Chapter Eleven
Emily slumped into her seat barely noticing anything else in the classroom as she let out a huge yawn. Struggling to keep her eyes open not even a quick slap on her arm from Katie could stop another yawn escaping as the redhead fought to keep her eyes open. Mornings were never Emily's thing but today seemed even worse. Having spend most of the night talking and gossiping with her sister she estimated she'd had maybe two three hours sleep at most, and ignoring the other students flooding in she prayed the tutorial would be over quickly.
'Morning Ems'
The redhead looked up and was met with the bright smile of Effy, hand in hand with a happy looking Freddie.
Casting a quick apologetic look at her sister Emily gestured for the two to sit down with them 'Morning'
The tension between the four didn't go unnoticed as an uncomfortable quiet descended on them but luckily before things could get anymore awkward the rest of the group arrived already engaged in a lively conversation.
Smiling at her friends Emily let their conversation pass over her head as she looked to the door, hoping to catch sight of Naomi but instead was met with the unhappy glare of one of the college's teachers entering the classroom.
'Okay…okay, quiet please. Everyone take their seats' waiting for some kind of order the teacher sighed clearly unimpressed 'Right, my name is Michaela Rubin and since Kieran has so kindly fallen ill, I'll be covering this class for the next few weeks'
The class groaned in unison and Emily noticed this new woman roll her eyes 'Yes, yes I'm as overjoyed as you are. Now if you're all done welcoming me lets get started'
Pulling a pen from her bag she handed it to Katie and then attempted to focus on the lesson. However the sound of someone hurriedly entering the room distracted her.
Looking up at the late arrival Emily felt her heart begin to race, and suddenly the fatigue she had been unable to shake was wiped away as she stared at the blonde in the doorway. Naomi.
'How nice of you to join us' Michaela stated gesturing to a free seat 'Take a seat'
Unable to stop herself staring Emily watched the other girl blush as she made her way to a seat near the back of the classroom. As Naomi passed by the twin's desk she hesitated and Emily thought her chest would explode as she struggled to contain her emotions. Looking up their eyes met but the redhead quickly averted her gaze.
Unaware of the moment that had passed between the two girls the teacher continued 'Okay, so…you guys are going to be starting a project on…' flicking through her notes Michaela seemed to find what she was looking for and pulled a face 'Life as a student'
'Jesus, how original can you get?' Katie muttered sarcastically.
But Emily barely heard as she battled against the pain seeing Naomi had brought back.
'Hey, you okay?'
Nodding at her sister Emily resisted the temptation to turn and stare at the blonde, even though she could feel the gaze of the other girl on her back.
'Right, so in pairs you'll need to submit a presentation to the rest of class at the beginning of next week on anything to do with student-life, and I beg you please think outside the box. I don't want to sit through identical talks on alcohol and sex'
Cook seemed helpless to let out a cheer at this, causing the rest of the students to laugh.
'Well I'm glad you're all so enthusiastic. Cook I presume? Your reputation precedes you…'
The boy grinned but was cut off from any smart remark he could burst out with as Michaela raised her hand 'Okay, every write their name on a piece of paper and pass it to the front'
Frowning Emily did as she was asked along with the others, and soon a pile of papers sat on this new teacher's desk as the students looked at her apprehensively.
Picked up the first piece she read out the name 'Cook'
Jumping from his seat the boy cheered and as though winning some prize jogged to the front of the room 'Yes miss!' he responded saluting.
She managed to ignore Cook and instead reached for a second name 'Harry?'
An unimpressed looking Harry silently raised his hand, not moving from his seat.
'You'll make a lovely couple' Michaela chuckled as she motioned for Cook to join his new partner.
Emily laughed as Cook, less than enthusiastically, took his new seat. Turning her attention back to the front she listened as Michaela proceeded to pair off students and Emily couldn't help but laugh as Katie was paired with an over-excited Pandora.
'Be nice' she whispered as her twin moved to sit with the strange girl.
Watching the two interact for what was probably the first time Emily missed her name being called and it was only a subtle nudge from Effy that got her attention.
'Emily?'
Nodding the twin decided against moving and instead looked expectantly at the piece of paper Michaela was unfolding. It suddenly struck Emily that she was probably about to be paired with a complete stranger and the thought made the quiet girl uncomfortable, since the incident at the club was still top gossip at the college, and glancing around the room she tried to predict who she might end up with. Scanning the faces her eyes landing on a familiar blonde and suddenly getting stuck with a stranger didn't seem so bad.
'Emily and…'
Like the announcement of a competition winner the silence seemed to stretch on forever, and Emily found herself unable to look away from the piercing blue eyes that captured hers.
'Naomi'
'Jesus' Emily whispered as she span around in her seat to face the teacher. Opening her mouth to protest the twin found her words deserting her.
The shocked look of her friends didn't go unregistered and Emily half-hoped Naomi would complain about the pairing, but as the redhead felt the other girl drop into the seat next to her she knew that wasn't going to happen.
Emily closed her eyes as a barrage of thoughts hit her at once. On one hand she would do anything to spend time with Naomi again, to talk and laugh as though nothing had happened but she had tried to cut her ties to the blonde for a reason and she knew they couldn't pretend everything was fine between them. Memories of the lake mixed with the night at the club and the party and as hard as the twin tried to push them to the back of her mind the presence of the girl next to her was to strong and her head began to spin.
'No way…'
An angry voice broke Emily from her thoughts as she saw her twin glaring in her direction.
'Is there a problem?' Michaela queried looking between the group of friends.
Katie hesitated as she seemed to debate blurting everything out to this newcomer and so when no one answered Michaela shook her head in confusion 'Good, that's sorted then'
Emily frowned at her sister who simply shrugged and turned back to Pandora.
Sitting side by side neither Emily nor Naomi spoke both replaying the events of the last time they had spoken. The noise of the other students served to fill the silence but the tension still hung between them and Emily eyed the clock willing it to move faster.
Noticing Naomi scanning the room Emily instantly regretted the words which tumbled out of her mouth before she could think them through 'Embarrassed to be seen with me?'
The look of hurt that flashed across the blondes features was brief but was replaced by a defeated look 'Emily…'
The redhead sighed, she had missed the way the blonde said her name and if she was honest with herself she was more than gratefully to hear it again. Facing Naomi she couldn't help but get drawn into the piercing blue eyes she had fallen in love with and for a moment she allowed herself to remember the happier times they had shared.
Falling into silence again Emily wished she could say something, anything to make this easier but all she wanted was to hear the bell so she could escape the classroom that seemed to be getting smaller by the minute. Being in such close proximity was only reminding Emily how much she wanted, needed to be with her and feeling the heat radiating from the body next to hers was driving her crazy, pushing out the strong determined voice that had spoken the other night and ended things with the blonde.
The walls she had been building around her wounded heart seemed to be crumbling and she willed herself to stay strong, to remember that she was doing the right thing even if it felt wrong.
Naomi fidgeting in her chair under the intense gaze of the twin and looking up at the girl she opened her mouth to speak but found herself interrupted.
'So girls, any ideas yet?' the bright voice was out of place as it cut through the tense atmosphere.
Emily watched Naomi let out an annoyed grunt and couldn't help but do the same, they had been so close to starting an actually conversation Emily was pretty sure she'd have hit anyone else that dared interrupt them.
Instead she simply shook her head 'Not really Michaela…'
Pointing to a badge on Naomi's bag she smiled 'What about something to do with top-up fees?'
Naomi shrugged but glared at the woman 'Sure'
'You'll find a lot of information about it…' she began but seemed to suddenly sense the displeasure at her arrival. Michaela smiled and moved swiftly to the next pair.
'Emily…' Naomi started only to find herself cut off again. Letting her head roll back she staring at the ceiling in annoyance, feeling the twin stand as the bell rang.
'So um…if you just email me whatever you find I'll put it together…' the redhead babbled grabbing her things 'Or you can do it….whatever…'
'Emily' the blonde repeated placing a hand on the redheads arm to get her attention 'Can you just stop for a minute please? Can we talk?'
Ceasing her actions the twin looked up and softened a little at the other girls hopeful look 'Meet me in the library after lessons, we can get a head start'
Naomi nodded, while it wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind but she was grateful 'Okay'
As Emily went to leave she paused barely hearing the quiet words that come in her direction.
'I missed you'
'I missed you too Naomi'
