-A Note: Sorry guys. I know this one took awhile and it's not very long but I'm going to be working on another chapter today as well so I will probably have another chapter out later today as well. Hope you enjoy!
The Sunday before Halloween (a week after the night at the club), Emily finds herself at the coffee shop with her three friends, just like every Sunday morning. They try to make it a routine to get together as often as possible and Sunday morning coffee is one of the best ways to do it. It allows the girls the much-needed time to vent and fill each other in on the week. Emily had spent the majority of the last one thinking and eventually came to the conclusion it was probably best if she listen to Spencer's advice. Of course, she wouldn't allow Spencer's ego to get any bigger by telling her that. In the end though, she realized it was best she let Paige move on from her just as she had from Paige. No more leading her on. There's no doubting that she still wants Paige in her life somehow so she hopes that maybe they can at least be friends again.
"Ok so... Halloween party at my house Friday, yes?" Hanna has planned this party for a month so the fact that she is asking (again) seems irrelevant. The other girls respond by rolling their eyes and nodding. "Costumes are required," she adds.
"When do we ever not wear costumes for Halloween, Hanna?" Aria retorts. Halloween is one of the girls' favorite times of year. They always have the best costumes, hands down.
"Spence will you make sure Paige knows she's invited?" Hanna asks sending a glance to Emily to see what her reaction will be before adding, "And tell her, Alex can come too." Spencer only nods since she's in the middle of taking a sip of her third coffee that morning. Unlike what her friends think, Emily isn't upset about it. In fact, she's looking forward to seeing Paige and hopefully making amends. It also doesn't hurt that she's very excited to see the brunette's choice of costumes; she always looks amazing in whatever costume she chooses. Her favorite over the years has never changed from their first Halloween together. That tux and top hat were beyond sexy. It was definitely a good thing that the train had compartments, with locks, because it didn't take her long to want to have her way with Paige in that tux. That outfit had also had a very special place in her mind since it always made Emily think of a future special day that she could have shared with Paige, a day that she'd now be sharing with Stephanie.
What Emily wasn't excited about was Alex. As much as Emily was telling herself to let Paige go, she couldn't help but be jealous of the girl; the girl with the smug little smile. Emily can still vividly see Paige walking out the door with Alex a week ago and it erupts an angry fire in the deepest pit of her stomach every time she thinks of it. She also just doesn't like the idea of anyone else walking into the room with Paige looking stunning in whatever costume she chooses.
"I can't wait to meet her," Aria comments at the mention of the blonde's name. The girls hadn't had a chance to meet Alex yet since the pair had left the club rather quickly. Then after Paige and Alex's anything but lazy Sunday together, Alex was forced to return to Philadelphia late that night to work the next morning and would not be able to return until the weekend for the party. The three curious girls did however, invade the house of the former solider the Monday after to get the low-down on who that girl was at the club.
The three of them sit on the couch, drinking coffee they made for themselves when they hear Paige walk down the stairs. They look up together and watch for her to appear into view. When the brunette sees them, she jumps as she is caught unaware at the sight of the three girls on her couch.
"SPENCER HASTINGS!" She yells clutching her chest, knowing exactly who to blame for the intrusion. "I swear, I will murder you in your sleep if you break into my house again," Paige points at the brunette who takes a slow drink of her coffee, peering expectantly over the rim as if she's challenging the solider. "Just remember that I've been trained in these things," she says continuing to point at the smug girl as she crosses in front of her to disappear into the kitchen for her own coffee. Aria and Hanna try their hardest not to spray coffee everywhere as they watch the interaction between the two girls. They forgot how well the two feed off each other.
"Why are you guys here?" Paige asks, reappearing into the room coffee in hand. Her appearance is ruffled and sleepy, as if she didn't get much the night before.
"Geez girl, did you sleep at all last night?" Hanna inquires taking in Paige as she stands in front of them in her oversized sweatpants and tank top letting out a yawn. "You look like you ran a marathon yesterday..." the blonde continues, pausing when she notices the muscular brunette pause mid-sip at her marathon comment. "Wait... Did you... 'run a marathon' yesterday?" She says suggestively, putting air quotes around her words and raising her eyebrow. Paige looks at the girl wide-eyed, the rim of her mug still lingering at her lips, completely frozen. After a minute, she relaxes her shoulders and gives the girl a confident grin.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Paige remarks confident and smug as she walks over to the couch to sit down.
"Oh give it up, Paige," Spencer exclaims throwing a pillow at the girl that would have hit her in the face if she hadn't blocked it. "When did lover girl leave?"
"ALEX...," Paige replies, stressing the girl's name. "…left around eleven... I think." She smiles to herself as she says it, remembering her fantastic day yesterday. The other girls sit staring at her, taking in the new information they just received.
"Photographer Alex? From Philadelphia?" Aria asks for the three of them. Paige raises her eyebrows and smiles, her face lighting up as she gives the girls a signature head dip signaling yes.
"Way to go Paige," Spencer says, stressing each syllable.
"Ok, tells us EVERY detail!" Hanna exclaims receiving a resounding, "NO!" from the three other girls.
Emily rolls her eyes at Aria, indicating that she, for one, is not excited to meet the beautiful photographer.
"Em..." Aria begins with a sincere, pleading tone but Emily throws her hands in the air and cuts her off.
"I know, I know... She's helping Paige be happy again," Emily says in a mocking tone, causing the other girls to relax a little. They really didn't want to argue about this with her again for probably the thousandth time. They are relieved to know that Emily may finally be coming to her senses on her relationship with Paige and the direct effect she has on the girl's life. "But does she really have to sleep with her?" She adds causing the others to groan loudly. "Ok geez," Emily finally relents.
"So to change the subject... Yesterday, Ezra and I..." Aria begins before being interrupted by someone not at the table.
"I totally thought that man would have left Rosewood by now," Paige teases approaching the table. "Hey girls," she says with a nod before turning to Emily. "Hey Em," she adds timidly with a small smile while playing with the lid of her coffee cup. 'She looks great,' Emily thinks to herself. Her long brunette hair is down, her locks falling around the shoulders of her leather coat. The air is still around them as a slightly uneasy tension lingers at the table. Emily and Paige stare into each other's eyes for a several long minutes, both of them unable to break their gaze from each other until the other girls take matters into their own hands.
"Well, I should probably getting going..."
"Yup me too..."
"Yeah there's totally a fashion emergency somewhere that need my help..."
Spencer, Aria and Hanna all get up at the same time, leaving Emily and Paige alone, looking at each other in confusion. Paige dips her head and lets out a nervous chuckle, knowing they've been set up.
"Can I sit?" She asks Emily, pointing to the chair across from her as the other girls make their way out of the shop. Being with Alex over the weekend had helped clear her mind and get over what Emily had said. Maybe the dark-haired beauty was just jealous. There is, of course, a lot of history between the two girls. Paige too had been jealous when she saw Emily and Stephanie together so perhaps it isn't her place to judge.
"Yeah…please," Emily says, thankful that Paige is at least speaking to her again. About a second after Paige sits down they both apologize simultaneously causing them both to giggle.
"What are you sorry for?" Emily asks looking at Paige, whose eyes are still focused on the rim of her coffee cup. "I'm the one that should be sorry."
"Em... I shouldn't have yelled at you like that... Either time. I'm sorry," Paige replies, her eyes full of sincerity. 'It's just like Paige to apologize for something that isn't her fault' Emily thinks to herself. She can't believe how selfless the girl in front of her is. She stands up for herself and then apologizes because she may have hurt Emily's feelings.
"Paige, no... Don't be sorry," Emily says shaking her head and extending a hand to place it on Paige's. Sparks shoot through her fingertips and up her arm at the contact causing her to take back her hand a second later. It take her a second to regain her composure as Paige looks up into her eyes. "I shouldn't have said that about your, um friend, Alex," Emily says, trying not to put disdain behind the girl's name. "And... I shouldn't have kissed you," she adds, looking down at her hands as she picks at her fingernails. "Although, I can't say I would take it back if I could." She couldn't help the last words. She needs the solider to know she still cared for her, that she still loves her, even if she couldn't say the words back in that moment.
"It's ok, Em," Paige replies, her voice low but steady. "No regrets, right?" She smiles at the girl sitting in front of her hoping they are both getting on the same page again.
"Right," Emily says giving Paige a wide smile back. "So can we maybe try again? Be friends?" She says the words carefully, not sure what the answer will be.
"You got it," the brunette replies quickly, her smile widening as she dips her head again. They both giggle, glad they might be able salvage something between themselves, whatever that might be.
"So... Hanna told Spencer to remind you that you are invited to her Halloween party on Friday, but since you're here... I figured I'd go ahead and do it," the dark-haired girl says as she tucks a lock behind her ear. Paige nods in response, her smile still on her face at the thought of seeing Emily in her costume. She too always looked forward to seeing Emily's costume choice every year. The dark-haired beauty had a way of picking out the perfect outfit to show off her curves and general sexy appeal. "She also wanted you to know Alex is invited as well," Emily adds, against her own will. Paige can see that girl in front of her had a hard time choking that last phrase out. She had of course apologized but that didn't mean she wasn't still jealous.
"Thanks," Paige replies now more confident. "So will I see you there?"
"Yeah... Definitely," Emily replies taking another sip of her coffee. She pauses to look at the girl in front of her, happy that she and the girl are on good terms again. "So what's your costume this year?" Emily implores, curious about what sort of amazing look Paige would come up with but Paige just looks at her with a mischievous smile and takes a sip of her coffee before replying.
"I'll guess you'll just have to wait and see."