"I really am sorry, Em, for the way I've been acting. I'm just going through some things.." Paige said, her head hung in shame.
Emily smiled, her face displaying a sense of understanding. She leaned over and kissed Paige softly on the cheek. "It's water under the bridge. Seriously. Except for the almost drowning. That was a bit excessive," Emily said with a nervous giggle.
"Let's just call it a love-dunk," Paige said, squeezing Emily's arm teasingly. "It won't happen again. I promise."
Paige held the door open for Emily. "Why thank you," Emily said as her phone made a sound inside her purse notifying her of a text message. She suspected it might be from her parents so she pulled it from her bag and unlocked the screen.
"Kiss kiss, sweet Emily. You might be free as a bird but your little 'friend' is still locked up in her cage. Remember, mommy and daddy are always watching. -A."
Reading the message sent a chill up and down Emily's spine. She knew Paige had been struggling with the idea of coming out not only to her friends but to her old-fashioned parents. As Emily had put it, she had fallen out of the closet herself and onto her face. She cared about Paige, deeply, and didn't want the same fate for her.
"Hey Paige," Emily said, standing behind Paige in the ticket line-up. "Did you tell your parents where you were going? And who you'd be with?"
Paige nodded, swallowing hard. She tried to look confident - balls-y - to impress Emily. "I told them I was at the movies. The rest is need-to-know. And they don't need to know."
Emily inhaled and exhaled deeply, cautiously looking around with her eyes keen for the sight of a red coat. Nothing in sight.
It seemed as though everytime things seemed to be going her way, A had it in mind to sabotage her happiness. It made her wonder if the mysterious person really was Alison, the first person she had ever put her full trust in only to be betrayed.
Emily waited for Paige by the snack counter. She powered off her phone and Paige did the same. If A had anything to say to either of them, it would have to wait until after the movie.
The two sat down side by side in the second last row of the theatre. Paige offered Emily popcorn from the medium bag she had purchased. Because it was a special occasion, Emily decided to indulge. As their knuckles bumped inside the bag both girls began to giggle at the romance of it all. When the lights began to dim, Emily leaned over, pushing the popcorn aside, and placed her hand beneath Paige's chin. She angled the girl's face towards her own and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I could get used to this," Paige said, her cheeks feeling warm and rosy.
Emily nodded and kissed Paige again. "Me too."
As the previews began, Paige reached her hand over and placed it on Emily's knee. Emily responded by placing her hand on top of Paige's and intertwining their fingers together.
Throughout the movie, Paige found herself glancing over at Emily. The way the girl's long dark hair framed her beautiful face, how her long eyelashes seemed to glimmer each time she blinked, how irresistibly soft her lips looked as she licked them and gently bit down on her bottom lip. Never in her life had she felt so completely enchanted by another human being and she considered herself the luckiest girl in the world to be right there, right then, with her.
The lights slowly came back on and Emily turned to Paige who was already looking at her. "What did you think?" she asked.
Paige looked at her seriously for a moment before her lips turned up into a great smile. "Em, thanks for everything. For understanding, for coming tonight, and for giving me a second chance. I can't even express what it means to me."
Emily blushed. The warmth and glow of her cheeks made Paige feel weak in the knees even when she wasn't even standing. "Thanks for being you. Walk me home?"
Paige nodded, stood and walked out of the theatre ahead of Emily. She was glad that they had opportunities like this one, in a dark theatre, away from searching eyes and gossip to enjoy each other's company.
The two talked on the walk home about anything and everything; about their upcoming swim meet, their favourite foods and childhood nicknames.
"Your cousins called you worm? Eww. Why?" Emily asked Paige flirtatiously nudging the girl.
Paige shook her head and wiped away a tear from her laughter. "Long story. I'll tell you another time."
In just a few steps, Emily would be home. In just a few moments, this wonderful night would end and Paige would have to go home, back to reality.
"Well, here we are," Emily said. The two stood, facing one another beneath a street light at the end of the walkway to Emily's house.
"I had a great time tonight, Ems," Paige said as she dug her hands deep into her pockets.
Emily leaned forward and placed her hands on both of Paige's arms. Paige suddenly felt terrified, exposed. She took Emily's hands and walked her a few steps out of the spotlight and wrapped the girl's arms around her neck. They kissed passionately, Emily's fingertips weaving through Paige's hair. After what seemed like an eternity, the pair came up for air. Paige's lips were still pursed, red and swollen, wanting more.
"I better go before my parents come out looking for me. I don't want to," Emily said, feigning a pout.
Paige kissed her once more and nodded before walking the opposite direction towards a bus stop to find her own way home. She practically glided down the sidewalk, floating on cloud nine with thoughts of Emily and her raspberry flavoured lipgloss.
As she walked, she powered on her cell phone and watched as several text messages began to pour in. The first contained an image of she and Emily arm in arm as they walked to the theatre. The second was a shaded image of their kiss only moments ago. Paige gulped and nearly choked on her own breath. "Kiss kiss, Paigey-poo," read the third message. "If you don't tell them, I'll show them the truth. -A."
Immediately, Paige's eyes began to fill up with tears. She was angry at whoever was doing this, invading her privacy. She was terrified that nothing she did was sacred anymore; a moment so intimate and special to her and Emily was just leverage for someone else's sick game.
Instead of waiting for the bus, Paige opted to run home. The fresh air and exercise would help to clear her head and release pent up anger for A.