Chapter 34: Turning a New "Paige"
"Wait, Ali, you did what?" Emily's thoughts turned and flipped around in her head, trying to imagine the scene that Ali was trying to describe to her: her current girlfriend asking her ex-girlfriend on a lunch date together? Both of whom hated one another (technically) because of her.
"Ouch, that hurts. Could you maybe try to not sound so surprised? What did you expect me to do? Slap her or something? Make her leave the bathroom in tears? That's not me anymore Em, I thought you of all people would understand that."
"Ali, you know I don't mean it like that. Why didn't you tell me after Prom, it's been a week and you barely want to tell me this?"
Ali shrugged and feigned being hurt, but she knew Em was just genuinely surprised…hell, she had even surprised herself when she found herself face-to-face with the girl (well one of them that got to be with Em before her, that got to kiss her sweet lips and hear the music in her laugh). Ali knew Em wasn't suggesting that she hadn't changed; it just brought her old self back into the new life she was starting. A new life that was slowly leaving behind the old Alison until all that was left was just Alison, no references to who she was and who she was becoming…just the Alison that she is.
Emily picked up on the hurt in Ali's voice and although neither girl meant the other any harm, Em stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Alison, and Ali knew it was one of those looks. The kind of look that only Emily can ever give her.
Emily Fields was the only one who has ever seen her. Everyone else: her family, the people at school, even the others, they all seen the girl Ali was trying to be, the girl who was trained and taught how to stick a knife in the weak spots in someone's amour; how to manipulate people like dolls and use words to cut just as sharp as any blade would. Ali was lethal, like a poison and the antidote to her own medicine came in the form of the five foot seven beauty standing just a few feet away.
"You know Em, it's okay, I wouldn't believe it either."
Em had a hard set to her face, she hated when Ali belittled herself and let her think that she wasn't worthy, like she didn't deserve to be believed in.
"Ali, get over here." The tone in Em's voice told Alison that it wasn't a question, or a suggestion, it was a command.
Ali walked lazily over to Emily until the brunette was pinned against the fridge by the weight of her girlfriend. Ali placed her hands on each one of Em's arms and rubbed the length of it.
"Em, please don't apologize. I know who I was okay? I shouldn't have said that, I know you believe me. But I also know that you know how hard it is for me to admit things."
Emily looked down over the top of Ali's head. Alison held her gaze in the strands of Emily's hair that fanned over her shoulders to rest across her breastplate.
Emily reached up to cup Ali's chin between two fingers, tilting her head back slowly, gently until the eyes were forced to meet. A devilish smirk settled on Emily's lips and she leaned in slowly towards Ali's face, waiting for the precise moment when Alison's breath would hitch and her eyelids would fall like heavy curtains after a show over her fierce blue eyes. That moment came and just as their lips barely brushed, Emily turned Alison's face to the side and placed heavy kisses along the length of her neck, then blowing into them so that her lips made the funny noises a child would make, tickling the blonde in her most sensitive areas.
"Oh you tease! Emily, stop. No no no, please, hey! That tickles!" Ali squealed and tried to pull away, but her body was pinned in a vice like hold that Em's arms had around her waist.
Laughter bubbled in the air and soon Emily was just laughing into the crook of Alison's neck, giving Ali the right amount of leverage to break free and make a run for it.
Emily shook her head, "You can run, but you know I'm faster than you Ali. You can run, but you have no place to hide." Emily took off in a sprint upstairs to Alison's bedroom. She stopped abruptly at the doorway, watching in amusement as Ali was hunched over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath. She was breathing so hard that she had no idea that Emily was at the door waiting, "I gotcha."
Ali turned around just in time to see Emily make a lunge at her, missing barely as Ali jumped on her bed, "Emily, no. Stop it." Ali's voice rose in pitch and she scooted as far as she could until her back hit the headbroad. Emily stood at the foot of the bed, lowered her hands to the mattress and her voice dropped an octave, "now I've got you right where I want you." Emily grinned and slowly raised her knees up onto the bed, crawling on all fours to hover over Alison, their eyes locked. Ali couldn't help but laugh and giggle the whole time, throwing the pillows she had next to her down at Emily, one hitting her right in the face with an audible 'oomph.'
Emily stopped and shook her head, "you shouldn't have done that babe, now I'm gonna have to tickle you." And in one swift move, Emily pulled Ali down towards her on the bed by her ankles, got on top of her, straddled her waist and tickled her stomach, the blonde crying out in laughter and pleads.
When the tears from laughing started to form in Ali's eyes, Em stopped but stayed right where she was.
Ali finally caught her breath and opened her eyes, "Oh I am so going to get you back for that. You won't know when or how or where, but I'm gonna get you Emily."
Em just smiled and leaned her body down until she supported herself on her elbows that were on either side of Alison's head.
"Alison DiLaurentis, you've already got me. You had me from the first 'hey' and the first time I ever heard you laugh. You had me, you got me and you will always have me."
Alison's playful smile quickly faded and was replaced by a look of awe. She reached her heads up until they were clasped around Emily's neck and she pulled the brunette on top of her, "how do you know just what to say Emily Fields? If you keep one-upping me like this, I'm afraid my vows to you will be quite disappointing when it comes to the romance."
Emily laughed lightly and when Ali's hands tightened their grip in her hair, she let Ali guide her head down until their lips met, sharing a deeply passionate kiss. Em rolled off of Ali and on to her side when they pulled away for air.
Em probed herself on her side and smirked, "you know Ali, you said it's hard for you to admit things?"
Ali met Emily's look with a questioning one of her own and decided to see where this was going. "Yeah, I did, and it is."
"Uh huh." Emily said so matter of-factly. "Well, I'm going to have to call you're bluff on that one babe."
Ali looked confused so Emily leaned into her ear, "you want to to know why? Because you had no problem admitting how good I felt between your thighs last night did you? Or how much you love when I call your name?"
Holy shit, is she trying to kill me. Ali swallowed hard and closed her eyes. When her thoughts became a little clearer and the images from the night before faded she reached her arm across the bed and…
Whap! She smacked Emily in the face with a pillow.
"Oh, it's like that?" Emily laughed, grabbing the pillow and tossing it to the floor beside her.
Ali squirmed, hoping Em wouldn't attack her again. Nonetheless, Emily crawled over to Ali and pinned the blonde under her body again, grinning from ear to ear.
"Emily. Emily don't. I can't take it anymore, I'll pee on myself." Ali laughed hard, barely managing to get the words out, watching the way Em's eyes turned hungry to playful and back again. Em raised her hands over Ali's waist and raised her eyebrow, slowly lowering her hands as Ali bucked wildly, trying to throw Emily off and get free.
"Okay, I won't tickle you again if you admit it."
"Admit what?"
Em turned her head to the side, waiting for Ali to catch on.
"Okay, okay! Fine, I admit that I do admit my feelings sometimes, but only when I'm with you."
Em smiled and dropped her hands to rest on her thighs, "Ali, I already knew that." The seduction was heavy in her voice, "that's not what I wanted you to admit."
"Oh?" It was Alison's turn to smirk now and when she did, she knew exactly what Emily was waiting to hear.
Ali was lightning quick as she reached up, griped Em's shoulders and flipped them over, straddling Emily this time now just as they…..slipped from the bed, bringing the sheets with them and landing hard on the floor.
"Damnit, okay Ali, I the pillows I understand, but this hurt."
Ali was in a fit of laughter over Emily, who had the pleasure of being the one to break Alison's fall.
"I'm sorry babe, I know I shouldn't be laughing, but…hahaha, I am sorry."
Emily frowned and rubbed the back of her head with her hand, "you owe me now."
Ali smiled and leaned down, kissing Emily sweetly on the lips, she pulled away and repeated her actions two more times before pulling away, resting her forehead on Em's, "better?"
Emily shrugged and smirked, "nope."
Ali took that as a challenge and kissed Emily again, this time with more pressure, she pulled away and asked, "what about now?"
"Hmm, getting there."
Ali leaned down and placed feather light kisses along the front of Emily's throat, biting down gently when she felt the brunette's hands grip her ass. Ali continued kissing her way up the length of Emily's throat until she reached her earlobe. She sucked the skin into her mouth and blew lightly in Emily's ear, "would you feel better if I tell you how much I love you?"
Emily closed her eyes and her hands moved to Ali's waist. "Maybe," she moaned.
Ali hissed when she felt Emily's nails digging into her skin, "what if I tell you how much I love making love to you?"
Emily bit her lip, "you're getting hotter."
Ali smirked and reached to cup one of Emily's breasts, and in a low voice she whispered, "and I know you are too, aren't you?" Ali's hand made its way down Em's flat stomach, stopping when her fingers dipped just under the waistband of her shorts.
Emily could only moan in response.
Ali ground her hips gently into Emily's waist, "you want to hear how much I love when you do this to me?"
"Yes, god yes."
Ali smirked again, loving that she was the reason Emily couldn't think right now.
"You want to hear how much I love when you kiss me like we're the only people left in the world. The way your hands feel when they're touching me, they feel everywhere. The way your arms hold me when my body quakes under you? Emily Fields, I know you love when I admit how much you turn me on when you moan my name. I know it."
Emily swallowed, opening her eyes to have them swallowed in the sea of Alison's blue ones.
"Emily, say my name."
Em let a childish smile creep across her face. She shook her head. She was pinned under the full weight under Ali, yet she didn't feel powerless. In fact, she felt the exact opposite. When she was with Ali she felt stronger. When they were together, they felt whole, complete. Ali sat up and when she was about to stand up, Emily held her still, "Alison." It was a whisper; so intimate and soft that it was almost a secret. Ali stopped and smiled, "again."
"Al-i-son." Emily spoke slowly, letting each syllable roll off her tongue the way honey drips slow and thick from a spoon.
Ali shivered bit her lip in a grin. "I love when you say my name like that."
"Yeah, well if you behave, then maybe I'll say it for you like that later tonight."
Alison laughed lightly. "Behave or misbehave, it doesn't matter."
"Oh, is that what you think? Why doesn't it matter?"
"Because, either way, you won't be able to resist me."
"Is that a challenge? You know Prom wasn't too long ago, I bet I can hold out for another week again."
"Hah, Em, you know that both killed us and that night was…intense. So no, it's not a challenge, it's just a fact."
"Fine, Miss Know It All, go ahead, call her and misbehave or act normal, it doesn't matter, since I'll be here in your bed waiting when you get back anyway."
"Good, that's where I want you forever."
"And always."
They kissed and after getting up to fix the bed, they took a shower and went downstairs to watch some TV.
Ali came down in jeans and a plain T-shirt. One of Emily's favorites.
"Wait, where are you going? I thought it was our date-night in tonight?'
"Em, it still is, but it's only 1 o'clock. I'll be back for date night."
"Ugh, fine, should I come with?"
Ali considered having Emily there, but seeing that Em did have a pretty intense past relationship with Paige she shook her head, "um, no, I think this is something I should do on my own. Besides, don't you think that might be awkward?"
Emily mulled it over and nodded, "yeah, you're right, I'll probably have Hanna pick me up or something until you get back. We haven't went on one of our dates in a while."
At the mention of a date, Ali whipped her head in Emily's direction and raised her brow,
Em chuckled, "Ali, calm down, she's not my type."
Ali expected Emily to say something along the lines of 'not like that, silly' but instead she was surprised that Emily said what she said instead.
Emily laughed reading Ali's expression. "Em, what do you mean Hanna's not your type. She blonde and has blue eyes…and I'm blonde and have blue eyes, so explain."
Emily placed her hand over her chest and faked surprise, "wait, Alison, you have blonde hair? And blue eyes? Oh no." She got up from the sofa and walked towards Ali, wrapping her arms around Ali's waist and pulling away to get a good look at her, "I love when you wear my clothes out."
Ali placed her hand on her hip, "Em, you better explain yourself."
"About?"
Ali wasn't playing around so she stayed silent.
"Ooooh, 'my type'?" You want to know what my type is?"
Ali pursed her lips, waiting.
"Ali, I only have one type. Always did, always will. This will sound kinda corny, but my only type is…you. No one will look or sound like you, laugh or smile like you. No one will make me feel the way you do, so alive yet happy enough that if I died the next the second, it would be okay. There I no one out there like you, you're a type on your own."
"Em, you're doing it again."
Ali grinned and pecked Em on the lips.
"Doing what?"
"Speaking all Nicolas Sparks on me, it's not fair. I'm supposed to be the writer, remember?"
Emily laughed and rubbed Ali's back, "I used to get all choked up when I tried to talk to you, but now that I know how you feel, I guess it's just easier to… you know."
"What be a romantic mess?"
"A mess? Really? Okay, then yes. A romantic mess."
"Okay, well it's still not fair."
"Alison, would you stop? It's not a competition."
"Yes, it is. And right now I think I'm losing."
"No, you had the cabin remember? And the notes and the food and the lake, and every kiss in between."
"Ugh there you go again."
"Okay, fine, you want to even the score?"
Ali nodded.
"Look at me."
"What?" Alison didn't understand.
"You heard me, just look at me. Look at me as if I'm not right her looking right back. Look at me like all the times you have when you woke up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and thought I was sleeping. Look at me and see me only the way you ever will."
Ali swallowed, the intensity between them was making it hard to breathe.
"Alison," Emily cupped her chin, "don't look away. Look at me."
Alison raised her head and did as she was told, she looked up to Emily's face, examined all her favorite spots to kiss: behind her ear, the bas of her throat, her cheeks, her perfect lips. Then she looked up into Emily's eyes and lost herself completely. She seen the love and their memories together and their dreams they had about one another, with each other. Ali looked and stared and she seen. She seen the beauty that was completely Emily Fields and while she was stuck in a trance, her head moved forward, their eyes locked until their foreheads met.
Emily smiled lightly and slipped her hand into her pocket, and pulled out her phone. Ali was so caught up she didn't realize what Emily was doing until she heard the sound of the shutter. And even then she couldn't rip her eyes away. They smiled back and there was another click. She leaned forward and kissed Emily square on the lips, a third click sounded and Ali pulled away.
She had barely touched her lips to Emily's yet she was already breathless.
"You know Em, I didn't think you were into that sort of thing but we could always go back upstairs to my room, I have a camera if you want to film us.
"Ha. Ha Alison." Em smiled, shaking her head and pulled the pictures up on her phone.
"Ali, do you want to know why it doesn't matter what we say to each other at this point? Or why even if this was a competition, we'd both be winning?"
Ali nodded. Emily showed Alison the first two pictures and in them Ali saw the way she looked when she was looking at Emily. She looked at the way Emily was looking back her. Two girls and the same look. One look. And Alison understood what Emily was trying to prove. It was one love, their love.
Emily smiled when she seen the realization hit Alison. She pointed to the pictures, showing Ali the third one of them kissing and back to the first one, where their heads were bowed, foreheads touching and smiles soft on their faces.
"This, this is why it'll always be a tie. If we didn't have words, or ways to communicate verbally or on paper, it wouldn't matter. We have this. We will always have this. I don't care if you say 'Emily, I love you like a fat kid loves cake' because this will always be enough, more than enough. Alison, the way we you look at me, the way we look at each other…that beats anything Nicolas Sparks could write, our love is real."
Alison nodded and wrapped her arms around Emily's neck, "I love you Emily Fields."
Emily kissed Alison deeply, passionately, "I love you Alison DiLaurentis."
# # # # # # #
A few hours later
"Emily, I can't believe I'm getting ready again! I should've left when I had the chance. You are so bad."
"What was it you said to me earlier? Misbehave or behave, it doesn't matter anyways. You can't resist me."
Ali laughed, "okay, fine, you got me there. But seriously, you know that this will only make me come home later for date night?"
"It's okay, we'll skip the movies."
"We can't skip the movies, that's the whole point!"
"Fine, we'll skip dinner," then she smiled and added, "I can eat you instead."
Ali nearly choked, scrambling around her room to find her clothes that Emily had thrown all over the place. "Emily! Woah, since when did you become so…so, just stop it. You're worse than me and Hanna, combined."
"Haha, don't lie, I know you love it."
"Okay, fine I do, but…hey where are my underwear?"
Emily smirked then looked guilty, "you might need to find new ones?"
"Why, where are the ones I just had?"
Emily shrugged and pulled her hand from under the covers, "I may have ripped them."
Ali laughed, "geez, Em, that's like the third pair, you know how expensive Victoria's Secret is? That's her god damn secret: what a rip off their prices can be!"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry, I guess I can't help it sometimes."
Emily looked embarrassed but Ali pulled on a new pair and got dressed again, "it's okay, but you're buying me new ones this time."
"Deal. So where are you going?"
"I don't know yet, when I talked to Paige she agreed only if she got to pick. So I guess it's up to her."
A look crossed Emily's face and Ali laughed, "Is that worry? Don't worry Em, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to tell if she wants to meet in the middle of nowhere to kill me and hide the body."
"Not funny, and it's not that. I know Paige won't hurt you. I would just like to know where my girlfriend is at all times."
"Oh well as soon as she tells me where she wants to go, I'll text you."
"Okay, um, do you need to call her, how do you know she's free today?"
"Oh, yeah, I just assumed I could go down to her house and…yeah, what's her number? I'll call her myself."
Emily gave Ali her ex's number and got up to get dressed stepping out to call Hanna and give Ali some space.
"Hello? Paige, hi, yes, this is Alison."
"Oh, you have my number?"
"Um yeah, I got it from Em."
"Okay."
"Listen, I know it's real short notice, but I was just thinking about what I said to you at Prom and was wondering if you wanted to get lunch today? I can pick you up or meet you wherever you want, it's my treat remember?"
"Uh huh, well I guess I'm not busy. Um is Emily coming with you?"
"No, she's gonna go out with Hanna. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I was actually going to ask her not to come, this is kind of awkward enough."
"Yeah, so where should I meet you?"
"Um, the place I usually go is closed on Sundays, so just meet me at Joe's Grill on..."
"Weston Lane?"
"Yeah, I didn't many people knew about that place. But then again you are…"
"Alison DiLaurentis. I know who I am Paige, I don't need people to keep saying that like I'm cursed okay?"
Paige went silent. "Um yeah, I'm sorry, it's just weird talking to you on the phone, it's weird talking to you period, so let me apologize in advance for just now and all the other times I may seem abrasive later.
Ali sighed, knowing that what Paige was doing couldn't be very comfortable or easy for her. "Yeah, it's okay. I understand…I will meet you there in what? An hour then?"
"I'm dressed, I can leave now, unless you need some time?"
"No, that's perfect, I'll see you soon then?"
"Yeah, bye."
As soon as the line went dead Ali sighed and her shoulders slumped, that was really awkward, but she knew she had to make these amends. For herself and more importantly for Emily.
Emily walked in as Ali hung up her cell and wrapped her arms, resting her chin on Ali's shoulder.
Ali sighed, placing her hands over Em's. "Em, do you think she'll forgive me?"
Em breathed in deeply, letting Ali fill her nostrils, "I know Paige didn't like you, A LOT. She didn't tell me what happened between you two, she never said flatly that she hated you, but whatever you did or said to her really shook her up then. But she's a different person now, you both are, so she may not forgive you right now or tomorrow, but I know she'll accept your apology and at least try. She's a good person Ali, and so are you."
"Sooo, that's a fat maybe?"
"Yeah, I guess it is."
"Well that's better than a 'hell no,' so I guess I better go and get this over with then, did you get a hold of Hanna?"
"Yeah she's gonna pick me up in 20 minutes and we're going to go shopping."
"Haha typical, what is she shopping for this time? God, I hope she know how small the places can be in New York, I bet her whole room is going to be transformed into a closet, so what is she getting this time?"
Em paused, "we're going to shop for our graduation dresses."
A heavy feeling sank in Ali's stomach. Her and Em worked it all out, they would stay in Rosewood almost all summer while Ali got her GED and the five of them could have their last summer together before leaving and then near the end of August, before school started, they'd move to California together.
Em felt the shift in Ali's body and kissed her shoulder, "hey, I know you want to bet there on stage with us, but you have to do what you have to do and get your diploma another way, it's not your fault Ali that A took this away from you."
"I know, but it has always been the five of us you know? We did everything together and I just thought graduation would be one of those things."
Em spun her around and looked at her, "we're all still going to be there okay, and the girls are just happy that you won't have to go to an adult school for another year, thank God you're smart."
Ali laughed, "yeah, thank God for allowing me to sit and cheer for you all."
"Damn right, and you better be the loudest one."
Ali smirked, "Em, you already know how loud I can be." And Emily didn't miss the innuendo there.
"Ali you better go before I keep you here and not let you leave."
"Okay okay, I wasn't planning on staying anyway, Hanna has seen enough."
Ali made her way downstairs and Em followed, kissing her at the door of her car. Before Ali got in, Em held the door open and grabbed her girlfriend's hand, "Ali?"
"Yeah, I almost forgot, we're going to Joe's Grill out on Weston Lane. I'll call you when I'm on my way home."
"Oh, good, but it's not that, I just want you to know that I'm proud of you for doing this."
Ali was surprised but then climbed in her car, "thanks Em, I know it means a lot to you too. I just don't want there to be a reason for any awkwardness when you guys are out there in that pool. No one messes with my mermaid."
Em smiled, loving her nickname.
"Alright, now get outta here so you can come home faster."
"Yes, m'am. Does that mean you'll have a surprise waiting for me?"
"Maybe, but you're going to have to wait to find out."
"Tease." And Ali drove off.
# # # # # # #
Ali and Paige had been at Joe's Grill for a little over an hour, eating appetizers and drinking lemonade, but mostly just talking before ordering actual food. It was awkward trying to start the conversation let along slip in the 'I'm sorry I tormented you and made your life hell, but I'm better now, please forgive me?'
But Ali managed to do it anyways, not in those exact words, but she did. Ali poured it all out while Paige sat back in the booth, taking it all in and eating fries. Alison spoke from the heart and said everything that Paige deserved to hear. It was hard from them both, Paige McCullers shed tears saltier that her fries for the way Ali had teased her even then about her feelings for Emily.
She sat in silence, wrapping her mind around the fact that Alison was apologizing to her and even more shocking, that Paige knew that although maybe not anytime soon, that she would forgive her.
"Paige, I know I've been rambling on for a while, but you haven't really said much, and I just want you to know that I'm not that girl, I'm not that evil bitch anymore. I didn't want to be then, and I won't be ever again. I am just really sorry for the way I treated you, you didn't deserve that and I know that for the next four years, we'll be seeing each other a lot so it only seems right to bury the hatchet now."
Paige nodded in agreement. "So say Emily didn't go to Pacific like me, then you would let me live the rest of my life not liking you, almost completely hating you for the way you used to make me feel?"
"No, I didn't mean it that way, I've made amends to a lot of people already but not all of them and I, nor Emily, would let me leave without saying sorry to everyone that I've hurt. That includes you. And honestly, no matter how hard of a time you will have believing this, but," Ali spoke slowly as if the words pained her, "I think that maybe in a year or two, with you being around Em a lot for school and me well being with her, I think that maybe we could actually," Ali kept throwing in extra words to slow down what she was about to say.
Paige caught on quickly, "Wait are you suggesting that we might actually have the slight possibility of being able to stand one another? Listen I'm not mad at Em for breaking up with me, I get it, but why would you want to be around me more than what is absolutely necessary? To rub it in that Emily chose you…again?"
Ali rolled her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head, "of course not, I actually had the impression that somehow the three of us would be"
"Friends? Are you serious? Or did you bump your head on the way over here? You and I friends? Yeah, there more chances of a pig learning to fly than that Alison."
"Why would you say that? Other than the bitchy me you knew, we really don't know anything abot each other."
"Yeah, well even if I agree with you on that one, we don't even have anything in common."
Just then the waiter that always worked that booth walked over and smiled placing a special order of a grilled chicken breast sandwich, extra cheese, tomatoes on the side, with avocados, no crust and a side of curly fries. "I see you didn't order yet, so I had the cook make you the usual."
He placed it down and at the same time, both Ali and Paige said 'thank you' and reached for the plate. They stopped when they realized their response was echoed by the girl sitting across from them and the waiter, James looked between them.
He stood and stared between the two while they gave questioning looks at one another. "Oh it's you…and you. I- I'll go bring another one." And he left to the kitchen, both girls still staring in disbelief at one another and then breaking out in an uneven laughter.
Paige was still laughing lightly when Ali reached and popped a curly fry in her mouth, "nothing in common, huh?"
"Haha yeah, I guess we just have 'the usual' in common?"
Ali laughed genuinely this time and when Paige reached for a fry, Ali pretended to smack her hand away, "hey back off McCullers, you heard James, he'll bring yours out in a little bit."
Paige laughed, "Mine, no I think you're eating my fries and he went back to get yours, DiLaurentis."
Ali smiled and reached to grab the ketchup, "Uh huh, okay fine, we go halves on the fries for now and halves on the ones that come out and you can have this burger, I can wait."
Paige laughed and shrugged, agreeing in silence as she reached for the bottle and squirted ketchup over the fries she claimed as her half.
Ali smiled and took the ketchup and did the same to her half, "Em hates when I do this, I think it's just convenient sometimes, and I find it funny that the girls say I'm more of a clean fry eater, you know a dip in the ketchup cup kind of girl. But nope, I like it messy sometimes, because why not? Before, well I guess this, Hanna was the only person I could share fries with, so thanks McCullers."
Paige laughed and shook her head, "Okay, so maybe this might work. Maybe."
Ali had a twinkle in her eye; she felt triumphant and couldn't wait to tell Emily how well this went.
"Maybe sounds better than hell no." Ali laughed, remembering that she had said those same words earlier to Emily.
"Yeah, I guess it does." Paige actually relaxed her body for the first time since that night started and she actually felt herself forgiving the blonde. She pictured being close with Emily again, but as friends, and it was surprising again to find herself being okay with imagining Ali their too. All three of them going out to eat as friends and maybe telling Emily about this
Then the rest of their food came out and after splitting those fries too, she told Ali, "Okay well now that we figured we have this," she gestured at the restaurant and the booth, "in common, that makes it mandatory for us to share how we found this little hole in the wall and why this plate here, is our 'usual.'" Ali smiled and sent Em a quick message.
Things are going well, I can't wait to tell you; send me pics if you find a dress. Be home soon! xoxo Ali
"Haha okay, it's a deal, but first I need to order a shake, you want one?"
"You kidding, you're paying, so heck yes I do."
"Okay, I'll just go to the counter and order, it's probably faster, what flavor?"
And again, at the same time, this strange pairing of two girls who nearly hated each other, who had a turn at torturing one another, laughed in each other's company as they said the same thing yet again, "chocolate."
Ali stood at the counter and checked her phone.
Emily- Ali, I'm so glad that you guys are tearing at each other's throats, lol. Well, Hanna and I are finishing up, she'll drop me off at your house. But I'm gonna stop by Victoria's Secret and get you a little surprise for when you get home.;)
Ali blushed and texted Em back quickly. She returned to the table and set the shakes down. "Okay, so who is telling their story first?"
Paige laughed and volunteered to go first.
Ali listened and was glad that she had decided to do this. Maybe the two of them could be friends. She listened and genuinely laughed and before it was her turn she thought, maybe this won't be such a long night after all.
And the same time Paige sat and thought to herself, alright DiLaurentis, I'll give you a second shot. And maybe this won't be so bad.
***Hello my lovelies, thank you for your support and understanding about my whole family situation. I appreciate the patience and of course your kind words in some of the reviews you've left for me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I would've written more with the Paige and Ali "date" but I have other things planned for them down the road. ;)
Leave reviews and what you thought down below pleeeeease? What did you think about Prom in the last chapter? Emison in the beginning of this one? Cute or what? And what about this Paige and Alison friendship? I'd love to hear feedback and suggestions. I know it seemed kind of easy, but when things have been complicated for so long, ease is welcomed.
Also I will most likely only be able to update on the weekends because of school, my goal is one chapter and 1 one-shot each weekend, I hope you understand? That next one-shot is coming! Maybe Wednesday night? I promise, I'm just slow, also next weekend, I want to start sharing my new story Orange is the New Emily, maybe after a few chapters are done.
So, that's it for now folks, just a little update on my plans, I hope you enjoyed, I'll be back when I can. In the meantime, keep me sane, and review, review, review. It gives me something other than just college stuff to look forward to.
Kisses, Lina
Next Chapter: The Last Sleepover