Family

Kissing Rock

Ali's pov

"You know, you should never disappoint a ghost" I flirted, waiting for her reaction

"It's just a dusty old rock" she giggled, nervously shifting her stare between Noel and I

"Who do you want to take there?"

My breath deepened as I anxiously watched Emily. She lifted her eyes from her feet and I watched the muscles in her cheeks twitch as she sweetly smiled at me. I watched in anticipation, hoping that she would pluck up the courage I didn't have; the courage to admit my feelings towards her. I hoped that she would take a deep breath before saying "you". But instead, she continued to smile at me. Her smile grew into a blush as she looked into my eyes and I knew that she was desperate to kiss me however, I also knew that she wouldn't. Not in public. I didn't want her to kiss me now, I wanted her to wait, I wanted her to kiss me when we were alone, I wanted to keep her all to myself.

"We got burgers" Aria cheered, holding two paper plates in her hands

"I hope they aren't both for you honey" I bitchily told Hanna in an attempt to disguise my blush

"This is for you" she sighed, holding out one of the plates to me

"Thanks Han"

"Emily I think you've burned your cheeks"

"No Spence, that's not sunburn that's a blush" Aria giggled

"She is blushing because..." I paused, stuttering over my words "because a boy gave her his number"

"Are you going to call him?" Hanna asked

"She can't. I threw it away. The boy wasn't even cute. He looked like one of the squirrels Toby had sacrificed" for the first time that day Emily laughed at my rude comment, she could laugh because the boy I was making fun of wasn't real

As we ate our burgers mine and Emily's eyes didn't move away from each other. I could feel our friends staring with confusion at us but I maintained my loving stare into Emily's dark brown eyes. Between each bite of my burgers I flashed Em a flirtatious smile that made her blush grow into a grinning smirk. We sat for hours at the lake, until we were the last 5 people there

"Are we going now?" Spence asked, pulling on a t-shirt

"You guys go. Emily and I are going to stay for a little bit"

"We are?" Em asked me with surprise

"Yes, remember?"

"Oh yeah" Emily said, trying to hide her confusion however, it didn't work and we could all tell she was lying

"Okay? Well how are you getting home?"

"Don't worry. We'll find a way. Won't we Em?" I smirked, brushing the tips of my fingers down her arm

"Yes" she innocently blushed

"Text us when you get home" Aria shouted back to us as they all climbed into Spencer's car

"Why are we staying behind?"

"I asked you a question earlier. I want to know your answer" my cheeks became warm and the edges of my lips twitched into a small smile; I was blushing. No one could ever made me blush- except Emily Catherine Fields, she could make me blush for days by simply saying my name

"What?"

"The kissing rock. Who do you want to take there?" I asked again

Emily's eyes fell to her feet and yet again she was blushing. A small giggle escaped her lips before she lifted her head to look up to me

"I don't know Alison. Who do you want to take there?" Emily's answer threw me back, I honestly didn't expect her to say I don't know, I waited behind because I wanted her to tell me the truth, I wanted to take her there

"You" I muttered

Both of our smiles faded as we nervously stared at each other. "Maybe she doesn't like me like that. Why would she after the way I treated her in the locker room?" I thought to myself as a lump formed in my throat. After what felt like a lift time Emily's smile reappear on her face only this time it was bigger, she was literally grinning from ear to ear

I took Emily's hand in mine and led her towards the kissing rock. I nervously sat down on the cold dusty rock, tapping my hand on top of it to tell Emily to join me by my side. Em sat down next to me and watched as I picked at the pink nail polish on my fingers.

"You know, you should never disappoint a ghost" Emily giggled, breaking the silence

I turned my body around to face her before caressing her cheek in my hand. I pulled her face closer to mine. Our noses touching as I nervously gulped trying to get rid of the lump of fear in my throat, Emily's warm breath rolled down my face and her sparkling eyes looked down at my lips. Emily tangled her hand through my shiny blonde hair before pushing her lips onto mine. The kiss was sweet, our lips pushing firmly against each other. Emily pulled away and smiled at me, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"It's getting dark. We should probably start heading home" she whispered as she began to stand up

I tugged at the bottom of her hoodie, pulling her back down to sit next to me. I didn't bring Emily here for another sweet kiss. I was slowly falling in love with her. The kisses weren't just for practice; I wanted to make them as real and meaningful as I could.

I rested my hands on her thighs, slightly squeezing them as I ran my tongue along her moisturised lips. Emily cautiously parted her lips allowing my tongue to slip into her mouth. Emily was slightly distant during the kiss until, I grabbed onto her arm, pushing her hand up the front of my t-shirt and caressing my small breast with her hand. Yet again she broke our kiss. Her eyes darted to me with fear and I nodded reassuring her that it was okay. We may have only been 14 but I was in love with Emily, I wanted her to hold me and I wanted her to kiss me back with the same passion I was giving. I leant my body against her hand as I threw my lips back onto hers, this time she pushed her tongue into my mouth and we passionately kissed each other. The weight of my body slowly made Emily's arm crumble to her side and I fell on top of her. Her body fell onto the rock and we continued to kiss as I lay on top of her. My hands found their way under Emily's thin body and rested on her bikini bra strap, my fingers gripped onto the clip threatening to open it. Suddenly the sound of a twig snapping filled the air, making both Emily and I jump.

"We really should go" she said, pushing me off of her and getting to her feet

"Wait" I called after her as she began to walk away

I pulled a red can of spray paint from my bag and began to draw 'EF+AD' on the side of the rock.

"This is our place. Forever" I smiled, pushing the can back into my bag and walking to Emily's side

"Alison, I..."

I interrupted her with a kiss, I didn't know what she was going to say but I didn't want to know because all I wanted was her warm lips against mine. I pushed firmly against her, making her stumble two steps backwards

"I really like you" she continued

I didn't know how to reply. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say it back. I wanted to tell her I loved her but I couldn't. Instead I weaved my hands into hers and softly kissed her again recreating our first kiss in the library; short and sweet.

When I got home that day, I was kicking myself for not telling her the truth. Things would have been easier if I did. I would have been happier if I told her, but I didn't and it was too late. Or so I thought. At the time I didn't know that in another 10 years I would take Emily back to the kissing rock and I would finally be able to tell her what I couldn't back then; I didn't know that I would finally be able to tell her I love her.