"EMILY! What the hell is taking so long? I'm starving and I want to eat so we can go dance!" Hanna yelled from the foot of the stairs. It has been a very long week and all four friends are finally able to all get together to rant, unwind and relax together. Emily sits on the edge of her bed with her head down, staring at slightly twisted and charred metal in her hands. It had taken her almost a year after being told her Paige had been killed in action to finally get the courage to move on. From then on, she decided to allow herself two days a year to be sad.
"Promise me Emily. Promise me that if I don't come back that you'll move on. I want you to live your life. I want you to be happy. Ok?"
Even though she kept her promise, she had moved on, she couldn't help but be sad today. Today and the day Paige had died are the two days she allows herself to be overwhelmed with emotions again. She'd gotten good at hiding the emotions from everyone else, maybe that why her friends seemed to not realize what day it was.
"It's your birthday. Your twenty-sixth birthday," She says to the empty room; a tear falling from her eyes.
"Happy Birthday Paige. I love you. I always will." She says looking down once again to her hands. She takes a moment to rub her finger over the almost barely recognizable letters that are stamped on the metal. Her tags are the only evidence of her they had found in the wreckage of the attack. Any human life was burned to bits. Paige was just gone; no body, no closure, just gone. Emily's fingers move to the addition she had added to the chain, fumbling with it as another tear fell. She had found it as she was going through Paige's things a few months after her whole world was turned upside down. She had been going through Paige's desk, separating documents from memories, when she felt the small box hidden in the back. When she opened it, she couldn't help the steady flow of tears and sobs that erupted from her the moment she saw the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. Paige had been planning to propose. Now sitting on her bed, looking at the ring, Emily can't help thinking about how she'd be married to the love of her life right now; a dream that had been suddenly stripped away. When she's finally able to pull herself together, hiding any evidence that she'd been crying, she slips Paige's tags around her neck and heads down the stairs to the distraction of her waiting friends.
"Finally! What the hell took you so long?" Hanna exclaims. The other girls had gotten the Chinese they had ordered ready and were all obviously about to sit down and start eating.
"Shut up Hanna. You take ten times longer to get ready on a normal day." Spencer says, rolling her eyes. "Everything ok Em?" She looks at Emily with concern because Emily was, in fact, upstairs for a while.
"Yeah, everything is good. It's just been a pretty long week." Emily replies only half lying. It really has been a rough week for her. The girls on the swim team she coaches had to have gotten together and decide to make this week miserable for her, she's sure of it. It was as if they weren't even trying to hide it. She sighs as the girls all nod in agreement.
"Tell me about it," replies Spencer. "I'm really not sure right now if it's all been one day or I haven't slept in three. The days are all kinda blurring together."
"Agreed," Hanna adds in. "Can't wait to go dancing and blow off some steam. Too bad Steph isn't here. She's always the most fun to dance with. Where is that girl of yours anyways, Em?"
"I'm offended, Hanna. I thought I was your favorite to dance with," Aria comments, pretending to act offended. All four girls laugh; finally being able to relax and have some fun.
"She's still in Chicago for her business conference Han. We talked about this." Emily shakes her head, literally in awe of how forgetful her friend can be.
"Oh yeah. Duh," Hanna replies taking a bite of her meal. When the doorbell rings everyone looks up with confused looks on their faces. Neither of them was expecting anyone.
"Ok, well don't everyone jump up at once. Don't worry I'll go get it," Hanna teases as she gets up from the table to head to the door. The other girls can hear the door opening followed by a high pitched squeal. Next thing they know, Hanna is bounding back into the kitchen, practically skipping, towing another person behind her.
"Em! Look who's here!" Hanna squeals again as she pulls the figure into the room to present to the other girls.
"Oh my God, Steph! What are you doing here? I thought your conference wasn't going to be done for two more days!" Emily exclaims genuinely happy to see her girlfriend standing there. She gets up from the table to rush over into Stephanie's welcoming arms. It's just what she needed, a loving hug to comfort her on this difficult day. She's not Paige; Emily doesn't expect her to be, because after Paige, Stephanie really is the best thing that's ever happened to her. Stephanie had come into Emily's life about a year after Paige's death. She had walked into the coffee shop Emily was working at, at the time. Emily had spotted her right away. There was just something about her that intrigued her. Of course, she was beautiful with her light brown hair cut close to her head in a pixie cut, her stunning blue eyes and toned figure, but there was just this air about her that led Emily to want to get to know her. Stephanie wasted no time in befriending her and a few weeks later asked Emily out. It was the best decision she had ever made. She loves everything about Emily and plans on spending the rest of her life with her despite knowing that there will always be a part of her girlfriend's heart that belonged to Paige. Stephanie understands that and in fact she is Emily's biggest supporter because she knows she is lucky to have a girl like Emily in her life.
"Hey there beautiful," Stephanie says accepting her girlfriend into her arms for a tight hug. "I wanted to surprise you." She pulls back in order to give her girlfriend a short put passionate kiss. "Happy to see me? I missed you." She says, looking into Emily's face with a smile.
"Of course, I'm happy to see you. I really missed you," Emily replies returning Stephanie's smile before leaning in to kiss her again. "I kind of love you, you know," she adds, making her girlfriend chuckle. Before Stephanie can reply, she's interrupted.
"Oh get a room," Hanna teases. "You two are so cute that it makes me sick." Making eye contact with Stephanie, who was still holding tightly onto Emily she adds, "Come out with us tonight Steph. I think you still owe me a dance."
"Don't worry Hanna, I'll make sure you get your dance," She replies taking her eyes away from Emily's for only a second. Looking back into her girlfriend's beautiful brown eyes, Stephanie gets the confidence to finally ask Emily the question that's been on her mind for months now. "I need to ask Em a question first," she says receiving a confused eye-brow raise from Emily. She removes her arms from around Emily's waist in order to take a step back and hold her hands.
"Emily, I can't tell you how much the last two years has meant to me. I can't believe how lucky I am that you happened to be in working that day, in that coffee shop. My life changed the moment I looked into your eyes for the first time," Stephanie began; a lump starting in her throat. The other girls were staring at the pair, starting to get an idea of where this speech was headed.
"Every time I get to be with you is the best time of my life and I can't tell you how much I want you in my future. I love you so much Emily."
Emily suddenly realizes exactly where this is going and her face starts to show it. 'No, Steph. Not today, I can't handle this today,' she thinks. If Stephanie is about to do what Emily thinks she is going to do, on today of all days, there is no way Emily is going to be able to keep it together. The joy and the sorrow would end up mixing together into a dangerous cocktail that she won't be able to hold down. Emily issn't the only one who realizes exactly what is happening. Spencer easily makes the connection and looks to Emily's face not wanting to miss her reaction. She is so happy for her friend until she sees a look on Emily's face that she isn't expecting. She looks nervous and upset, as if she is about to puke all over the girl standing in front of her gently holding her hands and spilling her heart out. That's when she notices Emily's hand reach up to her chest to slightly clutch something under her shirt. 'Oh my God. It's June. It's mid-June. It's not today is it? It can't possibly be today,' Spencer thinks her eyes going wide in realization. She wants to open her mouth to say something but it's too late. Stephanie reaches into her pocket and is dropping to one knee. Hanna squeals, Aria gasps in excitement and Emily's face drops.
"Emily, will you make me the happiest woman in the world and marry me?" Stephanie asks looking up into her girlfriend's eyes. The look she sees instantly worries her. It doesn't make sense. She was sure they felt the same way. So why is Emily looking at her like that? That's when Emily brakes. All she can do is shake her head and mutter a quiet, "I'm so sorry" before running out of the house. Stephanie slowly stands not knowing what just happened. Hanna and Aria share the same look of confusion until Spencer speaks up.
"Guys, what's the date today?" she says quietly, already sure of what the answer is.
"June, 15th. Why?" Stephanie replies, still looking dumbfounded in the direction in which her girlfriend just ran. Hanna quietly let out a muffled "oh no" in reply, Aria's eyes go wide as her hand fly to her mouth realizing what day it is; and Spencer just hangs her head and whispers, "Shit." Realizing she is missing something Stephanie looks at the girls in confusion and tries to will them to say more. Finally, Hanna sees her frantically looking between the three of them.
"Steph, I know you she wasn't your friend. Hell, you didn't even know her but if you're going to be with Emily, you really need to add this date to your calendar," Hanna says quietly putting a hand on her confused friend's shoulder as she walks past her to sit across from Spencer. It takes less than a second for the girl to realize what was wrong.
"Fuck," is all she says as she runs towards the door to go after her distraught girlfriend. She doesn't have to go far to find Emily, who is sitting on a bench on the porch with her head in her hands. She is noticeably shaking and Stephanie can hear the sobs. It breaks her heart to see Emily like this. Without saying a word, she sits down next to Emily pulling the crying girl into her arms. They sit like that for a little while until the crying from the dark-haired girl finally slows.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart," Stephanie finally says, kissing the top of the other girls head. "I can't believe I forgot about today. I'm so sorry." The other girl lifts her head to look into her girlfriend's eyes.
"It's ok. I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have run out like that."
"No, I should have known. I shouldn't have asked. Not today anyway. I guess I'll just have to try again tomorrow," the short-haired girl says, trying to lighten the mood, even just a little. She receives a small but sad smile back. "Really Em, It's ok. I understand. Just please think about it ok? I'll take an answer whenever you're ready." Stephanie scans her girlfriend's face trying her best to figure out what Emily is thinking.
"I don't need time, Steph. I need you. I want to be with you. There was just too many emotions that I couldn't hold it all in," She says before leaning into to lightly kiss the other's lips. She smiles against her lips before pulling back to whisper, "Yes, Stephanie Miller, I would love to marry you."
"Really?" Stephanie whispers as a smile returns to her face.
"Really. I love you so much," Emily replies before watching her girlfriend turn into her fiancé as the ring is slid onto her finger.