25 ProblemsOnly Paily Fans Understand 

, Sarah Dressen writes, “There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.” And she’s 100% correct. Love is spontaneous and unpredictable; you can’t plan for it nor can you force chemistry between two people. It springs up on you when you least expect it, and suddenly you find yourself tingling with excitement and smiling at the mere thought of another person.

We don’t know about you but this quote reminds us a lot of the dynamic between Paige McCullers and Emily Fields. Based on their initial interactions, we never would have guessed these two would become one of the show’s most beautiful pairings — yet here we are, many seasons of

later, and Paily is your OTP. These girls have had their ups and downs, their fights and their makeups — but through it all, they’ve been nothing but supportive of one another. Just like any couple, they’ve suffered more than their fair share of hardships but neither A nor distance can ever truly destroy the memories and companionship between them. They are the real deal and their love will always prevail, no matter what.

That being said, shipping Paily —

just like Emison — is hard work (as @JL_Shepherd puts it, “due to enduring uncontrollable factors”) and requires a great deal of energy, dedication, and patience. Here are 25 problems only Paily can relate to:

1. You’ve always been told that patience is a virtue. However, no one told you that waiting for two great characters to get their happy ending would be this difficult!

2. You try to convince your significant other to join you in dressing up as Barbarella and Marlene Dietrich in Morocco every Halloween. He/she is always, ‘Do we have to?’ and you’re all, ‘Suck it up and let me enjoy my Paily cosplay!’

3. Your friends groan every time you choose Pink’s “So What” during karaoke, but you don’t give a hoot. It’s your go-to jam, and they better join you on stage if they know what’s good for them!

4. You don’t freak out at the concept of someone opening your unlocked car door and slipping into the passenger seat. You wish your first kiss was this romantic and spontaneous!

5. It’s not a proper apology unless someone’s treks across town, in the rain, to seek your forgiveness.

6. Sometimes life happens and things doesn’t turn out quite the way you expected them to. But worried parents and busted shoulders aside, Paily refuses to quit because they are firm believers in “finding another dream.” As Emily best puts it: “All these terrible things in my life right now, how do I feel so lucky?” Agreed, girl.

7. You spend the better half of your day defending Paige McCullers against haters. Yes, she made a terrible decision (i.e., dunking Emily’s head in the school pool) in PLL Season 1 and you don’t deny that it was wrong. However, she’s grown so much as a person since then and has made amends for it. This should suffice, eh? NOPE! Apparently this is not enough for some people; they refuse to forgive her even though they themselves have made excuses for characters who have done worse things, like, oh you know, commit murder, stalk a bunch of teenagers to write a crime novel, and blind a girl.

8. Whenever Paige and Emily argue, you find yourself miserable because they both raise valid points and you don’t know whose side to take. UGH!

9. Your idea of a perfect date includes swimming laps at night,  going for a jog, or enjoying a picnic in the middle of the woods. You won’t settle for anything else.

10. When someone asks you what your favorite literary works are, you list the titles of Paily-inspired novellas. (Shout-out to Chen Drachman and Joseph Dougherty!)

11. You used to consider California one of the most beautiful states in the US…

12. …but now it’s just a place where feelings go to die.

13. “Please don’t go.” Who knew that three little words could crush your spirits so damn much?

14. Every time you hear Lady Antebellum’s “Dancing Away With My Heart,” you randomly start to tear up. In public. Around other people. Oh boy.

15. You live in a constant state of paranoia because of all the struggles Paily has experienced. Every time these two ladies achieve some semblance of happiness, you can’t fully enjoy the moment because you fear it will be taken away from you.

16. This caroling scene is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received. Period.

17. Dating is tough! You yearn for someone who stimulates you emotionally and intellectually, who challenges you to be a better person and whom you inspire to greatness, as well. Moreover, you yearn for someone who can think for themselves and is afraid to voice his/her opinions, even if you happen to disagree. Paige and Emily keep it real and because of them, you yearn for equality in a relationship above all else.

18. “Cousin” Nate may be a raging, murderous lunatic but you secretly salute him because he sort of brought Paige and Emily together — in his own twisted way, of course.

19.  You got a little TOO giddy when Shay Mitchell held up this hashtagged sign. In fact, you thought you were going to burst with joy right then and there.

20. You adore Spencer because she’s one fierce lady, but you were definitely not her biggest fan with the way she treated Paige in PLL episode 3×12. Or that time she rifled through Paige’s handbag. NOT COOL. You don’t see Emily getting in the way of her relationship with Toby, but whatever — it just further fortified Paige and Emily’s bond and ability to open up to one another.

21. You get all irrational and angry whenever you see Emily go on a bike ride with someone who’s not Paige. You can’t help yourself! First the empanadas, then the kitchen flirtations, and now this? Is nothing sacred?!

22. The mere image of a window seat makes your heart go pitter patter!

23. You always the one to leave first after a wonderful date — because you can’t stand watching your boo walk away from you.

24. “Don’t look away” is the new “I love you.”

25. No matter how many miles separate them or what crazy A does to sabotage their relationship, Paige and Emily will always remain one of your favorite couples of all time. Though these characters are fictional, their love is anything but, and you look forward to the day that they are able to share their dream apartment at Stanford University.

Many thanks to Paily fans on twitter for sharing their favorite Paige and Emily interactions! That being said, what’s your favorite Paily moment EVER? Tell us in a comment!

*Photos from Pretty Little Liars Season 1: FULL GALLERY!*

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