Careful, Ali ➳ Emison

Chapter 17 | Surfing the Aftershocks

Emily turned in her bed yet another time. The bandage on her forehead made it difficult for her to sleep on her left side but she was so used to sleeping on that side, because if she were to turn around, there would be a window right in front of her and she needed complete darkness.

She sighed in despair, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She decided to try and sleep on her back to see if it might work. After a few moments of lying like that, she deemed it somewhat comfortable, and closed her eyes.

Her breathing was beginning to even out, long breaths entering and exiting her body through her nose and soon, she was headed to a long night of sleep.

Just as she was about to fade into a dream, she felt the weight of someone's hand covering her mouth. She let out a frightened scream and opened her eyes, only to find Alison's baby blues.

"Shh," Alison whispered frantically, "don't scream."

Emily released a few harsh breaths as the blonde let go of her mouth. She stared at the girl wide-eyed as Alison took a seat on her bed, as if this was nothing.

"Ali?" she hissed, still traumatized, "what are you doing here?"

"Your mom wouldn't let me stay over and..." the blonde shrugged helplessly, "I had to see you, Em."

"How did you get in?"

"Through the window," Alison answered, pointing to the window seat behind her. "You should really start locking it."

"Yeah, well," the brunette sighed as she shifted into a sitting position, her back against the headboard,"I don't usually have people crawling through it."

Alison chuckled a bit, lightly nodding in agreement.

"Well, If you wanted to see me, here I am."

"Here you are," Alison confirmed with a small, fond smile. She edged a bit closer, casting a long look at Emily, sighing. "I'm so sorry, Em," she said in a regretful tone.

"For what, Ali?" Emily asked curiously.

"For all of this," the blonde answered, reaching out to hold Emily's hand on the covers. "Things like this shouldn't happen to someone like you. And I'm the reason they're happening."

"What do you mean? This isn't your fault, Ali. It's A's fault."

"It's mine," Alison answered, her voice cracking saddeningly. "When we were at the ambulance tonight, A sent me a text, basically confirming that they had hurt you to get to me, and that they weren't done."

"Ali," Emily stared at the girl worriedly as the blonde's eyes turned teary, making room next to her so that Ali could sit. The blonde took the invite, sitting next to the brunette and curling up against her, leaning her head on Emily's shoulder. "You shouldn't blame yourself, Ali."

"Yes, I should. Let's be real here, Em," Alison said quietly, her voice aloof and distant. "If I wasn't such a bitch to people, no one would feel the need to go on a crazy vengeance trip against me, and hurt you in the process."

"But you've been acting so much better to people, Ali. I've been seeing it lately. A is clearly a psycho who has a lot to deal with and is taking all of that anger on us. And we will catch them. It'll all be okay," Emily said reassuringly, and with every word that came out of her mouth, Alison's need to cry got stronger. Emily sounded so certain of their plan. Ali had been too, but the 'accident' that happened today made her realize just how powerful A was, and how easily they could take away the people she cared about, the one person who has always believed in her.

Alison gazed at the swimmer as the soft light of the moon, which entered through the window, shone on the brunette's tan face. The blonde admired Emily's strength so much, and she realized she had to stick to the plan, because she wanted to guarantee Emily's safety. It was the top priority. If something were to happen to the girl because of her, she wouldn't know how to deal with herself.