A/N: HELLOOOOOOOOOO?

Okay, so huge apologies for taking soooooo long to update. As usual, real life popped up to say hi and time just got away from me:( anyways, I want you all to know that as a way to apologise, I wrote the rest of this chapter out whilst on my way down to New Orleans...

yes, family vacation here in the Big Easy! And trust me, I needed a vacay!

Anyways, huge shout out to my partner in crime and bff, MsWitsEnd, because she's a total gem and my life would suck without her:)

And another shout out to dammit naomily, because she's so precious :)

Chapter 10: The Truth We Try So Hard To Hide

Emily slipped out of bed as quietly as she could, trying her best to not wake up Naomi. She hated sneaking out like this, but she was going to late to class if she didn't get a move on. Also, she knew that if she came in one more time whilst her parents were having breakfast, she'd have some explaining to do.

She found her clothes scattered throughout the room and smiled as she started getting dressed and thought about the night before.

Naomi had texted her after Gina had gone to bed and asked her to come over, but Emily had told her no. Whatever this thing was between them was causing sleep deprivation for them both and Emily wanted at least one day where she didn't fall asleep in class.

There had been no reply text from Naomi so, Emily got ready for bed, tucking up with a book and started reading. She was a hair away from falling asleep when she heard something hit the window. Emily rolled over and snuggled into her pillow when she heard it again.

Something was hitting her window. Repeatedly.

Emily jumped out of bed and rushed to the window, looking out trying to pinpoint what was making the noise, when she caught a flash of silver from down below her and smiled even as she rolled her eyes.

"Naoms, what are you doing?" Emily asked quietly as she opened the window and leant out a bit.

"I'm trying to be a clichéd romantic here, Emmybear." Naomi responded cheekily. "I read it in a book and thought, what the hell? I'd climb up the trellis but there isn't a trellis in sight."

Emily laughed as she shook her head. "You're a dork. I didn't know you were a cheesy git as well."

"Come on over and play, Emmybear." Naomi asked, just like when they were younger.

"Naomi, aren't you tired of playing yet?" Emily asked, with a saucy smile and a wink, making Naomi laugh.

"I honestly don't think I could ever getting tired of playing with you." It was said with so much sincerity that Emily felt her heart speed up and her resolve crumble, as Naomi continued. "C'mon, Ems. I promise we won't be up too late. I just want to wake up with you in the morning."

The blonde had pleaded very adorably, as a matter fact and Emily found that she didn't have the heart or the will power to deny Naomi anything. A few minutes later, Emily made her way downstairs and out of the Fitch home, to where Naomi waited patiently for her by her backdoor.

Naomi had been true to her word, they hadn't stayed up too late, but they did manage to tire themselves out quickly. As Emily slipped her shoes on, she smiled over at the sleeping blonde. She felt bad for slipping out without waking her so she looked around for something to write on, coming up with a heart-shaped stack of post-it notes and chuckled quietly whilst writing three simple words and a smiley face and placed it on the pillow Emily had used.

Emily slept here : )

Katie boarded the train and sighed in relief when she found an open seat. Thankfully, no one was sitting next to her, so she placed her bag in the empty seat and prepared to head home. It was the end of her first year and Katie couldn't wait relax. Although, to be honest, she wouldn't be able to relax properly until she came clean with Emily.

She'd had a lengthy conversation with Tony about it all before she left London, whilst they made breakfast and sat together. Katie kept going over it as the train headed to Bristol and she hoped that this wouldn't blow up in her face.

"Are you sure this is want you wanna do, Katie?" Tony asked as he placed a pan full of scrambled eggs on the table between them and took a seat. "This is a major move for you, yeah?"

Katie swiped a piece of toast off the tray in front of her and scooped some of the eggs onto her plate. "I know, Tone," she took a bite and chewed quickly, giving herself a minute to think, "it's just that…with Emily back in Bristol, you and Anthea are really all that's here. I mean, let's face it, a degree is a degree no matter where I get it from, yeah?"

Tony nodded along, agreeing with her. "I think you and Cookie-boy need to be honest with Emily, though. I don't think you're going to be very happy at all unless you do that." He stated around a mouthful of eggs, his freakishly clear blue eyes boring into her. "What's your plan for that?"

"I'm hoping it'll be as simple as 'Hey, Emsy…remember how you kept insisting that Cook was a good guy and that I should date him? Well, surprise!' but I realise that it might not be that easy." Katie grimaced, chewing her food. "Although, it might not be as bad as that, with her spending all her spare time with Campbell and all."

Tony laughed and Katie understood the silliness of her situation and laughed along with him. They finished their breakfast, avoiding the topics of Cook and Emily and just enjoyed each other's company for the last time.

He helped her finish packing and promised that he'd drive her stuff to Bristol the following week and then escorted her to the train station. He was sad that she was leaving, it was almost like when Effy moved away and he felt like he was losing a piece of himself. Katie had wiggled her way into his life, becoming another sister in the short time she lived there.

"Well, this is me." Katie said as the announcement over the tannoy informed Bristol bound passengers that their train was now loading. "Thanks for everything, Tones."

Tony leant down and wrapped the young girl into a hug that she returned. "I'm gonna miss you, squirt. Seriously miss you."

Katie felt a lump form in her throat at Tony's words, honestly touched. "I'm gonna miss you too, you big lug. I'll see you next week, yeah? We'll go out, drag Effy with us and maybe Emsy and Naomi if we can get them to come." Tony agreed and Katie got on the train, finding an empty seat.

Once she got settled, Katie looked out the window and saw Tony waiting on the platform. She smiled at her friend, giving him a wave as the train pulled away. It didn't take long for her to become bored with the passing scenery, so she pulled out her mobile and tried calling Cook only to sigh when it went straight to voicemail because he was at work.

The closer the train got to Bristol, the more nervous she became, because she hadn't told anyone her plans. Not Emily, or her parents and especially not Cook. She wanted to surprise him, show him that she was ready to be fully serious about them.

Effy watched, a slight smirk on her face, as Naomi and Emily stood in the bathroom, stealing kisses from each other. It amazed her how beautiful they looked together, but then again, she always knew that the two of them would be brilliant if they ever manage to pull their heads out long enough.

She had a feeling something had changed between them the following Monday after they had spent the weekend rolling around on a forest floor. 'Seriously? Could Naomi get anymore butch?' Effy asked herself, quietly chuckling at the image of Naomi Campbell in the great outdoors.

Emily sprang away from Naomi when she heard the laughter from Effy. "Um…sorry, Effs…I was jus-,"

"Save it, Emsy." Effy cut her off before the poor girl started stuttering. "You should know that I see everything and even if I was blind, right now I'd still be able to see the sparks you're throwing off."

Naomi laughed, because "blushing Emily" was fucking adorable. "It's true, babes…Effy's always been a bit of a mind reader." She shook her head as she remembered the first time Effy had used that particular skill on her, but then smiled at the brunette. "What brings you in here?"

Effy merely raised a delicately sculpted eyebrow. "I'm sorry, but this is the employees washroom, right?" She asked, inclining her head toward the cubicles. "I didn't realise we were taking appointments for the loo now. Oh, wait!" She exclaimed as her eyes went wide.

She started patting herself down, reaching into her pockets and looking confused, until Emily stopped her with a question. "What the fuck you doing, Effs?"

"I need you to listen to me, Emily!" Effy reached out and placed her hands on Emily's shoulders, looking more serious than either Emily or Naomi had ever seen the brunette. "I need you to get a message to the Dog Lord of Azerbaijan! He's got my toilet ticket!"

Emily stared at Effy as if the brunette had lost her mind and she was actually concerned for Effy, until Naomi's barely contained laughter broke free, echoing in the tiled bathroom. "What the fuck, Effy?" Emily snapped out, pushing the older girl's hands away from her when Effy started smirking and flinching away from Naomi when she tried to wrap her arms around Emily. "I thought you were serious!"

Effy's smirk transformed into a smile and she giggled. "I'm sorry, Emsy, but you looked so scared there for a minute."

Emily glared at her and Naomi. "Of course I looked scared, you twat! I just got caught by one boss making out with another boss!" She stated, crossing her arms in front of her, her body tense. "That's not normal workplace behaviour, is it?" Naomi and Effy glanced at each other before laughing again, causing Emily to groan in frustration and turn to leave.

"Babes, I'm sorry…," Naomi pushed herself off the counter and chased Emily to the door before she could open it, as Effy went into a cubicle, "I didn't mean to laugh, yeah?" She said, stopping Emily by grasping her shoulders and ducking her head to place a kiss along the side of Emily's neck.

Emily was paranoid. She knew it, but she couldn't help it. It had been a couple weeks since her and Naomi first slept together and her secret was weighing heavily on her, along with the fact that she hadn't been able to talk with Cook, or Katie for that matter. It almost felt as if they were avoiding her and she couldn't shake that feeling no matter how hard she tried.

"I've gotta go, Naoms." She said quietly, trying to break free.

"Not till you accept my apology, Emmybear." Naomi whispered in her ear, making sure that only Emily heard her.

"Fine...yes, I accept your apology. Okay?" Emily replied, feeling childish all of a sudden. "Now, for real…I've gotta get back to work, yeah? I have to finish up before I head to the centre tonight."

"How much longer till that's done?" Effy asked, stepping out and over to the sink to wash her hands, catching her eyes with Naomi's and Emily's in the mirror. "Aren't you almost through with your community service?"

Emily nodded and shrugged. "Only a couple more days to go, really. It'll be so weird not having to go there after so many months."

Effy walked over to them and looked to be in deep thought. "We should celebrate when you're finished, though." She suggested with a smile. "Maybe gather the group and head out for a night on the town."

"Yeah, that sounds brilliant. Whatdya think, Ems?" Naomi asked excitedly, liking the idea of hitting the town, forgetting that the group included Cook. "Katie'll be home then."

Emily gave the matter serious thought. Yes, Katie would be home for the summer, but a night out with everyone meant acting like nothing happened between her and Naomi. She wouldn't be able to kiss her just because she felt like it or touch her or…

"Ems?"

…gaze longingly at her. Nope, she would definitely have to push that need aside…

"Emily?"

…and how would she be able to go back to how things were before she and Naomi changed them? How would she not give herself away to everyone else, yet still keep her secret from Naomi?

"Emily!"

Naomi snapped Emily out of her racing thoughts looking between the blonde and brunette, seeing their faces with amusement written all over them. "W-what? I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Effy shook her head, having a clue about what Emily was thinking, and decided to take pity on her. "I said, I'll sort it out and let you both know the details, yeah?"

"Oh, yeah…right." Emily mumbled, again feeling childish. "I'll see you guys later."

Naomi watched as Emily gave her a small smile and left the washroom, leaving her and Effy alone.

"So, things going alright then?" Effy asked, grabbing Naomi's attention.

Naomi blushed, feeling ridiculous for feeling like a schoolgirl, but the smile she sported was unstoppable. "Fuck, Effs…I know I've loved her for like, ever, but these past few weeks have been…," she trailed off looking for the right way to explain it.

Effy saw the dreamy look in her friend's eyes. "You're in love with her." She stated so simply, causing Naomi's smile to grow wider.

"Yes." Naomi confirmed. "I'm completely in love with her. So, now I wonder do I tell her the truth or do I just let it be?"

Effy sighed, because she knew that neither one of them had told the other the truth. "Secrets, why does everyone have them?" She muttered to herself, causing Naomi to look at her in confusion. Effy brushes aside the unasked question that she knew was on the tip of Naomi's tongue. "You have to figure that out for yourself, Nai." She replied, checking her hair in the mirror. "For now, we've got a meeting to get to."

Naomi pushed herself off the counter and switched into business mode, making Effy smile, and they both left the washroom, content for the moment.

"Emily, could you check and see if I left the sign-up sheet for the after-school program in the office?" Jenna asked absently, as she gathered up what she needed for a meeting with a local school counsellor. When she turned, she noticed that Emily had a far away look in her eye. "Love?"

Emily jumped as her mum prodded her. "What?"

Jenna chuckled and gestured to the clipboard on the desk. "I need that, love."

Emily had been distracted since she had arrived and Jenna was pretty sure she knew the reason why, but she wasn't about to say anything unless Emily did first.

"Oh. Sorry." Emily said, shrugging off her thoughts and grabbed the clipboard, passing it over without another word.

Jenna cocked her head and wondered why her daughter looked so sad. "Emily, is everything alright?" Okay, so she asked first, but Emily drifted off again and it concerned her.

"What?" Emily watched her mum stop walking and look at her.

"Is there something you wanna talk about?"

Emily shook her head, ready to deny that anything was wrong, but then thought better of it. "Mum, I think I'm in serious trouble." She said, feeling her throat close up as the sadness she'd been feeling lately welled up and she broke into tears. "Naomi's gonna hate me."

Jenna watched completely shocked by the outburst, but knowing what Emily was talking about. She knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before something changed between the two girls. She wrapped her daughter into a legendary Fitch Hug and just comforted her as Emily told her everything.

"What am I gonna do, Mum?" Emily asked after she cried most of her tears. "I know I need to tell her the truth, but…,"

Jenna pulled out of the hug and looked at her daughter when she trailed off. "But what, Emsy?"

"I'm in love with her and the thought of her hating me is making me sick. What do I do, Mum?"

Jenna felt her heart break for Emily, but this was her fault, as much as Jenna wanted to make this better, she knew that only Emily could fix it. "Emily, my beautiful child, this is something you've got to work out for yourself."

"I figured as much." Emily mumbled as she buried her head in the crook of Jenna's neck and felt new tears fall.

Katie ran out of the house as soon as she saw Cook walk up the pavement. She was positively beaming as she rushed out to him and jumped into his arms. Their lips came together as they stood next to the Fitch house, not caring in that moment about the world around them.

She was finally able to get ahold of him shortly after getting home. They were both so nervous and excited, because Katie decided that they were going to tell Emily the truth about their relationship this weekend and Cook couldn't wait.

He wanted to be able to proudly show off his girlfriend. He wanted to be able to properly take her out when she was home from school and not have to sneak around. And he wanted to sit at the eight-seat dinner table comfortably during family dinners, without having to make sure not to brush up against Katie too many times under everyone's watchful gaze.

Katie pulled away from him slightly, gasping for air. "Hello, babes."

Cook barked out his trademarked laugh. "Hello, Katiekins. Did ya miss me?" He asked as he cradled her in his arms, relishing the feel of her legs around his waist.

Katie rolled her eyes and scoffed loudly. "You know I did. You didn't miss me?" She pouted adorably and Cook felt his heart speed up.

"Ya know I did, sugar. I miss you every minute I'm not with you." Cook said bashfully, he could feel his face heating up. "C'mon…your parents won't be home for a few hours yet and Jamie's gone to Gordon MacPherson's place." He set Katie down and followed her into the house, intent on making the most of the moment.

The backdoor slammed behind them making a cracking sound in the quiet of the afternoon, neither Katie or Cook noticed the girl making her way up round the corner of the house.

Naomi stood frozen, shock and anger warring deep inside her.

She had stayed at work, finishing off a couple of projects, knowing that it would be a couple of hours before Emily would be home. But it seemed that she was home already, not at the centre, like she was supposed to be.

"Ya know I did, sugar. I miss you every minute I'm not with you… c'mon…your parents won't be home for a few hours yet…"

Cook's words echoed in her ears and Naomi had never felt such hatred for another person. She wasn't stupid. Naomi knew that Cook was still in the picture, but since it hadn't been stopping her from being with Emily, he was easy to ignore, but now? Now she couldn't be blissfully unaware that Emily wasn't really hers.

'Jesus, the look on Cook's face as he followed Emily into the house!' she thought to herself, as her heart lurched wildly in her chest. 'He's in love with her!'

Naomi stood in between the houses, staring up to Emily's window, knowing that her and Cook were up there right this moment, doing what straight couples do and she hated it. She needed to not be there.

The urge to run was so strong, but she was paralyzed as the fear of losing Emily became a tangible possibility and she knew she wasn't going anywhere except inside the Fitch house. It took her a few more minutes to push herself forward, but when she did, Naomi pulled open the door with such force, she thought she'd rip it off its hinges.

As she made her way upstairs, the thought of strangling Cook was so powerful, that she clenched her fists open and closed, and when she got to the top landing she headed straight to Emily's room and didn't even bother to knock on the closed door. She flung it opened, expecting to find Emily and Cook fucking, but the room was empty.

Naomi looked around confused, and then stepped inside to check the en suite and the closet, but she found no one. "What the fuck is going on?" She asked herself quietly, as she stood there dumb founded.

She looked around the room for a few more minutes, taking in all the pictures that Emily had tacked to the walls all around and smiled as she saw that most of them were of her and Emily. But the ones of Cook made her anger flare up again, so she shook her head and decided to wait until she could talk to Emily.

Because no matter what, Emily couldn't fake the kind of emotion, the kind of passion that she had shown Naomi, the blonde was sure of that, so she left Emily's room and started to make her way back downstairs and over to her house, when a noise at the end of the hall stopped her in her tracks. It was faint and it was coming from Katie's room.

Another quiet sound drifted from the room, causing tears to spring into Naomi's eyes, because she had heard that sound before. Last night, as a matter of fact, and she knew. She just knew that Emily and Cook were in there.

Naomi reached the door at the end of the hall, without realising that she had even started moving, and turned the handle, pushing the door open. She was floored by the sight before her.

"What the fuck are you doing!" Naomi couldn't help herself, her need to protect Emily was always greater than her need to protect herself, and at that moment, she needed to hurt the two people who were hurting Emily.

Katie flew off of Cook and scrambled to cover herself, looking over at Cook, nervously. "Naomi, what…what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Naomi roared, stepping further into the room, her eyes sliding over to Cook. "And you! How could you does this to her?"

Cook made no move, but he knew that he had to step lightly here. "Naomikins, its not what you think?"

Naomi rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of herself, if only to stop her from clenching and unclenching her fists again. "Oh, I'm sorry. Were you two knitting a fucking jumper? Because to me, it looked like you were getting your dick damp! What's the matter, Cook? Not enough skanks in the club these days, you gotta cheat on Emily a little closer to home?"

"Now wait a fucking minute, blondie-,"

"Don't you fucking "Blondie" me! You don't deserve Emily!" Naomi spat out before turning back to Katie. "And really, Katie? You've treated Emily like shit for as long as I've known you-,"

"That's not true!" Katie tried to defend herself, but Naomi wasn't having any of it.

"Yes it is and you know it!" Naomi told her, fighting the urge to strangle the both of them. "You know what? You don't deserve Emily either! You know what? Fuck you both!" Naomi shouted and turned to leave.

"They're not together!" Katie shouted.

Naomi stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around, unsure she heard Katie correctly. "What?"

"Don't do this, babe." Cook said quietly. "It's not our place to say anything.

"Bullshit, James. I can't keep these secrets anymore and I refuse to have Campbell cheapen what's between us."

"But not like this, Kay. It has to come from Emily." Cook pleaded with her. "Look, Naomi…can you give us a minute to get dressed?"

Naomi looked back and forth between the two of them, playing Katie's words on a loop.

'They're not together!'

Over and over again.

"No, James!" Katie spoke sharply, standing up to face Naomi. "Look, Emily and James are not together as a couple, okay?"

"What the fuck are you talking about, Katie? Of course they are!"

"Did she ever once tell you that her and Cook were dating? Did you ever once think to ask?" Katie asked, knowing for a fact that she hadn't and Emily had never told her the truth. It had always been another way for Emily to protect her stupid secret. "The two of you are so obvious, have always been so-,"

"Enough!" Naomi roared, effectively shutting Katie up, "how dare you turn this around on Emily? You know what, I'm done here, Katie." Naomi turned and started leaving the room. "You either tell Emily or I will." She shouted over her shoulder as she stormed down the stairs, leaving a stunned Katie and Cook in her wake.

Alright, I know it's not much, just a filler chapter really to get us to the next part of the story but I did want to get something up for you guys.

I know I'm the worst writer and the length of time between updates suck, and I can only say sorry for that, but I will finish this story and CN...so thank you all for sticking with me and reading. I appreciate each and every one of you guys.