Authors Note: I meant to publish this story ages ago. It's been formulating in my mind for a while, and I'm stoked. I have other stories as well but I'm lazy!
Enjoy!
Fookinwanka x
Chapter One
"You're coming." Naomi hears as she sits down on the chair, opposite to the girl.
"Pardon?" She asks as Effy slides the brochure across the table. She cautiously reaches out for the piece of paper, skeptically. Naomi looks around the coffee shop before settling her eyesight on her friend. The sound of chatter and Indie music is faintly heard by the blonde.
"I ordered you a chamomile tea," She smirks, passing the cup of tea towards her.
"The fuck is this?" Naomi asks, her eyebrow raised whilst she scans the item.
"We're going to the Love Ball." Effy nonchalantly answers as she adds a cube of sugar to her tea. If Naomi thought it was possible, Effy's smirk grew wider.
She looks at her, bewildered. There's a pause between the two. Confusion invades the blonde whilst she takes in the reply from the blue-eyed brunette.
"Eff, I know you're a bit off your rocker, but I went ten years ago."
"Exactly, but I didn't get to go the first time. I want to go."
"Again, pardon? I don't think I'm hearing this quite right. You want me, Naomi Campbell, to go to the Love Ball with you, Elizabeth Stonem, that took place approximately ten years ago?" She questions, looking at her odd friend.
"Down to the tee." Effy half-smiles. Naomi scoffs at the girl's absurdity.
"Nae, Roundview is hosting it again for us, so now I have a second chance. We have a second chance, and you're my date." Effy said, flashing her a soft smile.
"Yeah, you're completely off the rails. Fuck off, Effs." Naomi chuckles as she rolls her eyes at her best mate.
"Seriously, Nae, I want to go. I missed it the first time. I think it could help..." Effy says. Naomi looked at the girl across from her and witnessed her change of demeanor; sadness. As soon as it appeared, it quickly faded.
"I'll go with you."
As she stared at the pamphlet, she couldn't help but see red. The two fall into a silence as they both reminisce on their sixth form, wondering how different things could have gone. Whilst they carry on with another topic, the blonde was haunted with the words from the paper:
"Ten years later, graduates of 2010 at Roundview College are given a second chance at attending the Love Ball with old classmates. Take risks you weren't brave enough to make when you were 16."
Stupid fucking pamphlet, Naomi thinks, examining the object and holding it as if it was contaminated. She watches as Effy talks, not absorbing the words, and thinks about Freddie; Freddie, the boy Effy loved and lost. She feels a pang in her heart as she can relate to the feeling, but not completely. She feels like a coward, having the opportunity in seeing her past love, but not taking the chance, yet Effy can't. Freddie's dead, as he has been for the past nine years.
x
Naomi lays motionless on her bed. Despite the tranquil night outside her door, her head's filled with a collage of thoughts. The amount of times she's tossed around in her bed to find a comfortable position has yet to soothe her into a restful sleep. She recollects the memory of the first Love Ball.
Emptiness is resides in her chest. Her heart beats in a hollow home, thumping a lonely rhythm. She lays naked on the duvet of her bed, with her plaid dress draped at the edge of it. She grasps onto a spare shirt Emily left the night before, inhaling what's left of her scent. Naomi exhales, closing her eyes, concentrating on the clamoring beats through her ears. The image of another hand upon Emily's body embeds in her mind. The twinge in her chest increases as she feels a hot tear, stream down her face.
Her breathing increases as she wills herself to not think of his lips on Emily's body. She tries to direct her thoughts into somewhere more safe, away from red and brown. Just friends. Yeah, right. I can never be just friends with her, she thinks to herself.
x
"Babes, do we really have to go?"
"I wanna see my mates from college, Olivia, of course we're going to go." Emily replies, determining to hide her irritation at her girlfriend. She hoists her single-strap, royal blue dress on her shoulder; the satin material reaches above her knee, hugging her figure tightly.
"I don't understand why you want to go, I don't know any of your 'mates', Emily." The tan, dark haired girl says, exasperatedly, as she throws her arms to her sides.
"Fine, don't go, but I'm still going. Stay home if you want." Emily retorts, rolling her eyes at her girlfriend, no longer holding in her anger.
"No! She might be there. I'm not letting you go without me."
Her. It feels like a car smashes into her chest, losing her intake of oxygen from the mere thought of her. The girl who made her feel, but the girl who also broke her heart. The thought of the blue-eyed blonde made her palms sweat, her breath quicken, but her heart clench. The end of their relationship led to unfinished business.
"Emily! Are you even listening?" Olivia asked, livid, with her emerald eyes narrowing at the person in front of her. Before she could answer, they were interrupted by a door knock of her childhood bedroom. Emily thinks of her twenty year old, pervy brother peeking through the door. Her irritation escalates when she hears another couple of bangs on the door.
"You two better not be fucking in our bedroom, Emily! That's sick. Honestly, how fucking old are you two?" Katie yells through the wooden barrier between the girls.
Emily stomps towards the door and abruptly opens the door, revealing her now light-blonde haired twin. She flashes Katie a vehement look as the door swings open.
"'Bout fucking time, bitches. I've been out there for far too long. Too busy muff munching, then?" Her twin interrupts, indignant with the couple for making her wait outside her own room. She's sporting a teal cocktail dress, with a white bow wrapped around her midriff.
"Definitely. Caught me with my tongue down-"
"Fuck sakes! Teddy is right there!" She retorts, reaching out for her old stuffed bear which sat in the shelf above her bed. She holds the torn bear and attempts to shield his eyes.
"We weren't shagging! Christ, Kay." Emily shrieks, pinching the bridge of her nose. She exhales. She winces at her outburst towards Katie and tones it down. "Teddy's seen worse, before," She smirks.
The older twin feigns a horrid look at the thought of her childhood bear being sexually used or him witnessing something sexual between her twin and someone else. Her harsh expression softens as she observes the atmosphere between Emily and Olivia, noticing how tense the two are.
Katie Fucking Fitch was the HBIC back in college, being one of the best WAGs out there. 'Rocks before cocks, right girls?' Ten years later and she's become a stylist for celebrities in London. Her libido has toned down since she was seventeen, along with her leopard print clothing, and crimson hair. Katie Fucking Fitch is wiser and much classier.
"We're going to be late. Let's go bitches," Katie says, with no malice in her voice, but a small smile. The three girls adjust their outfits and touch up their make-up as they strut out the Fitch's home. Given that they live four hours away from Bristol, they stayed at their parent's home for a few days. The night was eerily calm as Emily, Olivia, and Katie walked, arm-in-arm, towards the night they would not forget. Again.
As they walked towards their old college, Emily couldn't help but think about the night when she confessed her love for Naomi in front of the college. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd be there and if she looked just as beautiful; if not, more.
x
"Eff, hurry the fuck up, yeah? My tits are shrivelling!" Naomi yells through the door. The dark-haired girl walks out the door in a short, black, and lacy dress whilst Naomi is wearing a strapless, knee-length, and silky gray dress with an orange cardigan.
"Keep your tits on," Effy replies, smirk painted on her face. She bumps her shoulder as they start their stroll towards Roundview, both nursing a bottle of cheap vodka. They fall into a comfortable silence, both lapsing into the memory that's hanging at the back of their minds. Emily. Freddie.This night was not only to relive memories but to have closure on the regrets that were made.
"Where's Frankie at tonight?" Naomi asks, breaking their reveries. Effy takes a while to reply, since she was completely lost in thought.
"With Anthea," She replies weakly. "Cook's meeting us there; he's just got back from Newport."
"What are you thinking of, Effs?" Naomi asks, hesitantly, glancing at her best friend.
"Freds." She says in a quiet voice, taking a huge gulp from her bottle. They reach the steps to the college before Naomi could reply. Effy lights a cigarette, not long after.
The front of the college is decorated with pink balloons and streamers. The entrance outside the Love Ball is surrounded by a heart-shaped stand. Naomi is hit with nostalgia as she hears the thumping of the music and the chatter of the people around her. She distinctly remembers the pang of hurt she felt seeing JJ with Emily on the steps. She breathes in a lungful of air, shutting her eyes.
She feels a cold hand grasp hers and opens her eyes. She takes a look at Effy and they both nod. Naomi knows the silent gesture means 'It's okay. We're okay. We need to be brave.'Still not moving, Naomi feels the pressure on her left hand increase and the hand growing more clammy. The girls chug the rest of their liquor and throw it in the bin. Effy stubs her cigarette bud with her black heel and leads Naomi through the threshold.
The music pumps loudly and the smell of sweat overwhelms her. They haven't particularly been out in years, given that they were in the late twenties, but this night is about feeling young. This night is about making the mistakes they were too scared to make before. As they head deeper into the gymnasium, it gets pinker. On top of the dance floor hung a disco ball that reflected the faded pink light.
"Ladies!" Naomi and Effy hears, turning around to their best mate.
"Cook," Naomi says as Effy duly nods her head. The sandy-haired boy is wearing black trousers, a white button up, with a hot pink bowtie. He gives the two a bone-crushing hug. The smell of cheap booze and cologne makes Naomi's worries go away, but only for a bit.
"You girls lookin' for a good night, then?" He slurs, giving Naomi and Effy a big grin, occasionally losing his balance.
"What've you done, James?" Naomi questions, using his real name after seeing the mischief in his dark blue eyes. Despite how old they have gotten, things haven't changed. Yet, she still had to love James Cook.
"I've spiked the punch though, innit?" Cook throws his head back, chuckling at his tactic. Effy softly laughs as Naomi raises her eyebrows.
"Fucking hell, James. We're above age now. 'Spiking' the punch is completely unnecessary when it's legal for us," She says, playfully rolling her eyes.
"C'mon, Blondie. For old time's sake," Cook answers with all seriousness in his voice.
"For old time's sake," Effy whispers enough for the two to hear and unclasps her hands from Naomi's and wanders off. She and Cook give each other odd looks, but decide not to bother the petite girl.
"Care to dance, Blondie?" He asks, bowing with his hand extended. Cook looks at Naomi with a big grin plastered on his face. How could anyone say no to that? Naomi thinks to herself and chuckles at her friend.
"Right, c'mon, you got to say yes now, or I'll topple over. I've too much alcohol in my system," He smirks, waiting for Naomi to grab his hand. She playfully waits a while to watch him struggle with his feet. She does not understand how he could dance, let alone stand in the state he is in. Naomi grabs his hand and they make their way to the floor.
Cook twirls her and makes up silly dance moves to see the blonde smile. The dance floor grows crowded and the smell of sweat is more evident around the two as they continue dancing. In the midst of spinning Naomi around, she bumps into someone. The person turns around with an indignant face before realization sets in.
Shit, Naomi thinks when she sees the girl face her. Katie Fucking Fitch. She shouldn't have been surprised, given that they went to the same college, but it was bizarre seeing Katie in appropriate clothes and blonde hair. The girl she once despised seemed to have changed drastically. Next to Katie stood a couple that stopped dancing to see what happened.
Naomi's heart stops a second time when she sees the person she was dreading, yet hoping to see. She notes the different hair color and a girl wrapped around her like a leech. That's new, she thinks bitterly to herself. The feeling subsides when she observes the brunette's shocked face. She still had the warmth in her brown eyes, the cute button nose, and those soft, pert lips. Naomi wanted to reach out and touch her silky, brunette hair, but something in her stopped herself from doing so.
"Emily..."
A/N:
Wasn't too shit was it? D: