Good afternoon! I had a hard time writing this chapter because of my lack of free time, but here it is. :D

I am already thinking about the next chapter, and I have some ideas, but I guess a pair more chapters and this story will come to an ending.

Thank you so much for taking your time to read this. ;)

siophiefandom: Thank you for your review! Yes, they clearly need their friends so they stop acting like children. :D

Guest: I think they are both mature but they are having difficulties to handle all the strong feelings they have for each other. And alcohol makes our maturity disappear, so it didn't help at all. :D Thank you for your opinion!

MJ: LOL The Maya breakup is not going to be easy, you are right about that. I am glad your heart is not shattered after last chapter. :D Have a nice week!

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

: Chapter 44 – Yin and yang:

The headache is killing me. I can barely open my eyes and I know this pain won't go away until I have an ibuprofen. I stand up and I feel dizzy. I don't remember the last time I was hangover, but this is a nightmare. I guess that's why I so intelligently avoid alcohol. I walk towards the bathroom to get the pill that is going to make my day easier and right after head the kitchen to get some water. I gulp the whole glass of water and the pill and take a seat at the couch. I close my eyes, hoping that will help my dizziness and headache to go away. After five minutes avoiding any movement and feeling calmer a voice startles me.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" She grins at me and I look at her in desperation.

"Like shit." I guess my baggy eyes already gave her a hint of my inner feeling.

"You know what we are going to do? You're going to wait while I prepare a breakfast that is going to help with that hangover. I guess you already had an ibuprofen." I nod at her. "Good girl. Now go have a hot shower and I assure you after having breakfast you will feel better." She winks at me and I follow her orders. I already feel the ibuprofen making the effect, so I head the shower. The hot water has a relaxing effect that is helping with my bad mood after what happened last night. I remember everything that happened and I don't know how to feel about it. I block those thoughts and head the living room with my damp hair. My friend is already waiting for me. I smell the coffee and that is when I realize that I have appetite. A bowl of fruit, a fresh pot of coffee, orange juice and scrambled eggs with toasts are waiting for me. My stomach growls because I didn't have dinner last night.

"Thank you," I say, as I take a seat next to my brunette friend.

"Are you already feeling better?"

"I have a little bit of headache, but after my abundant alcohol ingest last night I am better than I expected. And this is going to help," I add, pointing at the food that she prepared.

"Do you want to talk about it? I'm not pushing you, I just want you to know that I'm here if you need someone to talk to." I knew she would say something about last night events.

"I don't know what she wants," I harshly add. I remember the way she told me to back off and it still hurts. It felt like going back in time five years, ignoring me again.

"I don't what really happened. I mean, we spoke last night when you got into your bedroom, but I want to know your side of the story." She takes a brief moment to think. "And I don't want you to think that I'm taking her side, but she was devastated, Emily."

"What would you feel if someone is making you believe that she is in love with you and when you take a step forward she treats you like you are doing something bad?" I can't help but get angry. She obviously saw her sad big puppy eyes, but she didn't see what she did before that. I sometimes hate that she has that effect on people.

"She doesn't want to rush things. You were not being yourself because of the alcohol and she was totally sober. If you look at it from her point of view she didn't want to take advantage of you."

"I wasn't so drunk, Spence. I knew what I was doing." I yell a little bit, annoyed because the way she is telling yesterday's events.

"Are you sure about that? You could barely walk nor stand up without trying to balance yourself. I am so used of seeing you being so coherent in your everyday life that I found it a little bit funny". She laughs and I can't help but laugh back. "However, I would feel the same if that happened to me. I know how much you want her and I also know you have been distant with her because you are afraid of making a move and get hurt again. I would be terrified too. It's totally understandable, Em. And the alcohol helped you to be braver. End of the story. I get it and you don't have to be ashamed of what you did. We all get drunk once in a while and nothing happens."

"Except this time something happened," I clarify. She is right about her theory. I'm terrified and beer helped me to confront the fear that was stopping me from doing what my heart wants.

"There's a saying that states everything has a solution except death, you know?" she winks at me and I feel the necessity of hugging her. She holds me tight and we continue eating the delicious breakfast. "Now you need to talk to Paige, okay? Promise me you will try to be nice and understanding. And try not to harass her, please," she teases me as she elbows me jokingly.

"I will the most demure person in the world," I joke.

The moment I enter the office I have a weird feeling. I want to make things right, but after what happened last night I don't know what her reaction will be. I say good morning to her and she greets me back, but the look she gives me is a little bit distant. When I tell her that we need to talk she gives me a brief answer. She doesn't want to talk about it in work hours. I understand it, but it hurts a little bit because I will spend all day thinking about it and won't concentrate. However, I don't want to push things and I try to be reasonable. Hours go by and when I see that she turns the computer off and stand up to get her purse I look at her. I guess she understands my look and finally speaks to me.

"I'm sorry, I have plans today."

"It's okay." It hurts a little bit that she is not even giving me the opportunity to apologize. I guess she is avoiding me, and I partially understand her, but I don't want to postpone this conversation anymore and spend another day thinking non-stop about it. I am trying to be reasonable and patient with her, just like Spencer recommended, but I know I won't be able to just do nothing about it. When she is about to leave, I hold her arm. "Are you angry at me?" I realize she sighs.

"It's not that. I already had plans. I won't change my routine just because..." she starts saying, obviously bothered at my reaction.

"Just because I kissed you?" I reply. I know t shouldn't have said that, but I can't act like nothing happened and I need to vent off.

"See you tomorrow, okay?" Her answer leaves me speechless. The only way to make things better is if she gives me the chance to apologize and clarify things. Avoiding the conversation is not the solution, but the opposite, and it makes me furious. I shake my head and she leaves. I spend another hour at the office and then go home. I take a hot shower and then call Hanna. I need to talk to someone. I can't spend another day feeling a lump in my throat.

"Hey." My blonde friend opens the door for me to enter the apartment. She smiles at me while she holds her daughter in her arms. The baby is awake and Hanna is rocking her, trying to make her sleep, but her widely open eyes make me understand it's not going to be an easy task. She leaves her daughter inside the crib and she doesn't cry at all even though she is awake, making our conversation easier. We take a seat at the couch and she raises her eyebrows, giving me a hint that I should start speaking. I tell her that we met after work, that I had too much to drink and that I kissed her. She takes a deep breath. I guess she must be bored about our adventures, but I need to tell someone what is going on so I don't go crazy. If Paige won't give me the opportunity to talk about it, my friends will be the victims of my problems. I guess that's what good friends are for.

"Do you realize you are acting like children?" She grins at me.

"I shouldn't have drunk so much and do what I did, but I tried to speak with her and she is avoiding me."

"You know her very well. She usually needs some time to think about stuff like that. She is zero impulsive. You must think she is ignoring you, because you want immediate answer. If you really give it a thought she usually reacts like this in this kind of situations. Just give her time. Her brother is just the opposite, he is easier." She grins and I grin back at her.

"I have been thinking about it since yesterday and I don't think I can give her more time if I don't want to lose my mind." She laughs. I know she understands me because she would react like this in the same situation. We both are the kind of people that needs quick answers and get nervous when we don't get them right away. "The worst part of it is that she told me she had plans today and I think it was a lie. I would prefer if she told me the truth, maybe that she needed more time to reconsider."

"I know she needs time, but she didn't lie to you. She had plans with Caleb."

"Oh! Okay." Then she didn't lie. I feel a little bit better. I always make bad assumptions and I hate myself for that. However, even if she didn't lie about the plans, I know she would make me wait.

"Be patient, my friend," she adds with a smirk on her lips.

The baby starts crying and she stands up to go get her.

"Do you want me to go for a walk with the baby and try to make her sleep? It would also help me clear my mind. I would kill two birds with one stone and I wouldn't owe you a favor for putting up with my romantic shit. That way you can rest a little bit so those bags under your eyes disappear," I tease her.

"Are you trying to tell me I'm ugly?" she jokes. I laugh. I hold the baby and she suddenly stops crying and gives me a cute smile. I put her inside the stroller and I leave after saying goodbye to my friend.

Walking always gives me peace. The baby's deep breath makes me relax and for the first time today I feel calm. When I leave her at Hanna's totally asleep I head home and that's when I start looking at my phone, waiting for her to text me. However, I know she won't text me until she clears her head. I sit down at the couch and open the book, trying to think about anything that doesn't involve her, but I realize that won't help at all. When I'm about to close the book and start preparing dinner, I hear the doorbell. I frown, thinking that maybe Spencer forgot her keys, although that is practically impossible. I walk towards the door and when I look through the peephole my heart starts to beat faster. I open the door as slowly as possible so I have time to think about what I'm going to say. When I see her standing in front of me my mind stops working. She's soaked in sweat and analyzing the clothes she is wearing she decided to make a stop right after her afternoon jog. I take a deep breath when I realize that I am checking out her body and that she probably realized I was doing that. I admit I always found sweat sexy and the running tights that she is wearing embrace her body perfectly, making the curves stand out in just the right spots of her toned body.

She is breathing heavily, making it obvious that she was running right before coming here. "Am I interrupting? I mean, if you're busy I can leave," she nervously adds, avoiding eye contact and taking a step back.

"No, it's okay." I hold her arm so she doesn't leave. She raises her head and her eyes reflect surprise because of my reaction. "You're drenched." I smirk at her.

"I went for a run and I was passing by your apartment and I decided that..." She is really nervous, I can sense it. I can't stop staring at her. I have an unstoppable desire to touch her, but I need to control myself.

"You are going to get cold. Do you want to get a shower?" She suddenly blushes. I didn't say that to make her uncomfortable, but I understand that was unexpected. "Or I can let you a towel." Before she answers, I turn around and go to the cabinet where the fresh towels are in order to stop this awkward moment. She enters the apartment and closes the door.

"Thank you." I smile at her. I walk towards the couch and she follows me. The silence between the two of us is making me nervous.

"Before you start speaking, I want to apologize. I feel so sorry for my behavior last night. I really mean it." I decide to be open about my feelings before she says anything, making the burden I was feeling go away. I see that she is more relaxed. She is cleaning her arms with the towel and I can't stop staring at her.

"I was a little bit harsh this morning too," she admits.

"It's fine. Do you want something to drink, a tea, water, beer?" This way I will have an excuse to get up and have some distance from her, because the heat she is irradiating is making me think like an uncontrollable teenager.

"Water is fine. I guess you won't drink a beer, right?" she teases me. I missed her sexy smile so much.

"I won't drink beer for at least a year. I feel so embarrassed. I don't tolerate alcohol as when I was younger," I joke. She laughs.

Her expression gets serious again. "I hope you understand I wasn't rejecting you. I don't like kissing drunken girls," she teases me. I return to the kitchen to get two bottles of water and seize that moment to take a deep breath. I return to the living room and I see she has the towel around her shoulders. I sit next to her and she thanks me.

"I guess you came to tell me something. Am I right?" She nods at me and looks down. "You couldn't wait until tomorrow?" She grins at me. "You needed to go for a jog so you could clear your mind."

She raises her head to look me in the eye. "I know you very well, Paige," I claim, making her grin bigger.

"Am I so obvious?" she teases me. A strand of damp hair falls and covers her eye. I cautiously tuck it right behind her ear and seize the closeness to caress her cheek with my thumb.

"You are perfect," I add, making her blush. Her eyes widen and she leans on me, the distance between us getting shorter. I feel her breath on my face and I struggle to not kiss her. I don't want to be the one kissing her after last night. I know I'm not drunk right now, but I don't want to push her. She cups my cheek and I tremble. She closes the gap between our lips and gives me a light peck. I kiss her back and I bring her closer to me by pulling from her waist, our bodies so close that I feel her heat. She stops for a brief moment and looks me in the eye, a glow in her eyes and a big smile on her lips.

"You can't imagine how much I wanted this," she adds, sighing.

"I am sorry, I must stink." I laugh as I caress her back.

"Actually, it's turning me on. I kind of like it." I blush and she elbows me jokingly.

"I didn't know you are a perv, Emily!" She blurts in laughing.

"You are so sexy right now," I whisper in her ear. I realize she trembles and it feels so great that she reacts like that to my words. Her eyes turn a darkened brown and she leans to kiss me hungrily this time. I moan the moment she uses her tongue. I've been craving for her for so long that it's possible I get to orgasm with only her kisses. I feel heat down my belly and I can't help but put my hand down her t-shirt and touch her defined abs.

"Em, stop or I will..." she says almost breathless. That turns me on even more and I smile while I bite her upper lip.

She stops for a few seconds. Then she pushes me lightly so I am lying on the couch and she puts on top of me. "You will what?" she teasingly adds, her sexy dimples making me feel ecstatic. Her t-shirt is so wet that is stuck to her skin, making her abs stand out. I don't know if I was waiting for this to happen for so long that I am over the edge, but the excitement I am feeling is indescribable. I just want her to touch me, for a moment I forget about her betrayal five years ago and also about Maya.

"I will explode," I admit. She laughs and when she places her leg between my thighs, I feel heat on my center. She leans on me, holding my arms with her hands and kisses my neck, a moan escaping my swollen lips. I'm totally submissive to her every need.

"Is this okay?" she murmurs with a husky voice. I can't even pronounce a word, I just nod at her so she will continue torturing me. She leaves a trail of kisses from my neck to my chin and she continues until she gets to the hem of my t-shirt. When I'm about to take my shirt off I hear the tingle of the keys and I freeze. I also forgot that Spencer is supposed to get home from the hospital. I was so into Paige that I didn't even think that she would be here soon. She jumps from the couch, takes a deep breath and sits down next to me. I do the same and she gives me a peck right before Spencer gets inside the apartment. "You look nice," she teases me.

Spencer stares at us and she doesn't say anything, but she looks impressed that Paige is at the apartment. I take a huge gulp of water, trying to make the heat I'm feeling disappear. It doesn't work though.

"Hello. Is everything okay?" Spencer smirks at us. She's too intelligent to read the signals. I feel my cheeks are burning. "I'm sorry if I interrupted. I can go if you want to. I mean, I just remembered that I had some errands to run. So..."

"No, it's okay. I should go home and have a shower," Paige says, pointing at her sweaty t-shirt.

"Maybe a cold one?" Spencer jokes, laughing loudly. She is enjoying making us feel awkward. Paige's cheeks flush really red, making me laugh at my friend's remark.

"Anyway, I should be going," Paige shyly says averting her gaze from Spencer, making her cuter than ever. Spencer heads to her bedroom with a smirk on her face and leaves us alone. Paige jumps from the couch, her face still reddish around her cheeks. She heads the door and I follow her steps. She holds the doorknob and turns around to look at me. She grabs the hem of my shirt to bring me closer to her and kisses me eagerly. I pull her closer, placing my hands on her waist. She breaks the kiss and smiles at me. "See you tomorrow, beautiful." I kiss her back and she leaves me wanting more, but I guess this is the most intelligent decision we could take.

"Go home and clean yourself if you don't want me to keep harassing you." My joke makes her laugh. She gives me a last kiss and disappears down the stairs leaving me with a dumb smile on my face.

To be continued…

Stay tuned! ;)