as you want," Emily grinned, grabbing a wine glass.
"I didn't realize you had a social life," Alison turned her attention to Paige.
"You can put your claws away, Alison, we're not at school now," Paige rolled her eyes.
"You two know each other?" Emily frowned, placing the fresh glass into Alison's waiting hand.
"We teach at the same school," Paige explained, "How do you two know each other?"
Alison narrowed her eyes, "You first," she nodded between Paige and Emily.
"We were in a relationship for four years," Paige grinned smugly, "Your turn."
Alison licked her lips, recoiling at the new information, she glanced over her shoulder to check Elliott was busy. She lent in close to both woman, raising her eyebrow challengingly, "I'm carrying her baby."
Their mouths fell open and they watched Alison saunter away with her drink.
"E-Emily, is that true?"
"Yes," Emily whispered.
"How?" Paige held her hands up, "I don't even want to know. Emily that's the girl that bullied me in high school."
Emily's face dropped, she remembered Paige telling her about the 'Queen Bitch' of her high school. She bullied Paige for being gay, nicknaming her 'Pig Skin' and getting the whole school to play along. She wrote Paige notes pretending to be her crush and when Paige wrote back she'd read the notes out to the whole school. She'd pushed Paige into lockers, knocked books out of her hands on a daily bases. She was the meanest girl in school and she was having Emily's baby.
"Favourite colour?"
Alison pushed her noodles around in the take out box, she was sitting on Emily's hotel bed with the brunette opposite her. Emily said they should get to know each other better.
"Yellow."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty Four."
"What were you like in high school?"
Alison's eyes flickered up to Emily's, she was looking down at her food, "What has Paige told you?" She wrinkled her nose, placing her hardly touched chow mien on the bedside table.
"You don't like Chinese food?"
"I can't um...keep much down lately."
"Is there anything you can?" Emily got up, grabbing the room service phone.
"Watermelon," Alison said, making Emily smile.
"Hey, Chris, can I get a load of watermelon up here?" Emily asked, "Yeah, thanks."
Alison smiled, "You didn't have to do that."
"I want to make sure you eat," Emily sat back down.
"Horrible," Alison said quietly, "To answer your question."
Emily raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I was a bad person in high school."
"And now?" Emily asked gently.
"Now I try," Alison shrugged.
"You're such an open book," Emily chuckled.
"Sarcasm suits you," Alison rolled her eyes.
"What about family?"
"What about it?" Alison frowned.
"Well do you have any?"
"I have an older brother, Jason," Alison replied, "We don't see each other much but we're close."
"What about parents?"
"I have them."
"Alison-"
"Mom's dead," Alison sighed, "Thank God."
"Thank God?" Emily cocked her head to the side, "That's pretty dark, Ali."
Alison pursed her lips, smiling slightly at the nickname, "Let's just say the world is a better place without my dear Mother in it."
Emily studied Alison's face, looking for any hints but the girl remained stoic. She wasn't going to give anything away that she didn't want Emily to know, "What about your Dad?"
The blonde pondered the question, "He's alive."
"That's all I get?"
"For now," Alison shrugged, "What about you?"
"Um...I'm an only child, I grew up in Texas on an army camp-"
"Your Dad?" Alison raised a questioning eyebrow.
Emily nodded, "Yeah, he was pretty busy when he was still alive so it was just me and my Mom most of the time. Well and my best friend Jon, we kind of grew up together. He's actually why I'm staying here, his parents own the hotel-"
"Your best friend is a Kahn?" Alison's eyes widened.
"Yeah," Emily nodded, frowning at Alison's reaction, "Why?"
Alison's eyes snapped back to her food, her face morphing into indifference, "No reason."
Emily found herself studying Alison again, the woman in front of her really was closed off. Emily wondered if there would ever be a time she would feel like she knew Alison, knew her properly. Emily was pulled from her thoughts by a knock on the door, "That'll be your watermelon."
"I wish we could skip through this awkward phase," Alison dug into the fresh watermelon that was placed in front of her.
"What do you mean?"
Alison chewed on the piece of watermelon she was holding thoughtfully, "Like the awkward personal space boundaries and the walking on egg shells around each other."
Emily raised a teasing eyebrow, "Ali, if how you've been so far is walking on eggshells then I'm not sure I want to see you more relaxed-ouch!" Emily rubbed the sore spot on her arm that had just been punched, "For what it's worth, I am pretty comfortable around you."
"Well when I have to push this thing out of my vagina we'd better be closer than close."
"By 'that thing' I assume you mean our baby," Emily smiled, "And don't you mean if?"
Alison paused, putting down her watermelon and grabbing Emily's hand, "No, Emily, I mean when."
"What?" Emily's mouth dropped open.
"I'm going to have the baby," Alison said softly, keeping eye contact with the brunette.
"A-are you sure?" Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"No," Alison pursed her lips, glancing away for a split second, "But if you help me-"
"Yeah, I'll help you," Emily said, her voice filled with hope and excitement.
"Okay," Alison swallowed, "Then it's settled," She paused, "I'll do it."
Emily grabbed both of Alison's hands, "We'll do it."
The blonde nodded, "Together."
Suddenly Emily's arms were wrapped around her, hugging her fiercely, "Thank you, thank you so much."
Alison smiled, "Thank you...for trusting me with your baby."
"I think our baby will be just fine," Emily grinned, pulling away, "And I promise your vagina will be just fine too."
That earned a smile as well as another punch.