She felt like a teenager again. She was waiting awkwardly on a bench that faced a deserted part of the long stretch of beach as her stomach fluttered and flipped. She bit her lip, let her leg jitter and lit a cigarette. She felt considerably calmed within seconds and sighed deeply as she leaned into the bench more relaxed. A little too relaxed she thought with a silent chuckle as her eyes closed. With a long and wide yawn, she sat up and stretched out; beating her body's instinct to sleep.

"Tired?"

She looked over her shoulder and saw familiar bright hair shining in the sun. She shielded her eyes and smiled. "Slightly. Early start and all."

"It is quite early," Emily agreed as she sat beside the blonde.

Naomi couldn't help licking her lips. She cleared her throat and nodded. "Let's head to the water then," She smiled.

A little les enthusiastically, Emily nodded. She waited for Naomi to get up before following. She didn't know why she was there, why she had agreed or why she didn't just turn around then and there. She just couldn't.

"This part of the beach is really nice. No one ever goes and it isn't that deep either, surrounded by rocks and all. Pretty cool actually." Naomi stubbed out her cigarette as she led Emily to the isolated area.

"Cool," Emily repeated with a small laugh. Naomi glanced to her with a smile. As if she were 16 again, Emily's breathing hitched. She looked down at her hands as she followed.

Naomi began to climb over some rocks and looked behind to Emily. "Careful, yeah?"

"I'm not 12, Naomi."

She laughed, "I know, just don't want you getting hurt."

"How ironic," Emily mumbled.

Naomi stopped for a second before carrying on. Typical, Emily thought. She continued following though and took the time to look around. Naomi had been right, it was nice. The fact it was empty made it a little comforting too. The contrast of the sea and the sand was something Emily had always been attracted to. She was snapped out of her thoughts quickly when a hand appeared. She followed the arm to Naomi whose face was smiling warmly, waiting for her hand to be taken. She gripped onto it and took the last step down onto the warm sand. The soft hand in hers didn't leave, not right away anyway.

"Ready to swim?"

With a quick cough, Emily nodded. She watched Naomi as she lifted her shirt and turned quickly. She did the same before turning back around, thankful that Naomi had left her shorts on. She scowled to herself and shook her head. No, she didn't get to make her feel like that. Naomi didn't get to make her feel weak or stupid or anything. She hadn't noticed that the girl who was stood in front of her was now in the water. Naomi motioned for her to join and, cautiously, she stepped forward. It wasn't until her feet stood in the water that her body jittered. She was lying.

"I can't do this," She said. She turned and began heading back to her clothes but was stopped by someone grabbing her arm.

"Don't."

She didn't look up but shook her head. "No, I've got to go Naomi."

"Why?"

"Because I do, I just do for fucks sake."

The grip on her arm didn't loosen. Her eyes finally looked up and breathtakingly blue ones stared back at her. "You don't. Just, just stay for a bit. I said I'd help you."

She bit her bottom lip and after a few long pauses, nodded her head. She didn't say anything, she just nodded. Naomi let go of her arm and went back to the water silently. Following, Emily began to step into the water up until the point where her toes barely touched the floor. She watched as Naomi swam back to where she was.

"No further?"

Emily shook her head and bit her lip. Letting a chuckle escape, Naomi motioned for Emily to get into the water properly. When she didn't, Naomi frowned.

"So, what's wrong exactly?"

"Just an accident a few years ago. My arms fucked and... I don't know." Because she truthfully didn't.

Naomi nodded, "Well first off, take your feet of the floor," She laughed, "Otherwise this is pointless."

Her face scrunched but she did as Naomi asked.

"So it hurts when you use your arm?"

Emily nodded slowly. She still felt Naomi's hands on her waist and couldn't help but feel safe in her hold. Naomi smiled and began to walk back, still holding onto her, and let go so Emily's feet touched the floor properly.

"Maybe we better stay in shallower ends. Put your hands on my shoulders."

She lifted her hands and tentatively held onto the blonde. Her blush crept onto her face but she shook it off – that was until hands were on her waist again. Jesus, She thought mentally, Why am I doing this?

"Kick your legs," Naomi said with a smile.

She raised an eyebrow but did as Naomi said and began to kick her legs.

"So at least we know you can still use your legs," Naomi laughed. "That's the main part of swimming."

She swam around Emily so she was behind her. Unsure of what the blonde was doing, she turned and watched. With a reassuring smile, Naomi put her arms on top of the red heads, "Now kick your legs again."

She gulped but did as Naomi said. With her own hands, Naomi began moving Emily's.

"Does it hurt now?"

Feeling her chest tightening and her breathing speeding, Emily stayed silent.

"Emily?"

She bit her lip before replying, "I lied."

"About what?" Naomi asked, still behind her.

"About my arm. There's nothing wrong with it."

"Oh."

Emily got out of the water promptly and left the water. Naomi didn't leave as quickly and merely watched as the shorter girl collected her clothes and climbed back over the rocks. She glanced down at the water before sighing and sinking slowly into the sea.

"So how did it go with that girl?"

Naomi glanced briefly beside her and shrugged. The smoke from her mouth escaped as she answered, "Apparently she didn't need help. Her arm was fine."

Emma laughed, "What?"

"I don't know. I was helping her and then she just said how she was lying."

"Ha! She must think you're fucking hot."

"What? No," Naomi shook her head. "She's an old friend."

"Old friend?"

Naomi rolled her eyes and put the cigarette back to her mouth. It was taken as soon as it was place. She glared at the girl beside her as she smoked what had briefly been hers. With a sigh, she lit a new one and placed it back in her mouth, lighting it as she looked into the shop windows beside her. She looked back ahead to see Emma had continued walking.

"Wait up for fucks sake," She mumbled as she jogged back up to brunette. "Why are you in such a rush?"

"Shut up. Ex girlfriend."

Naomi looked around with a smirk on her face, "What? The infamous Jenny?"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Emma said through gritted teeth. "If she sees me- Shit. Hey Jenny."

The girl in front of them stood with a mean scowl on her face and her hands on her hips. "Emma," She said with a nod before looking over at Naomi.

"Naomi," Emma said, as Naomi extended her hand with an amused smile.

It was taken briefly before being let go as her hand returned to her hip. "So I didn't know you still lived here, I haven't seen you around here in a while."

"It's been like 6 months," Emma said.

"Yeah, that's nearly a year."

Naomi laughed unexpectedly before covering it up with a cough. Emma began to giggle beside her but stopped when Jenny narrowed her eyes.

"So is this your new girlfriend?"

Without any warning Emma nodded, "Yes."

"Well it would be lovely if you joined me and my new girlfriend for dinner tonight."

"That sounds superb. Where and when?"

Fiddling with her nails, Naomi sighed and smoked the rest of the cigarette before stubbing it out. What a lovely feeling it was to be used.

"Hurry the fuck up Naomi! I don't want to be late."

She pulled on her tights before pulling her shoes on. She glanced in the mirror and corrected the loose strand of hair that had fallen from the messy bun she had opted to, having become increasingly annoyed with her hair and just generally the entire evening. She picked up her bag from the bed before leaving the room and gaining an eye roll from the girl standing by the door impatiently.

"What took you so long?"

"Perfection can't be rushed," Naomi replied tiredly.

They hadn't been running late anyway Naomi realised. She hadn't listened to the times Jenny had given but it had become apparent they were early when the two were stood outside sharing a cigarette wordlessly.

"Hello," A voice came. Linked to Jenny's arm was a rather smug looking girl who gave a small wave before gesturing to the door. "Should we go in?"

"That would be helpful," Naomi muttered, earning a nudge from Emma.

They walked in and were sat at a rather central table. Naomi rolled her eyes as she looked around at the fancy walls and plants of the expensive restaurant. She hadn't questioned Emma on where it was but suddenly wished she had. She didn't suppose $10 would cover the price. She leaned over to Emma and whispered in her ear. "I didn't bring money."

"I'll pay and say we have a joint account," She whispered back.

Naomi leaned back in her seat as she scanned over the menu. She couldn't even understand what half the food was. She raised an eyebrow as she spotted the kids menu. She wondered if she-

"Don't order chicken nuggets," Emma whispered again.

"Oh-" She pouted. "What are you two ordering?" She asked the girls opposite nicely.

"I'm considering the-"

And all that was said following that went in one ear and out the other. Naomi nodded along and regretted the question because these girls couldn't half go on. She gave an odd 'mhmm' to seem interested and a few 'ah's' where seemed fitting.

Naomi smiled sweetly before looking back down at the menu. "I'm thinking steak. What about you darling?"

Emma looked up and shrugged, "I don't know. Same as you."

"We always have the same," Naomi smiled looking up at Jenny and the girl beside her. "We're just so alike. Soul mates, isn't that right Emsy?"

The brunette buried her head into her hands. Nothing was said and Naomi returned to scanning over the menu. She settled on steak and a glass of wine. She attempted to smile at Emma but was given a scowl and glare in return. She silently chuckled because she always did find an angry Emma to be funny.

"What do you mean there aren't any window tables? Why ask me what I want and tell me there aren't really any other options? You Americans. "

Naomi looked up and cursed, seeing none other than Jenna having an argument with an innocent waiter. The water she had only just taken a sip from caught in her throat and a spluttered cough erupted. She picked up a napkin and began to cover her mouth as more and more coughs escaped her mouth. A hard pat on the back came and she jolted forward.

"You alright now sweety?" Emma asked with a sarcastic smile.

Her eyes darted to the menu and used it as an affective shield from everyone else at the table as she gave sideway glances to the 1/5 of the Fitch family. It was then that, one by one, each Fitch were being led to a table located beside theirs.

"Shit," She mumbled. She twisted in her chair so her back was towards the table and she was facing Emma closely. Emma raised a questioning eyebrow to which Naomi widened her eyes expectantly. She moved her head slightly and indicated for Emma to look behind.

"That's Emily," Naomi whispered harshly.

A wide smile appeared on the brunettes face, "Oh this is too good. It's like the O.C.!"

"I know," Naomi shook her head. "What the fuck am I going to do?"

Emma shrugged before looking around for a waiter, still smiling as she did so. "Hi, yeah. Can we order? Uhm I'll have the steak."

Naomi cleared her throat, "Same please and a bottle of red wine if you don't mind. Any will do."

Jenny briefly rolled her eyes before giving her order and looking to the girl beside. "Charlie, what about you?"

Naomi smirked before drinking the rest of her water. When the waiter had gone she looked up at Charlie and smiled, "So is Charlie your real name?"

"Yes," She replied cautiously.

"It was pretty much set in stone then, wasn't it?"

Emma choked on her water with a laugh.

"What was?"

"Nothing," Naomi said shaking her head. She glanced beside her quickly and saw that the Fitch's were only just settling down properly. She averted her eyes quickly, spotting James Fitch looking up from his own menu. Shit, shit, She looked around the table for something to cover her face with since their menu's had been taken. She listened carefully to the table and nothing was mentioned about her.

"So, how's work been Jenny?"

Naomi looked up and remembered who she was at the restaurant with. She cleared her throat and willed her head to become involved with the conversation.

"It's been great."

"What do you work as?" Naomi asked with as much interest as she could.

"English teacher," Jenny said proudly.

She felt a little genuine interest and perked up. "How is that? I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger but I just never went forward with it. Got caught up a little, I suppose."

"It's quite good actually. Sometimes I get up and feel thrilled that I'm going to be teaching people new things and then there are morning where I wake up with about as much joy as a puppy in a Chinese buffet basement, y'know?"

Naomi chuckled, "Nice imagery."

A nudge came from beside her and she glanced to see Emma scowling. Apparently, she was being a little to civilised for Emma's liking. Naomi just shrugged and returned to the conversation. If Emma was going to use her like she was, Naomi was going to make the best of the evening out in a much too posh restaurant.

"What do you work as exactly?" Jenny asked.

"Work on the beach a lot. I'm mainly a life guard, sometimes I do the tours of the places around the beach and I work the bars sometimes. I'm hoping to open a cafe up soon though. If I would actually get off my lazy ass maybe I'd have it up and running by the end of the year, maybe even summer. A little too often though, I'm a puppy in a Chinese buffet basement."

They shared a quick laugh and while the conversation continued between all four of the girls, Naomi's ears tuned elsewhere for a brief second.

"What's wrong with Chinese buffet basements?"

She felt an urge to laugh but stopped realising who it was asking. She bit the inside of her cheek and continued listening.

"James, what an earth are you talking about?"

"Well, what's wrong with a puppy being there?"

A thick scouse accent chuckled back, "It's a long story son, but what makes you ask?"

"Naomi was just saying she was like a puppy in a Chinese buffet basement."

Oh for fucks sake, she thought. Shit, shit, shit. She turned briefly to Emma who was deep in conversation and suddenly felt like a fucking puppy in a battle field.

"Naomi?"

"Emily's Naomi," James clarified.

"She's here?"

Naomi knew James had pointed to where she was and attempted desperately to seem like she had no idea what was happening. She looked up at the waiter who was bringing their wine and thanked them before pouring herself and the rest of the table a glass and sipping at it quickly.

"Isn't that right Naomi?"

She looked up and swallowed the wine quickly before clearing her throat, "Sorry, what?"

"You've been living here for 3 years?"

"4 actually," She corrected.

"Oh, I didn't know that."

She shrugged, "Not much happened in the first year anyway."

Charlie looked up and, after sipping her drink, questioned Naomi, "Why, what did you do?"

"Nothing."

"You must have done something?"

"No," She said shaking her head. "I genuinely did nothing. I had everything planned, I knew exactly what I was going to do in my first year but the plans changed and my mind changed. I came here with nothing and I did nothing and I had nothing." Her voice cracked, "It was a very lonely year." And she temporarily forgot who she had come with and glanced to the table beside her to see Emily looking at her with sad eyes. They looked at each other for a few seconds before Naomi was brought back to the conversation at her table.

"What plans did you have?"

"Oh, you know, just stuff," She replied with a weak smile. "Doesn't matter now anyway, does it?"