A/N: So here's one of those random updates I mentioned at the end of Changes, coming a lot sooner than I ever anticipated, but this story seems to have wormed its way into my subconscious and this scene appeared and wanted to be written. It's not necessarily my best work, and certainly not my longest chapter, but hopefully you'll like it anyway.

I just got back from a cruise yesterday and it's my hubby's bday today, so I'm off to celebrate with him and try to carry over the relaxation from the cruise. Hope you all enjoy your days just as much.

Thanks to FitchSwitch for the input. (Are you all reading 'What the Heart Sees'? No? WHY NOT? – Also, while I'm on the subject you should all check out my good friend Hypes's story 'The Bend in the Wave'. Both of those stories are just pure genius.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or the characters.

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Emily

It would have been better, she can't help thinking, if the girl from the pool hadn't sat next to her in their form classroom (or been in her form in general, for that matter). It would certainly have been better had she not started talking to her because then maybe Emily would have been able to stick with the haughty, cold (if incredibly hot looks-wise) version of the girl. Instead, she now knows that Naomi (she mouths the name, feeling the flow of it on her tongue) can actually be almost...charming. Clever, certainly (especially if her astute comments in class are anything to judge by). Observant as well, given that she'd realised she and Katie were related despite the hair dye (although that isn't necessarily a good thing). Kind of funny describes her, too, even if the stalker joke's already wearing thin (although Naomi did drop it when Emily'd shown her lack of amusement a second time).

It's just that now Emily can't stop thinking about her, even with Katie blabbering away across from her about some boy named Cook (odd name, really, Emily thinks) who's in her form as she picks at rather than eats her egg and cress sandwich. ("Eggs are too fattening, Ems. Have to look fit if I want to pull at a new school." – Emily doesn't bother pointing out that Katie's already got a boyfriend since she's all too aware that Katie's always on the lookout for her next, 'better' one.)

Her eyes trail across the canteen to the gorgeous blonde swimmer who's been in every one of her classes so far. She's sitting with the same girl who sat behind her in their form room. They seem to be matching each other smirk for smirk, an aloof atmosphere surrounding them, as if they're in on some joke about the rest of them.

Emily watches as Naomi throws back her head and laughs at something her friend said, exposing her long neck, her lips stretching back prettily to reveal a row of perfect white teeth. She's stunning, Emily thinks as a handsome if a little scruffy boy in a green polo shirt and chequered white and blue shorts approaches Naomi and her friend, carelessly throwing an arm around both of them and murmuring something in a low voice before shooting Naomi a cheeky smile.

Naomi rolls her eyes but grins back at the boy who has somewhat messy, sandy brown hair, and Emily feels her chest tighten instantly.

"Yeah! That's him, Ems! Paws off, though. I saw him first," Katie informs her from across the table, apparently having followed her gaze.

So that's Cook, Emily thinks, pursing her lips as she notes the way he leans in close to Naomi to say something before throwing his head back and howling in laughter.

Emily bites back her retort. Her sister has nothing to worry about. Even if she was interested in men, she can't see herself being interested in a guy like him. He has the air of someone who'd chase anything in a skirt. At least Katie shouldn't have to work too hard to get him interested. Why is Naomi friends with him, though? Or is he more to her? He's not good enough for her.

Emily shakes her head. She doesn't even know why the fuck she's thinking that. Who is she to judge who's good enough for Naomi? How can she even judge? She doesn't even know Naomi. Or Cook for that matter. She shouldn't care who either of them associate with in whatever capacity.

"What?" Katie asks, through a mouthful, apparently having forgotten that she was too busy attempting to look fit and had started eating.

"What do you mean what?" Emily shoots back.

"You got your grumpy face on," Katie elaborates.

Emily frowns. She didn't, did she? "It was nothing."

"Look, if it's about me being interested in Cook while I have a boyfriend, I don't need another fucking lecture from you about fidelity and responsibility and safe sex. I always use a condom, and it's a good idea to test the merchandise before you buy it, right? You wouldn't buy a car you hadn't test driven, right? Well I don't like committing to a guy who's shit in bed and doesn't know how to buy a girl a gift. Besides, a little harmless flirting doesn't hurt anyone."

Emily resists the urge to snort. Commitment is hardly her sister's issue. She can't remember a single boy who her sister has really, genuinely liked beyond seeing him as a status symbol on her arm. "Whatever you say, Katie," she mumbles instead, before polishing off the last of her sandwich.

"Who's that girl that Cook's with, then? Do you know them?" Katie asks.

"Which girl?" Emily replies, feeling her heart race just a bit, though she's not sure exactly why. (Well, maybe she is, but she's trying desperately to ignore it.)

"The one who's looking over here with a creepy smirk on her face," Katie says, nodding at the girl with a frown on her face.

Emily looks again, and she hates the way she feels slightly disappointed when it's Naomi's friend with the long brown hair and the barely there 'dress' that's more of a long shirt really and the smoky eye makeup. She is indeed staring at the both of them, her eyes intense and a small smirk on her lips. Emily has to admit that she looks the picture of cool and she's really pretty gorgeous herself. She and Naomi must rule the school with the way they're just so effortlessly themselves, exuding confidence and beauty. "Umm..." Emily fumbles through her memory to remember what the grouchy Irish teacher had called her. "She's got some weird name. Elfie or Effy or something, I think."

Katie lets out a sharp bark of laugh. "Elfie?"

Emily shakes her head. "No, I'm pretty sure it's Effy." Her eyes flick back to the girl and she bites her lip nervously when she sees that she's now leaning across Cook and whispering something to Naomi.

When Naomi's eyes flick up and look at her, she freezes. Fucking caught staring again. Good job, Ems. She barely even hears her sister still going on about what a weird name Effy is and why the girl might have been staring at her. She's trapped instead by the gaze of someone she barely knows. Someone with stunning blue eyes that feel like they're piercing through her right now.

Naomi raises an eyebrow, mutters something in reply to Effy, who smirks wider, then smiles a little herself, lifting one hand from beside her plate and giving a half wave.

Emily blushes deeply and turns her eyes back to her now empty packet of sandwiches.

She doesn't look back at Naomi's table at all, willing herself to listen to her sister drone on endlessly (her new topic: how her boyfriend didn't get her that necklace she'd hinted she really, really wanted, plus she'd seen him eyeing Melanie Montgomery's tits at the party last week, not that Emily had the foggiest idea of who that was). It's for this reason, that she's unaware that Naomi and Effy and Cook have gotten up from their table until they're walking past her own.

"Hey there, stalker," Naomi murmurs as she walks past, a smirk on her face when Emily looks up into it, but her tone had been playful, almost kind.

Still, so much for that joke being done (even if Emily is painfully aware she might have blown it by staring again). She finds herself blushing again.

"What'd you just say to my sister?" Katie demands, eyeing Naomi suspiciously.

"Katiekins! You know Naomio?" Cook cuts in, suitably distracting Katie, much to Emily's relief. "And, woah, there's two of you?" Cook adds, taking in Emily for the first time.

"We're twins," Katie replies with a coy smile, repositioning herself so that her cleavage is properly on display.

Emily's not blind to the way Cook's eyes dip to take it in appreciatively.

"Nice one." Cook grins at them.

Emily knows what he's thinking, but there will be no doubling of his pleasure.

"Cook. Fuck off. You're not getting a threesome," Effy says sharply, curious eyes flicking between Katie and Emily.

"Aww, come on, Ef. You can let a boy dream, you know," Cook whines.

Emily glances back up at Naomi and catches her rolling her eyes.

"Cook," Naomi says warningly.

Cook sighs dramatically. "Fine. Well, then, Katiekins. May I escort you to class?"

Katie blushes, and Emily represses a groan.

"Yes, thanks," she replies, standing and giving Emily a look that Emily is all too aware means 'you deal with my rubbish while I go off with the hot boy'.

"She seems really deep. Bet she doesn't do a lot of reading," Naomi mutters as Cook escorts Katie away.

Emily can't help feeling defensive. Katie may not be perfect, but she's not half as vapid as she comes across.

"Don't judge a book by its cover," Effy responds before Emily has a chance to reply.

"Really, Ef?" Naomi asks, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

Effy smirks back at her and Naomi shakes her head.

"Fuck you and your all-knowing ways, Ef," Naomi sighs, and Emily's under the distinct impression that Naomi's all but forgotten that she's still sitting there.

Effy smirks wider, and she looks back at Emily who can't help feeling even more uncomfortable by the second. Effy leans in and whispers something that Emily can't hear to Naomi before nodding to Emily and wandering off.

Naomi rolls her eyes then finally looks back at Emily. "Sorry. She's got this complex. She thinks she knows everything. Unfortunately, she's annoyingly accurate about most things."

Emily nods, her mouth feeling awfully dry of a sudden, and she's at a bit of a loss of what to say.

"So you're new, right? Where'd you move from?" Naomi asks, lingering by the table.

"Portsmouth," Emily replies, unsure of why Naomi's even bothering to ask. Why hasn't she simply followed Effy away?

Emily watches as Naomi opens and closes her mouth a few times, looking slightly awkward for the first time since Emily'd laid eyes on her.

"So, look, I didn't say this before, but sorry if I was a bit...harsh or whatever this morning. I just like getting my morning swim in," Naomi mumbles, looking to the side.

Emily nods, and she can't help thinking that Naomi doesn't exactly seem used to apologising. "You're really good," she offers, wishing immediately she could take it back. Sometimes her mouth decided to share things without her express consent, and this was one of those times.

Naomi, fortunately, lets out a small almost sheepish laugh. "I should hope so. I do it competitively."

"Really?" Emily asks, unable to help herself from being curious.

"For the Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club," Naomi confirms with a nod. "I'm part of their A Squad."

A Squad. The best one, Emily has no doubt.

"Intense practice schedule, but worth it," Naomi continues.

"So you have practice today?"

"I have practice every day except Saturday which is when most of our meets are," Naomi replies.

"But you've already swum today," Emily points out.

Naomi shakes her head. "That was nothing. Just a few laps to focus me on the days we don't have morning practices as well as evening ones."

Emily's vaguely aware that her mouth's hanging open, but seriously, wow. Emily's never had dedication like that to anything. She might be more of a morning person than Katie is, but she can't imagine specifically waking up for morning swims every school day.

"Right, well, we should get to class really," Naomi suggests as a bell rings out.

Emily nods, then realises, much to her surprise, that Naomi appears to be waiting for her. She stands a little too quickly, knocking her empty sandwich container to the floor and getting a bit of a head rush.

Naomi giggles. "All right, there?" she asks, sounding far too amused and making Emily blush again.

"Fine," Emily mumbles, quickly picking up her sandwich container and clearing up Katie's rubbish to throw away.

As she starts down the hallway, Naomi falling into step beside her, she can't help feeling a little surreal. This is not how she'd imagined her first day going. She's not sure, but she's cautiously optimistic that it's better.