A/N: Bit short, but I wanted to get something out before the weekend 'cos I'll be a bit busy. Have a happy holiday, everyone. :)
It took Naomi three days to pluck up the courage to ask Cook where her mobile was. He glanced warily at Emily, who shrugged then gave him a nod. Cook fished her phone out of his pocket and held it out to her.
"I called and said that we're old college friends, and that you've decided to stay with me for a bit," Emily told her. "Bit flimsy, but your mum seemed to buy it alright."
"Probably thinks I'm off saving the world," Naomi mumbled, chewing on a nail as she scrolled down through her slim contacts list until she reached her house number. Emily gave her a reassuring smile.
"At least you have family left." Her words hit Naomi square in the chest like a sledgehammer. She managed to keep her face from crumbling.
"Do you guys mind?" she asked. Emily tugged on Cook's sleeve and pulled him out of the room, shutting the door softly. Naomi took a deep breath and hit call.
"Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up," she chanted under her breath, her eyes squeezed shut and her free hand clenched at her side.
"Hello?" She exhaled abruptly in relief at hearing Gina's voice, a pang running through her chest.
"Mum?" Naomi blurted out, cursing how her voice cracked.
"Oh, hello Naomi dear! Your friend called last week, Emily her name was? Said you two ran into each other in town. Although I do wish you'd given me some notice before going off to travel. Where are you now?"
"Erm, in London staying with some of Emily's friends. From uni."
"That's lovely dear! I hope you're having fun. Oh, someone stole your telly again." Naomi couldn't help but laugh, although it came out strangled. "Do you know how long you'll be gone?"
"No, but I thought I'd, you know, check in."
"Are you okay, Naomi?" her mum asked. "You seem a bit off."
"Yeah, Mum. I just. Yeah."
"Alright, love, well I have to go get dinner on the table, got lots of mouths to feed. You know how it is. Call back soon."
"Mum?" Naomi said quickly before Gina could hang up.
"Yes, love?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too, Naomi," Gina replied. Naomi could hear her smiling. "Talk to you soon, love."
"Bye." The line went dead and Naomi slumped against the wall, wondering why she wasn't crying. Her chest and throat felt tight, and she was holding in sobs, but there were no tears. Although it made sense in some way. The dead couldn't cry. All that did was make her want to cry harder.
Naomi ran up to her room and hid under the covers on her bed, curled up in a ball with her phone clutched to her chest. She hated herself for crying, more-so for not being able to stop it when she heard a knock on the door. Naomi could smell Emily's perfume and the mixed scents of different people's blood that ran through the brunette's veins. The mattress shifted slightly with Emily's weight, and then the covers were being gently pulled away from Naomi's head.
"I'm sorry, Naomi," Emily said. "I know you miss her. I miss my mum, too. We'll do our best to help, but the progress you make largely depends on you."
"I'm surprised you're going to let me see her at all," Naomi mumbled.
"Traditionally it would be warned against, for obvious reasons," Emily told her. "But I can't say no to you."
"It's almost like you're my sire, you know," Naomi said softly. "Not Cook." Emily's face darkened slightly. "How do you do it?" she continued. "How do you control it? It fucking gnaws at me constantly."
"Yeah, it does that," Emily replied. "I don't know. I just... do. It's hard to explain. It's all about willpower. We can guide you, but that's it. You have to be strong."
"But what if I can't?"
"You don't have any choice." Naomi moved to pull the blankets back over her head but Emily's firm grip stopped her. "I know it's hard." The blonde sighed and scooted over slightly. Emily slipped into bed beside her. She seemed to be spending a lot of time in bed with Emily recently. Naomi almost outwardly cringed at how that sounded. They were close enough that Emily's shoulder was brushing against her arms.
"Will you tell me about your mum?" Naomi asked. "It's only fair." Emily bit her lip then opened her mouth to speak, but her phone buzzing urgently in her pocket interrupted. Emily answered immediately, sitting up slightly and supporting her weight with her elbow.
"Effy, hey," she said, frowning slightly.
"They're close to the house," Naomi heard Effy's voice say on the other end of the line. She sounded slightly panicked, although her words were enough to instil a sense of fear deep in Naomi's stomach.
"What? Where? How many?"
"Five. Freddie said he saw them a few blocks away when he was out. He just got back. I don't know how they got wind of us but they're getting clos-" Naomi heard the sound of glass breaking and a loud boom. The line went dead. Naomi was sure that Emily's face would have gone white as a sheet if it wasn't like that to begin with.
"Cook!" she yelled, sprinting out of bed. Naomi followed automatically. "Katie! We need to go, now!" Naomi arrived at the bottom of the stairs as Cook and Katie shot out the door. Naomi squinted at the light. Emily stopped next to her, then glanced at the door.
"We can't leave you here," she said quickly. "We have to risk it."
"We?" Naomi said uncertainly. Emily extended her hand. Hesitantly, Naomi took it and let Emily pull her towards the open door. Naomi sunk her teeth into her lip so hard she was surprised she didn't break the skin and squeezed her eyes shut as her and Emily stepped into the daylight.