CHAPTER 8

Alison tapped her foot impatiently, arms crossed, waiting for her friend on the steps of the school. Finally, she saw the tall brunette coming through the doors.

"About time, Em," she said coldly.

Emily looked at the ground, "Sorry, Ali. Practice ran late."

"Uh-huh," Alison studied her friend's posture, arms crossed, face down, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Emily mumbled, "Are we going shopping?"

"Not until you tell me what's wrong," Alison placed a finger under Emily's chin, tilting it up, "You've been crying," she noted softly.

Emily looked into those gorgeous blues that could always see right through her. That always made her want to spill her guts. She broke contact and looked away.

"I'm fine, it was just a bad swim," she lied, "I didn't get picked as anchor."

Alison scrutinised her friend for a moment, she could always tell when the brunette was lying.

"Don't stress, Em. You'll get it next time," she smiled sweetly.

Emily smiled in relief and nodded.

"Now, let's go shopping," Alison grinned, grabbing her friend's hand and pulling her along behind her.

Emily sighed. She usually liked sport period. She used to love swimming. It wasn't swimming she didn't enjoy anymore, it was just the locker room. The people. At least during sport period nobody paid her any attention with Ali by her side. But Ali was nowhere to be seen.

Emily stood at her locker and got changed as quickly as she could. Her eyes cast over to a group of girls standing a few lockers away, all looking at her.

"Totally gay," one of them said.

"No wonder she's into swimming, ugh, they shouldn't even let people like that in the pool."

Emily's shoulders slumped.

"What are you looking at, queer?" one of them sneered, "Nothing for you here."

Emily turned back to her locker.

"Hey," the girls approached her, "Asked you a question."

Emily shrugged, "Nothing," she mumbled.

"You should use the disabled change room, stop making everyone so uncomfortable."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Emily hated confrontation. Really hated it.

The girl scoffed, "Yeah, right. I've seen you look – "

"Gay or not, she'd rather be blind than cast a glance your way," Ali approached, "You think way too highly of yourself," she fixed the girls with a withering glare, causing them to disperse, before turning to her friend, "You alright, Em?"

Emily shrugged as she started getting changed again.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Alison frowned.

"I don't want to go to stupid class with those girls, I'm just going to go the library or something," Emily mumbled.

Alison grabbed Emily's arm stopping her movement, "No, you're not. Don't let those bitches win. You fold now and they'll just keep coming at you. You gotta stand up for yourself, Em."

Emily bit her lip, "I'm not like you, Ali. I can't…"

"You can," Alison smiled.

Emily hesitated before smiling back.

"I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be."

Emily was completely fixated on her friend. She was just so beautiful and those words… She was so amazing, Emily thought and she'd been so great lately, sticking up for her and not judging her.

"Did you get to that part yet?"

Emily's head felt totally fuzzy and she didn't even think before she leant in and pressed her lips to her friends. She knew she'd seen Alison lean in too and she definitely felt the other girl kiss back. It was soft. Gentle. Mild. Like heaven, Emily thought.

And she definitely saw the smile that formed on her friends lips as they broke apart.