Chapter One
Author's Note: This is my take on the events leading up to/surrounding the bike scene that we see in the series preview. It will be a multi-chapter story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins even though I wish I did.
A group of teens were congregated by four tents in the middle of a forest. They were fighting over who slept in what tent. A girl called Pandora was asking her best friend Effy if it was alright for her to share with her boyfriend Thomas. Effy looked disinterested with the question; instead she was staring intently at two of the other girls within the group who were standing slightly back from everyone else. To anyone else, this would not look unusual, but if you are Effy Stonem, a girl who observes everything of interest around her, you would see that these two girls wanted to voice their opinions, but were scared of the repercussions. Effy decided to take the matter into her own hands.
'Why are we fucking arguing about this? Cook, Freddie, JJ-you get that tent. Panda, of course you can share with Thomas, take that tent there. Katie, you can share with me, and Naomi and Emily you two can take the last one. Is everyone alright with that?' Effy smirked as she saw Naomi and Emily glance to each other, then to her before looking to the ground. This pair were very interesting to watch and Effy wanted to see how the two would act with each other if Katie was taken out of the equation.
Everyone in the group gave a sound of approval-even Katie seemed not to mind that her twin was to be in a tent alone with Naomi- but of course Effy knew this was probably due to the fact that it was her decision, and Katie would listen and hang on to every word that Effy said.
The teens had soon moved their belongings into their allocated tents and were ready to go explore the surrounding countryside. Naomi and Emily remained at the campsite until everyone else had gone from view.
'Do you reckon Effy did that on purpose?' Naomi asked as she took her girlfriends hand.
'Yeah, I do-especially since she was smirking at us the whole time.' Both girls gave a short, embarrassed laugh. They didn't think that they were that obvious, but they forgot, it was Effy they were talking about. They were always careful about how they acted towards each other when with the rest of the group, neither ready to out themselves, for fear of rejection (Emily being disowned by Katie) and ridicule (Naomi getting teased by Cook and how he didn't "cure" her after they slept together).
'Well, at least she got Katie out of our way for the day,' Emily flashed a wide grin and nodded. 'So what do you want to do?' Both girls pondered the question. It was a sunny day, so it would be a shame to sit around the camp site all day (even if the girls could think of many ways to keep themselves amused).
'How about a bike ride? And then stop off for lunch somewhere?' Emily seemed nervous as she asked Naomi the question. This was the first time that the couple had a whole day to themselves-most of the time they spent together was restricted to a quick kiss in a secluded corner of a party when their friends weren't looking, or at best a couple of hours at Naomi's house between classes at college. Emily wanted to make sure that their day together was perfect.
'Sounds like a great idea,' Naomi kissed Emily on the forehead. 'Don't look so worried-as long as I'm with you, I'm happy.'
Emily and Naomi left the cluster of tents and headed towards the campsite entrance. They entered the bike hire shop and went over to a short, twenty-something man at the till. He wore the custom green of the campsite staff and adorned to his t-shirt was a name badge saying Harry. As soon as the girls entered the shop Harry's attention was focused on Emily. Naomi rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth at the man's behaviour. She glanced at Emily, who was oblivious to the attention.
'Hi, my girlfriend and I would like to hire two bikes for the day please.' Naomi told Harry, putting a strong emphasis on the word girlfriend. Harry looked between the two girls, shock evident on his face before he managed to stutter out,
'Of course, please follow me.'
Emily raised an eyebrow at Naomi as they followed him over to a selection of bikes. Ten minutes later both girls had paid for their bike hire and were on their way out of the campsite.
'What was that about?' Emily asked her girlfriend as they got on their bikes. Naomi started to pull away, so Emily pedalled faster to catch up with her.
'I just didn't like the way that fucking tosser was looking at you, you're not a piece of meat.'
'Aw, that's so sweet-you were jealous!'
'I was not!' Naomi denied, slowing down so Emily overtook her.
'I don't mind, you know-it shows that you care about me.' Emily replied over her shoulder, a wide grin plastered over her face. Emily's smile spread to Naomi's face as both girls continued to pedal down a country road.
They only stopped their travels when they saw an ice cream van in the distance. The girls came to a stop a few meters away from it and rested their bikes on the grass by the road. Naomi took Emily's hand and they walked over to join the back of the short queue of people waiting to be served, the majority of whom were small children with their exasperated looking parents. Soon the girls found themselves at the front of the queue.
'Erm, I'll have a Mr Whippy please…and Naomi, what do you want?'
'I'll have the same please.' They paid for their purchases and sat on the grass by their bikes. Naomi noticed Emily staring at her.
'Have I got something on my face?'
'Yeah you have, just stay still and I'll get it off for you.' Emily leaned forward slowly and dabbed Naomi's nose with her ice cream.
'Oi, you were meant to be getting stuff off my face, not messing it up! Cheeky!' Both girls started to laugh, drawing the attention of a few nearby children.
Naomi went to brush the ice cream off her nose, but her hand was stopped by Emily, who leaned forward and licked the ice cream off for her. Emily pulled back slightly and looked at her girlfriend with a slight blush across her face. They stared intently into each others eyes for a few seconds, before Naomi cupped Emily's face in her hand, bringing her face forward for a kiss. Their lips met and continued to brush against each other for a few seconds. When they pulled apart they rested their foreheads together, both with a heavy blush. Their moment of bliss was interrupted when one of the small children nearby innocently spoke up.
'Mummy…why were those girls kissing in a boy and girl way?' The child's parents looked over to Naomi and Emily, before shielding the child from their view.
'They were just being friendly with each other that's all-now go along and play with the other children. Yes. Run along!' Once the child was out of earshot the mother turned to the two girls. 'Now if you wouldn't mind this is a family environment and we do not want our children's minds to be plagued by your lot!'
'Our lot? What the fuck are you on about you old bint!' Naomi stood up, throwing her ice cream to the ground.
'Just leave it Naomi; she obviously doesn't know any better.' Emily put her hand on Naomi's arm to try to placate her.
'I will not let some old hag talk to us like that. We haven't done a single fucking thing wrong!'
'In the eyes of God what you are doing is a sin!' The woman drew the attention of her child who came running back over.
'You know what-I hope your son turns out to be fucking gay! Then where will that leave you in your shitty life?' Naomi retorted, ignoring Emily's (half-hearted) protests to let the woman's bigotry slide (because we all know Emily finds Naomi's argumentative streak a turn on). The woman, now red in the face from anger, picked up her son and stormed off, her husband quick on her tail. They watched the family out of sight before Naomi turned to face Emily.
'I'm sorry I got so "grr" Ems, it just gets to me when people act like complete twats about our relationship-like our love isn't right and means nothing.' Emily leaned forward and kissed Naomi on the cheek.
'Hey don't apologise, I would be worried if you didn't stand up for what you believe in-I didn't fall in love with a quiet Naomi now did I?'
'Humph, I guess not. But do you know what really pisses me off? I dropped my ice cream,' Naomi had a playful grin on her face and she batted her eyelashes at her girlfriend. 'You don't mind sharing do you?'
'Hmm…' Emily pondered. 'I guess not…seeing as you are my girlfriend…and you did just totally kick that bitches arse just now standing up for me…but don't eat all of it…I don't want you getting fat!' Both girls giggled, Naomi playfully swatting away Emily's hand which was trying to poke her stomach. Once the laughter subsided Naomi took Emily's free hand and bought it to her chest.
'I love you so much-you know that Ems?'
'Yeah…I love you too.' They shared a passionate kiss, glad that there was no longer an audience to watch them, before finishing the remains of Emily's (now almost entirely melted) ice cream.