A/N:

This chapter would be purely focused on the PLL characters. It's shorter for now. I've been busy as usual but I wanted to give you another chapter so here it is. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Next chapter would be focused on Glee characters, this set-up won't be on a regular basis if some of you might ask…Without further ado, enjoy!

Okay, so to make things clear, if there's any familiar quote from any familiar stories, I put it there because it's fitting. Just sayin' Seriously...

Mistakes are mine. Sorry.

Chapter 13

Aria's POV:

Rachel and Sam drove home the rest of our friends, since some unexpected events happened and since Santana left: we assumed there wouldn't be any sleepover tonight. Hanna, Spencer, and I waited for Santana to come back though, as for Hanna and I, we were hoping that Emily will come back.

"I think we should go home. It's getting late." Spencer suggested as she stares at the television.

"I need to wait for Em. You could go home if you want though." Hanna was quick to respond.

I wanted to wait for her too. But I don't think she can handle talking to both of us with the same night. "I better go home then."

Spencer seemed surprise at my decision, Hanna just game me a sympathetic/thankful look.

"Are you coming with me, Spence?" I directed the question at the brunette who, for someone who suggested going home, doesn't seem like she wanted to go home. But she nodded.

We bid our goodbye to Hanna. Spencer hugged her and so did I.

I was about to pull away but she tightened the hug. "I missed you. I'm sorry." She whispered to me.

I didn't know what to feel. The last time we really talked was at Rachel's. I missed her too.

I didn't know what she's sorry for too. Was she sorry that we came to this point? Because I am too. Or was she sorry that she got mad for that kiss? I think it was the former.

I pulled away. I just nodded and smiled rather sadly. "Be safe. I'm pretty sure they'd be here any minute now."

She tucked the strands of her hair behind her ear and unconsciously licked her lips. She always does that. "Take care." She said to me and Spencer.

I wish I stayed that night. Things might have been different.

But I didn't. And I lost her. They're together now. Emily has a girlfriend now.

I have to get over her. I finally got my answer; she loves her more. I've been losing a lot of sleep lately, and I shed a lot of tears. I can't keep on doing this anymore. I needed to somehow move on. I didn't want this feeling anymore because I'm alone. I know now that I'm alone in a love affair meant for two people. I had to move on even though it felt like she's the one. Even if I thought somehow, even if she loved someone else, we'd still end up together.

"Aria" it's weird to feel so much pleasure in hearing my own name, or maybe it has just something to do with the voice who said it. She must've waited for my class to be over. "Can we talk?" I didn't want to talk. I just wanted to be alone.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I questioned. Sue me. I didn't bother hiding my pain.

"Because I didn't know how to say it." She answered simply but with full sympathy, and I hate it. "I'm sorry." But I hated that more. She makes me feel really pathetic right now.

I felt lost at the moment; not really noticing the people that exists around me. It's not like I cared. All I hear was the sound of my heart shattering to pieces because she chose her; she chose her over me. I tried, I at least did something to make 'us' work while Hanna was taking her time sorting her feelings but she got the girl. And I'm left out.

"I'm sorry." She repeated. I hate her for apologizing. I freaking hate it because she always say sorry and it always remind me that she did something wrong to me. "But you have to know…" That she loved me? I know that. I felt that. I didn't need to hear it. Not now. I can't bear to hear it or else I'll kiss her and I'll have to say sorry even if I wouldn't mean it. So I just nodded like I knew what she's going to say.

"We're cool. We're okay." I said calmly as possible, although I feel something else, although I feel sad. That sadness that someone would feel if they'd lost something they never had; that kind of sadness. "But you should've just told me a little sooner. You should've at least warned me; given me a heads up. You owe me that."

The fact alone that Emily initiated the meeting, I knew there was something going on. She's going to break a news to us that I wouldn't like; little did I know that she'll break my heart too. They were at the Circle already when I arrived, it was around lunch time. Of course Quinn was absent because she went back at YALE because classes are still on going.

"She's here. What's the big announcement, Em?" Spencer said with a slight nervousness in her tone. That made me even more curious. Why would she be nervous? Does she have an idea too?

I just hoped it doesn't concern what happened on Santana's party or whatsoever.

"Yeah." She cleared her throat. "Aria, take a seat first, please." Her eye contact with Hanna didn't go unnoticed,d I sat at the space between Spencer and Santana.

"I'm…I like girls as much as I like boys." Her jaw clenched. She looked at Spencer. I know she was concern of Spencer's reaction because she'd most likely be the one to oppose.

Rachel gasped. Sam was a bit surprised. Spencer was surprisingly still shocked, like I haven't told her before. Santana beamed a smile. Hanna seemed to have the kind of reaction that I do; proud. We were both looking at Emily like proud girlfriends, except, little did I know, one of us was really the girlfriend.

And I can't be possibly unaware that I was the girlfriend, can I? "And at the moment I'm dating a girl."

That one was a bigger news as seeing the faces of my friends. Except for Hanna. And that was enough for my heart to break, let alone, hear it out loud. "Which I hope lasts for a lifetime." She looked at each eye that was directed at her and ended up looking at her.

And when everyone thought we couldn't be more surprised… "I'm dating Hanna." we were.

The next thing I know she's crying. Why the heck is she crying? She's the one who got the girl that she loves and she's the one crying. "Are you seriously crying?" I asked her weakly, even though I tried to sound like it's a silly thing to see.

"I would've told you that I was madly in love with you, Aria. I would have. But you'd know I'm lying, so I didn't have a choice. But trust me, I would've never let you go." But she did. All that mattered right now was the fact that she is letting me go. Was that supposed to make me feel better? Because it didn't. I can still feel how miserable I am right now.

I slapped her. I never meant to do it. I just…it just happened. Maybe it was because of the fact that a kiss can ruin her relationship with Hanna and a slap won't. I just have too many feelings for her, that if I didn't let go, I know I'd explode.

"I totally deserved that." Emily said sadly, she seemed like she expected a slap today. At least she stopped crying, although it caught the attention of some or most students at the gym. But none of that mattered to me.

I sighed in frustration. "I didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry." I touched her cheek where I slapped her. "Does it hurt?" I know it's a stupid question, but it was like a reflex. I gently run my thumb on the same portion of her face.

She gripped my hand.

I wanted to snatch it away but I didn't have the control to do so, because I wanted that grip. I wanted her hand in mine so bad.

She gulped before she speaks. "I'll always be in love with you first. But Aria, we don't always end up with our first love." Well ouch. "You know that I never wanted to hurt you. The pain might stay there for months or even years, but it's going to be worth it. You're gonna find someone that loves you more than I do, and you'll be happy."

I was hoping that what she said was true. But I didn't let it show. Right now, all I can feel is loneliness and sadness. This is the second time that I felt lonely even when I was with Emily. "You're not a fortune teller to assure me that I'm gonna find someone that loves me more than you do. But that doesn't even matter, because right now, I'm wondering if I'd ever find someone that I'll love more than I love you."

She was going to answer me. She's probably going to tell me that I will someday but I didn't want to hear it. Not from her. "Em, do me a favor?"

She nodded at me and waited for my request.

"Pretend that you believe me, when I tell you that I'm okay." I stated.

She nodded indifferently, but her eyes were sad as my heart. I couldn't stand the view, so I started walking away.

I'd always secretly believed that a love as fierce and true as mine would be rewarded in the end, but now I was being forced to accept the bitter truth.

I must've slapped Emily really hard because Spencer came to grab me by the wrist and pull me inside the comfort room. I didn't know why. None of whatever Spencer is doing lately made sense to me but I let her lead me: away from Emily, away from more heartache.

When we're inside Spencer just stared at me and I saw everything in her eyes but pity; and somehow, in an unexplainable way, I felt comfort.

She hugged me. This girl that used to be so clueless about anything that's happening in our lives; she's hugging me tightly, and I think she understands me. And I hugged back and cried. It's basically useless to not let the others see that I'm crying because I'm pretty sure they can hear me.

"You have no idea how much I want to slap you." Spencer said softly. "You shouldn't have let her talk to you, thinking that you'd somehow feel better. You shouldn't have let yourself out there with her alone because you know you'll seek comfort in her that you wouldn't find. Because you'd only really feel okay if she took back what she just said and you know that would not happen." Her voice cracked at the end.

It's like she knew exactly what I was feeling and somehow, I didn't feel alone. Somehow, it made me less pathetic. But at the same way, somehow, it didn't hurt less. Not one bit.

Spencer's POV:

I don't know if I'd call myself lucky or unfortunate that Emily is at my house sitting at the couch on my bedroom tonight.

Of all the people, and of all the time, why did she choose to come to me now? I'm usually the last person she goes to when she have problems. But why now?

"Here's your coffee." I handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thank you." The she took a sip as I sat beside her.

I know the silence was caused by her lack of words and my lack of courage. But Emily decided to break it after a while.

"You must be surprised I'm here, huh?" she tried to ask me casually.

I nodded.

"You seemed to know about what happened between me and Aria." How did she notice that? Was I supposed to deny it? That wouldn't make sense.

So I nodded again.

"Am I still welcome here?" she asks shyly.

I didn't expect her to ask me that. "Of course." I replied immediately.

"It's just that, you always rant about Santana liking girls to me, and it turned out that I was no different." That was definitely my fault. I didn't mean to make her feel like I resent the idea, if only she knew that most of the time I question Santana because I was curious.

"Em. Do I make you feel that way?" I asked her seriously.

"You're extra quiet these past few days. You seem to be bothered more than when Santana gets a new fling. I wanted to make sure that we're okay." She confessed.

I sighed. I can't tell her that I'm jealous, how am I supposed to explain myself to her? "Trust me, Em, its fine with me that you like girls. Its fine with me that Santana liked girls so what makes you liking girls different?"

She huffed. "Can I ask you a favor?" She asked; totally turning the topic to a different direction.

"It depends." I said, although I'm pretty sure I'd do anything for this girl.

"Can you please take care of Aria? You guys seemed to be closer now." Oh. So that's the real reason why she's here. A part of me was a little jealous. But the other part of me was reminded that this is one of the reasons why I liked her in the first place: she always do something when she knows that one of us is unhappy; she has always been so thoughtful and caring. "She'd probably say that she's okay a lot of times but I don't have to tell you that she's not."

I nodded in full understanding. I wonder if she ever sees that I'm not okay too. "I will." I looked at her in the eye, "I hope you're happy." Because really. Aria and I are going through a lot of pain because we didn't want to spoil her happiness.

She smiled gratefully, and then she hugged me. I was controlling myself not to crush her with my hug because seriously speaking; I think I just might with this need burning inside me.

"I hope you're all happy for me too." That bites.

"I am." I said briefly. And I was honest. I am happy that she's happy. I just-I hope that she is happy with me instead.

I didn't know if I sounded convincing. A smile was the response that I got.

I knew I couldn't hold a conversation much longer without telling her how I really feel. Good thing, we decided to watch a movie afterwards, just to kill some time and unwind a bit. I was on my bed leaving the couch to Emily all to herself so she'd be comfortable. It's not like I could manage to be too close to her right now.

After two movies, she fell in deep sleep.

I wanted so badly to lie down next to her on the couch, to wrap my arms around her and sleep. Just sleep together in the most innocent sense of the phrase. But I lacked the courage and she had a girlfriend and I was dull and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and she was endlessly fascinating. So I stayed in my bed and collapsed, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a violent storm.

Aria at least knows that Emily was in love with her. Me on the other hand, I sometimes wonder if she ever loved me half as much as I loved her. She always makes me feel so special, until I knew that a lot of us feel the same way. She never confessed anything to me, unlike what she did to Aria or Hanna. I envied them but it's not like I was willing to risk like they were.

I got up and walked towards Emily. I know that whatever I'm about to say wouldn't even matter but this is my chance to tell her. "I love you, Emily Fields." I started whispering. "For so long, so long that I couldn't even remember when it started, it was just my secret. It burns inside me, and I felt like I was carrying something important, something that made me who I am and made me different from everybody else. I took it with me everywhere, and there was never a moment when I wasn't aware of it. It was like I was totally awake, like I could feel every nerve ending in my body. Sometimes my skin would almost hurt from the force of it, that's how strong it was. Like my whole body was shaking or something. I felt almost, I don't know, noble? Like a medieval knight or something, carrying this secret love around with me." I kissed her cheek. I was startled when she moved, when she didn't seem awake, I let out a sigh, I didn't even realized that I held my breath.

Aunt Pam's still in Texas so I didn't think anyone would wonder where Em might be. I wanted to let her sleep on my bed but she really looks peaceful, I didn't want to ruin her sleep. I don't know if there would be a time for an 'us' but for now I'm willing to settle for you and I. "As much as it pains me, I really do hope that you and Hanna would last long."

A/N:

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