Hey guys, I'm sorry about the late update. I was distracted by a beautiful lady, Stieg Larsson and Japanese food. If you ask me, it's a pretty good excuse, but I'm biased. I'm sure you've all noticed a growing trend in the story by now, which is the inclusion of songs and song lyrics. I suppose it's my way of interweaving a soundtrack. In my life, music is a pretty central and constant occurrence, so that's the terms I think in when I write the story. Sorry if it's irritating, but that's probably how it's going to continue. Here's another chapter from Naomi.

-GrassDitch

In the time I had been here Emily had curled around to lean her back on my shoulder. Her warmth was comforting and most definitely welcome. The spliff made its way to her again, and she dragged on it lazily, passing it to me and sliding down so her head was in my lap. Blowing gently on the lit end of the joint I gaze down at her and resist the temptation to stroke her bright hair. I found it surprising that she hadn't decided to change the colour in all this time. I suppose that when Katie decided to change her hair colour Emily must have stuck with this one deliberately. It was probably something to do with asserting her individuality, but I should quit it with the amateur psychology.

The weight of her head was burning in my thighs, and although I could feel the blood slowly ascend into my cheeks, as I leant over to pass the joint to the third guy (I found out he was Dave) I stopped short, making him come to me from his place at the radiator so as not to disturb her.

Suddenly, the music on the radio changed dramatically, and Emily's head rose, hovering a few centimetres above my legs. It was a strange sound, a mix of genres. The vocals were blatantly Northern, a woman's high, almost squeaky voice piped the melodies and a man rapped between fast and heavy distorted guitars and bluesy saxophones. I'm not sure if I like it.

"I love this song!" Emily was instantly sat up and grinning, clearly recognising the music, although I'm not sure why it took her so long. You couldn't really mistake it for anything but what it was. "Dance?" She raised her eyebrows mischievously.

"To this? I don't think we can construct a mosh pit out of the two of us. Or even the four of us." Her brow creased, and she looked across the room. Standing up, she headed across the stifling, smoke filled room and kneeled in front of the CD player to change the disc.

"You'll dance to this, right?" Take me out tonight, where there's music and there's people and... This is the disadvantage of spending time with someone who knows you well, they know exactly how to manipulate you. I roll my eyes and walk across the room towards her. We sway for a while, in front of each other. The guys seem spaced, and I wonder what else they have taken.

"You just knew I'd dance to this, didn't you?" She smiled a sort of non-smile.

"You're not really dancing," she pulled my hands onto her hips; put her arms around my shoulders. I could feel her sway under my palms and she stepped achingly closer. "You used to be obsessed with this song. I never understood it, it's just too depressing."

"It's not so bad... It strikes me as kind of romantic," Her wrists begin to weigh on the back of my neck and I stoop lower, her face is close and I feel my skin gravitate towards hers. Old habits die hard?

"You keep trying to play the martyr, Naomi, but it's really not your forte," She moved closer still, the blush began to crawl along my skin, up my neck. "Do you want to get out of here?" Her lips brushed against mine as she spoke, it was like lowering the tip of your finger onto the water, the surface tension causing the water to magnetise around it; the ripples that only disturbing the surface of it all.

"I do," I breathed shortly, my eyelids gliding to a close. They flung open as I was jerked forward, and I found myself stood in the centre of the room grasping nothing but thin air.

"Coming then?"

Emily is flinging herself down the stairs in front of me, like she has enough energy to light half of the city. I, on the other hand, just want to listen to some good music, or watch some shit TV. Maybe steal a cuddle or two, if I'm lucky. Looks like she has other plans, though; God knows what's going on beneath that red hair.

"Come on, Naoms! What's with the fucking funeral march?" I raise my eyebrows and curl my lip in a mocking gesture, despite quickening my step. I watch as Emily bursts through the doors into the waning, dusty sunlight and spins around on her heel to face me. "Alright, where to?"

"Actually, I thought you had that covered. What with wanting to go somewhere..." To be honest, I'm quickly becoming exasperated with all this, and I'm beginning to feel like drinking.

"Great, real useful comment as usual."

"You're very welcome, now follow me" I'm trying to, but I can't help the emergence of a smug little smile. I lead her to the nearest main road, and we jump in a taxi.