I am quite shocked right now and EXTREMELY THANKFUL for the 20 reviews (make that 21 thanks to MagicMully!) I got on chapter 11, I didn't even think it was that good a chapter (I preferred chapter 10), but that's just me. I 100% appreciate the time you have all taken to write out reviews, especially the ones that are almost as long as some of my shorter chapters. :-p Hehe. So yes, thanks, you don't know how much it means to me! ^_^

Here is the next chapter, I actually wrote a different chapter earlier which continued on from the last one, but then decided to just move on from that and get into the nitty gritty, fun stuff and this chapter was pretty fun, though a little difficult at times, to write. I hope you enjoy...

Disclaimer: I don't own Skins...would Skins bring back Naomily for a third time? (Sadly probably not :-( )

The holidays had arrived; four weeks of relaxing and sleeping and boredom. Naomi couldn't wait to spend her Christmas break alone, with no one to share presents with, nobody to cook for and nothing but repeats on the television. It was a depressing thought and if she hadn't been feeling a lot less depressed lately, she would have thought that burrowing up in her bed like a hibernating hedgehog was in order. But Katie had invited her to their Christmas party to celebrate the end of exams, assignments and the semester as a whole. She wasn't in the mood for fun, let alone Christmas related fun, but she decided to try and make the effort anyway.

*

Most of her clothes lived in her wardrobe; several t-shirts, skirts, trousers and jackets, all too casual, all too dark and depressing. It had been a long time since she'd worn anything nice that she'd forgotten she even owned decent threads. But the suitcase under her bed housed several outfits and part outfits that she'd always wanted to wear, but had never found the time. She found a red sweater that she'd only worn once, it was tight fitting and had a soft white lining that made her think of Father Christmas. She picked out a knee length black skirt and a pair of red heels to go with it. Then opened up a bag from Accessorize, where she found her brand new Christmassy earrings. She pressed the button on the back and watched them light up, it made her chuckle.

*

The Fitch house was decorated in a way Naomi had never seen before. The moment she walked through the door Christmas lights lined the hallway and as she made her way towards the lounge she could see the bright lights of a Christmas tree set up in the corner of the room laden with tinsel and baubles with the finishing touch of a fairy on top. The room was filled with the sweet smell of mince pies warming in the kitchen. It was like walking into a dream, a childhood memory from many moons ago, when her family had been happy and they'd celebrated the holidays like anyone else.

"Would you like a drink?" Katie greeted her, holding up a bottle of wine.

Naomi shook her head, "Just juice or water if you've got some,"

Katie wandered off, swaying along to the Christmas music playing throughout the house. Naomi looked around at who was there; Drew, Laila, Howard, the usual group. She sat down beside them and joined in the conversation, finding herself drawn into a discussion about the economy and politics. It felt normal, it felt familiar and it felt like she was finally somewhere she could feel at home.

*

Everyone was enjoying themselves, the food was good, the company was great and Naomi didn't feel as out of place as she'd expected. She'd found good conversations with Drew and she foresaw them being good friends for a long time, sharing so much passion for politics. She adored Laila, her laugh was contagious and her humour just as much so. Despite enjoying the night, Naomi couldn't help wonder why she'd barely seen Emily. She was there, she'd seen her countless times; standing in the doorway, talking to Katie, eating with everyone. But every time Naomi looked up to talk to her, or walked over, she was gone.

*

After returning from the toilet, Naomi could hear Emily's laughter, a sound so familiar it made her heart beat faster. She rushed into the room, wishing to finally get to talk to Emily who was dancing in the middle of the room. Naomi grinned and went to dance with her.

"I've barely seen you tonight," she smiled,

Emily frowned, her voice appearing cold, "There's been other people to talk to."

"I know, I've enjoyed getting to know everyone better, but I wanted to talk to you too."

"Why?" Emily muttered, swigging a bottle of beer.

"We're friends,"

"Only when it suits you,"

The words hit her like a wet sponge, she wanted to laugh, wanted it to be nothing more than a joke, but deep down she knew there was more to it.

"Why did you just say that?" Naomi asked,

"You're too needy Naomi, I'm sick of being your shoulder to cry on, I don't need that, I need to party!"

-

Emily was swaying to the music, her body taken over by the alcohol she was consuming. Naomi rolled her eyes, wondering why she was being such a bitch.

"And you're drunk,"

"Fuck off," Emily slurred, turning around to dance with Drew.

"Don't tell me to fuck off, why does bitchEmily always turn up when you're drinking?"

Emily was talking, but she wasn't making much sense, "Cos I'm fucking sick of you, you and your, your dramas and your things, you're not dancing to the music, you're fucking sat down with a mop for a face,"

The bottle in Emily's hand appeared to be empty as she attempted to drink from it, only to turn it upside down and let the carpet catch the few drops left. She walked out to the kitchen and returned less than a minute later with another bottle in her hand and Katie in tow. Naomi watched as Katie tried to talk to her.

-

"You can't be drinking this much alcohol Ems,"

"Who says I can't?" she asked, rolling her eyes and pushing the top of the bottle into her mouth.

"The doctor," Katie sighed, reaching out and pulling the bottle out of Emily's hands before she could even relax. "You can't even get your drink off me, you're too pissed."

"Give that back, you're not my fucking mum," Emily swiped out, but missed the bottle, catching Katie on the shoulder.

"That's well smart of you,"

"Fuck off," Emily called out to Katie's back as she walked away from the argument.

Naomi watched in disbelief as Emily turned around, her eyes locking with Naomi's, before she walked over, an aggressive look in her eyes.

"And you, you can fucking fuck off too, we don't want you here, we don't need you here,"

She wanted to argue, to tell her how stupid she sounded, but she couldn't be bothered arguing with someone unable to argue back soberly.

"Why would I want you in my house? Why would anyone want you in my house when you're a fucking loser?" Emily's words were beginning to slur as she turned around, looking at the group, before pointing to Naomi, "I fucking love that girl, she's a fucking fantastic fuck, I love her so much and if she wasn't suck a fucking loser I'd fuck her right now,"

The words took a moment to process, for her mind to understand the mixture of words and slurs that came out of Emily's mouth. But when she finally did, she froze. She didn't know what to make of it. Emily was drunk. She was acting like a bitch and she was saying she loved her? She loved her? Naomi just shook her head and turned to pick up her bag from beside the sofa.

"Naomi!" Katie called out, but she didn't want to be persuaded to stay, she didn't want to be there any longer. The perfect night she'd been enjoying, the laughter, the conversations, they were all pushed to the back of her mind as Emily's words hit her again and again. But Emily didn't shut up, even when she was walking out of the room.

"Don't you fucking dare walk out of here, you hear me? It's my turn, it's my fucking turn to leave, do you understand?"

"Ems, stop this, you're embarrassing yourself, she's gone."

And as soon as she heard Katie's voice jump in to stop Emily, Naomi closed the door behind her and walked down the cold, wintry street. She couldn't help wonder if her perfect Christmas party was all the Christmas cheer she'd get that year and silently wished herself a Merry Christmas.

AN: Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did...bitchEmily is really fun to write. Shame it's hurting Naomi though. Please review, even if you just want to tell me that bitchEmily is good, or that niceKatie is great, or that sadNaomi is annoying, because I actually am getting annoyed at sadNaomi myself. I want her to be happy!