Emily had been a mess since she had woken up this morning. With the lingering thought of what could potentially happen tonight, she couldn't keep a level head. And now she was having a meltdown in the faculty lounge while trying to make copies of the swim meet schedule.

"Hey," Paige greeted. "Are you okay?"

Emily backed away from the printer. "Y-Yeah, I'm just... it's been a bad morning."

"Do you need help?"

"Yes," Emily answered.

Paige proceeded to help Emily with the printer as she tried her best not to look too distraught. Although Paige had known about -A back when they were teenagers, she didn't want to tell her the truth now. It just didn't seem fair considering they weren't together.

But Emily had been considering asking Paige to try again, and soon.

"I wanted to call you yesterday." Paige looked at Emily. "But I decided it was best to tell you in person."

Emily felt her heart speed up. "Tell me what?"

Paige sighed. "I got offered the assistant coaching position at Iowa State."

Suddenly Emily was aware she was shaking. Paige had been offered another job that was states away from her? Was she going to take it? And why was the irony of this situation making her sick to her stomach?

"Wow. That's..." Emily stopped. She didn't know what to say. "Are you gonna take it?"

"I'd be stupid not to, right?" Paige wondered.

Emily was aware this is what Paige wanted. And to be quite honest, it was a much better job than what she had now. Paige would be stupid not to take it, but Emily felt selfish for considering asking her not to.

"They want a decision by tonight," Paige said.

Why was every horrible thing happening tonight? As if this Friday couldn't get any worse, now Emily had to bear with the thought of Paige possibly leaving.

"If you did take it," Emily started. "When would you have to leave?"

Paige shoved her hands into her pockets. "I'd plan to leave by the end of the weekend."

The printer finished and Paige grabbed the paperwork and handed it to Emily. There was a sadness in the room but Emily was grateful Paige had told her in person.

"It's a great opportunity," Emily said. "And I will support you whether you decide to stay or not."

Paige smiled. "Thank you."

Then the bell rang and the teachers lounge began to empty. The day was starting and Emily was sure Paige had things to do. She didn't want to hold her up because she was emotional thinking about the possibility of Paige leaving.

"I'll talk to you at lunch?" Emily asked.

"Of course."

They exchanged smiles before parting.

Emily stared down at her schedules and wondered what it would be like without Paige here at Rosewood. It would be hard at first, but it was nothing she couldn't handle, right?

Emily exited the faculty lounge and ran into Mrs. Horowitz.

"Emily," Mae greeted. "Heading to your office?"

Emily forced a smile. "Yeah."

"Would you mind dropping this off to Alison on your way there?" Mae flashed a manila folder. "I was supposed to give it to her before first period but I completely forgot."

Emily hesitated. "Uh, y-yeah, I can."

Mae smiled. "Thank you so much."

Then she was gone.

Emily peered at the folder and regretted being such a nice person. She didn't want to see Ali. She didn't want to because it just reminded her that Alison wasn't trying to fix whatever was between them.

But she made her way to Alison's classroom anyway.

When she made it to the door, she knocked and watched Alison pause her lecture to answer the door.

"Emily," Alison said.

"Mrs. Horowitz wanted me to drop this off to you."

Emily wasted no time handing the folder over and turning away. But Alison couldn't let her leave. She closed her classroom door behind her.

"Em, wait," Alison called.

Emily knew she should be civil and act like the adult she was. She was stronger than this. And icing Alison out was one thing, but acting like a total child was another.

Emily turned to face Ali.

"I..." Alison stopped. She wished they weren't at school right now. "I'm sorry."

Emily furrowed her brow. "For?"

"For hurting you. For making jabs about you and Paige..." Alison looked down at the folder in her hands. "I'm just... sorry."

Emily nodded. She figured it was a sincere apology, but it wasn't all of what she needed. She needed Alison to apologize for using her, but that wouldn't happen here. Not at school. Or maybe it would never happen.

"Thanks," Emily responded. "I'll let you get back to class."

Alison watched Emily walk away and knew what she needed to do. She needed to tell her the truth, but when? Now wasn't the right time. Tonight wouldn't be either...

But she knew she couldn't wait much longer, because Emily was icing Alison out more and more every day, and she couldn't take it anymore.

* * *

The five women sat in Spencer's barn while they impatiently waited for Melissa to show. The angst in the room was getting to them considering there was now only a few hours left to make a move, and Melissa had yet to get here. Emily was nauseas at the thought of -A turning in the Radley footage and whatever else they had to make their lives worse.

"Has she texted you?" Aria wondered.

"No," Spencer said. "She hasn't."

"Have you tried calling?"

"She's not picking up." Spencer's trembling hands clasped together. "I'm getting worried. What if Wren found out? What if he hurt..."

The sentence fell before Spencer could finish.

"Should we just go to the police?" Emily asked. "If something did happen to Melissa..."

No one wanted to think about the possibility of Melissa being hurt, but if Wren was as dangerous as she said... The police needed to know. Now.

"I'm gonna call her again," Spencer said as she picked up her phone.

The ring filled the empty space as they waited for her to answer. Emily's hope was dwindling, and she was about to call the police when Melissa answered.

Spencer wasted no time. "Melissa? Are you coming? Toby has been looking for me all day. I can't hold onto this evidence much longer."

The other side of the line was dead silent. Why wasn't Melissa talking?

"I'm only a few minutes away," Melissa finally answered.

But something about her response irked Emily, and she wasn't the only one who noticed. The looks on her friends' faces told her they felt the same.

"O-Okay well, hurry please," Spencer said.

Then the call ended.

"Something's wrong." Spencer stood. "Melissa sounded way to calm."

"I heard that too," Emily agreed.

"Do you think Wren is onto us?" Hanna asked.

Suddenly the women realized that something had gone wrong and it was time for a plan B. There wasn't much time left, and if Melissa's life was now in danger because if Wren found out... the police were their only hope.

Spencer picked up her phone. "I'll call Toby." She dialed him. "I'll tell him to come over."

"Spencer?" Toby answered. "I've been trying to get in contact with you all day."

"I need you to come to the barn," Spencer said. "Now."

That's when Melissa walked through the front door. Everyone looked at her with worried expressions as Emily looked down at Spencer's phone.

Toby was still on the line.

Then Wren walked in behind her.

It was as if the air had been completely sucked out of the room. Melissa looked scared out of her mind as her trembling legs carried her deeper inside the barn.

"Wren," Spencer mumbled. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to collect the footage," Wren said.

Melissa moved closer to Spencer as Emily tried her best to remain calm.

"What are you talking about?" Spencer played dumb.

Wren tilted his head. "Don't play stupid, Spencer. I know you're planning to turn me in, but that's not going to happen."

In the moment, Emily couldn't help but look at Alison. The fear in her eyes was tangible. Everyone in the room was exposed and no one knew if Wren was going to snap.

"Give me the footage," Wren demanded. "Now."

"I can't do that." Spencer stood tall. "Wren, you're guilty, and there's someone threatening to frame me and my friends for Charlotte and Elliot's murder if I don't give it to them."

The darkness in Wren's eyes seemed to multiply. He stepped forward as his hand reached behind his back. Suddenly Emily's entire body was aflame.

Wren revealed a gun and pointed it at Spencer. Emily felt as if she was in a nightmare and she couldn't wake up. No one made any sudden movements.

"Don't do this the hard way," Wren coaxed.

Emily was standing close to Spencer. Close enough to feel the heat radiating from her friend's body. She was terrified.

"Give. Me. The. Footage," Wren said. "I won't ask again."

Emily glanced down at Spencer's phone and realized Toby was still on the line, but Wren hadn't. Emily took this as an opportunity to make a move.

"Why'd you do it?" Emily asked. "Why'd you kill them?"

Wren's eyes switched to Emily. "Because Charlotte ruined my career."

"How?" Spencer continued. "All she asked you to do was quit."

Wren clenched his jaw. "That didn't stop her from spreading lies throughout Welby. She told other patients I had sexually abused her! Things like that don't stay secrets for long!"

"And that was a justifiable reason to kill her?"

"She deserved a lot worse than what she got," Wren said. "And you can't sit here and tell me you didn't believe the same thing."

Wren placed his finger on the trigger.

"Now give me the damn tape, Spencer."

Emily almost reached down and did it herself, because Spencer dying wasn't on her agenda for tonight.

"I will not let another one of you Liars to ruin my life."

That's when Wren moved to pull the trigger and Melissa stepped in to protect her sister one more time.

The loud bang caused the five women to scream as everything happened in fast motion. Toby barged through the front door and tackled Wren. Melissa fell to the ground as Spencer tried to hold her wound. And Emily... well, she could feel a fire in her shoulder.

Alison's panicked eyes watched as the scene unfolded. The noise around her seemed to go quiet as she watched the red spot grow on Emily's white shirt.

"Oh my God!" Hanna yelled as Emily looked down at her shirt.

Alison was pulled back into reality as she heard Toby scream.

"Call an ambulance! Now!"

"Melissa..." Spencer cradled her sister. "Melissa, look at me."

Alison found herself paralyzed with shock. Why couldn't she move? Why couldn't she react?

Aria dialed 9-1-1 and Alison finally found the strength to move closer to Emily. Blood. There was blood everywhere.

Emily felt faint from the pain as she crumbled to the floor. Alison moved in quickly before she hit the ground and watched the red stain grow larger.

"Press the wound," Spencer demanded.

Alison did as she was told but it only caused Emily to scream in pain.

"Hold it!" Spencer's voice sounded like it was miles away. "Hold it or she will bleed out before the ambulance arrives."

Alison could feel tears in her eyes as she pressed into Emily. She hadn't realized it until then that Emily had a death grip on her arm. Alison could feel the blood between her fingers as the wound continued to ooze.

"Emily," Alison said. "Emily, please open your eyes."

Emily did as she was told and saw Alison peering down at her. She wondered if she was going to die. If she was, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

But the ambulance arrived and got Emily and Melissa onto stretchers to rush them to a hospital. Spencer had taken the one spot available, so the rest of them were on their own.

"Go," Toby demanded. "My back-up is here. I'll meet you all there soon."

Alison, Hanna and Aria raced to the hospital and found Spencer pacing in the lobby.

"They took them both into surgery," she revealed. "The bullet passed completely through Melissa and lodged itself in Emily."

Spencer took a seat. She looked as if her world was crumbling.

"I should've listened to you," Spencer whispered as Alison and her friends sat next to her. "I should've turned him in as soon as I knew the truth. If I had, Emily and Melissa..."

Her sentence stopped but Alison couldn't stop looking at the emergency room doors that led to the operating rooms. Emily had to be okay. She couldn't die. Not like this. Not this soon.

"I need to call my mom-"

"I'll do it," Hanna said. "I'll call her and Emily's mom. Just sit and relax."

The four women stayed in the lobby until Toby showed up. He looked distraught as he paced over to Spencer and knelt in front of her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Spencer nodded with tears in her eyes. "Y-Yeah... is he...?"

"Wren is in police custody." Toby rubbed Spencer's arms. "You're safe."

Alison sat with her friends as the hours passed like days. Emily's mom was out of town, but she was now on her way. It was the same with Spencer's family. But no one minded considering no one wanted to explain what had just happened to anyone anytime soon.

And after what felt like years of waiting, two doctors emerged from the double doors.

Alison stood.

"Were you all with the gunshot victims?" one asked.

"Yes," Alison answered.

"Melissa lost a lot of blood, but we were able to repair most of the damage and she is now stable and resting in a room," her doctor said.

The other stepped forward. "And we were able to remove the bullet from Emily's shoulder. She's also stable."

Alison could feel the tears roll down her cheek. The past few hours had been spent in pure torture with the idea that Emily might die. Alison couldn't stand the image. But knowing she would be okay allowed Ali to breathe again.

"Can we see them?" Aria asked.

"They're both still under anesthesia, but yes."

Alison wasted no time getting to Emily's room, alongside Aria and Hanna. Spencer and Toby had gone to Melissa.

When Ali opened the door the sight nearly caused her to break down. There Emily was, bandaged up as she remained fast asleep. The serenity on her face let Alison know she wasn't in pain. She took the chair next to the hospital bed and laced her hand with Emily's. The warmth of skin on skin gave Alison more reassurance that things would be okay.

And Alison vowed that when Emily woke up, she wouldn't have to go another day without the truth about how Ali felt about her.