We make our way back to our seats silently. I'm bursting with questions but I just can't seem to vocalize what I'm thinking. The silence is deafening; we're determinedly not looking at each other. Finally when I can't stand it anymore I say, "Naomi, we really need to talk."
"I don't want to talk," she replies coldly, pulling out her iPod.
"No, Naomi! Don't you dare put those headphones in!"
"Watch me," she shoots back as she slips them in with a look that says 'bite me'.
Fuck. It seems we're back at square one. And we're going to be sitting next to each other for what, another three or so hours. I am not wasting this opportunity. I seize the earbuds and pull them out of her ears.
"Why the fuck did you do that?" Naomi asks angrily.
"Because we are going to talk, Naomi Campbell. You and me. You kissed me. Not the other way around. And you told me you were interested."
"Excuse me, I didn't say I was interested. I said I liked you. And not in the 'let's jump into a relationship' kind of way. In the 'we're still never going to get together' kind of way."
"Trouble in paradise?" asks the man sitting next to Naomi.
"Mind you own fucking business," she snaps back at him.
"Naomi, be nice! I'm sorry, she has some issues."
"Oh, so now you're apologizing for me like I'm your unruly child? Nice, Em, nice. Already talking for me and we're not even together."
"Oh don't make this about me, you practically bit his head off. Don't be such a child."
"Yeah, well he shouldn't have butted in! I have a right mind to tell him off again. In fact-"
She continues but I'm past the point of listening. I take a deep breath. This is either going work perfectly or it's going to blow up in my face. I grab the back of her head and force her into a kiss, mainly just to shut her up. She pulls back almost instantly. "Fitch, I'm still mad as hell, you know," she grumbles before pulling me in for another kiss. Her anger is making her rough and sloppy. I don't even care that we're in a crowded plane full of people, I lean into the kiss and deepen it. Seconds pass slowly as we both melt. A whistle and a cat call from some assholes finally breaks us out of our reverie.
"Naomi, we can't just keep kissing without talking about it."
"I know," she agrees quietly. "I don't think I'm ready for a relationship yet. I know it's been almost four years, but I'm not up to being that vulnerable."
"It's ok, Naomi. I'm not really suggesting that we jump into anything. We can start out slow, a movie or dinner or something. It'll be really relaxed; I won't expect anything. We can even just be friends."
She bites her lip in the way that I find adorable and nods. "That sounds good to me. I'll promise to try not to be so bipolar about the way I treat you; I really don't mean to be a bitch."
"So it's a date then? Not that it has to be a date, it could be a friend-date, not that friends go on dates, I just mean it would be a set time that we would be doing something, so-"
She cuts me off, "Yeah. Sometime next week?"
"I'll call you, ok?"
We fall into comfortable silence. Naomi pulls her iPod back out, but this time she hands me an earbud. "Care to listen?"
"Sounds good."
She hits play and I hear a familiar sound.
"It's Bearbot!" I exclaim. "You looked her up!"
"Yeah, well you had such rave reviews, so I thought I'd give them a try. I really like all the songs."
"Oh, me too. I like pretty much all of their songs." We continue to talk about bands for a while, then we get to the subject of movies and books, and before we know it we're landing. We go through all the formalities which takes fucking forever then we're free. Katie and Effy are already here, as our the parents. We're standing next to a taxi stand waiting for one to come.
"So this resort is about 15 miles from here, care to share a cab?"
"Yeah, of course."
We clamber into the cab when it comes, and resume our in-flight discussion.
"So then I say 'if you're going to act like a crack-headed carnival freak, go ahead and join the circus'. So he quit and here you are."
I laugh at her description of her previous PA. Sounds like she wasn't just a bitch to me, then.
"So you always treat your PAs this hard, then?"
"What? I don't treat you hard, this is a cushy position, ok?"
"Cushy, my ass. You're always yelling at me."
"Well it's because I got the maturity of a two year old, ok? I liked you so I yelled at you," she admits with an abashed grin. She chuckles, "I was hoping you wouldn't discover my hidden motives for picking on you."
"No, I thought you just hated me."
"Nah, I kind of had a crush since I met you on that train. You're pretty hot, you know."
"Well thank you, I agree," I say with a smile. I open my mouth to day something else, but I'm cut off by the driver.
"We're here," he says, "That'll be $45.00."
I reach into my purse to grab some money, but Naomi beats me to it.
"What? I've got shitloads of money."
She a gentleman, that's for sure. We make our way into the hotel when we see Effy and Katie sitting in the lobby.
"Oh my God, you're here!" Katie squeals loudly as she runs across the lobby, crashing into me as she gives me a bone crushing hug. "I can't believe it! You're here, we're here, and I'm getting married!"
"Don't wet yourself, hon," I say with a grin.
"Har, har, Ems."
Effy walks over and pulls Katie into her side, "Don't worry, I already made her put on her incontinence pants, didn't I, love?"
Katie scowls darkly, "You two are riot. Ha." Her face brightens, "I'm not letting you spoil my fun, though, I'm getting fucking married in one day"
"I think the fucking comes after the wedding, Katie," Naomi interjects, jabbing Effy in the ribs conspiratorially. Ew, gross, now I'm thinking of naked Effy again.
"You losers need to stop picking on me! It's my fucking wedding and you lot need to be at my beck and call, not picking on me!"
Naomi and I look at each other, raising our eyebrows. "Sure, Katie, sure."
Effy is looking at us with that damned mysterious look that seems to be perennially on her face. "So, what's going on with you two then?"
Naomi makes this big show of acting surprised. It seems she doesn't want Effy to know of the recent developments in our relationship. I'm all to happy to oblige; I don't want the Spanish Inquisition from Katie either.
"Nothing, Ef, nothing. We're just friendly. You know chatting. Like friends. Just as friends, you know?" Jesus Christ, she's flailing. Fucking awful liar.
"What she's trying to say is that, well, we've put aside our differences. We're going to be friends now, right Naomi?"
Effy looks unconvinced, simply raises her eyebrows and says, "Right."
"The reservation is under the name 'Emily Fitch'," I tell the woman at the front desk.
"Yes, ma'am, we have a reservation for a queen size bed under that name. Your room is 203, here's your key." I decide to wait for Naomi because I rather want to finish the conversation we were having on the plane.
"The name is 'Naomi Campbell'."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we have no record of a reservation under the name 'Naomi Campbell'."
Naomi turns to me, looking confused, and says, "Ems, what name did you put the reservation under?"
What? What name did I put the reservation under? "I don't get your meaning, Naomi, I didn't make your reservation."
Her eyes bulge out, "You didn't make the reservation? What the fuck!"
"Why would I have made your reservation?"
"I don't know, maybe because you're my personal assistant. I think that qualifies as assisting."
"Shit. Well obviously I didn't make the arrangement so I guess you'll just have to request a room now."
The receptionist clears her throat, "Um, sorry, ma'am, but we're clear booked up. I can try putting you in another hotel, but there aren't any around here."
"Fuck," Naomi swears angrily, "I'm blaming this entirely on you, Fitch."
"Hey, why don't you just stay in my room. I have a queen, that's big enough for both of us."
"I guess that will have to do. Shit, you can't be trusted with anything, can you?"
"Don't blame this on me, Naomi. You never told me I should make your reservation; I thought you were old enough to make it yourself. You're what, 28? Definitely old enough to plan your own vacation."
"First off, I'm 27, second, you're my fucking PA, making reservations is what you do!"
We continue to bicker until we get to the room. It's spacious and there's a beautiful view.
"So, what now?" I ask Naomi.
"I'm still pissed, you know. And I'm not sure, the rehearsal dinner is tonight, but before that we don't really have anything. I have some work I should do, but I think I'll go to the pool, it looks beautiful."
"I'll go too. You can change in the bathroom first."
When she comes out, I have to concentrate on not letting my jaw drop. She looks fucking sexy in her two piece red bikini. She bites her lip in the way I find utterly adorable, and asks, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
My mouth is suddenly dry. "Um, you know, just cuz you look kind of hot."
She smiles assuredly, "Yeah, I know. You, er, too."
I grin coyly, "Me what?"
"Jesus, you look hot, alright?" Her face is red; I love that I have that effect on her.
We make our way down to the pool where we see JJ, Pandora, and Thomas engaged in animated conversation.
"Hi, Jones, Moon, Tomone," Naomi says as she takes a seat.
"Bonkers, it's weird seeing you outside of work," Pandora exclaims excitedly.
"Yes, love, it is certainly different seeing Campbell in a bathing suit instead of her usual clothes."
"I can see your breasts rather well," JJ blurts out, though it's not clear which of us he's talking to, "Bobbins."
"Try and keep the eyes up here, buddy," I say to him, pointing at my face.
"Yes, I can try, but it is stimulating me sexually to be around such beautiful ladies when they are not wearing enough clothes to amount to the amount needed for me not to be excited."
Naomi raises her eyebrows. "Ok," she drags out. "I'll be over there in that cabana, drinking a strawberry daiquiri. Ems, you coming?"
We go over to the bar, get our drinks, and sit in the cabana. I begin to tan when I notice Naomi staring at me intently.
"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned.
"Nothing, it's just, well, it's just, you look really hot in that bikini."
I grin, life is good.
Sorry it's not that great...Please leave a review, it makes my day.
I poke Naomi again. "Naomi," I whine, "C'mon and get in the pool. It'll be refreshing."
"Emily! I've already told you like 5000 times that I'm not getting in. Give it up."
"But it won't be fun without you. Hey, I spot a grin right there. You know you want to get in."
"Shit, Fitch, you're too damn persistent. I'll get in, but my hair better not get wet."
"Yay!" I drag her over to the pool, then cautiously dip my toe in. "The water's perfect."
She puts her foot in the water, "What the hell are you talking about? It's freezing."
"That's why-" I shove her into the pool "-You have to get in all at once."
"You bitch, I'll get you back!" she squeals loudly as she splashes me. I take a running leap and cannonball into the pool, getting JJ and Panda wet. Naomi swims over to me with a 'come hither' look on her face. I lick my lips subconsciously and meet her halfway.
"Ems," she breathes out in a way that I find all too sexy, "Do you know what I want to do to you?"
She's right at my ear now, and without a care to our friends and coworkers who are watching, I start to melt into her body. No luck there. Naomi seizes my legs from in the water and completely dunks me under. I come up, gasping and spluttering, to find her grinning like a loon.
"That was fun," she manages to get out between laughs.
"Bitch!" I yell as I grab her from behind and shove her under the water. "How do you like them apples, asshat!"
JJ climbs cautiously into the pool as Naomi emerges from the water.
"Hey, Jay, we're having fun. Join us!" I shout over to him as he swims over.
"No, er, thanks. I've just eaten and there is a high probability of my getting stomach cramps if I engage in any physical activity."
"Lighten up," Naomi says, smiling.
"Naomi, you're acting very out of character. Has something happened that has changed you outlook? To be frank, normally you are, well, a bitch," he says, lowering his voice on the last word.
"Why the fuck wouldn't I be acting this way, JJ? I'm in the sun at my fucking best mate's wedding. Life is good!"
Ok, so now even I'm wondering if Naomi is bipolar. But I don't care either way, so I reach over and grab JJ's head and push him under.
"Not fair, Emily!" he cries out. "I wanted to know if you had any suntan lotion that I could borrow?"
"Yeah, sure, it's up in my red bag in the room. Here's my key." I clamber out of the water and retrieve the hotel passkey. JJ disappears for a few minutes, then returns with the lotion. He slathers himself up before jumping back in. Soon enough we have JJ, Pandora, Thomas, and even Freddie playing a massive game of "who can dunk the others more". It's gets to be later and we eventually have to leave to take showers before the rehearsal dinner.
"Go ahead, Naomi," I say once we get to the room, "You can shower first."
"Thanks."
I wrap myself in my towel and recline on the bed as I wait for her to be done. When she finally comes out, it's all I can do to not jump her bones right then and there. The towel is skimpy to say the least, and there are rivulets of water coming down her skin.
"Em. Ems. Emily!" she yells, "I'm out."
"Oh. Uh, yeah, I'll, uh, just go and uh, bathe now."
She smirks because she knows what she's doing to me. I climb in the shower and make sure it's cold because frankly I need a cold shower. I towel my hair off and walk back into the room. Naomi is channel flipping, still wearing the skimpy towel.
"Why didn't you change?" I ask, confused.
She turns to me for the first time, and her jaw drops. Without a word, she strides over to me and presses her lips to mine. I eagerly return the kiss, and deepen it. I push her back towards the bed, all the while keeping our lips firmly together. Naomi falls back against the bed as I continue to kiss her senseless.
"God," she moans out, "I never figured you to be a top."
"Better get used to it," I say as a lay soft kisses down her neck. We both still have our towels tightly wrapped around us, something I'm all to eager to change. We're both panting at this point, and I don't think I've ever been this fucking turned on. Naomi's eyes are practically black with desire. I straddle her waist as we passionately kiss. I make a move to take off her towel.
"Wait, Ems," she gasps out, "This isn't right."
"What's wrong, Naomi?" I'm confused, I admit it.
She bites her lip, "Well I feel stupid even suggesting this but, well..."
"Go on," I encourage.
"I want, well I want our first time to mean something. We haven't even gone on a date. I really like you and I don't want to ruin this by jumping into bed, ok?"
My heart melts. I lean down to kiss her, to tell her that I want the same thing, when I hear a noise.
"Shitification!" JJ is standing in the doorway, holding the key I gave him earlier.