Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
*****
Emily Fields had been in love with Alison DiLaurentis pretty much for her entire life. Through relationships with Maya, Paige and others part of her heart had always belonged to Alison, still after all these years unable to give up hope that their practice kisses could mean a fraction of what they meant to her. That the Queen of her high school, and especially her friend group, would give her a second thought.
That she would be hers. Emily knew it was a silly dream, and had tried to move on time and time again, but every time she found herself standing outside of Alison's house like this some small part of her couldn't help but hope that Alison was finally going to confess her love. Little did Emily know what was in store for her that night.
The main reasons she was actually here was to talk about their other friends, Aria, Hanna and Spencer, who had been all acting really weird lately. Like Emily barely saw them sitting down any more, and when they did, they looked like they were in pain, and even walked awkwardly, and whenever she asked them about it they would always blush and dismiss her concerns.
Also it seemed like every time Emily would find them talking they would immediately stop and blush, refusing to tell her what they were talking about, which made her feel like she was being pushed out of their friend group. Worst of all, they were constantly spending one on one time with Alison, making Emily feel insanely jealous. Which made her feel guilty, because Alison wasn't hers, not like that, but still.
Suddenly the door opened to reveal a beaming Ali, who greeted her friend, "Emily, hey... why are you standing out here?"
"Oh, I... I, I was just..." Emily stammered.
"Ems, relax." Alison soothed, "It doesn't matter. Just come in and close the door behind you. I have something to show you."
"Great, I... erm..." Emily stammered again, before doing as she was told.
By the time Emily had closed the door behind her Alison was practically already at her stairs so the swimmer had to scramble to catch up to her. In what initially seemed like a very sweet thing to do Alison stopped at the bottom of her stairs, not only allowing Emily to catch up but allowing her to go first. But then Emily felt like she was being watched, and looked over her shoulder to find Alison staring at her ass.
No, that was just wishful thinking. It had to be. By pure coincidence the way that they were ascending the stairs meant that Emily's butt was just directly in her friend's face, and Ali probably didn't register she was staring directly at it. And Emily was a perv thinking otherwise. If only she'd known what Alison was thinking at that moment.
Then once they reached the door to Alison's room the blonde suddenly called out, "Emily!"
Immediately turning around and looking at her friend Emily asked, "What?"
"Before we start I just want to apologise." Alison began, actually seeming kind of nervous for once.
"For what?" Emily frowned.
"I don't know. Everything." Alison said softly.
"Ali. You don't owe me an apology for anything." Emily insisted.
"Really?" Alison quipped mockingly, her inner mean girl coming to the surface as she reminded her friend, "How about kissing you and acting like it didn't mean anything? For freaking out whenever you tried to kiss me? For punishing you for it? For using your sexuality against you to make me feel better about myself, and just because it was fun? Any of this ringing a bell?"
There was a brief pause, and then unable to stop herself Emily asked in a small voice, "It, it meant something to you? The kissing?"
Alison laughed, shook her head, and then when seeing the look on her friends face quickly clarified, "That's why you're my favourite Em. Always so sweet."
Another pause, and then Emily tried to start, "Ali-"
"Do you know what's funny?" Alison interrupted, "I knew you were gay before you did. Sure, you weren't even a little subtle about how you looked at me, or other girls, and I can't believe no one noticed. I mean, I don't even remember when I first realised it. I just always remember thinking of you as gay. I was surprised you ever questioned it. But me? I just couldn't seem to figure out what I wanted."