CHAPTER 6
Emily's POV
What the hell WAS that? I can't believe Hanna would trick me like that. After giving me hell a few months ago for wanting Ali-Alison- to come back, she expects me to sit and have dinner with her, as if nothing ever happened. Yeah, I don't think so. So I sat in my car, head against the back of my seat, hands griping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white and I sat just across the Grove trying to get my breathing under control so I didn't run someone over or end up wrapped around a tree somewhere.
When I finally felt good enough to drive myself home safely (which was in the next minute), I sped out of there to go home and shut out everyone sitting in that restaurant, until tomorrow that is, when I had to see them ALL for school.
Ali's POV
After Emily had left, I knew I couldn't keep my composure long enough to sit and eat a whole meal.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't know Hanna had such a surprise for us, but I should really be headed out too, I have a test tomorrow and didn't really study enough so I should do that. Thanks anyways Han, and I'll see you guys tomorrow?" I had lied about the test before I could stop myself, and not that I was still a repulsive liar, I just didn't want to have to reopen my heart, which Emily had just literally slammed the door on. I thought the girls wouldn't mind but all three contested.
"No don't go, Ali, stay."
If the one person I yearned for had said that, I would've stayed, I would've stayed forever, but neither of those girls sitting in front of me was Emily.
"No I really should go, but you guys stay, I'll see you all later."
"Aw alright, sure thing, we'll see you tomorrow, goodnight Ali, bye!"
I said my last goodbye's and assured Hanna I was ok and left the Grove before the tears I'd been holding back won. Once outside I ran to my car and quickly got in before anyone could see me wiping the tears away. Why was I crying, after all, what did I expect? For Em to just sit there and pretend to not hate me. No, of course not, I didn't deserve that. Or maybe I did, because that probably would've been worse than her storming out, which I expected.
I got to my house in 5 minutes and went upstairs to my room before my dad seen me looking like a mess. He's totally oblivious to my feelings toward Em so it helps; especially on nights were I stay curled up in a ball under my sheets, watching some chick flick or sapping romance (which did not help at all) while I ate a tub of ice cream straight from the container. We used to all have movie nights together, mostly at Spencer's, sometimes here and we always ended the night the same, Hanna or Spencer were usually solo on a chair or the floor, either one didn't matter, because whoever wasn't, slept with Aria on a couch and then there was us. Me and Em, we always slept next to each other on a bed, squeezed on a couch or under the blankets on the floor. I would dare myself to stay where I was and let her inch herself closer to me, I wouldn't admit but I loved that she secretly always wanted to be that close. And I pretended to be asleep just so I wouldn't have to push her away and give an explanation for it. My reputation was too important to me then, but now, her touch was all I wanted, screw what everyone would think, I only cared about what Emily thought of me, if she thought of me at all.
I stayed up until late into the night before I realized I had to do something drastic to get Em back.
Emily's POV
I got home quickly and tried to sneak upstairs as quietly as I could, I didn't want to explain to my mom why I'd gotten home so soon, and I was at the foot of my stairs, so close when
"Emily, is that you? Emmy, what are you doing home so soon, I thought you were going out with your friends for dinner at the Grove, is everything alright?"
Gosh, I love you mom, but sometimes you care too much, if that's even possible. What do I say–
"Yeah I was but then Hanna felt sick, Spencer had some big final to study for and Aria wanted to see Ezra at his apartment, so I just came home."
"Oh I'm sorry honey; there are leftovers from last night if you're hungry? Or I can just make you something fresh, and there's always take-out-
"Mom, really, it's okay I'm fine, I'm gonna put on some pajamas and get to bed." I turned towards the stairs but the look on her face told me she still had something to say, so I raised my eyebrows in acknowledgement.
"Hmmf, sooo Spencer, Hanna AND Aria had to cancel, I'm sorry to hear, but what about Alison, did you see if she wanted to go get dinner with you, I've hardly seen you two together since after…you know? You should see if she's free."
I froze in my tracks, did my mom, overprotective Mama Fields, just suggest that I go out to eat with Alison for dinner? After all that that girl has put me through? Why would she want that? I know she wanted to see us together before, but Hanna clearly ruined that, with her drunken ranting, and my mom knows that Ali has broken my heart, broken me on more than one occasion, so how could she- But I can't crack now, I've held up the I-don't-care-façade for too long to crack now.
"No mom," I said as cooly as I could, "I did not check on Alison to see if she was free tonight, but I'm sure she's got better plans anyway."
"Oh, ok, I see…"
And just as I was about to thank God for letting that conversation be over and I could head up stairs-
"Emily, what happened between you and Alison? Why won't you hang out with her, or speak to her? You two used to be so close, I know she wasn't the nicest girl ever, but I think she has changed dear, she comes by almost every day and I know she's been trying your phone…if you don't want to tell me that's fine, but I'd like to think that we are a family that faces our fears, not run from them
"Mom, I'm not run-" but to my surprise again, she cut me off
"I'm just warning you that the next time she rings that doorbell, you had better answer, I won't turn her away anymore, and I think you need to talk…"
"Mom, I –"
"No excuses, the least you can do is give her a proper explanation instead of keeping her guessing, she's trying, and if I of all people see it, I know you do. I don't want to hear anymore, I have to go to work extra early in the morning, goodnight. I love you."
And with that my mom returned to her room, leaving me staring in her direction, wide-eyed and jaw practically touching the floor.
Author's Note: Next few chapters are coming soon, I just want everything to be as close to perfect as I can, thanks for the patience...leave your thoughts on what you think Ali has planned :)