"Emily, what are you doing here?" I asked opening the front door to my house late Saturday morning. I was surprised to see Emily here; I couldn't think have any plans we had arranged. However what surprised me more was Emily was supporting a black eye, cut lip and bruised knuckles.
"I thought I'd bring you some coffee and a jam donut."
"Why? Did we make plans to hang out."
Emily replied with "No, I was just in the neighbourhood and thought it'd be nice to hang out."
"Sure, come in," I say opening the door further allowing her to enter.
"Are your parents' home?"
"No, they left for Philly late last night."
"That's good I guess, I mean you have the whole house to yourself."
"Yeah," I say before asking "So why exactly are you here?"
Emily replied with "Like I said I brought you coffee."
"But why exactly?"
"Don't you want me here?" Emily asked.
I responded with "You know you're always welcome here Emily, I'm just surprised to see you and looking so beat up. What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
"You're kidding right, Emily you've got a black eye, a bust lip and bruised knuckles tell me again nothing happened."
"Okay, so I got into a fight. They got a couple in and so did I, no big deal."
"Who?" I asked.
"What do you mean who?" Emily countered with.
"Who did you get into a fight with?"
Emily asked back "Do you want your donut on a plate? I guess you will, they do tend to make a mess or at least you do when eating them." I watched as she walked away and head towards the kitchen.
"No, what I want is for you to tell me who you got into a fight with?" I shout chasing after her.
"Look, it was just some random person that I don't know, you don't know. We bumped into each other, they got pissed punched me a couple of times and I punched back in defence," Emily finished just as there was a knock at the kitchen side door. Walking over to the door, I pull it open and am very surprised to see Toby, my boyfriend. However the surprising factor is he has two black eyes and bruised knuckles, it doesn't take a genius to work out these two got into a fight.
Turning to Emily, I say "Someone we don't know, hey?" I step back allowing Toby to enter into the house.
Toby shouts at Emily "What the hell are you doing here!?"
"Thought I'd come hang out with my best friend, since when is that a problem," Emily states.
"You know since when," Toby shouts glaring at Emily.
I ask "What is going on between you two?"
"Nothing," they both state still glaring at each other.
"Clearly somethings going on. Toby, why are you here?"
Toby replied with "I thought we could hang out, I'm not working today."
I say "Well Emily was here first, maybe we'll hang out later."
"Whatever," he mumbles before walking out of the house. Quickly closing the door, I turn to look at Emily and see she's return to looking for a plate.
"Emily."
"Yeah Spence," Emily snaps her head up.
"Can you please tell me what's going on? Why did you bring me coffee and a donut? What's happened between you and Toby, last time I checked you two were best friends." Emily wipes at her eyes, a clear sign she's trying not to cry which worries me; completely.
Emily then said "Can we just enjoy one last coffee and donut together, before everything blows up please?"
"Of course we can Emily but it won't be our last one," I say walking over to take a coffee and the plate with the donut on it.
"That's what you say now," Emily spoke as she joined me on the couch.
Emily then asked with a new expression upon her face "How has your morning been?"
"It's been good, I've just been reading."
"What book?"
"The Fault In Our Stars."
"Should've known," Emily said with a smirk.
"Why?"
"Because it's your favourite book."
I asked "How do you know that?"
"You're always reading it, I've seen you read it a thousand of times."
"Well it's a good book."
"I know, you once read it to me."
"I remember," I say with a smile remembering Emily's face when I had read it to her.
I asked "How's your morning been?"
"Different to every other day, a bad different."
"Why was it bad?"
"Because I got into a fight with my best friend, who is no longer my best friend," Emily explained.
"What was it over?"
"We once made a deal never to love the same people but we've both broken it."
"How so? I don't understand."
"Come on Spence, don't tell me you don't know or understand. You know exactly whom I've fallen in love with and have been since I've met her, but never had the courage to admit it."
"Emily, what are you saying?" I asked taken back by Emily's words.
Emily looked into my eyes as she said "I am in love with you Spencer Hastings."
"What? No, no, this is not happening, you did not just say that. Wait I'm the reason you and Toby got into that fight."
"I did just say that, I am in love with you. Yes that's why we fought, he just figured it out. I don't know he did, he just picked up on it and didn't like it."
"So he punched you?"
"Pretty much, the whole of Rosewood probably knows now."
"Why now? Why are you telling me this now Emily?"
"Because I need to move on, the only way to move on is by telling you and accepting your rejection. Like I said, I just wanted to enjoy one last coffee and donut with you."
I say "You're deciding a lot of things about what's going to happen from here."
"Well I can't stand to see you with him, it hurts too much."
"I understand you and Toby made a deal, but why did he actually start the fight?"
"I don't know, I guess he was angry."
"You say that again," I say.
"I don't understand Spencer."
Taking a deep breath, I say "Toby once asked me if there was someone I used to have feelings for besides him or if I'd ever kiss a girl, if so how would it be. I said your name."
"Wait, you had feelings for me before Toby, why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I was scared, you didn't seem interested and I was scared of rejection."
"This is just great, you don't still have feelings for me do you?" Emily asked looking at me hopefully.
I replied with "I can't Emily, it would hurt Toby."
Emily said "Take Toby out of the picture, do you still have feelings for me?"
"I don't know Emily."
"Well that's not a no."
"But it's not a yes either, I really like Toby and I don't want to hurt him."
"Looks like I'm the one getting hurt."
"I'm sorry Emily, if Toby wasn't involved I'd."
"You'd what? actually want to be with me. I'm not someone second choice, Spencer."
"That's not what I meant. You have always been my first choice but I can't just break up with Toby for you, it would crush him."
"I've had this conversation in my head a thousand of times and not once did I think it'd go this way. Are you going to break up with him?"
"No," I say shaking my head.
"Spencer you just admitted to me, that you don't love him and that he isn't your first choice. I'm saying this as your friend and not as someone who is in love with you, Toby doesn't deserve to be someone second choice not when the other is his first choice. Toby loves you, he was my best mate so I know how much he loves you more than anyone else does and while he isn't in my life anymore, he doesn't deserve to be treated like this."
"So what, you want me to just break up with him and date you? That would hurt him."
"While I like the idea of you and I dating, I don't want Toby to get hurt, I still care about. I think you need to tell him how you feel and go from there. If things go south, I'm here as a shoulder and if something happens between us; then great. If things work out for you two as a couple, then I'm happy for you but you'll lose me as your friend, you both will, the girls will. I know it's selfish of me to say this but I wouldn't be able to see you with him or anyone else."
"It is selfish of you Emily, to not be my friend or the girls friend just because I'm dating someone that isn't you; however I understand why'd you do it."
Emily nods her head before saying "I've got to go, let you think and what not." I nod my head and watch as Emily stands up. Emily leans down in front of me and pecks the side of my lip, I can't help but think as she leave what would it feel like to have Emily's lips fully upon mine. Sighing as I lay down on the sofa, knowing I had a big decision to make. Do I stay with Toby, even though I've loved Emily for years but do I stay, as not to hurt him? Do I break up with Toby because I'm not in love with and choose to be with the person who already has a hold of my heart? Do I break up with Toby and ask for space from Emily, allowing me time to think. Shaking my head, I realise I need someone else's opinion and I pull out my phone.
"Hey Spence, what's up?" Aria asked as soon as she answered my call.
"Hi, are you busy?"
"No, I'm just looking through shoe catalogues. Is something wrong?"
"Sort of, can I come over? I need your opinion about something."
"Of course you can," Aria said very welcoming. After a little small talk, I stand up and get ready to go out. Running out to my car, I begin the drive to Aria's on autopilot thinking too much about Emily and Toby.
"Hey Spence, come on in," Aria instructs once opening the front door.
"Thanks," I say shuffling into the house. We walk passed the lounge room where Ella shouts out a hello, I polite say it back before continuing up the stairs to Aria's room.
In the safety of her room, Aria asked "What's going on?"
"Emily came over to my house this morning, which isn't anything weird. Emily brought me a coffee and a jam and, she also was wearing a black eye, cut lip and
bruised knuckles."
"She was in a fight?"
"Yeah but when I asked her about it she was very defensive and closed down about it, which isn't like her whatsoever. I kept asking her about it, she was about to tell me I believe but then there was a knock at the kitchen back door. Answering the door, I was surprised to see Toby but what surprised me more about him was he had two black eyes and bruised knuckles.
Aria questioned "So Emily and Toby got into a fight? Aren't they like best friends?"
"Yeah they are but the way they were towards each other would suggest otherwise, I ask what had happened and they said both nothing. Eventually I had Toby leave since Emily was there first, I asked her what had happened and she said while trying not to cry if we could please just enjoy one last coffee and donut together."
"Why would she say that? Is she going somewhere?"
"No, Emily had something to tell me and after it she believed we wouldn't be friends anymore."
"Okay, what did she tell me?" Aria asked.
I replied with "Emily told me that she's in love with me."
"Brain explosion right there," Aria points out with wide eyes.
"That was kind of my reaction as well, I was also sad. That's what Toby and Emily had fought about, apparently they made a deal never to fall in love with the same girl; so Toby was angry at Emily."
"I guess I can see why, it'd be like us falling for the same guy. Why were you sad that Emily was in love with you?"
"Toby once asked me if I wasn't dating him if there was someone I would date, if I had to kiss a girl who would I choose, just questions like that."
"And let me guess, you choose Emily."
"Every time without even needing to think about it. The reason I was sad about Emily admitting her feelings towards me is because, I was in love with her for many years."
"So that's why you were always sweet on Emily, let her do things that none of us did."
"Yeah."
"But your still not know, are you?"
I replied with "Emily got me to admit today that I'm not in love with Toby."
"Well that's been clear from the start, but what about Emily?"
"I don't know, never in my wild imagination would Emily say she loves me. She's the person who I always wondered about. I know you and Hanna understand me but Emily, she just gets me in a way no one else does."
"That's also pretty clear. Hanna and I notice the jokes you two share, the ones that go straight over our heads."
"Emily thinks I should break up with Toby, but I don't want it to seem like I'm dumping him to be with Emily."
Aria spoke "Emily's right, if you don't feel the same way about a person as the other does for you. You need to tell them and be honest. Do you want to be with Emily? Like be her girlfriend."
"I've wanted that since I was eight but then there was Toby."
"Say you're not with Toby, Emily admits her feelings what would you do?" Aria asked giving me time to think.
"I need to talk to Toby," I say with a sigh not really wanting to have this conversation.
"Yeah, you do," Aria said encouraging.
"Thanks for the help."
"I don't really do anything, you knew what you need to do, I just helped you realise it."
"Well still thank-you," I say standing up from her bed. After hugging Aria tightly, I made my out of the house and back to my car; where I would drive to Toby's house.
"Hey," Toby said with a smile as he opened his front door to see me.
"Hi," I say back less enthused then him. When Toby went to kiss my lips, I turned my head to the side and he kissed my cheek instead.
"Is everything okay?"
"Can we talk?"
"That's never good," he said still inviting me into the house. Sitting in the lounge room in silence, I didn't know how to tell him and I was stalling for time.
Toby states "You love her."
"Yeah, I do."
"It's okay Spencer, I knew this day would come."
"How did you know?"
"You never had to think about who you want to be with if I wasn't around, besides I saw the way you looked at Emily growing up. You've wanted more than friendship with Emily for a long time now, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I am so sorry Toby."
"It's okay, at least I got to call you my girlfriend for a while and that was nice; not everyone can say they've dated Spencer Hastings. Go find her and tell her, don't worry about me, I'll be okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"No but I want you to be happy and I know she'll treat you better than anyone else."
"Thank-you Toby, I am so sorry," I say feeling tears roll down my cheek. After pecking the side of Toby's face, I left his house forever. I heard the sound of crashing and breaking as soon as I closed the door, I wanted to go back inside but I couldn't; it wasn't my place to fix him anymore. Standing on the road as I look across at the house that looks so intimidating to me at this point, a house never look so scary before.
Walking up to the door, I take a deep breath and knock upon the door.
"Oh Spencer dear, how nice to see you," Mrs Fields said as she pulled the door open.
"Likewise, Mrs Fields."
Mrs Fields said "I hope you're here to see Emily, she came home very upset and wouldn't let me into her room. I think she tipped her bookcase over but I can't know for sure," I nod my head and think great this is my fault.
I replied with "Yes, I am here to see Emily. I hope she's up to me seeing me."
"If she wants to see anyone it'd be you Spencer," Mrs Fields open the door allowing me into the hose and encouraged me upstairs.
Knocking on Emily bedroom door, I heard Emily yell "Mum, I don't want to talk about."
"It's not your Mum," I say back. Hearing the sound of sliding before the door opens to reveal a teary face Emily.
Emily asked "What are you doing here Spencer, come to break my heat some more?"
"No, can you please just hear me out?"
"Whatever," Emily walked back into her room keeping the door open, allowing me to enter into her room. Walking into the room, it was very dark with the blinds closed but it was like all the happiness had been sucked out of the room.
"I just came from Toby's."
"Spare me the detail," Emily intrupps me.
"But before that I was at Aria's, she helped me realise something. Not really though because I knew the answers to the question I had to answer, I just needed to admit them to someone else."
"What are you talking about?"
"I broke up with Toby."
"Not because of what I said? I didn't mean for you two to break up."
"I know Emily and a little is part of what you said, but it wasn't right of me to stay with Toby."
"Why not?" Emily asked.
"Because I am in love with you," I point directly at Emily. Just when Emily goes to say something, we heard the sound of something being smashed. Crossing Emily's room and pulling the blinds open, we see Emily's wooden letter box has been smashed to pieces and Toby's standing there with a baseball bat.
"I'll go talk to him," I say.
Emily grabs my hand and said "No, I deserve that. I did kind of still his girlfriend." I watch as Emily and Toby look at each other, Toby nods his head once and Emily does the same.
Confused I asked "What's that about?"
"We are square now and Toby's okay with me dating you."
"He is?"
"Yep."
"Wait, you want to date me?" I asked unsure and everything Emily had said catching up to me.
"Yep," Emily said still sure as ever.
"So, I can take you out on a date say tomorrow night at eight?"
"Yes Spencer," Emily smiled leaning across to kiss me upon the lips. Instantly I felt this spark go off and fireworks were quick to follow, kissing someone had never felt like this before. As I ran my fingers through Emily's beautiful smooth hair, I couldn't believe how soft another females lips could be. When Emily pulled back it was the last thing I wanted but oxygen was needed at this point and time. I looked at Emily who was looking at me in this kind of daze and I imagine I am doing the same back. Suddenly ghostly smile appears on Emily's face, which is infectious and brings a bright smile to my face.
"I have wanted to do that for so long, if I knew it was going to feel that good I would have done it ages ago."
"Same," I breathe.
Emily then asked nervous "Umm…do you, would you like to go get some ice-cream and maybe go to the park?"
"As long as it's with you, then I'd love to get you some ice-cream."
"Awesome, just let me get changed and we can go," I nod my head before leaving the room. I couldn't believe how crazy this day had been. I started the day off with a boyfriend and now I was ending the day with no boyfriend, but gaining a girlfriend. The last thing I wanted to do was rub Toby's face in it but I was really happy to be expressing my feelings to Emily, the feelings which I have been holding in for a very long time. I hoped Toby could find his Emily, any girl would be lucky to have Toby as their boyfriend.
"Ready to go?" I heard Emily asked.
"Yes," I said with a smile as Emily took my hand and lead me out of her house.
The End.