This game is over. Being the scared victim is never what Alison had intended on being in her return to Rosewood. Power was her drug of choice and she forever would need to get her fix from control. She can't be a person who trembles under people's words, rather spoken or written. As she looks in the mirror her sad blue eyes turn a shade they haven't be in awhile filled with hunger for control and lusting for power.
Emily wanted space that was exactly what she was going to get. If she didn't believe Alison had changed over the last two years she was going to prove Emily right. Being a bitch was second nature and it was easy to fall back into the pace of the monster Ali learned to keep under the bed.
Before school Alison get up and wears a bright red short dress, with her highest black pumps. She spends extra time curling her already perfectly done hair. She adds a little more attention to detail while doing her makeup than before. When she looks in the mirror it's the old Alison she sees. She dashes on her lip gloss and heads for the door her new Chanel bag in tow. She wasn't using her old bike today. No, she had gotten a ride from the hot neighbor down the street.
When she enters the school heads turn in an all too familiar way. Not out of disgust or hatred. but out of fear and respect. Ali missed the respect. she swings off her Versace sunglasses and flips her hair over her shoulder as students and teachers part out of her way. Boys staring at her while their girlfriends look on in jealousy. She sees Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily by Spencer's locker looking on in confusion and shock. As she passes by she doesn't bother to even look their way, just leaves them soaking in their thoughts.
When Alison gets to her own locker she sees that the spray painted words are still present "The bitch is back." She turns to see all eyes are still on her, without all her composure she says "The bitch really is back." And just like that she swings her bag and her heels are clacking to the floor as she makes her way to her first class.
She spends her day much like she did before deciding to disappear. She flirts with lame boys watching as they blush in excitement at things that will never happen. She makes fun of the girls in a constant state of jealousy over her. When lunch comes around she sees the girls at their spot at the picnic table outside, Spencer smiles at her thinking she will be joining them, but as if she was a prized item at an auction hands were calling her over to sit beside them instead. Alison settles on sitting with the air headed cheerleaders and jocks. She puts on a good show laughing at what they have to say, and every now and then adding a comment or two. She can't help but see the look of disappointment upon Emily's face. This is what she wanted and this is what she is getting Alison said to herself.
After school Ali can see that the boy that drop her off had indeed left her behind, when she is just about to walk home Spencer is there. "Hey. You want a ride home?" Spencer asks. Alison doesn't answer just rolls her eyes and opens the passenger side door. "I think we should talk." Spencer asks while Alison is fixing her lip gloss. "And what do we need to talk about?" Alison asks coldly not taking her eyes off her compact mirror.
"Why does it weirdly feel that you never disappeared and you are the same bitchy Alison?" Spencer asked no longer wanting to play nice. Alison slams her compact shut and shovels in her bag. "Because maybe Spencer, I am just a bitch. Ever thought of that? Couldn't your oversized brain figured that out on it's own?" Alison says.
Spencer pulls into her driveway and slams the car in park, but not before locking the passenger side door. "No. You're not a bitch. You can be cruel at times. But you're not a heartless bitch. Emily told us what happened." Spencer says. Alison eyes Spencer "And what did she tell you happened?" Alison asks needing to know how far in depth Emily went.
"She told us that she told you she needed time to process. That she couldn't be a hundred percent sure she could trust you. She told us you took her hard, and you had a huge fight in the middle of the damn rain." Spencer says. Emily didn't disclose the emotional factors in her situation Alison is thankful for that, she is not ready to have people know yet. "I just giving her what she wants Spencer." Ali says with a shrug and then Alison reaches across Spencer door and unlocks herself and leaves to her own house.
When she gets to the door she in unaware of the person sitting upon the steps of her front porch as she fumbling inside her bag in search of her keys. When Alison finally retrieves the keys her eyes are meant with soft sadden brown ones that were stained with tears. "Emily." she lets out with a sign. "Ali." Emily manages to choke out.
Alison lays her bag on the pavement and sits beside Emily. "Come here." Alison says gently ushering Emily to scoot closer to her. Emily listens and moves to rest her head against Ali's shoulder. "What am I going to do with you, Em?" She says with a tiny laugh laying her heading atop of Emily's. "Why are you acting like your old self again?" Emily asks as Ali wipes at her tear streaked cheeks.
"I don't know. A part of me wanted to get a rise out of you. And another part wanted to stop being the victim anymore. It sucks having people either hate you for something you did years ago, or feeling pity for something they will never understand. But I could deal with it when you were there to help me. Then you said you needed time, and I felt alone again. I need you. I need you to me be the person you see. Or who you used to see." Alison says honestly. "Alison, it's not like I'm giving up on you. It's just this is a lot to handle all at once. You're here, then you were missing then dead. Then you were alive and on the run and now you're are here again. How am I suppose to know you won't up and leave again? Ali, I need you too." Emily says tears still falling from her eyes.
"I won't ever leave you again, I promise I'm here to stay. Emily you are my home. I never leaving my home every again." Ali says tears starting to threaten in her own eyes. "I love you Ali." Emily says.
Ali can't seem to find the words to say so she doesn't all she can at the moment. She leans in and kisses Emily's forehead and whispers in her ear " I feel it."
They sit and talk about everything and anything. And for once Alison's knows you have to have faith to take chances. That she needs to know she is before she can know who see wants to be. And that she most surely has a place in this world for her. That place being in the heart of Emily Fields.