Naomi and Emily A/U. I don't care that she now lives in the same city. That was ten years ago. A lot has changed in ten years right? We've both moved on. Now if I could just stop bumping into her things would be grand.
A/N: This is my first story, so please give me feedback! I don't live in the UK, so if I get anything wrong in regards to their culture, I apologize ahead of time. Feel free to correct me (nicely of course ). Sorry if my grammar is crap, I kind of hate proofreading, but I did give it a once over. I kind of got the inspiration for this story from Adele's song "Someone Like you" (Hence the title).
I do not own Skins or any of the characters.
I have always been pretty confident in front of people, especially when debating. I always felt like court cases were just big debates about beliefs, some backed by fact and others by simple opinions. Maybe that is taking the whole justice system really lightly, but I don't know, it helps me get up in front of a jury. It's my version of picturing people naked, I suppose. So I regularly get up to debate big corporate companies about their awful environmental policies, I know mum is so proud. I've been at it for what, I guess about 6 years now. Wow, I feel rather old saying that number out loud. Anyway, other than my 'debates', I live in a little flat over by the west end with my adorable Australian shepherd, Maggie and my old college friend Effy. I know, I may be a little old for roommates, but we started living together during uni and just never really stopped. So work, my dog and my roommate. That pretty much sums up my life. My girlfriend Rebecca left me a couple months back.
We got together in law school. I was impressed I stayed in for 7 years. However, she was not impressed that after 7 years I still didn't want to get married… or civil unionized. Marriage just wasn't my thing. Why the hell did we need a piece of paper or a ceremony to let everyone know we were together. Everyone knew, and weddings were just a waste of money. I'd rather just throw a random house party. Sadly, Becca was one of those "I have dreamed of my wedding day since I was five" kind of ladies, so no ring, no Becca. Oh well, her cat Rick, was always bothering Maggie anyway.
Ok, I was heartbroken for a while. I mean 7 years is a long time of waking up next to the same person. And now, I just woke up to Maggie wanting to be fed. I know you are probably thinking that I must be pretty heartless and have never had passion in my life, well you're wrong. There was one girl. But that was a long time ago, and I fucked it up. So no happily ever after for Naomi. Nope, just Maggie and elusive Effy. Not a bad way to spend your life in my opinion.
But of course things are never simple. If they were I wouldn't be writing any of this down, because what wanker would want to read about how I always have blueberry yogurt and garibaldi's for breakfast and can remember all of my cases back to my first one at 22. That would bore the fuck out of me, so I am only writing because something of interest actually happened in my life. I am not saying that I didn't like the life I lived, I just know it wasn't Coronation Street writing material. That was until she came back into my life. (note to self, send this over to the writers of Corrie, they might like it.). If it didn't happened to me, I would have sworn someone had stolen the scene from a fucking movie.
I was standing in the local coffee shop, my favorite in town, on Saturday morning, waiting for my tea and flipping through a magazine when I heard someone call my name. Red. It was all I saw, hell it was really all I had been seeing for 9 years, but I wouldn't have admitted it then.
"Naomi, fucking Campbell." She was standing there in a short black skirt, grey leggings and a cute v-neck top, with rather awesome boots. She looked good. Time had been oh so kind to her.
"Emily fucking Fitch." She enveloped me in a hug. Now this could have been my memory playing dirty, dirty tricks on me, but I could have sworn she smelled the fucking same as she did nine years ago. I shook the thought from my head, I couldn't have possibly remembered a bloody scent from almost a decade ago.
"How the hell are you? It's been ages!" she pulled away from the hug and gave me the once over. This was my Saturday morning so I was just in skinny jeans and a loose top. I normally didn't get dressed up for anyone, certainly not the coffee people down the street.
"I have been great, and yourself."
"Quite wonderful, are you here long? We should sit and catch up. I have half an hour before I have to be anywhere." Catch up? For some reason this sounded like a great idea at the time. Looking back on it, I really wished I had declined and run in the opposite direction, because then all the balance would be restored in my life and I could just go on living it without having to think of her. Ok, that's a lie. I would have thought about her, but she would have been just memories… it was better that way.
"Sure, let's grab a table." We found one over by the window and sat across from each other.
"You look great! So what have you been doing in London, here on business, pleasure or do you live in this grand city?" Naomi laughed. Emily still chatted a lot.
"I live here, I have since I graduated law school."
"Wow law school! Didn't see that one come." She chuckled.
"And what brings you here Miss Fitch?" I smiled at her. It was quite wonderful to see her again. I would always catch myself wondering how she was doing and what she ended up doing with her life.
"Actually its, Mrs. O'Connor." You know, you would think my stomach would have dropped, or I would have felt something when the woman who still occupied my thoughts on a daily basis told me she was married, but it didn't bother me one bit, I suppose because I had kind of expected it.
"O'Connor yeah? An Irishman… Irishwoman?" Who knows, maybe I was an exception.
"Woman. We moved to London for her job, she works for Campton Industries." Where had I heard that name before. It sounded really familiar. Definitely wasn't a case, I would have remembered it. Odd.
"Well congratulations. I know its probably a bit late, but I am happy for you." Emily had always deserved someone who was wonderful. I was not that someone, I was a fucking twat in college, but I was also 17, and now I am 27 years old, so I have changed, mostly.
"So sugar mama or are you going to find something to occupy your time here?"
"It's funny. Anya bought this place for me to run." What? My favorite coffee shop in all of London and my ex girlfriend was going to own it? Are you fucking kidding me. For Fuck sakes universe, what the hell are you pulling?
"Wow, that's wonderful! I expect it to stay the same though, its my favorite place in all of London." I smiled at her. Trying to hide any uncomfortableness at the fact that I was wondering if I could find another shop to hide in.
"I won't change much, I really like it here. It was Anya's way of apologizing for having to sell my bakery in Bristol to move here."
"Bakery? Well you have done well for yourself, wealthy lady, owning your own businesses. I am impressed." Emily blushed slightly. She was cute when she blushed.
"I have tried, well not for the wife, but for the business. So what do you do in London? A lawyer I am assuming, let me guess… you are some kind of lawyer that persecutes corporations…" She laughed.
"Wow, I guess I haven't changed that much have I." She laughed again, louder.
"Actually, I googled you before I moved here. I was curious to see if you still lived around the town. A bunch of law articles came up so I read some of them, sort of stalkerish, but oh well." Humm, Emily researching me… interesting. I would tuck this little tidbit of info in the back of my brain for later use.
"A bit creepy, but I forgive you. You won't guess who I live with." She paused and thought for a moment.
"Well, by process of elimination I would say either JJ or Effy since they are the only two still in London I believe. And knowing you, well having known you before I would have to say Effy seems to be a better fit."
"Sure you didn't get a criminal justice degree, Ems?" Wow… that nickname rolled right off my tongue. Weird how that happens even after so much time has passed.
"So… You know I am all married and such, what about you Naoms, anyone special?" She smirked when she used my old nickname.
"No one currently… my ex of several years packed her bags a couple months back." The saddness in my own voice surprised me. Did I miss more than just a body next to me at night?
"Her? Interesting…." She trailed off. And if you must know, she was surprised because about a decade ago I ran from her, not accepting the fact that I liked girls.
"Yeah, I sort of came to terms with all that stuff in university… after… well.. Lets just say it was a major wake-up call." I shifted in my seat. In my mind, and dreams even, I've had this conversation with Emily. I knew all of the things I wanted to tell her if and when we ever saw each other again, yet now, none of that was coming out. I sounded so fucking badass in my head, but in reality I was just a plain tit.
"And you didn't tell me this why?" Was that anger I sensed in her voice… surely not after years of not speaking.
"Well you did say something to the effect of.. "Fuck off Naomi, I never want to hear from you again. I just kept my word. Figured I could at least give you that."
She paused for a minute, and I have to be honest, I wasn't sure if she was going to slap me or hug me. I didn't really want either to be honest. This whole situation was still way too weird for me.
"Fair enough. Well I have to run, meeting Anya for lunch. I am sure we will bump into each other, since this is your favorite coffee shop." she smirked at me. Why did she have to be so cute. Fuck her.
"Only if I get a free pastry." I smiled. She returned the pleasantry. "Later."
"Later, Naomi."
That's right, things start to get interesting when you bump into old flames. Not sure why, especially after a decade there should definitely be no residual feelings right? Of course. But you can be damn sure I am not going anywhere near that bakery. There was a point in my life where all I wanted to do was run into Emily Fitch, Sorry… O'Connor. But that point had come and gone a long time ago.