Premise: This story is set late into season 3 of Skins, everything is the same except for a few things: Emily never did pursue Naomi, nor did she find the strength to leave Katie's shadow. She does however, embark in a secret relationship, yet they only end up rejecting her. With all of this going on, will Emily finally find the courage to stand up for herself and truly fight to be with the girl she has loved from afar ever since middle school?

Authors Note: Not entirely sure if I will continue with this, just an idea that came to me and which I manage to write down. It's entirely from Emily's perspective.

Disclaimer: I do not own Skins. M rating for language and such.

The Foreground

Well this was a great idea; leave Imogen's place wearing only half your clothes and no shoes. If that wasn't bad enough, I'm standing at this bloody bus stop waiting for a bus that looks like it will never turn up. It's not like I had much of a choice, really. No, because she gave me no choice, argh. Just focus on the cold, just focus.

Like hell I can focus, I can't stop crying. Why does she keep doing this to me? I'm not her bloody experiment. We've been together unofficially for over a month now, surely that means something? I don't understand why she has to treat me this way? She was the one who hit on me. She was the one who took this relationship to the next level. And now she's changed from being totally interested to totally apathetic; worrying about what people will think, of what her parents will think. Does that mean she doesn't care about what I think then? Why am I always the last one that people think about, why can't I be considered first for once?

I remember how she laid there in bed after we slept together, looking so ashamed. I thought we were going somewhere in this relationship. I just don't understand why she would do this to me, to us? I can feel the tears run down my face again, it's so embarrassing. I'm standing at this bus stop, at night, in the cold, surrounded by strangers who don't give a toss. If it wasn't bad enough, I don't even have my shoes on. I couldn't for the love of me find my goddamn shoes and now that's all I want.

"Emily?" I turn around and see Naomi, which somehow makes this whole thing much worse. I try to quickly wipe away the trail of tears, not wanting to seem like I'm upset.

"Em, where are your shoes?" I exhale softly and force a smile, trying to play this whole thing down.

"Hello." I look on as she just stares at me, observing with obvious concern.

"I couldn't find them." I can't hide the tremble in my voice; the cold is getting to me now. I look away, unable to witness the worry that I know exists, which is saying something for Naomi Campbell. We don't really hang out with each other, at least not alone, even though we belong to the same group. Ever since middle school, and what happened between us, she made sure to keep herself at a distance from me. I thought and even hoped that college would have changed that; I had even tried to communicate with her, but it didn't work. And before I knew it, Imogen was around and showing me attention. It was nice; to be noticed, wanted, appreciated. I just wish it was that way now.

"Well, you can wear mine.."

"No, really, it's fine."

"Emily, your toes are about to drop off, so I'd accept the offer if I were you." She bends down and unties her shoe laces. I feel my jaw shake; my lips quiver pathetically as she steps out of her trainers and places them in front of me. She stands back up and looks at me. Even without the trainers on there's still a height difference between us, she's always been taller than me. I can still remember the time I looked up into her eyes and.. Argh, no. Deflecting pain and wishful thinking won't help right me now. I step into them and look into her eyes, which seem rather close now.

"Here, take my coat."

"Naomi."

"I've got loads on anyway, it is Britain after all.." I can sense the discomfort in her tone; she must be doing this because she feels like she has no other option. Which means.. Great, I must look a right state. I look down at myself and notice how my strap on my top is down and my clothes are disheveled, exposing my skin. If I weren't so cold, I'd unfasten my arms from around my body and correct it. If I weren't so emotionally damaged right now, I'd refuse what Naomi was offering and pretend like everything was okay as always – but I'm not. I really am not. I look up as Naomi removes her jacket and places it tentatively around my frame, I pull it close to me and try to feel something, anything other than this cold; this pain. My teeth clatter once again as I stand in front of Naomi, feeling like a fool as my eyes dart from the ground and to Naomi. She flattens her mouth and then bites her bottom lip.

"Better?" The thing with Naomi is that she either ignores or tries to fix things, she doesn't like to talk. This is her way of trying to solve things, but these are only the consequences of my problem, which means the problem still remains. As much as I wish that her surprisingly warm presence would soothe me, I know that it can't - it won't. And yet again I feel the tears well up in my eyes. I dip my head in sorrow, feeling broken.

"What do you do when someone you trust really lets you down, really fucks you over?" I look back to Naomi, and eagerly await an answer, but Naomi just squirms on the spot and lowers her gaze from me. She frowns and contemplates my question.

"I don't know, Emily. Forgive them? But know that they can't really be the same person for you as they were before they hurt you. You just.. Learn to expect it, gets easier in time."

"Does it?" She looks to me and begins to shake her head, lowering her eyes again.

"No.." I exhale profoundly and look up to the sky.

"Has this got to do with Imogen?" I sharply dip my head and look to Naomi, her eyes on me again. She looks wary of me, of what I might say. I thought I was doing a good job of keeping it under wraps, but clearly not.

"How..?"

"It's not hard to see the way you look at her, Emily." She looks down to the pavement and sighs. I wish I had the energy to ask what she means by that, I wish I had the time to even ask, but before I can she has already looked back up at me, her blue eyes hard.

"Don't worry, besides me and Effy, I don't think anyone else can see it."

"Effy?"

"Yeah; all seeing and knowing."

"Ah." I shake on the spot as my eyes roam over Naomi, who seems to be trembling too.

"I've got my bike.. But I can call a taxi for you, if you'd like?" I look around and notice her bike leaned up against the bus stop, how had I not seen that before? I look back to Naomi who is already lifting her bag from the ground and rummaging through it.

"Naomi-"

"It's cold, you're on your own - well, besides the inconsiderate twats at this bus stop, and you're upset. I'm calling a taxi.. I'd walk you home, but I'm fucking cold." She punches in the digits and calls them, as I zone out. I pull the jacket even tighter around me, and immediately smell her scent on it, which causes me to involuntarily close my eyes.

"They'll be here in five.. I'll wait with you." I open my eyes and see Naomi standing there, her eyes firmly on me.

"You don't have to."

"It wasn't a question, Emily." I bite my lip, trying to hold back the sob I feel working its way up through my chest, and demanding dominance over my body until I release it. I choke slightly and then just allow the tears to start falling, unable to stop it now even if I tried. I close my eyes and just feel it, I never knew it could hurt this much. But I suppose when you're continuously rejected, its bound to work up an explosion.

"Em.." I sense Naomi's body move toward me, and before I can even register what it might mean, she has already pressed herself against me and pulled me into her arms. I instantly bury my head into her chest and let out another cry. I step closer to eliminate all distance between us; desperate to feel like my world is not falling apart as I breathe and to just hold onto this moment with Naomi.

And it seems to work, if only for a moment.

Thanks for reading!