Against All Odds

Chapter 3 - Paige

Over the next couple of weeks, Emily and I got to know each other much more. It was like our personalities were perfect for each other. I never felt such an immense attraction to someone before. I love watching her swim. It was one of the things I looked forward to during the day. I wouldn't go every afternoon; I didn't want Emily to think that I was obsessed with her. Which I was a little but I never let it show. With Emily, everything's different. I look at her and I can see us having a long, and loving relationship. With Britt, I couldn't see past the end of the month. I saw something with Emily. We could go places. And the funny thing is, we aren't even a couple. She's really old fashioned. We're just dating for now. If things work out for the better, then we can officially be together. But until then, I'll do everything I possible can to show her how much I want to be with her.

I went through the day with my normal Tuesday routine. Math in the morning, English right after lunch. I would use the time between then and Emily's swim practice to get some homework done. It was almost 5:30 now so I decided to leave the library and head over to the pool. I sat down in my usual spot and looked into the pool. I couldn't find Emily. I must be looking to hard, I thought to myself. But 6 o'clock came and went, and as the other swimmers were leaving the pool; she wasn't. I stopped one of her teammates that she introduced me to.

"Logan! Hey. Where's Emily at?" She looked confused.

"I was going to ask you the same thing. She didn't come to practice today. I thought maybe she was skipping because you guys were.. You know.. " She nudged my arm and winked at me. I laughed.

"No no. We haven't done anything like that. We're just dating, that's all." She smiled.

"Well I don't know really. Maybe she wasn't feeling too well and went back to your guys room?"

"Maybe. I'll let you know when I find out where she's at okay?" She nodded in agreement.

"Alright. Sounds good. Have a good evening Santana." She smiled and walked away.

I looked down at my phone to make sure that I didn't have any missed calls from her or any text messages that I may have read but didn't write back. But there was nothing. In fact, I hadn't gotten anything from her since like 9 this morning. I grabbed my keys and opened the door. From the moment it swung open, all I could smell was the stench of alcohol. There were about four empty bottles of vodka in the sink. I was worried. I don't over drink unless something terrible happens. Her voice played in my mind. I got worried.

"Em?! Em where are you?" I walked in more. She came stumbling out of her room. Mascara running down her face. She looked terrible. I hurried over to her before she tripped over her backpack. "Babe… What's wrong?"

"It's Paige." She started crying again. I walked her back into her room and sat her on her bed. She was slurring her words, but I could still understand her. "She was murdered. I don't even know what happened! Hanna called me earlier. They found her in the pool. Face down, shot in the back of the head. I can't even begin to imagine who did this to her. I thought that after last summer, that this would all be over."

I didn't know what to say. Emily said that she had a horrible past, but that it was over. I hugged her.

"It'll be okay. I'm sure that they'll find the person responsible." She looked at me.

"No San. You don't get it. The police out there, they can't find a missing person even if we told them exactly where they were and gave them a map. It means they are back."

"Who's they, Em?" She looked at me. The devastation and fear in her eyes was unbearable. I couldn't even imagine how she was feeling at that exact moment.

"You're gonna think I'm crazy. But after my friend Alison was murdered, I started getting texts from an anonymous person. It wasn't only me. It was Hanna, Aria and Spencer too. This person claimed to know secrets that only Alison knew. As time went on, she didn't only go after us. She went after the people who meant the most to us. That's why I'm afraid. I'm afraid they'll come after you too." I held her close.

"Nothing's going to happen to me. I promise." She shook her head.

"Don't underestimate them. I thought I was getting away from all of this. I got this text message while I was in Psychology this morning." She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and opened the message.

Don't worry, Emily. Your new girlfriend won't feel a thing. You think I didn't know? Putting miles between us doesn't change anything one bit.

Kisses, -A