Sorry for the delay I'd love to say I'll do better next time but you know I won't! Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter, it took me a while to finally decide on how to approach what happens in this chapter which is the main cause for delay, that and I went away for a few days.
I hope this doesn't disappoint, back to third person for this as it's just easier to write and it seems more preferable.
Naomi still couldn't quite believe what had happened at the club a couple of weeks ago but she knew it was true, she'd had the tender knuckles to remind her that she had indeed punched that bitch full on in the face. Even now it bought a smile to her face and left her with a bounce in her step. She was feeling good about herself confident and dare she even say it pretty darn happy, which was surreal and in such contrast to how she had left for more time than she dared admit.
Naomi had now had a couple of encounters with Emily recently and when she'd been telling Effy about them she realised that Emily's actions towards had been anything but hostile despite the fact that they had felt a little tense and awkward at the time. Though there was still chemistry there. at least for her she couldn't vouch for Emily but her skin felt alive after Emily had graced her with the briefest of touches again and in that moment if it were possible everything would have been forgotten. Maybe it was the drugs in her system that made the feeling even more acute than their previous meeting or maybe it was that she saw that glimmer in Emily's eyes that she used to tell herself was reserved for her only. Either way the result was once again she was completely infatuated with the red head from her past. But there was obviously still the problem that Emily wasn't available and that bitch still had her dirty paws all over her.
Despite that cog in the works things were still looking up, she had applied for a job in a local bookstore, nothing too ambitious she was just looking for something to pass the time whilst she waited for her next enrolment at uni to come around. With Effy busy studying she was feeling rather bored. Money wasn't a concern after all but being in the same house she had shared with her mother wasn't somewhere she could spend her days doing nothing, as doing nothing almost always resulted in thinking about everything and that was never a good thing, so distraction was key.
As for Effy her studies seemed to be going extremely well the only problem was, for Effy with knowledge comes power, not only did she already have the uncanny ability to know exactly what Naomi was thinking but now she had learnt the talent to get Naomi to voice what she was thinking without her even realising it was happening, that was until afterwards and Effy would be sat there with the smuggest expression plastered all over her face that it was clear Naomi had been rumbled yet again.
Cook had also been around a lot; it seemed that he loved having his two favourite women he didn't get to shag around him. Cook had actually found himself a job, something about someone he knew setting him up and it being the perfect way to get a good fuck, Naomi wasn't sure and she hadn't really been paying attention. He also seemed to be in a stupidly good mood and was no longer proposing to 'stick it' to 'em and no mentions of anymore non lezzer willy waggles either. Naomi needed to propose that Effy use her new talents on him to find out just what was going on rather than keeping getting her to spill whatever it was on her mind.
Naomi was in good spirits and tonight the three of them were going out to celebrate the fact they were all officially back together, she had a feeling that this celebration was going to be a regular occurrence, something which brought yet another smile to her face.
Last weekend the three of them had hired a van and travelled back to Manchester to clear out their stuff, Cook had of course insisted on a night out on the town but seemed sorely disappointed when the most action he got was a very handsome fellow called Gareth who appeared to have an almost unnatural attraction to Cook's arse, in the way that he just couldn't stop touching it. Somehow taking Cook to Canal Street had just seemed like the perfect payback to his incessant whining about going out and getting fucked, though maybe Effy and Naomi had been a little bit sadistic in trying to get him the literal translation of what he wanted 'getting fucked' that is.
Putting the finishing touches to her makeup Naomi checked her appearance in the mirror satisfied with the result of her efforts, finishing off by spraying her perfume she headed downstairs to wait for the others.
Upon walking into the kitchen Naomi was graced with the sight of Effy sitting on the side looking out the window, a bottle of corona in her hands and a spliff hanging from her mouth.
"Who said you could start without me?" she questioned Effy just pointed to the open bottle next to her which she had already opened for Naomi, as always pre-empting her needs "it's not my fault you take fucking ages to get your shit together" Effy retorted after taking another toke from the spliff and then passing it across to Naomi.
"Ha ha very funny" Naomi replied before taking a long drag on the spliff and then passing it back across to Effy who had jumped down from the kitchen side and pulled a bottle of tequila from the cupboard and poured them shots "You've got catching up to do Naomes" she informed her before placing both shots in front of Naomi with her eyebrows raised in challenge "tequila... it makes you happy" Naomi just shook her head at the cheesiness of her friend and downed the shots one after the other biting back the burning sensation as they lit a trail of fire down her throat. "Gah, tequila might make you happy Ef but it makes me want to fucking puke" this just earned her a chuckle from Effy who seemed to find the whole situation highly amusing as she poured two more shots out one for each of them this time and raised her glass to Naomi to indicate that she was to join her. Fortunately at that exact point there was a knock at the door "saved by the bell" Naomi smirked and poked her tongue out but Effy as per usual just looked amused at her as if she knew something that she didn't.
Opening the door she was met with the toothy grin of Cook and a full bottle of Jack thrust at her, Cook just waggled his eyebrows and pushed passed the blonde heading to the kitchen. "Bitches the cookie monsters here, its time to get this fucking party started" as he picked up both shots from the table and downed them both without any hesitation followed by snatching the spliff from Effy and happily puffing away on it until he finally stubbed the butt out in the ashtray.
"So how are my beautiful ladies?" Cook questioned excitedly looking from one woman to the other eagerly awaiting their replies as he poured out some more tequila into the two shot glasses on the table and then a third which Effy had supplied without request. Having received no response he shoved the shot glasses in front of each of them and then downed his looking at them both waiting for them to follow suit. Effy was first, throwing her shot back and slamming the glass down on the table and then both Effy and Cook turned their attention to Naomi who finally reached down and threw her own shot back grimacing at the taste.
"Excellent" Cook added rubbing his hands together as he reached for the bottle and refilled the glasses; the next hour followed a similar pattern with all 3 finally polishing off the bottle of tequila and then making short work of the bottle of Jack, which went down with much more pleasure for the blonde. Whether that was due to the fact that she actually liked Jack or the fact that the back of her throat was by now so scorned by the tequila that she couldn't feel any burn from the jack. Either way the bottle was polished off quickly along with a few more spliffs that had been shared along the way.
Naomi didn't even remember leaving her house let alone the trip to the club but here she was leaning against Effy and Cook dancing away with the masses feeling the beat of the music thumping in her bones. Cook had delivered the goods, something to help the day go by and keep her in good spirits. She swayed her hips in time to the music or at least she thought she was, glancing around she saw Cook who was as per usual pressed up against some poor unsuspecting victim who would soon enough find herself bouncing ferociously on cooks lap from the look of things. Rolling her eyes she turned to face Effy and pointed over her shoulder at Cook which just earned her a grin from Effy before she leant in and slurred in her ear "Victim numero uno" Naomi let out a throaty laugh and leaned more heavily on Effy engulfing her in a hug who laughed along with her.
Something caught Naomi's eye over Effy's shoulder, Katie Fitch and stood next to her at the bar was Emily, which sent her mind spiralling out of control with excited thoughts about the red head and their last encounter here in this very club. She continued leaning on Effy as her thoughts sank back to that point in time, the way Emily had hesitantly said her name, the way she had looked at her with those deep pools of brown full of concern. The feeling of fire on her skin left from the touch of Emily's palm on the side of her face and the way she had leant into that palm and old feelings had stirred within her, feelings that had never left but feelings she had worked hard to push down below the surface so people wouldn't see how much she was hurting.
Lost in her thoughts she didn't register that they had changed positions and now Effy was facing the bar, talking to her and telling her something whilst her gaze was focused behind her, she didn't register any of this as her mind was completely wrapped up in Emily who had the power to occupy her thoughts single handed.
She felt Effy release her and pull her towards the bar where she ordered them a couple of drinks and then turned to face the dance floor to watch Cook still grinding against the girl he had found earlier whilst gesturing crudely at them that he was going to fuck her before the pair of them disappeared from the dance floor and headed to the back of the club, lovely she thought idly before her thoughts turned back to the red head that she had spotted only moments ago. In moving around Naomi had lost track of the redhead but she was sure that she was here somewhere still, she wondered idly if she was here with Mandy but dismissed the idea as surely they would have been at the bar together. Instead she leant against the bar with Effy sipping her drink and watched the dancing crowd all jumping and swaying to the beat of the music, after a while she felt Effy tap on her arm and then point in another direction where she shortly after headed to leaving Naomi at the bar with a now empty drink in hand bobbing her head to the beat an almost goofy smile on her face.
Katie had dragged Emily out again back to the same club they always visited, mainly because Katie loved it here and she almost always got preferential treatment, no queuing to get in, no waiting at the bar for hours to get served it was perfect for her. As usual Katie had dragged her to the bar instantly for the now traditional jagerbomb. Without realising what she was doing she found herself searching the crowd for peroxide blonde hair and it didn't take long to find it. The first couple of people she had spied hadn't been who she was looking for but on the third attempt she saw the object of her desire and her heart dropped a little when she realised that her arms were wrapped around another woman.
Their eyes met for a second and she felt herself get lost as each second passed by in the never ending electric blue pools that she would happily drown in. As she took the drink thrust at her by Katie she threw it back and then continued to stare at the pair a pang of jealousy that it wasn't her in Naomi's arms and it was only when Naomi's back was to her that Emily realised that it was Effy in her arms. Without hesitation Emily had grabbed the other drink from Katie and stormed off in anger to another part of the club well away from the blonde and the infuriating brunette who was always attached to Naomi these days.
Effy had of course seen the exchange and that - more than anything - infuriated Emily further, Effy was incredibly perceptive something that she had learnt long ago in college and one thing she never wanted was Effy knowing how much it hurt to see Naomi with someone else. She downed the drink she had and then reached into her bag and rummaging about for something but coming up empty. It was then that she saw Cook about to pass her by and an idea struck her. Throwing herself at Cook she greeted him enthusiastically and he returned it with another bone crushing hug. Not wasting any time she leaned in close to Cook ignoring the bitch next to Cook who was currently sending evils her way "Cook you got anything stronger than that shit behind the bar?" Cook just pulled back and smirked at her before pulling a pill from his pocket and placing it on his tongue and waggling his eyebrows at her. Emily just rolled her eyes at him, but she wanted the pill so leaned in and pressed her mouth to his for the sole purpose of receiving the pill. She pulled away as soon as she had it and swallowed it greedily before adding a nod and wave of thanks as Cook continued on his way.
Emily stood and considered that she would have never done that before, if Mandy had ever found out it would have been more trouble that it was worth and in that moment her spirits lifted she could kiss, dance with and fuck who ever she damn well pleased now, even if the one person she wanted to do that with was still currently just out of her reach, shaking her head of her thoughts she turned and headed into the crowd losing herself in the music, dancing this time to the beat of her own drum as she felt the pill begin to take effect. She felt people dancing against her suggestively and responded in kind just because she could now. She grabbed the girl in front of her dancing, she wasn't bad looking maybe a 7 or 8 out of 10 a little taller than her, slender yet shapely figure with knee high boots that only highlighted the form of her legs. Placing her arms around her neck she pulled the other girl a little closer and placed one thigh in between the other as she swayed and dipped suggestively getting lost in the moment, her head thrown back and watching the lights dance across the ceiling and around the walls.
It wasn't long however before someone grabbed her roughly and spun her around and for a moment she wondered just exactly what was going on until she was met with the stern blue eyes of Effy Stonem. "Effy! How nice to see you" she proclaimed disdain evident in her voice a smug expression on her face at using Effys own words against her. Effy however just raised an eyebrow and decided to ignore the question instead giving the brunette behind Emily a scolding look so she backed away into the crowd.
"What the fuck are you playing at Emily" and Emily was confused? What was she playing at? She was just here minding her own business having a good time ignoring the fact that Effy was draped all over the woman she craved. She was fucked off now and the alcohol had done nothing but fuel the fire within her "Fuck you Effy" she spat at the brunette who wasn't at all phased by the comment, instead she leant in close and whispered in her ear "Fuck you right back" before pulling back and smirking at her, and then pointing towards the bar "she's over there, don't fuck it up Fitch or this time I just might hit you over the head with a rock" with that she turned and stalked off back the way she came.
Emily just stood stock still confused and lost, what the fuck had just happened? Had Effy just pointed her in the direct of Naomi? She felt a rush of excitement that she knew where Naomi was and that this time Effy wasn't going to step in her path, and there was no Mandy issue anymore it appeared she was free to pursue Naomi to her heart's content. Not wasting anytime she pulled herself together and headed to the bar in search of the blonde.
Naomi was still at the bar trying to get the attention of the staff to get another drink but her efforts were fruitless, maybe it was a sign that she shouldn't drink anymore instead she decided to turn her back on the bar and survey the crowd searching for Effy. As she stood there still bobbing her head away to the music she felt a glass thrust into her hand. She turned to see who had given it to her and instantly she froze, the glass slipping from her hands and smashing on the floor the liquid spilling over her shoes and feet.
"I told you I'd make you pay" Mandy added before she looped an arm around Naomi's shoulder and pulled her into the crowd against her will, her drunken state leaving her at a severe disadvantage to fight back against the woman of similar stature to her.
Once they were in the crowd Mandy spun her around and walked towards her aggressively before Naomi knew it her back was pressed against a wall and it was then that Naomi's foggy mind really took in the situation, over Mandys shoulder were two rather butch looking women who seemed to have their eyes trained on Naomi and no amount of wishful thinking was going to make them turn and walk away or begin dancing with one another.
Naomi looked around at the crowd thinking that someone might notice the bizarre situation playing out in front of them, but she was disappointed in her realisation that everyone was so high or drunk and wrapped up in the music that they didn't even notice her or the three thugs stood around her. With the flashing lights and the pumping music she realised that no amount of shouting or screaming was going to draw attention either, she was running out of options and Mandy knew it, she was staring at Naomi arms crossed smugly across her chest. It was within moments that she took a step forwards and curled her fist into a ball burying it swiftly into Naomi's midsection knocking the wind out of her. As Naomi curled in on herself she gasped struggling to regain her breath but before she had a chance a knee connected with the side of her head, she was dazed and confused her head throbbing in pain, she felt herself being lifted off the floor her arms draped over someone's shoulders as she was carried no scratch that dragged towards what she presumed to be the entrance to the club.
Mandy turned to the bouncers giving them a sickly sweet smile, "never could hold her drink this one" she added a thumb over her shoulder to Naomi who was being held up weak kneed and unsteady on her feet her head throbbing and her breath coming in short sharp bursts.
The bouncers just looked at Naomi and shook their heads as if they were disappointed at her and stepped aside for the group to leave before turning their attention back to the club not watching where they had left, as if they had they would have seen the group walk a little further down the road and then into an alley way.
Naomi was all but thrown on the cold damp floor instantly raising herself onto all fours as she struggled to control her breathing her head still foggy. It was then that she felt her chin being pulled up roughly "now about that payback I promised" and she closed her eyes waiting for the pain to come.
Emily headed towards the bar with a bounce in her step she was going to see Naomi and she had an opportunity to get to know the blonde again with no barriers to stop her this time maybe she might even get to dance with the blonde, her eyes were scanning the bar with excitement looking for a shock of peroxide blonde hair but she was disappointed that she couldn't locate it. Instead she turned her attention to the crowd wondering if Naomi had wandered off to dance and lose herself in the music like she had so many times when they were teens but she still couldn't see her, so she ordered a drink and waited patiently at the bar all the time searching the crowd. It was then that she spotted Katie and waved her over to her raising her glass in the air as enticement, Katie nodded and headed her way instantly taking the glass and gulping down some of the liquid biting back a grimace "Jesus what is that shit Ems" Emily just smirked and leaned into her "Jack and coke, my favourite" she chuckled.
"Have you seen Naomi around, Effy said she was at the bar" Katie just looked at her an incredulous look on her face and instantly Emily recognised her mistake "what are you looking for that blonde bitch for" and she realised that although her and Katie had recently shared rare moments whereby Emily had opened up a little not once had she mentioned her growing desire for Naomi, nothing Emily said would be right so instead she just settled to shrugging and instead raised the question again "so have you seen her?" Katie just rolled her eyes and automatically took another sip of the drink gagging as she swallowed the offending liquid and thrusting the glass back at her twin.
"Yeah I saw her, she left a few minutes ago, she was well fucked Ems some bitches were carrying her out, totally out of it that blonde bitch needs to learn to handle her booze."
Who would Naomi had left with? From what Emily knew she was only here with Effy and Cook, they were the only people she had really seen the blonde with, but then she didn't know her that well anymore. She was lost in thought trying to think back to the wake, to who was there that was about the same age as them and she came up blank. The only people she had seen at the wake that were remotely close to their age had been some of the gang from college and a few of Naomi's relatives that she had met before. It just didn't make sense.
Emily spotted Effy a way off and dragged Katie off towards her much to her twin's irritation. "Who are you here with" Emily shouted at her hastily, concern etched all over her face. Effy had noted the expression and instantly she knew something was wrong she had expected to find Emily and Naomi together she hadn't expected to find the Fitch's in front of her Emily concerned and Katie looking bored as she picked at her nails.
"Just Naomes and Cook, why?" Emily looked seriously worried now and questioned again, "no one else, just you three?" Effy nodded and instantly asked without any prompting "who did she leave with" you could always rely on Effy to fill in the blanks all on her own.
Emily shook her head from side to side "I don't know, Katie said she saw her being carried out, said she was out of it" and instantly Effy rushed to the entrance of the club and by the time Emily and Katie had caught up she was sprinting down the street and turning into an alley as Emily saw in the distance a group of three girls she couldn't quite make out turning the corner. A ripple of fear spread through Emily and before she knew it Katie was being dragged towards the alley by her twin wobbling on her heels.
So yeah a little cliff hanger for you I know I'm sorry but it just seemed right. Remember I promised no one else was getting killed off so Naomi's safe as houses.
Feel free to hit that review button and let me know what you think!