-A Note: Hey Guys, sorry about this being all unformated yesterday. I didn't realize it did that. Anywho, It should be better now.
Stephanie's blood was boiling as she made her way out of the school, the heat of her skin sharply contrasting the brisk, cool air. She isn't crying because she is simply too angry to cry. She instead continues to walk toward her car ignoring the pleas coming from behind her as the fire in her heart continues to consume every memory she has of her and Emily.
"Stephanie! Wait!" Emily screams out as she runs after her fiancé with every ounce of effort she has. When she catches up to the fleeing blonde she grabs her arm in an attempt to get the girl to turn around. "Please, wait."
"Get off me." Stephanie snarls as she shakes Emily's hand off her arm and turns around fully planning on giving the girl a piece of her mind. Seeing Emily's face makes her pause for a second. Her fiancé's face is red and tear stained, the skin around her red watery eyes puffy. Stephanie pauses for a second to contemplate pulling the girl into her arms to comfort her until the image of her fiancé wrapped in the arms of another woman flashed the through her brain. Her face immediately turns back to a scowl at the thought.
"Steph, it's not what it looks like. Please let me explain," the dark-haired girl pleads. Stephanie can feel her blood starting to boil again.
"Oh… so, my fiancé wrapped in the arms of another woman as Spencer Hastings just looked at them without saying anything to stop it was just a figment of my imagination then?" She sneers waiting to see how Emily was going to talk her way out of this one.
"Well ok so that part was what it looked like," Emily replies receiving any angry scoff from the girl in front of her. "I'm not cheating on you Steph," she adds while looking into the other girl's eyes. She can tell Stephanie isn't buying it.
"Do you love her?" Stephanie asks, almost immediately regretting it when Emily sighs out a 'Yes' and tears begin to fall from her eyes. Stephanie almost can't breathe now. "You love her and yet you're going to stand there and try to tell me you aren't cheating on me! This is bullshit!" She yells throwing her hands in the air and making the other girl cringe. "How long Emily? How long have you loved this girl?"
"Nine years," Emily answers softly with her head hanging.
"Ni..nn...ne?" The short-haired girl stutters her anger growing more than she thought possible. She runs her hands through her short, close-cut hair, slightly pulling at the end. "Nine years? Are you fucking kidding me? Why even get together with me? Why agree to marry me? What about Paige huh? Did she know you love someone else?" Stephanie can't believe what she is hearing. 'Who is this person standing in front of me? I don't even know anymore.' Stephanie thinks, staring at the defeated looking girl in front of her. She notices that the sobs are getting heavier. Emily can only shake her head. This is all so hard for her. She loves them both and even though she doesn't know what is going to happen now that she knows her Paige is alive she doesn't want to lose Stephanie. Especially not like this.
"I've only been in love with two people my entire life, Steph," Emily says looking into the other girl's anger filled eyes. "Only you and Pa...pa...ige," she stutters out. Stephanie as growing tired of the games and the lies she thinks she is receiving. 'Does she think I'm an idiot?' She asks to herself. What doesn't make sense, however, is how awful it seems Emily feel. She looks as of her entire world is crumbling in on her. The short-haired girl looks at Emily who is clutching her chest and shaking from sobs. The scene of the two girls embracing each other plays in her head again, except this time she remembers the Army jacket the girl she doesn't know was wearing. Her face falls as she puts the new-found knowledge together with Emily's most recent statement.
"Wait..." Stephanie says causing Emily to look at her. "Are you trying to tell me that, that's Paige?" She points to the pool gaining a small, barely noticeable nod in response. "She's not dead?"
"She's been held in captivity. I just found out. It's the first time I've seen her in four years." Emily can see the other girl's face lightening up as the anger melts away. Stephanie can't help but feel sad for her fiancé now. She immediately closes the gap between them, wrapping her arms around the other girl pulling her close. Emily still has her own arms pulled into her as she is wrapped up in Stephanie's. She returns the hug by resting her head against the other girl's chest. It brings relief, however small, to her to know Stephanie finally understands. Breaking her hold of the other girl, Stephanie takes Emily's head in her hands and looks into her eyes.
"It's going to be ok, Em. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," she whispers before leaning in to lightly press a kiss on Emily's lips. "You'll get through this and I'll be right here by your side... If you still want me to be." She adds the last part sadly, not wanting to say it, but she needs Emily to know she'll still do anything for her. It pains Stephanie not knowing what is going to happen between them now. She loves Emily and she knows Emily loves her but she also knows that had Paige not been 'dead' all these years, Emily would have a different ring on her finger right now. Stephanie knows she can't force Emily's decision, but for now, she'll hold on to Emily as long as she can.
"I love you Emily," she softly whispers into the dark hair leaning against her chest. "
I love you too," the other girl manages to say between sobs looking up into Stephanie's eyes. "I really do."
"I know," Stephanie says before leaning down and landing another peck. "Can we talk some more later?" She manages to ask receiving a small nod in response. "Ok... But right now I think you have some questions that really need to be answered." She states as she grabs Emily's hand and turns to walk back into the pool with Emily. Before they open the door, Emily stops and pulls her fiancé into another hug.
"Thank you," she whispers into Stephanie's ear. "Thank you for understanding" Stephanie gives her a small squeeze and a long comforting kiss before looking into Emily's sad eyes.
"Of course," is all she manages to say before opening the door to let Emily walk through. 'Here goes...' She thinks to herself. 'Time to meet the one and only Paige McCullers.' With that she walks through the door, on her way to meet Emily's past.