CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Emily thought she'd feel weird, after all the fucking shit she layed out, but Naomi hadn't let her stew about it for long. It was funny, the way she felt about coming clean. It felt fucking right. Not that she was about to embark on a fucking truth tour, though. No need to give her family more ammunition.
"Hi Emily," Freddie's warm smile felt quite welcoming, and Emily found herself really taken with Naomi's friend. He wrapped an arm around JJ, who Emily hadn't really spoken to yet, and offered her a beer. Emily declined, pointing out that she was the designated driver. Also, she felt kind of bad about drinking when Naomi couldn't.
"Hello Emily. I'm JJ."
Emily smiled at the bashful greeting, and the way JJ's eyes dropped when Emily looked at him. She rubbed his arm in reply, watching as he fought with his natural instinct to recoil.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, JJ. Naomi speaks of you very fondly," Emily got a nod of approval from Freddie which made her relax visibly.
"Maybe we can meet in a quieter place another time and I can talk to you better?" JJ mumbled, looking up just briefly.
"I'd like that," Emily smiled, excusing herself. Naomi had remained outside in some strangers car to smoke a spliff with Effy, and she found herself wanting to remain close to the blonde.
Effy gave her the most peculiar look as she leant against the brick fence. Shrugging, she smiled as Naomi waved from the opened passenger side.
"My only one, I promise," Naomi saluted and giggled.
Emily sighed, hoping Naomi didn't think she was outside to check up on her. Again, Effy looked at her, and back to Naomi. The smirk after that was quite annoying.
"Gotta go, Eff. My chauffeur slash nurse doesn't approve of my unhealthy habits," Naomi teased Emily who blushed under the scrutiny of Effy's stare.
Effy helped Naomi out of the car, silently handing her over to Emily who held the crutches out for her friend.
"Let's go inside. Maybe they have cider," Naomi mocked, winking at Emily to show she was only teasing.
"Naomi, what if I want it to be you?" Emily seized upon Naomi's relaxed mood to admit what she had been considering since Keith's pub.
Naomi stopped, looking over to see if Emily was teasing. She looked quite fucking nervous, and wasn't making eye contact. She wagered Emily was in fact, fucking serious. Shit. What could she say in reply? No one had every asked her something like that. She had had guys asking a few things of her that were different, but being asked to be someones first? Fuck. Holy fucking fuck. This was big.
Emily led Naomi inside, her initial worry about admitting she wanted to sleep with Naomi beginning to fade. If Naomi wanted to say something, she would. She knew Naomi well enough to know that. Instead of pressing her, she simply let Naomi soak in the attention her arrival on crutches garnered, staying close, but not suffocating her.
"I need a fucking drink," Emily muttered. One beer, just to take off the edge.
Emily made her way through small groups of people, all enjoying themselves. She waved at Pandora and Thomas and was greeted with two sweet smiles in return. She thought about how she was raised to believe in conventional partnerships. Her mother and father were from the same socio-economical background, had courted and then married in her mother's local church. They had never taken a honeymoon, her father went to work the day after the wedding while her mum moved their small amount of belongings into the house given to them by her dads parents and grandparents. It was, 'how things were done' her father once said, nodding and dropping a kiss on her mother's head.
The man ruled the house, or so he liked to think. He was a caring man, but not affectionate. Katie was given all her mothers attention and affection, it was how it had always been. When they decided to have another child, her father was very proud to have a son, though James had not turned out to be the apple of his eye by any stretch. Emily felt a very severe disconnect from her family, it was widening as she got older.
Seeing Thomas and Pandora together, enjoying themselves and clearly smitten made her think upon her sexuality a bit more. She thought about all of her parents married friends. All white, with a few children, and the men was usually the main breadwinner. Girls were treated like precious flowers in need of protection, while the boys were encourage to be masculine. She wondered what her mother would think of Thomas and Pandora.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Her sister hissed in her ear.
"Getting a fucking drink, okay?" Emily wasn't in the mood for a fight.
"These are my friends, you got it?" Katie roughly pulled at her sister.
"Are you fucking serious?" Emily couldn't quite believe her sister tonight.
"You stay away from my friends and hang with your mong friends," Katie ordered.
"Fuck off, Katie," Emily shoved her sister, and grabbed two beers.
"Twins!" Some random pig leered, causing Emily to roll her eyes. There was always one or more of those kinds at a party. She retreated to the other side of the room, happy to be away from Katie and her group.
"Thanks," Effy took one of the beers in Emily's hand, smiling slightly.
"Um, yeah."
"So, you and Naomi?"
"No, we're not. We're just friends."
Effy nodded and looked over to Naomi who was laughing as Freddie showed her some kind of dance.
"Truth," Effy looked back at Emily.
"I'm – " Emily didn't know how to continue.
"Yeah, thought so," Effy nodded, walking over to Freddie. Emily watched as he stopped what he was doing and followed her to the small makeshift dance floor. Emily shook her head, wondering if Effy had some kind of magical power. She was about to tell her she was gay, and she had no idea how Effy even knew. She then didn't need to say a word to Freddie. She just touched him lightly and he followed.
Emily stood by herself, watching as Naomi looked to be in the process of explaining her injury, and judging by her face, she was growing tired of explaining. Smiling as Naomi handed over her crutches, she decided to go over and sit on the side of the couch next to her.
"When you're sober, this whole thing looks more like a fucking mess," Naomi remarked as she patted the couch next to her for Emily to sit. It was squashed, but she didn't mind.
"Usually you're a part of the mess," Emily teased.
"Hey!"
"She's scary," Emily pointed in Effy's direction.
"She gets inside you doesn't she? That's the thing about people like that. They know how to read others so they don't get hurt, but end up doing the hurting," Naomi knew from personal experience.
"What the fuck is it with crutches?" Emily laughed as two of Naomi's friends began a crutch fight.
"I think everyone in the place has fucking tried them out," Naomi agreed. "I see your sister is here."
"Being her usual fucking self," Emily spat out, watching as her twin commanded the attention of several guys.
"I don't suppose you're going to let me have some of that beer," Naomi moaned.
"I don't think one beer will do too much," Emily shrugged. "I'll go get you one."
Naomi smiled, watching her walk away. She thought about Emily's confession, and knew she could easily take her up on the offer. Emily was quite a beautiful woman. But Naomi didn't want to hurt her, and she knew she would end up doing that. It was her survival instinct.
"Here," Emily wanted to warn her about too much, but she didn't want to sound like she was mothering her.
"I could kiss you right now!" Naomi laughed as Emily handed over a beer. It wasn't her preferred drink of choice to start a night, she was a spirits girl, but this was going to have to do.
Emily blushed as Naomi's hand rested on her thigh. Her first instinct was to move away and look around nervously, but she decided it was a party and everyone was amorous. One little hand on her thigh wouldn't attract any attention.
"I fucking hate just sitting here," Naomi moaned.
"What do you usually do at parties?"
"Um," Naomi took a long drink before answering. "I usually sit around."
"So this is different, how?"
Naomi smiled at Emily's teasing.
"I'm usually high or have a lovely fucking buzz."
Emily laughed softly, moving away just slightly as Freddie came over, smiling widely.
"Freds!" Naomi clapped, laughing as he kissed her forehead.
"She feels amazing," Freddie whispered in Naomi's ear. "She's amazing. We're going outside, wanna come?"
"Nah, I'm okay here," Naomi looked over at Emily who was checking her phone.
"Emily, wanna come outside? Effy's gone to buy smokes," Freddie took a moment to really look at Emily. Her nervous body language was, he thought, quite endearing. He would never tell her, but he found her much nicer than Katie. It was surprising to him just how different the twins were.
Emily looked over to Naomi, not sure what to say.
"I'm staying here, don't want to lose the spot," Naomi shrugged.
"I might go out," Emily smiled.
"Cool," Naomi smiled back.
"I'll look after ya, Emily," Freddie held his hand out, which Emily took.
Naomi watched as they went out the front door, smiling as JJ immediately claimed her vacant spot on the couch.
"I like Emily," JJ remarked. He had just spent the last half hour talking to Thomas and Pandora. Pandora was a nice girl, but her exuberance startled him sometimes. Thomas seemed interested in listening to him talk about his airplane collection. In fact, he had offered to allow Thomas to fly one of his radio-controlled Prowlers which Thomas seemed quite eager to accept.
"Me too," Naomi replied carefully.
"She likes you too," JJ noticed she had been very close to wherever Naomi was ever since the pub yesterday afternoon. He never asked more though, he would ask Freddie about Naomi, but he could never ask her outright.
"Yeah," Naomi downed the rest of her beer.
"I thought you weren't supposed to drink," JJ frowned.
"A few won't fucking kill me," Naomi shrugged, whistling to Mark who was near the alcohol. "Two vodkas!" He grinned at her and threw one vodka mix in a can which Naomi carefully tapped first before opening. The other he gave to Steven who reached over a few people to hand it to her.
"Naomi, the doctor specifically told you to stay away from alcohol. I remember you telling me," JJ wondered if he should get Freddie.
"I'm only having a few, I promise," Naomi's voice brokered no nonsense, so JJ left her to her drinking.
"Want some?" Naomi asked him as he sat, fidgeting with the fabric of his pants. She didn't like making him so uncomfortable, but she really wanted a fucking drink.
"Are you fucking my sister?" Katie had been drinking and taking some fucking drug in the corner for a while, and was getting fucking wired. The boys here were all pretty average, except for the Freddie who was well fucking worth it, but he didn't even like coming near her. So she had to settle for now. Back in London she'd find some real men who fucking knew how to treat her right.
JJ hadn't even seen Katie coming, and now he was trapped as an audience arrived to watch whatever was brewing.
"What?" Naomi has seen Katie give her the evil fucking eye from the moment she and Emily sat on the couch, but decided to ignore it. Now the buxom redhead was in front of her, and she had nowhere to go.
"My sister? Emily? The drab half, the one who follows me around and apologizes for me all the time?" Katie was leaning over Naomi who continued drinking.
"Fuck off, Katie," Naomi said, not looking up. Honestly, she wasn't in the fucking mood.
"Don't tell me to fuck off, you lezz. Keep your fucking hands to yourself. She's my sister and she is not a fucking muff-muncher." Katie shouted.
Naomi looked around, pleased for once that she was surrounded mostly, by people who knew her. Had it been elsewhere, the mere idea of being a lesbian would have caused her to panic that other people thought that too. But everyone seemed to be getting back to their own conversations or whatever and leaving Katie to her.
"She's a mate, that's all," Naomi opened her second vodka mix, enjoying how it felt going down the back of her throat.
"That better be fucking all." Katie realised Naomi wasn't going to argue and it took the enjoyment out of it.
"Katie," her twin's warning voice stopped any reply Naomi would have.
"Ems, I'm just looking out for you, yeah? I'm your sister and I love you," Katie tried hugging her, but Emily rebuffed it. "You don't want people here thinking you're one of those."
"What would be so fucking wrong if people thought I was fucking Naomi?" Emily asked, fed up with Katie's supposed concern.
Naomi motioned to Freddie to move Emily away, just in case Emily was about to spill something she probably wasn't ready to reveal. Freddie, thank fuck, understood and asked Emily to dance. Looking over at Naomi's concerned face, Emily accepted.
"We ain't gay, us Fitch girls. We love cock," Katie draped herself over one of the Rovers Reserves she'd met at the pub the night before. He winked at his mates and pulled her into the hall. He'd hit the jackpot tonight, the boys would be so jealous.
"That was uncomfortable," JJ remarked, allowing himself to be pulled into a quick hug by Naomi.
"You're fucking telling me, Jay."
"She cares about you, ya know," Freddie remarked as he danced with Emily.
"She has a fucking warped way of showing it," Emily replied. Looking at the puzzlement she realised he was talking about Naomi and not her sister. "Oh, yeah, Naomi's nice."
"Nice?" Freddie teased.
"Yeah, nice," Emily smiled, tucking her head under his chin. It felt good to be held by someone who Naomi trusted. In a way, it made her trust him almost immediately too. He was very funny, he had her laughing out the front while Effy just stared and smiled occasionally. Freddie didn't seem to change too much even though he was clearly interested in Effy, which she admired. He was who he was, and that was it. Accept it, or get to fuck.
Emily had liked how kind Effy was to Pandora. It would be easy to patronize her, she guessed, because she was really gullible. Effy certainly changed around her. They talked in hushed tones, and Effy was quite tactile with her friend. Naomi was right about Effy, she was layered. Still fucking scary perceptive though.
"She's drinking," Emily said, trying not to judge her new friend.
"Yeah," was all Freddie offered.
"I'm going to sit down for a while," Emily said, giving Freddie a hug before walking over to where Naomi was.
"Oh shit, here comes Mamma Fitch to tell me I've been a bad girl," Naomi teased, wincing when Emily said nothing.
"Two beers, and three vodka mixers," Naomi answered before Emily could ask.
Emily didn't want to tell Naomi what drinking would do to her recovery, she didn't take the drink from her, or tell her to stop. She just sat on the floor next to her injured foot and opened up a chilled bottle of water. Naomi could do what the fuck she wanted.
"Your sister is one fucking crazy bitch," one of Naomi's friends told Emily.
Emily looked over at the sandy haired guy who was grinning at her. Smiling slightly, she nodded in reply.
"Hey, Steven, another?" Naomi put her empty can in the bin Mark had moved from the kitchen. She felt a pang of guilt as Emily handed it to her, but it vanished as soon as she heard the crisp opening of the can. These drinks were like fucking lollie water.
"I'm going home, Naomi," JJ said beside her. Freddie was staying, but he had had enough for now.
"I'll drive you home, Jay," Emily offered. She was surprised when he accepted.
"Bye JJ," Naomi smiled as he waved before going over to Freddie. "Emily, thanks for offering."
"I'm going home after that, okay? I'll come back here and pick you up if you're ready but if not, you'll have to get home another way," Emily said, leaving the house before Naomi could reply.
"Bye Emily!" Pandora shouted from the folded chair out the front.
"Bye Panda. Thanks for the invitation, Effy."
"No problem," Effy blew out a puff of smoke and smiled slightly.
"I'll give you precise directions to my place. Guaranteed sure-fire directions that will get us there in approximately thirteen and a half minutes. Stopping will push the time out, but I don't anticipate much traffic," JJ rattled off as he followed Emily to her car.
"JJ, if this is making you uncomfortable?" Emily wasn't sure what she would do, but she didn't want him feeling nervous all the way home.
"Locked on, sorry. I'll be alright," JJ assured her. "I like you Emily."
"I like you too, JJ," Emily grinned as he blushed. "So come then, tell me how to get to yours."
The rest of the trip was in silence, but Emily didn't mind.
"This is my place. My mother will be waiting up, she always does that."
"She cares about you, that's nice," Emily said, sadness etched in her voice.
"Naomi cares for you," JJ helped.
"Why is everyone saying that like it means something?" Emily asked, laughing nervously.
"Because she doesn't like caring for people."
"She loves you and Freddie," Emily countered.
"And Cook. Has she told you about him?" Waiting for Emily to reply, which she did in the form of a nod, he continued. "We're family. It's how it's always been, well not always, that's really more a platitude than correct measurement of time."
"JJ," Emily warned gently.
"Sorry. We're family. We're all misfits of sorts, or so people say. We try to get each other because people look at us and think we're not right."
"But that doesn't answer my question," Emily prodded.
"She doesn't like people who aren't her family, not really. She tolerates people, but she isn't drawn to people. She's drawn to you."
Emily blushed.
"I have to go inside now. Bye Emily." JJ noticed the front light on and knew his mother was sitting on the couch, waiting. He hated keeping her up, he knew she worried about him.
"Night, JJ," Emily locked the door after he got out. Waiting until he got inside, she drove off.
TBC ...
Thank you again to those reading and a special thank you to those who have dropped me a line.
