Chapter 1: Emily
"You're going to be late Emily"
"Huh, what mum?"
"I said you're going to be late it's half twelve. Don't you start at one?"
Damn now I'm not going to have time to wash my hair. "Feck it"
"Emily!" mum said offended.
"It's not swearing mum"
"Emily it is and you..."
"Ok, ok I'm sorry I didn't mean to almost swear, lost track of the time. Why did I go back to my studies again?"
"Because you want to become a famous researcher and fix the world" she smiled. "You're almost there Hun. Although I don't know why you keep on that job you're spread thinly enough as it is."
"I enjoy it mum, it takes my mind off all the crazy science stuff besides drunken people and rude tourists are what I live for. Ok I'd better go I'm late as it is." I pecked her on the cheek before running out the door shouting "Don't wait up I'll be in the lab tonight." The door slammed behind me just as she was saying "Emily you'd better come home you need to sleep sometimes too" Bless her she really does worry about me but after this year it will all be worth it I hope. "What the fuck" a horn sounded startling me out of my thoughts.
"Emily you want a lift you're already late?"
"Yes please, thanks Sean. You startled me there." The joys of living in a small fishing village everyone knows you and where you're supposed to be even if you don't. An chorrain is a tiny wee village in the north west of Ireland, population 1,025. I've lived here my whole life only leaving to go to university and even then I came back most weekends to work in the local pub. I love it here and wouldn't change it for the world. I like to think of it as a little piece of paradise that not many people know about. Those that do are sworn to secrecies or they'll be forever banished. The stuff of fairy tales! Seriously though it is a beautiful place. Amazing golden sandy beaches, framed with sheltering headlands, stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, a totally breathtakingly unspoilt landscape rugged and wild. The most beautiful place on earth but I may be a wee bit biased.
"Did ye hear about the ward's young un?"
"Huh? Sorry Sean what was that" I said apologetically
"Jaysus you're in a wee world of your own today Emily. Sure I was just saying did ya hear about ward's young un?"
"No Who? Chardonnay? Nah not heard a thing about her"
"Aye her, sure she's gone and got herself pregnant by that wee bollocks of a Boyle, Donal. Charlie and Mary are in a wild way sure she's only fourteen." That's what happens when you give your daughter a stripper's name. I thought, Oh Emily be nice.
"God that's awful hi, she's so young but I'm sure they'll get through it. Tis common enough these days."
"I know Emily it's too common sure she's only a kid herself. Weren't you're folks lucky with you, no need to worry about you and the boys. What with you getting the gay. Katie maybe was a different story eh"
"Getting the gay Sean? Like a cold I caught it? I giggled
"Ah Jesus Emily, I didn't mean that the way it came out. Sure I'm just an auld fool I don't know what I'm saying take no heed of me."
"It's ok Sean I knew what you meant" I laughed as I got out of the car. "Thanks for the lift. Have a nice day." Caught the gay I sniggered to myself that's hilarious. He's not a homophobe he's never been anything but nice to me. He just doesn't quite understand it. It surprises me though coming from such a small village and now openly gay I thought I'd come up against much more, apart from a small few I've never had much hassle. Nobody really treats me any different and to think I was worried I'd be outcast. Just shows I'm the judgmental one. Their open-mindedness, another reason why I love this little gem of a place more than anywhere else in the world. Shit! I really am late get a move on Emily. I rushed through the door of the bar just as it opened falling through it, taking down the cute girl that was with the crew of the 'Derry Air'. I caught ocean blue eyes staring up at me as I lay on top of her pinning her to the ground, I know those eyes. I got up clumsily stumbling backwards into Freddie.
"Watch out Emily are you trying to take the whole crew out at once" he laughed grabbing a hold of me before I floored us both.
"Shit shit, fuck it, I'm so sorry are you ok? Are you hurt?" I said taking hold of her arm helping her back to her feet. She looked puzzled just staring into my eyes, why is she looking at me like that fuck she's going to hit me. "Again let me apologise I'm really sorry" I said hoping my grovelling would prevent a slap coming my way.
She broke into a smile "It's ok I'm fine accidents happen. It's not your fault getting through doors can be difficult" She laughed "Thanks way to make me feel like an even bigger eejit" I joked flashing her a smile.
"Well I'd better go catch up with the guys" she said rolling her eyes "They'll accuse me of skiving again."
"Well we can't have that can we. Bye and sorry again" I mumbled as she disappeared through the door. I know those eyes, why do I know those eyes.
"Nice entrance Emily definitely one of your best. Right up there with soup over the bridesmaid" came the voice of my boss.
"Feck off Tim! Sorry I'm late"
"When are you ever on time" he smiled.
"Love you too Timmy. I'm off upstairs to get changed won't be long"
"Come see me in the beer store afterwards I need to talk to you about something"
"Ooh mysterious, I wonder what that could be I'm intrigued" I teased heading off upstairs.
Those eyes my head refuses to admit what my heart already knew the moment I saw them, She's changed her hair its longer, her accent is a little muddled up too but those huge blue twinkling eyes they're exactly like I remember. It can't be though; it can't be Naomi...
I remember the summer like it was yesterday, it was unusually hot for Ireland an Indian summer mum called it. Long sun filled days at the beach, hot sweaty nights partying. It was the summer before we all went our separate ways, different universities, and different cities of to start different lives. It was and still is my favourite summer, it was the summer I met her the summer I loved her. I remember vividly the first time we met; Effy and I were out on the boat looking for Dulse. A type of seaweed that Cook was sure we could smoke to get high, his Uncle had told him. I was a little sceptical but game after all I was an I'll try anything once kind of girl. I thought about letting him in on the sea slugs found off the coast that if licked give a mild but fun trip. However I was sure if I did, I'd be the one diving for them all summer best keep that information to myself so. It was during this thought process I saw her , I'd seen her before a few times that week, always on the same rocks always writing in that journal and always gone by the time I got back to shore. This time she stayed and moved down to the pier as we headed back to shore. She was beautiful short perfect blonde hair and the bluest eyes I'd ever seen, lips that just begged to be kissed.
"Stop staring you perv" teased Effy
"I'm I'm not staring" I mumbled
"You so are! Ooh this is fun, Em is it love or lust? Awh lust at first sight" said Effy playfully.
I stuck out my tongue "Feck off Effy. Now you going to help me tie up the boat or am I going to have to let you go for a surprise dip ya wench"
She giggled "yes captain" Our Playful banter was interrupted by a
"Can I help you guys tie up?" I looked up to see her standing above us, getting caught up in those luminous blue eyes. God those eyes could make the bluest sky seem dull. Oh god Emily say something and stop staring, try not to act like a complete social retard.
Effy to the rescue with a "sure you can kind stranger. Emily want to go up front and throw the girl the line"
"Umh yeah yeah sure sorry I got it"
I threw her the rope not realising my feet were caught up in it, lost my balance, stumbled forward slipping on some seaweed summersaulting head first over the bow of the boat and into the water. Spectacular falls and Naomi seem to be my thing.
"You eejit are you ok?" Effy said before collapsing into a heap convulsing into fits of laughter. Managing a "that's the funniest thing I've ever seen. Awh Em it was hilarious." Before the uncontrollable laughter took over again.
"Aye Effy I'm fine, a little help please. I'm all tangled up here"
"Can you make it over here and I'll help pull you up" Came the voice of the beautiful blonde. Smooth Em you really played it cool there I bet she's dead impressed. I swam over towards the rock she was perched on and she helped drag me up onto it untangling the rope from my legs.
"Thanks for that" I smiled.
She raised an eyebrow and smiled "Your welcome, I couldn't just leave you bobbing helplessly in the water like that. I'm Naomi by the way life saver extraordinaire"
"I'm Emily captain clumsy with a penchant for fabulously funny falls. That giggling ball rolling around on the deck there is my so called best friend Effy"
"Ems I would have helped eventually" sniggered Effy. "Nobody happened to get that on video eh" she burst out laughing.
"Bitch! It was funny though eh" I chuckled.
"I didn't think that combination of moves was physically possible" Naomi snorted before we all collapsed into a fit of giggles. I thought that snort was possibly the cutest thing I'd ever heard. We lay there trying to catch our breath in between bouts of laughter, Effy suddenly shouted "shit please tell me that it's not actually ten to three and my watch is just playing with me.
"Afraid not Eff" I said "You're going to be late again, I'd start running."
"Shit, shit, fuck, bollocks. That fucker is just looking for an excuse to fire me. Was nice to meet you Naomi, look after little miss clumsy here for me will ya and make sure she gets back home alive and in one piece if ya can" she said winking at me giving me her trademark cheeky smirk before running off up the hill. "I'll tell Cook to come down for the Dulse. Catch ya in Kelly's later" she shouted back before disappearing over the sand dune.
"She won't actually get fired will she?" Asked Naomi.
"No as much as Ronan threatens to sack her he wouldn't she's too good at selling crappy expensive tours to tourists. Although with Effy you never know she did get fired from her last job for what she said to a customer.
"Why what did she say?"
"An American tourist said 'top of the mornin' to her and she responded with 'to be sure, to be sure, to go fuck yourself asshole''
"Fuck off! Are you serious, no fecking way."
"Yep honest, I was there. It was so funny, the poor fella didn't know where to look or what to say."
"Ha-ha that's gas" she laughed
"That's our Effy ye never know what she'll say next" I laughed sneaking another quick glance at the beauty beside me. My tummy tumbled every time she caught my eye. I think you're hooked Emily, she's beautiful, so, so beautiful. "I've not seen you around here before, are you on holiday?" I asked let the interrogation begin. I want to know as much as possible about this girl.
"No my dad is... actually my step dad is Kieran Campbell "
"He owns the boat 'the Derry Air' right, so your mum is Gina? But I've never seen you before. Did they keep you locked away?'" I joked playfully nudging her shoulder with my arm.
"Funny woman eh" she smiled "your actually not far off, I don't usually get the chance to come up here very often. I was at boarding school in Galway and I usually spend my summers in Europe with Gina. Kieran when he wasn't out fishing. We decided to stay in Ireland this summer because it's the last before I go to uni." "So what were you guys up to out on the boat? I've seen you out there a few times this week quite the little fish aren't ya." She beamed
"Been keeping a close eye on me have ye?" I asked teasingly seeing her cheeks colour a rosy red before she turned away from my gaze to look out over the bay.
"Uhm well yeah, no I mean I just come down here a lot and you're err always here." She stammered embarrassed.
She's blushing how cute you might well have a chance here Emily. Time to save the blushing blonde. "We were out collecting some Dulse for a friend of ours. He reckons he can smoke it when it dries out. I'm not too confident though."
"I would tend to be as sceptical as you about his chances of getting high from smoking that" She sniggered. "I'm game to find out though shall we go find this friend of yours"
"No need that's him coming down towards us now" I replied giving a wave to Cook.
"Emilio" He shouted running towards me grabbing me throwing me over his shoulder and spinning us around. "Cook let me go now" I screamed kicking out at him. "Emily you're wet" he announced crudely smirking putting me back down on the pier. "I knew you had a thing for the cookie monster but that's ridiculous" he laughed
"I fell overboard you idiot! Behave or you're Dulse will be going that way too"
"You wee star that's loads, is it all for me?" he asked looking at our afternoon's work spread out over the deck.
"Aye it's all yours surprisingly enough there's not that big a market for the smoking of dulse"
"Ye of little faith Emilio, you'll see" he grinned. Naomi snorted at his confidence in the dulse's hallucinogenic powers. "Oh hello Blondie checking out the cookie monster I see" he said eyes roaming lewdly over her body. "In your dreams" Naomi laughed
"Not one of yours is she Emily. I can cure that Blondie." He winked at Naomi.
"Stop being a prick Cook" I said panicking. He's going to fuck her and ruin everything. "This is Naomi you're boss's daughter so back the fuck off. Or you might just go missing at sea" I said gleefully remembering she was Kieran's daughter. He can't touch her Kieran would kill him and everything is ok again breathe Emily.
"Come on, Naomikins. You want it, I want it. Let's get together and feel alright. Your dad won't mind" He smirked.
"You couldn't make me "alright" if you stapled your tongue to my clit and stood in a cement mixer." She replied eyebrow raised lips curled at the corners trying to hold back the inevitable smile.
Cook laughed out "I like you, you're funny Blondie. I think you should keep her Em" Don't worry I'm planning to I smiled to myself.
"I'll walk ya back if you like your place is on my way" I said to her "Can you manage the Dulse by yourself Cook I've got to get home and showered before the gig."
"Aye no bother, Freddie is coming down to help after he closes the shack. You go make yourself pretty for the tourists ya sell out" He teased Thanks again Em I'll see you later.
"Gig?" she asked as we walked off up the beach.
"Aye I play in a band couple times a week in the local. Just a bit of craic keeps the tourists happy and helps strengthen my college fund. We're not that good but no one seems to mind. You should come later we usually hit the beach for party afterwards it's always fun. You'll get to meet everyone." I said enthusiastically wishing her to say yes.
"Sure sounds fun count me in. I bet you and your band are just great" she said sweetly as we stopped outside her house.
"Ok this is you, show starts at 8pm catch ya later Naoms" I smiled before waving and running on up the road. Seems like all I've done today is smile at her. She's here for the summer Ems, this summer is already shaping up to be in the words of Effy epic!
Ok so that was chapter one, I hope it wasn't too awful for you guys. I apologize now for offending anyone with my attempts to write Naomily fic I just thought I'd give it ago. Please review all comments are welcome. Also are ideas for the many improvements I know are needed. Thanks :)
