Enchantments & Betrayal in Rosewood

Part 2

[Author's Note: Hey guys! I just uploaded this story yesterday and it already has some favorites and reviews so I'm totally happy. I've written a lotttttt of this story so far (like 25 pages haha) so I'll keep updating it regularly. I hope everyone has a great day. Review please!]

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The humid night air stuck to their faces and even though it was early fall, the weather was still warm enough to blanket the two with a nice temperature as they walked. Alison strolled at Emily's right side, on the inside of the sidewalk, protected from the street. It was just like Em. She was always protecting Ali. That's why the blonde called her Killer- because she was like Ali's own personal guard dog.

A sports-car came zooming down the road suddenly and Ali gasped and grabbed onto Em, who instinctively wrapped her arms around her. But the vehicle was quickly out of sight and the two were left embracing in the night air.

"Sorry," Ali mouthed, and moved away. "You know how freaked out I am lately."

Emily nodded and kept walking. "I know. It's okay." The roar of the engine had actually really startled her too, but she didn't want Ali to know that, so she kept her shoulders held high and pretended like she was unscathed. Once they were on the Fields' front porch, Emily slowly eased the door open and then closed so the two could creep upstairs.

If Mom and Dad wake up to us sneaking up the stairs, I'm dead.

Then keep quiet dummy.

Emily rolled her eyes and then held her bedroom door open. Once they were both inside she realized Ali was wearing jeans and a cardigan. "We should have gotten you clothes," she whispered. "You can't sleep in that."

"I can just wear some of your pajamas. It's not a big deal Em." She crossed the room and opened the drawer where the brunette kept her bedclothes and pulled out some tiny grey cloth shorts and a white swim-team tee. And then without warning, she pulled her shirt over her head and pushed her jeans down and started changing.

"Ali!" Emily hissed and turned around. "You can't do that in front of me!"

Alison giggled. "What? You gonna jump me?" She smoothed down the shirt and then brought the collar to her nose. It smelt like Em and she smiled. Relax Killer, I'm dressed now.

Emily huffed and swept past her friend to get the pajamas she changed out and thrown in the floor earlier. She went into the bathroom and changed quickly, leaving her jeans and long sleeve tee folded up on the sink. When she walked back into her bedroom in shorts and a cami, Ali was already tucked into bed.

"We have rules in place for a reason," Emily reminded her and tried not to look so sheepish. It was weird because with Paige and Maya and Samara she'd been so dominant and in control. But Alison made her squirm and being with her was like being out of control.

"Yes," Ali replied sleepily, and then covered a yawn with the back of her hand. "I know."

After she'd turned off the light, Emily stood by the foot of the bed for a moment, hesitant about climbing in. In all honesty, she was considering going downstairs and sleeping on the couch.

Em, aren't you going to get in here with me?

It's a bad idea Ali.

You said…

I know. I know. She swallowed uneasily and then went to the empty side of the bed and peeled the covers back. Just cuddling?

Alison's blue eyes reflected in the moonlight streaming through the curtains, and her gaze seemed to bore into Emily as she said aloud, "If that's all you want."

The brunette climbed into bed in her shorts and accidently brushed the bare skin of Ali's leg with her own. Sorry.

Don't be. Alison scooted into Emily's arms and buried her face in the other girl's neck, her lips brushing the tanned skin of her friend's throat. Just hold me Em. I need you. You don't know what its was like for me to live in fear every day of my life for over two years.

Yes I do. A was after us too Ali. And more than that, I spent nearly every night worried about you. At first about whether or not you were alive. Then about whether or not you were safe. If you had enough food. Enough money to live on. If you had somewhere to sleep or take a shower or clothes to change into. I worried about you all the time. I was scared for my own safety but on top of that I was scared for yours. And more than anything I was afraid that I wouldn't ever get to see you again.

Alison lifted her face and looked into Emily's eyes again. "I led you on Em. I hurt you just like I hurt everyone else. Why did you care about what happened to me?"

For a moment Emily was caught in Alison's gaze and she had no idea what to say. And then, because honestly, there was nothing else that she could say, she bit her bottom lip and then whispered, "Because I love you."

How can you love me Em? I'm a bully. I'm like queen bitch. You saw all those hate groups online. People were glad I died. Your ex girlfriend was glad I died.

She doesn't know you like I do.

How do you know me? I don't even know me. I'm not who I was and that was all I knew how to be. I'm barely making it Em. I'm so close to giving up that it's killing me. Sometimes it feels so heavy that I can barely stand up.

So I'm here for you when you can't get up. I can pull you up. But you can't leave again, okay? We need you. I need you.

Warm tears escaped from the corners of Alison's eyes and ran in salty streams down her cheeks. Emily's soft fingertips found them with practiced precision and wiped them away. And then, before she could talk herself out of it, she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Ali's lips. It took practically all the self-control she had inside of her to pull back afterward and look into the other girl's eyes once more.

Alison was still crying. "What if it's all for nothing though? What if these past two years of me running and hiding have all been useless and A finds me here and kills me and you have to go to my funeral for real?"

Emily's fingers stroked Ali's jaw, "That's not going to happen. You're safer here with us than alone Ali. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"You can't promise that Em. You can't. Look what's already happened. How many people have died." She started to sob and she buried her face in Emily's neck again. Ian, Garret, Maya, the girl in my backyard… My mom…

"Shh," Emily said. "Try and get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." She rubbed her friend's back in slow circles. "Shh…"

After a few minutes Alison calmed down, and she lifted her head one more time and placed another kiss on Emily's lips. Her lips were salty with tears but Emily didn't care at all. She slid her hand up Ali's jaw and held her there for a moment. I'm not going anywhere. I promise.

Once the kiss broke, Alison lay her head back on Emily's chest, her ear positioned so she could hear her friend's heartbeat. Why can't we always sleep like this?

My mom. My dad. Your dad. And I have a hard enough time not kissing you when we're not in bed.

You can kiss me anytime Em. I don't care. I like kissing you.

You're just saying that now. But you're not going to think the same thing tomorrow or Sunday or at school on Monday. You're upset now and kissing me isn't bad in the dark. But you wouldn't do it in public.

You must not know me as well as you think. Alison snuggled a little closer and wrapped her arms tighter around her best friend's shoulders. Goodnight Emily.

Goodnight Alison.

Emily held the girl for a while, her mind tossing around what was happening, had happened, would happen. The last thing she remembered seeing before passing into a restless sleep was the illuminated red numbers on the clock that read "4:36".

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