A/N: I hope you all are enjoying this story! Thank you to all who have read and reviewed! I appreciate it and love seeing your feedback. :P I don't own anything, but my love for Naomily!

Burning the Midnight Oil

Sophia lets Naomi into the closet where the equipment for security is stored. "Thanks Sophia," Naomi groans as she picks up the crate holding a small TV, telephone, and visitor log. Sophia shyly nods and holds the door for Naomi. Naomi sets the crate on the desk, under the intercom and next to the hall doors as Sophia heads to the main doors and locks them. Naomi plugs in the phone into the jack near the ground and connects the TV cable into the jack. She turns the TV on and sees the visuals of the security cameras through out the building. She picks up the phone to hear and dial tone and hangs it up. With a sigh she takes out the binder and sets it on the table, removing the crate and setting it on the floor.

Naomi fills out the date and her name on duty. She stretches her arms out in front of her and exhales. This job can get pretty boring, especially on a weekday. A few students check in a guest and Naomi politely records their information as one of the people ask, "So why do you have to check us in?"

Naomi looks up and responds, "If something happens involving you, we know your information. That's pretty much it." She smiles and goes back to recording the students information.

"Do you ever get bored?" The student asks again. "I mean, you just sit her for hours on end?

"4 hours to be exact, 10pm-2am. And yeah, it can be boring but I can do homework or whatever, as long as I'm awake." Naomi smiles.

"Oh well, cool. Have fun then," the student smiles and turns into the hall.

"Thanks!" Naomi calls and goes back to her bored position. She sits there and drums her fingertips on the desk top. She blinks and pulls out her Ipod and a small portable speaker, and plugs her Ipod in. She hits shuffle and sits back as Joy Zipper's "1" starts to play. "Ah, music makes everything so much better." Naomi smiles and says to herself.

"Hey, I love that song." Naomi is caught out of her daze to see Emily standing with an older, fit gentleman.

"Emily, hey! Yeah, my friend Kathryn got me onto Joy Zipper." Naomi leans forward smiling at Emily. "Who's this Ems?" Naomi smiles at the older man.

"Oh Naomi, this is my dad." Emily laughs. "Dad, this is my friend Naomi. Oh she's also my neighbor and RA."

"Rob Fitch, nice to meet you," He says holding out his hand flashing her a toothy grin.

"He surprised me and just showed up to take me out to dinner." Emily smiles and her dad. "I was just going to show him my room and let him get back home. God knows what James is up to." She smirks at the thought of her younger brother.

"Yeah, I know you have a long day tomorrow, but I just wanted to see how my girl is doing. I felt awful I was stuck at a gym convention the day of her move in. Thank you for being so helpful to my little girl, I really appreciate it." Rob smiles genuinely.

Emily smiles warmly at Naomi, "So what do you need from us?"

"Oh, I'll need your student ID Ems, and Rob, I'll need your driver's license or a photo ID." Naomi smiles.

They hand Naomi their Ids and she takes the required information. "All set!" Naomi chirps, "It is a pleasure to meet you sir, we are very lucky to have Emily here with us." She winks at Emily and smiles at Rob as they walk into the hall stairwell.

As Emily and her dad climb the stairs, Rob whispers to Emily, "She's attractive love." Emily playfully smacks him on the shoulder and squeaks. "What? She is," Rob smiles at his daughter. They walk to her room and she gives him the 2-second tour.

It is late and Emily's dad gives his daughter a hug and says his goodbyes. He heads back down the steps and stops at Naomi's desk. He smiles at Naomi with a knowing smile, "Take care of my little girl, will ya? Lovely meeting you Naomi, see you next time."

"Drive safely and see you next time Mr. Fitch!" Naomi calls out to him as he waves out the door.

Naomi goes back to her doodles and music when Emily reappears. "Hey, you just missed him."

"Oh, no I came down to see you." Emily smiles and Naomi bites her bottom lip as she feels a blush on her cheeks.

"Well, pull up a chair," Naomi smiles as she points behind her revealing some loose chairs against the wall. Emily pulls one up and takes a seat. "So, that was your dad, huh?" Naomi smiles at Emily.

"Yeah, that was my dad. He likes you a lot." Naomi nervously smiles at Emily's comment. "I swear that man can read my mind from a million miles away. He just showed up, knowing I needed a hug from him. I was always daddy's girl, my twin Katie always geared more towards my mom. It was really nice seeing him. I feel a lot better now." Emily takes a breath and smiles.

"That's great Ems, I'm glad you're feeling a bit better." Naomi rests her head on the back of the chair.

Emily lets out a yawn and moves her hand over her mouth. "I'm sure you're exhausted, why don't you try and get some rest?"

Emily nods, "Yeah, I do have a long day tomorrow. We're still on for book shopping?"

"You know it," Naomi winks.

"Okay, well I guess I'll head up then. I just wanted to thank you…for everything…again." Emily looks down at her fingers that are playing with the rough edge of the table top.

"Ems, you don't have to thank me," Naomi leans her head down to catch Emily's eyes. "Really, it's all just another opportunity to spend time with you." She rests her hand on Emily's fidgeting digits.

Emily looks up and blushes, feeling a flutter in her stomach.. "Right, okay. Well, goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow then."

Naomi nods and smiles, "Sweet dreams." Emily waves as she walks through the door and up the stairs.

Naomi looks at her watch, 11:45. She sighs and watches the security camera footage, nothing happening what so ever. She exhales, blowing air through her lips, making a horse-like, motor sound. She looks down at the crate and sifts through it to see if there is anything interesting. On her Ipod, Coldplay's "Warning Sign" begins to play.

As if on cue, Naomi looks up from the crate to see Effy in front of her, leaning with her arms on the desk. "Hey." Effy says. "Nice song, I can relate." She stands there and stares into Naomi's eyes.

Naomi stares back dumbfounded, "Huh?"

Effy takes the seat where Emily was just sitting. "Naomi, did you not hear me in the ice breaker during training?" Naomi sits there with raised eyebrows and her mouth slight a gape.

Effy places her hands on Naomi's. "I knew you liked me for a long time. We got drunk, and you kissed me. I liked it, hell I kissed you back. It didn't really sink in for me that I liked you until the summer. I just couldn't come to grips with my feelings and…well, I want you back." Effy looks at Naomi innocently and almost insecurely.

"So you're gay now?" Naomi asks, trying to register what is happening.

"No…I'm on the fence…it's just you Naomi. I think…well, maybe I only like guys apart from you." Effy starts to trace Naomi's fingers with her fingertip. Naomi starts to blush as she remembers the way she used to feel about Effy and lowers her head.

"But you're constantly screwing guys, how is that helping anything?" Naomi rolls her eyes.

"I need something to keep my mind off you, so…yeah." Effy shrugs and looks down at Naomi's hand under hers.

The song comes to the lyrical line, "And I'm tired, I should not have let you go ooooooh" and Effy squeezes Naomi's hand and ducking her head down, trying to catch her gaze.

Naomi's head flood with thoughts and feelings. "That's not fair Ef. It's not that simple you know? You really hurt me. I called you hundreds of times, and you never once called me back." Naomi remembers the pain, and having Effy so close with her sharp blue eyes so intensely watching her made her quiver in her seat.

"I know. I'm sorry, I was a twat…Naomi," She sits up and leans in to make eye contact with the fidgeting Naomi, "Let me make it up to you." Effy places her hand on the far side of Naomi's face and pulls her lips to Naomi's right cheek. She softly kisses it, hovers around Naomi's ear, and whispers, "Think about it, I'll be waiting. No matter how long it takes." She leans back and stands up, as some students arrive to be signed in. She passes the desk and waves at Naomi, then heads back to her floor.

Naomi blinks and shakes her head, then addresses the students. She signs them in and watches them as the pass into the building. "FUCK'S SAKE!" She says much louder than she means to and ducks down, hoping no one heard her. She puts her palm to her forehead and grinds her face into her palm, massaging her now aching head with her fingers.

"Hey Naoms." Naomi whips her head up to see Panda and an attractive dark skinned guy. "Thomas, this is Naomi."

"Hello I am Thomas, so glad to meet you," Thomas smiles and holds his hand out.

"Yeah, likewise." Naomi finds his hand and shakes it.

"You okay Naoms? You uh, you have some lipstick on your cheek." Panda reaches over and wipes it off. She looks at Naomi, "Effy?" Naomi rolls her eyes and nods.

"I don't know what to do, this is such a mind fuck." Naomi rubs her eyes.

Panda smiles, "Well the important thing is the ball is in your court, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, yeah?" Naomi nods and smiles. "Here are our Ids." Panda grins, knowing the drill.

Naomi records them and smiles, "Well you guys have a nice night." They wave as they enter the stairwell.

Naomi looks at her watch, 1:45. She sighs with relief, because now all she wants to do to go to bed. She starts packing up her things and unplugging the TV and Phone and replacing them in the crate. She hears Sophia come down the elevator and pop out the door. "Hey," She says to Naomi.

"Hey Sophia, ready to call it a night?" Naomi smiles at the shy girl.

"Yeah," She smiles and looks up at the other RA from Phillips. "Ready for last rounds?" She asks the other RA. He smiles and nods at Naomi, and he and Sophia walk towards the Smyth elevator.

Naomi rests her chin on her crossed arms and waits for the two to return and let her into the closet. She then laughs at her thought of wanting back "in the closet" and wonders if life would be easier in there with no Effy or Emily. Then grimaces at the thought of life with no Emily, and smiles. "God, I just need some sleep." She mumbles to herself and puts her face in her arms.

"Hey, sleepyhead!" Bill, the other security person who was at Phillips, startles Naomi.

Naomi lifts her head and smiles, "Hey, how was it on your end?"

"Eh, pretty damn boring. It felt like 8 hours instead of 4, you?" Bill asks, rubbing his eyes.

"Same," Naomi chuckles half awake.

The RAs return and both Will and Naomi perk up. Sophia opens the closet and both will and Naomi place their crates in the room. "Night guys," Sophia smiles. Will waves and makes his exit, with Naomi following suit. She climbs the steps back to her room, passing Emily's room she grazes her fingertips along the paint of her door. She gets into her room and shuts and locks the door behind her. She flops on her bed, as falls asleep as her head hits the pillow.