Emily's POV
I drove as fast as I could away from the shitty little restaurant. I don't really know what I expected and I was truly hoping Katie and I could have discussed this but instead she pulls this shit. I hate when people cry and I hate it even more when I cry. I'm not really sure how to deal with such strong emotions and certainly not in front of people. It was too much, it wasn't just that, it was pure rage and confusion. I shouldn't have to deal with coming out again. And I'm pretty sure it'll be even worse with Mum.
So I booked it out of there as fast as I could, before Katie could try and make it worse by following me. I needed a place to hide for a while. And I see the perfect place, a empty looking bookstore. I'm going really fast and I stop so quickly that I fall off the moped and land on the pavement. It hurts like hell but the moped is okay. I pick it up and park it, hiden from the street view so that Katie won't see it if her and Danny drive past. Walking hurts a bit after the fall but I'm in too much of a hurry to care as I walk in the bookstore.
Its a lovely place and being here just has a nice calming affect. My tears have stopped, but I'm sure I look horrible, ripped shirt, messy hair and raccoon eyes from my mascara. The bookstore is larger than it looks, with two floors, a nice open lounge on the second floor with bean bag chairs and some bookshelves. After finding the book I was looking I make my way upstairs and sit on one of the blue bean chairs in a small nook between two shelves.
Its childish I know, but I've picked Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which I'll have you know is one of my favorite books. Dad used to read it to me when I had nightmares as a kid, and its become a safety blanket of sorts. I'm at the part where the Cheshire Cat is giving Alice instructions to the Mad Hatter's house when I'm interupted from my reading.
"Alice In Wonderland? Isn't that a little above your reading level, Katie?" a sarcastic voice asks. Its Naomi.
"Don't be a bitch" I glare at her, though its probably the least threatening thing ever. If anything its pathetic.
"I'm uh..." she says, unsure of herself, "I'm sorry."
"Why the fuck are you here anyways? Why can't everyone just leave me alone?" I exclaim, and the tears are coming back again. The two people I'd least like to cry in front of. This is fan-bloody-tastic.
"I'm sorry," Naomi says more sincerly this time. "I uh work here." Oh, right. I look up at her, and even with all these emotions running around I'm blown away by how carelessly beautiful she looks. And the usual sarcasm and apathy makes her even more beautiful. Its not until I notice her looking at me expectingly that I realize I've been staring.
"Sorry." I blush, trying to hide my face.
"Are you okay?" she's asking.
"Yeah, just, yeah," I mutter.
"Are you sure, because you look like you've been beat up," she scoffs. "Sorry, I mean, you're bleeding."
"What?" I ask, pure confusion. I look down to realize my legs being cut up. "Oh, shit. Fuck!" I shout, as I finally feel the pain. I must have been to occupied with my emotions to realize. I put my hands on my knees which only makes it feel worse. My hands come back covered in red. Shit.
"You're very red." She says as she lightly touches my hair, "come on. I'll help you up and clean you up." Naomi says as she offers her hand. I accept it and its very nice. None of that cliche stuff, just soft and comforting. Nice.
"There's plasters down in the storage." Naomi tells me as she wraps her arm around my waist and lifts my other arm over her shoulder.
"Is she okay, love?" an older man asks. He's small with tiny wire frame glasses and white hair matching his white beard.
"Yeah, Mr Wilson. I'll just fix her up, yeah." Naomi says to the man. "He's my neighbour, happens to own this store. Gave me a job here a year ago," she smiles, explaining it.
"That's cool." I smile back. I may be in pain, but her smile makes me smile. "Thanks for, you know, mothering me."
"No problem. So how'd this happen?" she asks. "Sit here." Naomi directs me to a desk that's rather empty in the back storage room. There's shelves of boxes and Naomi reaches up to grab a kit placed on a higher shelf. This gives me a great opportunity to look at her very nice long legs and her fit arse. She asked you a question, stop perving! I remind myself. Oh right.
"Oh, a tumble. I was driving too fast. My moped that is." I'm doing a horrible job of explaining.
"I mean your eyes. You've been crying." She replies quietly. I almost can't hear her. Its like she dosen't want to show that she cares.
"Oh right." I say, going quiet. We both remain quiet as she pours rubbing alcohol carefully on my knee. Fuck. I hiss. It stings.
"Um, I was running away." I stop as she does the same to my other knee.
"And you plan to what? Live in a bookstore?" she scoffs.
"No! It just looked like a nice place to hide. You know, an escape for a while." I explain.
"What were you running from then?" Naomi asks. She's cleaning my legs with a clothe and her smooth finger brush against my leg, causing a shiver to run up them. My heart starts beating a little faster, and I take a breath to calm it down.
"Fucking Katie," I answer with dislike.
"What'd the bitch do this time?" Naomi asks.
"Long story." I respond.
"Go on then," Naomi urges. She's done cleaning my legs and she's placing plasters on them.
"Right. Okay. So, um, a few days ago..." I start, "you were there, the day at the club. Well, it started before then. We did this twin switch right. Her as me, me as her, right? She wanted to get to know Dad."
"Was that you at the party then? That Friday, with the drugs?" she interupts. "Sorry, go on."
"Yeah, it was. But anyways. She found my uh..." I don't want to tell Naomi about the box and its contents. I don't really want to sound like a perv. A perv who still hasn't cleaned up the cut outs and pages. They're still scattered on the floor in my room, and I've left them as if to declare anyone coming in that I am infact a flaming lesbian.
"Your uh?" she echoes.
"Right, my journal." I cover, "with all my gay confessions and what not. She found it. The day we went to the club. And she saw us kissing." She shifts uncomfortably at that comment. "Sorry about that, by the way. Anyways, today she took me to lunch. I thought we'd be able to talk about it, but instead she decides to make it a double date with some jerk who plays for the Bristol Rovers. Some jerk guy!"
Naomi just laughs.
"What!? The Bristol Rovers, Jesus Christ!" I exclaim, waving my hands. "The Bristol Rovers suck! She hasn't been listening to anything! I shouldn't even care! I've known her for like two months! She can just fuck off!"
"Calm down, Ems." Naomi shushes me. I'm speechless. I'm pretty sure its the first time she has said my name. "She's probably just in denial. She'll get over it. And if she can't then she dosen't matter."
"Like Dr Seuss says?" I ask, smiling. She gives me a confused look.
"Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." I quote.
"Yeah, exactly like that." Naomi agrees.
"You don't mind then?" I ask her, uncertain with what she'll say.
"Couldn't care less. You're you whether you like fanny or cock. And you, well, I've known you for only for a week or so, but you seem generally ace," Naomi confesses.
"We're friends then?" I ask her.
"Yeah, of course." She nods.
"Thanks Naomi." I nod back, "for you know, cleaning me up, listening. All that."
"Not really my kind of thing, to be honest. I prefer being cold and bitchy," she retorts, as if she's unable to accept my thanks, "but for you, yeah. No problem." Relief.
"I'll see you, yeah," I say.
"Yeah. Friday. Apparently my mum invited you and darling Katie over. And what's-her-face. Your friend."
"Oh, right. Maybe." I reply.
"You're coming Fitch. No way are you leaving me with Katie for an evening," Naomi retorts.
"Do I have to?" I whine.
"Don't whinge about it. I have to suffer, so do you." Naomi smiles.
"Fine, whatever you say Mum." I stick out my tongue. She scowls.
"See you then. Drive safe."
"Yup. Thanks again." I say as I'm out the door. Its much later now and to be honest I'm starving. I missed lunch and my phone tells me its four. I have a shit load of messages from Katie and one from Effy. A few missed calls too.
I check Effy's first.
Give her a few days. See you friday at 6 -Efx
I send her a quick reply, a thanks and see you then. Next are Katie's twenty. They're all pretty much the same, just asking me where I am and to call her. There's one sorry.
Its time to go home though, I'm starving and I want to be home. I start up the moped, no problem. Driving this time is actually relaxing. I make it home and take of the helmet.
"There you are sweetie!" Dad shouts pulling me into a hug. "Are you okay?" He asks after our hug.
"Yeah, Dad. Long day, you know." I sigh, trying to give her a reassuring smile.
"Katie called saying you disappeared. Something about a date gone horribly wrong." Dad explains.
"Yeah, I sort of came out to her. Well, yeah." I nod.
"I'm guessing it went arse over tit?" he asks.
"Kind of yeah. I think she's still in denial," I reply, sighing again. He pulls me into another hug.
"I love you kid."
"I love you too Dad." I smile.
"Now, come on. Let's get you some soup and you can tell me about this disaster of a day."
Katie's POV
Well that sucked. I completly forgot Emily hated the Bristol Rovers. Oops. She won't talk to me again and she's being emotional. Effy told me to give her some space but I haven't heard from her in a few days.
Gina invited me to supper though, which is fantastic because she invited Emily and Effy. Its fantastic because Effy is going to force Emily to come. I know it. Its the only reason I'm going. I wouldn't suffer through Naomi fucking Campbell without good reason. Its logical.
So Mum is dropping me off there right now and I'm pleased to see Effy's car sitting at the curb. This is perfect, she won't be able to leave without Effy.
I wave Mum good bye and ring the bell. Gina lets me in, leading me to the kitchen where Emily, Effy, Cook and the bitch Campbell are already sitting. Cook and Effy are laughing about something or other and Emily seems to be blushing while Campbell is smirking.
"And so my Dad found Ems necking with my cousin under the table, where the cake was of course. And the wedding cake just came tumbling down right on Dad. It was fucking brilliant." Effy is explaining some story, and once she's done they burst out laughing, exept for Emily, who is blushing furiously, almost matching her hair. I've changed mine since, the bright red didn't suit my complexion much.
"So you pulled at a wedding then, Ems?" Cook asks. "Take any pictures?"
"A respectable lady dosen't kiss and tell," Ems smirks. "Anyways, loo?"
"Upstairs on the left, dear." Gina tells her. She's out the door without even a glance at me. She's limping a bit too. "Sit down, dear." Gina tells me. I sit down next to Effy, across from Cook.
"Gina these steamed carrots are lovely," Effy compliments.
"Don't be a brown noser, Effs," Emily says as she's back. Effy discretly flips Ems off.
"What happened to your knees, Ems?" I ask, shocked. She looks like she got beaten up.
"Moped accident." She glares back and changes the topic. "Thanks for showing your garden, Gina. It really was lovely."
"No problem, love." Gina replies. "So are you girls excited for school on Monday?"
"Ugh don't remind me Mum." Naomi responds first, grumbling. Bitch.
"I ain't no girl Gina!" Cook exclaims after.
"Good thing I wasn't asking you then," Gina smiles at him.
"I dunno, I think it'll be good. Fun, new." Emily says, ever the bright one.
"You just want to have sex in the toilets Ems." Effy scoffs.
"Like you don't? Like you haven't?" Emily retorts. What the fuck? Since when are my sister and her best friend complete sluts?
"I knew there was a reason I liked you two!" Cook exclaims while Naomi just glares at Effs and Ems. She hits Cook on the arm.
"In front of my mother, really?!" Naomi exclaims.
"Its fine dear. Refreshing actually." Gina smiles. Naomi just rolls her eyes. I take a deep breath.
"Ems, can I talk to you in private?" I ask her.
"No." She answers. Effy nudges her.
"Please?" I ask again.
"Anything you want to say can be said here." She says.
"Fine then. I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry that date was shit, okay? I forgot you hated the Rovers, and I'm sorry I didn't ask you about it before hand. Can we just move on from it? Please?" I rant. I'm not really sure what else to say.
"And..." Emily says, urging me to go on. I'm not sure what I have to say. I shrug.
"And, Katie, I'm gay. Okay? You'll have to accept it eventually." Emily insists.
"How do you know though? You've never had a boyfriend," I reply, quietly. Its embarrassing really, she could score any guy. She look pretty much like me, fit and all.
"Like I said to Johnny, I've probably had more girls than him." Emily says, a little arrogantly.
"Don't exaggerate Ems." Effy smirks while Cook hollers and Naomi hits him on the arm again.
"I just know okay. Its always been like that. I can't fix this, okay? I like girls. I like their rosy lips, their hard nipples, bums, soft eyes... I like tits and fanny, you know." She stops, suddenly remembering Gina, who's sitting grinning and sipping her tea. "Sorry Gina." And Emily's blushing.
"No problem dear. Go on." Gina replies, smiling broadly.
"I think I'm done. That's all really," Emily says, shifting her eyes from Gina to me. I remain quiet, not really sure what to say. Everyone else is quiet too, waiting for me to say something.
"Just think it over, kay? You don't have to accept it right away" Emily suggests, "I'm going for a fag, Effs?" and both are up and out of there, probably good for them. Cook follows with.
"I'll go get the dessert ready, yeah." Gina offers, leaving only me and Naomi.
"This is all your fault really. Kissing my sister, making her confused." I point at her.
"Katie, she's been gay since she was born. She's been out for years, as I've heard." Naomi replies calmly. I was expecting some sort of fight, a sarcastic comeback or something.
"You do this. You kiss girls, confusing them. My sister? First me then her?" I shout.
"Katie, you kissed me! I let you say whatever, spread lies and goss about me. I don't care, but don't lie to yourself." Naomi responds, not as calmly as before.
"I didn't, no. My sister is not gay. She dosen't kiss girls!" I insist.
"Katie, Ems is very gay. From what I've heard, she does more than just kiss girls," Naomi smirks. I struggle to say anything, so Naomi continues, "plus, like Emily said, she kissed me."
"That's not right! She just took the blame. You're to blame. You kissed her just like you kissed me!" I argue back.
"Katie! Stop lying to yourself. Emily kissed me at the club. And you kissed me!" Naomi sighs.
"Is it true? Katie?" a voice asks from behind us. Shit, its Emily.
"I..." I get a serious glare from her, "yes. I kissed her. I was drunk and I thought she was Cook." Naomi scoffs there. That part is true though, I was fucking gone. I'm not sure why I would want to kiss Cook either, but whatever, I was drunk. "And I panicked and blamed her for the whole thing. Told everyone it was her that kissed me."
"Katie..." Emily's voice fades off.
"I'm sorry Ems. I'm really sorry." I tell her.
"Its fine. Nothing I can't take," she replies, "but isn't there someone else you should apologize to?" She wants me to apologize to Naomi. Fuck, but only because I want to be friends with Emily again. I take a breath before turning to face Naomi.
"I'm sorry." I say not to sincerly either.
"Right," she answers, not to convinced either.
"Not as heartwarming I was hoping for, but whatever," Emily smiles, "so whats for dessert? I love dessert?"
"Course you do, fatie," Effy scoffs as she's back with Cook, both smelling of cigarettes.
"Shut up, I'm fit as fuck!" Emily responds.
"I'd have to agree with her, Effs," Cook laughs and Emily flips him off.
"Oh I love cake!" Emily exclaims when Gina returns with cake in her hands.
Gina serves her first, a large slice of dark chocolate cake that looks really good. By the time Gina is done serving everyone Emily is done her slice and up for another. The cake is really good, but unlike Emily, I have enough with one small slice. Playing football must keep her in good shape if she eats like this all the time.
"What's the plan for the evening?" Gina asks as we're helping clean up plates.
"We should go out! Do something! Play football, go dancing. I'm pumped, lets do something," Emily pipes up, full of energy all of the sudden.
"Too much sugar in that cake?" I ask.
"We could go to the cinema," Naomi suggests.
"No, that's no fun. That's sitting." Emily rejects the idea.
"Last Saturday before college, we need something fucking awesome," Cook agrees.
"Bowling?" I offer. Emily looks at me wide-eyed as if I've just said something offensive, and Effy is laughing.
"Emsy here got us banned from the only bowling lane near here. Unless you wanna go halfway across town," Effy answers.
"What the fuck did you do?" Naomi asks.
"I swear, Effy was cheating. Nobody is that good at bowling!" Emily puts in.
"Our little Ems threw a tantrum." Effy explains and Cook laughs.
"Uncle Keith's pub then! We'll get free drinks, get fucked good and proper one last time before college!" Cook offers.
Everyone is quiet trying to think of a better option, not wanting to be stuck at the run down old pub. No one can think of anything, so we're off to Uncle Keith's, unfortunatly.
And the night goes as expected, but I let myself get good and proper pissed, because I'd like to forget that my sister has convinced herself she's gay.