Chapter Eleven
"Damn, it's good to have you back, Fields," Jon hugged her.
"Yeah we missed you, babe," Dani joined them, "How did it go?"
Emily smiled, relaxing into the couch with her friends, "Ali is great, we get on really well despite her tantrums."
"Did you bang her?" Jon wiggled his eyebrows.
"What? No!"
"Sure Em, I know you're into her," Dani teased.
"Great to be home," Emily rolled her eyes playfully, "What have you two been doing in my absence anyway?"
"Well I've been an angel, just keeping out of trouble and working hard," Jon stuck his head in the air and puffed out his chest.
"He has been out every fucking night and doing no work," Dani rolled her eyes, "I've been keeping this place afloat."
"Oh my God, Jon, I told you to help!" Emily swatted him before her eyes narrowed, "You haven't been seeing that girl from your birthday have you?"
Jon looked guilty, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What girl?" Dani asked, Emily pursed her lips.
"Jesus, Em, do you have to come back just to fuck everything up?" Jon groaned.
"Jon! You have to tell her," Emily nudged him.
"I've been sleeping with Demi," Jon mumbled. Dani's face fell before she reached across Emily to smack Jon.
"You're a fucking idiot, my sister is messed up!" Dani snarled.
"Yeah well I kind of like her," Jon ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah well I'm kind of done being your friend," Dani spat, hastily exiting the room.
Jon turned to Emily with a frown, "Thanks for that, Emily."
"What did you expect, Jon? It's better for her to find out now than later," Emily raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Jon stood up, anger flaring in his eyes, "So just cause you're about to be a parent now you know fucking everything do you?"
"Jon-"
"No, Em, you didn't need to fucking do that," Jon shook his head, "It wasn't up to you to decide."
Emily watched him storm out, "Welcome fucking back."
"Dani, I know your mad-"
"Understatement."
"Okay but we do need to talk," Emily rubbed her friends back.
Dani sat up on her bed, turning to Emily, "What about?"
"I think I have to move to Rosewood, for Ali and the baby," Emily licked her lips, "I just-"
"Em," Dani stopped her, "I've already thought about this."
"You have?" Emily frowned.
"Yeah, it wouldn't make sense for you to be far away from them," Dani rolled her eyes, "I actually looked into things and if we sold this place then we'd have enough money for a new business venture."
"What business venture?"
"I looked around a little and it turns out there's this writer dude who own a coffee shop and a burger place in Rosewood, he's thinking about selling."
"The Brew?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, The Brew and The Grill...real inventive."
"You'd move to Rosewood for me?" Emily frowned, stunned.
"Part time, yes," Dani nodded, "I have everything figured out babe, we just need a business meeting and to sign some paperwork."
"I love you, Danielle Taylor," Emily threw her arms around her friend, "Now you just have to make up with Jon."
"Em-"
Emily cut her off with a simple look.
"Fine," Dani huffed, "I'll buy him a beer but he better stop seeing my sister."
"That's my girl," Emily grinned.
"I've got some news," Emily took a sip of her beer, noticing the way Alison's eyes followed the beverage all the way to her lips.
"Mhm?" The noise sounded dejected.
"We're talking about selling the bar," Emily studied the blonde.
Alison's eyes met hers, her face sporting a surprised expression, "You are?"
"Yeah, I'm moving to Rosewood," Emily paused, biting her lip, "Is that okay?"
"Of course, I'm going to need you here," Alison rolled her eyes before frowning, "What are you going to do for money?"
"Well we're actually looking into making an offer on The Brew and The Grill so hopefully-"
"I know the owner, I went to school with his wife," Alison wrinkled her nose, "He was our teacher actually."
"Okay, wow."
"I could give Aria a call, see if Ezra would do me a favour..." The blonde trailed off.
"That would actually be great, Ali," Emily grinned, "Anyway I wasn't calling to ask for favours. I wanted to know how you are feeling?"
Alison sighed heavily and Emily watched a look of distaste falling over the blondes face, "Pukey," Alison shrugged, "Honestly I'm feeling worse every day."
Emily frowned in sympathy, "I'm so sorry, Ali. I wish I could make it easier for you. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not unless you can take away my morning sickness, which is more like all day sickness. Take away my weight gain. Make it so I don't have to work. Take my fiancé out of the equation and make it acceptable for me to sleep all day since I can't sleep at night anymore," Alison reeled off.
Emily smiled, "That's quite a list, I'll get right onto it," She joked, "You've gained weight?"
"A few pounds," The blonde shrugged.
"Do you think it's the baby?"
"Or how many popsicles I've been eating," Alison smirked, "It's horrible, I already feel like a whale."
"I don't know," Emily mused, "I think it's kind of wonderful."
Alison's face twisted into disbelief, "It's wonderful that I've gained weight?"
"It's kind of like..." The brunette pondered her words, "Proof that our baby is in there."
"If you felt how I felt you would have no doubt whatsoever that your baby is in my belly-"
"Alison?"
Emily watched the blondes face fall as soon as she heard the voice behind her, Emily saw a man come into the frame seconds before Alison disconnected their call.
"Alison what's going on?" Elliott's voice send a shiver down her spine. She turned to him, face blank, "Would you like to explain what I just overheard?"
"What's there to explain?" Alison dismissed, getting up from the couch, "Why are you home early?"
"You're pregnant?" Elliott asked.
Alison glanced around the room, she could lie to get out of this but would there be any point? He had to find out sooner or later, she'd just hoped it would be later. She jutted her chin out defiantly, "I am."
Elliott's shocked face changed to one of surprise, he swallowed thickly, "And it isn't mine?"
"It's not."
Anger flickered in his eyes and he took a step towards her, "You cheated on me?"
"I didn't," Alison shook her head firmly.
"You lied to me?" He took another step but she stayed firmly standing her ground.
She tilted her head, "By omission."
"You...you stupid bitch!" Elliott hissed.
"Excuse me?" Alison frowned.
"We have a life together! I love you, Alison and you just...you want to throw it all away. For what? To open you legs for someone-"
Her palm made contact with his face, the sound echoing and his cheek stinging red from the force, the blonde narrowed her eyes, "Do not insult me, Elliott."
"But isn't that the truth, Alison?" He spat, "You opened your legs for someone else and now you're carrying their baby!"
"I didn't spread my legs for anyone," The blonde rolled her eyes, "And I do not owe you an explanation."
"You don't?" He asked, his face morphing into disbelief, "How is that true at all? We...we're in a relationship! We're supposed to be honest with each other."
"Like you're honest with me," Alison scoffed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Alison rolled her eyes, "I'm done with this conversation."
"That is not up to you, Alison!"
"Oh isn't it?" Another scoff left the blondes lips.
"No!" Elliott shouted, "Of course it isn't, we are equals."
"You never wanted an equal, Elliott. You wanted a trophy wife that you could show off. That's why you went for me isn't it?" Alison raised a challenging eyebrow.
Elliott's lips pressed together, "You're right, the way you look is why I went for you. I have a certain image to uphold and you fitted that bill. But that doesn't change the fact that I love you, that we are in love."
Alison scoffed, folding her arms across her chest, "I never loved you Elliott, I've never even said that to you."
Crack.
Time stood still for half a second, both of them shocked before he grabbed her arm.
"I'm so sorry!" Elliott pleaded, trying desperately to touch her damaged eye but the blonde pushed him away, "Alison please-"
"Get the fuck off of me!" Alison snarled, taking a huge step backwards.
Elliott dropped to his knees, "Please, I didn't mean to! You know me Al-"
"Get the fuck out of my house now!" Alison spat.
"No! I love you-"
"Do not fucking say that!" She narrowed her eyes, "You cannot say you love me after you just lay a hand on me. I'm pregnant, Elliott."
"Alison, please!"
"What the hell is going on?" Cece chose that moment to enter, eyes widening at the scene. Elliott still on his knees, practically crying while Alison stood with a nasty scowl on her face, her eye and the top of her cheek already bruising, "Get the fuck away from her."
"This is nothing to do with you, Cece!" Elliott got up, making another grab for Alison but the blonde slid back quickly. She didn't want him to touch her ever again.
"The fuck it isn't," She crossed the room, immediately sliding an arm around the angry blonde, "Now go, leave her alone."
"Al-"
"No Elliott, you shouldn't of done it," Alison shook her head, "I'll send your stuff to your Mom's but you're not welcome here anymore."
"Fine," He swallowed, "But I'm not giving up on us, Alison. I love you and we're supposed to be togeth-"
"Fuck you," Alison threw her engagement ring across the room, it hitting Elliott in the face before falling to the floor, rattling to some corner. Elliott didn't say anything else, he just left quietly.
Cece grabbed Alison's hand, "Are you okay? We should get you to the hospital-"
"No,"Alison tore her hand away, "Just leave-"
"Ali!"
"I want to be alone," Alison spat, running upstairs.
"Fucking hell," Cece scrubbed a hand over her face.
Alison slammed her bedroom door, throwing herself down on the bed and burrowing under her covers. Her face was throbbing, she could feel the swelling already. Her hand raised to her face, the skin was hot and she could feel a little broken skin on the top of her cheek. She pulled her fingers away and saw blood. Elliott was never the best fiancé but she never thought he'd ever lay a hand on her. She thought he loved her. It wasn't something she was familiar with beyond Cece and Hanna but he said it so many times and she'd started to believe it.
Apart from the betrayal of him hitting her she felt so much relief, things with the baby would no doubt be easier without him. She could focus on her pregnancy and Emily could actually be there. She couldn't help but feel scared though, she'd carefully planned her life so that she wouldn't be alone and here she was. Most definitely alone. A small smiled graced her lips, alone except for one thing. She rested a hand on her belly. Alison grabbed her phone, seeing an unread message.
From Emily: Are you okay? What happened?
Alison rolled her eyes.
To Emily: It's over.
Her phone beeped with in seconds with two messaged.
From Emily: Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?
From unknown: Hey Miss D. Wear a skirt tomorrow for some easy access will you?
Alison frowned, how the fuck had Noel Kahn gotten her number?
To Emily: No, I'm fine.