Spencer gave it a day before she called Emily. She didn't want to call right away, fearing that Emily would get suspicious and figure out that Paige had told her to call.

"Hi, Spencer!" Emily's voice sounded pleasant. Spencer was relieved that she seemed to be in a good mood. She had tried to time her call just right – not too early on a Sunday morning, but not so late that Emily had other plans.

"Hi, Emily. How are you?"

"I'm good… What's up?"

"Not much. I was just calling to see what you're up to today."

"Not much." Emily giggled to herself at the fact that she had parroted Spencer's words. "I was just, you know, tidying up around the house, and I figured I'd go down to the office a little later and get caught up on some stuff."

"Oh." Spencer tried not to sound disappointed. "I was just calling to see if you wanted to hang out for a bit, but if you're going to the office…"

Emily interrupted Spencer, trying not to sound too eager, but not wanting her to back away from whatever she had in mind. "Yeah, I can hang out for a while."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Emily repeated the word, with more enthusiasm. "Yeah! That sounds like fun."

"Okay, well, did you want to come over? We could watch a movie or something?"

"Okay!"

"I can come get you?"

"That's all right. I know where you live." Spencer giggled nervously into the phone. "I'll probably be a few minutes, though, if that's okay?"

"Sure." Spencer wanted it to sound casual. She didn't want to put herself too far out there. "Take your time."

Spencer was startled when her doorbell rang. She took a moment to get it together.

Emily did casual very well. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts and a jersey with "USA 80" on the front. Spencer welcomed her inside with a hug. The hug started awkward, but they settled into it nicely. Spencer caught herself humming a little as they separated. "You smell good," she said, with a nervous laugh, by way of explaining her vocalization.

"Thank you," Emily said tentatively. She was amused by the effect that she seemed to be having on Spencer.

"So, what kind of movies do you like?" Spencer asked, leading the way to the living room.

Emily shrugged, even though, since she was behind Spencer, Spencer couldn't see it. "I can watch pretty much anything," she replied, keeping her tone upbeat. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well," Spencer stopped, gesturing to the couch. Emily sat, and Spencer sat next to her, maintaining a safe distance. "I like the old, black and white movies, like Casablanca."

"Ooh. Roman…tic." Emily's voice trailed off on the last syllable. She didn't mean to imply that Spencer was up to anything.

"Or, we could watch something else," Spencer offered quickly, picking up on what Emily had said. "Sci Fi or horror?"

"Casablanca's fine. It's a classic." Emily found herself unable to look at Spencer, staring instead at her fingers, as she twisted them in her lap. The movement drew Spencer's eyes there, and she had to brace herself, not wanting to perv on Emily's well-tanned, well-toned thighs. She worked her way up to Emily's eyes, her progress broken momentarily by the sight of Emily's chest in that slightly tight jersey.

"Casablanca it is!" Her voice was welcoming and confident. "Did you eat anything? I could get a pizza?"

"Pizza's fine." Anything's fine! Emily was trying not to sound as impatient as she was, but the suspense about how the afternoon was going to go was killing her.

"Okay."

They settled in to the movie, and into the pizza, when it arrived. They were mostly silent, but it wasn't uncomfortable – not until Spencer threw out a fun-fact.

"You know, back in the black-and-white era, movie makers had to abide by what they called 'The Code.' That's why they couldn't show a lot of things in these old movies." Emily nodded. "They had to do it with symbolism. Like cigarettes," Spencer continued. "Cigarettes symbolize sex. When you see a guy and a woman light up a cigarette and stare at each other, it's the equivalent seeing the couple wake up in bed together in a contemporary movie."

Emily stifled a laugh. She didn't want the laugh to make her seem immature. But she couldn't believe that, of all the fun-facts in Spencer's brain, that was the one that she chose to share. "So, were you planning to offer me a cigarette right now?" Emily didn't realize what a bad choice that statement was until the words were out of her mouth.

Spencer rolled with it, not having realized until Emily's question how inappropriate her discussion about cigarettes must have seemed. "No," she mouthed, without actually saying the word. Her lips, wrapping around that syllable as if around a cigarette, looked incredibly kissable. When Emily saw them, she understood the connection between cigarettes and sex. "Not on the first date," Spencer added audibly, with a nervous laugh.

Emily returned the nervous laugh. So, this really is a date.

The rest of the movie passed without more awkwardness. It seemed to be easier for them to relax, once the fact that it was a date was out there.

Spencer kept looking over to make sure that Emily was okay. Finally, Emily just rested her head on Spencer's shoulder, to remove any doubt. Other than putting her arm around Emily's shoulder in response, Spencer never made a move. She did, however, reach for Emily's hand and give it a comforting squeeze when the shooting started near the end of the movie. Emily appreciated the gesture. Even though the movie wasn't scary, Emily was never comfortable with gunplay.

When the closing credits started to roll, it was as if the spell between them was broken. Spencer shifted and Emily separated from her, drumming her fingers against her lap. Spencer stood and started to clear away the plates and the pizza box. Emily got up and grabbed the glasses and water bottles. She followed Spencer into the kitchen.

Spencer took the glasses and the bottles from Emily and put them in the recycling bin. "Are you still going to try to make it to the office?"

Emily pulled her phone out of her back pocket and checked the time. "I guess I really should," she said with a sigh. The next thing she knew, Spencer was walking her to the front door. Swing and a miss, Emily thought to herself. Or maybe a foul ball. The afternoon had been pleasant, but it hadn't ended the way that she had hoped.

When they got to the door, Spencer took Emily's hands and gave her a soft, lingering kiss. "I hope we can do this again sometime?"

Emily's lips stretched into a smile, before they paired up with Spencer's again. "I would love that."

They stood in front of the door, silently staring into each other's eyes for a few more moments. Emily felt Spencer's fingers twisting through a strand of hair that lay dangling beside her cheek. Her hand found its way to Spencer's cheek on reflex, and, all of a sudden, they were kissing again.

"Do you really have to go?" Spencer asked in a soft purr.

"I don't want to," Emily admitted, "but I probably should."

They both knew that she was right. They could easily have gotten ahead of themselves, had she stayed.

Emily took one more taste of Spencer's lips before she opened the door and headed out.

She didn't smoke, but she really needed a cigarette.

"Are you sure you don't need me to come pick you up?" Paige's voice was annoyingly teasing. Emily gritted her teeth and tried to roll with it.

"No, thank you, Paige. I'll be okay."

"I'm just saying – it's an awfully long walk…"

Emily sighed, resignedly. She didn't want to let her frustration show. That would only make the teasing worse. "I have a ride," As if you didn't know, "but thanks for offering."

"Oh. Well, maybe I could catch a ride with you guys, then!"

"Um… Sure," Emily said pleasantly, calling Paige's bluff. She would rather have Paige ride along with her and Spencer than have Paige tease her about why she wanted to have Spencer all to herself.

"Oh, actually… you know… I have a… thing after the game, so I should probably just drive my own car."

"Yeah," Emily mumbled, "I was pretty sure you would."

"What was that?"

"I said, 'We'll see you there.'"

Emily stood on the steps in front of her apartment, holding her gym bag in front of her with both hands. She was twisting from side to side slightly, looking down at her shoelaces. She looked up when she heard Spencer's car pull up, and she smiled, returning the smile that Spencer was giving her.

"Hi, Em!"

"Hi, MB!"

MB?

Spencer contemplated the meaning of that nickname. At first, she thought that Emily was just adding a syllable to "Em," in a half-mocking way. Then, she wondered whether it stood for "My Bro," or "My Bitch," neither of which sounded particularly like something that Emily would say. It only took a half-second for her to realize what it meant, and, just as it hit her, Emily began acting it the explanation, shaking her head back and forth rapidly and vibrating her lips, motorboating the air.

"No!" Spencer shouted. "You are not calling me that!" She was trying her best to sound stern and intimidating, but she couldn't keep the smile off of her face. She kind of liked the fact that Emily had a pet name for her. As long as it stayed between the two of them. She really couldn't see having to explain it to anyone.

But, of course, Emily would keep it private. After all, she hadn't told anyone – not even her best friend, Paige – what Spencer had said on that day.

"So, did Paige tease you about riding to the game with me?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "What do you think?"

Spencer pouted sympathetically and squeezed Emily's shoulder as she whispered, "Sorry."

"It's fine," Emily said pleasantly. "I can handle a little teasing." She put her hand on top of Spencer's, which was still awkwardly resting on her shoulder. It took a second or two for them to work out the grip, but, soon, they were holding hands in Emily's lap, and it felt good.

When Spencer had to take her hand away to make a turn, Emily kept her palm open in her lap, not sure whether or not Spencer's would make a reappearance, once it was free again. Spencer didn't hesitate, boldly reclaiming Emily's hand as soon as the turn was completed. Emily muffled a giggle. She liked the boldness. When Spencer smiled over at her, wondering what the giggle was about, Emily said, "Nothing." She shrugged her shoulders. "I just like the way our hands fit together." Spencer squeezed Emily's hand. She liked it, too.

As they pulled up to the diamond, Spencer tipped her chin to point to Paige, who was unloading her bag from the back of her car. "How do you want to play it?" Spencer wanted to flaunt her accomplishment; to show Paige the progress that she had made, but she didn't want to make Emily uncomfortable. She knew how relentless Paige could be with her teasing.

"Cool," Emily replied, with a devious look in her eye. "Let's keep her guessing."

Spencer sighed melodramatically. "Okay." She wasn't actually bothered, but, she reasoned, making it appear to be a big sacrifice on her part would certainly win her some brownie points for later.

Emily stole a glance through the windshield, making sure that Paige hadn't noticed Spencer's car yet. When she saw that her attention was elsewhere, she leaned over and gave Spencer a quick kiss. "Thanks, Spence."

Thanks. As if there were anything that Spencer wouldn't be willing to do for one of Emily's kisses.

When the team took the field, Paige jogged to the outfield, leaping up and down a time or two to limber up before she stooped into her stance, her hands on her knees. Spencer made her way to the circle and began tossing her warm-up pitches. Emily found her place between first and second base - and between Spencer and Paige. She pounded her fist into her mitt a couple of before leaning her head back and shouting, "Whoo! Come on, guys! Let's go!"

She was excited. She couldn't help it.

Win or lose, it was going to be a good day.

A/N - Thanks so much for indulging me in this brief foray into Spemily. I appreciate the reviews and PMs more than you can imagine.

For those of you who know me from my Paily work, I can say that I've already started thinking through the Paily version of this tale. I won't make any promises about how soon I'll finish it and get it posted... It's not as simple as just replacing Spencer's name with Paige's. :)

I love you all so much - no matter whom you ship!