The two girls eventually dragged themselves out of bed with great reluctance and hastily threw on a few random clothes. It seemed as if Emily had almost half her entire wardrobe round at Naomi's nowadays, so often did she stay overnight there.
Naomi's bedroom was gradually taking on the appearance of a small fashion boutique and the room was frequently full to overflowing with every conceivable item of clothing you would expect a couple of young teenage girls to possess.
They climbed over and around piles of stuff that had just been dumped carelessly around the room and made their way into the relative order and calmness of the kitchen where Naomi's mother was already sitting drinking tea and reading a magazine.
'Hi, Mum', said Naomi rather disappointed to see her sitting there. She had been hoping to avoid her this morning as she had a vague memory of arriving home fairly drunk with Emily the night before to find her Mum still up. She couldn't recall precisely what was said between the three of them but she had a feeling she would rather not have a conversation about it all over again this morning.
'Morning, love', said her Mum, turning towards the two girls with a big smile on her face. 'Hi, Emily'. Emily returned the warm greeting Naomi's Mum gave her with an equally genuinely warm smile.
Emily really liked Naomi's Mum and she was well aware that Naomi was somewhat bewildered and strangely embarrassed by their already close relationship. Mrs Campbell was so different from her own Mum, she thought. She was so laid back and relaxed, so warm and friendly. Emily had found her easy to talk to about anything and everything from their very first meeting whereas Naomi had always found it a real struggle to talk to her Mum.
'Why do you get on with her so well?' Naomi asked Emily the other day with a look of complete disbelief etched on her face. 'She's such an embarrassment!'
'No she isn't! She's lovely. I wish my Mum was as easy as her to talk to! You don't know how lucky you are. She never pokes her nose into your business; she just lets you get on with your life without interfering or passing judgement on everything you do.'
'What on earth do the two of you talk about?' Naomi pressed Emily further, with a clearly discernible hint of bewilderment and anxiety in her voice.
'Nothing! Just… silly stuff, ordinary things, you know. Nothing important. Why, what do you think I've being talking to her about -you and me?' '
Well, have you?' '
No! Of course I haven't!!'
'Are you two feeling OK?' her Mum asked, as Naomi poured out a cup of tea for herself and Emily. 'You seemed a bit out of it when you came home last night. You must have had a good time.' Emily immediately started grinning broadly at Naomi's Mum whose eyes betrayed a mischievous twinkle as she was asking the question.
'Fine', replied Naomi tersely. She really didn't want to go down that road if she could possibly help it and so she desperately tried to change the subject. 'Where's Kieran?
'He's over at his place picking up a few bits and pieces to bring over here', Naomi's Mum said.
'Why? He's not moving in with us, is he?' Naomi's voice carried a heavy note of accusation and incredulity as she stared at her Mum, her mouth wide open.
'No, love. Of course not. I wouldn't do anything like that without asking you first! It's your house as well, you know'.
'That didn't seem to matter when we were the local branch of the South-West Hippy Community!' said Naomi, scarcely bothering to keep the heavy sarcasm out of her voice.
'Well, that was a while ago. I was going through a bit of an odd phase then. Things are different now that I've got someone in my life again'. Besides, the house would be a bit crowded if he did move in, wouldn't it? Think about it- the four of us with all of our stuff! Where would we put it all?'
Emily couldn't stop herself sniggering uncontrollably, as hard as she tried to hide it by putting her hands over her mouth to muffle her laughter. Naomi turned round to glare at her but Emily was by now too far gone and Naomi's Mum joined in with Emily, much to Naomi's increasing exasperation and embarrassment.
'What the fuck are you on about?' Naomi was starting to believe that Emily must have told her Mum about their relationship. What else could all those cryptic comments about the four of them living in the same house mean?'
'Nothing, dear. I'm just teasing you, that's all. Everything's wonderful.'
'Yeah, come on, Naomi, lighten up' said Emily smiling at her girlfriend sweetly as she realised that the blonde girl was feeling more than a bit uncomfortable and vulnerable at that moment. Naomi may have long since taken the brave step of declaring her love for Emily in front of the whole school but her Mum was quite a different proposition. Clearly Naomi wasn't yet ready to come clean with her Mum about how much more than 'just good friends' the two of them had become in the last few months. Nonetheless, Emily couldn't shake off the thought that Naomi's Mum was no fool and probably knew a hell of a lot more than Naomi thought she did.
The awkward silent atmosphere between the three of them that was so palpable you could almost touch it was suddenly and mercifully broken by the loud ring tone of a mobile phone. Naomi reached out to pick up her phone which was lying on the breakfast table and put it to her ear, after glancing quickly to see who it was..
'Hi. What's up?' Naomi listened in silence for a few moments and then said 'OK, we'll be over in few minutes' and turned the phone off.
'Come on', she said to Emily, the previous irritation in her voice having given way to a hint of interest and anticipation.
'Who was it? What's happening?' Emily asked, curious and intrigued at the sudden change in Naomi's mood.
'No time to waste. There's a crisis and we're needed. We've gotta go now. I'll tell you on the way', smiled Naomi mysteriously to her girlfriend. 'Bye, Mum.'
'Bye you two, see you later?' Naomi's Mum raised her eyebrows in question to the two girls as they picked up their bags and rushed off.
'Yes.', nodded Emily with another broad smile as she turned round to say goodbye.