A few minutes later, Paige and Emily were in the parking lot, heading towards Emily's mom's car. Paige held Emily's hand as they walked through the parking lot. After deciding to stay, they'd walked out of the airport together, hand in hand, but they hadn't said anything. It wasn't an awkward silence, though. There was still so much that needed to be said, Paige knew. But for now, what was said at the airport was enough. Emily unlocked the red Jeep's doors with her key remote and she released Paige's hand with a sigh.
She got in behind the driver's seat and watched as Paige seated herself next to her, turning in the passenger seat and facing her instead of fastening the seatbelt. Silently, Paige watched her. Emily turned, looking back at Paige. There was so much she still wanted to say to Paige. Apologies she still felt she had to say, but for now, she settled for a question. It was the foremost thought in her mind since Paige decided to fight her parents.
Since she chose Emily and a future with her rather than going to California. "I..." she faltered, closing her eyes for a moment. She knew Paige was watching her and the silence meant Paige was giving her time to say what she needed to say. Emily opened her eyes and reached for Paige's hand, squeezing it. "...I don't want you to resent me, Paige." she finally said.
Paige's brow moved. "Em, why would I resent you?"
"Because I know I must've sounded desparate tonight. Begging you to stay. I just..." Emily hesitated. "...I don't want you to look back on tonight and regret choosing to stay. I'd rather you move to California and be happy than have you regret staying here."
The hand that Emily was squeezing suddenly left her face just as she was finished speaking and it was suddenly on her face, joined by Paige's other hand, holding her face tightly and making sure Emily was looking at Paige. Paige leaned forward, staring intently at Emily's eyes. "Emily, things between us have never been easy. I think we both know that." She brushed her thumbs across Emily's cheeks as she spoke. "Not once have I ever regretted my choices when it comes to you." And Paige knew Emily that she meant everything. Including the last year with delivering that note to the police. Emily nodded. "It's not going to be easy, my dad's going to be furious, but I won't ever regret this choice because I want a future with you. Donuts and diners, remember?"
Emily reached up, laying her hands on Paige's, smiling softly at her. "Donuts and diners..." she whispered. "...I think that dream kind of faded away, Paige. I haven't swam in a long time."
Paige reached up with her right hand, smoothing her fingers through Emily's hair. "And I remember telling you we can find another dream. I wasn't just saying that. I meant it then, and I mean it now. We'll find another dream, Emily. Together, I swear we will. Do you still want that future with me? After high school, do you still believe in us?" It was a question that was constantly on her mind these last few months. It was during their separation that she'd come to believe that she and Emily would probably never have that future again. But then, she and Emily had reconnected and she wanted to believe that future was within their reach again. And so, with bated breath, she waited for Emily's answer.
Holding Paige's hands, Emily pulled them from her face, kissing one hand. Then, she kissed the other. "You know, when we broke up, there n, she kissed the other. "You know, when we broke up, there was always a part of me that still wanted that future. But everything became so complicated and so...so hard that I think I just gave up on it." she paused, remembering how distant the two of them had become. "But this is our second chance and I'm not going to waste it." she leaned forward, brushing her lips against Paige's.
Paige closed her eyes at the contact, slowly moving her lips against Emily's. She caught Emily's bottom lip between hers and sucked it lightly. She felt the moan from Emily more than heard it, but they were in a car, at the airport parking lot of all places. This was not the place for this, Paige thought suddenly. She wanted more of the physical contact. God, did she, but she forced herself to pull back, breaking the kiss. "How about we go get something to eat?" she managed to say after catching her bearings. "I've got to call my dad because he's going to be furious when he finds out."
Holding Paige's hand, Emily nodded. Like Paige, she wanted...no, that was the wrong term. Emily needed to feel more of Paige. She'd missed the physical contact between them in the months they were apart. But she also knew now wasn't the time and she appreciated that Paige knew it as well. She leaned back in her seat, running her other hand through her hair. "Food sounds good. I've also got to call Spencer. I was supposed to meet the girls later, but I want to spend the night with you." she admitted, looking at Paige.
"I feel the same way." Paige returned the sentiment.
There was still words that needed to be said, both girls knew that. But, those conversations would have to wait. For now, what was already said was enough. It was a good start in the rebuilding process of their relationship. Neither girl put a voice to one of the bigger issues between them that would have to be dealt with. A certain blonde girl with a history with both of them. But Alison DeLaurentis would have to be talked about sooner or later. As Emily started the car, she made a promise to herself. She wasn't going to let Alison come between her and Paige again. Not like she did the last time. She had a second chance with Paige and this time, Emily was going to do whatever it took to get it right.
With her own seatbelt buckled, Paige gazed out of the window. To say she was nervous about the impending conversation with her father was an understatement. She knew he was going to be furious. After all, at the core of all of his decisions regarding Paige's life, it was about worry for her safety. For her future. It's why he pushed so hard for her to be the best. But sometimes, Paige admitted now, he went about in the wrong ways. Like forcing her to move to California. Making that decision without even giving Paige a say in the matter. Paige was seventeen now and in a couple of months, she would be eighteen. Legal age. Paige wanted to have a say in decisions regarding her life. And she planned to make that crystal clear to him when she called him.
As soon as Paige and Emily got to Emily's house, she was planning on making that call. At worst, she was expecting yelling and heated words. At best, her father would understand her decision and come back to Rosewood to calmly talk to her about her choice. But Paige wasn't holding her breath. She knew how her father was going to react. And her mother, well, Colleen McCullers always tended to support her husband, no matter what. Even if Nick McCullers was wrong, Colleen McCullers always took his side. Paige wished she'd stand up to him, stand up for her, but it never happened. And Paige had no reason to expect it now.
As she gazed over at Emily, she acknowledged that no matter what her father and mother's reaction, she wasn't going to budge on her choice. She and Emily, despite everything, had managed to come back together. It wasn't easy and it wasn't going to be easy moving forward. Not with Alison's murder trial looming, but Paige was determined to fight for their relationship no matter what. Slowly, she moved her hand to the inside of her jacket pocket. The small envelope was still there, a reminder of the promise she just made to herself. No matter what.
Half an hour later, Emily was in the kitchen of her house, bags of takeout from a local burger restaurant sitting on the counter. Her eyes flicked to the front door, and the front porch just beyond it. Paige was out there, on the phone with her father. Emily really wanted to be with her while she had that talk, but she understood that Paige needed to do this on her own. She needed to take this stand against Nick McCullers by herself and
Emily was going to respect that.
They'd gotten back to Emily's place about fifteen minutes ago and Paige had stayed outside, on the front porch to make the call. Emily wanted to be hopeful that Paige would be able to reason with her parents, her father especially, but Emily herself had seen the type of man Nick McCullers was. Even today, Paige's father wasn't completely in support of his daughter being gay. Emily knew it was the part of Paige that he and his daughter never spoke about. It drove a wedge between them that Emily wished she could help Paige with. She'd seen how much it hurt Paige emotionally to have her father not be supportive and she wished she could do something for Paige to help, but it seemed there was no changing Nick McCullers's mind.
Emily's head snapped back to the front as the door opened slowly and Paige entered the house. Closing the door slowly, Paige made her way to the kitchen, still holding her phone. Emily looked at her. "Everything okay?" she felt stupid for asking. Clearly, Paige's raised voice that she'd heard from the porch wasn't a good sign. But, Emily simply didn't know what else to say at the moment.
Paige exhaled heavily. "Where's your mom?"
"At work." Emily answered. "She's been putting in long hours lately."
Paige nodded. Then, she looked at Emily as she spoke. "My parents are going to get on a plane and they'll be back here tomorrow. The movers haven't cleared out the house yet, so I'm to meet them there at noon tomorrow." Paige looked down for a moment. "No matter what my dad says, I'm not leaving Rosewood, Em."
"He's your father, Paige." Emily said, a hint of frustration evident in her voice. "He can make you."
"No, he can't." Paige returned, her voice strong. "I don't wanna talk about him or my mother. I want you to trust me and let me handle my parents tomorrow." she paused. "Let's just eat."
Emily nodded, feeling an uneasy feeling in her stomach. "Let's eat."
Since Pam wouldn't be back tonight, it was decided that Paige would be staying here for the night. Upstairs, in Emily's room, Paige sat at the window seat and gazed out the window into the night.
Emily was downstairs, calling Spencer. She'd told her that she was supposed to meet the girls later, but had changed her mind, preferring to spend the night with her.
Paige felt guilty, knowing how much Aria, Spencer, and Hanna meant to Emily. But Emily had assured her that being with her tonight was what she wanted, so Paige was trying to feel better about it.
She couldn't help but think about what was sure to happen tomorrow when her parents returned to Rosewood. Her father was angry at her choice. In truth, Paige hadn't ever heard such anger in her father's voice before.
She could understand his anger, because of what she'd done tonight. But, she didn't regret her decision. She had no idea what was going to happen between Emily and her in the coming months. She was, after all, going to Stanford band she wasn't sure of Emily's plans. But, she was willing to fight for Emily. Fight for her on a way she was terrified to do before.
Speaking of fear, her hand reached into her inside jacket pocket and she removed the envelope inside. She licked her lips as she opened it and removed the single sheet of paper that was inside it.
Looking quickly at the door, she gazed back at the type written piece of paper. It said:
"Your father is a wise man, Paige. Whisking you away from Rosewood, to California no less. Do everyone a favor, don't fighood, to California no less. Do everyone a favor, don't fight it. Leave before something unfortunate happens."
Paige read it again, committing the words to memory. Two days ago, she'd been at the airport, seeing her parents off as they'd left for California early. When she'd returned to her car, that letter had awaited her.
It had been set on her driver's seat, positioned perfectly. The envelope hadn't been there when Paige had arrived at the airport and her car had been locked. It meant someone had broken into her car to deposit the letter. Which meant she'd been followed.
It had terrified Paige, that someone had been watching her life so closely that they knew about her parents decision to relocate her. She'd spent the last two days in a constant state of paranoia, looking over her shoulder.
The only thing that had brought her any measure of peace the last two days had been Emily. She'd been Paige's rock, there for support. But Paige had been reluctant to share this threat against her with Emily.
Even now, she had yet to tell Emily about it. She'd been so sure she was leaving today that she'd forgot about the threat today. When she'd made that choice to fight her parents, it wasn't just to stay with Emily. Whoever the threat came from, Paige wasn't going to be forced out.
To her, it felt like her being bullied again and that's not something Paige McCullers was ever going to tolerate again. She didn't know if it was -A or not. There wasn't an A left at the end. She suspected it was Alison originally because Alison hadn't been arrested yet and Paige knew Alison hated her, but Paige just didn't know who the threat was from.
But one thing she knew for sure. Her decision to stay could anger whoever sent the letter. And she was worried that it wasn't Alison Delaurentis.
She heard steps coming up the stairs and knew Emily was on her way. She put the envelope back into her jacket pocket. She wasn't going to worry Emily with this. Not yet, anyway.
She knew she'd have to tell Emily soon, she just didn't want to ruin tonight with needless worry. She turned as the door opened and Emily entered the bedroom.
Emily saw her sitting at the window seat and she smiled fondly, recalling the first time Paige had come into her room and seen the window seat. "Hey."
"Hey," Paige said, returning the smile, "your friends good?"
Emily nodded. "Yeah, they understand why I canceled on them." she paused. "Spencer's glad you changed your mind, by the way."
"I am too." Paige replied. "We should maybe have dinner with your friends tomorrow."
"Paige, they're your friends too." Emily said softly. "I know they want to be."
"I know, I just….I haven't spent much time with them. Maybe after I talk with my parents, I can change that."
Emily smiled. "I think they'd like that. I know I would."
Paige got up from the window seat and took her jacket off. As she draped the jacket across the window seat, she couldn't help but remember the first time she'd seen it.
The memory of her first real kiss with Emily hit her. The feeling of Emily's lips with hers as she gripped Emily's hand was one of her favorite memories and always brought a smile to her face.
She'd been so scared back then. Scared of coming out, scared of what people would think about her. She'd been so scared of what her parents would think and how they'd react. It had been frightening and she knew she hasn't handled it very well.
She'd pushed Emily away back then. And Paige felt that she had deprived not only herself, but Emily as well, of the love they now had. But, everything happens for a reason, Paige liked to tell herself. It had happened that way for a reason.
Emily walked over to her bed, but gazed at Paige, seeing that smile. She walked over, touching her arm. "Hey, what's that smile about?"
Paige grinned, dipping her head slightly in that unique way Emily always found adorable. "I was just remembering the first time I saw your window seat. When we kissed by your window."
Emily laced her fingers with Paige's. "I remember." she murmured. "I remember thinking that kissing you felt so wonderful. It was a highlight of my day."
Paige reached up, running the fingers of her free hand through Emily's hair. Emily's eyes fluttered shut at the contact. "That kiss has always been one of my favorite memories, Em."
Emily opened her eyes, reaching up and holding Paige's wrist lightly. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"
Paige nodded once. "I'm still seventeen, so he can technically make me go." she said. "But I'll be eighteen next month and if my folks make me go, we'll just have to wait until next month. Because when I turn eighteen, I'll be coming right back here. To you."
Emily leaned forward and kissed Paige once, loving the feeling. "We're gonna figure this out Paige. You and me."
Paige smiled at her softly. "I wouldn't want it any other way, Em."
"Come here." Emily whispered before she captured Paige's lips with hers. She kissed her softly, slowly, pouring every ounce of what she was feeling into the kiss.
Paige wrapped her arms around Emily, pressing her body into the brunette girl. Emily reciprocated, wrapping her own arms around Paige's lower back and pulling her closer while continuing the kiss.
Holding Paige tightly, she raised her arms and suddenly, she had lifted Paige an inch off the ground. Paige groaned softly, once the floor was no longer under her feet.
Emily slowly began stepping backwards, towards the bed, their lips still moving against each other. Her legs hit the edge of her bed and she willingly let herself fall backwards, Paige landing atop her.
Her body fully pressed against Emily's, Paige touched Emily's bottom lip with her tongue and Emily moaned, parting her lips. As her tongue met Paige's, Emily surrendered herself to Paige. Surrendered herself to the blanket of their passion.