A/N: Alright, so, I suck at fulfilling goals for myself. This took way longer than it should have and I apologize.

But, I hope everyone's holidays were wonderful and enjoyable! Here's the first chapter of 2014! (All mistakes are mine)

Spencer's hands are soft, almost too soft, to the point where it's clear she carries lotion around at all times. I go to pull out of the introductory handshake, but not without noticing that her hand slowly grazes over mine, lingering until the tips of our fingers touch. We both look down at the movement, look back up at each other, then nervously laugh it off as she rubs her palms up and down her leggings. She immediately props her elbow onto the bar top, using both her index finger and thumb to hold her chin up, while she looks back at me with wide eyes, "So, tell me … what brings you here?"

My mouth curls up into a small smirk before answering, "An unusually rough night that called for some relaxation." Spencer's lips twitch, signaling that she's trying her absolute best to hold back her laughter.

"I mean, I get the whole brooding over drinks to make you feel slightly better about a particular situation, but you consider bars to be relaxing? Should I be worried already?"

My eyes narrow and my smirk breaks into a full-on smile, "No, smartass, I originally planned to just drink wine at home with my friend," I nodded in the direction of the bar that I had recently walked over from, "but, one bottle empties out quickly with two stress-driven women so, Hanna begged me to come out with her." Spencer turned her head to pair a face with Hanna's name. Hanna was sitting on the pool table, managing to successfully continue entertaining the newly-met young men. "Don't base your opinion off of her now," I stated, "She's drunk and doing me a favor. Otherwise, she's very committed to her boyfriend."

"Slow down, tiger," Spencer chuckled, defensively throwing her hands up, "I haven't based any opinion on her … yet. But, that's impressive."

"What is?"

"How quick you were to come to her defense."

I duck my head and blush from my instinctive habits, "Sorry … Hanna and I have just been friends for so long; we're fiercely protective of each other."

"I don't think of that as a bad thing. It says a lot about you."

"Yeah … I do that - give away more about myself than I intend to. I'm not so sure I want to be figured out so fast though. I somehow manage to trust all of the wrong people … girlfriends included."

She responds with an exaggerated laugh, "Tell me about it. I have enough stories to keep you here for a lifetime … girlfriends included in that, as well."

I nod my head in agreement, pausing before speaking again. This conversation could now go two ways: I could ask questions that I don't have the privilege to know answers to or I could brush it off and move on to more appropriate subjects, like common interests and such. One question isn't going to hurt, right? "So, do you … have one?" She waits for me to continue, "A girlfriend, that is. I know I probably shouldn't be asking that, but is that the reason why you're here, 'relaxing' in a bar, 'brooding' over drinks, too?"

"Unfortunate, isn't it?"

Unfortunate that I've just learned you have a girlfriend, yes. No, get real, Emily. Way too soon. "The only unfortunate part is that we're both in what appears to be messy situations, finding comfort in each other, rather than sorting it out with the ones we love."

"Well apparently, the one I 'love' is fucking someone on the side." She spats, diving right into her particular mess with pure bitterness emphasizing every word, "I've suspected it for awhile now, but some nights are just worse and lonelier than others. I'm hoping, tonight, this vodka numbs me enough to be able to go home, keep accepting it, and sleep next to her once more."

I swallow hard at how similar our situations actually are. I'm at a slight loss for words and suddenly the vision of Paige comes rushing back. Except I can't say that I've had the option of 'going home' to Paige. "Sucks, doesn't it? Giving your all to someone so easily, without any precautions, only for them to take that and run with it?" Spencer nods, turning to grab her drink, unhesitatingly taking a long sip. I don't - or maybe can't - hold back from continuing, "It's robbery, y'know? There's no guilt behind their actions … nothing. They do what they want, when they want, and we're forced to deal with it because we can't imagine what life would be like without them." There's anger in my voice, but there's also pain. I feel like my skin is burning, yet my eyes are glossed over by tears threatening to fall. I'm not going to cry in front of someone I've just met. My response has proven that my emotions have already gotten the best of me. "I'm sorry I-"

"No, please don't apologize," She cuts me off, "You have no idea how great it feels to know that someone - that you - get this. You get me."

"And we've only known each other for 45 minutes." I declare, calculating the time by the clock hanging on the wall straight ahead.

"With everything you've said, I feel like I've …", she trails off, "… Nevermind."

We both know exactly where she was going with that statement, but neither of us push it. Instead, we hear buzzing and Spencer reaches in her handbag, glancing at the ringing device and the name "Babe" that flashes at the top of the screen. She sighs, ignoring the call and putting her phone back away, "That's my cue to leave. She's probably home and wondering where I am."

She reaches for money to close out her tab and places it on the bar top with one hand while finishing her drink with the other. She gets up off of her stool and slings the gold chain link that's holding her bag over her head, resting it on her shoulder and across her chest. I closely observe all of her actions, looking her up and down as she's standing and taking in just how tall and slender she is. She stays in her place, between me and her seat, placing a finger underneath my chin and bringing it up to look at her, "Emily, I really needed this. I showed up, expecting another night by myself, but I wasn't expecting you. I'm so glad you took the initiative to come over here and make your presence known. You sure as hell know how to make a girl's Monday."

I clear my throat, completely and utterly at a loss of words now. It's unbelievable how much I want to kiss her, right here, in this moment. I don't ever kiss on the first date - or, in this case, the first meet - but the way we just connected, on many different levels, within such a short period of time is so unfamiliar to me that I'm physically restraining myself from closing the gap between us. Spencer briefly looks over her shoulder and back - without any indication that she was more likely than not thinking the same thoughts - and says, "Tell Hanna I also say thank you." She winks and with that, grabs her large black fedora hat, places it on top of her head, and mysteriously walks out the door. I sit there for a moment before standing up myself and breathing in deep, trying to absorb what just happened.

Coconut.

My body freezes at the all too familiar scent that she's left behind and a slight panic washes over me. I shoot a glance at Hanna who was already looking at me, noticing how tense I had just become. She tilts her head to ask if I was alright without actually verbalizing it. I give her a weak smile and shake the thought away from furthering. The probability of Spencer - wonderfully charming and interesting Spencer - being Paige's girlfriend … the irony would be too much for me to handle.

Therefore, the probability is slim to none.

Please fill me in on your thoughts and even ideas for what you could see happening. Reading feedback makes me all types of nervous, but also puts the biggest smile on my face ... And, of course, thank you to all who have done this up until this point.