*** I want to dedicate this chapter to those of you who have been following me and this story since the first chapter, I do this for you. You know who you are. Thank you for being so patient and leaving kind reviews. I apologize for taking so long to update, midterms are very time consuming, as is the rest of college and all of life's curveballs…so honestly, thank you. Tell me what you think if you want, also leave any requests or prompts for me to write one shots later, I'm open to everything…I think? Haha, anyways please read and enjoy. ***
Chapter 26: Homecoming Part 2: The Dinner and Sleepover
…continued…
No One's POV
…and just as Em was going to release, there was a loud and obnoxious knock at the door. Em sighed frustrated beyond anyone's belief and Ali pulled away quickly, straightening herself and laughing into Em's ear, "Ooops I guess I wasn't quick enough this time…to be continued then I guess?"
Em groaned and slid off the counter, fixing her clothes and her hair, and reapplying chapstick as Ali walked to the door. "Who is it?"
"ALI! EM! C'mon you guys, you know who the hell it is! Hurry up and open the door, I have to pee!"
Ali looked at Em, with a smirk, making sure she was decent, so that she could open the door, and when Em nodded, Ali barely unlocked the door, before Hanna came barging in at practically ran to Ali's bathroom. Aria and Spencer came in right after, laughing at Hanna and then both girls stuck an arm out and brought Ali in for a small group hug.
"Ugh Ali, we missed you, and Em. How was your trip?" Aria pulled away and already the questions were beginning.
Spencer was next, "yeah, where'd you guys go, what'd you guys do?"
Ali stood there and for once she didn't have the words to say to her friends and like always, Em came in and rescued her, "Ali and I will tell you all about it…but not right at this moment. Can we eat first?"
And as if on cue, Hanna came from the bathroom, "so are we going to eat now or what? I'm starrrrrving and it smells amazing in here – wait, OMG is that cake?"
The girls laughed and Ali used the distraction to walk back into the kitchen and set the table for the four of them to have dinner.
Aria walked in, "well I guess I shouldn't have brought some pie over, sorry Ali, Em didn't tell me what we were having and you know I like pie." The smaller brunette shrugged her shoulders and set it down on the counter. Hanna started laughing and then elbowed Em in the side.
She leaned into her ear, "so how are you guys going to tell them? Like just say it, or give them hints, do you want me to help because you know I can – "
"What are you two whispering about over there," Spencer gave her signature Spencer Hastings look, letting each girl know that she'd find out anyway.
"Nothing," both Hanna and Em said at the same time.
"You two sure? It sure doesn't seem like nothing." Spencer raised her eyebrow and in the girls defense, Ali jumped in, "calm down Spence. Why do you always have to know everything?"
"Oh and you know too then Ali?," she turned to Aria, "Aria do you have any idea what they're talking about or are the two of us just getting left out of these things? Is this why Em called us, to let us in on your little secret?"
"Yeah," Aria chimed, "you've been acting a little strange, and we've only been here like 5 minutes, what is it, spill."
Hanna departed Em's side and walked awkwardly to the couch in the living room. Em and Ali exchanged looks and Ali started chewing the inside of her lip, Em fiddled with her hands. Em was the one who spoke up, "I think maybe you guys should sit down."
Spencer and Aria and exchanged questioning looks but took their places by Hanna's side on Ali's couch.
Em and Ali walked into the living room, standing feet in front of the girls and when both started staring everywhere but their eyes, Spencer started to grow impatient, "so are you both going to stand there and stare blankly or is there something you'd like to say? Ali? Em, why'd you call us?"
Ali looked at Em and took a deep breath, "Well as you can tell, Em isn't mad at me anymore."
"Yeah, we noticed when she was the one to tell us to come to your house, Ali, we don't need to be detectives for that," Spencer stated.
Aria was next, "Yeah and we didn't want to ask, we just assumed that the two of you worked it out…you have worked it all out."
"Yeah, we, um we're fine."
Ali turned to Em when she finished, "Actually Em and I are more than fine."
Hanna felt a smile creep over her face.
"More than okay, Ali what are you saying," Aria asked, moving to the edge of her seat.
"Yeah, spit it out guys I'm hungry," Hanna whined and both Em and Ali shot her death glares.
Ali moved her hand and grabbed Em's tenderly. Em, who was shocked at first, looked down at them and then intertwined her fingers and gave them a tight squeeze. Spencer and Aria's eyes dropped to the girls hands and then to each other, Ali continued "I've asked Em to be my girlfriend."
Em looked longingly into Ali's eyes, remembering the morning she woke up and, "And I said yes."
Spencer closed her mouth which was hanging open for some time and remained speechless.
"Ugh, finally thank you, now that that's over with, guys can we please eat."
"Hanna the food can wait…wait, you knew already? How," Spencer seemed upset and Em couldn't understand why. Ali could, she did. She knew the girl loved her but she also knew that she loved Em too, maybe even more. She would never stop feeling like she was the outsider out of the five of them. The other four have gotten so close over the years and she knows that Spencer is concerned for Em. Ali realized that Em actually wasn't the only person she'd need to convince about her love for Emily.
Ali knew she said she never cared about anyone else's opinion, but if Em was going to be happy, Ali knew it would mean a lot if she had all of the girls support on their relationship.
Hanna fidgeted in her seat; she was stuck between Aria and Spencer who were glaring at her, waiting for answers…from anyone.
But for once, Hanna was quiet and sat awkwardly between her friends. She looked between Em and Ali, eyes pleading for help. And that was when Ali spoke up again.
"Spencer, calm down, Hanna knew because I told her a long time ago." Ali looked at Hanna and smiled, remembering when she went to the other blonde's house and apologized for everything she had ever put Hanna through, EVERYTHING. She went there when she realized Em wanted nothing to do with her and of her three "friends" left, she had just seemed like the one to go to first. Hanna surprisingly let Ali into her house and both girls went to Hanna's room where Ali sat on her bed and the other blonde stood, watching her, listening to everything that Ali was going to say. When she finished, Hanna had even slapped her but Ali sat still on her bed, waiting for what was to come next: Han ended up forgiving her and both girls cried and from that night till now, Hanna and Ali have stayed close.
"Told her what exactly?"
Aria looked between Hanna an Ali incredulously, "yeah, I thought we all agreed on no more lies and secrets?"
Ali looked down with a heavy sigh. She felt like she was taking steps backward instead of forward. " I know, we did, but with Em still so mad at me and you girls barely letting me back into the little circle we have, I just didn't have the courage to say it around you all. I was still hurting."
Spencer's body relaxed slightly, her shoulders falling forward, her back arching slightly. It seemed as if she let out a deep and heavy sigh, "Ali, why wouldn't you just-"
"Because!" Ali exclaimed out of frustration and then silence fell across her lips, she was shocked that she had spoken out the way she did, she was just getting so worked up.
"Because…?" Spencer prompted and Ali struggled to continue.
"Because I, I - " Ali fidgeted again with her hands until Em reached over and grabbed one in her own, running her thumb over the back.
"Ali," Em said in a low voice, still loud enough for Ali and the others to hear, "you don't have explain yourself to everyone ok? I know and - " but Ali cut off the rest of Em's words.
"But don't I, Em?" At this point Ali felt like she was on the verge of tears and Em stood next to her, fidgeted with her own hands after Ali had ripped hers away. She didn't know what to say so Ali continued to shout. "Don't I? Don't I have to explain to everyone? You won't be happy if they don't believe me, I know how important they all are to you Em, I do. I need their approval because I would make you choose, despite what people still believe, I'm not an evil bitch…I was, but not anymore." At her last words, Ali averted her eyes towards Spencer, who sat, shocked on the couch, speechless, for the first time.
Hanna made a move like she was about to move from her seat to join Ali at her side, but Ali raised her hand, stopping her, "No, it's alright Hanna."
Spencer sat uncomfortably, feeling the guilt wash over her. She knew how much pain Ali went through in the past several weeks. Spencer and the others watched Ali refuse to eat and distance herself, so the brunette had no idea why she was acting the way she was. She could see in Alison's eyes that she was being completely honest, but before she said so, her mind brought her back to the countless nights she, Hanna, Aria or all three of them had found Emily, drunk and passed out somewhere. The three of them never told Em this, but when they found her, she was always a total mess, and more times than not, she had cried for Ali.
It broke Spencer's heart to watch her best friend go through that…again. And again, and again. Each time it happened, she had to try harder not to yell at Ali. But seeing them together, like this seemed right. Em and Ali have both been through whirlwinds of pain and anger but knew that in the span of a few days, Ali had taken big steps to ease that pain and ease away Em's doubts.
"Ali, I – I didn't mean- I" and for the first time, Spencer felt uncomfortable speaking her mind, she felt ashamed that she didn't believe Ali, especially since her, Ar and Han worked so hard to let her in.
Ali looked into her friend's eyes, and instead of the anger she knew she should feel, she felt something else. These emotions were all new to her, so she couldn't quite place what it was.
"Spencer," Ali started and everyone in the room could sense the tiredness in her voice. Emily reached out her hand and placed it on the small of her back, she knew that whatever Ali was about to say, was not going to be easy. It had taken her so long to get Em's heart back, so Em knew that Ali was going to have to be careful and precise and say what she needed everyone to hear, "you know why I didn't tell you all before I told Emily?" it was a rhetorical question so Aria and Spencer sat back, quiet.
"I didn't say anything because I was scared okay? Yeah I know, Alison DiLaurentis, scared? Never in a million years right? I know I have more apologizing to do to all of you but I couldn't just fess up every single feeling I had for Em, if I was still scared that she would shoot me down. I guess…I just didn't have the courage to listen to you if you all told me it wouldn't work. Spence, you've always been 100% honest with me, even when I didn't like it, and I was afraid that if you told me something I didn't want to hear, I knew it would be the truth, and I just wasn't ready."
Spencer only nodded. Hanna sat back and listened to Ali pour parts of her heart out. Emily stared at the side of her girlfriend's face and rubbed her hand in small circles on her back. Hearing Ali talk like this, in front of everyone, made Em's heart swell even more. She knew this wasn't easy, she watched for days, weeks, months and even years as Ali struggled to talk about her feelings; it was always easier for her to mask them with hatred or games. Em's eyes softened and she could feel herself falling even deeper for Ali.
But Ali wasn't finished. "I didn't forget about you Aria. I especially couldn't come to you because I honestly didn't know what you would say. And you all know me, I don't usually like being the one getting the surprises, not unless I know something about it first." She turned to Em and gave a half smile; a glint of playfulness was in her eyes. "I didn't come to you because I had no idea whether you would root me on, or tell me how ridiculous I am."
Aria turned her head to the side and Ali assumed it was because she wasn't making the connection. "Aria, you know all about forbidden love. You know how it feels to want something that you know in your heart feels right, but when brought to the surface is so wrong." Aria's eyes widened when she realized Ali was talking about her relationship with Ezra. "I've seen the way you two have looked at each other, and I want that," she turned to Em, "I'm getting it." Emily and Ali shared a smile before Ali continued, "but I also know how incredibly big your heart is. You remind me of Em that way. And I was honestly afraid that because of how much you loved Em, you would tell me to stay away."
Aria looked hurt, but not hurt for herself, but hurt that Ali was this conflicted. Ali opened her mouth again to speak but Spencer surprised everyone by standing up abruptly and walking over to Ali. Truth be told, Em was almost afraid that Spencer was going to slap her girlfriend or yell in her face but instead, Spencer placed her hands on Ali's shoulders, "Ali, I'm sure we've heard enough. Right?" And Spencer turned to Ali and Hanna who still sat on the couch.
"Right." Both girls said in unison and got up to join Spencer as she pulled Ali and Em in for a group hug.
Emily was on the verge of tears at how perfect this all was. It was surreal to watch as her circle of friends cascaded over Ali, fully forgiving and believing her. Emily thought of the times all three of the girls were upset when she hid that fact that she was meeting Ali. The night they met in the warehouse and Spencer interrupted them. They'd told Em that she was a fool to believe Ali and now, her she was, with her best friends and her girlfriend. A chill still went down her spine, she was still getting used to the fact that Ali was actually her girlfriend, that Ali had been the one to ask. Em had always imagined that she was the one that would do so, but she hoped she get to ask Ali something important later on in their relationship.
It seemed like a few minutes passed in silence before the growling of Hanna's stomach cut the silence.
"Guys this is sweet and all, but can we pleeeeease eat now? We shouldn't let the food get cold, I'm sure Ali and Em worked hard, or hardly worked, you shoulda seen them this morning when-"
"Um, Hanna, I'm fairly new to these to being a couple, let's not ruin my appetite by telling us what you probably walked in on them doing." Spencer shook the thought from her mind.
"Actually Spence, it's what we weren't doing this morning," Ali smirked her usual smirk and Spencer laughed.
"Aaand we're back to normal." Spencer said in a sarcastic but playful tone.
Aria looked at Em who was blushing from Ali's comment, "Some things just never change," the shorter friend observed. Ali looked at Em and kissed her on the cheek. "Yup, I wasn't kidding when I said Em was sexy in the sheets, shy on the streets."
Aria smiled and awed them, "Okay it's official, you two are too cute together."
"Yeah," Spencer added, "too cute, I might barf before I even eat."
Ali laughed and when they all spun towards the kitchen, Hanna was standing on her tiptoes, reaching for a plate in one of Ali's cupboards, "What," she asked, "you guys can stay there and keep talking but I guarantee there won't be much left when you get here.
Emily stood back and watched as the girls walked towards the kitchen. As Ali started to make her way over, Emily grabbed her wrist and pulled her hard enough to spin Ali around and pressed her hands into the back of the blonde's back hard enough to make their bodies flush against one another.
"Em what are you-," Ali started, clearly surprised, but Em simply cut her off by putting her finger to Ali's lips.
Emily locked her eyes with Ali's, brown eyes swirling with warmth that bore into Ali's blue ones, glinting brightly in the light, "I love you."
Ali's heart nearly skipped a beat, "I love you too Emily."
They shared a warm kiss before Hanna walked over, "Aw c'mon guys, keep it G rated ok?" Ali tried to pull away but Em just tightened her grip. Hanna came over and stuck her arm right in between them, "quit it for at least an hour so we can eat."
Emily laughed released her hold on Ali, "Hanna if you value your arm, I would move it, like now."
"OMG Ali, you taught you how to cook?" Aria groaned.
"Or how to bake? I seriously had like half of the cake to myself." Hanna moaned and leaned back in the chair.
"And I think the other half is on your face," Spencer said between laughs. Hanna sat up and wiped a smudge of chocolate frosting from her face with a napkin.
"I would be offended Spence, but that was seriously so good. So good I even ignored that fact that is was crooked.
Emily burst into laughter when Ali stopped what she was doing and shot her a death glare, "Em, that's not funny, I told you!"
Ali continued to take the plates to the sink and Emily stood up to join her, but not before she turned to Hanna and mouthed 'thanks.' Hanna shrugged and mouthed 'sorry' back.
"Ali, the cake was amazing, it was barely crooked," Hanna tried to help Em but Ali ignored her.
"Hey don't be like this Ali," Em walked right behind Ali and placed her hands on her hips.
From the dining room, Ali could hear as Spencer suggested, "Hey why don't we get changed and find a movie to put in?"
Emily started to rub her hands gently over Ali's waist and little did she know, Ali had closed her eyes, biting her lip at the touch of Em's hands on her, "Ali, don't be mad at me."
Ali turned her head to the side and once the girls were out of view, she spun around fast, facing Em with a smirk on her face. Emily knew that look all too well, especially in these last few days they'd spent together "Em, I'm not mad," she tapped her finger on Em's nose, then trailed her finger down her neck, over the low cut tee she was wearing, playing her fingers over Em's chest. Ali lowered her voice and leaned into Em's ear, "I just wanted to get you alone." Each word made Ali's lips graze Em's earlobe and Emily smiled, letting Ali lean in, pressing their lips together.
Ali's lips were wet and warm, moving in perfect rhythm against Em's. Em was surprised at first but quickly started kissing Ali back. They fought for dominance until Em gave in and let Ali do most of the work.
Ali reached her hands up to wrap in Em's long hair, deepening their kiss, eliciting a moan from Em once Ali darted her tongue inside her mouth. Soon Em was unable to resist and she pushed her body forward until Ali's back pressed hard into the counter, and when she gasped in surprise, Em used that opportunity then to slip a thigh in between Ali's legs nudging it open roughly. Ali bit onto Em's lower lip to hold in a moan and involuntarily rolled her hips. Em couldn't believe it, didn't even think it was possible, but she was sure Ali was a little more than aroused.
They kissed for what seemed like minutes, both girls becoming breathless, but neither one dared to pull away. Emily moved her hands from Ali's hips and placed one on the counter to steady herself and the other slipped just beneath the hem of Ali's shirt, resting on the smooth skin of her stomach.
Ali had to pull away first, and she used her hands to pull Em's face away, "let me breath Em." Ali said each word between gasps and labored breaths.
Emily said nothing and pressed her thigh up a little harder. Smirking as Ali groaned, breathless, and panting under Em. Her movements caused their chests to rub and Emily bit her lip before leaning down and pressing hot open-mouthed kisses all over the flesh of Ali's neck.
Ali held her hands in Em's hair a little tighter and gently rolled her hips again against Em's thigh. "God, Em, you don't know how bad I wanted to touch you under the table earlier."
Em moaned against Ali's skin, so the blonde continued. "or drag my hands," Ali slipped one hand down and cupped Em's ass, "up and down your leg, between your thighs," she moved one hand and cupped Emily through her jeans. Emily's lips left Ali's flesh as she tossed her head back.
Ali smiled and decided it her turn to feel the skin of Em's neck under her lips, her tongue. Ali grabbed Em's neck in her hands and roughly brought her down, clamping her lips over tan skin when she had enough leverage.
Soon the world Ali and Em were in only consisted of each other, each girl was incapable of thinking about anything else other than each other…and their roaming hands, hot lips, wet tongues, hardened breasts and deep moans.
Em shut her eyes and focused on the feel of Ali's hot mouth on her neck. It took awhile before Em realized that Ali was sucking her neck harder than usual. Ali even bit down hard over Em's pulse point, unable to resist the desire coursing through her veins now. Ali felt an uncomfortable feeling settle into the pit of her stomach, a feeling only Em knew how to remedy.
"Ali, I won't be able to hide that." Em said half worriedly, half out of breath.
Ali smirked and sucked harder on the same spot, swirling her tongue in light circles to soothe away the redness, "I know, and it's good because I don't want you to. It's my little mark." Ali trailed her tongue lightly around its perimeter, practically growling as she spoke, "I want everyone to know, YOU. ARE. MINE." At 'mine' Ali clamped her mouth down again, this time grazing her teeth over Emily's skin.
Em couldn't muster a response to that. She could only squirm, shifting her leg under Ali a little more, feeling as a flush of heat made its way in between her legs. Her hands roamed farther up on Ali's torso, playing with the bottom of Ali's bra, she was just about to slip one finger underneath, play with Ali's hardening nipples when an all too familiar voice cut them off. Ali groaned and Em rested her head against her shoulder, her hands slipping from under Ali's blouse, just as she rolled away from Ali.
Hanna barged over, "Have you two made up yet because Spence and Aria are already getting tired and I want to press play on the mov- OHMYGOD. Is that a…no way! Emily!" Hanna laughed and made her way closer to Em, to get a better look.
Ali looked up at Hanna, her irritated face becoming curious. She followed Hanna's line of sight and soon her eyes landed on exactly what Hanna was getting all giddy about. Right on the left side of Em's neck right at the base, was a red mark, about 2-3 inches wide.
Ali smirked, proud of her work and Emily clasped a hand to the side of her neck, her cheeks burning a bright crimson color.
"Holy shit Em, you let Ali do that to you? Geez Ali, who knew that you wanted Em that bad? I thought you were mad at her about the cake thing, or whatever that was about. Haha I'd hate to walk in on you guys when Em makes you happy." Hanna snickered and Ali only smirked, knowing exactly what happens when Ali and Em are… 'happy' with each other.
"I pretended to be upset because I knew Em would follow me, and you guys would leave to give us space…I wanted her alone." Ali shot a devious look at Em and Em returned with a smug look of her own, remembering exactly how she felt about a minute ago. Maybe she liked when Ali was 'upset' with her.
"Eh hem, hello, Hanna is still here, remember? Stop making eye sex and c'mon, we're all waiting for you guys."
Ali laughed and walked over to Em, intertwining their hands together, following Hanna to the living room, "you're lucky I let you all spend the night, or it wouldn't just be eye sex."
Hanna choked on her own breath and Emily felt heat rush to her cheeks, and other more intimate places. Ali looked over at Em, recognized the look on her face and smiled, biting the corner of her lip, knowing exactly what was running through her mind so she leaned to Em's ear, "don't worry babe," Ali coaxed in a whisper, "because as soon as the girls are gone," Ali trailed her hand down Em's back, "I'll have you all to myself, and we can finish what we started." Em shuddered and bit made a moan, part of her wished she wouldn't have suggested that the girls spend the night.
Alison's POV
Em and I walked into the living room, hand in hand, and I had to admit to myself that it felt good, to finally be and act exactly the way I should've those years ago. Maybe things would have been different, easier even, if I had just listened to Em all those years ago; if I had stopped building walls and pushing Em away, and now her I am, learning how to love.
Em's hand squeezed my hand a little harder and when I turned my head towards her, she wore a worried look on her face.
I smiled as genuinely as I could and shook my head. Her eyes pressed me but I turned my attention to my transformed living room.
"Hey, I hope you don't mind Ali, but we pulled out the sofa couch and went ahead and set everything else, just like old times."
Hanna smirked before sitting down in a chair, except Em didn't usually have a hickey in the old times."
Spencer and Aria's eyes roamed over Em's neck, and once both found the red mark, they shared the same expression: wide eyes, raised eyebrows and a gaping mouth. Then they snapped it shut and stared between me and Em. Em blushed and tucked a stand of hair behind her ear.
Hanna laughed again, "So yeah, other than that…"
Aria finished for Hanna, "just like old times."
I smiled at Aria who sat crossed legged next to Spencer, both girls sitting comfortably on many of the extra blankets from my closet. 'Just like old times.' It felt so good to hear, it's been years since all 5 of us hung out like normal teens, whatever normal was to us nowadays. I couldn't help but feel like I was dreaming and I was scared that I was going to wake up soon and all this would be gone, Em would be gone.
Before I knew it, Em's free hand was waving in front of my face, "Ali, hey, are you okay?"
I was snapped from my reverie at her soft voice. I shook my head to show everyone I was just in deep thought.
"Yeah, Em, I'm fine, I was just-"
"Thinking? Yeah, you've been doing that a lot lately." The other girls turned their attention to me and I said most of the truth.
"Yeah, I was just thinking that it's been a while since we were all together, doing something 'normal.' Aria said 'just like old times,' and I guess I was just remembering the last time that was."
The girls nodded approvingly before Hanna spoke up, "yeah it seems like it was a lifetime ago…but at the same time, when we're all here like this, it feels like it was just yesterday."
I sensed the other girls thinking about it too, their stares started looking through instead of at things.
Spencer laughed lightly, "I remember a few years back when we all spent the night in the barn, Em and Hanna did karaoke to some, who was it?"
Hanna sighed and then laughed, "It was Katy Perry Spence."
I watched as Spencer continued, "Yeah her song, and when you were done Hanna, you started eating all these sweets, and when you woke up you had frosting all in your hair."
I felt Em's body, so close to mine, shake with light laughter, I looked at her watching her laugh and reveled in the sight of her smile. I had spent two years trying to memorize the way she smiled, or how her laugh sounded, but nothing could compare to the real thing.
"Hey," Hanna was on the defense, "that was such a long time ago okay. We were young and I didn't know how to say no to a red velvet cupcake."
Spencer smirked, "oh yeah, then what's changed?"
Hanna threw a pillow from the chair at Spencer. "I know how to say 'later.'"
We all started laughing, and Em pulled me to the sofa bed. Just as before, we always shared where we slept at sleepovers. I sat into her body, her arms around my waist, her legs stretched out on either side of mine, and I rested my head in the borough of her chest. She was warm and her body encompassed my smaller frame, I felt safe and protected. The girls shared 'awes' at our gesture and when the laughing died down, it got silent for a few seconds.
Aria spoke next, "yeah and now we're all seniors and our school year is about to come to an end."
A cold chill ran through my body at the mention of our senior year ending. Em's senior year was ending. I didn't have enough credits to graduate on time and I had no clue had Em's plans were. I felt Em's body stiffen at the mention and I knew instantly she was thinking of the same thing. I also knew she probably knew what her plans were, and if it weren't for the others, I'd press her about it.
She sighed behind me, "yeah well right now all I know is that it's not even April yet, we've got time and right now I just want be with you guys and watch a movie."
I could tell by her voice that something was up. Hanna moved to put the movie in after Spencer and Aria agreed with Em. I took the opportunity where the attention wasn't on us and turned my body to Em. "Em, is everything alright?"
I looked into her brown eyes and I sensed sadness, but she managed a smile, "yeah Ali."
I wasn't buying it. "Okay Em, but I know you're lying."
She opened her mouth to say something else, but I cut her off, "it's okay Em, not now, we don't have to do this now."
She looked down, hurt. I didn't mean to come off upset, so I leaned in and kissed her cheek, I turned more and reached a finger to push her chin up, "Hey, I'm not upset ok? I just…I know we have stuff to talk about, it's just not right now okay?"
Em's eyes met mine, and she nodded. It bothered me that she lied about hiding something. Usually it was reversed. I guess I finally get a glimpse at how Em felt all the times I lied blatantly to her face, even though I knew she could see through me.
I leaned back into Em and let her hands trail up and down along my arms. The motion soothed my worries and I placed my hands on top of her thighs and ran my own hands across and down her thighs, traced my fingers in a circle around her knee cap and ran my hands back up her thigh. We touched each this way, it wasn't sexual but it was intimate and personal. It felt so good to have her near. It felt good for me to be with her like this and not worry about anything…for now. As soon as the movie's opening credits started rolling, the girls cuddled under blankets in their usual spots and I snuggled deeper into Em under our shared blanket.
Her hands wrapped around my torso and her slipped her hands under the hem of my shirt and began stroking her fingers lightly over my stomach. The small contact sent rivulets of pleasure through my nerves. My senses under my skin were like live wires, every touch between us was electric, and I longed to feel more of her skin but both of us just sat and enjoyed the feel of this moment.
That moment didn't last very long. Halfway through the movie, Hanna's stomach started to grumble, "Hey Ali, do you have any snacks?"
I sighed, always the same old Hanna. If she really did move to New York, or Los Angeles, I was honestly going to miss her so much, "yes Hanna, what do you want?"
"Come with me to make popcorn." She titled her head towards the kitchen, her eyes beckoning me to go with her to the kitchen.
"You know where everything is Han, go and-"
"Ali, can you please?" If I knew any better, Hanna had something on her mind that she needed to say.
I groaned and started to move, missing the warmth of Em's body when I stood. I placed my hand on the armrest and leaned in, pecking her on the lips, "I'll be right back."
She looked up and smiled, god she was breathtaking, "and I'll be right here, waiting."
"Em, it'll be like 3 minutes, she'll be back." Em shot Hanna her best…well I had no clue what that face meant…either way, it was still cute.
As soon as Hanna and I were in the kitchen, she went to the cupboard and popped a bag of popcorn in the microwave, and as soon as the buzzing sound drowned out the background noise from the TV, we both turned towards each other. I was right, she had to tell me something.
"Spit it out Han, what is it?"
She looked somewhat surprised, "How did you- oh well that's not what matters, Ali I have to talk to you about something."
I placed a hand on my hip, "you don't say, no what is it?"
She looked to the side, like she always does before she says something important or hard. She took a deep breath and on her exhale, "it's about you and Emily."
I was shocked, "What about us Hanna I thought-"
"Ali, wait, I'm not attacking you guys right now, okay? Just listen to me."
I looked at the time on the microwave, "okay well you have 1 minute 50 seconds."
Hanna looked at the microwave and whipped her head back towards me, "look Ali, I said it's about you and Em, but I mean it's about you guys like later on."
I looked at her questioningly, letting her continue without interruption. "I just, okay well look into that living room," she pointed her hand behind her and my eyes followed, "what do you see?"
I was confused and wasn't sure what she wanted me to say at this point, "umm, I don't know Hanna, it's my living room. I see the TV, my couches, Spencer, Aria, of course Emily and-"
"Okay, well you know what I see?" It was rhetorical so I waited for her to finish, "I see a small family, my family. My sisters. I see that in Spencer, in Aria, in Em." She paused and waited for our blue eyes to meet, "and I see it you okay?"
I nodded unsure of where this was going. She was right, the girls were her family, "Hanna, but what does this-" she cut me off.
"Have to do with you and Em? Well, Spencer has Melissa I guess, if you count her as a sister, Aria has Mike, even you have Jason. But I don't really have anyone you know? I mean we all have our boyfriends, but other than Caleb, it's just me and my mom. I don't really talk to my dad anymore, so it's just me. And then Em, too. Her mom is always working, her dad is always stationed somewhere far or whatever.
"Ali, what I'm getting at is now you and Em have each other. Our little family is back together. Look in their, don't we look happy?"
I nodded, "yeah, yeah we do."
"Exactly, we're happy right now, and all getting along. Ali, I don't want that to change."
I was starting to get what Hanna was getting at.
"Ali, you know I want you and Em to be together, you know I do. But I've seen you two when we were younger and I see you two now. I just, I," she was struggling to let go what she needed to say.
I helped her, "And you're afraid that I'm going to break Em's heart again and our little circle will be broken again?"
She looked at me with weary eyes. "I know it sounds selfish, but I can't deal with that again. I'm sure Spencer and Aria don't want to either. Just promise me Ali, that you'll do what it takes to work, me us. Do it for yourself, do it for Em...she loves you, and despite what you think, you deserve to be happy. Ali you deserve love."
I stood in awe, staring at Hanna. I never knew she could be this earnest and open about these kinds of things. It pained me to feel that Hanna doubted me, but she had faith in me, I knew she did.
"Ali, just make sure that you don't mess up, and if you do, don't run, and don't take years to fix it."
She didn't wait for an answer as the microwave dinged. She poured the popcorn into a bowl and walked into the living room.
I stood there, alone in my kitchen and soon felt a tear slip from my eye. I was Hanna's family. I was the girls' "sister." Hanna may have her moments but she was right. I wiped the tear from my eye and made my way towards the living room. I nuzzled back into Em's arms, felt her steady breathing raise her chest, up and down, steadily. I relaxed as her steady heartbeat thudded against my back and I slowly let my eyes drift shut during the movie. I kissed Em goodnight and before I shut my eyes, I took one last look at Spencer sitting up against the sofa, I watched Aria's head fall into Spencer's lap and I watched as Hanna popped pieces of popcorn into her mouth, some spilling onto the floor around her.
I promise, Hanna.
I was making all these promises, to Hanna, to Em, to myself; I just hoped that I had the strength to keep them all.
***Hey! So, wooo that's over, I know there wasn't any Em's POV and I cut a few Emison "scenes" from this chapter, but I hope you all still liked it? It seemed to just go/flow better this way. I've had a lot of positive feedback on my portrayal of the girls…mostly on Hanna's character, so I wanted to share more of 'my' Hanna Marin with you all. But that's not all; Spencer and Alison will have a moment, as well as Em and Aria and in the next chapter, look forward to a little angst, more Emison in public :) and more friendship dynamics. But no worries, there will be plenty of fun and humor too! Don't be shy to leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, requests…etc! I'm on break for a week so be on the lookout for faster updates. (New Stories?) Thank you all for reading and being the best!***
-XOXO, Lina :*