Empty Gold

Chapter 25: Core of My Addiction

Ali smooths down her dress with subtly frantic motions, trying to calm her jittering nerves. Caleb and Hanna wave from the car as they leave to go on their own night out, and the blonde turns back to the large steps of the restaurant in front her. It's no more than a dozen but they look like a frighteningly intimidating, fancy mountain. It's not a particularly cold night but Alison still feels a chill winding its way up her spine as she glances up.

She takes a deep breath and starts up the steps slowly—big, fancy places have always freaked her out. But Emily had insisted she wanted to eat dinner here tonight, it being one of her favorite restaurants, and so Alison had naturally agreed, excited that Em was excited.

As she climbs, she vaguely notes the lack of people or noise around her. From the exterior, this place is incredibly posh—surely it should be crowded on a Friday night. At the top Ali looks to the double doors to find a boldly marked sign.

Closed for private function.

Ali feels her heart sink—she must have gotten the day wrong. How could she have? She's sure she would remember this date very clearly, but maybe in her nervousness she muddled up numbers. She fiddles with her purse to get her cell to call the others back when the door opens widely, startling her. Emily, in a deep blue mid thigh dress, beams at the blonde.

"Ali," Emily breathes out in wonder at the beautiful girl and it's enough to make Alison light headed. Emily steps through the door and takes the blonde into her arms in a warm, comforting hug that helps Alison stand a little more at ease. "Did Hanna drop you off?"

Ali nods unable to form words as Emily's subtle perfume invades her senses. She welcomes it always, like a comforting reminder of safety. The brunette looks absolutely stunning, and Alison thinks it's amazing how one person can look so beautiful.

"Great, well our table is all ready," Emily assures the blonde as she steps back and grins proudly.

"But the sign—" Ali points back to the door as Emily leads them through it, a hand on the small of Ali's back to guide her gently.

"Oh yeah, that's us," Emily can barely contain her excitement as they walk past empty tables. Alison looks around in confusion as the wait staff smile at them and nod but there are no other patrons.

"I don't understand," Ali admits softly, trying to cover her mark subtly. She's well aware of what happened the last time she was in a nice establishment—the shaming memory haunts her like a bad dream. Emily stops them at a cozy table for two. It's no doubt an intimate set up.

"It's simple really," she offers with a cheeky smile. "I bought out the whole restaurant for the night."

Ali's eyes almost bug out of her head. Is that even possible? Do people do that?

"What?" Alison chokes out. No, of course people don't do this normally—this has Emily Fields' original stamped all over it. Emily's smile falters when she notices Alison's shock.

"This isn't because I'm ashamed of you," Emily quickly clarifies gently as she tries to articulate her reasoning. "It's because people are assholes and they make you feel judged and degraded and I never want you to feel like that, Ali."

Alison ducks her head bashfully, processing the weight of Emily's actions. Out of love, not shame.

"I loved the movie in the basement, that was—I can't even tell you how much I love...that you set that up. I wanted to do something special too."

"But the cost—"

"It's just money Ali, and it means nothing if I can't use it to make you smile," Emily's smile is kind with such impish playfulness that Ali can't help but giggle along like an inside joke. The brunette makes a show of holding out Alison's chair and when Ali slides into it easily, Emily pushes the chair in gently. The swimmer starts to round the table when Alison grabs her hand. Emily quirks an eyebrow in silent question and Ali waves Emily closer with a shy smile. Hesitantly, the swimmer places her head next to Alison and the blonde presses a quick kiss to Emily's lips.