Disclaimer: I do not own skins or any of the characters.
A Loving Feeling – Chapter 2 – 7 Years Later
Emily
What the hell is that. I hate mornings when Naomi is energetic. As I try and get a few final minutes of sleep all I can feel is her jumping up and down on the bed. This is what happens when you move in with your best friend and realise there are no locks on the bedroom doors. To be fair though Naomi doesn't do this very often. Usually only on days which are classed a special occasion like birthdays, Christmas, the anniversary of us moving into the flat together, all that sort of stuff really.
"Emily. Emily it's time to get up. Don't make me have to steel the quilt."
Then I feel it. The slow insistent tugging at the end of the bed. I obviously try and keep hold of the blanket. Pulling it back up over my head as she tries but pull it from my grip. It's a pointless exercise as she is pulling in a slightly upwards angle and so the chilly morning air is still hitting my bare legs but I continue anyway just for the fun of it. Eventually she wins which was inevitable and jumps up on the bed next to me. She points to the bedside table.
"I made you breakfast birthday girl. Eat up, I've got bit plans for us today."
"Please don't tell me you've arranged another surprise party for me. I'm still recovering from last year" (In case your wondering last year Naomi thought it appropriate to throw a party. After my parents showed and the stripper started giving my mum a lap dance I have no idea what happened but I do remember waking up the day after and my head feeling like it had been hit repeatedly by a lead pipe)
"Not this year Hun. Just dinner with a couple of mates and your sister this evening. I even invited that girl from work I was telling you about. You know, the creepy exotic one that doesn't really say much."
"Effy?"
"Yea. I though she would be a good match for your sister. You know, with her never saying anything and Katie being able to talk for England."
"Well they do say opposites attract. When are we going out then."
"Were meeting at 19:00 so we should probably leave at around 18:30."
"If were not leaving until then, why exactly have you woken me up before lunchtime. I think I deserve a lie-in on my birthday at least."
"I though You might want to spend some of the day just hanging around with you best friend but if you rather lounge about in bed I can just go out by myself for the day even though you have been so busy we haven't spent time together for about 2 week."
"Oh god. Is it legal to guilt trip someone on there birthday." One look at her face and I knew that she knew she had won this one. I threw my legs over the end on the mattress and sat up. Looking at the breakfast she had made me I couldn't help but smile. It was a stack of pancakes and she had but a smiley face on them using the strawberries in our fridge. There was also a steaming cup of coffee which I was especially grateful for and a small not which simply said happy 23rd birthday from your best friend and had a picture of her smiling cheekily.
Once I had eaten the mountain of food Naomi had served I dashed into the bathroom for a quick shower. I didn't worry about washing my hair as I knew I would just have to do that later when I got ready for dinner. Once dressed I sprinted into the kitchen with my tray and hurried to was the pots before Naomi saw me doing housework on my birthday. She always declared it my one day off from playing housewife as she called it. Afterwards I walked to her room and knocked (a courtesy Naomi never gives me) on the door. After hearing a muffled come in through the door I entered. Naomi was sat in a chair in the corner reading whilst waiting for me. I loved reading Naomi, The black rimmed glasses she wore always made her look extra sexy in my opinion (Not that she knows that).
"Hey. Ready to go?"
"Yea sure Em. Just 2 secs to put my shoes on then I'm all yours."
We didn't really do much. Naomi took me bowling and then for ice cream in the park. We sat together and watched the other couples and families milling around. Both Naomi and I were single and had been for a few months now. It astounded me how she always turned down any offers she got. I never understand why she does that. So many handsome guys and girls vying for her attention but she doesn't seem to care. My excuse for being constantly single is simple. I am deeply in love with my best friend and to big of a coward to tell her.
When it reached 16:00 we headed back to the flat a started to get ready and before I knew it, we had to go. I walked out my room and came face to face with Naomi. God did she look stunning. She had opted for a knee length black dress which accentuated all her curves and some small black heels. I couldn't help dragging my eyes all over her body. When I finally reached her face I noticed she had that annoyingly smug smirk on her lips and when I reached her eyes I knew when. She has totally noticed me checking her out. She knew I was gay. I had come out to her just after I turned 18, but I had always been so careful to hide those types of looks from her. The ones that screamed all I want to do is jump you right now. She continued to look at me and her eyes screamed a thousand different emotions that I couldn't place. From what I could see though none of the screamed absolute disgust so I turned and headed for the door as if nothing had happened.
An hour later I was having a great time as I sat and had dinner with all my friends. I met Effy as soon as I was through the door and wasted no time in introducing her to Katie. They seemed to hit it off like a house on fire so I left them to it before heading back to Naomi. She was currently having a conversation with Cook, Freddie, JJ, and Thomas. She was so like one of the boys sometimes it was worrying. She always much preferred hanging with them then the girls of our group. Effy had brought her friend Pandora but apparently we were all to call her Panda. She was totally crazy and kept trying to get thomas' attention without any luck. When dinner came the individual conversations people had been having all seemed to mould into one. And the dinner ended when Panda feel asleep with her head on Thomas' shoulder. He helped Effy get her into the car before heading off with the other three boys in tow. Effy waved goodbye at us and offered a lift to Katie as well who accepted and gave me a quick hug and a happy birthday before heading off. With everyone gone Naomi and I started the walk back to our place. About 5 minutes in she grabbed my hand as if it was the most normal thing in the world for her to do.
"So did you have a good time then Em. Better then last year at least hey?."
"Much. Thank you Naomi. I had a great time. And I really think there was a spark between Katie and Effy. I won't let her know you set them up though."
"Yea cause if she found out I had arranged it she would probably dump Effy on the spot."
"She loves you really you know."
"I doubt that. Anyway, enough about Katie. Your birthdays not over yet and I still have your gift at home."
The Front came into sight and I could contain my excitement. I always tried to act grown up but everyone knew I was really just a big kid when it came to presents. I was always calm up until I was just about to receive one and them I would be bouncing on the spot. Exactly as I am doing now. Naomi opened the door but when I tried to step inside she stopped me and told me to wait on the doorstep. After a few minutes I was starting to get really impatient and was just about to reach for the handle when I herd what sounded like a motor behind me. I turned on the spot and saw Naomi coming out from the back of the building on an orange moped. She looked so cute in the matching orange helmet as she came to stop at the end of the path and climbed off. I just stood on the pathway as I stared at both the moped and her.
"Well?" She sounded a bit nervous and I assumed that had something to do with the fact that I hadn't said anything for a couple of minutes since she had come out. When I regained my motor-functions I ran forward and threw my arms around her neck. After a couple of seconds I felt her arms slowly come round my waist and we just stood like that for god knows how long. Her with her chin resting on the top of my head and me with my face buried in her neck. Eventually I pulled back just far enough to see her face.
"I absolutely love it Naomi. How did you even..." Now this is the part where things got a bit weird. Before I could stop myself I lent forward and placed my lips upon Naomi's. She wasn't expecting it and I certainly wasn't either. It lasted a few seconds before I pulled back from her and smiled bashfully. Then I ran. Straight into the flat and into my room. I changed into and t-shirt to sleep in and climbed under the covers. Listening to the sounds outside for a bit I heard Naomi but the moped round the back and then come into the flat. She stopped for a couple of seconds outside my door and I silently prayed that she wouldn't open the door. I let out the biggest sigh of my life when I heard her walk to her room across the hall. My last thought before I fell asleep was what they hell have I done.
