Author's Note: Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing the first chapter :) Here's chapter 2. I know these chapters are pretty short but I plan to post the next one in a few days and just wanted to get this one out. Let me know what you guys think!
Emily's halfway through her lunch when her phone chimes with an incoming text. She had turned down Paige's suggestion to eat off campus and decided to grab a couple of sandwiches and salads from the cafeteria and have a quiet lunch in Paige's office instead. She also maybe was trying to avoid another awkward run-in with a certain blonde.
A huff of annoyance leaves Emily's lips when she notices Aria's name on her phone's display screen.
"Everything alright?" Paige asks around a mouthful of tuna, noticing Emily's irritation.
Emily nods. She can't exactly explain that she's pissed at Aria for abandoning Alison in a baby clothing store where A.D. cruelly forced her to create a baby registry for a baby she wasn't planning to carry to term and then triggered the blonde's painful memory of being tied down and forcibly impregnated in a mental hospital with Emily's donor eggs. Because while Paige knows someone is messing with them again, she doesn't know the details or the latest developments—that is, she doesn't know about the high tech game from hell currently sitting in Alison's dinning room or about the origins of Alison's baby—because how the hell is Emily supposed to explain that? And even if she could explain it, she doesn't feel like it's her news to explain. Alison should be the one to decide who gets to know that clusterfuck of information and somehow Emily knows Paige would not be high on Alison's list of potential confidants.
Her eyes scan Aria's text message asking her if she could give Alison a ride home after school since Alison's car is in the shop and Aria had driven her to work that morning but won't be able to make it to pick her up. Emily rolls her eyes at Aria's excuse of needing to be on a conference call with her publicist about her and Ezra's book, because of course Aria is flaking on Alison again. She quickly types back that yes, she'll drive Ali home, maybe punching the keypad a little more forcefully than necessary, and puts her phone down to see Paige watching her expectantly.
"That was Aria. She needs me to do her a favor and drive Alison home later," Emily explains cautiously. She's fully prepared to hear Paige's usual spiel about how Alison is once again playing the victim and relying too heavily on Emily, but much to Emily's surprise, Paige just nods in understanding and takes another bite of her sandwich.
They finish the rest of their lunch undisturbed and Emily excuses herself a little early in hopes of finding Alison before her next class to personally inform her of the change in her means of transportation. However, Alison isn't in the faculty lounge and Emily finds the English teacher's classroom empty. Giving in, Emily sends Alison a text message explaining the situation and telling her that she'll meet her in her classroom at 3:15.
Alison spots the text message from Emily just before the last bell of the day rings. Her seniors are finishing up an exam on Milton's Paradise Lost when she manages to sneak a glance at her phone in her drawer. In addition to Emily's text saying she'll be giving Alison a ride home instead of Aria, there's also a message from Aria with some lame excuse about a meeting with her book publicist and a brief apology followed by a sad face emoji. Alison rolls her eyes and slams her drawer shut—maybe a bit too roughly judging by the dozen students who lifted their heads at the loud clanging sound to stare at her.
Stupid cracked radiator. Just what she needs this week—car trouble to leave her at the mercy of others. Like she wasn't feeling out of control enough already. Well, she isn't going to subject herself to pity car ride from Emily. She has two working legs and she's perfectly capable of walking home. Being pregnant doesn't make her suddenly incapable and she isn't going to let anyone treat her like such. At least a walk might afford her the chance to clear her head and hopefully figure out why the thought of Emily and Paige makes her skin crawl.
Quickly packing up her belongings, Alison closes the door to her classroom and starts her walk home, eager to slip out of the building before Emily can find her.
She had long ago recognized she had feelings for Emily—deep meaningful feelings different from anything she's ever felt before—but thinking about what those feelings actually mean has always left her spiraling anxiously.
There have been times when she was so sure she was ready to find out—to give herself a chance at finding happiness with the only person she's ever truly loved. She had thought they'd finally have that shot when she first came back to Rosewood after her time on the run. She and Emily had gotten close, but after their one incredible night of passion, things fell apart in spectacular fashion. And while she wasn't surprised to see things implode because she knew she didn't deserve happiness—didn't deserve Emily—that didn't stop her heart from cracking in her chest when Emily said she was done with her.
And years later, when she had been broken down by tragedy and despair, she shed her usual armor for a night and leaned over to press her lips against Emily's once again. And despite the uncertainty that loomed over every other aspect of her life, one thing had been made clear in that moment on her couch a couple of weeks ago—that she never stopped loving Emily Fields. But with daylight came questions and the nagging fear in the back of her mind that she and Emily could never work—that she would never be worthy of something, someone, so pure and good. So she quickly shut herself down and put her walls back up, afraid that her momentary slip might cost her Emily for good.
But once again, she blew her shot. Because she didn't have the strength to be truthful when Emily asked why she kissed her that night. Because she's too afraid to let Emily love her. Because she's too afraid to hope for the thing she's wanted since she was 14 years old. And now Emily is with Paige and she's alone and broken.
Emily makes it to Alison's classroom a few minutes after 3 o'clock, but the lights are off and the door is closed. She peeks inside to see that the room is empty. Frowning to herself, she pulls her cell phone from her pocket and dials Alison's number. After her call is sent to voicemail for the third time, Emily gives up and leaves with an annoyed sigh, assuming Alison must have found another way home.
The following morning, Emily arrives at work early in hopes of catching Alison before class and asking her why she disappeared yesterday afternoon. She had tried to let it go but she couldn't help but be annoyed that Alison hadn't even bothered to text her and let her know that she wouldn't need Emily to drive her home.
Of course Alison isn't there when Emily walks into the faculty lounge so the swim coach decides to use the extra time to run off a couple dozen copies of a try-out poster she had hastily drawn up last night. As she stands in front of the copier, letting the sound of the machine lull her into a daze, Emily feels hands wrap around her waist and a body press against her back. Emily tenses as she feels a rush of warmth breathed against her neck.
"Morning," Paige murmurs against her back.
"Hey," Emily breathes out.
"What happened last night? I thought you were going to come by after dinner?" Paige says, a suggestive lift to her voice
"Sorry. I had to get these fliers done and prepare for emergency try-outs next week," Emily explains lamely. Truthfully, Emily has been avoiding being alone with Paige since their kiss and a part of her feels guilty for being distant after she had made such a show of wanting Paige to stay in Rosewood. Now she's starting to wonder if she made a mistake by rushing back into a relationship with Paige. When Paige said she was planning to take a job in Iowa, Emily panicked—Paige represented safety and stability to her and Emily was in desperate need of some safety and stability in her otherwise chaotic life, but is it fair of her to rely on Paige for comfort when it's clear the other girl's feelings for her are much more intense in nature?
Paige looks over Emily's shoulder to study the paper in her hand. "Looking for someone to replace Addison Derringer?"
"Mmhmm," Emily hums as she presses a couple of buttons on the copier. The troublemaking teen had thankfully been removed from the team after Principal Hackett suspended her for making false accusations against Emily and that meant Emily's squad is currently one girl down.
"I'm sure you'll find someone great. What girl in this school wouldn't want to be coached by the amazing Coach Fields," Paige smirks, her hands falling away from Emily's waist and sliding under her button-up.
"Paige, we're at work," Emily whispers, swatting Paige's hands away.
"Do you two mind dry-humping each other somewhere else? You're blocking the copier," Alison snaps at the pair from behind.
Emily blushes fiercely when she hears Alison's voice and jumps apart from Paige, turning to see the blonde glaring at her. Beside her, Paige grins unashamedly, keeping her eyes on Alison as she walks out.
She finds herself glancing into Alison's classroom whenever she walks past—which if she's being honest, is more times than necessary—and when she finally spots the English teacher alone inside, sitting at her desk and working quietly, her feet shuffle across the tile till she's standing beside the blonde's desk.
"Hey, where'd you go yesterday after school?" Emily asks, her voice soft as smiles at the worn copy of Great Expectations on Alison's desk. "Aria asked me to give you a ride home but you were gone when I got to your classroom."
"I walked," Alison answers, her tone short and her eyes remaining glued to the student essay she's pretending to read so she won't have to look at Emily.
"Ali, it was raining. I texted you that I would be driving you home. Why didn't you wait for me?" Emily asks, her voice a mix of concern and annoyance because God, Alison could be so stubborn sometimes.
Alison sighs and tosses her pen aside, watching as it rolls off the stack of papers she had been grading before Emily walked in, and slowly turning her head and lifting her eyes to look at the brunette. "It was barely drizzling. Besides, I don't need you and Aria making arrangements for me like I'm some sort of pre-schooler who needs to be driven to soccer practice after school."
Emily chooses to ignore Alison's snippy attitude, chalking it up to pregnancy hormones and presses on. "Well, is your car still in the shop?"
"Yes. The mechanic called to say the part I need hasn't come in yet."
Emily studies Alison's features, taking note of her tense posture and closed off body language. "Did Aria drop you off again this morning?"
"Yeah. She's still trying to work off her guilt from leaving me at the Darling Duck the other day," Alison answers with a roll of her eyes. She appreciates Aria's efforts to get her to work, but she's tired of the guilty looks and constant apologies and unnecessary fussing over her. She honestly doesn't even care that Aria had left her alone—there's only one person she would have wanted with her in that store when she learned the devastating news about her pregnancy and it wasn't Aria.
"Okay, so I'll take you home today," Emily declares decidedly.
Alison shakes her head and sighs, "You don't have to do that."
"I know I don't have to, I want to," Emily counters, leaning her hip against Alison's desk and letting her eyes fall to the blonde's ample cleavage, which just so happens to be peeking through her fitted floral blouse. Feeling her cheeks start to warm at the sight, Emily clears her throat and takes a step back, adjusting her gaze so she's looking in Alison's eyes and offering a small smile.
"I can just ask Aria to pick me up," Alison says dismissively, turning away from Emily to thumb through the stack of essays on her desk.
"But I'm already here. It makes more sense for me to drive you than it does for Aria to stop whatever she's doing and go out of her way to come get you."
"Then I'll just walk again. That way I won't have to inconvenience you or Aria or anyone else," Alison snaps, closing the folder on her desk and pushing her chair back to stand.
Emily's forehead creases, caught off guard by Alison taking offense to what she said. "Ali, that's not what I meant. Nobody's saying you're an inconvenience. Me driving you just makes more sense. What's gotten in to you?"
"Don't you have to hang out with your girlfriend after school?" Alison asks petulantly, turning her back to Emily as she starts to pack her things into her bag.
"Is that what this is about? Paige?" Emily questions incredulously. What was it with these two?
Alison whirls around on the other girl angrily. "Why didn't you tell me you two started dating again?"
"It's only been a couple of days," Emily mutters, shrugging to downplay the situation. "And I didn't tell you because you had a lot going on. And I didn't think it mattered to you," she adds, trying to make sense of the hurt expression on Alison's face.
Alison scoffs, "It doesn't."
"Then why are you getting upset?" Emily challenges.
"I'm not upset!" Alison shoots back defensively. She feels tears start to prick at her eyes and she grows anxious with the need to escape before they fall. "I'm just… I thought we….. forget it," she trails off, shaking her head and brushing past Emily on her way to the door.
"Alison," Emily calls, grabbing the girl by the forearm and spinning her back around to face her. "You thought what?" she demands.
"I said forget it," Alison bites out, failing to keep her voice even as she catches Emily's warm brown eyes studying her intensely. "And don't worry about giving me a ride home, I have a department meeting after school anyway so I won't be leaving till late."
Emily frowns at Alison's obvious distress. "I can wait."
"Apparently not," Alison fires back pointedly, tugging her arm out of Emily's grasp and walking away.