A/N

So this chapter is a bit longer than the previous chapters. - My excuse is that I needed to introduce some new characters. Hopefully it sits well with everyone (let me know).

I've been battling an overheating laptop (that insisted on shutting down every several minutes), in order to finish this. Guess who came out victorious! (Truthfully, I think the laptop won the mental battle).

A side note/ thank you to everyone who has posted a review. Seeing people suggesting something or encouraging me gives me so much motivation to continue. So, thank you all so much, even those who simply read the chapters, seeing it motivates me more than you can imagine. I haven't before mentioned it but I thought it was fair to let you guys know how much it means.

Deep and meaningful speech over...

As always let me know what you think. Suggestions? Criticism? Thanks for reading! :)


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My first day of school. Even though a new country, school was going to be just as dismal a place as before. Not to mention the uniform, lack of friends and the fact that I wouldn't have Naomi with me.

Finishing my hair, I laid the Uniform on my bed neatly. I had picked them up a couple of days ago with my dad. Black shoes, black stockings, checked blue pleat skirt, white blouse, (embroidered with the school's logo and motto- 'Kindness is Greatness') and a tailored navy blazer, also adorned with the school's logo, made up the school Uniform .

Could be worse. Could be one of those hideous mid calf length skirts. I'd seen some school girls wearing them the first couple of weeks in Australia. This uniform wasn't too conservative nor was it too provocative.

I sighed and looked over the uniform once more. The familiar hum of Naomi's car approached the driveway and I swiped the curtains aside in eager haste. Sure enough, Naomi was pulling into the driveway. I left behind my gloomy thoughts as I bound downstairs, wondering why she had dropped by unannounced.

Upon opening the front door I was confronted with a breathtaking sight. Naomi in uniform looked beyond perfection. It was as if the uniform was made for her. Purposely designed to bring out her figure.

It was only after several moments that I recognised the logo on her blazer. I looked up to her grinning face instantly.

"I...You... School...What?" I stumbled over my words in confusion.

Naomi's grin broadened.

"Aren't you going to change out of those pyjamas and into your uniform? We're going to be late at this rate." She laughed, tugging gently at my tank top as she asked the question.

"I...I don't... What?..." I remained frozen, unable to comprehend the situation.

"Come on..." Naomi took my hand in hers and gently pulled me toward the stairs, leading me to my room.

She ignored the poor attempts I made at forming a question on the way. Naomi slid the thin curtains shut, placing a hand either side of my hips and gently started to remove my tank.

"No!" I pulled away swiftly.

The abruptness and pitch caused Naomi to jump and release the fabric.

"S...Sorry" She stuttered, surprised.

"No... It's not you... I'm sorry... I just ... I'm not wearing..." I blushed, looking down embarrassed.

"Oh...It's ok, I understand." Naomi smiled warmly and sat beside the clothes laid upon my bed, her back to me.

Though relieved I felt slightly disappointed somehow as I watched her tracing shapes against the wall. With a second glance to Naomi I cautiously removed the tank and reached for the bra I had laid atop the blouse. My nervousness kicked in once more and I dropped the undergarment, my shaky hands failing me.

Before I could reach for it, by a natural reaction Naomi leant down to retrieve it for me. I froze as she turned to my now bare chest, offering the article. Naomi too froze momentarily, blushing before turning away hastily and thrusting her arm toward me. I slowly removed the article from her hand, my face burning hot in embarrassment.

"Sorry...I didn't... I didn't see anything..." She mumbled, facing away.

"It...It's fine...Thank you" I stuttered, still embarrassed.

Naomi had seen most of my body already while I was sick and had to be helped into my pyjamas. Thankfully she had left my undergarments on whilst doing so. I wasn't self-conscious around most people, I knew I had worked hard for my athletic shape. Somehow things changed while around Naomi. Maybe it was the thought that, beside Naomi, my figure was nothing too amazing.

I finished changing and tapped Naomi on the shoulder.

"You can turn around now..." I announced when she didn't make an effort to.

Naomi hesitated a moment before turning to face me, her cheeks still flushed in embarrassment.

"...Wow..." Her eyes searched over my figure. "You look great in uniform..."

I blushed, shifting uncomfortably at her scrutiny.

"You too." I smiled shyly as I once more took in her perfection.

"You uhm... You never said..." I added, tugging the collar of her blazer gently.

The embarrassment faded and she smiled broadly.

"I'm going to school with you," she replied simply.

I shook my head in puzzlement.

"I thought you-" I was interrupted by Naomi as she stood up.

"-Convinced mum to let me go to your school... It took a couple of weeks...But..." She shrugged, a wry smile playing on her lips.

The excitement I hadn't yet felt was crashing down on me now as I finally accepted it. Naomi would be attending my school. I smiled widely and tackle hugged Naomi who fell back onto my bed with a puff. After several seconds of disorientation, Naomi returned the embrace.

"Ok, we should get going or we really are going to be late" Naomi laughed after a while.

I raised myself off her, enough to glance at the clock.

"Plenty of time..." I winked as I leaned back over Naomi, pinning her in place.


Naomi pulled up a short distance from school, we were still early. For students. As new students we had to sort out a couple of orders before our first classes.

"I really didn't miss school..." I sighed as we walked toward the entry.

Naomi paused, her eyes wandering over the large building in awe.

"Oh I forgot this is your first school experience." I added as she continued to investigate the structure.

She smiled excitedly and looked back to me, taking my hand in hers as she hurried us through the main entrance. We arrived at administration and were greeted by a motherly secretary who directed us to the deputy principal's office.

"Come in," the lady behind the desk cheerfully ordered as she glanced up to our knock.

We obliged, waiting in front of her desk. She looked up after several seconds. The woman was no more than 40 with a healthy body and pleasant features.

"Ah... You must be the new students, please, sit down." She smiled warmly and gestured to the two seats before her.

Once more we obliged. She shuffled around some papers before finding the ones she was searching for.

"It's my greatest pleasure to welcome two beautiful young ladies to our school. You've already met our school principal Mr. Jacobs upon enrolment." She smiled as she handed us each a diary and timetable. "My name is Mrs. Berrie, I'm one of the schools deputy principals, the other deputy principal is Mr. Hanson, I'll take you to meet him in a moment."

Though nervous, the excitement was setting in and I wondered if we would make new friends easily

"I've given you both school diaries and your class timetables. Your locker keys will be given to you tomorrow," she continued.

"I tried to keep you two in the same classes however based on your subject preferences there are a couple of classes you will not be together. You'll notice you have English, Mathematics and Physical Education together but the other subjects, the ones which your preferences differed you'll have to find new friends to work with," she smiled apologetically.

I looked sidelong at Naomi's timetable, unable to understand the different subject abbreviations.

"Would you like me to explain the timetable?" Mrs. Berrie asked after a brief pause.

Naomi shook her head and smiled as she looked up to her, I followed suit.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out and if not It gives us an opportunity to strike up a conversation with a fellow student." Naomi noted, looking to me for support.

"We should be fine, thank you very much Mrs. Berrie." I smiled appreciatively at her.

"Excellent, I'll take you to Mr. Hanson now then," she announced, standing up and walking toward the door.

The tight red pencil skirt and tucked blouse showed off her shapely figure as she clicked her way across the corridor. We waited patiently as she knocked twice, keeping her pace and striding into his office. The man looked up first to Naomi and myself standing at the door, pulling his gaze to Mrs. Berrie who now stood beside his table. She leaned over slightly, her voice lowered as she spoke.

"Eric, these are the two new students we've been expecting." She looked back to us standing nervously outside. "Come in, come in, he doesn't bite."

I smiled shyly and stepped over the threshold, followed by Naomi. The man was also no more than 40, with blue eyes and styled, sandy blonde hair. His fair skin was smooth over his pleasant, shaven features. Like Mrs. Berrie, he too had a healthy body. Broad shoulders and a firm chest noticeable under his tailored blue business shirt, a silk, navy tie added to the professional air he exuded.

I thought back to Roundview. None of the head teachers were nearly as young, nor as well spoken or presented. I wondered how two people so young landed the jobs of deputy principal.

"How lovely to welcome two striking young ladies into our school." He stated as he looked over both Naomi and myself.

"My name is Eric Hanson, though you can call me Mr. Hanson." The suggestion was gentle yet firm. "I'm sure Mrs. Berrie has already sorted your classes out."

He looked to Mrs. Berrie for confirmation who nodded and smiled to us kindly.

"I hope everything goes smoothly here at Seaview for you two." He nodded as he continued, "If you ever have any questions, queries or for any other reason feel the need to speak to someone, please, don't hesitate to come to either Mrs. Berrie or myself." He smiled warmly.

Mrs Berrie nodded, smiling as she thanked Mr. Hanson for his time. She ushered us into the hallway once more where a girl was now seated outside her office. The girl gave a friendly smile as we made our way over.

"Excellent, thank you for coming on time Rebecca." Mrs Berrie addressed the student.

She looked about our age and wore the schools uniform flawlessly, down to shined shoes and a perfectly tucked blouse. Loose brown hair hung around her face. I was reminded of Effy as I took in the girls blue eyes, sculpted features and slender body.

"Rebecca is a student in your year, she will be with you both in mathematics and English. She'll be with you in Physics Emily." She looked to me then Naomi, "She will also be in Economics with you Naomi."

I noted that one of the subjects Naomi's selection had differed from my own was Economics. I wondered what the other subject was. My thoughts were interrupted by a light yet slightly husky voice.

"You can call me Beccy. I'll be showing you around the schools facilities and helping you get to classes," she announced, smiling warmly.

"Naomi," Naomi replied, offering her hand in a gesture which Rebecca took.

"Emily," I added and repeated Naomi's action.

After the introductions were through, Mrs. Berrie spoke up.

"Well, you three will get on just fabulously, I can tell. If there is ever anything you need to talk about or sort out, please come to either myself or Mr Hanson right away. I'll leave you in Rebecca's capable hands for now." She smiled to each of us once more before returning to her desk.


"So, how long have you guys been in Australia now?" She asked as she led us out of the main building and onto a undercover balcony.

"Just over a month," we answered in unison.

I looked to Naomi in surprise, who mirrored my action, both our expressions turning to ones of humour at our synchronisation.

"Are you sure you two aren't twins?" She laughed, raising an eyebrow to us as we followed her out from undercover and onto a grassed area.

"Em already has one of those" Naomi added, laughing.

"Oh... How come she's not joining here with you?" The girl looked to me questioningly.

I hesitated, still unable to talk easily of my parents' divorce.

"I'm sorry... It's really none of my business. " She hastily added.

"She's back in England... Living with my mum and brother." I looked to the ground sullenly.

"Oh... I'm sorry..." Rebecca replied quietly.

"Beccy!" A girl called from across the yard, waving madly before she raced over.

"Beccy, I missed you sooo much!" She cried, pulling Rebecca into a tight hug.

Only then did she notice us standing beside her friend. Releasing the girl she looked to us excitedly.

"You must be the new girls!" She noted before pulling each of us into a firm hug.

"I heard about you two!" She continued, releasing me and smiling eagerly.

"Naomi, Emily, this is Samantha," Rebecca offered, gesturing to each of us as she introduced our names.

"God I love English accents! Go on, say something," she enthused, looking eagerly between Naomi and myself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Samantha." Naomi spoke up after a momentary silence.

"Call me Sam." She smiled, clapping her hands together happily.

I smiled, her excitable, cheerful attitude was a familiar one. The girl wore her brown hair in a loose ponytail. Though both broader and taller than Rebecca she wasn't undefined. Her large brown eyes were warm and an unwavering smile sat under her defined nose.

"I like your accent" I added, smiling at Samantha.

Samantha beamed.

"We should get back to the tour before class starts." Rebecca noted, looking to her watch.

"Oh, can I come along? Please?" Samantha chimed in eagerly.

Rebecca looked to Naomi and myself for confirmation before answering.

"Sure," she replied.


The first two classes were English. Samantha parted ways with Rebecca, Naomi and myself outside our classroom. Naomi hesitated before entering, tensing slightly as she walked into the packed room. Upon entering, Rebecca headed to the teacher, who looked up to see us standing awkwardly at the back of the classroom.

"Come up here," she gestured and we followed the instruction.

"Class... Please, settle down..." The teacher paused, waiting for the students' undivided attention.

"We have two new students joining us today." She smiled kindly while gesturing to both Naomi and myself. "My name is Mrs. Woodgrove, would you like to introduce yourselves?" She continued, looking to us.

There was a momentarily silence before I decided to speak up.

"Hey, I'm Emily Fitch, it's nice to meet you all" I smiled nervously.

A blonde haired boy wolf whistled from the back row causing Naomi to bristle slightly. The teacher shook her head sternly at the student, her eyes devoid of humour. I looked to Naomi again after several seconds of silence.

"Naomi Campbell, it's a pleasure to meet everyone." Her voice shook with nervousness.

The same boy clapped eagerly, winking to Naomi.

"Finn... That's enough" Mrs. Woodgrove interrupted him.

"Make yourselves at home in this classroom. Rebecca would you please show these two lovely ladies to their seats?" She continued, gesturing to a gap of three seats on a side row.


Recess break came quickly and Rebecca led us to a second yard where students were already sitting in small groups. She sat down next to Samantha and three other students, patting the ground beside her in invitation. They looked up as Rebecca sat down.

"Hey you two!" Samantha eagerly pat the space between herself and Rebecca.

Taking our cue we sat down between the two girls, unslinging our backpacks and dropping them beside ourselves as we did. Sam smiled warmly to me as I sat beside her.

"This is Elissa, Jasmine and Corey," she announced, gesturing between the trio. "You've already met Sam".

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jasmine." The black haired girl spoke up.

Her skin was flawlessly smooth. Piercing black eyes set atop a petite nose and taut lips. She offered a hand, first to Naomi then myself and I couldn't help but notice how lean her fingers were, along with the rest of her body. Her frame was small set, frail looking, though her firm handshake proved otherwise.

"Corey" The boy lifted a hand he was resting on in greeting.

He emanated a calm, easy going atmosphere about him. Ruggedly handsome with sandy blonde with sun streaks and tanned skin. Warm brown eyes and full lips were his best features. Broad shoulders pulled his shirt taut over his muscular chest as he leaned backward.

Two other students joined us, a boy and a girl who sat down beside the third girl.

"Elissa," she continued the introductions, ignoring the newcomers who were now eyeing Naomi and me curiously.

The girls pearl blonde hair was cropped short in a pixie cut, the style accentuating her light blue eyes, button nose and defined lips. Her fair skin was dotted with light freckles across her nose.

"These two are Brandon and Indigo," she continued, nodding toward the two new faces.

The brown haired boy gave a shy smile but remained silent. Taking her cue the curly haired girl waved.

"You can call me Go," she smiled broadly.

Her smile was dazzling against her mahogany skin, her white teeth framed by plump lips. The girls dark brown hair fell wildly around her face and striking green eyes peered from under a fringe of curls.

"Nice to meet you all, I'm Emily," I smiled shyly.

"Naomi, it's a pleasure," Naomi continued, returning the kind smiles she had received.

I breathed a sigh of relief, Naomi seemed to be settling in comfortable already.

"Sup Beccy-becs" The boy I'd noticed in English class leaned over Rebecca, placing a hand on either of her shoulders.

"Get off me Finn..." She sighed, shrugging her shoulders to loosen his grip.

"Ah it's the new ladies... Hello lovely ladies." Finn bowed mockingly, winking as he did.

"You know... I just realised Naomi... Your name backwards is I moan," he continued, teasing. "So tell me... Is that true?"

Naomi bristled slightly, cocking her head to one side as she smiled dryly.

"Guess you'll never know."

I blushed, reading into her words.

"Ohh... I get it... You two right?" He pointed from Naomi to me, smiling wryly.

"Oh shut up Finn." Elissa interrupted his banter.

"What? I'm just asking a question," he raised his arms in mock innocence. "Not that I have a problem with it. Do you Liss?"

He directed his teasing to the blonde girl who rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Finn... Seriously... Shut up," chimed Indigo.

"Alright, alright. I'm gonna go have a ciggy. Anyone want to join?" His question was met with silence.

"Corey mate, you really gonna ignore your old friends request? Brandon?... Come on... I just wanna spend time with my favourite boys."

Corey sighed and brushed his hands off on his trousers.

"I'll come if Brandon wants to," he sighed.

Finn looked to Brandon with convincing puppy dog eyes as he clasped his hands, begging. Corey rolled his eyes and punched Brandon's arm lightly.

"Come on, let's just go to shut him up."

The three boys left, Finn turning back to wink as they strolled away.


The rest of the day sped past. A double maths lesson followed by lunch where we once again met with the group from recess. We'd already become comfortable with them, sharing stories and reacting to their recounts. Our last lesson was a free study lesson, the school allowed students with last periods as free study to leave early.

Most of the students we had met at lunch also had a free study period last and we ran into them at the building exit.

"Tuesdays we go down to the beach and grab something to eat, do you guys want to come?" Rebecca asked as we walked with the group out of the school grounds.

"Sure," Naomi replied for us both.

"Great, you'll get a ride with Corey or myself. Usually we only take one car but seeming as our group has grown by two we can't fit everyone in one car anymore." Rebecca laughed and I pictured four people crammed into the back seat.

"We'll drop you back here in time for your bus if you need," she continued.

"Oh that won't be necessary I'll be driving us home." Naomi admitted.

"Ok well I'll drop you back at your car then, no rush to get back in that case right?" She questioned.

"Not for me," Naomi looked to me.

I shook my head.

"Either," I smiled eagerly.

Indigo and Finn rode with Corey. Elissa, Naomi and myself rode with Rebecca. We were informed that both Jasmine and Brandon had Commerce as a last subject and for that reason couldn't make the Tuesday trips.

The day was warm for winter, the cloudless sky allowing the sun's full exposure. Rebecca pulled up beside Corey and we were provided a breathtaking view as the calm water washed gently onto the white sand. A variety of independent food stores were lined up across the road behind us, facing the water.

"Decided yet?" Elissa squeezed gently between Naomi and myself.

"I think I might just get an ice cream, the flavours look delicious," I admitted, looking to the variety laid out on display.

"Me too." Naomi nodded in agreement.

"It's nice weather for it, plus the ice cream here is really good, I might get one too... Not that I need it." She sighed, pinching the skin on her lean arm.

I snorted in amusement at her overcritical comment.

After much insisting, Naomi caved and let me invite her for ice cream. I used the excuse of her having paid for my ticket at the cinema previously. I blushed, remembering that was the day we had shared our first kiss.

The time passed quickly, as we all sat on the beach relaxing to the sea breeze and warm sun. Corey and Finn had removed their socks and shoes, folding their pants to their knees as they stepped into the shallow white wash. We ended the trip early with Elissa remembering she had to be home in time to babysit her younger brother while her parents were out.


Naomi pulled into my driveway.

"Thanks for the lift." I smiled as I pecked Naomi on the cheek in a thankful gesture.

"Don't mention it, I'll be here the same time tomorrow." Naomi smiled and pulled the handbrake.

"How'd you like your first day at school?" I asked.

"I really enjoyed it, plus I got to be with you all day," she beamed.

I blushed and opened the door, exiting the vehicle. I hesitated before shutting the door.

"Nao?"

She looked to me, both humour and affection in her smile as I tried out the nickname timidly.

"Drive safe," I continued before shutting the door.

I stood, a hand raised in farewell as I watched her reverse back onto the road before waving a goodbye and driving home.