Hey everyone! Wow, it's been since Jan 6, 2013 since I last updated this. Please forgive me for neglecting this story for so long and please forgive me for how short this update is. Just know that I'm slowly getting back into it and I wanted to give you something to look forward to since it's been so such a long time. Stay tuned for more. :) And thank you for all the encouraging reviews and messages I've received in the last months and even just a few hours before I reopened my word document on my computer today. I would never forgive myself for leaving this story incomplete. More to come! Enjoy. :)

"Your driveway is this next one on the left, right?"

"Correct."

Emily made the left hand turn and followed the driveway up to Paige's house. The house was dark and there didn't appear to be a single light on inside. Emily put the car in park and turned the radio down.

I guess her parents must not be home.

Emily wondered where they would be at this time at night. Paige wasn't exaggerating that her parents were hardly home. It was a Monday night and there weren't any signs that anyone was inside the house.

They must be overly committed to their jobs.

"Is there a chance they went to go pick you up and we possibly passed them on the road?"

"Doubt it. I'm sure my dad is still at the office and my mom probably went back to finish up some paperwork at her office too. The best way to not think about things or deal with problems is to keep busy, right?" Paige more-so stated than asked while unbuckling her seatbelt and grabbing for her bag.

"Thanks for the ride again Emily, I really appreciate it."

Paige started to push open her door and get out.

Emily unfastened her seatbelt, shut off the engine to her car and decided that she was going to get out too.

She followed Paige up to her front door.

Paige unlocked the door and placed her bag inside on the entry way rug. She could feel Emily's eyes at her back so she turned around to face Emily.

"Everything okay?"

Emily looked at Paige for a while before answering.

"I just wanted to say sorry again."

"Emily, I already told you I'm fine. I know you didn't knock me to the ground on purpose. My hand is fine and you really didn't have to drive me home, so thank you again for giving me a ride."

Emily didn't reply. She held Paige's gaze for awhile and just as she was about to say something she stopped herself.

"What's on your mind?" Paige asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you. What is it?" Paige asked again.

"Can I-" Emily exhaled.

This is dumb.

Paige grew more curious and part of her was worried about what the rest of Emily's question was going to be.

Sucking in a breath of cold air Emily hesitantly finished her question.

"…give you a hug?"

Paige smiled softly.

Emily relaxed.

"Sure, I think I would like that."

Emily took a step forward with slightly outstretched arms.

Paige filled in the gap and wrapped her arms over the top of Emily's shoulders and around her upper back. Both girls were pressed up against each other to the point where there wasn't even the slightest bit of open space between their two bodies.

Paige didn't realize how much she has needed this until it happened, she disliked physical contact with people she didn't know very well, but hugging Emily felt so natural to her. There was nothing awkward about it.

Emily could feel each time Paige took in a new breath of air and each time she released it. For as nervous as she was asking for a hug, the moment Paige wrapped her arms around her, everything in her seemed to calm down and she felt relaxed.

Paige liked hugging Emily. It felt right. Emily fit perfectly in her arms and Paige was entirely content to stand out in the cold holding this girl for as long as Emily would allow her to. She couldn't remember the last time she had been hugged by someone. It had been that long.

Suddenly, she felt a release of built up tension and stress which, in turn, caused her throat to tighten up and tears began to pool in her lower eye lids. She bit down on her lower lip and tried to clear her mind. She wasn't about to cry in front of Emily, not right now, and not ever if she could help it.

Paige subtlety took in a deep breath. She tried to think about anything that would stop her from losing her composure.

Paige slowly exhaled and drew in another deep breath. A couple of more times, this happened, and in with each breath she continued to capture and fill her lungs with the sweet smelling air that surrounded Emily.

Emily smelt like the perfect mixture of laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, lotion, and chlorine. All of their respective scents forming one that couldn't be described as anything but Emily. Paige took a few more deliberate breaths through her nose so she could continue to inhale Emily's after-shower scent.

Paige didn't have the urge to cry anymore, Emily had unknowingly distracted her from falling apart right there on her very own front porch.

Emily wasn't sure how much time had passed; it really didn't matter to her. There was something in the way that Paige had clung to her, that she was able to tell just how much Paige really needed this, even if she wasn't going to openly admit it to Emily.

Just then she felt Paige shiver the tiniest bit and that was when she realized she should probably let her go so she could get warm inside. She loosened her hold on Paige and pulled back ever so slightly.

Paige took the hint and released Emily from her arms. Folding her arms in front of her and was now staring awkwardly at her feet.

"You give nice hugs. Um, thank you for that. I needed that more than you know." Paige said still refusing to look up.

Paige's statement brought a smile to Emily's face.

"You aren't so bad yourself. No need to thank me though, I like hugs and they're always free. Just so you know. So, don't be afraid to ask for one in the future."

Emily had hoped that offer didn't come off as weird as it sounded.

Paige kept her gaze down. She didn't know what to say, but she found a great deal of comfort in knowing Emily was hinting at the fact that there could be more hugs in the future.

"Paige?"

"Yeah?" Paige's eyes had met Emily's at this point.

"I guess I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you. Please know that I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to, need a friend to do something with, want advice, or need a ride somewhere, anywhere. Like seriously, I'm telling you take advantage of me. Please."

"Take advantage of you?" Paige asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes."

Paige kept her eyebrows raised and let a smile creep across her face.

"Wait. Damn. Well, not like that, I just meant that-"

Emily could feel her face grow hot. She hoped Paige couldn't see her blush.

"I'm joking, I know what you meant. I couldn't resist."

Paige reached her right hand out and lightly squeezed Emily's forearm.

"I totally walked into that one. Well played." Emily replied.

Paige removed her hand and crossed her arm back in front of her with her other one. She was trying to retain any amount of body heat she could.

"I couldn't let it go, sorry I'm not sorry." Paige confessed.

Emily could tell Paige was cold and decided it was time to say goodbye.

"Fair enough, but before I let you go, there was something else I wanted to ask you."

"Go for it."

"Do you have any plans on Friday night?" Emily asked.