I think I've been here for every Saturday for 3 months now and not once have I seen Naomi, this is the one place I thought I'd definitely never see her. I'm probably looking like a complete twat right now because I'm still holding the heat magazine in the reading position and she's converted her eyes to it.
'Any good?' she raises her eyebrow and nods towards the page I'm on 'what to wear' oh god could that be a any worse page to be reading in front of a girl who completely loves literature classics?
'Naomi' I repeat again ignoring her teasing question 'what are you doing here?' I slowly roll the magazine up and throw it onto the table in front of me; she notices my sudden blush of course.
She walks towards the seat next to me and I move my bag and she smiles and sits down, she hasn't answered my question yet... that's if she does answer, it's not like she has to? I mean who am I to even ask- fucking hell Emily you're acting like JJ calm down.
She must think I'm crazy right? I'm sat by myself in the middle of a psychiatric clinic... she must think I'm a patient god. I'm going to have to say something
I turn to face her about to assure her that I'm not fucking crazy and I see her face down rummaging through her bag, I open my mouth to speak when it suddenly hits me
Wait, what is she doing here?
She is sitting down... maybe she's got an appointment? Wow I knew she was mostly bitchy and people found it hard to socialise with her but I never really considered that she'd be seeing a psychiatrist.
'Ah-ha, found it' I snap from my thoughts when I hear Naomi making a victory sound and a colourful leaflet is thrown in my face.
I grab the corner of the leaflet and focus on its words... I then read the giant bold font stamped on the front 'Save the Bristol Crazies!' catchy I giggle to myself, there's also a picture of a group of people with one blonde woman leading them who looks scarily like an older version of Naomi.
Okay so a protest or something? I don't know I'm pretty confused so I face her and shrug. She grabs the leaflet still in my hand turning it to face me while prodding the older blondes face with her thumb.
'My mum...' she says waiting for my reaction and I just nod a long.
'She's a fucking loon, has this whole idea that letting people come into this place is just making them worse' she stops for a moment and scans my face
'so I' she gestures around the room 'was sent here to hand these to the receptionist, you know... as a kind of scary feminist warning' she smirks and I laugh, mainly at myself for thinking Naomi was in here to get help. Of course she doesn't need this. She's her own person
'Of course' I continue to laugh, I then put the leaflet at the side of her face and say smugly pointing to her mum and then back to Naomi
'Well Naoms she's beautiful, at least I know where you get your looks from now'
Okay there was like 19389 things wrong with what I've just said and only one thing right about it. First of all naoms, Emily really? What is this you're fucking pet name? And second of all I've just without making it too obvious called her beautiful, well I suppose there's nothing wrong with that because she is.
The definite right thing is that I've made her blush and look away. Bonus.
'I'll tell my mum you said' she jokes and I laugh.
We then fall into a comfortable silence, there's only me, Naomi and a half dead receptionist sitting in here so it's pretty quiet. I've also noticed Naomi hasn't left yet... she only had to see the receptionist right?
'So... why are you here?'
Oh yeah! Tell her you're not here to see someone Emily Jesus
'Oh hmm, JJ you remember him right? She nods 'well yeah, he see's people here to help him out and I come along and wait till his appointments finished because it helps him calm down' she takes it in.
'Well my mum wouldn't be happy with me talking to someone of a accomplice who use's these 'brain wash' clinics' she smiles at me then continues 'but that's really sweet of you Emily' she says sincerely in the cutest voice ever.
'Hmm so how long do you have to wait?'
I look at my watch and puff out my breath 'oh you know, just another hour and 40 minutes.
She laughs 'Jesus! How long does he need?' she starts 'well good job I'm here then em's...'
Hmm very good job indeed I think to myself and then I freeze when she says the end of her sentence
'You are officially invited to spend the next hour and...' she now looks at her watch '38 minutes with me in a very comfy coffee place down the road' oh my my my my god!
'ye-yeah... sounds good' I do a combination of smile and complete shock which she doesn't seem to notice.
***
We took the corner booth of the coffee place and she decided to order 2 black coffees which she insists I must try in this place because they are the best. Ordering for me, bossy I like it.
I must admit it does taste pretty amazing.
She currently teasing me about how into heat magazine I was and how violently I blushed when she caught me, so embarrassing but I laugh along with her because really it is pretty fucking funny.
'I had to even stop for a minute when I saw you sitting there, kept thinking it was Katie thinking she was in a boob job clinic instead' she says in-between laughs
'Ah god don't Naomi, we look completely different I mean she's pop music and I'm acoustic...'
I continue on comparing me and Katie, 'she's hair extensions and I'm books'
And now for the final one Katie is well known for 'she's 'the sexy one' and I'm...'
'The nice one that no one notices?'
Woah... she finished it for me. Bit harsh but yeah, she totally gets me. We both stay silent... I don't even try to look up at her, my eyes would be way too expressive and she'd run a fucking mile.
I suddenly feel really sorry for her, Naomi cares about things she isn't a cold hearted bitch. She cares about people and that's all just repressed because of people like Katie and stupid fucking year 9 rumours that made Katie the popular bitch she is today.
'Katie's a bitch Naomi... she has her moments but most of the time, she's just judging people'
I finally brave and look up to see Naomi looking at me with sudden interest... I think she's wondering why I'm telling her all this shit right.
'Year 9 when Katie spread all that shit I tried to stop her but-'
'Emily, I really don't care what Katie or any of them fucking twats think about me okay?'
She replies kind of harshly and I wonder maybe if bringing up the past has overstepped the line.
'and no, it's not like anyone even tried to stand up for me when everyone's to shit afraid of the all mighty Katie fucking Fitch right?' god she's practically scowling at me now.
'I mean it's just as typical of people as stupid as them to come up with the gay rumour right? Very original' she says, I bet she's had to say this for the past 4 years.
'I know I'm not gay so there rumour never fucking mattered as much as they thought it would'
Oh right. Not gay I forgot. We're friends... well, probably not even friends now.
'I better go, your friend JJ will be out soon' she doesn't even look at me
'Yeah thanks for coffee' I offer with a friendly tone
'Yeah...' she says... Then followed by the words she always seems to say 'see you round' before blankly walking off and acting like a stranger that's just bumped into me.
***
After I went back to get JJ, he walked me home and we said our goodbyes. At least he actually has some emotion when we depart unlike someone fucking else. Yeah I'm slightly pissed off at her, I only tried to make things better and then I got the stone cold I just don't give a fuck Naomi thrown back at me. Don't even know why I try... that's why me and JJ are close, people treat us like shit and we just smile and get on with it, well this fucking has to stop right now.
***
I walk in my room and Katie's spread out across her bed whilst painting her nails, she looks up and I get the most evil dagger of stares I've ever seen her give.
'Do you ever check your fucking phone?' oops 6 missed calls from Katie, how dare I not answer the phone to her.
I ignore her basically because she's a stubborn bitch and she was probably only ringing me to ask if I could pick her up some chocolate while I'm out.
'Or was you too busy out on your date with Naomi?' my head snaps to her so fast my neck could actually be broken
'W what are you talking about' I stutter
'Don't give me that shit Emily, I saw you two, the golden cafe, 12:30?'
'Katie I bumped into-'she doesn't let me finish my sentence obviously
'Listen yeah Emily, stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Her' she gets off the bed and takes a step towards me
'She's a proper weirdo and she's only gunna get your name thrown round the college with her, and you're like my sister yeah? And that would make me look so fucking bad it's unbelievable' oh typical
'All about you isn't it Katie?' I spit at her and before she answers I put her out of my misery
'And it wasn't a fucking date you twat, I was waiting for JJ and I bumped into her, we had coffee and that was it, we're not even friends! And I definitely probably won't be hanging with her again' well, it is true...
I'm going to take the back seat of mine and Naomi's little 'friendship' now. I'm sick of getting my hopes up when she's nice for a couple of hours then shut down the next when she decides its okay with her. But fine what the fuck ever, I'll stick with JJ, that way I won't get hurt.
'And she's not even fucking gay, so your rumour was complete bullshit' she's looking wide eyed at me, I don't think I've ever called Katie so many swear words in one sentence before
'AND YOUR NOT GAY EITHER SO WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH A BITCH ABOUT IT' she actually screams it in my face... she's so intimidating I'm nearly brought to tears when I quietly squeeze out my words.
'No, no I'm not gay.' I whisper rather defenceless
'I know you're not Emily, but not having a boyfriend and hanging out with a fucking mong isn't exactly doing anything to your reputation is it?'
'Kay, please leave him alone, I love JJ, and He's my best friend...'
'I know yeah Emily, okay sorry... he's sweet it's just I want you to be happy' she smiles and I return it briefly
She takes a deep breath 'anyway yeah, the gangs out tonight, me, you, Effs, panda and the boys... should be a laugh' she walks back to her bed 'you up for it?'
I take a deep breath and think, I could be pathetic and stay at home all night or I could go out and actually try and enjoy myself for once with my friends
'Yeah' she smiles... 'Should be fun' I say.