A/N: This was again mostly typed on my phone, so if there are any mistakes, I apologise. Autocorrect is a bitch, and I did read through it, but I'm tired and I often read things as I meant to write them rather than as they are written, so I don't catch everything. FitchSwitch did read over it too. Hope you enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think. x
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or the characters.
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Naomi
Naomi breathes a deep breath once she's through the doors, the song, on repeat still on her phone singing out the words "and breathe me" with a tinny distortion thanks to the headphones not being in her ears. She's been tense all the way to school wondering if Emily would be there, then she arrived and Emily was, and suddenly Naomi was tense for a whole different reason. She hadn't let it interfere with her swimming, though. She'd let the song soothe her before she'd gotten in the water, and once she was in, she was focused. Incredibly focused. She'd swum faster than she'd meant to. The laps had simply flown by, and then, towards the end, she'd remembered just who she was getting out to, and she'd swum five extra laps to prolong it.
Things had gone...better, she supposes, than she'd expected. She isn't really sure what she'd expected though.
She doesn't believe Emily for a second that she's not thinking about kissing her again. She can't even say that she's not thinking about kissing Emily again. She's thought of it so many times since it had happened the other night. She can't let herself indulge though. She can't give Emily what she's sure she wants (and, more importantly, what she deserves).
Naomi starts the shower and lets it warm before stepping in and peeling off her swimming costume quickly. She lets the warm water soothe away the tension that had amassed in her body during her brief post-swim conversation with Emily. The water feels amazing as it runs over her body, and just for a moment she indulges in the brief fantasy that the water kissing her skin is actually Emily doing so instead with her soft lips and her sweet tongue.
She jumps when she hears the shower curtain pulled aside.
"So was she there?"
"Effy!" Naomi protests, smacking the curtain closed more out of annoyance than a need for modesty.
"Nothing I haven't seen before. So did you see her?"
"Yes." Naomi replies, not bothering to ask who Effy means and bracing herself for a conversation that she's sure is apt to make her tense up again.
"How'd it go?"
"It was fine."
"Descriptive."
"Because you're always so forthcoming," Naomi retorts, rolling her eyes even though Effy can't see.
"Elaborate, Campbell."
"I'm not going to replay the conversation word for word for you."
"Summarize."
"I had a good weekend. She had a good weekend. We both did homework. Katie shagged Cook. She thinks Katie's straight partially because Katie shagged Cook. I pointed out you shagged Cook and weren't straight. Neither of us told anyone besides you about the kiss. She claims things don't have to be awkward and she's not just sitting around thinking about kissing me."
"She's lying about that last thing."
"I'm stubborn, not stupid."
Naomi thinks she hears a muttered "debatable" as she turns off the water. She holds out her hand and a moment later her towel drops into it. She towels off quickly, wraps the towel around her chest, and steps out of the shower, glare already in place.
"Anything else happen?"
Naomi shrugs. "What, no comment on Katie shagging Cook?"
Effy shrugs. "It was expected. She'll get over it."
"Shagging him?"
"Wanting to."
"I see," Naomi mutters as she makes her way to her locker and starts to get dressed.
"Did you tell her that you have been thinking about kissing her?"
Naomi shoots a glare over her shoulder, which Effy meets with a calm stare.
"I take it that's a no?"
Naomi turns back to her locker and grabs a pale mint green T-shirt and slips it over her head.
"Anything else I should know? Any other admissions from either party?"
"She said she likes me, not that you didn't already know that. Not like I didn't figure it out when she kissed me."
"She's so much braver than she pretends to be," Effy mutters as if to herself, but Naomi's come to the same conclusion so she nods along. "You should take lessons."
"Fuck you," Naomi replies, shooting another glare in Effy's direction.
"We've talked about this, Campbell. You know where I stand."
"I know," Naomi concedes. They'd talked about it off and on since Emily had kissed her. She'd like to say that it was because Effy had been annoying and kept bringing it up, but the truth is that Naomi had brought it up every few hours just to have someone else weigh in on the constant pressure of her thoughts about it in her head. Just thinking about Emily now - about kissing her or simply just being with her in any sort of a non-platonic way - makes her feel like she can't breathe properly. It feels like her chest is tightening and her lungs can't expand enough because of pressure on them.
"How'd you swim?"
The question is so off-topic that Naomi can't quite process it at first. "What?"
"Your swim this morning. How was it?"
"Oh. Good. Quick. I didn't time it, but I should have. I did five extra laps."
"Interesting."
Effy's tone of voice makes Naomi look up sharply. "What?" she demands.
"A few things."
"Like I said before: you're always so forthcoming," Naomi growls sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"I try," Effy replies in monotone.
"Elaborate, Stonem."
Effy sighs, and Naomi has to roll her eyes again because sometimes Effy can be so overly dramatic in such an understated way that nobody else in the world seems to be able to pull off.
"You were trying to avoid her, even though you've done nothing but think about her all weekend. You're hiding behind swimming again. And the most interesting part of all is that it seems like she's only making you a better swimmer."
Sometimes Naomi really hates having such a perceptive best friend. "I smoked the other night because of her. It's not like her influence is entirely good."
"That's on you. She didn't make you."
"You didn't stop me," Naomi growls. She'd woken up Sunday morning with her throat feeling sore and abused, and she knew exactly what was to blame, so she'd smacked Effy hard in the arm. It hadn't gone over well.
"Still on you, Naomi. You're a big girl. I can't stop you from making bad decisions."
"And yet you insist on trying to influence my decision with regards to Emily," Naomi counters.
"Call me a romantic."
"I might if I didn't know you to be the biggest cynic I've ever met."
"Seems you're taking that prize these days," Effy replies evenly. "Are you done yet? Your slowness is depriving me of a fag before class."
"You'll live. Probably a few minutes longer. You can thank me later," Naomi retorts, moving purposefully slowly as she places her belongings carefully in the locker.
"If I don't kill you first," Effy mutters.
"Consider it payback, then."
"For trying to improve your life?"
"Is that what you call being persistently annoying?" Naomi asks, raising an eyebrow at Effy.
Effy meets her eyes with a steady gaze. "Yes."
Naomi doesn't want to think that Effy might be right.
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"Morning, Emily. You're looking quite cute this morning," Effy greets as she takes the seat behind her leaving the only open seat nearby the one right next to Emily.
Naomi resists the urge to sigh and takes the seat beside Emily, offering her a small smile. She's blushing, Naomi realises, and she knows it's Effy's fault. She shoots a glare over her shoulder at Effy, then turns back to Emily. Dammit, she realises, Emily does look quite cute. Now that Effy's said it, Naomi can't stop thinking it. Her eyes trace the way Emily's hair is pulled back with a small bow clip on one side, but falls prettily across her cheek on the other. Her eyes follow the curve of her chin down to the smooth skin of her throat. She traces the path of a swallow down her throat to the hint of collarbone peeking out from beneath Emily's grey V-neck t-shirt. Her eyes move down the v of the fabric to the distinct roundness of pert breasts, and she hears a throat clear.
Effy, she knows just from the sound, but it's enough to make her realise just what she's been doing.
"Aren't you going to answer Emily?" Effy asks in a hushed voice, leaning in so that it looks like she's trying to keep Emily from hearing, but specifically staying just loud enough so that Emily's cheeks flush a darker pink at the words.
"Sorry, what'd you say?" Naomi asks, feeling her own cheeks flush. She can't believe she was so zoned that she hadn't even heard Emily.
"It was nothing. I just said 'hi, did you have a good shower?'" Emily mumbles, looking at her fingers on her desk.
Just like that Naomi's wondering if Emily was thinking about her naked. Has she imagined it? Is she imagining it now? Naomi swallows hard and tries to act normal. "Yeah. It was fine. I mean it was the school showers, so not the best ever, but I don't smell like chlorine anymore!"
"Good."
The word naked is still front and centre in Naomi's mind and her eyes dip back to the dip of the v of Emily's shirt, and suddenly she's imagining Emily naked. She closes her eyes and aims her head forward, but her mind keeps wondering what Emily's breasts might look like, nipples hard, being caressed by her own fingers.
"All right, there?" She hears Effy mutter in her ear.
"Fuck off," she growls, sure that this is one of those times when Effy can virtually read her mind.
"Are you okay, Naomi?" Emily asks, sounding slightly alarmed.
Naomi squeezes her eyes tighter closed and forces her mind to think about the one thing that calms her down: the water. She imagines gliding through it, feeling it rush around her, cool and wet against her skin. She opens her eyes and forces on a smile that she shoots quickly at Emily. "Yeah, fine. Just got a bit of a headache is all," she lies.
"I've got something in my bag, if you want it."
Naomi shakes her head. "No thanks." Why does Emily have to be so kind and warm and inviting? Naomi thinks she should try to get a little distance, but the instant the thought crosses her mind, her stomach tenses and she feels vaguely nauseous. "It'll go away soon, I'm sure," Naomi adds when she sees that Emily's still regarding her with concern.
"Okay. Let me know if you change your mind," Emily offers with a small smile that just serves to remind Naomi how gorgeous Emily's lips are.
And kissable, a voice in Naomi's head adds.
Maybe I'll just try to limit alone time with her, Naomi thinks as Kieran makes his way into the classroom. Just to limit the temptation a little.
"Give in, Campbell," Effy mutters in her ear as Kieran begins to address them.
"Fuck off, Stonem," Naomi growls back.
She hears a slight chuckle out of Effy as she leans back in her chair.
Naomi risks another glance in Emily's direction. Her hair's falling adorably forward onto her desk as she opens her notebook with nimble fingers.
Swimming, Naomi tells herself. Focus on swimming. The only problem is that the words are starting to sound like a crutch even to her.
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"What's going on with you today?"
Naomi turns curiously to Sophie. "What do you mean?"
"You're attacking the water like you've got something to prove. You know you won your races on Saturday, right?"
Naomi snorts. "Yeah. It's nothing like that."
"Then why are you swimming like there are sharks snapping at your toes? You're making the rest of us look bad. This is not supposed to be a super intense practice. We won our meet."
"Gotta push myself every practice if I'm gonna go pro," Naomi counters, but she knows that's not why she's swimming so hard today.
She is swimming from something, but instead of sharks, it's Emily and her feelings for Emily.
"Come on. Out with it. I know that look. Something's on your mind besides swimming."
Naomi sighs as she recognises the determined look in Sophie's eyes. She'd said she wouldn't out Emily to anyone, but it isn't like Sophie goes to school with them, and it would be nice to talk to someone about it who isn't as aggravating as Effy and who actually understands her swimming drive.
"You know Emily?"
"Cute, redheaded pool stalker whose eyes were glued to you at the race on Saturday? Yes. We met."
Naomi's jaw hangs open. "They were? You noticed? I mean –"
"You know she likes you, right?"
"How did you –"
"Oh come on. Watching you swim every morning can't be THAT fascinating. Why else would she keep coming back? Anyway, what about her? Is she what's on your mind? Oh my God, do you fancy her back? Is Naomi Campbell letting herself be distracted from her pro swimming ambitions by a girl?" Sophie's eyes light up and she smirks in amusement.
"No!" Naomi answers far too quickly. "Not...I'm not getting distracted. I just...she kissed me Saturday night and –"
Sophie's jaw drops and her eyes go wide. "What?"
"At Effy's."
"Did you kiss her back?"
Naomi hesitates. She could lie, she knows, but what good would that do anyone? She nods. "Yeah."
"And?" Sophie prompts, moving her hand emphatically to indicate she wants details.
"And she has amazing lips and she fancies me and she wants things and
I can't. I can't kiss her again. I can't be with her."
"Why not?"
"Because she fancies me and she'll expect things and I have other priorities."
"Swimming," Sophie supplies.
"Swimming, college, getting into uni or onto a pro team or both."
"So you're just never going to date? You're never going to give anyone a chance? You're just going to completely sacrifice that part of your life just in case you can't handle juggling both that and swimming?"
Naomi has to admit that it sounds a bit foolish when phrased like that. "I have to focus if I'm going to keep improving my times and swimming well."
"Really? Because you swam amazingly Saturday when she was there and you're kicking serious arse today even though you don't have to."
"Yeah, but –"
"No. Look, I know you. You're the girl who can push everything aside when she's in the water and just swim because she loves to. Going on a few dates with a pretty girl is not going to change that. Maybe having a love life will relax you enough that you're even more focused in the water and you'll swim that much better."
"Because you never let your relationship interfere with your swimming?"
"Uncalled for, Campbell. Anyway, you're not me. You've always had more of a shot at going pro. You've always had the focus and the drive."
"And I don't want to fuck that up! Not over someone that I only THINK I might be falling for!"
Sophie just looks at her, then, but the look speaks volumes.
"Fuck," Naomi mutters, bringing her hand to her forehead.
"I've never heard you admit even that much about someone."
"Yeah," Naomi concedes.
"What's the worst thing that happens if you go on a date with her?"
"She hasn't even asked me out."
"Like you've given her the chance," Sophie replies, rolling her eyes. "Okay, what's the worst thing that happens if you kiss her again?"
"I start swimming like utter shite 'cause I'm distracted by her, I never go pro, uni teams decide they don't want me, I lose all my races and get kicked off the team."
"That seems a bit drastic, don't you think?"
"Maybe," Naomi concedes. "I just…How do you get someone off your mind? I've never had this before."
"Seems to me it'd be foolish not to go for it, then."
Naomi shakes her head. "And if it gets the better of me?"
"And shake that drive? Never," Sophie says with a grin.
Naomi offers a mile in return. "Thanks. And sorry about the comment about your love life before."
Sophie shrugs. "If I didn't love you so much, I'd hold it against you."
Naomi wraps an arm around Sophie and gives her a half hug. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too, Soph."
"Besides, it's kind of nice seeing you be insecure about something for once."
"Oi!" Naomi protests, bumping Sophie with her hip, but not actually removing her arm from around her. "Fuck off!"
"Never!" Sophie declares. "Now, Naomi, promise me you'll at least consider taking Sebastian's advice?"
"Sebastian?"
"The lobster or crab or whatever from The Little Mermaid?"
Naomi looks blankly at Sophie.
"Sometimes I forget about how television deprived your hippie upbringing was," Sophie sighs.
"So what's the lobster's advice?"
"Kiss the girl!" Sophie replies in a horrible Jamaican accent that makes Naomi laugh.
"I'll think about it."