"Of course. Of course I'd go and fucking leave my iPod with Naomi," I mumbled.

I had gone through my bag and suitcase twice over and had come to the conclusion it was with her. I knew I had to get it at some point, so I might as well get it now. She would be home wouldn't she? It's been 3 days so I could only assume she would be back.

"Katie, where does Naomi live?"

Katie looked up from the magazine she was reading and gave me a bewildered look. "Why would you want to go see that bitch?"

"I need to get my iPod," I muttered back. "What's her address?"

She eyed me cautiously, "Just text her to bring it here or wait for college."

I could easily text her to bring it, I knew that, but despite my anger and sadness, I wanted to see her. I knew it had something to do with what Effy had said because, even though I hadn't quite worked it out yet, I trusted her that it was a good sign – whatever it was. I glanced around my room and picked up my phone, taking notice of the lack of messages or calls from Naomi and then going to my contacts. I'd ring Effy.

"Hello?"

"Hey, what's Naomi's address? I need to go get something."

"Lives off Tuebrook, it's a road called Mayville road. Number 32. Hope you two kiss and make up."

She hung up before I could say anything. I blushed slightly at what she had said. I couldn't help but hoped that happened. I mean the make up bit. Not the... well yeah sure the kiss but I mean- Oh never mind.

"I'll see you later," I said to Katie quickly before grabbing my coat. I heard her shouting after me but I just ignored her and ran out of the house. I knew Tuebrook was relatively close, meaning I could walk. Each step I took I got more and more painfully aware that I was walking to Naomi's to get my iPod. I didn't even know if she was in for fucks sake. What was I going to do once I was there? Just ask for it and leave? Maybe suggest we talk about it, go somewhere for a drink? I didn't know. I looked around and saw the sign for Tuebrook and began walking along it, checking for 'Mayville'.

"Brooker Road... Greenhill Road... Mayville," I confirmed with a nod.

I turned up it and checked the numbers on the houses. Why didn't I just text her? Oh jesus. I stood in front of the house for a good few minutes before realising she could easily be watching me and thinking I was some sort of weird stalker. I hurriedly went up to the door and knocked. I wasn't sure if it was my anger that was making the wait seem longer, or she was generally taking her time answering the door. That, or she wasn't in at all.

"Come on," I mumbled to myself.

I knocked again and stood back from the door, waiting. I began to hear movement, but she still didn't go to the door. So not only had she ignored my texts and calls in Ireland, she'd also taken to ignoring me right while I was stood outside in the fucking cold. Great. I gave the door one final knock. I saw her moving towards the door through the glass and waited for it to open.

"I'm not here to talk, just to- F-fuck," was all I could manage as I stared at her face. I gulped as I thought of what to say. Her face, the blood, the bruises, it was too much to take in.

She looked at me and smiled despite it, "Emily."

"Naomi what the fuck happened?" I stepped inside the house and closed the door. I bit my lip as I looked at her.

"Nothing," She said and eagerly asked, "What are you doing here?"

I shook my head, "It doesn't matter, what happened?"

"I was just mugged," She said quietly after a long pause.

"Just mugged?" I shouted, "For fucks sake Naomi, you're bleeding and bruised. Have you called the police?" I pushed passed her and picked up the phone that was by the door. I started hitting in 999 but only get 2 digits in before her hand was on mine.

"Don't. Just forget it."

I shook my head and turned to face her. She looked tired and desperate. "You can't just forget it. You need to... to tell someone..."

"You're someone."

Before I could say anything, she stalked off someone, leaving me in the hallway. She returned a couple minutes later with a glass of water. Naomi put her hands to her head and backed away until she was sitting on her stairs.

I started to panic and pushed her shoulders back so she was sat upright. "Are you okay? Naomi? Come on, talk to me for fucks sake."

She nodded, "Yeah yeah I'm fine. I just need to get cleaned up and shit."

I put my hands around her and pulled her up. "Come on then." I felt her put all her weight on me, meaning I was half carrying her up the stairs. I didn't know whether she was taking advantage or genuinely was finding difficulty in staying upright. The fact she was still able to carry to glass of water told me it was a bit of a combination. She began mumbling something I couldn't quite understand.

"What did you say?"

She shook her head and muttered something about my ears. I decided finding the bathroom was more important than hearing about my ears. I could see what looked like a bathroom just ahead of me. I got a better grip on her before using my foot to kick the door open, quickly putting the toilet lid down and seating Naomi on it. She was making this difficult, flopping lazily forward. I doubt she's being lazy, I had to tell myself.

"Naomi?"

She mumbled again but sat up right. I began running the tap. I went into the small cupboard behind me, hoping to find towels, which I did. I pulled out 3 and took the smallest. I tested the water, checking it was hot, and then put the plug in. I dabbed the towel in and got a few centimetres from Naomi's face before being pushed back.

"Woah, woah, that's way too fucking hot!"

I followed Naomi's eyes to the sink with hot water that was even steaming. I sighed and drained it slightly before replacing some of the hot water with cold water.

"Amazing how you can still be picky."

I dabbed the towel again before placing it, first of all, to her chin. I watched as she winced before completely closing her eyes. She kept taking deep breathes in and out, making me nervous.

"Are you okay?" I asked, still wiping away the blood.

"I-" She stopped short then opened her eyes. "I could do with a couple paracetamols."

I nodded, "Where are they?"

She pointed to the mirror.

"You actually have one of those hidden medicine cabinets behind the mirror?" I tried to give a little chuckle, but it came out too dry. I went over and saw the paracetamol, taking two out before handing them to her. She put them in her mouth before swallowing them down with the water.

"What happened?" I asked again, continuing my efforts to clean her face of all blood.

She looked to me and licked her lips. "I was mugged, I said before."

"Now tell me what really happened.

"I told you. I was mugged," She mumbled looking down at her hands. "Why can't you just believe me?"

Something told me she wasn't telling me the truth. I didn't know what it was, but I wasn't completely convinced. "I don't think you were," I pressed on. "I just don't think you were mugged."

"Well I was," She snapped back.

Before I could say anything, a sound came from her jean pockets. She quickly pulled her phone out, checked it and then placed it on the floor beside her feet.

She hadn't quite caught onto the giveaway. "Muggers that didn't take your phone?" When she didn't say anything, I did. "Muggers that, not only didn't take anything, actually beat you up? Naomi I don't know why you aren't telling me the truth but at least stop lying."

She looked up from her hands and looked directly at me. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but shut it instantly after. I got the dried blood from around her nose before actually inspecting it. "It just looks bruised, not broken or anything. Do you want some ice?"

She shook her head. I moved on to the cut which only had a bit of blood. I wiped it and then inspected it. "It looks a lot like a nail scratch." I hadn't fully intended to say that aloud, but I did. It didn't seem like a mugger to use their nails. Maybe that's because my thought of a mugger is a big strong man. A man in general. Not a nail wielding girl.

"Stop with the fucking Sherlock Holmes shit," She groaned.

I stopped cleaning and just looked at her. She didn't look back, but I knew she was aware I was looking at her. She blinked a few times and began fiddling with her top. I felt horrible and sick. I was become painfully aware of how vulnerable Naomi was right now.

"Sorry," I mumbled back.

I checked her face over, placing my hand on her chin to move her head so I could check both sides. It seemed cleared of all blood with just the bruises remaining.

"Did they only get your face?"

Naomi bit her lip and remained silent.

"Naomi?"

She didn't say anything but I watched as her hand pulled her shirt down protectively.

I put my hand over her and gripped her shirt. She didn't look at me but her hand relaxed. I put my other hand on the other side and although she moved as if to push me away, she allowed me to pull at her shirt. I pulled it slowly, never taking my eyes off her face until it was over her head. I knew that if the same thing were happening under other circumstances I would be thrilled, but right now I couldn't. I looked down and saw the bruises around her ribs. I couldn't help but take a harsh breath in and feel my eyes sting.

"Naomi..." I trailed off.

She sighed and rummaged into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette. She lit it and ran her hands through her hair. I placed my hand over hers and licked my lips, begging her to just look at me. I watched as she took another drink of the water.

She finally did look at me, her eyes glistening. Was she crying? No. I couldn't see Naomi cry. It made it hard. Hard to be angry about everything, hard to not want to just hug her, hard to not just kiss her.

"Oh God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything I did and for having to do this and it fucking hurts. It hurts, everything hurts," She sobbed. "When you left me in Ireland it hurt and now everything hurts but it's not even the punches or kicks that makes me hurt, it's you! That day you ignored me in the pub, it hurt then and I wasn't even sure if I liked you then and it hurts right now looking at you and- and-"

I felt my own tears falling and I quickly went forward and wrapped my arms around her. "It's okay Naomi," I choked out.

"No it's not," She cried out again. "I really do like you, I do. I like you like you like me and I want us to be okay but I'm so utterly shit with everyone and everything and," She pulled back before finishing and took a deep breath, calming herself and stopping all sobs and tears. "And if I'm hurting you like it's hurting me then I'm so, so sorry because-"

"Naomi," I said. I stared at her before leaning in, kissing her cheek, trailing along her jaw until I got to her mouth. I kissed it quickly first, drawing back to check her reaction. She was looking at me, scanning my lips and eyes. It surprised me when she was the one to lean back into it. It started slow, careful even, and only began to deepen once Naomi stood up. She pushed me into the wall behind and placed her hands on the wall, either side of my waist. I put my own hands to her hips and let the kiss get deeper. It was only when I felt her tongue brush against my teeth that I opened my mouth fully, pressing forward as she pressed back. Her tongue massaged against my own, taking moments to give soft kissing to my lips. We moved together. Her hands moved to my hair and my hands slipped to her stomach. I was lost. I was confused, I was dazed, I was fucking thrilled. I felt her hand on my shirt and she pulled it up with one quick motion. We continued to kiss until Naomi pulled back. She didn't lean back in this time. She just stood there.

I shook my head, "Don't do this again."

"No..." She said slowly, "No it's not... not that .. I-" She put her hand on the door leant against it. "I need to lie down," She breathed.

"Are you okay?" Panic washed away all joy. "Naomi?"

"I'm fine," She said, lowering herself to the floor and leaning against the side of the bath. "Can we just sit, sit and talk? Not that I don't like kissing you," She smirked, "It's just getting a little too heated for my head."

I nodded, "Let's just talk then."