- Welcome to La cuisine du le monde, may I take your coat?
- Thank you.
Alison took off the coat that had helped her to survive the cold Parisian streets and handed it to the guy with a goatee who had, so kindly, received her at the door of the restaurant. She thought it was strange that the boy were greeting her in English, since Emily was always complaining about how everyone spoke French in that place, the logic thing to do would have been to put someone at the entrance who could greet the guests in the local language but, of course, they were supposed to be celebrating Thanksgiving, which was something more American than French so… it really wasn't that weird.
The blonde had arrived to the place earlier than expected, as CeCe had "kicked her out" of her apartment without a hint of delicacy, because: "I'm still so not ready!". After the tense conversation she had with her friend, Alison was making great efforts to behave with her, trying her best to not get defensive, and that new and docile attitude included no questions at all, even if it was terribly obvious that the ex-blonde was up to something (since when CeCe Drake loses the opportunity to have someone flattering her while preparing for a night out?).
Alison walked through the cafeteria, which was filled with multiple guests animatedly conversing with each other, wearing elegant outfits, picking the starters that had been placed on the high tables with a single leg that were scattered over the room. The lights were brighter than usual, everything was golden and reddish, glowing, very distinguished, nothing to do with the blue and violet lights that had mutated the red of the walls the first and only time she had been there. That night, the owners of the place had opted to fill the air with a gentle melody of classical music and each surface seemed to have been polished thoroughly, so that the guests could admire the reflection of their smug faces whenever they wanted.
They were all snobs, or at least that was the impression the blonde got while she avoided the small groups of people that filled the place. The girl walked steadily, without looking too much into those around her, trying to go unnoticed, mentally repeating to herself over and over that she wasn't a seventeen years old child, but a sophisticated lady from LA with her 21 springs fully lived.
In her quiet progress towards the stairs leading to the first floor Alison met all sorts of people, from forties-bellied men to handsome young gentlemen who couldn't overcome the quarter of century, going across, of course, by the retouched forties-bellied men's women and the boys and girls appearing every few meters stoically located next to people that clearly out-aged them, surely "children" on the way to inherit the fortunes of their parents.
As she started up the stairs the contrast of light momentarily blinded her, it was somewhat contradictory that, precisely on the rise of steps, the lighting was so poor.
When the blonde arrived to the first floor she was greeted by another waiter, with identical manners to the first, who invited her to one of the two rooms on that level, the one on the left, where she knew Emily worked.
The atmosphere in that room was the same as in the cafeteria, in fact, the entire salon was decorated and lit like the cafeteria, except that the high tables that filled the bottom floor had been replaced by low tables surrounded by chairs, which began to be occupied by guests who seemed to be older.
Alison looked around and she could feel the air began to become denser. The blonde perceived the insecurity filling her chest every time someone crossed eyes with her. She was alone, lost between all those adults, pretending to be like them and… it was overwhelming. She needed to find Emily as soon as possible.
- Do you think they'll let us in? – The brunette asked, running as dignified as she could with that dress wrapping her body.
- Of course they'll let us in. – Chloe assured, getting the words out between quick gasps.
Both girls crossed a street, another street... and then another one. Apparently Chloe's flat was not as close to the restaurant as it looked. When they both headed the narrow road leading to the local the girls stopped running and started walking briskly, trying to catch their breath.
- How's my hair? – Chloe asked, avoiding the temptation to put her hand to the top of her collected hair.
- It's fine, what about my dress? – Said Emily when the two stood a few meters from the restaurant entrance, becoming part of the small row of couples that were still waiting to be invited inside. They had arrived on time.
The brunette opened her coat, allowing Chloe to inspect if her outfit was still "right".
- Everything is in place. – The girl reassured her and they took another step towards the entrance.
Being that close to the restaurant Emily couldn't help but glance at the guests that were in front of them. Even covered by long coats the brunette could guess that they have more money than she could imagine.
- Do you know how the night is going to be? – Emily asked Chloe suddenly, needing to know something, anything, about what would happen during the next hours.
- Typically there are some snacks in the café area, then the dinner will be served in the salons and latter everything will be cleared for the "socialization time". – She explained, putting quotation marks with her fingers at the last two words.
- Socialization time?
- Yeah, it's… well, basically it is when the wealthy people of the city can talk to each other pretending they are bearable. – The brunette swallowed when she heard about the "wealthy people" of the city, exactly what kind of people would be there that night? – You'll see that everyone is very courteous and polite, at least while they are here.
- I still don't know why they invited me.
- The owners of the restaurant want their best customers to know who will be attending them. – Chloe reasoned, as if it was obvious.
- Does that mean that I have to talk to the people in there? – Emily questioned horrified.
- Only if they talk to you first. – Chloe pointed out just when they arrived at the main door.
- Welcome to La cuisine du le monde, may I take your…? Chloe? Natalie?
- George! – Both girls exclaimed, admiring the elegant uniform the boy was wearing (he looked like the godfather of a very important wedding), at least no one had made him shave his loved goatee.
- Wow, - Chloe started laughing. – you're on the black list, aren't you?
- It seems so… - He muttered with a big sigh, it wasn't fair that they had invited the Italian twins of the second floor but not him, at least he never skipped his shifts!
- Oh, poor thing. – Chloe pretended to pity him, he should have pissed off Nicolette or someone important to not be a guest of the party.
- I thought that all the waiters were invited. – Emily commented frowning.
- Well, he'll be at the party, like everyone but… serving the lobster. – Chloe replied with a big smile as she handed her coat to her companion, who shook his head ruefully.
- Enjoy the evening, and eat all you can… for me. – George whispered as they passed him and both girls laughed.
- We'll try our best. – Chloe finished.
When they stepped onto the dark polished tiles that covered the floor both girls felt the comforting warmth of the interior and, while Chloe began to recognize faces and throw delicate greetings to those she detected in the distance, Emily looked around, searching for blonde hair.
- Estella was coming before you? – The girl asked to the brunette.
- I don't know. – Emily acknowledged, they should have agreed to meet at a particular spot of the restaurant, how would she find her between so many people?
- If you want I can… - Chloe began to say.
- Mademoiselle Sullivan? – A deep voice questioned out of nowhere.
- Oh, good evening Monsieur Magné. – The girl politely greeted a tall, robust man, whose dark hair began to turn grey in the areas of his temples.
That gentleman didn't last long without putting his black eyes on Emily, and Chloe felt the brunette tensing beside her. The girl wasn't ready to speak with anybody, she would have to drop so many lies… and she couldn't concentrate on that because she didn't know where the hell was Alison!
- Maybe Estella is on the first floor. – Chloe said, forcing her to look into her eyes, so she could stop holding the gaze of that tall man. – Why don't you go? I'll be with you in a moment.
Emily just nodded with relief and gave a quick glance to Monsieur Magné before walking towards the stairs.
Alison whirled again before leaving the room, being aware of the increased frequency of her heart's beats. She had walked up to the second floor, checking thoroughly each and every one of the rooms through which she had passed but… nothing! There was no sign of Emily, and by the time it was the door at the entry should be closed.
"At least Demetz isn't here either", thought the girl once she found herself in the silent hallway on the second floor. As the time had passed the salons had begun to be more and more filled and there were no longer people transiting the stairs, neither was any waiter in sight to greet new guests, everyone seemed to have found a seat for dinner.
The place was in relative silence, maybe she should stay there until Emily appeared, "if she appears", she thought again with apprehension. The blonde felt her whole body shake as she realized that she could end up alone in that strange night and that it had been very stupid of her to suggest to make a "date" our of that party, how was it possible that she still believed that she was able to control those kind of situations?
Suddenly the girl heard hurried footsteps that seemed to gain intensity as they advanced. Her blue eyes focused the shadowy flight of stairs leading to the lower floor and her breathing froze, she was at that landing, alone, she would inevitably attract some undesirable attention.
Without thinking twice Alison gave four strides and reached the closer door, ready to take refuge in the crowded room before…
- Ali?
The blonde's hand never touched the doorknob. There was only one person in that city (in the world, actually) that could pronounce her name that way.
When Alison turned around she had to make great efforts to keep her mouth shut.
In front of her was Emily, her beautiful and perfect Emily and… she was simply dazzling.
The brunette was wearing a white dress that showed off the tan color of her skin. The top of the garment was interwoven into strips strategically placed over her torso to give a stunning neckline that rose and fell with the irregular breathing of the girl. The skirt of the dress, meanwhile, fell encircling her legs to cover much of her thighs but without being too close to her knees. It was an extremely suggestive attire and the fact that Emily was flushed with her dark eyes glistening did nothing but highlight the beauty of the girl.
- You look… amazing. – The brunette said to the blonde, and Alison blinked, as if coming out of a trance, to see the dumbfounded face of the girl.
Emily knew that when Alison dressed up she was able to enthrall the entire world, but that night (perhaps because of the large amounts of adrenaline running through her veins), the blonde seemed the most perfect human being she had ever seen. The dress she had finally chosen, the dark green, almost black, caused a strange and hypnotic effect, both for its color (which contrasted with the gold of her hair) and its form. It was shorter than the one Emily was wearing, a one-piece, which ran from her shoulders to the middle of her thighs but with a very convenient opening at her chest and, something the brunette had only seen briefly when the girl had been about to sneak into the room that was now behind her, the back almost completely uncovered.
If Emily was suggestive, Alison was a temptation.
They both were breathless, gazing at each other, knowing that they had thought about the other while choosing what to wear, being aware that the night, no matter how, would be special.
The blonde opened her mouth to respond to the brunette's compliment but, instead, she just walked towards her, took her face in her hands and kissed her on the lips. Emily's arms were around the waist of the girl almost automatically, on a familiar way, and both sighed relieved in the mouth of the other.
They were tense, even frightened, and for a moment (a moment that had been panic in its purest form), they believed they were alone, lost. They thought that they would have to face whatever they'll have to face that night without the other and that had made breathing so freaking difficult…
When they parted and looked at each other they saw the reflection of surprise in brown and blue eyes, the thing was that the kiss, that kiss, had been a reaction so desperate and so natural, all at once… it was incredible that any of them knew about the great effect that they could cause on the other yet.
- I've been looking for you. – The blonde whispered, finally finding some words to say. She was speechless, which didn't happen very often and, when it happened, it was something that drove her nuts because it made her feel vulnerable and that wasn't right… usually. That night, knowing she had been knocked out by the brunette, she could just hold a little tighter to her, paradoxically glad to feel that kind of weakness.
- I just got here. – Emily said, still recovering from… everything, really, without letting Alison's waist go, wanting to keep her body as close as possible. – Where is…?
- Natalie? – A voice came from the stairs and the brunette turned around. – Why are you still here? We have to… oh… Estella.
The blonde stepped slightly away from Emily and took a subtle breath before letting a smile spread across her lips.
- Hi, Chloe.
The girl managed to not blush too obviously and simply smiled back at the blonde, knowing that she would only be able to embarrass herself if she decided to say something, she wasn't made for long conversations with people like Alison, although she would like to…
- We have to go inside one of the saloons before they start serving dinner. – She said looking at Emily, as if it was something she should know.
- Now? – Was all the brunette could exclaim.
- Yes, come on.
Chloe walked to the flight of stairs leading to the highest part of the restaurant.
- Are we going to the third floor? – Emily asked, confused.
- Uhm… yeah? – Chloe said, looking at her strangely. – What? You've never been there?
- No. – The brunette confessed and she saw the other girl nodding slowly before smiling sideways and starting to walk again, causing both brunette and blonde to follow her.
- Then you're going to love it. – She said.
Emily felt like that flight of stairs was longer than the others leading to the first two floors, but it wasn't until she reached the "landing" of the top floor that she really noticed differences.
That wasn't a landing at all. That was simply the end of the staircase and a bare desk, the rest? A single giant room whose walls didn't exist, they were just huge windows. It was like being outdoors, but with a solid ceiling hanging large and bright crystal chandeliers over their heads.
Apparently they had used the roof of the building as a third floor with ceiling and windows to avoid possible inconveniences from the weather, but preserving the breathtaking views that the highest part of the restaurant could offer.
On the first floor you could only see the facades of the closest blocks of flats, on the second some rooftops could be sighted but on the third one you could observe without hindrance the terraces crowning the buildings surrounding the restaurant and, in the background, the Tour Eiffel flashing with its golden lights in the middle of the night.
- I have to sit in that table. – Chloe said suddenly, pulling the two girls from their reverie as she pointed to one of the many tables that appeared to be complete towards the center of the room. – You two can take that one. – The brunette continued casually, this time pointing to a small table for two, quite discreet, beside one of the windows facing the outside. – Enjoy your dinner, I'll see you later. – With those words that didn't fully reach the brain of any girl, Chloe smiled (oddly, a little sadly) and walked away.
They surely were looking ridiculous standing there at the end of the stairs, still appreciating the huge and luxurious lounge, feeling slightly out of place but more than excited to be there (although their faces could only express fascination).
The brunette was the first one to react. Emily shook her head and resumed her bodily functions sliding the fingers of her left hand between the ones in the blonde's right hand, winning the attention of her blue eyes.
- Shall we sit? – She asked and Alison smiled before nodding, following her until they reached their destination.
The table was as carefully detailed as the rest of the decoration in the saloon. A white tablecloth that would surely have been hand embroidered dressed the light wood of the table. The dishes seemed made of porcelain, the cutlery of silver and the cups of some sort of quality glass.
- They've made an effort creating atmosphere. – Alison commented, watching the stylish candles that had been placed next to a vase of orchids in the middle of the table, appreciating how the intensity of the lights hanging from the ceiling had been reduced so the guests could get the warm lighting from the melting wax between them and from the brightness given by the city every night, which crept inside of the room through the large windows that touched the ceiling and the floor. With those details, everything was much more intimate. – It doesn't look like a business dinner or… Thanksgiving.
- Perhaps it isn't, I really don't know what's going on. – Emily said, looking at the room one more time, how was it that she had never been up there before?
- Well, - The blonde's hand reached out on the table, attracting the brunette's gaze. – then we better enjoy it while we can.
"Are they there?", Chloe read on the screen of her phone. She had been watching intently the small device since she had taken a sit at the table, waiting for the message she knew she would receive.
The girl looked up and saw how Emily took the hand that the blonde had placed on the table as she smiled.
Chloe sighed.
The brunette let her fingers wander on the screen and revised the brief text before pressing send, a mania, as many others: "Yes, they are next to the window, as you wanted".
Suddenly all the people in her table burst out laughing and she knew that she had missed another stupid joke so she forced her lips to smile as convincingly as they could and waited until the screen of her phone lighted again.
"Perfect".
- What is this supposed to be? – Alison asked, looking suspiciously at the dish that had just been placed in front of her.
- I have no idea. – Emily replied, taking a glass of white wine to her lips.
- Shouldn't you know all the dishes? – The blonde said, raising an eyebrow.
- I would never be able to learn all the things that they cook in here. – The brunette answered. – And by the way, this is the special menu of the evening.
- So?
- Well, the special menu of the evening is only known by the waiters who are serving it right now, that's why it is special.
Alison's eyes narrowed at that explanation and Emily laughed.
They were enjoying dinner, like a normal couple in a normal restaurant.
It had been difficult for them to let go some tension and stop thinking about the host of the night… because they both felt like "someone" was manipulating them in a very subtle way, again, and that wasn't a feeling to easily ignore.
Perhaps the views from their privileged site had influenced them, or maybe it was all due to the food, the drinks and its exoticism, or… probably, they simply got tired of having little heart attacks every time someone appeared on the staircase. All bodies have their limits and, really, whatever was going to happen, it would happen! There was no reason to give it more power than it already have over each of their nerves. It was better for them to relax, enjoy the night second by second, without worrying (too much) about what would happen during the next half hour.
Just after seating in those comfortable padded chairs a servile waiter had appeared at their table asking if they wanted to see the menu, to which Emily had replied that no, clearing her throat before ordering two special menus, without consulting the blonde, who just nodded to the boy, keeping a smile. That night, after controlling her nerves, Emily had decided to take the initiative and… Alison loved that.
It was a "tasting menu" so, in front of the girls, many delicacies started to appear in tiny amounts and, usually, said delicacies were almost unrecognizable, which turned the evening into a competition in which each tried to guess what was about to be eaten before the other. It was funny and charming, a typical romantic comedy scene, until that cold wine that seemed to reverberate on its own from the bottom of their glasses had turned their eyes bright.
- You should learn how to cook these things. – Alison told the brunette, breaking with her fork the second breaded bag that was floating over the cranberry sauce that covered her plate. – I could get used to eat like this every day.
Actually, the blonde was used to those feasts, well, she had been used to them… after almost two years wandering streets without name she no longer remembered the order in which the dishes should be served, but that night… that night was like being back in the luxurious environment in which she grew up, the only difference was that neither her parents nor her brother were hovering around her and, also, there was a certain brunette sitting in front of her that happened to be Emily Fields, her girlfriend… maybe a walk in hell was enough to end up in heaven.
- And what would you give me in return if I learn how to cook "these things"? – The brunette dared to question with mischief, barely controlling the flush in her cheeks.
Alison raised both eyebrows in surprise, she hadn't seen that coming. Usually she was the one dragging phrases suggestively to increase the pulse of the brunette. Probably the stress of the situation had led her to that state, "or probably she is drunk", reasoned her subconscious, as she saw how Emily finished her third glass of Bouchard Chevalier-Montrachet 2009. When someone is not used to drink wine, the alcoholic sugar it contains doesn't take long to find its way to the brain.
"Two can play this game", the blonde thought, forgetting the world to just focus on her girl.
Yes, that was going to be fun.
- French lessons. – Alison replied, trying to suppress the smile that struggled to appear in her mouth at the instant look of disappointment that covered the brunette's face.
- Really? Again?
Since Emily was always complaining about how bad she felt when anyone spoke to her in French the blonde had suggested more than once that she could teach her the basics of the language, always getting no as an answer.
- I don't know why you refuse, it would be really useful. – While Alison said that one of the waiters moving around the room approached them and filled the brunette's cup without asking (the blonde was holding her glass half full, without touching it, to basically avoid getting drunk).
- I won't waste the little time I can spend with you learning French. – There were days when they practically didn't talk with each other because of those damn schedules they had, the last thing she needed was to waste the few minutes she could have with the blonde in her arms trying to learn that devilish language.
- Oh, believe me, it wouldn't be a waste of time. – Alison began to say, leaving the cutlery on the table to rest her chin on her intertwined hands and look at her with interest. - Em, if you let me teach you in my way you'd see how fun it can be to learn French. – The blonde let the girl frown, taking her glass of wine to her mouth and, in the meantime, she advanced her right leg under the table, knowing that it was a matter of a few centimeters for her to come into contact with her tanned skin. – Everything is based on the correct use of the lips, and… the tongue.
That semi-dried liquid slipped through the trachea of the girl along with half a breath and a little jump that shook her whole body when she felt the caress of the blonde at her ankle. Emily coughed and cleared her throat, feeling the knee that had crashed into the solidity of the table. Did Alison have idea of what had crossed her mind while hearing those words? By the lopsided grin she was offering her it seemed that the blonde knew exactly what she had done.
- Are you all right, Em? – The girl asked softly, still looking at her. – Maybe you should relax a little with the wine.
They looked like other people, not Alison and Emily but, maybe… Estella and Natalie, yes! In that room, that night, for those people, they weren't Alison DiLaurentis and Emily Fields but, simply, Estella and Natalie, and the fact of having to play those roles disinhibited them on a scandalous way.
- You can't do that. – Emily said when she managed to clear the acidity which had strayed into her lungs.
- Do what? – The girl questioned innocently, and this time the arch of her foot brushed the brunette's left calf.
- Not here. – She whispered firmly, opening her eyes wide and trying to pull away the leg of the blonde. How had she dared to flirt with her? She should know better, of course the blonde wasn't going to feel intimidated and blush silently by a simple phrase said with some sensuality. "This is what happens when you challenge Alison DiLaurentis in her best field", she thought.
- All right, ladies? – An attentive waiter asked them, out of nowhere, and they both jumped.
- Yeah, I… could you bring me some water? – The brunette asked him, nervously touching her neck, had he seen them?
- Of course. – The boy answered, picking up the empty dishes and walking towards the stairs, it had to be awful to work in that floor.
Emily turned to the blonde to reprimand the blonde for what she had done but the girl didn't even let her talk, she simply sought her other leg under the table without containing the mischievous smile that was decorating her lips. What the hell was she doing?!
- Thanks. – The brunette managed to say to the waiter, red as a tomato, as she took the glass of water that her offered her, emptying half of its contents to clear her throat.
- Better? – The blonde asked sweetly when the boy left. Emily peppered her with her eyes.
- Do not ever do that again. – She warned.
- I just wanted to flirt back to you. – Alison explained.
The brunette took a deep breath and fixed her dark eyes on the blonde's clear ones. "Well, now that we are here…", she encouraged herself internally.
- You shouldn't have touched me. – Emily said seriously, and the authority reflected in the tone of her voice made Alison straighten her back in her seat immediately, looking away.
- Sorry, I didn't think… - She began to apologize, was she supposed to know the boundaries of "public affection"? And by the way, that hadn't even been "public", the tablecloth reached the floor, it was impossible that someone had seen something.
- Because now, - The brunette stopped the blonde, leaning slightly toward her on the table, this time without letting her take her eyes away. – it's going to be much more difficult to not kiss you.
She finished the sentence raising the left corner of her lips and Alison let out a sigh of relief and… well, excitement, since when the brunette had become so seductive? "God bless that wine", she though and, without wanting to be victimized she mimicked the girl's approach, accepting the challenge in her eyes.
- So… kiss me.
They kept the contest of looks as much as they could, trying not to laugh, wanting to know how far they could be able to get the other… until the waiter reappeared.
- Here is the dessert. – Announced the boy, breaking the moment rudely. – Croquembouche… enjoy it.
Then he placed what looked like a mountain of edible golden balls between them before filling two long and thin glasses with champagne.
- This is new. – Emily said, the "seduction game" completely disrupted.
The brunette observed the structure carefully, in all the nights she had been working there the girl hadn't seen anything like that. The construction was just six rows high, the dumplings that formed it weren't overly bulky and its width wasn't scary but still… after all they had eaten Emily wasn't sure if they'll be able to finish that tower of sweetness.
- It's a French dessert, a very French dessert. – Alison explained, staring in fascination at the rows of profiteroles standing in front of her. – It is kind of complicated to make and… they are usually really good.
At that time the blonde reached out her right hand, ignoring the brunette's frown, who still didn't know very well how that thing was standing in such vertical position.
- What are you doing? – Emily exclaimed, holding her hand before it reached that elaborated dessert.
- Start eating? – Alison suggested, not getting her reaction.
- But… it will break down.
The blonde smiled at the worried face of the brunette and, getting rid of her hand, pulled the first ball, taking it to her mouth. Alison felt her teeth breaking the crunchy caramel wrapper to allow the cream of its interior to expand inside of her mouth, letting her taste buds dance in ecstasy at the festival of sugar.
- Terrific. – She said, still chewing. – See? And everything remains in place.
- How isn't it falling? – The brunette asked intrigued, touching the structure with the knife she still had, a mistake of the waiter, you should always remove the cutlery that is no longer needed.
- It's the caramel. – The blonde told her, pointing to the golden threads covering the dessert row by row. – Do you want me to get one for you?
Without waiting for an answer, Alison took one of the three balls that formed what now was the top row and offered it to the brunette, who looked at it for a second before advancing her body on the table and taking it between her teeth, directly from the blonde's fingers, whose pupils dilated when she saw how the girl drove with her lips the little dumpling into her mouth.
- Uhm… it's true, is very good! – The brunette admitted, this time using her own hand to get another piece of that vertical puzzle, she was so full but it was so good…
- I can't touch you but you can do that? – The blonde complained.
- I didn't do anything… - Emily assured, enjoying the disbelief that painted the girl's face, "I got her!".
- Emily Fields… - The blonde muttered, shaking her head. – I'm gonna have to get you drunk more often.
- Hey! I'm not drunk.
They continued eating the dessert alternating laughs and comments that fluctuated naturally between flirting and normal conversation.
It was curious to see how the alcohol disinhibited the brunette, who seemed to have completely forgotten where she was and just let herself get carried away by the peculiar color that the blonde's eyes acquired with the candlelight, a dense and dark blue, the blue of the depths of the oceans.
And Alison… the blonde had a stupid smile on her face (something she had never allowed on her lips, in public…) that only increased in size every time Emily mispronounced a word or blew a phrase with supersonic speed.
The blonde was glad to be, at last, with a relaxed Emily, even though the calm that kept her muscles relaxed only was a result of the wine and the champagne. She would have to be the "responsible adult" that night. "About time… after all the nights she's taken care of you, now is your turn", her subconscious told her and the girl found herself remembering how damaged she had come out of some parties, back in Rosewood, and the brunette had almost always been the one responsible to return her home safely.
Flashback
She could hardly move her feet.
Or maybe the problem was that the ground on which she walked moved at its own pace.
Because it was the floor what she was stepping onto, right?
"Who cares?!", she exclaimed inwardly, closing her eyes. So much better.
Alison took a deep breath and let herself be dragged by that street made of quicksand.
Her body weighed, she had trouble keeping the trail of her thoughts, and she was feeling like the ground was going to swallow her any moment.
But she felt good.
In some weird way.
Slightly away from her body.
Anesthetized by the chilling effect that the cold air of the night had on her sweaty skin.
She was alive, she felt alive, and at the same time… no. It was like she connected and disconnected from reality continuously. She shouldn't like that feeling, that… lack of control, and yet…
- Ali, I need you to help me a little, we are almost there. – A gentle voice said at her right, panting.
When the blonde managed to stay within her body for more than ten seconds she could feel the warm skin of another person pressing against her. A strong arm was holding firmly her waist, giving the necessary support for her to move forward. And her arm, almost completely inert, was around sturdy shoulders that assured her, without words, that the uneasy ground won't get her.
- Em… - She murmured, making her legs support a little more of her weight.
It was the brunette who was dragging her through that dark street in the middle of the night, surely toward the DiLaurentis mansion.
She dragged her, Emily was dragging her because she couldn't stand on her own… why couldn't she stand on her own?
Suddenly, they stopped and the blonde was able to focus the surroundings with her bleary blue eyes, why was it so difficult for her to not close her eyelids?
Then… she started to not like the cold sweat that plastered the dress to her body and it was like some sort of nausea was bothering the pit of her stomach.
- Em… I want to go home. – She said laboriously, taking one hand to her abdomen, it hurt.
- We are almost there. – The brunette repeated.
Alison was becoming more and more aware of every part of her body with each step she took, thus losing the ability to go with the unconsciousness, almost sensing the movement of her organs below her skeleton… it was disgusting.
- Em…
She barely had time to warn the girl before the contents of her stomach darted out of her body. Instantly, one hand held her hair in a ponytail while another made soothing circles on her back.
- It's okay Ali, it's okay. – She heard behind her and the calm in that voice mitigated her arcades.
How did she get there?
"A party, perhaps?...", she asked herself, trying to straighten her body.
Yes, she remembered a party. She had been at someone's house celebrating… something. The blonde recreated in her mind the whole scenario: many people together in a room too small, flashing lights, loud music, shouted laughter, heat, sweat and… alcohol.
- Ali, do you have the key to your house? – Emily asked, and now they were at some place the blonde recognized, a porch, her front porch.
- In the purse. – She answered after thinking for almost a minute. Yes… the key to her house was in her purse… surely.
- What purse? You don't have any… - The brunette sighed. – It must be at Max's.
Oh! Max! Max's birthday party, that's where she'd been.
In her drunken state Alison smiled as Emily approached the first row of pots that were at the foot of the stairs leading to her home and counted to find the third pot, a geranium which had grown very well, if only her mother looked after everything as much as her plants… The brunette lifted the pot and fumbled on the basis of it until she found the key that was fixed with duct tape, in case of emergency.
The blonde's smile widened as she watched the brunette successfully opening the big door. Sometimes it is good that Emily Fields knows some of your secrets. She wanted to congratulate her, but the words would not come.
- Come on… - She whispered, returning to hold her waist and this time Alison managed to put her arm around the shoulders of the girl by herself, feeling more lucid knowing where she was.
They climbed the stairs slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible (something difficult considering the two of them were wearing heels), and just as they left the last step, the blonde was released from the grip of the other girl and began to move alone.
- Ali! Where are you going? – The brunette rebuked her with an exclaimed whisper. She had just taken the opposite path to her room!
- Bathroom… - The blonde answered waving a hand to make her silent, did she think she was going to sleep with that horrendous mixture of vomit and alcohol in the mouth?
Alison closed the bathroom door behind her and looked in the mirror.
Terrible mistake.
She was awful!
Her hair was a disaster, the makeup was diluted around her face and, in general, she was a mess.
The blonde leaned against the sink and turned on the water, feeling the soothing coolness of that liquid even without touching it.
She washed her face a thousand times until, in her opinion, there was not a trace of mascara, or eye shadow, or lipstick, or base, and then she placed a considerable amount of toothpaste on her toothbrush (the red… or the blue one?) and proceeded to make one of the most thorough cleanings she had ever done to her mouth.
Meanwhile, the brunette waited with her back against the wall next to the bathroom door, listening quietly as the water collided with the ceramic sink. The blonde was taking too long… what if she had fainted and she hadn't hear anything because of the water? "No, you would have heard the fall, for sure", she said to herself, moving away from the wall and beginning to walk around the door. They shouldn't have gone to that stupid party, it was so obvious what was going to happen…
Max was a friend of Jason and had invited them all (the five of them) to his birthday party, as a "self-gift", or at least that's what the brunette heard him tell one of those idiots with which Max had been watching Alison with that slimy face during the whole night.
As that comment reached Emily's ears the girl told the blonde they had to find the rest and leave, in that very same moment. What the brunette didn't know was that Spencer and Aria had not even entered the house, because the first had to study and the second had to take care of her little brother. And Hanna had only lasted half an hour between those frat boys before the discomfort of feeling like a kid among strangers made her call her mother and leave.
It was just Emily and Alison.
But, since the brunette didn't know that, she had wasted more than twenty minutes looking for her three friends, until she saw the blonde, cornered by Max, near the refrigerator. Then Emily decided she wasn't going to let that asshole touch a single hair of the blonde's head.
Alison resisted her for a little, but the drinks circulating in the house were strong, and she had taken too much, so, after a couple of reproaches, the girl felt the dizziness taking over her body and asked her to take her out of there.
Emily still didn't know how she had done it (surely, not having touched a drop of alcohol had helped), but she had managed to bring the blonde safe and sound to her house, she didn't want to let the girl open her head against the sink because she hadn't been careful enough. She was getting into that bathroom. If she remembered correctly she hadn't heard the click of the lock.
Just when the brunette was about to turn the door handle the door opened slowly, showing an Alison with wet but clean face, and her eyes about to close.
- Will you take me to bed? – She asked her, still holding onto the door.
Emily was only able to nod and take the hand the girl extended to her because, even looking like a disaster, to see her without makeup, with her hair semi-wet and that sleepy face… that let her speechless.
Because that was Alison, natural Alison, the better Alison she knew.
When they arrived to the blonde's bedroom Emily made her sit on the bed to unbutton her heels and release her feet before helping her to lay down on the mattress. Once she made sure the girl was well covered with the sheets and after giving the face that stole her sleep every night one last long look, the brunette began to leave the room, but a hand encircling her right wrist stopped her.
- Stay… - She whispered with her eyes closed. – Please?
- Ali, I have… I have to go home, my mother expects me before eleven. – Her mother expected her before ten, she was going to kill her! But it was so hard to say no to Alison… extremely hard.
- I'll call her. – The blonde said suddenly, tossing the covers to extend an arm toward the bedside table, searching for the cordless phone she always kept in her room.
- What? – Emily's eyes bulged when she saw the girl finding the phone. – No, no, no.
The brunette climbed into the bed and extended her body to hold the arm of the blonde and easily remove the phone from her hand. The last thing she needed was for Alison to call her mother in that state.
When Emily looked at the blonde to tell her again that she couldn't stay she felt the air going static in the middle of her throat.
With that sudden and abrupt movement she had almost finished over the covered body of the girl, her face a few centimeters from hers.
Now the blonde's eyes were open wide and she kept looking at her.
Slowly, Alison moved closer to the brunette, until she could touch her cheek with her lips.
Emily closed her eyes, still holding her breath, unable to move, not wanting to move.
The blonde's nose stroked the left cheek of the brunette, while her mouth opened slightly and approached the crimson of the other girl.
She smelled of evaporated perfume, sweat and… mint.
Just as her lips were about to touch the brunette pulled away and Alison, after frowning, blinked, falling against the pillow.
- Don't you love me anymore, Em? – She asked, finding her hand resting on the mattress, circling her wrist again with her fingers.
- Ali, you're… you're drunk. – The brunette managed to articulated, feeling chills awakening in each centimeter of her body with that touch, she wished the simple touch of her skin didn't affect her so much… she wished that so badly.
- And doesn't it make everything easier? – Her fingers started to climb up her arm, slowly, very slowly… she was so soft.
- I… - She couldn't concentrate, it was impossible, not when she was touching her like that.
- You should take advantage of it. – She said, with her eyes unfocused, and that made Emily twitch and stop with her felt hand the dangerous rise of those pale digits.
- I would never do that. – The brunette assured firmly, and Alison looked at her.
- I know. – She whispered, and a single tear, the result of fatigue or… something else, rolled down her cheek. – Please stay with me, I don't like to be alone.
- Ali, your parents are in the next room, you're not alone. – She tried to reason and the blonde turned her head, wiping that tear in her pillowcase.
- There is no one Em, there is never no one.
Maybe it was the alcohol, the typical melancholic phase that precedes a deep sleep, but Emily had never seen her like that. So sad, so vulnerable, so alone… Even she could sense the loneliness that the girl was feeling. She didn't think she was going to be able to leave her in that state.
- I… I'll stay until you fall asleep. – The brunette agreed, removing her shoes and sitting at the foot of the bed, she would have to invent a good excuse to her mother, unless the police appeared at the door of the blonde's house before midnight.
- Thanks…
End of Flashback
Alison remembered that night in a very confusing way, in bits.
She could see herself in the house of that boy, Max, then she appeared in the street, with Emily and usually her memories ended when the brunette was getting her to sit on her bed. After that, everything was blank.
What the blonde remembered quite clearly was how she had awakened in the middle of the night to see the brunette, sitting at the foot of her bed, nodding off, at the edge of sleep but not allowing herself to surrender to it.
Emily had always taken care of her, always.
- Hey… why don't you let the champagne a little? – Alison told the brunette, taking the glass of bubbly liquid that the girl was going to put on her lips, it was her turn to draw the line that would separate a contented and carefree Emily from a tragically out of control Emily.
- But… - The brunette started to complain, she liked that champagne!
- How's everything going? – Asked a voice next to their table and both turned to meet Chloe, who had bright eyes and flushed cheeks, "am I the only one that is not drunk tonight?", Alison asked herself, upset, maybe she should have drank a little more, like everyone… - We have to go down to the cafeteria.
When the brunette gave them that information both girls realized that, around them, the tables were beginning to go empty, and a crowd of people moved slowly toward the stairs to the lower floors.
- How are you, Chloe? – Emily asked suddenly, with a cheerful smile adorning her lips.
- I'm fine… how about you? – The girl replied, smiling as well.
- I'm fine too.
Alison looked from one to the other and then rolled her eyes, she had never seen two intoxicated persons recognizing each other with such elegance. The blonde let a laugh scape between her teeth.
- We'll be down in a moment. – Alison told the brunette and the girl looked at her as if it was the first time she was seeing the blonde, eyes wide open and neck starting to blush.
- Okay… - Chloe said after gulping, damn! Estella was talking to her! – I… I'm going down now, don't be too long.
As the girl stepped away Alison got up slowly, giving time for the brunette to do the same and not get dizzy, but when Emily went to take the first step she had to find the edge of the table with her hands, for some reason the floor was now on the ceiling.
- Em? – The blonde asked tentatively, approaching her and holding her hips, watching as the girl struggled to maintain balance. – Are you okay?
Then Emily managed to focus her gaze in the blonde's blue eyes… the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen… and kissed her. Plain and simple. A kiss on the lips, slow but not too deep, that to Alison tasted like champagne and caramel.
- What was that for? – The blonde asked in a sigh when their mouths parted.
- I wanted to kiss you and you said that I could. – The brunette explained, looking at her intently, before taking her right hand and guiding her toward the stairs.
Alison drifted, feeling a lack of gravity. Now she was drunk, with just a kiss. If Emily kept going like that, the blonde had no idea who would take care of who at the end of the night.
AN: it's been a while, isn't it? So… SORRY, as usual, for the gaps of time between updates.
I hope you had enjoyed this chapter, the first part of the party and, even though I cannot give a date for the next update, I wish you stay with me for the next one ;)
Thank you for every single review, favourite, follow and, as always, just for taking the time to read :)
