This chapter took me ages, and I'm kinda living in constant fear that you guys finally figure out how shit I am and move on. Again, my deep gratitude to those who reviewed or will do in the past and in the future. Please keep me writing
Disclainmer: If I owned skins, Cook's black forest gateau would actually LOOK like a black forest gateau, the one with a chocolate wood cutter's hut on top.
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Sometimes she reminded me of a caged animal.
The day passed like a blur since that weird Pandora incident. Cook was delighted that another fit girl joined our party, Katie's slightly pissed, Effy couldn't care less. But all of us probably thought at one point "How the fuck did that happen?".
Naomi was pretty much the lone wolf, kept things for herself, never hang out with anybody, too smart even for the teachers, yet rarely spoke in class. She wasn't like Effy-who acted just as quiet and reserved-though in a way they were both loners, that's for sure. The difference was, Effy's darkness seemed to come from the inside, like a state of being, glooming around the brunette. She accepted it, wore it like a skin. She poked around, teasing people, danced her devil little way through life. She mingled well, I guessed, but never got too close.
Naomi, for some reason, seemed more or less force to be shelled up. Katie would definitely thought I went mental or something, being so sure about a girl I hadn't had a decent conversation with. But I saw her, she looked trapped, she looked lonely, I did not think she liked it, and I did not think she knew herself.
She sorta avoided us during lunch break, fortunately we had English class together at the end of the day, so once the bell rang, I took the opportunity and went straight to her desk.
"So, see you at eight?"
"Um, yeah" she replied, absentmindedly
"You know the place right?" I asked, she looked at me, then scratched her head. Jesus, this girl. "No worry, I'll write it down for you" I grabbed a pen and paper from my bag, scribbled down some directions. Wait, there's a better idea "Or if you want, I can come over and pick you up, save you the search" I looked at her as honest as I could, using my utmost normal tone "I mean, Bristol isn't exactly known for its reliable bus service, and I don't mind"
"Right" she answered sceptically, looking unsure. Shit Emily, do something
"Well, and that would certainly give me a reason to avoid going together with Katie. That disgusting football boyfriend of her volunteered to take us there tonight, I'm not really keen on seeing his hands all over her tits…while driving" I blurted out. It wasn't far from the truth, and I must have done something right, as Naomi giggled and laughed. I soon chimed in, because honestly, the image of Katie and Danny together was THAT yucky, and the sight of Naomi laughing, too beautiful to not enjoyed.
"Not everyday I get to save a damsel from Danny-distress" she joked, flipped over the piece of paper I'd given her and started writing down her address "Hope you can find my house. Just… look for lots of screaming and naked Jesus" Huh? "Well, never mind" she shook her head, gave me back the paper. I looked at it, then at her. Now or never, Emily Fitch. I tore the unwritten half of the paper apart, tucked her address safely in my bag, and quickly wrote down my mobile number on the other one. "In case something happen" I said, folded the paper and placed it in her hand. Our fingers touched, it was nice, it was exciting, and a bit scary.
The last thing I remembered after I said "Bye" and dashed out of the room, was how light my feet were, every step I took was one step closer to flying.
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"You did what?" Katie screamed. Bloody Hell. I knew we're twins but where she got that voice was beyond me.
"I was just being nice, that's all." I said defensively "It's her first time, at a club, with us. So I offered. Wouldn't you want to be alone with Danny in any case"
Katie stayed silent. Wait, that's odd. A strange look flashed across her face, suddenly she snapped "So that's what this is about isn't it? Just because I have a fit boyfriend.."
Oh for the love of Pete
"No Katie, this isn't about you and Danny" I rolled my eyes, took another skirt out of my wardrobe. 'Wonder if it fits my purple top' "Can't I have somebody remotely normal to be friend with? I mean, JJ's nice, but he's a lot of work. Cook just wants to get in my pants, Effy's plain odd, and Fred is just so passive aggressive" I pulled out a pair of black jean. 'It could do'. I eyed my top on the bed, but found Katie sitting there instead. "Hey!" I came over and yanked it free from her bum.
"You seem pretty work up over what to wear, for a friend" Katie emphasised on the last word. Shit! Am I that obvious?
"First impression is all. Harmless" I managed, fetching my jean and escaped to the bathroom as fast as I could. Never felt like dressing in front of Katie, wasn't gonna start now. Once finished I rushed back into our room, grabbed my bag and ran out of the house in record time. When I made it to the street, I heard Katie yelling from the window "That Campbell girl is not normal you know? There's something fishy about her"
Whatever! I decided to walk instead of taking a bus. Naomi actually lived quite near by, though of course I didn't know that until today. In fact, when I thought about it, I did not know lots of things about her. What Katie said crept back to me. I knew Naomi's hiding something. For instant, I would never believe Pandora forgot Naomi's name out of a flimsy excuse such as memory lost. How could you forget something like Naomi Campbell? The boys seemed to buy it, but I didn't, Katie thought the same; and in that case, hell would have frozen over if Effy hadn't spotted it before us. Fuck. And here I believed that getting to know Naomi was simple.
I tucked that thought away once I reached her house. Nice. It looked homely enough, there's also a garden. I walked closer, and after a few knocks the door flung open.
"Hello love" A man said…. A man who's naked, completely naked. Grinning at me.
"Are you Jesus?" Wait a minute Emily, where did that come from. Just when I was about to correct myself, the naked guy roared "Jesus, someone's looking for you" What. The. Fuck. I was immediately pushed inside the house, which was a much bigger mess than it appeared from the outside. People. People everywhere. I started to panic, "Naomi" I yelled the only thing I could think of at the moment "Naomi" "Naomi"
I felt someone grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the door. It was indeed my tall goddess, Thank fuck for that. I looked at her gratefully while gathering my breath between walks. "It's…" I gazed back at her little place, unsure about what to comment.
"Insane, I know" She finished my sentence "Mother is such a fucking hippy. Bringing nutters home like stray cats. Just keep piling up. Get on my nerve, that silly cow" She kicked a rock on the pavement, rather angrily. I watched as the poor thing hit the wall near by and stumbled on. In a normal situation I would say Naomi was being rude to her mother, but this was just surreal. "Is this the part where I suppose to tell you that I'd love to meet her one day?" I joked, trying to ease the tension.
She looked at me, in a somewhat unbelieving kind of way, then broke down with laughter. For a few second there she appeared genuinely happy, widespread smile and twinkling eyes. I couldn't help but marvelled at how beautiful she looked. I wanted to see her like this more often, i decided.
"For your sake I hope you'll never meet her. Ever" she sighed "Mum wasn't always like this" Naomi said, mostly to herself. It surprised the hell out of me, hearing her tackling personal drama, so I said nothing, silently encouraged her to go on.
No such luck
I didn't know what to say next, wouldn't want to push, and Naomi just stopped speaking altogether. I had no choice but turned to the more practical option. "Bus stop's this way" I directed her. It's just getting plain awkward suddenly. "That Campbell girl is not normal you know? There's something fishy about her" Katie words echoed in my ears. I wanted to know more about her so badly, what happened in her past? What was her name, if not Naomi Campbell? What made her become such an unhappy person, a lonely person? I sneakily stole a glance at her, and what I saw made my heart sank.
She's standing at the bus stop, arms folded. She had a look-that on the surface-screamed "Leave me alone", yet after that many years watching her from afar, I knew better. She's scare, scare and utterly afraid. Thinking back about this morning's events and Pandora, I suddenly understood why. People loved to pry, that's what they do, from countless celebrity gossip mags to small town school drama. The only way to shield yourself away from it was to not get involved. Naomi had lived her life exactly that, not caring much about stuff, then Panda blazed in, forced her to reveal bits and pieces that she wouldn't like anyone to know. Now, the prospect of things like friends scared the shit out of her, because of its sharing nature.
Human being, I guessed, was just a little selfish sometimes, with our curiosity
And may be getting to know Naomi was simple, after all.
"You know, it's best that way" I said, smiling. She looked at me, surprise and a bit confused "I wouldn't want you to meet my family either. Katie's a bitch. But trust me when I tell you that she's actually an improved version of our mum"
"Really?" Naomi asked, clearly interested
"Yeah, and I have no clue where our little bastard of a brother come from. Pervert is what he is. Katie and i used to think that there must be some sort of mix up at the hospital" I laughed. Naomi's mouth curled into a small smile, her body relax. I couldn't help but felt a bit proud at my achievement. She trailed her eyes to my left arm, asked suddenly "You hurt there?"
Huh? What?
I looked down, Fuck, it was the spot where she grabbed me before, to dragged me out of her house. Her hand no longer there, and it didn't hurt, but I had been caressing it, in a freaky, subconscious kinda way. Shit Shit Shit
"Oh, the bus's here" Naomi pointed, somehow saved me from embarrassment.
Right, there's a party to go to. We stepped on the bus together. I kept my two hands apart now, but the spot on my left arm kept burning.
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I know it's frustrated to be kept in the dark about Naomi's past. But for the relationship to progress Emily needs to be patient and a little bit generous (hard thing to do, but emzy is great is she not?). I hope you guys are not mad at me.
On that note, weeks ago some clumsy chef thought it would be a great idea to smashed my fingers against the heavy kitchen door. Though the nails are still unrecognisable (eww, I know) but I healed now and will be whisked back to the steamy hot kitchen tomorrow. But I won't drop writing if you keep reading and wanting more.
