A/N: Chapter Three! Thanks to everyone for the comments and everything on the last chapter :) It's much appreciated!
Paige leaned over her handlebars, zipping down the street towards Rosewood High. The wind dragged its fingers in her hair, letting it stream out behind her. She coasted to the bike rack, balancing on one pedal, and hopped off at the last second. She grinned as she stuck the dismount.
It feels like the first day of school all over again. But better.
She adjusted her bag over her shoulder. Emily's clothes were wedged inside, wedged in the back of Paige's thoughts like a pebble in the bottom of a shoe. She couldn't shake them loose, no matter how hard she tried.
By the time she passed through the double doors and melted into the throngs of students, she'd almost gotten used to it. It felt less like an intruding pebble and more like a worry stone, a distraction from other concerns. Her hand drifted down, resting against the bag over the bundle of clothes.
She made a quick trip to her locker before beginning her cruise through the hallways. Her head bobbed up and down as she scanned the crowd, searching for her new friend.
Her search was in vain, and she joined the other students trickling into her first class.
The lecture went in one ear and out the other. She stared down at her notes and the numbers danced across the page. She drummed her pencil against the desk, against the notebook, against her lips, feet bouncing and eyes darting once, twice, fifty times to the clock, which of course only stretched the time like taffy to a crawl. Click. Click. Tap, tap, tap. Yawn.
When the bell rang, she leapt from her seat and was out the door, tossing her homework – still incomplete – on the teacher's desk as she passed him.
She couldn't find Emily through the entirety of the morning period. The pebble-turned-worry stone changed again, to a millstone hung around her neck.
She let her eyes drift over the cafeteria's occupants – odds are she's not even here – and felt a glimmer of surprise when they found Emily, just settling down to a table across the room. Paige hurried over.
Emily looked up as Paige drew alongside the table, smile spreading into her cheeks.
"Hey," said Paige, almost out of breath. "I have your clothes."
"Wow, that was fast." Emily accepted the bundle that Paige handed her. "Did you wash these?"
"This morning." Paige returned Emily's smile. Tone it down, weirdo.
"You didn't have to. Thanks so much." Emily leaned and reached for her bag. As she lowered her head so too traveled her eyes, cruising along the silhouette of Paige's jeans like a convertible down the coastline. I hope she didn't see that.
Paige could only see the cascade of Emily's hair, the way her shoulders flexed beneath her shirt as she moved, the slope of her neck when she snapped upright, flipping her hair behind her again. Her grip tightened on the tray in her hands.
"Well," she said, shifting from one foot to the other. "It was good to see you again. I'll… see you around?"
She started to back away but Emily grabbed her shirt just above the wrist. "Stay," she said. "There's room at our table for one more."
Paige didn't have to be asked twice. She slipped into the seat across from Emily, turning the word "our" over in her head. Emily's friends?
As if to answer her question, as if an unanswered question was the antithesis of her very being, Spencer Hastings dropped into the seat beside Emily. Like echoes of Spencer's entry, Aria Montgomery and Hanna Marin followed.
"I can't believe how much reading Mr. Fitz assigned," said Spencer, brows furrowed and eyes blazing. "We already have a paper due soon, and I have a giant problem set in AP Calc, and I have field hockey practice, not to mention my parents want me to attend-"
"Spence, shut up. You'll be fine," said Hanna, gesturing with a spoon. Spencer swallowed her rant, popping upright as though it burned all the way down. Her eyes found Paige.
"Who are you?"
Paige, who had paused with her fork midway to her mouth while Spencer launched her tirade, dropped the utensil in surprise. "I'm-" Spencer's brusque question seemed to have shocked all command of the English language from her grasp.
"This is Paige McCullers," said Emily with a sweet smile.
"The new girl." Spencer extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Paige took Spencer's hand and they exchanged a quick, firm handshake. "You too," she said. Aria and Hanna were content to smile and wave when introduced.
Spencer raised her eyebrow. "So, why transfer so late in the year?"
Paige shrugged. "We moved here this summer and I was going to keep going to my old school. But my folks decided to pull me out after just a few weeks."
"Why?"
"Spence, you don't have to interrogate her," said Emily, giving Paige an apologetic look. Paige waved her concerns away.
"It's fine," she said. "I wasn't doing well in my classes. My dad didn't see why they should pay to send me there if I wasn't going to keep my grades up."
"That explains why I haven't seen you before," said Spencer. When everyone looked at her, waiting for her explanation, she raised her eyebrows as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I take all APs."
They continued their conversation, Emily trying her best to rein in Spencer's brash inquisitiveness and Hanna and Aria adding needed humor. As the warning bell rang, Paige gathered up her tray and left them with a goodbye and a smile, her eyes lingering just a moment on Emily's.
"She just gave you the look," said Hanna, nudging Emily as they walked to her locker.
Emily blushed and shook her head. "She did not."
Aria smiled. "Normally I'd agree with you, Em, but Hanna's actually right this time. New girl's got a thing for you."
"So, how do you know her? You were talking before we got there." Hanna peeked around Emily's locker. Emily tried her best to scowl. It wasn't a natural look for her; it was usually reserved for Samara.
"I helped her out yesterday. She fell off her bike and I let her use the Brew's first aid kit."
Spencer tapped her foot on the ground. "Emily, do I need to remind you that you have a girlfriend?"
Emily's scowl finally attained some credibility. "You don't even like Samara. You never have. And you're all acting like I'm involved in an affair with a girl I met yesterday!" She slammed her locker shut. "So I made a new friend who happens to be a hot girl who likes me. She knows I have a girlfriend and she respects that. You're all judging her and you don't even know her."
"Em," began Aria, but the girl in question could only shake with anger. Emily whirled on her heel and stalked off down the hall, disappearing into the flow of the crowd.
Hanna crossed her arms and pouted. "I've never seen Emily get mad like that."
Aria shrugged. "I guess we touched a nerve."
"'A hot girl who likes me'? The lady doth protest too much, methinks," mumbled Spencer. Aria bit back a grin and Hanna looked between the two.
"What? Spencer, in English, please?"
Emily lifted herself out of the water, stripping the cap from her head. She bounced over to her coach and pulled away her goggles.
"Great time, Emily!" said Coach Fulton, beaming. "You just keep getting better. Keep this up and I'll have to make you captain!"
Emily's wide smile faltered, fear creeping into her eyes. "Right. Captain." She glanced at the other girls gathered around them. "I don't know, Coach, don't you think someone else might be better?"
Fulton looked up from her clipboard, lips drawing into a tight line. "Emily," she said. "You're the best swimmer we've got, you're a kind, genuine person and you always know just the right thing to say. These girls look up to you."
Emily shrugged and Fulton shook her head. "Well, keep practicing. You're good, Fields, but you can do better. We're going to need this team at its best at the meet." She shouted the last sentence and everyone looked up, cheering in acknowledgment.
"About that, Coach," said Emily, pulling her towel around her waist. "Do you remember at States last year? That girl who beat Lindsey?"
"Sure do. That girl was unstoppable."
Emily bounced on her toes. "She goes here now. She's a senior."
Fulton's eyebrows shot for the sky. "Paige McCullers is a Rosewood student? Why isn't she in my pool right now?"
"I'm not sure," said Emily. "She transferred late. She said she's ineligible."
The coach tapped her pen against the clipboard. "Well, she should be able to petition that. If she can prove she didn't transfer just to get an edge… why did she transfer?"
"Her parents moved here," said Emily.
A smile spread on Fulton's face. "Then she should be able to get an exception. Tell her to have her parents come in. The administration should be able to help them petition the athletics board."
"Right," said Emily. "Thanks, Coach."
She headed for the locker room. A petition, huh? I can handle that…
"Emily, you're on the swim team. Why do you need a petition to join it?" Mona eyed the other girl over her glasses as she stapled booklets. Ka-chunk, swish, pointed look, ka-chunk.
Emily fidgeted. "It's not for me. It's for a friend."
"And why can't this," Mona leaned forward, "friend come get it herself?"
"I think she's given up," said Emily. "I want to surprise her. Maybe if someone else cares, it'll inspire her to do the same."
"Isn't that sweet." Mona said, the words dripping from her lips like honeyed venom. When Emily raised an eyebrow, she sighed. "All right, all right. I'll get the form." She flounced into the office behind her. Emily heard the sounds of papers being shuffled – she probably found it already. She's probably just making me wait – then Mona returned, handing Emily a double-sided sheet.
Emily tucked it in her folder and smiled. She thanked Mona and headed home.
"So how was swimming, honey?" asked Pam. She and Wayne had finished asking Emily about the school day and were moving on to more fruitful topics.
Emily relaxed. She did well in school, but never well enough to satisfy her parents. Swimming was another beast entirely.
"Great," she said. "Coach said I've been improving."
"That's wonderful," said Wayne. "I guess all those lessons this summer paid off."
Emily smiled. "They did. Thank you so much." The lessons with a private instructor really had done wonders. She'd always been good, but now…
"Well, it sounds like you're going to swim your way into a scholarship at this rate," said her mother. Emily nodded.
"If I do really well at States, it could really happen. I know that Danby scout seemed interested."
"More than interested, honey," said her father. "I think if his bosses let him, he would have thrown a wad of cash at your feet then and there."
"Don't forget, you still have to get to States," said Pam, with a twinkle in her eye. She had no doubt that her daughter would lead the Sharks into a berth.
Emily leaned forward in her chair. "I think we have a great shot, mom. There's a new girl at the school, Paige McCullers. She's an amazing swimmer and I'm trying to get her to join the team."
Her mother flinched. Emily's face twisted in confusion. "What?"
"Nothing, honey." She set down her fork. "It's great that you'll have such a great swimmer on your team but… I remember that name. I just worry that a girl like that will overshadow you."
"She's not that good," said Emily. She is that good. But that doesn't mean she shouldn't get to swim… "And I've gotten so much better. I can hold my own in the pool."
"Of course you can, sweetheart," said Wayne. "You're just so… so easygoing."
"You don't think I'm competitive enough?"
"That's not what I'm saying." That's exactly what you're saying. "I'm just saying that scouts like to see a little tenacity." He shook his head. "Look, it sounds like this McCullers girl isn't even sure she wants to swim. Maybe you should respect that."
Emily dropped her eyes to the plate. "I think she wants to," she said. She pushed her food around her plate, lips sealed and eyes downcast. Her parents exchanged glances.
She rose from the table, making her excuses, and bolted for her room.
She slipped out later. Her parents didn't ask questions; it was Friday night, and that meant girls' night at Spencer's.
The dampness of the previous evening had lifted. The air was clear and thin and sharp, laden with the threat of winter. Emily felt a twinge in her nose and she flexed her fingers beneath her gloves.
Her phone rumbled in her pocket. "Hey," she said, cracked lips pulling into a smile.
"Emily! Babe, I got off work early! You should come to this party!"
Emily's smile faltered. "I'd love to, but you know I always go to Spencer's on Friday."
Samara pleaded. "Come on, it'll be fun. It's Friday night! I never get to have a fun Friday with you."
Emily stopped on the sidewalk, picking at her scarf with her free hand. "Well..."
"Pleeeease?"
Emily sighed, smile spreading. "Okay. You win. Where is it?"
"Really close! The address is..."
Emily walked through the wide-open front door. The foyer was crowded with people, all laughing and yelling and dancing to the music that surged through the walls and up through the floors. The beat pulsed in Emily's chest, willing her heart to match, and she stood rooted in place for a moment while the muscle and the music fought for dominance.
When they found some sort of equilibrium, she loosened her scarf and wandered into the building.
Samara found her, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a kiss. Emily giggled and Samara slipped her hand around her girlfriend's waist. "Missed you, babe," she said.
Emily pulled back, hands resting on Samara's shoulders. "I missed you, too." She let Samara take her hand and pull her aside, out of the thickest part of the crowd.
"Whose house is this? How did you end up in Rosewood tonight?"
"This kid I work with," said Samara. She worked nights at a nearby retail store and was a freshman at Hollis during the day. "Small world, huh?"
Emily laughed. "Seems like it. I'm glad you got the night off."
"Mm, me too." Samara nuzzled into Emily's neck, drawing a giggle. "Want me to get you something to drink?"
"I'm okay," said Emily. "I don't really feel like drinking."
Samara's expression flickered. "You okay, Em?"
Emily shrugged. "I'm fine. Just a little frustrated with my parents."
"So get a drink. You'll feel better." When Emily didn't move, Samara placed both hands on Emily's shoulders and looked into her girlfriend's face. "What happened?"
"They basically told me they think I'm a pushover."
Samara opened her mouth and closed it again. Emily's face fell. "You too?"
"Well..."
Emily slipped out from under Samara's hands. Samara frowned. "Emily, it's not a bad thing. But sometimes you let people walk all over you."
"How is that not a bad thing?"
Samara pressed her lips together. Emily narrowed her eyes and started to walk away. Samara grabbed her wrist and she stopped, not looking at her girlfriend. The blonde slipped in close, resting her hands on Emily's hips, turning the girl to face her. "It's not a bad thing. It makes you cute," she said, leaning in to place a kiss on Emily's forehead, "and sweet."
"I sound like a baby. Or candy."
"Mm, like candy." Samara's lips dropped from Emily's forehead to her temple, then down to her jaw. Her fingers traced the waistband of Emily's jeans. Emily's skin shivered at her girlfriend's touch, but when Samara whispered, "let's go somewhere quieter," Emily pulled away.
Samara frowned. "I don't get you," she said. "You let people get away with anything, you let your friends basically dictate your life-"
"I don't-"
"-but when your girlfriend wants to do anything, that's when you remember how to say no."
The party rolled around them, bodies surging past, voices and music filling their ears and their lungs and their heads.
"I'm just not ready," said Emily in a whisper.
Like two statues, islands in a raging ocean, they stared across the expanse at each other until Emily lowered her eyes and Samara threw up her hands.
"I'm getting a drink," she said, turning on her heel and stalking away.
Emily did not move, at first. She traced the patterns in the oriental rug beneath her shoes - someone spilled beer - as Samara's words filtered into her head, twisting and dancing with the looks on her parents' faces. She could be strong. I'm helping Paige, even though everyone has told me not to. Doesn't that count?
She took a deep breath - grimacing immediately, as the sour scent of stale beer and sweat filled her nose - and left.
Spencer frowned at her phone.
"She didn't pick up?" asked Aria, flopping onto one of Spencer's couches.
"No. And she still hasn't responded to my text."
Hanna leaned on Spencer's counter, swinging her legs against the rungs of the stool. "It's girls' night. Emily never misses girls' night."
"Maybe she's with Samara," said Aria.
"No, silly, Samara has that thing on Fridays."
"Her job, Hanna?" said Spencer, rolling her eyes.
Hanna shrugged. "Yeah, that. Anyway, try again. There must be a reason."
Spencer leaned against the counter, eyes fixed on the phone in her hand. She made no move to dial Emily's number.
"What's up, Spence?" Aria sipped her drink.
"Was I too hard on her? About that Paige girl?"
Aria and Hanna glanced at each other. "I thought Paige was nice," said Hanna. "And Emily's not a cheater, you know that. I mean, Samara doesn't deserve her," she said, waving her hand as if to dismiss the irritating blonde from her thoughts, "but Emily would never do anything."
"But we don't even know this new girl. Emily said she knows about Samara, so why hang around like that? I think she still wants to make a move." Spencer shook her head. "And Emily might be too nice to tell her to back off."
Aria got up and refilled her cup, then rested her elbows on the counter. "I think Emily has to figure that out on her own."
"I just don't want her to get hurt. You know how she is. And you know how Samara is. Even if McCullers doesn't try anything, if Samara thinks something's up, she's going to punish Emily for it."
Hanna scoffed. "Well, maybe then Em will finally dump her ass and find a girl who's hot and a nice person. She's already got one lined up. I barely know her and I think Paige is an improvement over sour-puss Samara. And she's way hotter. I'd tap that."
Spencer dropped her phone and Aria paused with her drink halfway to her lips. Hanna rolled her eyes. "What? I meant if I was gay, you guys, geez."
Spencer opened her mouth to speak-
There was a knock at the door.
They all jumped, spinning to find the source of the noise, and found Emily, silhouette distorted through the glass. Spencer hurried over and Emily squeezed inside, rubbing the cold from her hands.
"Sorry I'm late," she said through chattering teeth. "I went to a party with Samara."
"I thought she worked on Friday," said Spencer, raising an eyebrow.
Emily laughed. "She does. She got the night off last minute."
"Don't worry, Spence," said Aria, smirking, "you didn't mess up memorizing Emily's girlfriend's schedule."
Spencer shot Aria a dirty look as Emily pulled off her gloves and scarf. They all settled onto the couch. As they began discussing movie choices, Spencer sat to the side and did not speak.
"Spencer!" said Hanna, shocking the girl from her pensive state. "Spence, you in there?"
"What? Sorry." Everyone's eyes were on her. She found Emily's. "I was just thinking... Em, I'm sorry for how I acted. You're free to be friends with whoever you want. I trust your judgment."
Emily smiled. "Thanks, Spence. And I trust yours, too. I think... I think I might be done with Samara."
Hanna was at Emily's side in an instant. "You broke up? Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
Emily shook her head. "We didn't break up, but I think..." She took a breath. "I think we have to."
"What happened?" asked Aria.
"She wanted me to... she wanted to... well, you know. And she got really mad when I didn't want to."
"What a bitch," grumbled Hanna. No one disagreed.
"Good for you, Em," said Spencer. "Regardless of what I think of Samara, that's an awful thing to do to anyone. You're worth ten of her."
"Seriously," said Hanna. "Who needs her? You'll have girls throwing themselves at you. I can think of one..."
Emily's cheeks flushed, her mind drawn again to the events of the day before. Has it only been a day? As she remembered Paige, leaning in the open doorway, straddling the line between the comfort of the shop and the chaos of the rain, her friends exchanged smiles.
They settled back into their movie debate, and when Emily surfaced from the pool of reminisces, she had no idea of the moment that had transpired. She was not met by snarky comments or knowing smiles, and she let loose a tiny sigh of relief. I have to be careful. I haven't broken up with Samara yet...
A/N: All righty, three chapters down. Some actual Paige-Emily interaction in this one. Not a lot, but hopefully enough to tide you over. Trust me, they're going to be spending a lot more time together in coming chapters.
I hope I'm not offending any Samara fans. I never particularly liked her, but I also didn't take much care in making her match the way she was in the show. She's just a hurdle for Emily to overcome. *shrugs*
As always, let me know what you think! I love comments, questions, criticism, impromptu poetry, whatever. Recipes. I dunno. It's your comment box, use it as you see fit.