AUTHOR'S NOTE – I'm back guys and I'm so thrilled with the responses I'm getting to this story. 25 reviews Thank you so much. Every single follow and favorite is so special to me. I'm going to try really hard to make this a pleasurable read for you.

WHAT DID YOU DO, SPENCER?

The scene unfolding before Spencer's eyes was not one she expected and definitely not one she approved of. She was not happy with how things had turned out and she blamed herself.

If only she had helped Emily close last night, she would have been here and done the right thing — called the authorities. Or if she had rushed here earlier this morning, maybe she would have had longer to convince Emily and this girl wouldn't have been able to manipulate Emily, like she obviously had.

From where she stood one thing was obvious, the blonde had a hold over Emily. Spencer had known her long enough to know that Emily did what Emily's heart commanded. And right now the pity, empathy or attraction that she felt for this girl was going to govern whatever decisions she made.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a light bump on her shoulder. "Miss me already? Didn't you get enough of me all evening yesterday?" Alex stood beside Spencer beaming at his favorite banter-buddy but when she turned around to face him her expression told him today was not the best day for it. "I see someone may not be in the best mood today." He still smiled but he was no longer teasing. Her eyes moved back to the two girls standing in the room above, a few feet from the top of the stairs. Alex's eyes followed hers.

"I thought Emily said the girl was a friend from Philly. Where does she find friends who look like Charlize Theron and look at her like that?" Alex kept his voice down, clearly picking up on the tension around. "On second thought, who doesn't look at Emily like that?" he continued with a smirk that earned him a glare from Spencer.

"This is clearly not the time for this Alex. Did you need something?" Spencer inquired. "I needed Emily, actually," he responded casually. He went on a little louder than before for Emily's benefit, "It is getting hectic and we could use some help."

Emily turned around hearing Alex's voice. "I'm sorry. I'll be right there." Alex smiled and nodded at Alison and disappeared in the direction of the café.

Emily placed the tray that she still held on the table by the wall and turned back towards the blonde, who had been looking down at her feet since Emily had mumbled out the words asking Alison not to leave her.

"Don't leave. We need to talk about this. Give me a couple of hours. You can't leave like this Alison. Please! Not without a plan." Her voice was soft, almost pleading and Alison really didn't have the heart to leave Emily now. The blonde nodded, still saying nothing. She lifted her head and looked apprehensively towards the other brunette who had made her way up the stairs and was standing behind Emily now.

Emily turned around to face Spencer her eyes shooting daggers at her friend. "I am needed downstairs. You can leave if you have a problem with this or be a friend and help me." She softened her voice as she continued, "It would make me happy if you stayed Spence but I really don't want to have any more arguments with you. You could wait here with Alison for a while but not if you are going to upset her."

Spencer had never been able to abandon the soft girl who she had loved and protected fiercely for years. She knew Emily was nothing like her and that was probably the biggest reason their friendship worked.

Emily was the dreamer and the believer, the one who noticed the sun shining and the birds chirping, she could tell when someone needed a ear or a hug and she saw the best version of everyone and everything. Spencer was worldly wise and aware of the dangers that lurked behind corners. She studied people carefully before she trusted them and only let her guard down around people she had known a very long time.

The two of them had helped each other see things the other would not have and experience things that lay outside their own realm of understanding and interests. They trusted each other and needed each other.

Spencer knew that no matter how big a mess Emily was probably getting into, she was doing what felt right to her. More importantly, she knew that she was not going to let Emily be a victim of her giving heart. Spencer would stand by her to make sure that Emily was going to be okay.

"I'll be here. It will be fine," was all that Spencer said but was rewarded by a hug from her best friend.

Emily then beamed at the blonde and said, "Everything is going to be okay. You will be fine with me, with us." Emily's arm moved to Spencer's shoulder as she continued, "Alison this is Spencer. She is my best friend and a sweetheart. Don't let what she said earlier to upset you. She can't help her claws from showing when she gets into her protective mode. She is the best, you will see."

Alison looked towards Spencer again; fear evident in her blue spheres and found a smile on the brunette's face. It wasn't a big smile but it was a genuine one and Alison felt the tension in her nerves subsiding.

"I'll wait for you," Alison assured Emily before the girl smiled and hurried down the stairs, happier than she had been in months.

Once Emily was gone, Spencer turned to face Alison again and said, "We need to talk."

Alison's face fell but she didn't refuse. From what she had heard of the argument earlier, she knew that Spencer wasn't the enemy. She was just protecting Emily, something that automatically earner Spencer the blonde's respect. The last thing that Alison wanted was to be the cause of the slightest pain or sorrow to Emily.

Alison walked back into the living area. Taking off her overcoat and placing it on the arm of the couch, she seated herself and looked up at Spencer with weary eyes, "What do you want to know?"

Spencer sat down on the chair to Alison's right and responded with a shrug of her shoulders, "Everything."

After three hours of serving customers, exchanging pleasantries with the regulars and baking macaroons for a going away party at one of the businesses on the street, Emily found herself looking forward to lunch with Alison and Spencer. She wanted to take the blonde home later and maybe get to know more about her.

She couldn't deny that Alison was not 'just' a girl she was helping. Alison was for some reason more to her. Much more! She didn't know what this was but she didn't want to know. It didn't matter to her. All that Emily knew was that she was happy around Alison and she wanted to make sure she did everything in her power to help her. She knew at some point Alison would leave but Emily was confident that Alison and she would never be strangers again.

Once things were under control in the café she walked back to the kitchen to find Talia. "Tal, would it be okay if I left now? I really wanted to take Alison home and spend some time catching up." She helped Talia remove a tray of freshly baked cheese croissants out of the oven as she spoke. "Thanks." Talia said taking the tray from Emily and continued with a chuckle, "Of course its okay for you to leave. You are the boss remember?"

"I don't want to be anyone's boss." Emily said with a frown. She really wasn't comfortable being the boss of three people who were older than her and more importantly were her friends.

"Go! I mean it." Talia handed her a paper bag and added, "Take something along for later. You baked about two dozen macaroons over the ordered number."

Emily smiled shyly. "Sondra bought 12 of them as soon as she lay eyes on them. She loves macaroons."

"She loves your macaroons you mean," Talia corrected her with a laugh. "You have got to learn to own your gift, girl. You are far too modest to enjoy it."

"Maybe I should take classes on flaunting myself and my strengths from Cece when she gets back but till then stop embarrassing me." Emily was doing everything in her power to stop her cheeks from going red but was failing miserably. "I'll take a few though. Alison liked the blueberry muffins this morning. Maybe she would like some." She placed about half a dozen of the macaroons in the bag Talia had given her as she spoke.

"How have I not heard of this friend before?" Talia finally asked, unable to control her curiosity anymore. "You have. You must have just forgotten about it." Emily lied and almost instantly felt guilt wash over her. She promised herself she would tell Talia the truth as soon as Alison was more comfortable. She just didn't want the blonde put in an awkward position answering questions before she was ready.

"I should leave. Call me if there's something you need, okay?"

"Don't worry about things here Em. I'll call you tonight after I close. Now get out of here." Talia pushed Emily towards the stairs and turned her attention back to the mushrooms she was sautéing.

Emily ran up the stairs two at a time, smiling at the thought of how scared she had been a few hours back standing on those very stairs. She entered the living area only to find it deserted. Thinking nothing of it, she placed the bag of macaroons on the table and walked into the bedroom but she found no one there either.

Emily froze in place. This wasn't happening! Alison had promised. She had said she would wait for her.

She frantically ran around checking all the rooms again but found no one. She ran downstairs and passed a confused looking Talia on her way out the back door but the back-alley was deserted. She ran into the main street and looked around but neither Alison nor Spencer was to be found.

Emily walked up and down the street but found no one. Five minutes later she saw a familiar Mercedes slow down and park on the opposite side of the street. Her best friend got out and crossed the street, never taking her eyes off Emily. With each passing second that Spencer got closer Emily found a storm brewing within her.

"What did you do, Spencer?" was all she could get out, before her voice cracked.

"I did what I had to, to help her Emily. She is going to be safe. I promise you this was the best thing for her… and you. Please Em." Every word that left Spencer's lips was genuine and probably true; Emily knew this. But it didn't help the sense of being betrayed that was surging through her veins.

People walked by going about their day as usual. The afternoon sun shone brightly, warming her tan skin. Everything seemed normal in the world. But as Emily stood on the pavement, there was nothing normal about her day.

She had lost two people today. She knew that she would never again trust the friend she had depended on for years. Surprisingly the sting of that was nothing compared to the gaping hole she felt in her chest from losing the girl she met less than 24 hours ago.

Alison had gone and she had taken Emily's heart with her.

This may not be what you expected but a love story without drama is just not realistic. The forthcoming chapters are all Alison and her story and I promise you really don't have to wait for them to be rejoined. It happens quicker than expected and with an intensity that will leave you very happy. Leave me a review, good or bad I'd love to hear from you.