"How's your shoulder?" Cook looked up from his greasy breakfast as Naomi walked in to the kitchen. She stood nervously by the table, unsure of what mood he would be in. He slammed his fork down on the table and she almost jumped out of her skin.
"Fucking killin'. Tell you what Naoms, you should have fucking told her after all." He broke out in to a grin and used his good arm to pull her down in to his lap. She laughed as she stole a slice of toast from him.
"I'm sorry." She pressed a kiss to his cheek and squeezed him tightly.
"We're tip top you and me blondie, yeah?" He hugged her back with one arm. The other hung loose by his side, another ice pack strapped to his bare shoulder.
"Yeah." She nodded as she traced her finger over the cross he had tattooed to his arm, glad to have her old Cook back.

"Just you and me right now. Thursday we're gonna go over Eff's and get shit faced, forget about this place and forget about Red, 'kay?" Naomi bit her lip as she thought of having Emily out of her life for good. Red hair and chocolate eyes had been haunting her dreams for the whole week. She didn't think leaving the cottage was going to change that. "Look, I got to go see Keith. Sort out how we're gonna do this on Thursday. You just stay away from Red and I'll be back tonight. Here." He took out his wallet and handed over a wad of twenties, half of what Keith had given him. "You go out tomorrow. Go see Eff or something yeah? I'll stay and babysit the girl."

"Emily." The blonde corrected as she pocketed the money and stared at him curiously. If she didn't know Cook better he would swear she was up to something. "Her name is Emily." Cook laughed it off and kissed her forehead. His reply sent shivers running down her spine, though she couldn't place why.
"It's all gonna be sorted babe."

The second Cook was out the door Naomi scrambled upstairs. Her fingers fumbled as she unlocked Emily's door. She had the key around a chain on her neck, a constant reassurance it was still there after the previous day's shenanigans. Emily was still lying in bed with the curtains drawn. Her eyes were open and she was staring at Naomi as she walked across the room and pulled back the curtains, flooding the room with light. She winced, shielding her eyes behind her hand until they adjusted to the harsh light. "What the fuck." She grumbled in to her pillow. "Close the fucking curtains."
"It's lunch time." Naomi looked at the cold plate of breakfast sitting on the bedside table. It had been untouched. "What do you want to eat?"
"Not hungry. Just leave me alone." Emily grumbled and rolled over, pulling the covers over her head and turning her back on the blonde by the window.
"Cut the shit Emily." Naomi rolled her eyes and tore the covers back. The redhead grunted as she tried to pull the duvet back over her head. "Fucks sake." Naomi grabbed the duvet again, trying to shove it on the floor. Emily snatched it back and yanked it. Hard.

Naomi stumbled forward, losing her footing. Emily got more than she had bargained for as the blonde and the blanket shot forward. Naomi fell on top of her, her hands shooting out to steady herself and landing either side of Emily's head. The smaller girl's body was still warm from sleeping. She was wearing her underwear and a vest to bed and her skin was searing hot. Her eyes were wide and staring expectantly up at Naomi. The blonde was frozen still. She knew she had to move, before one of them did something stupid, but she couldn't bring her body to act. Emily made the first move; her hand slowly came up and cupped Naomi's cheek. The blonde couldn't tear her eyes away from the other girl's intense gaze. She shuddered as the smaller girl pinned beneath her caressed her cheek. Emily brought her hand around to the back of the blonde's head as she used her other arm to push herself up. Her lips were soft and for the briefest of seconds they were pressed firmly against Naomi's, then Emily let her arm drop so that she was lying flat on her back again with Naomi hovering above her. "Please." Emily's voice was filled with desperation as she closed her eyes. "Just leave me alone."

Naomi did as she asked. Getting to her feet she left Emily lying in bed, once again under the covers. She wanted to crawl back in to bed herself, but her phone on the dressing table caught her attention as she walked in to her room. She had a text from Effy from the night before. "Shit." She cursed as she read it and instantly called her back. "What the fuck Eff? Small cute redhead?" She didn't waste time on frivolities like a hello.
"Two out of three." Effy replied in her usual bored tone. "Brunette." She added before Naomi could ask what she had got wrong."

Anything you want to tell me Naomi?"
"We fucked up." The blonde sighed and slumped down on to her bed. "We're at some cottage near Wrington Hill. Keith got us a job working for Johnny Wight-" She held the phone away from her ear as Effy let out a string of four letter curses. "We thought it was sitting on some drugs or something. Not holding a fucking girl hostage."

"That the girl you like?" Effy was as perceptive as ever and Naomi let out another sigh with Effy's next utterance. "You're right. You're fucked."
"Gee thanks Effy. What the fuck was her sister doing at yours?"
"Drinking a bottle of wine…if you mean why did she turn up then blame Cook. He rang me off the same phone you used the other day. She traced it to me somehow…fuck, she's coming. I'll call later."
"She's still there?" Naomi asked incredulously, but the line had already gone dead. "Fuck." Everything was falling apart.

"Morning." Effy pocketed her phone as Katie walked in to her kitchen. "Coffee?" The eldest Fitch twin shook her head as she checked her phone. Her mother and JJ seemed to be competing for the title of who could leave her the most messages.
"I need to get back. My mum's freaking out." She pulled her coat on and stood awkwardly in front of the girl she had just met the night before. Effy sat on the kitchen bench, wearing only an oversized man's T-shirt. Her long legs were crossed in front of her and her eyes were firmly on Katie. She lost her familiar smirk as she met her gaze. She got down to her feet and closed the distance between them.
"I hope you find your sister Katie."

"Me too." Katie took a step back, her back hitting one of the kitchen benches. Effy was quiet and intense, her gaze smouldering as it lingered on Katie. She closed the distance between them, trapping her between the bench and her body. She claimed the smaller girl's lips with a searing kiss. She smirked as she pulled away, leaving Katie speechless. "You've got my number."

***

"Either drink it or fucking frame it lad." Keith snapped as Cook sat staring in to his pint. "You've had it a fucking hour!" He grumbled on, ignoring the way Cook squirmed in his chair. He had been sat in the pub all afternoon, debating whether or not to tell his uncle about Emily seeing Naomi's face. He liked the Fitch girl, but Naomi was his best friend. He had to put her first. Picking up his pint he finished it in one long drink.

"Uncle Keith? I need to tell you something."

A/N: Thanks again to everyone who's reading and for the reviews, they make my day when I'm stuck at work! And yes the Keffy in the last chapter was a little rushed and was mostly just to set up the next few chapters, but I promise it will be developed properly later on. Anyway the joys of middle management mean I've just finished an eight hour shift and will be going to another store tonight to run the night shift. Depending on how much sleep I need before my next shift tomorrow I might get another chapter up around 5am.