Alright, here is chapter 4. Sorry it's short and a bit boring, but I thought it was necessary for the plotline. I've already written most of ch. 5, however I'm editing and trying to add more so that you guys can have a large, plentiful, and dramatic section to read next... so prepare yourselves. Thanks for all the love, keep it up!
Sometime during the third loop of the CD, I fell asleep. I awoke again and took in my surroundings. The trees whirred by and left a blurry sight in my window. It was limitless, the scenery that is. I watched the emptiness of the land continue to stretch. Past land was more land. It was daunting, almost, to see all of this land. Like it was going to suck me in and trap me, along with Naomi, in this bloody car.
"What are you thinking, right now?"
"Nothing," I answered dryly, "Are we almost there?"
She smiled, "Just about."
"Naomi! Emly!" Gina gave us each a hug. Hers seemed to linger on me longer. "Looks like you two made it in one piece. I'll let you two unpack. I'm going to cook dinner. The room is upstairs to the right and I've set up two beds. Let me know if you need anything." She headed back inside and left us with our suitcases.
I pulled out a fag and lit it hastily. "Room, as in singular?"
"Yes, I think so," She joined me with her own fag and started to smoke it, "I don't mind sharing the room."
I rolled my eyes, Naomi didn't mind anything, it seemed. "Same. It's just a few days," I snuffed out my fag, "I'm going to call my dad. I'll see you in there?"
She nodded and continued to smoke. I grabbed my suitcase and entered the house. It had a gorgeous exterior with an interior to match. A homely, nostalgic scent of food and fire filled my lungs. I had to admit, it was a lovely home.
I went up into the room and dropped my things on the bed farthest from the door. "Christ," I lamented aloud, "It's just for the weekend, Emily. You can do this." I shut the door and window and pulled out my phone. I was eager to know when my dad would be coming, so I dialed his number in a rush.
"Hello?"
"Dad! When the hell are you getting here?"
"Gina didn't tell you? I'm really sorry, dear, but something came up. I can't make it this weekend. I hope you're not upset."
"What?" I screamed. I let myself shout as my rage filled me up. "What do you mean? I thought this was you and me!"
"Well, I thought you could use the time at Walney to get to know Gina and Naomi. You seem very distant."
"Fuck, dad. This isn't supposed to be bloody bonding time with them. I don't know these people, dad! They're practically strangers! Great, just fucking great."
"Emily, c'mon don't be s—" I hung up the phone before he could finish and proceeded to throw my phone on the ground. Shit, the weekend just became a hundred times longer.
I lit my fifth fag and by now, my lungs were drowning in smoke and my veins filled with nicotine and tobacco. I couldn't believe all the shit that was stacking up in piles. How could I, Emily Fitch, survive three days with a pair of complete strangers?
They were probably wondering where I was. Or perhaps they didn't even notice I was gone. Either way, I wanted to be gone. I wanted to erase myself from this place and rewrite myself at home, in bed, in the arms of Tony. How did I allow myself, in the first place, to be in this sort of situation? I blamed my stupid prick of a father. I tried calling him after our small row, but he seemed to shut off his phone, or rejected my calls. And naturally, I was left to scramble on my own. So I grabbed my pack of fags and ventured on my own to this log where I sat, hidden and isolated from Campbell & Co.
Something about Naomi scared me. Perhaps it was her conviction – Anyone with a right mind could see it. It was in the way she walked to the firmness in her voice to the words that came out of her mouth. Really, she was the walking epitome of a confident woman.
And just like that, as if my thoughts radiated with magnetism, the source of all my woe appeared. In her hands were a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. She filled one of the glasses up. "Here, mum thought you'd appreciate the wine," she handed me the glass.
I took a small sip and nodded a thanks.
She filled her glass and took a gulp. "So, this is where you've been hiding?"
I blushed and shrugged. Guilt had begun to finally flood my moral senses. I looked at my shoes and avoided eye contact, but I could feel her studying me. Under her severe stare, I felt like a test subject in her microscope.
I took another sip and hoped to change the subject, "Have you ever been married?"
"No," She laughed. "You know I can't believe you thought me and James were shagging."
It was my turn to laugh. "It just looked like it, alright?"
Naomi turned to me slightly and looked me dead in the eyes. "James told me that you haven't visited home for ages."
And like that my smile turned to a frown, "It's… complicated."
She continued to look at me and said, "Rob seems different when you're around. The whole house… The feel of everything. The airs a lot more thick and somber."
"So you're analyzing all our familial issues now? Thought you'd play therapist?" I sighed, "I know my dad doesn't like me very much. He likes James a lot more. I'm the uptight, anal funsponge of a daughter who will never forgive him."
I waited for Naomi to say something, but I suppose all my pent up feelings freaked her out because she kept her mouth shut. So I continued, "Have you ever cheated, Naomi?"
"No," the blonde said quietly, "Have you?"
"Never. And I never will. Cheating is destructive and it hurts like a bloody bitch. I've never been cheated on in a romantic sense, but my dad… he cheated on me. He cheated on all of us and especially my mum." I gulped back tears. I didn't let myself cry. No, Naomi, of all people, didn't deserve my tears and in no way was I going to cry. So my eyes blinked the tears back and I looked like a bloody twat.
"C'mon," she said, "I'll show you something." Her hand grabbed mine and my heart skipped a beat. In fact, it pounded like a hammer against a brick wall. My hands were clammy and insecurity rushed to my cheeks leaving yet another embarrassing shade of dark red to stain my cheeks.
Hm... what's in store for Emily and Naomi? Well you guys will just have to wait and see ;)
