It was different. When Jackson and I walked through the doors, people didn't start talking, they didn't stare, they just, Paid no mind to us. I can't remember the last time we were ignored, and it was fucking sweet. We turned the corner, and saw our girlfriends. It felt very twilight zone, you know? Like this was too good to be true. Did we really get two "plastics, popular girls, Charlie's angels wannabes", as our girlfriends? I saw Emily smile at me and I felt weak. My stomach dropped, my palms got clammy, and I felt my heart start to race. How does that work? How is it even allowed to feel this way when someone gives you a look? I mean, she's got this killer smile and she so damn pretty...there I go again. It's like I lost my edge a little. She brought out all these new feelings. It's weird, because you never picture it coming true. High school crushes don't come true, they're suppose to die out once you're out of high shook and learning all about the real world during your college years, and beyond. This was too surreal. She reached out for my hand and waved goodbye to the kissing couple behind us. She led me away, and held her head high as people finally did notice us walking down the hall way. They were all staring, talking as we walked passed them. I ignored them, until I reached my locker. In bright red paint read the word 'pig' on it. My face dropped and I opened it. Out fell old pictures of me, from our freshmen and sophomore year, with the words pigskin all over them. I always wore hoodies, long sweaters, anything that covered my arms and body from the outside world. Swimming was the only time anyone very saw any kind of skin during those years. I couldn't hide my scars, and now, after years of struggle, and a lot of scar gel, to the naked eye, you couldn't see them. I made it a Point to show my skin more now. I bent over and started picking up the pictures, and just tuned out the curious questions flooding in behind me as Emily started to help. She took my hand as I stared a particular picture. Emily had won the anchor position that week, and I had been upset and especially cut up that week. It was the day Alison found out. The bitch had walked into the locker room when I was showering, and saw the new and old cuts on my thighs, calves, and inner arms. She taunted, mocked, and eventually gave me the name 'Pigskin.' It still followed me, even with Alison losing her lackeys to the punks on the other side of the island. I crumpled them all up, and with a final stare at the people that surrounded Em and I, tossed them away, took her hand and walked her to her class. She expressed her concern and I brushed her off, before kissing her in full view of her one time friend, sitting in the seat that Emily always sat in. I waved at Alison, and made my way to my own classroom, satisfied that I didn't freak out, not letting Alison win again. It's funny because even after 5 months of the occasional attempt to get to me, I still had what she wanted. Emily was still my girl.

XxxxxX

E POV

As Paige walked away, my attention turned back to Ali sitting in my seat. I walked to rows away from her, only for her to come and sit next to me.
I pulled out my books, and tried to ignore her, but she, in typical Ali fashion, ignored her silence and began her morning rant.

"So, prom is coming up, we're going together, right?" Alison asked I shook my head and kept looking forward. "God you're going with pigskin, aren't you. When are you going to learn? She is garbage. Always will has been, always will be." Alison continued.

"After what you did this morning, how can you even ask that?" I asked with a huff as I kept pulling out the things I needed for this class.

"Please. Pigskin is fine. She even gave me a little wave. Careful, Em." Alison said as I turned towards her, and stared at her hard. I needed to get my point across the best way I knew how, and that was being direct with her.

"Stop, Alison. Paige is my girlfriend. If you ever were my friend, truly my best friend, you would lay off. I care about her, and I want this to stop. Leave her alone." I said as I moved again.

"I never took you for the type of girl who would choose a hog over her friends." Alison said as I stood and stared her down.

"Is everything all right, ladies?" I heard and turned back around towards Mrs. Montgomery. Her eyes darted between me and Ali, before I heard my former friend speak up.

"Everything is fine, Mrs. Montgomery." She said in a sickly sweet voice. A voice that I knew very, very well. As I sat back down, I could feel her lean in towards me. I felt her warm breath on my ear as she whispered "Oink, Oink, Em."

XxxxxX

P POV

I looked down at my phone and saw the incoming text from Em. She told me to meet her at the bleachers for lunch, instead of the cafeteria like we had been. I quickly replied and headed that way as soon as the bell rang. I ran out to them and found her sitting with her lunch out.

"Everything ok, Em?" I asked as she looked up and just nodded. "Seriously, what's wrong?" I asked as I sat next to her.

"Alison. She just…she's not letting up." Emily admitted and took a drink of her water. I chuckled and sat back.

"Let me guess, Pigskin this…Pigskin that." I said as she nodded and turned towards me. "Em, it's nothing I haven't heard before. The only difference is that now, I've got someone in my corner who isn't trying Jackson. I've got people who see me for what I am now, and actually like it, instead of judging me based on someone else's assumptions. It's nice to be able to say that not only is one of those my friend. She's my girlfriend, and she isn't backing down from her one time friend's backlash over the fact that she is dating Pigskin." I said as she bit her lip and then looked back at me with a look a pure admiration. I'd never seen this look before. She reached over to me and kissed me gently.

"How can you say it yourself? Doesn't it hurt to say it?" Emily asked seriously.

"It's just a word, Emily. It can't hurt me if I don't let it. I'm over her. I've got more important things to worry about. Like prom, and graduating and going to UPenn after the summer is over." I said as she frowned. We hadn't really talked about this yet. She knew I was going to UPenn with Jackson next year. I wasn't going to be far from Rosewood. But she had gotten into Penn State, and I knew that she was so excited to swim for them. I knew it was a bit of a hike for me to get out there, but I wasn't going to let her go. I had just gotten Emily Fields in my life, and I wasn't about to let that go because some distance. I knew we could make this work if she still wanted it.

"I'm going to be so far away from you, and Spencer, Hanna and Aria." She said sadly as I pulled her closer.

"Please. You are going to have so much fun, and you're going to be great. You're going to blow all those girls out of the water, and I'll come down at least once a month. I'm getting a car so I can travel from Rosewood to wherever besides Philly. It's only a 4 hour drive." I said sincerely as she played with my fingers.

"That's easy for you to say. You and your best friend are going to your first pick and living together off campus. Aria is going to Hollis, which means they can be together every weekend. We won't be able to see each other as often. I'm going to miss you, and seeing everyone every day." Emily reasoned as I nodded.

"But we will see each other. And on holidays, and breaks. It won't be so bad. I swear it. And there is this nifty thing on our phones that lets us video chat." I said as she playfully shoved me and I pulled her closer, before kissing her deeply. "I promise, Em. It's only a car ride away. We can make it." I said seriously as she nodded before kissing me deeply. I love this girl. I love her more than she can even begin to imagine. How could I not want to make this work out for both of us?

"You know, Prom is coming up…" Emily said as I laughed wholeheartedly. "What?" She asked seriously.

"You know we're going together. I already bought the tickets. I'm just waiting for you to tell me what color your dress is. Jackson is wearing a plaid tuxedo jacket. No joke. I saw it the other day." I said as she again shoved me away from her.

"Is it wrong to want to be asked?" She asked as I smiled and kissed her again.

"Will you go to prom with me, Em?" I asked slowly, as she nodded, before pushing me again.