Past Present
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Pairing: Skins, Katie/Effy
Rating: M
Author's Notes: Inspired by all the great Keffy fics out there. Feedback would be manna. Volunteer beta readers needed, please drop me a message.
Gratitude Alert: Thank you to FanofTV, n, untraceable17, Ryoko05, KEFFYshipper, and the shy ones . Please keep your comments coming!
Chapter notes: This is a short one. RL is giving me a bit of down time so hopefully I can update soon.
Chapter 2
She rang the bell again. Effy ran a hand through her hair, still the wild mane it was since Roundview.
Drugs. Drugs are bad. Drugs are baaaad. The only lucid part of Katie's brain was a teeny, fading voice repeating that refrain.
She opened the door and was slightly pleased to see an almost scared expression on Effy's face. And because she's out of practice, with alcohol and everything else, her mouth was miles ahead of her brain.
"Effy. It's been so long since we've seen each other. And why the fuck did you feel compelled to fucking change that?"
Effy silently handed Katie her coat. "May I come in?"
This was the bitch who cracked her head open and shagged her boyfriend. This was also the woman who survived three gunshot wounds inflicted by a drug-crazed monster who abused his own flesh and blood. Elizabeth Holden is trying to make things right for so many people, including her daughter, all despite her own crappy upbringing. The Fitch household may be rightfully called the Fighting Fitches but nothing could compare to the dysfunction of the Stonems.
You know one of those situations when you remember something, some snide something someone said and you wanted to retort something that would make them shut their face for a good long while? And how you come up with the perfect reply long after the moment? This is one of those moments. But hell, it's my fucking moment and I'm taking it. Oh my lord, I'm hungry. I hope I still have crisps lying around somewhere …"You are so wrong, you know." Katie blinked a couple of times before continuing. "I do not look well, Elizabeth. I look HAWT." Ha! Catty remark delivered, witty repartee done. Crisps still wanted, though.
Effy's lips curled into a smile. "Loads better without the animal print, Katie. ."
Katie opened the door and gestured for her to walk in. Effy was wearing a skirt, a full skirt. She was still skinny, and Katie was glad for the baby fat that finally left her alone.
"Anything to drink, or you know, have? I mean you hungry? I'm fucking famished, yeah?"
Effy looked on with amusement at the floundering, high Katie. "Maybe tea? For both of us?"
"Oh, hell. Do you not drink now, as well?"
"I still do. Just not as often as we did. And I drove here."
"Heh. No one should drink as often as we did." Katie put the kettle on and settled two mugs on her counter, while Effy followed her to the kitchen, partly out of concern and partly because, well, this version of Katie was cute. A question popped into her head. "How the hell did you know where I live?"
"Adrian. I told him I wanted to send you some flowers to thank you for your work."
"Men still lining up to do your bidding then."
A hurt look passed Effy's face which she tried to cover up with a tight smile.
Katie sensed the change in the atmosphere. "I know you've changed. Or I think you've changed. From what I gather. On the internet. I'm just… you know, mind wrapping around…Eight years…. Long time and all."
"You've changed too, Katie, and you used to speak English fluently."
"Fuck off." Katie said, with some amusement at her situation. Here she is, playing hostess to Effy Stonem. "Did…I mean…you knew it was me when you sent me the proposal, right?"
"I did, yes."
"Why did you do it?"
"It seemed like a good excuse to reconnect."
"---my fist to your face?"
Effy smiled bitterly.
Katie watched her closely and when Effy met her eyes, the sadness there was palpable. And because the idea of losing Emily was enough to drive her insane, she said softly and sincerely, "Sorry about Tony."
"Thank you." Effy replied just as softly before sipping her tea.
"He was well fit."
Effy looked up suddenly at that and saw the Katie's eyes barely able to hide the joke behind her statement. She couldn't help but smile.
Katie leaned a bit forward and as deadpan as possible continued, "I really mean that."
The laughter they shared afterwards was so real it was as if they were young again.
"So how are Emily and Naomi?"
"Partnered. Still prone to disgusting displays of affection."
Effy smiled. "What about you Katie?"
"Between men, I'm afraid. They are just too much work. You?"
"More important commitments."
Katie waited for a few moments. When it was clear that Effy, being the same laconic, mysterious Effy, was not going to continue, she said, "Tonight, I was supposed to convince you to be the last person on the auction block. And now that your soap opera surprise is revealed," Katie looks at Effy who has a small smirk on her face, "I have pictures of you in your shirt-dresses to blackmail you with. So, you know. You are going." She finished off with her best attempt at bitch-face.
With a much bigger smirk, Effy replied, "Oh, you kept a picture of me?. Always thought there was something lesbionic about the friendship you were offering."
"IT was a group picture. And puhlease. If I am ever with a woman, her tits better be, well, better than all this," she said as she gestured at her chest.
"Hmmn." Effy looked Katie in the eyes, smirked, then started properly ogling Katie's breasts.
"Excuse me, if you keep looking at me like that, I will have to start charging you by the hour. And I don't think your still skinny self, you bitch, can handle this on top you."
"You just assume you'll be on top, then?" Effy kept smirking.
"I always am, babes."
Effy started laughing, and soon Katie joined in. "I don't know how this is possible, but I may have missed you, Katie."
"What do you mean you may have missed me? I'm unforgettable, bitch!"
