Ok it is getting extremely wet and windy here and I hate wind so I thought I would post this before I plan on going to hide under my duvet even if it only 5pm. I am really not sure about this chapter, I have read it through a few times and have just decided to post it anyway so I hope it is in actual fact ok, time will tell. There are parts from both points of view but we get more of an insight into what Naomi is thinking, oh and welcome Effy into the story, can she talk any sense into our Naomi...

I would like to thank everyone for your reviews so far and for adding this to your alerts and favourites, I really do love reading what you think, I am enjoying writing this but parts of it are proving to be hard to write.


Chapter Three

Naomi

A week had passed and Emily had still barely left her bedroom, mum went in numerous times a day to see how she was, I know she was growing increasingly worried day by day especially as every night Emily woke up screaming from one nightmare after another, something really was tormenting her and upsetting her and she still wasn't opening up.

I was lying in bed after another disturbed night's sleep, I knew that would normally make me cranky but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to be mad I knew she couldn't help it and I also knew she wouldn't want them to be happening, I knew she just wanted everything to go away. I could hear Emily sobbing again through the wall and decided it was time to drag myself out of bed, don't get me wrong I love the summer holidays as it means I can lie around in bed or do exactly what I want but it also gets boring, I seriously cannot wait for Effy to be back from her holiday.

I made my way downstairs in a search for coffee; it was always a must in a morning however late it was in a morning. I found mum in the kitchen as usual in her usual chirpy mood, I know she was trying to hide her worry about Emily from me "Morning love, I'm just making some lunch for Emily and I, would you like some?"

I smiled "That would be great, thanks mum." I paused "She's crying up there again I could hear her through the wall."

Her face dropped and I could see the concern creep back into her eyes "I wish she would open up so I could try and help her." She paused and turned the cooker off before turning her attention back to me "Naomi love do you think you could possibly talk to her, she might open up to you."

I shook my head "I don't think so mum, I don't want to get involved and anyway she thinks I don't like her so why would she even talk to me."

Mum looked disappointed and that is always worse than when she is angry, I could even hear the disappointment in her voice however much she tried to hide it "It's ok love it was just a thought you know with you being about the same age she might relate to you more than me. Honestly though it's ok I'm sure she will talk to me in her own time."

The doorbell rang giving me my escape from this conversation "I'll get it." I started to walk away but turned back briefly feeling a little guilty "I'll think about it mum."

She smiled "Thanks love."

I knew I had just cheered her up a bit with the whole situation as I continued on my way to open the door. I opened it up to see Effy stood on my doorstep, I couldn't help but smile it was so fucking good to see her. I moved aside so she could come inside and we went into the lounge, mum popped her head out the kitchen "Oh hello Effy love, it's good to see you, did you have a good holiday?"

Effy smiled "Hi Gina, yeah it was good but now I want to hear all about this girl you've taken in, Emily is it?"

Mums face dropped "She told you then."

Effy glanced at me before turning back to mum "Yeah she mentioned it in a text well a couple of texts; I'm actually beginning to think your daughter might actually have a heart."

I smacked her on the arm as mum laughed "Time will tell Effy love, time will tell." I glared at the both before mum turned back to go to the kitchen calling back over her shoulder "You want lunch Effy?"

Effy smiled "That would be great thanks Gina."

Mum went back to making lunch as I made Eff and I a coffee "Mum do you mind if Eff and I have lunch upstairs we have a lot to catch up on."

Mum smiled "That's fine love I'll bring it up to you both when I take Emily hers."

I returned her smile "Thanks mum."


I put some music on in my room before flopping back onto my bed next to Effy "So how was the holiday really?"

She laughed next to me "It wasn't as bad as it fucking could have been but you know my parents. I found my ways of escaping and they usually involved hot Italian men." I couldn't help but laugh that definitely sounded like Effy "Anyway enough about me I want to know more about what's been going on here."

I took a deep breath "There's not much to tell really mum found her and took her in, she was covered in cuts and bruises, looked absolutely exhausted and was starving."

Effy sighed next to me "Sounds like she's been through something pretty rough."

I nodded "Yeah, she's not really come out of her room since she got here, she keeps herself to herself but has these nightmares, every night she wakes up screaming the place down crying her eyes out. I know mum is really worried about her but Emily won't open up to her. Mum wants me to try talking to her but I don't want to get involved in any of it I told mum that from the beginning and anyway I don't see what fucking good I can do." I paused "She thinks I don't like her anyway I heard her telling mum."

Effy moved onto her side propping herself up on her elbow "Naomi you're my best friend and I love you but you can be a complete bitch at times, have you actually ever given the poor girl any reason to think you like her."

I didn't even need to think before answering that, I shook my head "You have a good point I've not exactly been too fucking friendly towards her."

Effy rolled her eyes "That sounds like the Naomi we all know but honestly maybe you should try talking to her she sounds like she needs someone."

I snapped fed up with feeling pressured "You go talk to her then."

Effy glared at me "It's not me that has been living with her for the past week and a bit, she doesn't even fucking know who I am, just give it a go Naomi you never know what might happen she might actually open up to you. All I know is that I would like to think someone would help me if it was me in that situation. As you know I've run away a few times in the past and sleeping rough is not fun at all, it's a big bad world out there and it sounds like she had a shit time and a fucking shit time at that. Everybody has a story Naomi and they will tell it to someone."

She really had her ways of making me think and bringing me crashing back to Earth with a bang, I uttered quietly "Ok I'll think about it."

We were both distracted by a knock on the door, I got up to open it, mum smiled at me "I've got your lunch love."

I took the two plates from her "Thanks mum it looks great."

She smiled "You're welcome love, anyway I will leave you both to it I'm going to take this to Emily."

I felt Effy nudge me from behind, I never have worked out how that girl moved so quickly but quietly at the same time but I took the hint "Mum wait." She turned back to look at me "I'll do it."

Mum smiled and passed me the plate and I moved towards Emily's bedroom door. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I heard mum talking to Effy "Thanks love I don't know what you said to her but it seems to have worked."


Emily

There was a light tap on my door I looked at the clock on my wall and assumed it would be Gina bringing me some lunch, she really was looking after me. I quickly wiped the tears away from my eyes I wish I could fucking stop crying, I would have thought I would have run out of tears by now I've shed so fucking many. I walked over and opened the door and was surprised to see Naomi standing in front of me. I wiped another tear away and spoke quietly "Urm hi."

She smiled slightly but I could see she was nervous "Hi, I urm, urm just brought you some lunch."

I couldn't help but smile a little "Thanks." I took the tray from her "I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing now."

I was about to close the door again but Naomi stopped me "I, I was wondering if we could talk a minute."

She surprised me again she hadn't wanted anything to do with me so far so why did she suddenly want to talk now, I moved aside giving her to go ahead to come in. She stepped in tentatively and could see just how nervous she was. I sat on the edge of the bed and lightly tapped the mattress next to me "You can sit down you know."

She moved to sit down thankfully leaving some space between us I wasn't ready to have anyone to close to me just yet even though I knew Naomi wouldn't hurt me. I took a deep breath "Your mum has put you up to this hasn't she."

Naomi looked down to the floor and muttered "Yeah I guess."

I sighed "It's ok you don't need to do this, I'm ok really."

She lifted her head and I just assumed she would get up and leave but she didn't instead she looked directly at me and I know this was not really the time but I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was and her eyes, I think I could get lost in them forever. She quickly brought me back to the here and now "You're not ok though are you, I hear you crying through the wall, you are having nightmares every night and it doesn't take a genius to work out you have been through something and eventually you need to talk to someone about it so I am hoping you might talk to me. Mum is really worried about you and I don't like seeing her worried like this and I know you think I don't like you but that is not the case I am worried about you too, just don't repeat that to anyone I have a reputation to uphold."

I couldn't help but laugh a little "I will keep it between you and I and I will keep in mind what you have just said but seriously at the moment I am just not ready."

She smiled slightly and stood up "I will leave you to your lunch then just remember Emily you need to talk to someone and you need to do it soon before it continues to eat you up inside."


She closed the door behind her when she left leaving me alone once more, I was so fucking annoyed with myself I knew what Naomi had said was true but all my barriers came crashing back up around me and it was like my whole body went into shutdown and once again I felt like I was drowning in my emotions. I had to stop all of this from ruining the rest of my life.

After an hour of debating with myself as I ate my lunch I found myself hovering outside Naomi's bedroom. I took a deep breath and before I could change my mind I lightly tapped on the door. She opened it quickly and I could tell she was surprised; I smiled slightly suddenly feeling extremely nervous "I was wondering if we could talk."

Now she looked even more surprised "Urm yeah, it's just."

She was cut off by a taller brunette behind her "It's ok Naomi I'm going to head off, you talk to Emily." The brunette then turned to me "As Naomi here isn't going to remember her manners I'm Effy Naomi's best mate for my sins."

I shook her hand and smiled "Nice to meet you but don't leave on my account I can do this later."

Effy shook her head "No it's ok it's time I got on and I can just imagine how hard it was for you to knock on that door in the first place." She turned to Naomi "Be nice."

Naomi smacked her playfully as she shot out the door leaving me standing opposite the blonde. She smiled a little and moved aside letting me into her room closing the door behind us. I knew there was no going back now I knew we had to start somewhere.