No Escape

Two Steps Back

Alison didn't know what Emily expected when they arrived at her bedroom. She sat at her bed as she watched Emily walk over to her bag to retrieve her phone, apparently to send a text.

"Who was that?" Alison was wary that Emily was sending updates to the other girls. With how the four of them were, Alison didn't have any doubt that it could happen.

Emily looked up at her after dropping her phone inside her bag again, walking towards Ali's bed. She sat and scooted up so her back was against the headboard. "My mom. Told her I'm staying over here tonight." Her eyes became unfocused as she looked at her lap, wondering what her mom would think about it when she'd told Emily that she didn't have to keep saving Alison. And by looking down, Emily missed th raised eyebrows Alison gave her after Emily announced that she was inviting herself to stay over. But Alison didn't say anything. She appreciated the company. She might not like to be poked, but she certainly wasn't complaining about Emily accompanying her that night.

They were silent again, and this time at least it was a little more relaxed. It resembled how they were before Alison left--before Emily's attraction towards Alison, before Alison's hidden feelings--got in the way of things. At the moment, both of those things were still in the way of the two of them actually forging a relationship that was more mutual than the abusive kind of relationship Alison fostered to cater to -A's demands at that time. Although now, Alison's feelings weren't quite hidden anymore.

After a few more minutes of the silence, it started becoming heavy again, with the expectation from either side building up. Emily sighed, unhappy that she wasn't going anywhere with Alison that night. However, she could do something for the blonde.

"Ali." She waited for Alison to look up at her, before patting the spot beside her, unraveling the covers to indicate that she wanted Alison to go to sleep. She studied Alison now as she had when Alison first exited that bathroom that night. She noted the eyebags, sunken eyes. The hollow look that Alison couldn't quite hide when it was so late in the day already, and smiling sweetly couldn't make her look any less exhausted than she was.

Alison crawled obediently, knowing she didn't have any choice in the matter if she wanted to keep the peace between them. They were at an impasse. Alison had laid out her cards. She told Emily that she had feelings for the brunette. But Emily had just started trying to get over her when she suddenly popped up alive and well in Rosewood, apparently trying to save everyone's lives on the sidelines. Now, Emily was confused, just recently broken up, and not wanting to fall into the same trap she did when she'd given Alison free reign into her heart.

But maybe Emily was just looking for something more than an admission that the kisses they shared in the past weren't just for practice.

She tucked the covers around Alison and slid down on the bed so she was lying down, too. They were close enough that her shoulder was touching Alison's back, as the blonde had settled on her side facing away from Emily.

It was another stretch of silence before Alison called out to Emily. "Is- is it-" Emily waited for Alison to finish, but she never did. Alison only shifted so she was curled up more into a fetal position.

Emily shifted so she was in her side, but she was facing Alison. "Ali?"

Alison slowly turned to face her, and they were close enough for Emily to smell the mint of Alison's toothbrush. She still remembered how that tasted. She watched as Alison seemed to have an internal struggle, before she finally whispered in a barely audible tone, "I'm afraid to sleep."

"You shouldn't be. Not tonight." To emphasize her point, Emily shifted even closer, slipping her arm under Alison's head so it was nestled on her shoulder, tucking the smaller girl against her. They still had the blanket in between them, so Alison couldn't wrap her arms around her. And that was fine with Emily. She convinced herself that if she was the only one holding Alison, she would still be in control. She didn't want to spiral into her feelings and forget how to take care of herself again. As she rested her head over Alison's her scent filled her senses, and Emily tried to deny that she was actualy already on her way there.