CHAPTER 17: Emotional Rollercoasters

EMILY'S POV:

I couldn't help but get upset when I heard Spencer talking about Tessa. I know I shouldn't be mad, I guess I was just so protective of Spencer, I didn't want people I don't know saying the wrong thing.

Or you're just jealous…

I sighed. Perhaps I was just jealous that Spencer had talked to Tessa instead of me. I know it's stupid, and selfish, but I thought bringing Spencer here would allow me some time with just her. Not with Tessa. Even though Spencer only talked to Tessa for about ten minutes.

I glanced over at Spencer, who seemed lost in thought. She hadn't touched most of her food, and I wondered why.

"Spencer? Are you alright?" I asked. She snapped back and glanced over at me. Her body tensed up a little bit, and I couldn't help but be a little upset. I was her friend, she could trust me.

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine." She smiled, but I could sense that it was just covering up what she really felt.

"Are you sure? You haven't really eaten anything." I pointed out. Spencer glanced down at her food before looking at me apologetically.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just not very hungry right now. I'm not sure why." She replied, and I could tell then that she wasn't lying, or trying to cover anything up.

"If you say so. I'm going to use the bathroom, do you need anything?" I asked. Spencer shook her head.

"Oh no, I'm fine. Go ahead." She waved as I walked off to the nearest restroom. As soon as I stepped inside, my heart seemed to stop.

"Hello Emily."

Paige was standing in front of the mirror, and her eyes were red, like she'd been crying.

"Paige! Are you okay? What's wrong?" I placed my hand on her shoulder but she swatted it away like it was a wasp.

"Cut the crap Emily. You know what's wrong." She snapped at me.

I gulped nervously. I had an idea of what she was talking about, but I didn't know for sure.

"Is this because I wasn't able to hang out with you today?" I asked carefully.

Paige frowned. "No."

I sighed frustrated. "Then what's wrong?"

Paige glared at me. "You chose her over me." She replied softly. I felt my palms get sweaty. I was right about what was making her upset. However, I wish I wasn't.

"I didn't choose her." I started. "I had already made plans with her and I didn't want to disappoint her. It's not fair to suddenly back out on plans because I want to be with someone else instead." I defended myself, and Spencer.

Paige laughed coldly. "No no, you wanted to be with her didn't you. You'd rather hang with her than me. I know it."

I looked down at the ground and didn't reply. I didn't want to lie to Paige, but I didn't want to tell her the truth either.

"No, see when you texted me, you said you were with friends. So I thought I'd get some shopping done since you weren't going to be hanging out with me." Paige explained. I knew where this was going, but didn't have the nerve to stop her. "Instead, I get to the mall and see you walking around with her." She spits the word like venom.

"Spencer is my friend!" I snapped. "Are you seriously jealous of her? She's my best friend! Okay, so maybe I didn't specify who exactly I'd be hanging out with, but it shouldn't matter! You know Spencer! You know who she is to me. Don't be so blind! I love you!" I cried.

Paige frowned and shook her head.

"Emily, don't lie to me. I know you may think you love me, but I've seen the way you look at her. I'm not blind, nor a fool. And you know it too don't you? You love her, am I right?" Paige looked up at me, her eyes dark and sad.

I sighed and looked at the floor, refusing to answer.

Paige gulped, and I could tell she was trying to hold back tears.

"That's what I thought." She choked.

"Paige-"

"Don't. Please." She begged. She walked up to me, and gently grabbed my chin with her hand. Leaning forward, she planted a kiss on my lips. But this time, it was different. It wasn't happy, and full of energy. It was full of grief, and a love that was breaking.

"I hope you find what you're looking for." She cried, before pushing past me and out the door.

I felt tears fall from my eyes, and I couldn't help but feel horrible. I did love Spencer, but I loved Paige too. Or at least I thought I did. Closing my eyes, I thought about things. I knew that Paige and I weren't going to last forever, especially with Spencer unintentionally interfering with my feelings.

However, I didn't think things were going to end like this…

SPENCER'S POV:

I waited patiently for Emily to return from the bathroom. After ten minutes though, I started to get worried. What had happened to her?

Suddenly my mind took over and I froze.

Did she leave me here because she's mad I haven't healed yet?

Was Tessa right?

What am I going to do?

I felt my breath come in short gasps, and I closed my eyes to avoid getting dizzy. I knew I was hyperventilating over something that was most likely untrue, but I didn't seem to be able to do anything about it. After about another five minutes I finally got myself to calm down. However, Emily still hadn't returned, and so I got up to go check on her.

As I walked into the bathroom, I knew only one thing; no one else was there. I sighed, relieved that if anything went wrong I wouldn't feel judged.

I walked over to the one stall that was closed, and could hear sniffling from the other side. My reflexes perked up, and I knew that Emily was inside, hurting.

I grabbed my bag and pulled out a pair of bobby pins. Using my smart Hastings genes, I picked the stall lock and slid the door open carefully. Emily was crouched on the floor, crying softly. I immediately closed the door behind me and kneeled behind her, wrapping her in my arms.

"Spencer?" She croaked.

"I'm here for you Emily, it's okay." I sighed softly. Emily relaxed into my grasp, and for that moment, everything was fine.

"I'm sorry, I meant to come straight out but-"

I shushed her. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I replied calmly, for once.

"Paige was here." She muttered.

"Oh?" I didn't know what Paige had done, I thought the two were on good terms with each other, but I guess I could have been wrong.

"She broke up with me."

"Oh." I exhaled. "Em, you are a strong and beautiful girl. If Paige couldn't see that, then she must have been as blind as me without my contacts." I tried to lighten the situation. Luckily it worked, and I was rewarded with a soft chuckle from Emily.

"You are pretty blind without those." She agreed.

I laughed, and gave her a squeeze. "Do you want to just go home? I don't mind, I have everything I need. Besides, I don't think these floors are the most sanitary."

Emily nodded. "That sounds great. Maybe we can watch a movie or something at my house. I can invite Aria and Hanna over too." She smiled, and I was relieved that she wasn't as sad anymore. However, I was also worried. Did people get over things like this that quickly?

We got up and drove home. Emily let me run by my house and change into pajamas so I'd be more comfortable while we watched the movie. She asked my mom if I could spend the night, but my mom said she wanted to talk with me. That made me worried, but my mom assured me it was just to go over Christmas plans.

Hanna unfortunately couldn't make it to the gathering, she had chores that she put off, and her mom was making her stay home and get them done. However, we picked up Aria on the way back to Emily's house.

"So Spence, how've you been?" Aria asked as we laid on Emily's bed, getting ready to start the film.

"Better. Not 100%, but better." I replied. I left out the fact that I had already hyperventilated at the mall, and relapsed before that. They didn't need to know that.

"That's great, I'm glad to hear it." She looked sympathetically at me before glancing over at Emily, who was getting frustrated with the DVD player.

"Em, do you need help?" I asked. She grunted, and I took that as a sign to get up and figure it out. I knelt in front of the TV and she got up and retreated to the bed. I messed with some of the cables while Aria talked to Emily for a bit.

EMILY'S POV:

I was irritated that the DVD player wasn't working, but I was also irritated at Paige. At how mad she had gotten at Spencer, when it wasn't Spencer's fault. I know it was pretty cruel of me to get over the sadness that quickly, but considering my heart was already taken before we were broken up, I guess I've had time to manage.

However, fooling Aria wasn't on the agenda. She knew as soon as I started getting frustrated that something was wrong. Usually I was very laid back, but my anger had gotten the best of me.

"Em, are you okay?" She asked. "You don't normally get so frustrated. You're as bad as Hanna tonight." She joked, but was still serious.

"Yeah I'm fine, just had some issues today." I replied.

"Oh? That's too bad. I'm sorry." She responded sympathetically, like usual.

"It's okay, it's not your fault, it's Paige's." I snapped. Not at her, but at the topic in general. She knew I wasn't mad at her, and took no offense to my tone of voice.

"Oh. I see. Did you get in a fight?" She asked.

"Yeah. She broke up with me." I felt a tinge of sadness creep back in me, but I was determined to keep it down. Why should I be sad? I've got more of a chance than ever of getting with Spencer now that I was single.

I slapped myself on the head.

How could I be so cruel to Paige? I had been dating her for a long time, and she cared so much about me, yet here I was already plotting my next relationship. I felt horrible.

"Em? Are you here?" Aria asked.

"Yeah yeah, sorry. I was thinking that's all." I responded.

"I see. Well, I don't understand why Paige would break up with you, you're one of the prettiest, nicest girls in this town. It's too bad she didn't realize that." Aria stated firmly. I nodded, but it didn't cheer me up as much as when Spencer said something similar earlier.

"I know. It's just rough." I replied. Aria nodded, and patted me on the shoulder supportively.

"Well, I'm here for you. I know Hanna is too. And Spencer-"

"I'm here for you. Or I will be here for you as soon as I get this cord plugged in." Spencer chimed in from over by the TV. I glanced over and couldn't help but laugh a little. Spencer was sprawled out on the floor, her head under the TV set, attempting to reach the outlet.

"Spencer what on earth are you doing?" Aria asked.

"I'm….trying….to get this….damned cord plugged in…" Spencer huffed.

"Do you want me to get it? I have smaller arms?" Aria questioned. Spencer grunted a no in response, and continued her crazy attempts. After about five more minutes of grunting, with the occasional cuss word thrown in, Spencer got the DVD to turn on.

"Hey! You did it!" I cheered.

Spencer pushed herself back from under the TV.

"Well I'm a Hastings, of course I did it." She said in a sarcastic tone.

I smiled, and Aria burst out laughing.

"Spence you are so weird sometimes." Aria giggled.

"But you love me anyways." Spencer hopped onto the bed, and joined us as we watched the rest of the movie.