Chapter 32: Do You PROMise? (Part 1)
No One's POV
"Emmm," Ali groaned, "when you said we should wash your car, I thought you meant we'd take a drive to the car washing place." Ali moped and walked to Emily's porch, not bothering to help put away any of the stuff they'd used. She sat down and cringed as her back side made contact with the cold steps, she was soaked to the bone with cold and dirty soapy car water. And her body shivered with the cold from the way Em had sprayed her with the hose. One small flick of soap by accident, turned into a full wet T-shirted water fight, minus the whooping guys, horny and flashing their pervy little grins. Nope, none of that, the most they got was a sideways glance from some random old lady walking by on the other side of the street. Granted it was fun to see the car sponge smack flat against Em's face, splattering her with soap, but what ensued because of it wasn't so fun. Em definitely had the upper hand and took the liberty of hosing her down. Ali shook her hand and laughed away the images.
Ali looked up at Em and caught her bending over to pick up the wash bucket, her little workout shorts riding higher up the backs of her thighs and suddenly Ali didn't feel so cold anymore. Her mind wandered to picture of Em standing in front of her in her wet clothes, only this time, she had on a long white T-shirt that covered her ass and stuck to every other curve of her body.
"Ali, stop looking at me like that." Emily interrupted Ali's thoughts and red flushed the blonde's cheeks when she realized she got caught. She must have looked like an idiot.
"Like what, I'm just waiting for you to hurry up so I can get inside and put some warm clothes on." Ali played off the look she was giving Em to the best of her abilities. Em didn't buy it.
"Uh huh, sure. I know that look when I see it, and you're going to have to wait." Emily shot a smirk accompanied with an eyebrow raise in Alison's direction and the blonde squirmed in her seat, thoughts already racing to ripping off not only her wet clothes, but Em's as well. Ali woke up that morning unsure of herself but extremely relieved and happy that she and Em had worked things out for the most part. Em made a permanent "appointment" with Ali that night to figure out a solution to their whole college thing. It made Ali's head spin just thinking about the possibility of having to go for weeks, maybe months without the physical presence of her girlfriend.
It had seemed like a lifetime ago that she was sitting on the bed of the motel, hopeless and hurt and angry. It seemed even longer that she had come to Em's house late at night…or early in the morning, it didn't matter, to come and apologize and forgive and hope that they fixed things. Which they did. It wasn't easy, Ali still felt the pain, she could hear it in Em's voice, but the moment that their lips met, the moment their bodies touched, the pain was eased away and the deep, undeniable love they had for each other seemed to seep through their skin like something tangible, shrouding itself over them while they spent the night whisking away their hurt. Of course, it didn't begin all soft and sweet, both girls were still upset, and Ali was sure her body had the marks to show it.
Before any more images of earlier this morning filled her mind, Ali was greeted by the sight of Emily's legs, tan and dripping lightly with water, right at her eye level. "Ready to get cleaned up?"
Ali smirked and met the inviting brown eyes staring down at her, "Yes, I can't stand being in this any longer." Emily held a hand out and helped Ali stand, but before she let go, she pulled Ali's hand hard, crashing their bodies together, cold, wet and hard, so hard that Ali could feel Em's nipples against her.
Emily's hand trailed along Ali's spine and without much concentration Emily replied absently, "hmm then we'll just have to get out of all these wet clothes as soon as we're in my room."
"Mmmm, I'm liking the sound of that," Alison purred back in response. She could feel her body warming already, tingling with excitement.
Emily laughed softly at Ali's giddiness but in all honesty, she felt her body warming up in all the right places as well, starting deep in the pit of her stomach.
Once inside, both girls held back the idea of tearing off each other's clothes right there in the living room and focused all the willpower they had on making it up the stairs to Emily's room. Em opened her door and stood back, letting walk ahead of her, but instead, Alison did as Emily had done earlier and pressed her wet body against her, holding their bodies still and then slowly dragging herself against her, the hard tips of her nipples brushing against Emily's' breasts as she did.
Both girls shuddered but neither was entirely sure it was just from being cold. Ali was sure what the shiver meant to Em when she finally heard a soft moan escape her lips.
"Em?" Ali swallowed and waited for Em's eyes to open.
"Mmm, yeah Ali?" She was totally lost to the feeling of their bodies pressed into one another, the door pressed flat into her back and her front side covered in a wet clothed Alison.
Ali reached her hand up to the side of Em's face and brought it down closer to hers, "Are we going to be all alone here for a while?"
"Yes," Emily said cautiously. She thought about who might come over, but her mom wouldn't be back until next week, the week before Prom and no one else but Ali had a key to her house, which she is assuming how she got in earlier this morning anyway. Emily brought her thoughts back to what Ali had just said and the tone she had used. She knew that tone anywhere and whenever Alison just so happened to use it, her nipples ached and a flame in her stomach ignited to a full-on fire.
Alison's eyes dropped to Em's chest, she envisioned her lips wrapped warmly around one nipple and the thoughts made a sultry smile play across her face. "Well, in that case, I think a nice, hot shower might help us both…warm up, don't you?"
The earlier ache that started in her stomach dropped lower, to a place of no return and Emily actually felt a pulsing, throbbing sensation start. They hadn't showered together ever, but it was something both girls had definitely ached for since they became official. Of course each had thought of all the sexual merit showering together held but to Emily, simply being that intimate and close together would have been enough. Ali, of course had allowed herself to believe that that was enough, but a darker, more desired filled part of herself knew she would just love the image of Emily standing inches from her, hot water rolling down her skin, steam fogging the window and mirror, making each girl start to sweat. On many occasions, Ali imagined what it would be like to have her hands covered in soap only to run them all over Emily's hot body.
And on those same occasions, Emily had thought just about the same things. Her eyes darkened, turning into a caramel-colored liquid desire at Alison's suggestion and Ali's breath hitched when she saw it.
"Looks like I'm not the only one giving those looks today." Ali teased.
"I haven't got the slightest clue what you're talking about."
"What is it you said earlier? 'Uh huh, sure'…now if you don't stop looking at me like that, I can promise this, I'm going to pounce on you," Alison warned, her voice low and thick.
Emily pushed off of the door, walked past Ali's body and over to her dresser. Grabbing two towels in one hand and Alison's wrist in the other, she led them down the hall and into the bathroom.
Once inside, Ali broke the silence that had fallen between them, "I bet you've been waiting to do this for a while now, haven't you?"
Emily didn't deny it. She only grinned as she turned around and started to strip herself from the wet clothes. She stopped when she saw Alison was a few steps ahead of her, standing mere inches away, already naked.
Em licked her lips, not caring to hide it from Alison and reached across for her girlfriend, make-up sex or not last night, there were still things that she wanted to do to this blonde. Letting that thought take over her mind, she closed what little distance there was between them and gripped Alison around her waist, bringing her in closer. Ali smirked, loving that there was a beauty to the loss of control each girl felt when they were like this. She reached between their bodies to clench the hem of Emily's shirt, lifting it slowly, if not torturously, over the brunette's head, and tossing it somewhere on the ground. She made quick work of getting the rest of Emily's wet clothes of, roaming every inch of newly exposed skin first with her hands, and then letting her lips follow. Emily was beginning to feel a familiar weakness in her knees and held the edge of the counter for support.
Once Ali had bent down to drag Em's panties down and she was naked too, all inhibitions left and Emily lowered her mouth slowly to Alison's, sighing softly as their lips met in a gentle kiss. Ali's mouth opened in response, letting as much of the taste of Emily as she could into her mouth. She dragged her hands over the curvaceous backside of her girlfriend and finally reached up to cup Emily's breasts in her hands. Em groaned in delight and began guiding Ali backwards into the shower.
The water hit Ali's back first and her body jumped slightly into Em.
"Is it too hot?" Emily asked, sounding concerned. Ali simply shook her head and just laughed lightly.
"Not yet." Ali smirked and Emily knew exactly what she meant…and it had nothing to do with the water.
"Hmm, what about now?" Emily whispered, letting her hands run slowly over Alison's curves, stopping just below her supple breasts, holding them gently.
"I'm feeling a little warmer now," Alison whispered as she pressed her face into Emily's neck, "especially if I do this." Her hands squeezed both of Emily's breasts then, as she rubbed her thumb back and forth, softly over her nipples.
Emily moaned and her head fell back, almost far enough to rest against the tile wall. As she did this, as Ali seized the opportunity to latch her lips onto Em's extended neck, swirling her tongue and sucking the skin into her mouth.
Em panted as her hands slid around Ali's waist again and down her back to grip her ass gently, pulling their bodies impossibly closer. Em pulled away and each girl looked over the other's bodies and Em was surprised to see the marks over Ali's seemingly flawless skin. It was no longer just a vast expanse of smooth milky-colored skin. The closer Emily looked, the more marks and small bruises she could see. There were her teeth marks over each shoulder, along the base of Ali's neck, even above the swell of her breasts. Emily dragged her hands down, her eyes following and she placed them over the red marks around Ali's waist, a perfect fit for where Em's hand had been holding her a little too tightly. Emily was washed over with guilt and she was afraid to look any further.
Ali knew what Em was doing as she stood in the shower with her, watch as brown eyes searched her body. She knew too what Em must be feeling and she wanted Emily to know that it was okay. Sure, she was a little frightened at the aggressiveness and sheer power Emily had shown over her last night, but again, if Alison was going to be completely honest, she also knew how much of a turn on it was to have Emily overpower her like that, to take control of her body and be in charge. It was new rush of exhilaration and the fact the Emily had marked her didn't bother her in the slightest. The only 'problem' that would arise is how she would hide the marks so that Em doesn't get embarrassed when people ask about them.
"Ali, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you last night?" Em was concerned and the pressure of her hands on Ali lightened, seemingly afraid that she might hurt her girlfriend like the night before.
Ali looked up and felt bad that Em was thinking she had physically hurt her. "No, Em, of course not. It's okay, I'm okay." Ali reached up and connected their lips, "Really, don't worry okay, I've given you my fair share of love bites and bruises okay?" Ali laughed and ran her hand over the creases above Em's brows, smoothing them out. She could feel Emily sigh in relief, her taut muscles over her body finally relaxing again.
Ali leaned up and started kissing along Em's face: her cheeks, her jaw and behind her ear where she stopped to whisper, "I'm fine Em, I actually kind of like it when you're rough like that."
Emi swallowed nervously, "you- you do." She half stuttered.
Ali licked the side of Em's face in a smile circle, roaming her hands back up to her breasts and squeezing until the brunette gasped, "uh huh, I like when you take charge and are in control, it's extremely sexy to me." Emily shuddered and felt as if she was finding another reason to fall in love with Ali.
"But right now, I want this to be soft and slow." Ali batted her eyes once and continued her motions, Emily was silent but in their eyes they communicated a simple yes.
Ali's lips left the base of Emily' neck, her hands left her breasts and found a new home buried in the locks of Em's hair. She turned their bodies around and used her hand to tilt Em's head back until it was underneath the shower head, letting the brown turn darker, almost black as it absorbed some of the water. Emily's eyelids got heavier until they closed and she sighed deeply.
Ali didn't want to stop there; she reached for the shampoo, poured some in her hands and began massaging it into a lather in Em's hair. "God, that feels amazing, Ali." Em's brown eyes opened, meeting Ali's blue ones as they shared a smile.
She reached over and grabbed the body wash, pouring some in her hand. As Ali worked on washing Em's hair, Em decided she would return the favor and start to wash Ali's body. Alison rubbed her hands along Em's scalp and Em used her soapy hands to work gently over Alison's breasts, down over her stomach and daringly dipping them between her inner thighs.
"I've missed you so much," Alison's breath hitched and she closed her eyes, reveling in Emily's gentle touch, "I don't ever want to be farther than we are right now."
I pained Emily to hear those words, especially since they hadn't worked out all the details that would need to be discussed later today. She didn't want to think of choosing California so fast and leaving Ali for months, she didn't want to drag Alison with her either. Emily knew that Ali loved to write, even if it were in secret for now, writing could be something good for her too, and the best journalism schools were on this side of the country. Em kept her eyes closed as to not reveal any of these thoughts whirling through her head at the moment. With eyes shut though, she allowed herself to escape to the back of her mind. She couldn't possibly imagine staying here either. Not when her dream schools in her dream state had wanted her. But she thought that maybe she could sacrifice those dreams to keep her dream girl by her side.
Alison's touch brought reality back to Em, pulling her from the darkening clouds and she remembered the words that fell from Ali's lips to her ears. She would ignore that last part of what she said.
"I've missed you so much, Ali," Emily repeatedly honestly. "I know you were only gone a few hours, but the thought of losing you, of you leaving, I- I-" She stopped when Ali put a single finger to her lips.
"Shhh, it's okay Em, we're going to figure it out after this. It's okay." Alison tried to reassure Em, but the more she said it, the more it sounded like she was trying to convince herself that it would be okay. She knew then where Em had drifted off to for a while and her heart swelled. She could give up chasing blindly after something that was unsure to be right next to the only anchor she had: Emily. As both girls stand in the shower, holding one another in comfort, Ali came to the realization that nothing would ever matter if she didn't share it with Emily Fields. Oddly enough, she made a big decision that would affect her life and her relationship with Emily in mere seconds, as her body was covered in soap and her mermaid was standing by her, waiting for something to happen. Alison wouldn't say it now, but she was going to go to California and she and Em were going to somehow go to the same school, and it would all be okay. She was sure of it.
As much as the desire was coursing hot and heavy through their veins, the touches stopped being so sensual and turned just lovingly towards one another, taking their time to explore every inch of each other's body. Alison washed and rinsed Emily's hair and Em washed Ali's body just as gently, feeling the shudders ripple through their bodies under their touches.
It seemed like a small piece of their forever went by before all the soft kisses grew deeper and longer. The water that cascaded over them was warmer and the shared touches grew more deliberate.
Alison's hand slipped between Emily's thighs, desperately needing to touch her again, and Alison was surprised when Em placed her hand on top and guided it lower, "Alison, I want you to touch me." The way her name rolled from Emily's lips set her nerves into overdrive. Alison smiled that soft seductive smile that always drove Em crazy and she used her other hand to clasp the spot behind Em's neck, pulling on her until their lips were together.
Emily's mouth opened automatically when Ali swept her tongue along the outline of her lips, thrusting inside as she pushed Em gently back against the tiled wall, furthest away from the shower head. Em gasped as her heated skin pressed against the cool tile, the contrast in heat making her body shudder.
Emily's gasp disappeared as soon as she felt Alison reaching down to her thigh, pulling it up to her hip and wrapping her strong leg around her. Alison's thigh fell between her legs and pressed hard against Em's throbbing heat.
Alison clutched Emily closer as she moaned into Em's mouth, their swollen, sensitive breasts brushing along one another's as their movements became more and more frantic. Alison's teeth sank into Emily's lower lip, tugging gently and then moved to her neck, her shoulder, and the swell of her breasts, continually rolling her thigh into Em's center until all that could be heard was the sound of Emily whimpering her name. "God, Ali, Alison…Ali!"
Suddenly, the girls stopped when they heard a loud banging on the bathroom door.
"Oh shit." Ali said quietly, "Em is that you're mom? I thought you said she wouldn't be home!" As much as Alison was portrayed as ballsy and fearless, she was damn scared of Pam Fields…mama Fields was no joke.
Emily's face froze, stricken with horror, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around her body and swallowed hard, "stay in there and be quiet, I'll take care of it."
"Uh, just a second mom, I'm coming." Emily shooed Ali back behind the shower curtain and took a deep breath and opened the door a crack, shielding the rest of the doorway with her toweled body, still dripping water and covered with soap.
"Dammit, Em, I knew you were here. And I seen Ali's car. Neither of you answered your phone I was just hoping you guys didn't like kill each other or something. You were pretty pissed yesterday."
Emily sighed and placed her hand on her chest, "God dammit Hanna, what the hell are you doing here?! How'd you get in?"
"Um, did you not just hear me? I came to check on you...and I guess Ali since her car is here. Besides, I knocked, but I tried the door and it was unlocked. I assumed Ali left it unlocked or something. Where is she by the way? I didn't see her anywhere?"
"She's um, hey, can I please finish showering?"
"Yeah, hold on, I have to pee." Before Emily could stop Hanna, her blonde bestie had pushed past her and went straight to the toilet, which was right next to the shower.
Emily turned, disbelief on her face and Hanna caught her looking, "Em you didn't like hide Ali somewhere, she's okay right?"
Emily forced a laugh, "Yeah she's fine, probably just went out or something! Now would you please get out?"
"Yeah, whatever Em, I'll wait downstairs for you," Hanna turned to flush and again, Em couldn't stop her in time. The toilet flushed and within seconds Ali couldn't hold back the laughter nor the slight agitation of being interrupted with her personal Em time.
"Damn, Hanna, that shit is cold." Ali revealed herself, well, just her head, from behind the shower curtain, referring to the new change in water temperature when Hanna flushed the toilet.
Hanna jumped back and finished pulling up her pants. She recognized that voice in a heartbeat and when she seen Ali she looked between Em and Ali, Em's cheeks turning a bright shade of red.
Hanna erupted in a nervous laughter, "Were you too just…is that why I heard Em…okay, yes you guys were so totally having your make-up sex in the shower."
Em tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and Ali found herself telling Hanna, "actually no, we already did that, it was like 1 or 2, this morning." Ali said it triumphantly and Hanna choked back another fit of laughter. "Oh my god, I'm going to get out of her and let you two finish whatever it is that you were doing. And I can assume it's safe to tell the others you erm 'made up'?" Hanna raised an eyebrow and gave Em and Ali another look. Before she walked past Em and on her way out, she said loud enough for both girls to hear, "I knew were loud Em, but damn. Good job Ali, it's always the quite ones right?"
"Hanna, can you just go, it's like you're always around when we are um, when Ali and I are busy."
"Hahaha no Em, you and Ali are constantly jumping each other's bones, I can't help that I just so happen to be around while that happens." She shrugged and walked away, "I'll be back later, and with Spencer and Aria, so make sure you answer your phone and are decent by then." Hanna left the girls laughing lightly and shaking her head.
When she got into her car she sat there for a few minutes, hands on the steering wheel and said aloud for no one but herself to hear, "Emison is sooo endgame. I'm going to start designing their wedding dresses right now." Their friend drove away, probably to get some food and a coffee, with a huge grin on her face, shaking her face at the duo back in Em's shower. She couldn't wait to rub it in everyone's face, how right she had been about them when they were all older.
Back in Em's house
Emily turned to face Ali, whose head was still popping out from the shower curtain, she let out a long sigh she had no idea she was holding, "well, that was fun, don't you think?"
"Actually, I think the fun stopped before it could officially start." Ali shot Em another one of those looks, but it was too close for comfort for Em to jump back in. Her life practically flashed before her eyes when she thought her mom was about to walk in on them and she suddenly found herself thanking God it was Hanna. Ali wasn't thinking the same thing, she was actually mad that Hanna had walked on them yet again. It better not become a habit.
Ali could also sense Em's dilemma, "Ugh, okay Em, I guess we'll have to put this off…again." She didn't hide the disappointment in her voice, but she knew it was probably for the best, after all she might have tried to stay in there all day and she had no intentions of becoming a raisin anytime soon.
"Deal." Em answered back and she turned the shower off, not caring for the few soap suds left on her body, she'd just wipe them away with her towel.
Ali walked up to Em and kissed her lips, pulling away and holding out a pinky. Em held back a laugh and attached her pinky in understanding, "Okay fine, I pinky promise that we will have a complete shower with one another, no interruptions," Em kissed Ali's lips, "no Hanna," kissed them again, "just us."
Ali smiled through every small peck on the lips; she was one of the lucky ones. No one in the world would have an Emily Fields; it felt like she won the lottery.
Later that day
"Guys, wait, don't throw that away, you'll waste it." Spencer was calling out to Emily who had gotten up from their normal booth at The Brew to throw the rest of her and Ali's coffee drinks away. Of course Spencer wouldn't want good coffee to go to waste.
Em simply shook her head and returned to the table, where the rest of her friends and Ali sat. "Okay, whatever you say Spence." She handed the drinks to Spencer and watched as her friend downed the very last drops of the drinks, a look of amazement and slight disgust on her face.
Spencer noticed the look, "What? Finals are coming up and if you guys are going to keep me out all day, I'm going to need the energy to stay awake tonight to study. Besides I hate that you guys waste so much."
Hanna snickered just loud enough to get the table's attention.
"Okay, Han, you gonna tell the rest of us what that was for?" Aria looked sideways at their friend waiting for a response.
Hanna ran the tip of her finger around the top edge of her drink, playing with the lip of the coffee lid, she looked up and Ali and Alison knew that Hanna had something brewing in that head of hers. "Oh, nothing Aria, it's just Spencer is wrong."
Spencer looked taken aback, "I'm sorry, but I'm hardly ever wrong, so what are you talking about?"
Hanna pressed her tongue to the inside of her cheek before she continued, "I said you were wrong, because Em and Ali don't actually waste so much. You should've seen them this morning."
Aria looked at Emily, "Em, what's she talking about?"
Emily looked down at her hands that were lying in her lap.
"Hanna," Ali warned.
"Okay, now I have to know, spill Hanna." Spencer looked between the two blondes, pushing for an answer.
"Oh, it's nothing Spence, I just you know, walked in on Em and Ali…um saving water this morning."
Spencer and Aria looked at each other, hoping one of them could draw a conclusion about what that meant. Both girls came up short.
"Okay, maybe Hanna is right, I'm not following, Alison, what does she mean?"
Ali swallowed and placed her hand atop both of Emily's under the table.
"Um, if you must know, Hanna walked in on Em and I taking a shower this morning."
"Okay," Aria started, "how is that bad, she walked in on me taking a crap that one time at Noel's and," but Spencer put her hand out on the table and Aria stop midsentence. She looked over at Spence, whose head was down, avoiding eye contact.
"Aria, I think they mean that Hanna walked in on them taking a shower…together?"
Aria took Spencer's hand off the table so that the waiter could set their tray of petite scones on the table.
When he left all that escaped Aria's lips was, "ooooh. Oh. Aha. Oh wow."
"Yeah, now I'm wishing I hadn't asked." Spencer laughed sarcastically.
Aria shared the laughter, only hers was more genuine. "Wow," she turned to Hanna, "you've done that a lot, do you have some sort of weirdo sex power?"
"Seriously Ar? Don't encourage it!" Spencer said exactly what the quieted Emily was thinking.
"No it's okay Spence, Em and I were thinking the same thing." Ali addressed her friends, "it's like Han is attracted to us when we're um…well you know."
It was the first time Ali seemed timid but the girls could tell she was just covering up for Em, not trying as she would of before to embarrass her, even if only playfully.
The day went on with the girls shopping lightly in small shops for accessories for their Prom dresses and setting up a reservation for dinner. It was as if the day before was erased and once again things seemed to line up perfectly for them all. Hanna was glad Em had forgiven Ali, Aria appreciated the fact that there was no drama and Spencer was damn proud that Ali hadn't waited a second longer to make things right. The two of them, Spencer and Alison, shared a few looks during the evening before they all went home again and by the smile on Ali's face and slight gleam in her eye, Spencer could tell that they were as close as she would get to a 'thank you' from Alison DiLaurentis.
The girls dropped Ali and Em back at their place and agreed on seeing them later at school. Unbeknownst to each other, Spencer, Hanna and Aria we all extremely happy to see the two of them back together. They had all known that no one that Em had been with before had made Emily happier than she was when she was with Ali and Emily was the only person in the world that they knew would ever be able to make Ali smile like that. And the way they shared their laughter, or the silence in the back of the car, they knew, they knew without Hanna having to mention it, that Alison and Emily, Emily and Alison…Emison, was definitely endgame. California, Pennsylvania, hell, all of America, was not going to change that.
At Em's house
"Well, that went better than expected, don't you think?"
"Yeah, it actually did," Em answered. She wasn't too surprised, but she was expected more reaction from Spencer.
Now that the day was coming to an end, Alison knew that their big talk was going to have to happen, she checked her phone and after seeing that it read 8:30, she thought now was as good a time as ever.
She turned her body towards Em who sat at the kitchen table and both girls started to say each other's name, ending with, "we need to talk."
The girls nervously laughed, avoiding eye contact for a moment as Ali sat herself down across from Emily.
"Sooo," Emily started, but was unsure of where to go from there.
"Sooo," Ali repeated with the same tone of uncertainty. She had no idea how Em would take to what she wanted, and if she would agree to it.
"Okay Ali, you want to start with the schools who offered me things here and then in California? Or…." Emily was nervous as hell and she keep silently wishing that at the end of this a happy medium wound be found.
Ali nodding, knowing already with all her being what she wanted to do. "Actually Em, just tell me about the schools in California. Please."
Emily paused before speaking but she figured it might be easier to start with the schools farthest away and then work her way back to the closest school around: Hollis. She took a deep breath and stood, walking to the kitchen and pulling out a few envelopes from a drawer.
She sat back down and placed the torn open envelopes on the table in front of them both. She sat back down, this time next to Ali and collected her thoughts, "okay, so these are the schools that showed interest in me this past year." She pushed forward the three envelopes and Ali looked them over individually. She made out two of the schools' just from their lettering: A red "S" for Stanford, and yellow-outlined blue letters of "UCLA," and then there was the other letter, the writing in black and orange with a simple "Pacific" on it.
She reached for the three and filed through them, Emily watched anxiously in silence.
"Em, well tell me the offers."
The brunette looked at the envelopes in Ali's hands and then to her face and back down again, at a loss to form sentences and make them come out of her mouth.
"Um, yeah, oh yeah, sure. Well, um I pretty much got offered the same thing from all three of these schools, the only differences lying in tuition and the position on the team. My mom is supposed to have visited these schools already with my dad and they're going to talk about what might be best, but ultimately the decision is mine to make." She watched Ali's face, thinking over her words and Em quickly added, "Uh, not that I'm saying that I'm for sure going to California, I know you still have to tell me-" but Ali cut her off.
"So, tell me the differences. And which school you would be leaning towards." Ali was brave; she wanted to hear what school Emily really wanted to go to. The sooner, the better, because once she was told, she could do her own research and work out the possibilities of going to the same school.
Emily swallowed again and continued talking; trying to brush aside that Ali wasn't saying much about her own plans. "Well Stanford showed interest in me last year, you know, before my shoulder, but they kinda didn't acknowledge everything like they did when I talked to them a year ago…with-"
"Paige." Alison finished for her. "It's okay Em, I know you two are over and are just friends, it doesn't bother me…" Alison said coolly before adding, "not that much anyway," with a playful smile.
"Haha ok, yeah with Paige. They offered a chance for me to red shirt for the team, which means I can practice, but I don't get to officially compete until the next season, and that's if they like me at practice the first year."
Ali nodded, it seemed like a good deal, but she had a feeling there was a 'but' coming.
So she prompted, "but?"
"But…even though I get money for my dad being in the military and some from a scholarship, it'd still be a lot out of pocket that my parents would have to pay. I love the school but it might be too expensive to send me there if they can't see me swim until 'maybe' the next year."
"Yeah, that makes total sense. Well, what about the other two? I know UCLA has a good program right? It can't be too bad."
Emily nodded in agreement and placed her hand on the second envelope, "Ah, yeah, UCLA, home of the Bruins. Um, I really liked that school too. You're right, the swim program is really great there, the competition is stiff but it's still a great school. Girls have already set their spot on the team so I'd really have to fight to get some real recognition. I heard from some people that they favor the locals, I'd be some girl from a crazy and small town, trying to step on their toes, so to speak."
Ali laughed, "Em, please don't tell me you're backing out of this offer because of some competition? A little competition? I haven't seen you swim, but from what the girls have said, you're killer. C'mon Em, what's so bad?"
"Ha. Ha." Emily retorted sarcastically. "I'm not scared, I'm still a Shark remember? I could probably swim circles around some of the freshmen they'd let on."
"Hmm," Ali arched an eyebrow, "cocky Emily is sexy. Tell me more."
Emily slapped Ali's hand away that was trying to reach under the table to her thigh. "Ali, stop, we have to be serious."
Ali sighed and rolled her eyes, but she knew Emily was right. "Okay, okay…I'll behave…for now."
"Ugh, you're impossible."
"I know, but you love me anyway."
"Always," Em pecked Ali on the lips and pulled away, "now, what I was saying…"
"Yes, please."
"I was saying that I know that I can do good, but in the phone call the coach said they might want to red shirt me too. Maybe throw me in for a few meets next year as a back-up for free style…but that's TWO maybe's and if it's I say yes, I'd be saying yes and it's not even my race."
Ali hadn't known Emily had a certain race. She hadn't paid attention while she was gone, she was too busy thwarting –A's efforts to kill her and her friends, so she tried casually to ask what Em had meant.
But Emily read Ali easier than a book sometimes and seen the confusion written clear across her forehead. "uh and when I say 'not my race' I mean, it's not exactly what I'm best at. I've still won races in freestyle but I'm usually dominant in a few others, my favorite probably being the breast stroke."
That quickly caught Alison's attention, "breast stroke? Is that because you're great at-"
"No, Alison, not that." Emily defended herself against the efforts made by Alison to turn something so innocent into, well something that they both were now thinking about.
"Okay, just having some fun."
"Yeah, a little too much, don't you think?"
"Whatever Em, well keep going. That doesn't seem much like an offer unless they agree to pay for all the cost of tuition not covered by your dad. Did they."
Em shook her head, "No, and this kind of where this last college comes to play."
Ali picked up the third and final envelope and flipped it back and forth between her hands. "The very last school from California. The University of the Pacific? Huh, I haven't heard of them. What'd they tell you?"
"Well, not the last, last one. I'm on the wait list for UCSB…Santa Barbara, but I think they're team roster is full. They're application deadline passed before I submitted my response saying that I might be interested. The coach said he can try and pull a few strings, but they haven't seen me in person so I doubt he'll pull that hard."
Alison nodded and thought about Santa Barbara, right on the beach, any of the colleges were close to the beach, maybe an hour or two, but Santa Barbara was the beach. She imagined Emily and herself in the warm water, lounging lazily in the sun. Em getting just a shade darker, a perfect tan, while Ali sat beneath a big beach umbrella writing about her story, their story. A one of star-crossed lovers, a crazy sociopath bent on ending their lives and the lives of those around them and the way these two people battled against the odds and found a way to make the start of their own happy ending. Yeah, California was definitely the place to be.
Em cleared her throat to regain Ali's attention and this time when she spoke, she sounded nervous.
"Well this school, UOP as its known by the locals and people that go there is actually a smaller private college. They sent me a letter actually because of Paige."
Ali was curious. "What did she do?" In her mind Ali wondered if Paige had applied to Pacific for Emily or if she knew somebody who would for her, something.
"Well, it's not something she did; it's just someone she knew. Her dad knows a lot of people over there, in California, some of which being scouts for schools. Of course her dad knew some swimming scouts; they were good friends of his. One of them actually left a big UC to help scout girl swimmers for Pacific and he said he'd give Paige's video of some of her competitions a look."
Ali was trying to follow how this involved Emily. Her Emily, but instead of jumping to any conclusions because she's learn her lesson with that already, she waited patiently for Em to continue.
"Well he looked at them and liked them, but he seen something else that he really liked too. At the end of all of Paige's clips that she put together, she stops the clip right when she touches the wall and that's where I go diving in. Here Paige always wanted to be anchor but coach kept her as the third leg, the swimmer right before me. He asked Paige who I was and if I was any good. She said she'd show him better than she could tell and called me that instant, asking my permission to bring her full tapes of the entire race in so he could watch me too. I told her yes and within a couple weeks, I get this."
Em held up the letter in her hand and she looked at it. Ali could tell that she was really excited about this school wanting her. Ali was excited that maybe it would be the school she went to too. But instead of focusing her attention on the possibility of Paige also being there, which she is sure she could handle no doubt, she let Emily keep talking. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about swimming again, was a gift Ali could never return, but she knew for sure he wanted to be a part of it.
"Go on, what did it say?"
Emily pulled the letter out as if she had forgotten that fat 'we want you' that was practically painted on it. A picture of Uncle Sam in a black and orange Speedo made her laugh and she continued telling Alison about this other, smaller school.
"Well this letter was signed by the Athletic Director and the coach, both saying how they'd love to have me on the team. They lost most of their swimmers with last year's graduating senior class, so they need the best of the best to fill their shoes. They don't want just any underclassmen stepping in, they need a whole new string of girls that can get to know each other fast and really make a presence on the team. They offered a full scholarship and a starting position as their very own anchor in practically any style race I want."
Ali was giddy with nerves and excitement for her girlfriend, it sounded like everything she had ever dreamed of wanting in a school and for swimming, but she couldn't help the bubbling feeling in the pit of her stomach that another 'but' was soon to follow.
"Is there a 'but' you have to worry about? I mean I know blue is really your favorite color, but I think an orange wet suit would look hot on you too."
Emily laughed lightly, "Ali, I don't care what colors the school is. I mean I really like this one plus it's not that, that far of a drive from where my dad's camp is stationed. And by 'that far' I mean it's like a 5-6 hour drive. But yes, Ali, there is a small 'but'."
Ali braced herself to hear something, anything that would be bad. Okay Alison, think. Situation: what could be the worst possible thing about this school? Answer: Em goes but they don't accept you. Ali thought that over and told herself anything that wasn't that would be a happy surprise she could live with.
"Well, you see, since the school, lost a big part of their team and not just some swimmers, they're really looking to rebuild that team dynamic and since the scout and coach watched the clips of me and Paige swimming on the same team…" Emily was nervous to keep going. She knows she would never try to rekindle anything past a friendship with Paige again, that ship had sailed, but Alison was really the one who was fragile and Emily was afraid that telling her this, about this school wanting her and Paige as a duo, would make her think she was choosing Paige over her, which would never be the case. Ali said she had no hard feelings towards her ex, but Emily knew a jealous Ali was a fearful and dangerous one.
Ali finished for Em, "they'll take you…but they want both of you." It wasn't a question so much as a possible reality that echoed blanking around the kitchen walls.
"Yeah, they do. But Ali, there are more schools here and Hollis, I'd be a star if I went there, and these aren't the only options…"
Ali cut her off by placing her hand on top of Em's stopping the rush of words from spilling between her lips.
"Em, I don't care that Paige will be there if you say yes to this school. I don't care if you say yes to any other school and Paige is there, I made my mind up this morning where I wanted to go to school, and no one person or thing will change that for me."
Emily stopped and turned her head towards Alison, she was semi-scared. "You did?" She asked, afraid of the rest of what was to follow.
"Yeah Em," Ali's voice was soft, she spoke gingerly and placed her hand on Em's cheek. "Emily Fields, college is four years minimum. Nothing good has ever happened to me here in Rosewood or any place near it except you. So, today, in the shower, I got to thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I tried hard to imagine us in a long distance relationship, sending kisses through Skype or iPhone emoji's… I tried to imagine myself a thousand and something physical miles apart from each other, and I just couldn't. So I tried again, and this time I could see perfectly where I was, and what I was doing the next four years of my life. You want to know what that was?"
Emily looked deeply into the eyes of the young woman sitting next to her and let the answer be heard through the way she rubbed her thumb over the back of Ali's hands, which were held perfectly in the bowl of her own.
"For the next four years, I picture myself, crammed in a dorm with you at a college where you're on all the athletic posters, the star swimmer, and I'm the lucky girlfriend, basking in your warmth from the sidelines. I see us sitting at a small coffee shop, ordering more and more caffeine to keep us up for the all nighter we'll pull studying for midterms and finals. And I don't see these," Ali picks up the envelopes and tosses them across the table, "I don't see what colors we're wearing, or what mascot is dancing at the games and swim meets, and I sure as hell, don't see Paige. I see you. I see you and me. You and me in California together, going to the same school. And years beyond that, I see a beach house, a place to call home and a place to start a family."
Emily's eyes welled up with tears. Alison was good with words on paper. She was good with words that were meant to disarm and defend but Emily had waited for a moment like this to actually happen, because she knew deep down that when Alison had the courage to do it, she would melt Em away with words like this.
"So I don't care if you go to school, with Paige, I know from the way you look at me, even when I'm at my worse that you love me. I'm sorry it took me running away to realize that, but I'm not worried about anyone coming between us Em. I just want to leave this shitty town behind and start over fresh, with you."
Emily let happy tears, first one and then a slow steady stream of them, roll down her cheeks and when Ali looked at her face, her own blue eyes, glossed over with tears.
"Why, why are we crying?" Ali laughed, her voice shaking. "Is this you saying yes?"
Emily nodded and with both hands cupped Ali's face, bringing their lips together in a chaste kiss that set time into slow motion. When she pulled away, Ali's body relaxed and Em sat back against her chair, and faced her body towards Ali.
"Ali, this is an expensive private school. And I don't know how good their English department is, I know you want to be a writer, I just do, but I don't want to feel like you're sacrificing the chance to stay somewhere on this side of the country and go to a better school for English or journalism.
Ali had known Em would think about that before her own wants and needs, so Ali had prepared what she wanted to say, her guns were loaded.
"Em, a college is a college. This Pacific school doesn't have to be well-known for their journalism. There are still great job opportunities for stuff like that in California. I'm not sacrificing any dreams. I love to write yes, but I know I won't be missing out if I don't end up on the shelves at Barnes&Noble, or named a 'New York Times Bestseller,' that's not a 'dream' I had until just a few weeks ago maybe. The only dream I never want to give up on is you. When I was gone those years, I had a lot of time to reflect on who I was and what I really wanted. No one was there to tell me that I didn't deserve something good. It was hard to sleep, but when I did, I dreamt of you. And then I came back and you convinced me that I was actually worth a damn. You convinced me that I could accept the fact that someone, that you, could truly love me and from that moment of realization, the only dream I had, was you, and being with you. So telling me that I'd be sacrificing my dream if I went to California with you would be totally wrong. I'd only be sacrificing it if I didn't go you with you."
Ali finished and it felt so good to have said it, it felt so good for Emily to hear it. Em wiped her face and met Ali's eyes. Everything Alison said, settled in all the nooks and crannies of her heart and her chest felt a familiar pang of ache from her heart beating so fast, so hard.
Em smiled, it was all almost too good to be true. But it was real. She pinched herself under the table without Ali seeing to make sure she was, in fact, awake and laughed at herself when she did.
Ali turned her head and Em shook her head to forget what she just did. Ali and Em's eyes met and a surge of electricity coursed down their backs.
"Okay, Ali, let's do it. Let's go to college together, in California. Let's do it."
Ali jumped from her seat and straddled Em's lap, "I love you Emily Fields."
Emily craned her neck forward to kiss Ali and wrap her arms around her waist. "I love you Alison DiLaurentis."
Alison smiled into Em's mouth. Till the end of everything, Em.
*This chapter is pretty lengthy, so I'm going to cut it in half and post the second part as another chapter: Chapter 33: Do You PROMise? (Part 2-PROM, A Night In Paris)
Okay so I know I'm a day behind with updates, I apologize, but here is my explanation. I do my best when I write late at night. To be honest, I've sat at my desk all day today trying to write this part of this chapter and almost nothing got done, it's almost midnight where I am and my fingers are flying across my keyboard like crazy. Also, I'm behind because as a teen, I'm not entitled to just lock myself in my room all day like I would love to. I have certain "responsibilities" to take care of.
Anyways, I love the responses I got for my new story "Orange Is the New Emily," I WILL be writing the chapters to that soon. My smut filled one-shots are all works in progress. Please be patient with me, I have NOT forgotten about them. I hope the 69 one is up by tomorrow.
I'd like to thank all the "update now"s for making me well, update now. Lol, love you guys. To the reader, by the name Punchyy, who just started reading my story, thank you for the kind words, I look forward to hearing more from you. To Drea82581, you are probably my biggest supporter and I've loved every one of your reviews, THANK YOU ALWAYS! And to everyone else who said they love my story, my story loves you! It's the only reason I keep writing.
The whole PROM segment coming soon, like in 24 hours kind of soon. In the mean time, leave your honest reviews and tell me what you want to see at Prom!
Kisses, Lina :)