so i know sometimes my writing may start off a little slow and without too much solo emison interaction, but i want to have a background for emily and alison. they do have their own friends in the beginning of this story, and i want their relationship to be realistic. so they're not just going to meet and then do the deed... maybe ;) that's for my next fanfic heheheh

okay i'm annoying. here's the next chapter! thanks to Sabrina for giving me a little kick in the butt to upload this haha i'm so lazy :D

Ch 3

Dammit, I think to myself furiously. I was supposed to be in Potions class five minutes ago, which might as well be yesterday. It's only the first day of classes and I'm already late; I'm clearly not off to a good start.

I curse under my breath as I huff down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I stumble and almost fall down the final flight, but somehow catch myself on the railing. I pick up speed as I sprint down to the dungeons, narrowly avoiding my startled peers.

I skid to a complete halt when I reach the classroom that I'm supposed to be in. I try to catch my breath to make it seem like I didn't just wake up ten minutes ago and sprint all of the way down here from Gryffindor Tower.

I take a few deep breaths before twisting the metal knob and pushing the large oak door open. The door creaks under my weight and literally everyone in the class turns to face me.

My face turns bright pink under all of the attention. Thankfully my tan skin tone disguises it a little.

"Ah, yes, Ms. Fields," my professor looks up at me from his desk. I furrow my eyebrows; he doesn't look too much older than I am. "I figured you might be running a little late."

"Right," I nod, flustered. "Sorry."

"Well, sadly, we already have separated into lab groups. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you'll have to be working alone all semester," he tells me with a smug smile on his face. Something also tells me that he isn't very sorry at all. He combs his brown hair back into place and gives me a 'golden-boy smile.'

"Ian—I mean—Professor Thomas," a sultry voice interrupts. I follow the voice, and try to contain my shock as my eyes fall upon Alison. "She can join my group."

"Really, Ali?" he looks just as dumbfounded as I feel.

"Well, of course," she says sweetly. Then she narrows her eyes and continues, "After all, you gave me the absolute best lab partner. All I want to do is share him with the world."

She sounds like she's talking about something that she found on the bottom of her shoe. Her face wrinkles with disgust as she looks at the boy beside her. He looks more embarrassed than I am. He hides his face behind his hand for a moment and rubs his eyes. I smile softly when I see that he's wearing a leather jacket over his uniform. It contrasts perfectly with his kind, light blue eyes.

"Alison," Professor Thomas says warningly. "Don't. Not on the first day of school."

"Fine."

"Fields, you can join Alison and Toby," he tells me sternly. I swallow and head over to their desk tentatively. Since it's the first day of class, we're sitting in our lab groups at some old, wooden desks which seat two people. I have to squeeze next to Alison, making sure not to bump into her. She doesn't even move her things.

"Hi," the boy says in a small voice from the other side of her. "I'm Toby."

"I'm Emily," I give him a small smile, which he thankfully returns. I turn to face Alison, waiting for her to introduce herself.

"So let's just get this stupid assignment out of the way," she says instead. She flips her hair over her shoulder and avoids eye contact. I hate busy work, and that's all it seems that Professor Thomas has planned today. Just for us to answer questions at the end of a chapter that no one knew to read.

Toby gives me a look and I can't help but laugh a little.

"Is that funny to you?" Alison snaps, her voice firm and intimidating. She takes a step towards me and I get a whiff of her sweet perfume. It's definitely warm vanilla sugar.

"N-no," I stutter when I realize that I haven't answered, I've just been smelling her. I bite my bottom lip nervously.

"That's what I thought," she looks pleased.

The next hour drags by; only one more hour to go. Alison snapping at us got old after the first minute. Fortunately for me, she seems to like picking on Toby more. I found myself passing the time by trying to catch peeks of her when she wasn't looking. She looks down at her book for a moment, and I take another opportunity to study her. Toby excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

Alison chews the inside of her cheek, clearly contemplating something. Her pen taps against the one side of the book, mesmerizing me.

I hear someone clear their throat quietly and realize that she's staring back at me. There's a crease in her eyebrows and she's blinking slowly.

I frantically look down at my notes, my face flushing. In my panicked fluster, I end up knocking her school bag off of the desk with my flailing arms. My breath hitches and I stare down at the scattered stuff with wide eyes. I swear I'm hyperventilating.

"I-I'm so sorry. Oh my gosh, I am so s-sorry," I splutter, barely managing to find my voice.

She simply bends down, condenses the mess, and packs everything back into her backpack.

Alison stands up rather slowly, as if she was uncertain about something. I swallow the lump in my throat and wait for her to scream at me.

But she doesn't. She places her bag back on the desk as if nothing happened. I exhale the breath I had been accidentally holding.

She glances up at me for a moment, probably in response to my loud breathing. I nervously lick my lips, which have somehow become super chapped within the past two minutes. Her jaw is clenched, but she doesn't say anything.

There's an awkward tension between the two of us before Toby finally comes back, and I've never been more grateful for someone's presence.

Alison turns to look at me. I feel myself withering under her gaze.

"Did you get it?"

"W-what?"

The bell rings, and all of the other students scuttle out of the classroom. Professor Thomas looks annoyed that they didn't even try to conceal their dislike for the class.

"Did you understand?" she says, but this time she speaks slower. I nod in response, pretty sure I look like an absolute idiot.

She gives me something that is close to a smile, but not quite. At least her dimple shows, though. Whatever facial expression she did made my heart melt, though. I stand there, awkwardly, before someone claps me on the back.

"Ready to go, Emily?"

I spin around quickly so that I'm facing Hanna. I hadn't seen her in the class; I guess she was up at the front. Then again, I didn't really look at anyone other than Alison.

I look back to my desk and try to hide my disappointment when Alison isn't standing there anymore. I faintly see her retreating golden hair exiting the dungeons and heading to the next class.

I link arms with Hanna, trying to push the thoughts of Alison from my mind. I don't know why I keep staring at her or why I just want to get to know her. I have this insane craving to know everything about Alison DiLaurentis. Her favorite book, what she likes to do, how she likes her coffee, if she prefers white or brown rice… and the list of weird musings continues on and on.

hmm. interesting interaction, yez? i hope you guys enjoyed! sorry the chapters are kinda short atm. i'm trying to build up into the real action and drama! please review so i know what you guys think :)