Alison was freaking out. She'd been mentally beating herself up ever since her first (and only) encounter with Emily. On top of openly flirting with the said brunette, she gave Emily her phone number in the most cliché way ever. And if that wasn't enough, her sudden infatuation with Emily was making her confused and dizzy.

Aside from running a few errands this morning, she spent most of the day in her apartment, trying to distract herself from the constant checking of her phone.

It had been almost two days since their table read and the brunette hadn't texted her yet. Maybe Emily didn't like her? Maybe she overstepped? Alison's mind was racing. Maybe she wasn't Emily's type? Not to be cocky but Alison was everyone's type. Maybe Emily wasn't even into women? They still had that stupid get-together with Spencer, so Emily was supposed to reach out to her by now. But what if Spencer reaches out instead, then Emily won't be needing her phone number at all?

Alison's head was spinning and she couldn't keep her thoughts at bay even if she tried. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a new message notification. Her heart skipped a beat. She almost tripped over her bed to reach her phone, only to sigh dramatically when she read the screen:

Get 20% off on your next Victoria's Secret purchase using the code VS20!

Are you fucking kidding me? She thought to herself and plopped down on her sofa defeatedly, burying herself in the soft cushions while dropping her phone somewhere near her head.

Her phone chimed again. Alison groaned, and made no effort to move. After a minute or so, she begrudgingly turned to reach her phone, at the same time removing some of the golden locks that were sprawled out all over her face and securing them behind her ear. She read the screen again and almost jumped to her feet. Unknown number.

Thought you could use some practice.

Okay, that was definitely Emily, but was she being serious, or mocking her, or flirting with her? Alison stared at the screen with scrunched eyebrows for what seemed like an eternity, and before she could decide on the brunette's tone, another message popped up.

This is Emily btw, in case you couldn't tell.

Oh I could. Alison rolled her eyes. She quickly saved the brunette's number in her contact list before texting her back.

A: When are you free?

E: For you?

E: Always, pretty much.

A double texter huh? Alison smiled, feeling her cheeks warm up. She was wondering where Emily's sudden boldness was coming from, especially since the girl seemed timid and shy during their table read. Another text comes up on the screen and Alison can feel her heartbeat in her ears.

E: Dinner, tonight?

A: Sure. Where do you want to meet?

While reading Alison's messages, one might think that Alison's calm and cool, and totally unbothered with whatever's about to unfold. But in reality Alison was the furthest thing away from that, and losing her shit was a mild way to describe everything that she was feeling.

E: Great, I'll send you my address.

A: We're having dinner at your place?

E: Is that a problem?

Yes, Alison thought to herself. Because having dinner at Emily's house meant that she would be even more nervous. Restaurant would've been a common ground, but even though she hated to admit it, the brunette's proposition did make sense- if they actually want to go over the script then they should do it in a private setting and not a public place. She decides to ignore Emily's question.

A: Will you cook for me?

E: Wouldn't you like to know.

Alison bit her lip to keep herself from smiling like an idiot. She had to admit, she liked this side of Emily, and she hoped that the girl will keep some of this attitude for their dinner date. Date? Seriously Alison? She rolled her eyes and huffed in frustration, this girl had no business making Alison feel this way. That's why she was determined to have the upper hand tonight.

A: I'll see you at 6. Text me your address. x

After Emily sent her the address, Alison felt herself calm down. She recognized the street name, it was the same neighborhood that Aria lived in, and was only about a 20 minute ride from her own place. Alison checked the time- it was already nearing 4 PM, and her panic started to rise again.

Ever since Alison was a kid, she always took a long time to get ready. It wasn't because she did anything special, but because she thoroughly enjoyed it. Even now, when she was attending red carpets and all kinds of different events almost on the daily basis, she always had way more fun before the actual event: getting her hair and nails done felt like going to therapy, and picking out the perfect outfit felt like being a little girl again, only now she was dressing herself and not her barbie dolls.

She took a quick shower and rummaged through her closet while snickering to herself, reminiscing about her childhood: Spencer had never wanted to play dolls with her, and would only let Alison braid her hair or paint her nails if she promised to assist her with whatever nerdy thing the brunette girl wanted to do. Luckily for Alison, most of those were actually fun (not that she would ever admit that to her sister), like leaving each other secret messages in invisible ink, or making up their own language. Spencer had also taught her to play scrabble and chess, games that Alison enjoyed to this day but only played in secret because she knew that she'd be endlessly teased by her older sister if she were to ever find out. She could actually hear Spencer's mocking in her head: Who's the geek now?

Alison now stood at the foot of her bed, with her hands on her hips that were only covered with a damp towel and her lips pursed in thought. Her bright blue orbs flickered between the several dresses laid out on the bed while she was contemplating which one to wear. She picked up each dress and held it against herself in the wall length mirror.

As she looked at own reflection, her mind wandered back to Emily. The thoughts of the beautiful brunette blossomed in her mind like wildflowers in a spring meadow, lively and untamed. Alison shook her head, breaking herself out of her sudden daydream. She then decides on wearing a simple white floral dress (thanks to her quick daydream), knowing it will be enough to impress Emily without looking as if she tried too hard.

She quickly put it on, admiring the way it draped on her figure like moonlight would. The neckline of the dress dipped modestly, hinting at a sweetheart shape that accentuated her collarbones with a subtle allure, framing them softly like delicate porcelain.

She then moved on to her hair, letting it down from the messy bun she did earlier on while she was in the shower. She decides to go with her natural curls, gently brushing them out to make them appear a little less messy. Her makeup is minimal: a bit of mascara to make her bright blue eyes even more prominent, soft pink blush on her cheeks and some strawberry flavored lip gloss in the same shade.

Alison starts to wonder what Emily will think of her appearance, but before she can dwell on it any longer she takes a glance at her watch, it was almost 5.30 PM and she quickly realized that she should be leaving soon. She didn't want to be late, and she most certainly didn't want Emily to make fun of her for being late again, like she had been on the day of their table read.

She put on her signature vanilla perfume that made her smell like a strawberry milkshake and gave herself another look in the mirror. Finally satisfied with her appearance, Alison grabbed her keys and headed out the door. She could feel a mix of excitement and butterflies in her stomach as she headed towards her car.

The ride was pretty short, but it was still long enough to make Alison's palms start to sweat as she gripped onto the steering wheel tightly. Get your shit together, Alison. She tried to give herself a pep talk but it barely worked- this was the first time in her whole life that she felt nervous to meet someone (not to mention it was someone whom she had already met once before). As she was getting closer to the brunette's street she ultimately decided to ignore the butterflies that seemed to be multiplying in her body with each passing second. Fake it 'till you make it, you're an actress for heaven's sake, Alison thought to herself, and it seemed to work and calm her nerves, at least temporarily.

The car navigation system reminded her that she had arrived to her destination, and as Alison's eyes roamed around the property, she was left mesmerized and in awe. It was slightly different than Alison had imagined it (yes, she imagined Emily's house on the way there), but it still made sense- it simply reminded her of Emily.

Tucked away in a leafy suburban enclave, the estate exuded an air of serenity. Its exterior, a quaint blend of soft pastel hues and weathered wooden accents, evoked a sense of deep comfort and a welcoming charm. Even from her car, Alison could see a swing on the front porch, that was adorn by many pots of blooming flowers and trailing ivy.

The house itself wasn't too big, it was a decent size for one person or a small family, but everything surrounding the house was implying that the owner must be incredibly wealthy: a manicured lawn sprawled before the house, meticulously trimmed hedges lining the edges like sentinels of privacy, a sweeping driveway wide enough for several cars to comfortably park side by side.

Alison parked her car right in the center of the spacious driveway, taking a deep breath before exiting the vehicle. She let her eyes wander a bit more, before setting them on the most beautiful part of the property, at least in her opinion.

Right at the heart of the big lawn there was a sparkling pool that was glistening like a turquoise gem, surrounded by a mosaic-tiled terrace dotted with plush lounge chairs and umbrellas. Alison stared at it for a few minutes, seemingly forgetting where she was, mesmerized by the crystal clear water.

"Wanna take a swim?" She heard a voice behind her and turned her head towards the source- Emily smiled at her wholeheartedly from the front porch, beginning to walk down the steps in order to get closer to the blonde girl.

She was wearing gray sweats and a white tank top that complimented her tan skin, and her dark hair that was styled in loose curls, was simply cascading down her shoulders but Emily still looked like she just walked out of a hair commercial. Alison was completely in awe of the other girl's beauty, momentarily forgetting everything else.

Emily approached her, still wearing her bright smile while crossing her arms in front of her. The motion made Alison's gaze fall onto the brunette's cleavage, and Emily caught her before she could catch herself. However, the brunette didn't say anything, and for that Alison was grateful.

"Sorry, I couldn't stop myself." Alison mentally kicked herself at the hidden innuendo, but before she could brush it off or hope that the girl in front of her didn't catch it, she was met with a comeback.

"Couldn't stop yourself from staring at the pool or at my boobs?" Emily smirked at the blonde's loss for words.

"It is truly mesmerizing, " Emily agreed when Alison turned her gaze towards the water again, her dark eyes roaming along the blonde girl's figure, longingly taking in her appearance, "and so heavenly blue." She continued, but her eyes never left the girl next to her.

Alison didn't seem to notice Emily's eyes on her, and she softly smiled while still looking around the estate, her icy orbs dancing around everything that was surrounding them.

"Do you want me to show you the inside, or are we going to stay here the whole time?" Emily teased while Alison simply rolled her eyes, and followed the brunette towards the steps that lead to the front porch.

While they were climbing up the steps, Emily turned around to see Alison carefully observing the house. She followed her gaze and smiled in realization, Alison was admiring large bay windows that mirrored the azure skies above. They also mirrored the bluest eyes Emily has ever seen.

Alison's gaze shifted towards Emily's and she smiled shyly. Emily returned the smile and stood next to the open doors, gesturing for Alison to get inside first.

The interior wrapped Alison in a warm embrace, like a sweater on a crisp autumn day. Soft, earthy tones painted the walls, creating a sense of intimacy and comfort, making Alison feel like she had been in here a thousand times before. Plush, mismatched rugs adorned the hardwood floors that creaked gently underfoot. The sun was slowly fading away, but there were still some sunlight streams making their way through lace curtains, casting a warm glow over the furniture. Alison loved everything about this place.

"I feel like you're here just for the house." Emily joked.

"I feel like you're right." Alison agreed and they both burst out laughing.

Emily gave her a quick tour of the rest of the place, which was nothing short of perfect. Alison noticed a lot of what seemed like family pictures, and some high school photos of Emily with her friends. There were many pictures of Emily in company of a blonde girl, and Alison guessed she must be really important. The photos showed a wide range of emotions on both girls' faces, but in each photo Alison could see the look of pure love and adoration in both girls' eyes and for some reason she wanted for Emily to look at her in a similar way. She also hoped that the other blonde was just a friend.

"Your place is beautiful." Alison complimented while Emily lead them to the last part of the house, the dinning room that was connected with the kitchen.

"Thank you. I only moved here recently, actually. Fell in love with it at the first sight." Emily smiled warmly, and gestured for Alison to take a seat at the table.

Delicious smell filled Alison's nostrils, and she was suddenly reminded of how hungry she actually was.

"I'll be right back." Emily disappeared somewhere behind the kitchen island, and Alison turned towards the dinning table only to be completely surprised at Emily's thoughtfulness.

A crisp white tablecloth draped elegantly over the table, adorned with a runner of soft blush pink and gold accents that added a touch of glamour. At the center of the table, a small vase held a bouquet of freshly picked flowers and Alison smiled at the fact that her outfit kind of matched the vibe of the setting. The sun had almost completely disappeared and the flickering glow of candles cast a soft, intimate light across the table, creating a cozy ambiance.

Their seats were across from each other, each place setting was meticulously arranged with delicate, flat china plates rimmed in gold, accompanied by polished silverware and crystal wine glasses. Inside of each plate there was a folded linen napkin, with a sprig of rosemary tucked inside that added a subtle touch of refinement.

Alison took a seat and continued to admire everything in front of her. She had never been to a dinner like this before, nor did she believe that she would ever be treated this way. She simply didn't think that people this thoughtful existed. Except, well, in movies. To Alison it was a setting that spoke of thoughtful preparation and heartfelt anticipation, where every detail was crafted to create a memorable evening for the two of them. And she hoped that that's what it meant to Emily as well.

Emily walked in the dinning room carrying a bottle of white wine in her hands.

"Do you.. like it?" She questioned shyly, her warm, brown orbs filled with curiosity.

"Wow. Just.. wow." Alison answered honestly.

The brunette smiled appreciatively.

"Wine?" She asked while raising the bottle a bit, and Alison nodded in conformation.

Emily filled Alison's glass, before moving to fill her own. Alison observed the brunette for a second, before deciding to playfully push some of her buttons.

"So is this a date?" Alison smirked at the blush that was gracing Emily's cheeks.

"Do you want it to be?" Emily somehow choked out, seemingly surprised at the blonde's boldness.

"I do." Alison grinned confidently, while Emily blushed even more, ultimately deciding that she needed to up her flirting game.

"Okay, then it's a date." Emily concluded.

"Really? That easy?" Alison wiggled her eyebrows suspiciously.

"What can I say, I'm a simple woman." Emily shot her a charming smile, but Alison wasn't completely convinced.

"So, what's for dinner?"

"It's a surprise."

"Come ooon, what's on the menu?" Alison whined playfully and huffed in fake annoyance.

"Take a wild guess." Emily laughed and took a sip of her wine.

Alison decides to take her chance and smirks.

"Well I'm not sure about the main course, but I hope you're for the dessert." Alison whispered innocently while licking her lips in almost a sinful way, her eyes flickering with a spark that was everything but innocent.

Emily almost chokes on her drink, deciding she should go and serve dinner before the blonde girl kills accidentally.

As the brunette entered the kitchen, Alison took a sip of her wine, smiling to herself in victory.

Emily quickly returns from the kitchen, maneuvering two plates in her hands expertly, putting both of them down on the table at the same time.

Alison looks at the plate and gasps slightly, causing Emily to smirk.

"Like what you see?"

"I won't even try to make a snide comment because this looks divine. Did you really make it?" The blonde girl questioned with wide eyes. Emily just nodded.

"I hope you like it. I've never made Carbonara before so… be nice. Please." Emily said with a knowing look.

Emily expected that they would eat in silence, but Alison broke the silence immediately after taking her first bite.

"Holy crap, Emily."

"What? Is it bad?"

"There's literally no way this is your first try and it turned out this perfect. I made it like a thousand times and I always find a different way to fuck it up."

Emily laughed at Alison's sudden confession before deciding to tease her for a little bit.

"Maybe you're just a crap cook."

"Maybe I should be mean to you."

"You wouldn't."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No, it's an observation."

"Well, it's a bad one."

Emily smirked and decided to test her luck out.

"Is it as bad as your Carbonara?"

"Fuck off." Alison scoffed while the other girl laughed.

"I'm just kidding."

"I know." Alison smiled at her sweetly before continuing, "This is my favorite dish, by the way."

Emily's cheeks displayed a vibrant pink color. She decided to be honest with the blonde girl.

"I know." She repeated Alison's earlier statement, getting the blonde girl to eye her curiously.

"What do you mean?" Alison questioned.

"I mean I know that it's your favorite." Emily rolled her eyes as if it were obvious.

Alison slowly chewed her food before taking a sip of wine.

"How would you know that?"

"I read it in one of your interviews." Emily explained shyly. "I wanted to impress you."

The last four words were barely a whisper, and Alison would've missed them if she hadn't been listening to the other girl intently. Emily's gaze was set on the table, the soft hues of candle light transformed her dark eyes to the color of honey drenched in sunshine.

Alison was actually speechless. Usually, she would've been tempted to make some snide remark or make fun of the statement, but not with Emily, at least not when the girl in front of her was openly showing her vulnerability to Alison, fully aware that the blonde could use it against her.

Alison smiled genuinely. Her cheeks had a slight pinkish tint to them and her eyes were glazed with emotions that were rarely swimming in them. Emily held the eye contact, and the icy blues staring back at her seemed to melt more and more with each passing second.

"If I admit that you succeeded, you will get all cocky." Alison smirked.

"You're right, and then there would be too much cockiness surrounding this table." Emily shot back.

"Shut up." Alison laughed, and it was the kind of laugh that Emily wished to hear every day.

They ate the rest of their dinner in silence, throwing occasional banter between each other, both of them enjoying each other's company.

After finishing dinner Alison wanted to help Emily clean up, which, of course, the brunette refused, claiming that she would do it sometime later while hastily putting the dishes in the sink, and playfully shoving Alison towards the living room.

They sat on the opposite sides of the same couch, Emily shifting her body so she could be facing the blonde girl.

"Did you actually want to read the script, or was that just a ploy to get me here?" Alison narrowed her eyes playfully.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Emily smirked and stretched neck, her eyes catching the time in the process; the big wooden clock on her wall showed that it was a little over 7 PM. She shifted her eyes back to the blonde girl.

"But, since you're already here… I guess we could go over it for a bit. But I'm guessing you didn't bring your own, did you?" Emily winked at her and Alison blushed.

"Lucky for you, I have another copy riiiight here." Emily stretched her arm to reach a pile of papers that was laid on the coffee table.

"Wow, lucky me indeed." Alison said with fake enthusiasm, accepting the papers from the brunette.

Alison flipped through the script before setting her finger on a random page.

"What are you doing?" Emily questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"We'll just pick random parts like this. It'll be less boring this way." Alison shrugged.

"Okay, what page is that?"

"Um.. 46."

Emily quickly found the page, and of course, it was a kissing scene. She smirked knowingly.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"What, no. I didn't even get to this page."

"You signed on a movie without even bothering to read the script?" Emily questioned incredulously.

"Yep. I heard I was gonna get to make out with the one and only Emily Fields so I immediately accepted the offer." Alison quipped.

Emily laughed at the blonde's wittiness, before continuing.

"But I only got the offer after you were already cast."

"Oh, so you took it to make out with me, then?" Alison joked.

Emily laughed even harder and Alison continued.

"Seriously though, I accepted because it's my sister's movie and I had no other option." Alison laughed even though the conversation took a more serious turn, "I was going to take a break from doing movies and red carpets and everything, but… this is really important to Spencer, and she is really important to me, so it was a no-brainer decision."

Alison played with the script in her lap absentmindedly while she was talking, and Emily observed her carefully. She found the shared sentiment really sweet, getting a glimpse of how caring and loving Alison actually was. She concluded that these moments were rare and she didn't want to shake the blonde out of whatever haze she was in. To Emily, Alison seemed like a person who didn't share her emotions very often, and even if she did, it was definitely with a limited amount of people. Emily smiled, she felt like she was getting a sneak peak into who Alison really was, behind the facade that the media was trying to paint on her.

"Why did you want to take a break?" Emily gently probed, hoping that she didn't overstep.

Alison just shrugged, not taking her eyes off of her lap, her body language unreadable. Emily knew better than to push it (which Alison was deeply thankful for), so she just sat there in silence, waiting for the other girl to speak up.

Alison looked up at Emily and they held each other's gaze for a moment. The room was dark, only a warm light oozing from the two matching floor lamps that were placed on each side of the couch.

Sometime during their conversation, Emily had innocently shifted closer to the blonde girl, leaving very little space between them which neither of them seemed to notice, up until now. As they held each other's gaze they both felt the air between them getting thicker, yet Emily felt oddly at peace. She gathered some courage before shifting even closer, deciding to break the silence.

"Do you think," She paused before whispering again, "… that this is a bad idea?"

As the question left her lips, Emily's eyes started to glow with a shimmer of uncertainty. She looked down at her lap, where she played with her fingers nervously. Her deep brown eyes darted briefly to meet Alison's, then retreated, as if unsure of where they belonged. Each blink seemed hesitant, as if second-guessing every thought that had crossed her mind.

Thankfully, Alison caught up on the change in the girl's demeanor, quickly placing her hand on the other girl's forearm in a comforting manner. Finally, Alison decided on a bolder move: with a gentle touch, she turned the brunette's chin, guiding Emily to face her, her fingers trailing lightly along Emily's jawline.

Alison smiled at the other girl reassuringly, as if her smile was saying No, I don't think that this is a bad idea at all, resulting in Emily smiling back at her. Alison noticed that whenever Emily smiled, her eyes crinkled at the corners, adding an extra layer of warmth and sincerity. They were so close that Alison could feel Emily's warm breath, and she could see the flecks of amber dancing amidst the pools of dark chocolate eyes, catching the light like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

Alison's gaze danced between those dreamy eyes and the soft curve of Emily's lips, like a sailor navigating the constellations in a starlit sky. Each glance lingered a fraction longer, tracing the subtle contours and imagining the taste of unspoken words yet to be spoken.

In the quiet intimacy of their shared space, Alison's finger found the brunette's plump lips, tracing them ever so gently, a touch as tender as a whisper. Emily shut her eyes for moment, as if to savor the sensation of the blonde girl's touch, before slowly opening them and placing the softest kiss on Alison's finger.

Alison's once tranquil blue eyes, now darkened with a tempestuous intensity. Her pupils dilated, drawing Emily into the depths of her longing, where every nuance of desire played out in the subtle dance of light and shadow.

The blonde licked her rosy lips, setting the stage for a shared moment that promised to be as intoxicating as it was inevitable.

Emily smirked at her before trying to take control of the moment. She leaned in slowly, her breath mingling with Alison's in a delicate battle of anticipation. Alison's eyes fluttered closed in a subtle surrender to Emily's approach, but before anything else could happen, she heard the brunette whisper something, only inches away from her face.

"I know you wanna kiss me." Emily purred in a hushed voice, making Alison's eyes flutter open.

"I thought that was my line." Alison playfully accused in the same tone, her dimples deepening with her growing smirk.

"And I thought you didn't get to that page yet." Emily accused back while arching her eyebrow in a questioning manner.

Alison looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"You're killing the mood."

"I caught you red-handed."

"Just shut up and kiss me already." Alison complained in a whisper, their faces still inches apart.

Emily smiled at the frustrated blonde before finally closing her eyes and leaning in, their lips barely brushing against each other when they heard the sudden slam of the front door, accompanied by a loud voice.

"Oh. My. God."

hey guys, i'm sorry that it took me so long to post this, but i hope you can forgive me since it's a pretty long update. i'm also sorry for any typos that i made, i got tired of re-reading the same 10 pages over again so i probably missed some. i had to cut this (long ass) chapter basically in half because i have two very different outlines for the continuation of this story and i couldn't decide which one i'm gonna use just yet. i'm on a pretty tight schedule, especially since uni's been kicking my ass for a while now but i'll try to update more often (if you're still interested in reading it). please feel free to share your opinions. ps. i'm still pretty new to this website (in terms of publishing my own work) so i don't really know how to navigate through it, but i just wanted to thank you all for the reviews and words of support. i hope that this update didn't disappoint. also who do you think ruined our little emison moment? :P