Cook showed up soon after dark, much to Naomi's relief. Emily had avoided her since their conversation on the couch, and Katie still hadn't said a word to her since the previous night, not that that was a surprise. He had a bag with him and an air of a familiar scent.
"Hey, Naomikins," he greeted with a broad grin that proudly displayed his fangs. "I stopped by yours and grabbed you some clothes." Naomi frowned.
"You stopped by my-you were in my house? Around my mum? Did she see you? I swear to god Cook if you hurt her-"
"Calm down, Naomi. I didn't even see her. Just popped in the window, grabbed some clothes, popped back out."
"How did you know where I live?" Naomi asked, still scowling. "Let alone which room mine is."
"Got a friend who knows a friend who's got connections," Cook replied with a wink. "And you've got a very distinctive scent. Anyway, here you go. You get changed, yeah, I'll have a chat with Emilio then we'll see about getting you out and about for your nice starter course." He handed her the bag then sauntered off into the house. Naomi peeked inside as she went upstairs to her room. She dumped the contents out on the bed and pushed them around. Obviously Cook hadn't put any effort into actually paying attention to what he grabbed, if the mish-mash of items she had in front of her was any indication.
Naomi stripped her clothes off and tossed them almost violently into the corner, glad to be rid of them. At least Cook had been intelligent enough to bring her more than just pants and shirts, and there were several fresh pairs of knickers. She changed quickly, delighted to find that her favourite shirt and green jumper were both in the pile. She heard voices as she pulled her jumper over her head.
"Hunters? Katie, you're not serious are you?" came Cook's voice, drifting up the stairs.
"Effy said she saw them when she was out feeding last," Katie said in response. "They're close. It's too dangerous to take the newbie out on your own. She said there was three of them, but maybe more." Naomi crouched at the top of the stairway, holding loosely onto the rail as she listened.
"There haven't been any of them here in decades, why would they suddenly move in here now?" She caught Emily's scent a scant second before the brunette spoke.
"Naomi, what are you doing?" The blonde snapped her head toward the bottom of the stairs and stood so abruptly that she almost fell over.
"I-uh. Nothing." Emily raised a brow.
"I'm going out with you and Cook tonight," she said. "It's... not safe. Besides, twice the people, twice the lesson, right?" Naomi shrugged and followed Emily to the door. She was anxious for fresh air.
"Cook, can we go now please?" Emily called. The lad bustled out in a hurry, and grinned again when he looked at Naomi, who was practically bouncing on her feet.
"Eager are we babes?"
"Shut up, Cook," Naomi replied.
Emily stuck close to Naomi's side as they walked with Cook a bit ahead of them, leading the way through the streets.
"We need to teach you to feed," Emily told her. "With luck we'll find someone out wandering the streets drunk or high." Naomi bit into her lip, mindful of her fangs. "Don't worry, Cook and I won't let you kill them, but you need to learn. Sooner rather than later." Naomi would have been content to live off blood packs, but she didn't dare argue with her.
"Oi, Emilio," Cook called. "There's a couple over there, look high as kites to me." Naomi followed Cook's hand to two figures across the road walking towards the park. She could smell them.
"Go for it," Emily said. They sauntered over, Naomi trailing behind slightly, watching as Emily and Cook worked their charms. So to speak. Cook was watching her closely, but Naomi couldn't keep her eyes off of Emily, how she smirked and cocked a brow as she danced around the tall lanky boy. She couldn't look away even when Emily shoved the boy forcefully against the bricks behind him and sunk her fangs into his neck. Something akin to jealousy panged in her chest, but Naomi didn't have enough time to dwell on it, because Cook was motioning her closer. His mouth was bloody, and the girl he had looked half asleep. He tilted her head to the side, exposing the pale, unbroken flesh of her neck. Her nostrils flared. She almost smelled like Emily did.
"Just ease into it, Naomikins," Cook said. "Your instincts'll do the rest." Naomi moved to place a hand against the girl's neck, but Cook stopped her and moved it to her waist instead. Naomi hardly noticed. Something deep in her chest took over then, as she sunk her teeth into the girl's neck. There weren't words to accurately describe it, the feeling of someone's blood, hot and fresh, filling her mouth. The girl tasted different than the blood in the packs had. Better. Naomi almost felt alive again. She didn't ever want to stop.
She was forced away by Cook's hand tugging on her shoulder, forcefully enough that she stumbled back a few paces. She growled at him. Literally. Cook glared at her.
"You need to learn when to stop so you don't kill someone," he said sharply. "You don't want to live with something like that. Trust me. Come on now, calm down and help me move her to the park bench." The rumbling in Naomi's chest continued for a few seconds, but it finally abated and she helped Cook walk the girl towards the park.
"Sorry," she muttered under her breath.
"What're you apologizing for?" Cook asked. Naomi shrugged. "Ain't got nothing to apologize for, Naomikins. You'll learn in time." Naomi wiped her mouth off on the back of her hand, feeling suddenly disgusted with herself. She looked over her shoulder to where Emily was just pulling away from the boy. What the fuck is wrong with you? Naomi scolded herself.
She watched with a small sense of awe as Emily supported the boy with an arm around his waist and his over her shoulders, the sight of someone as small as her easily carrying his weight surprising. When both the kids were sat tight, Cook grinned at her.
"You did good, Naomikins," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a slight squeeze. Naomi smiled despite herself. She met Emily's eyes. The brunette smirked at her. Naomi tried in vain to ignore her sudden arousal. Is that even possible? Christ. I'm not gay. I'm not. Gay. Emily's nose twitched almost imperceptibly, her eyes black in the light from the street lamps.