I just felt like doing an update because I love my readers more than smiles! (1 million imaginary bonus points for whoever guesses the reference I just made) Anyway, I'm a little restless, and so I'm saying what the Hell! The readers deserve it! So, without more delay, here you have it! Chapter 3!

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Chapter 3: Misery

Emily wanted to talk to Spencer about what happened. She cared for Spencer more than any of her other friends, and she hated knowing that she hurt Spencer's feelings. Emily's mind had been clouded with thoughts of Spencer ever since their kiss, and now, she wasn't sure what to do. She decided to go over to Spencer's and try to talk things out.

She didn't see Spencer's car in the driveway, but she figured maybe it was in the garage. She knocked on the front door and was greeted by Veronica.

"Emily, what can I do for you?" Veronica asked, seeming a bit confused.

"Hi, Mrs. Hastings…is Spencer home?" Emily asked quietly.

"Didn't she tell you, she went up to Brown University for the weekend. She left this morning. I thought she would have told you, Hanna, and Aria," Veronica explained. Emily frowned and thought for a moment. Why did Spencer not tell any of them?

"Oh…Um, do you know when she'll be home?" Emily asked with a half smile.

"She's coming home on Monday," Veronica smiled.

"Thanks, Mrs. Hastings. See you later," Emily waved goodbye and turned to leave. As she was walking out to her car, her phone buzzed. Hoping it would be Spencer, Emily immediately looked at the text message. But to her dismay, it was from the last person she wanted to hear from.

You scared her away! How's it feel? – A

Emily didn't want to believe those words. She couldn't have made Spencer leave, could she? Spencer wasn't a runner, she was a fighter. But the question still remained: Why didn't Spencer tell any of the girls she was leaving for the weekend.

As she sorted through her thoughts and left the Hastings household, she could only wonder.

…

"Field hocky? Impressive!" Emma smiled as she sat across from Spencer in the campus coffee shop, a skinny vanilla latte in hand. Spencer shrugged and nodded.

"Yeah, I love competition," Spencer admitted, sipping her coconut mocha. Emma laughed a little and smiled over at Spencer.

"I like that. A competitive edge is good, and it shows that you can really control a situation. I bet you own your boyfriend!" Emma joked. Spencer looked down.

"My love life is way out of my control right now…" Spencer shook her head, thinking of Emily right now, and all of the unreplied texts she had on her phone from the brunette.

"Boy trouble?" Emma seemed to really be interested in helping Spencer get past whatever was troubling her. Her big brown eyes weren't judgemental or hard to read. Spencer could tell she was genuine.

"More than that…I uh, told my best friend I have feelings for them, and now it's too late, they're with someone else now." Spencer put her head down.

"What's his name?" Emma asked out of curiosity.

"Her name is Emily, and I told her two days ago that I have feelings for her, and I was too late. She's seeing another girl, who is really nice, and Emily doesn't want to hurt her. So she's seeing where the relationship goes. We haven't really spoken since." Spencer explained with a hint of heartache in her tone. Emma smiled warmly, her full lips curving into a smirk.

"Is she the first girl you've liked?" Emma asked, seeming unphased by Spencer's admission.

"Yeah. I care about her so much. But I could never get the courage to tell her up until the other night," Spencer sipped her drink again and shook her head.

"Are you out yet?" Emma asked softly. Spencer just shook her head.

"I don't know if I can fully admit that. It's a scary thing," Spencer said as if she already knew.

"Coming out is scary, but it's the best thing you will ever do. It will free you from lying to yourself," Emma said, putting a hand on Spencer's shoulder.

"Wait, are you…?" Spencer cocked her head to the side a bit and trailed off.

"Yeah, I'm gay. And I'm not ashamed of that," Emma said simply. Spencer almost laughed at how easy Emma made coming out sound.

"You know the saying, 'You never know what you have until it's gone'? I think that's what happened with Emily. She told me she couldn't wait around for me forever and that she wanted to see things through with Samara," Spencer explained, biting her bottom lip. Emma reached over and touched Spencer's forearm. Spencer looked over at Emma, who had a gentle smile on her face.

"Look, that doesn't mean things are over between you two. And I don't know her, but I'm sure she would be more than happy to know you're there for her, even if it's just as friends. Besides, if she's your best friend, she's bound to come around some time!" Emma was amazingly positive, and it made Spencer feel more at ease. It was nice to just talk with someone who didn't know about Alison and who didn't know about Spencer's past, and especially someone who she was positive wasn't A.

"I just, feel stupid for even telling her how I felt. It was so unfair of me to do that to her right after she became official with Samara. I probably made her feel terrible," Spencer said angrily to herself.

"Don't beat yourself up, Spencer. You did do the right thing. Being honest with someone you care about is one of the best things you can do, even if it may hurt. And that's why Emily will come back to you. You were honest with her." Emma was looking Spencer in the eyes and somehow, Spencer was starting to believe her.

"I hope so…but look, can we just, talk about something else?" Spencer asked, trying to get Emily off her mind. "What about you? What's your family like?"

"Well, my mom is great! She's a bit of a…free spirit," Emma laughed, smiling big.

"Like you, right?" Spencer asked observantly.

Emma nodded and furrowed her brow, "Yeah, I guess she is like me. Or rather, I'm like her, I should say."

"And your dad?" Spencer sipped her coffee, leaning back in her seat a little.

Emily pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, "Well, my dad is a bit more…up tight. He's very stern, and business oriented. He's not much of a man to have fun in his free time. He's more of the guy who works in his free time, if that makes any shred of sense!" Emma chuckled and shook her head.

"No, I totally get it. My dad is the same way. He couldn't care less what I do in my free time, as long as I'm going to an ivy league school at the end of the day and I can show him my trophies and awards," Spencer said with dismay. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Nope, only child. You?"

"I have an older sister. Her name is Melissa," Spencer said the name like it was venom.

Emma gave Spencer a look, "Are you close?"

At this, a sarcastic laugh escaped Spencer, "Not exactly…it's a really long story."

"That's too bad, I'm sure, though, over time that you two will eventually be close some day." There Emma went, being positive and in a way, really charming. Spencer smiled and chuckled dryly.

"I don't know about that…but I can dream, right?"

Emma laughed too, "Right! You can dream."

…

"Emily, is something bothering you? These past couple of days…you've just seemed, different," Samara asked as they sat on Hanna's back porch that night. Emily didn't look at her girlfriend, who had a look of concern on her face.

"It's nothing. I'm fine," Emily plastered a fake smile on her face. Samara gave her a knowing look, and Emily sighed.

"Did I say something? Cause you can tell me, Em, I just want to know you're happy," Samara held Emily's hands in her own and Emily looked at the tall blonde, a wrinkle in her brow.

"No, don't worry, it's not you! I just…a lot has been going on lately," Emily said vaguely, her mind wandering to what Spencer was doing at that very moment. Was Spencer as sad as she was? Was she really at Brown because she scared Spencer off?

"I understand. But I want you to understand that you can talk to me. That's what I'm here for." Samara gave a gentle smile and brushed a strand of hair from Emily's face and Emily smiled back.

"Thanks for understanding. It's just complicated," Emily nodded. Samara licked her lips and caressed Emily's cheek.

"Don't worry about it," were Samara's last words before she captured Emily's lips in a kiss.

…

The next day, Emma spent all morning showing Spencer and a few other incoming students around the Brown campus. By lunch, Spencer and Emma had decided to go meet Emma's mom for lunch at the campus café.

The two of them walked in to the cozy eatery and Emma led Spencer towards a table that was occupied by a young looking blonde woman.

"Hey, Mom!" Emma greeted. The woman looked up from the menu and grinned. She was beautiful, and couldn't have been over forty. She stood up and hugged Emma tightly.

"Hi, honey! Who's your friend?" Mrs. Shepherd asked.

"Mom, this is Spencer, she's going to be a freshman next semester. Spencer, this is my mom, Laura," Emma said warmly.

Laura extended her hand and smiled, "Hello, Spencer! Emma said I really needed to meet you! Said you're a great girl!"

Spencer gave Emma a look before addressing Laura, "It's a pleasure, too, Mrs. Shepherd—"

"Oh, call me Laura, please!"

Spencer nodded as they sat down, "Well, I've heard so much about you! Emma say's you're awesome!"

"Well, thank you, I hope I don't dissapoint your expectations!"

Spencer laughed, "I don't think that'll be a problem."

Laura Shepherd was beautiful for a mother. She had shoulder length blonde hair, striking blue eyes, a rounder face, and a sweet smile. She dressed in a flattering pair of Miss Me jeans, and she wore a stylish black blazer over a lavender halter top. She looked very young.

"So, Spencer, what are you planning to study?"

"I really love design, but my dad thinks I should go for something more…promising," Spencer muttered the last part.

"You should do what makes you happy. I'm sure you'd be great at design!" Laura had the same glimmer in her spirit that Emma did, and Spencer found that the more she talked to them, the more Emily was off her mind.

…

"Well Spencer, I hate to say goodbye, but I have errands to run, and I'm sure you need to get out of here, it's been a pleasure meeting you!" Laura said as they stood outside the café an hour and a half later.

"You too! I hope to see you again soon!"

"Actually, we're having a mixer for the incoming freshmen tomorrow night at our place…you see, I'm the head of the Alumini association, and we'd love to have you, right Emma?" Laura offered excitedly.

"Yeah! It'll be tons of fun! You can be my date!" Emma grinned.

Spencer felt a twinge of discomfort at the term date, but she let the idea sink in and finally she nodded, "That would be awesome!"

"Great, well, I can pick you up around seven. You're staying at the Hilton, right?"

Spencer nodded, "Yeah, seven. My room number is 709."

"Well, we look forward to seeing you there, Spencer!" Laura said, pulling Spencer into a hug.

"Yeah, see you there!" Spencer hugged Emma as well before they parted ways. As Spencer walked back towards the parking lot, her phone buzzed. Thinking it was Emily, hoping it was Emily, she looked down at the screen. There was a picture of Samara and Emily kissing on Hanna's back porch. Underneath the picture, a message.

Looks like she doesn't even care that you're gone. – A

…

Dun dun dun! I'm updating left and right! I'm pretty proud of myself for that! Tell me what you think, kids! xx