That Kiss - Emison

The Note

Emily's POV:

A nervous, yet excited, feeling sinks into the pit of my stomach as I open my eyes, the bright sunlight through Ali's bedroom window causing me to wake up. The whole of last night flashes back in my mind, raising my heart rate immediately. Questions and worries run through my head as I think back to what I did- Kissing Ali. I kissed Ali. This is different than before, I did this because I wanted to. The fact that it was my idea makes it all the more scary to me. I don't even understand it yet, why I wanted to do it. Was that the feeling I've been missing out on with Ben? Last night I felt tingly and excited, my legs felt weak, my stomach filled with butterflies. Everything around us seemed to be drowned out by how I was feeling.

Ali is still asleep beside me, I am the first one awake. Her hair is messy over her face, her lips and eyes slightly puffy from her sleep. I know it was only a kiss, but I can't help but lay here and imagine how it would be waking up to her in the morning, the way I wake up to Ben. Knowing that that is your person, you're together, a couple. I almost feel sick with nerves. How can so much change so suddenly. I've had these feelings before and I've pushed them away, but I don't know if I can this time.

...

Hanna wakes up with a groan, one hand on her forehead head and the other rubbing her eyes, her mascara not properly off from last night "Ughh. Does anyone else's head feel like mine does?"

"If yours feels horrible... Then, yes" Aria responds with a croaker voice than usual.

"That's why you drink water before you go to sleep" Spencer adds, looking smug, holding up an almost empty bottle of Evian from beside their bed.

"Em, where did you go last night? I barely saw you!" Aria asks, looking to Spencer and Hanna as they nod in agreement.

"After all of those the drinking games, I hardly remember where I was!" I lie.

"Ali, I saw you flirting with Eric's friend, Nick. What happened?" Hanna asks Ali.

She's been so quiet I didn't even realise she was awake yet. She sits up and moves herself so that she is now lying on her front, facing the end of the bed where the other girls are, her elbows on the sheets with her hands propping up her head.

"Oh that was his name! Nothing happened." She says with a sigh. "I had to leave him mid-conversation. I bet he was gagging for more" She boasts.

I'm quiet, my thoughts racing in my head. I want to feel deep inside Ali's mind like I did last night. I want to know how she feels this morning. Maybe she was more drunk than I thought. Just a drunken kiss that she'll forget about. Even if she does forget about it, I cant help but feel like everything has changed for me, like I don't know who I am anymore. Or maybe I do know who I am, and I just didn't before.

...

Alison's POV:

Saturday and Sunday go by without anything notable happening. My mom wanted a 'family day' on Sunday. Me, Jason and our Mom and Dad all sat round one table for dinner, it never ends well. I could swear my parents have been living on the verge of divorce for my whole life. I don't know how they've made it this far with each other, honestly. I couldn't live with either of them for the rest of my life! My dad is boring; a grey-haired businessman who cares about nothing but money and his reputation as a real estate agent. My mom also works in real estate. They always seem to be clashing over work, but I'd rather fill my ears with cement than listen to those arguments! Sometimes I feel like my mom just loves to make my life miserable. "No Alison, I don't want you going there with that boy. Alison, you have to tell me where you're going and who you're going with. Be home by 10pm, Alison!". Like, focus on your own life, not mine!

For once I am actually looking forward to school. Catching up with everyone I saw at Noel's party, rubbing it in the faces of everyone who didn't get an invite. Every morning me and the girls meet at the school entrance, at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the large double doors. I feel extra excited to see them tomorrow. Well, to see Emily.

How do I play this? Should I be my usual intimidating self, or do I let her break me down, show her how I feel? Do I even know how I feel? I've never been in this situation before. Me and a girl. I feel like I don't know myself anymore, which for me is unusual. I mean, what will people say? What will people think? I seem like I don't, but I care what people think about me. That's why I put on this act all the time, as if I own everyone. I don't wan't them to see me when I'm weak or know my insecurities. It's easier that way, trust me.

...

It is Monday morning. It's sunny outside, only the smallest clouds in the sky, so I walk to school. I don't live far, and I get to pass The Brew, my favourite cafe, on the way, so I grab myself a large iced caramel latte on the way- That'll get me through first period. I am about 10 minutes late because I couldn't find my mascara this morning, so I walk up to Rosewood High School alone, everyone else already in registration. When I walk in, the corridors are empty, which makes a nice change. No roaming teachers hounding you about missed homework assignments, or your outfit not meeting the school's dress code. I walk over to my locker, which is in-between Noel's and loner Lucas' lockers, to drop off my books. When I open it, I notice a piece of paper fall to the ground beside my feet. A lined piece of paper, ripped from someone's note book.

'We need to talk, Meet me in the bathroom at second period' it reads. I'd recognise that handwriting anywhere. It's Emily's. A rush comes over me. A rush of excitement, nervousness, giddiness, I'm not sure, but it's powerful, enough to make me think about nothing else for the whole of first period. I quickly fold it and put it in my bag, and walk to English, wishing I could somehow make time pass faster.

For the whole of first period I am staring intently at the clock, so much so that Mr Fitz, my hot English Teacher, snaps at me to focus when he asks me a question and I don't even hear him. Who wants to listen to his interpretation of To Kill a Mockingbird anyway? Every minute feels like an hour in itself! I keep thinking about the note. It was blunt, no heart drawn, no kisses. Maybe it's not a good thing she wants to talk about. Oh, get a grip Alison! I think to myself. It's just a god damn note, what do you expect?

Finally, after what feels like three hours instead of one, the bell rings. I grab my things, piling my books and pens into my bag, and rush out of the door and into the corridors, which are now filling up with students. I weave through the growing crowds, heading towards the girls bathroom, a knot forming deep in my stomach. I try to plan what I am going to say in my head, but I don't come to a decision. I still don't know which version of Alison should turn up to the bathroom. I don't want to be easy. I'm hard to get. The chase is fun anyway, right?

Suddenly, 'Emily Fields to the principles office, Emily Fields to the principles office' plays on the school's tannoy. Fuck.