AN: Holy shit THANKS for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Your words and encouragement are incredibly kind and considerate. I won't always be this quick with updates but here you go.
I settled into the couch. It felt blissful to be off my feet and legs.
"How was apartment hunting?" My mom asked gently, smiling as she set down some carrot sticks and ranch. My mom might have been all about good nutrition, but at least she compromised on ranch dressing.
"It felt like being caught inside a montage of hilariously awkward first dates…but with landlords. And with your girlfriend present." I said, shutting my eyes and flashing back to the garden unit that I had convinced Alison to look at because it was such a great deal. I only realized once we were there the current tenants appeared to be some bizarre cross between stoners and serial killers. Which seemed like mutually exclusive endeavors. I told my mom and she laughed appreciatively.
"Yep. Your father and I ran into some interesting situations ourselves when we were looking. Where is Alison?" She asked.
"Went upstairs to take a bath, likely to feel clean again." My mom and I never really discussed my relationship with Alison. She seemed to accept that it was happening, but the last thing she really ever said on the subject was back in high school, when she cautioned me about not getting caught up chasing an old love interest.
"Honey, I want you to know you are more than welcome to stay here with us. But I understand if that feels a little…stifling at your age." My mom touched my knee gently as she spoke.
"I know Mom. Thank you. Just didn't really pan out today, but there are still more places we can look at."
"Okay." As she left the room, my phone buzzed.
Hanna: Caleb and I are having an engagement party this Saturday. Nothing crazy, more just close friends and cocktails.
Me: Wow your wedding celebrations and it won't be crazy?
Hanna: Saving that for the bachelorette party DUH
I shook my head, only imagining what could be in store for us at the bachelorette party. At the very least, I wouldn't get as much enjoyment out of the experience.
Me: That sounds great. We will be there.
It had been a little awkward to tell Alison about the engagement after learning from Hanna at the coffee shop. I tried to play it off, saying Hanna probably didn't tell her right away because they wanted a small wedding. They wanted to tell the people that would be standing up for them first, and since Caleb was only had a few people he was close enough with to ask, Hanna was keeping it down to the three of us.
Hanna: Just as a heads up…Paige will be there. She is actually going to be standing up for Caleb…hope that's okay.
Me: Of course
I typed it out right away, but it took me a few moments to actually send it. I had a feeling Paige would be standing on Caleb's side, but it would be awkward. Alison was not going to be happy.
When we arrived, Ms. Marin was waiting outside with a drink cart. What was up with our moms and drink carts?
"Hey Emily. Hey Alison." She said warmly, hugging us both. Ms. Marin was still team Ali, having forgiven her for lying for so long once Alison explained she was trying to protect us.
"It means so much to have you both here. What can I make you ladies?" She said, gesturing towards the variety of alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks she had on the cart. We both asked for simple gin and tonics, and walked into the living room where everyone was gathered. I immediately looked around for Paige, but she must still be on her way. My nerves were working overtime at the thought of seeing her again after our kiss.
We sat down on one part of a couch that was not occupied, wedged between Lucas and Ezra. Toby, Spencer, Aria, and the couple of honor were all here crowded around the coffee table. Ms. Marin was the only parent who could make it on short notices, although Hanna assured us both her dad and Caleb's parents sent their regards. So instead it was really a group of old friends together again.
After a while, I became aware again of the fact that my three best friends had somehow managed to stay with their high school sweethearts. Maybe what we all went through with A bonded us too much, while simultaneously making us distrustful of strangers. None of us had close friends from college, at least that I was aware of. Caleb was having Toby, Lucas, and Paige stand up for him. All friends from high school, cemented together thanks to trauma.
After a while of all of sitting around and chatting over drinks, I saw Paige enter the room. For a moment, our eyes met and I became incredibly flushed. Then I noticed she was holding a girl's hand. The same girl she had been with at the bar when we ran into one another. Acid suddenly seemed to slosh around in my stomach as Paige said hi to the group and introduced Vanessa.
Alison looked over at Paige and nodded a curt nod. I touched Alison's hand, but she pulled hers away. I had decided not to tell her about Paige coming to the party. That way I only had to deal with her being irritated at the get together, not the days leading up to it as well.
Paige and Vanessa sat on the ground, their knees touching. More pangs of jealousy ran through me again. Vanessa leaned over a whispered something in Paige's ear. After a moment, Paige looked at her and nodded. They both started laughing a little bit. I had the feeling Paige had told Vanessa exactly who I was even before they got here.
Spencer broke my concentration by rapping on the wooden table till she had the room's attention.
"So now that we are all here. I just wanted to say congratulations to Caleb and Hanna. You two have shown us all that while the course of true love never runs smooth, it is worth it when you've found your match. The one you are willing to fight for and work with, the one that-" Spencer's speech was cut off by Hanna.
"Spencer! It isn't even the wedding yet! Save the good stuff." But the ear to ear grin Hanna had made it clear she was delighted at Spencer's thoughtful words. Spencer just rolled her eyes and sat down.
"Guys, thank you all for coming. Just relax and have fun." Caleb said, holding up his glass of champagne to all of us before taking a sip. I looked at Alison, trying to feel out her mood, but she was impossible to figure out when she didn't want to be figured out.
We quickly got wrapped up in conversations, but as I talked to Hanna I kept noticing Ezra looking over at Alison and me. I just brushed it off after a while. Everyone was getting a little tipsy, and Toby suggested we start some rounds of poker. Alison perked up at the mention of the game, eagerly volunteering herself for the first round.
I declined, not really interested in the game myself. Besides knowing Alison's skills, it was foolish to play against her. My eyes kept wandering over to Paige and Vanessa. They were mainly keeping to themselves, but I noticed after laughing at some joke together, Vanessa's hand found its way to Paige's knee and stayed there. She played poker one-handed, talking to Paige in between betting. Vanessa lost out in the first round, and Paige took her spot.
I could already tell Alison wasn't going to go easy on her, so I excused myself to get some air outside. I walked to Ms. Marin's back porch, sitting on the steps leading to the lawn. I looked up at the night sky. The evening wasn't going too bad so far, with Alison and Paige being in the same room. I heard someone cough behind me and I turned around.
"Hey." It was Ezra. He had walked up next to me and stood there, biting his lip and seeming unsure about what to say next.
"Ezra…I didn't see you there. What's up?" I asked, patting the spot next to me. He sat down a little awkwardly, trying to fold up his sinewy limbs. I had always appreciated that he was a bit of a dork. It helped take the edge off how weird it was to first learn he was dating Aria. Now I couldn't imagine Aria with anyone else.
"I'm going to just get to it. I know this is out of line but it's come to my attention you are planning to sign a lease with Alison?" I felt my stomach drop. Not him too. I nodded slowly to affirm.
"Don't do it." He said quietly but determinedly. He looked directly in my eyes as he said it, but dropped his eyes as soon as he finished the statement. I rolled my eyes and went to stand up, but he held his arm out to try and stop me from moving.
"Seriously Ezra? You too?" His arm hadn't actually touched me, but I kept seated anyway as I started to grow irritated, a heat pulsing through my blood.
"I know what it's like to be under her spell. And I know you feel a sense of obligation to be with her because of everything that happened. But she is fully capable of taking care of herself. In fact, I would wager that is her greatest skill. She may seem like she cares for other people…but if you got in her way, she would bulldoze you." He rolled his beer bottle back and forth in the palms of his hands, not looking up to me but instead out at the trees on the outskirts of the lawn.
"Have you been talking to Aria and Spencer about this?" Ezra looked surprised, but adamantly shook his head.
"Emily no. It isn't like that. I just needed you to hear me out. I remember what it was like to think I was the most important, interesting thing in her world." His last comment and its implications lodged in my brain, but I was already seeing red. He had at least conspired with Aria about this. They used the same wording and everything. I stormed away and back into the house, determined to take her aside and confront her. Ezra made a half-hearted attempt to stop me but quickly sat back down.
So what if he had some puppy crush on Alison years ago? And that she used to lead people on? She was different now. I saw Aria from down the hall. She was sitting in the living room, laughing with Spencer about something. Before I could get to her, an arm suddenly reached out from behind an open, dark doorframe and yanked me in, shutting the door behind me. It caught me so off guard I didn't even yelp, just letting out a shocked gasp before feeling the wooden door behind my back.
It was Paige.
"Em this is an engagement party. Keep that in mind before you go storm in there and cause a scene." She said quietly. Great. More unsolicited and unwanted advice.
"How did you even know what I was doing?" I said as I pulled my shoulder away from her hand. I wasn't even sure she had her hand on my shoulder, but I didn't even want to give her that.
"I was walking out this very door to go bring more cups and straws when I saw you charging. You didn't see me, but I know what expression well enough." I looked around and noticed we were in a cramped pantry.
"You don't even know what it is about."
"Try me then." I looked at her straight in her eyes. She looked frustrated and sad.
"I can't. It's about Alison." I said softly. She hung her head.
"Okay." She said in an irritated tone and tried to move past me. This time I stopped her, touching her waist with my hand. She looked down at my arm and then back up into my eyes.
"Yes?" She asked.
"It's not easy seeing you here with a date. I never…I mean I know you've moved on but it still hurts." I whispered. It really confused me, how much it affected me to see her with someone else. I had never seen Paige look at another girl like that. My mental images of her were frozen from two years ago, when she was devoted to me. To us.
Her eyes met mine and my breathing hitched. We were standing so close I could feel her breath on my neck.
"It does?" She finally asked, her voice hoarse and low. She glanced down at my lips, then back up. My core clenched in a delicious, automatic response of want. My hand was still on her waist, and I took a risk, lightly moving my hand along her side, stroking her gentle through the thin fabric of her shirt. She took another tiny step towards me. I started to slip my thumb under the hem of her shirt. I could feel her soft skin radiating heat. She was leaning in, and soon we would be kissing again. Her lips caressed my own so softly at first, it tickled.
A loud thump at the door startled me so much my hand jerked and landed on Paige's bare stomach, underneath her shirt. Her abs were so hard and her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into my touch. Our lips were still grazing, but neither of us pressed them together, trying to resist the impulse. Our heavy breathing made our lips brush and caress, and even that was making me dizzy.
"Paige? You get those cups?" Lucas said through the door, rattling the knob. Paige put her arms on either side of me and braced the door so he wouldn't open it.
"Yes I'll be out in a second." She said, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Okkkaaayyy then." Lucas said before walking off down the hall. Paige looked down at my hand, still on her stomach, before stepping back to grab the cups and straws.
"Weren't you playing poker anyway?" I asked.
"I was. Alison wiped me out in the first round." She responded, her expression unreadable. Then she left. I gave myself a few moments to collect myself before going back out as well.