A/N: Thanks once again for your reviews...you guys are truly awesome. I could apologise for my absence and tell you why this chapter took so long but I know what you all want, so I'll just shut up now...
Actually, one more thing: I think some of this chapter might be a bit silly maybe?...but I don't give a fuck...hopefully you won't either...
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Naomi hears the front door unlocking, accompanied by the usual cacophony of flustered sounds that indicate that her mother is home; plastic bags swishing, keys jangling, and a muttering of curse words under exasperated breath.
The blonde stops in her tracks and winces. Shit. She'd been hoping to sneak out before her mum got back from Tesco. Before she could be peppered with questions about where she's going and who she's going with and what they'll be doing. Her stomach is already knotted with nerves, she doesn't need her mother making her even more anxious.
She sighs, resigning herself to the inevitable, because climbing out the window requires far too much effort and more coordination than she has. Plus, she's in a skirt. So she steels herself as best she can. Gives her reflection the onceover in the mirror one last time, to make sure nothing has changed from when she looked a mere minute ago. She doesn't think she's ever been so nervous about the way she looked before. Emily told her to wear something casual, so after about three hours of trying on everything she owns in different combinations, she finally settled on her favourite skirt and a girly top, a cute little blazer and some flats. She knows she doesn't look perfect, doesn't think she looks half as appealing as some of the girls she's seen Emily with, with their boobs and long legs on display, but she looks pretty good. She's made an effort with her hair and make-up too, another reason why she didn't want her mother to see her before she left. Her mum will know. She might not know the truth, but she'll know that something is different.
So she decides to go on the offensive, a tactic that sometimes works, where she talks and moves quickly and doesn't give her mum a moment to interrupt. As she grabs her bag her eyes fall to the scribbled note explaining her whereabouts that she'd planned to leave for her mother, some story about studying at Panda's house. She scrunches the paper into a ball in her fist. Obviously she can't use that excuse with the way that she looks and the obvious effort that's gone into it.
"Naomi?" she hears her mum call from the front of the house.
She takes a deep breath, throws the paper ball in the small plastic bin as she walks out of her room and down the hall, her heart hammering in her chest. She's used to lying to her mum about many things, but lying about Emily feels different. She doesn't know why.
She finds her mum in the kitchen with her back to her. Stands at the threshold of the room, deliberately doesn't step in.
"Hey mum, I was just about to leave you a note. I'm just on my way out."
Her mum swivels around as she speaks, and Naomi watches as the older woman takes in the way she looks, tries to act nonchalant.
"Oh wow, you look nice," her mum remarks, and Naomi is annoyed by the surprise in her tone. Takes it to mean that she doesn't usually look nice. Feels even more self conscious than she did before.
"You look a bit more dressed up than usual," her mum continues after a beat, "going somewhere special? A date maybe?"
Naomi laughs nervously, trying to feign shock at such a ridiculous question, but it comes out strained. Her eyes dart around the room and she tries desperately to lock them onto her mother's to appear less skittish, but her nerves won't let her. She holds the strap of her bag in one hand and her other is in her blazer pocket to stop them fidgeting. Reverts to her backup lie.
"Not a date, just dinner with my friends. Katie wanted to go to this nice restaurant in town so we thought we'd all get a bit dressed up."
She holds her breath when she's done. Finally looks at her mum and studies her face for her reaction.
"That sounds lovely." Her mum's smile quickly fades and her brow furrows. "But you've never been out into town on a school night before have you? Should I be worried? Saying something about curfews and not getting arrested and talking to strangers?"
For most parents it would be a joke because of course there should be rules for their teenage daughter going into town at night, but Naomi knows that her mother is serious. She's been such a hassle-free daughter than Gina hasn't had to do much parenting, so a situation like this poses a conundrum for her about what the proper protocol is.
"I'll be fine mum, and I won't be home too late at all." She smiles innocently, and then just to seal the deal adds, "You know I never do the wrong thing."
Her mother nods and smiles proudly, and despite everything Naomi still feels a twinge of guilt at lying to her mother, who trusts her so implicitly. Trusts her to be the Naomi that everyone thinks she is. Dependable, stable, controlled.
Boring.
It almost makes her want to do something stupid just to prove them all wrong. Although going on a date with Emily Fitch might be just stupid enough.
"You're right," her mum says as if she's admonishing herself for even questioning it. "Do you need a lift somewhere?"
"No I'll be fine. We're all meeting at Panda's and then taking the bus, and Panda doesn't live far from here, I'll walk."
She's glad for the fact that her mum doesn't know that Panda actually lives at least a thirty minute walk from their house. Not that she's actually going there.
"Alright, well, if you're sure?"
Naomi nods.
"Do you have enough money?"
She nods again.
"Well then," her mum shrugs, "have fun I suppose."
Naomi flashes a quick smile before taking off, eager to get out of the house and fearing that she's running late. She doesn't want to leave Emily waiting for her.
They'd decided to meet at a corner a couple of streets away from Naomi's house. Emily had very sweetly offered to pick her up at her door but Naomi had refused it immediately, knowing that she didn't want Emily going anywhere within sniffing distance of her mother. She didn't need to deal with those questions. But her vehement refusal seemed to hurt the redhead somewhat, and Naomi had quickly mumbled something about her mum being a pain in the ass and not wanting to deal with her questions. But from the look in Emily's eye it was obvious that she knew Naomi didn't want her mother to know, and not just because she didn't want to deal with questions. Emily let it slide though, nodding her head and then figuring out another meeting place.
Naomi rounds a corner and the place where they've agreed to meet comes into view, as does the redhead who is standing with her back facing her, looking even smaller from this distance. The blonde feels something swelling in her chest and a smile breaking across her face. Can't remember the last time she felt such joy at seeing another person before. Doesn't know if she ever has. Although the feeling is accompanied by intense anxiety, her stomach swirling with nerves and her hands feeling clammy.
She notices Emily standing in front of something. One of those motorised scooter things that she's seen people drive around Italy in movies. Her heart leaps out of her chest. This was never part of the plan. She'd thought they'd take the bus or something.
Emily's head swivels around in a casual glance, and Naomi watches her do a double take when the redhead notices her walking towards her. A smile lights up Emily's face, and Naomi knows hers is matching. She tears her gaze away from those enigmatic brown eyes and takes in the rest of Emily. The redhead is wearing tight skinny black jeans with sneakers, and a white singlet with a red and black plaid shirt buttoned over the top, a tight charcoal cardigan over that. Her hair hangs effortlessly around her shoulders, her eyes dark with eyeliner, and her lips coloured with bright candy apple red lipstick.
Naomi's first thought is to wonder whether the lipstick will stain her own lips when she kisses Emily. When, not if. Knows that will be a dead giveaway if her mother sees her later tonight. If anyone sees her. Doesn't stop her magining a path of faint red marks trailing from her lips across her jaw, then down her neck and disappearing under her top.
She feels something flutter low in her belly. Likes it.
Her second thought is that Emily looks like a lesbian. Not like the women with shaved heads and work boots that she's seen on TV, but there's something obvious about Emily's sexuality. Naomi thinks that people are going to know Emily's a lesbian and probably think that she's one as well. Probably whisper about them and glare at them in whatever restaurant or wherever they end up going.
Her smile slips slightly. The nerves starting to trump the excitement. She doesn't know if she's ready for this. Dating a girl.
But her legs continue to propel her forward, mostly because she can't help thinking how hot Emily looks, and where else that red lipstick might stain her skin.
She pulls up just in front of Emily, the two locking eyes for a long time, smiles stretched across their faces.
"Hi," Emily almost purrs, and Naomi instantly feels like she wants to touch the redhead in some way. Concentrates on standing still because her body wants things that her mind isn't ready for.
"Hey."
"Wow you look..." Emily smiles, her eyes running up and down the blonde. Lowers her voice a notch. "You look beautiful."
Naomi can feel herself barely able to contain a beaming smile. She doesn't see it, but Emily telling her she looks beautiful makes her feel it. Also increases the swirling in her stomach.
"Thanks."
She wonders if she should return the compliment. Doesn't know how any of this works. Dating another girl. She barely knows what it's like to date a boy, so dating a girl is a complete mindfuck. A million thoughts bombard her mind, and her apprehension and confusion must show in her expression because Emily takes a step forward, placing a comforting hand on the blonde's arm.
"Naomi? Are you okay?"
Naomi's eyes flick up to meet Emily's concerned gaze then and something happens. Her brain malfunctions and she actually starts blathering out the thoughts that are occurring to her. Like her filter is malfunctioning.
"I'm just a little freaked out. I mean, I don't know how any of this works. Is one of us supposed to be the boy and pay for things? And who decides who that is? Is it me because I'm taller? You because you've dated other girls before? What happens wh –"
"Whoa. Naomi."
She feels Emily stepping closer into her space and holding her other hand out to her arm. Is surprised to find the close proximity oddly calming. As are the intense brown eyes staring into hers. And the amused smile tugging up the redhead's lips.
"Yeah?" Naomi manages to mumble.
"Don't think so much. You're starting to freak me out. Just...relax. There are no rules here. It's not about us both being girls okay? This is about you and me, Naomi and Emily."
Naomi surges forward then, Emily's lovely words driving her until their lips are pressed together, obviously taking the redhead a little by surprise if the gasp that escapes her lips is any indication. This is the first time Naomi's instigated a kiss but she doesn't think about that, doesn't think about anything other than how soft Emily's lips are and the feel of Emily's hand sliding up her neck to cup her cheek. Naomi's mind is oddly quiet, her brain focusing on the physical sensations firing through her body right now. The shiver down her spine. The heat radiating from wherever Emily's skin is touching hers. The flutter low in her stomach that has nothing to do with nerves. The kiss is chaste but lingering, the two girls lost in the moment until a passing car brings them back to reality, Naomi stepping back and out of Emily's embrace.
She studies the ground for a moment while she tries to compose herself, before finally looking up with a sheepish smile. Finds the redhead staring back at her with an amused smile that's a lot softer than a smirk. Adoring even.
Naomi's not sure what to say. Is thankful when Emily finally fills the silence.
"So this is my baby."
The redhead turns and takes a step back. Slaps her hand on the seat of her scooter.
Naomi winces. She'd almost forgotten about that. Her eyes run over the scooter. Its red paint is chipped and scraped and the little dash with the odometer and other gauges looks old. The whole thing looks like it shouldn't be running anymore.
"I can tell by the look on your face that you're worried, but trust me, you've never been safer. You'll be okay."
The words do little to ease the blonde's nerves because she never believes people when they tell her she'll be okay. Mostly because they're usually lying and saying that to placate her, like they did at her dad's funeral. But something in her trusts Emily, even though she has reason not too, so she nods her head and accepts the helmet that's being offered to her.
She follows Emily's lead and puts the helmet on, thankful that she hadn't pinned her hair up because it would have been ruined.
Emily climbs onto the scooter and turns to face her. Naomi's chest feels so tight she can barely breathe, but she can still appreciate how good Emily looks on the thing.
"Right, so you jump on behind me and hold on around my waist okay?"
Naomi nods. Not conscious of the challenge her being in a skirt poses until she attempts to mount the seat gracefully.
"You could have told me we would be going on this thing," she admonishes the redhead playfully. "I wouldn't have worn a skirt."
Emily chuckles her throaty laugh, and Naomi doesn't care if she's being laughed at or with, as long as she can hear that laugh again and again.
"If I'd told you, you wouldn't have come," the redhead says simply.
Naomi opens her mouth to protest but closes it again quickly. It's true. When she and Emily had been discussing the logistics of their date she'd felt completely overwhelmed, and the mention of a scooter being their transport maybe have tipped her over the edge.
She'd immediately said yes when Emily had asked her out, and the redhead had kissed her thoroughly, before they sat down and talked about the date. Emily wanted to take her out that night, somewhere she wouldn't tell Naomi. The redhead had briefly mentioned again that Naomi wanted it kept a secret, and when the blonde confirmed the idea with a nod of the head she'd thought she'd seen hurt briefly colour Emily's expression. But she didn't question it because she wasn't prepared for the answer. Thought it was complicated enough for a first date without stirring up even more trouble.
But Emily is right, if she'd told her about the scooter Naomi more than likely would have called the whole thing off.
She smiles to herself. Likes that Emily already knows her so well.
It's not graceful, but she manages to slide herself onto the scooter behind Emily, her arms reaching out to the redhead's hips tentatively, a smile sneaking onto her face. She runs them around Emily's waist, pressing against the redhead more than is necessary, but she knows she's not the only one who enjoys it when she hears Emily intake a sharp breath.
Her arms come to settle around the front of the redhead and their bodies are pressed flush together. Briefly wonders if this was why Emily wanted to travel this way in the first place. Says as much to the redhead, feeling bold.
"You just wanted to ride this thing so that you'd have me pressed up against you huh?"
Emily turns her head slightly and chuckles, and Naomi can feel the redhead's stomach muscles tensing under her palms. She likes it.
"This is just a pleasant benefit. But it was either this or the public bus, and I didn't think you wanted to take a chance on being seen."
Emily keeps the levity in her voice but Naomi is sure she hears an underlying accusation. It rattles her for a moment and all she can think to do is squeeze her arms a little tighter around Emily, lean closer into her back. She wants Emily to know that she appreciates how sweet she's being, especially because she's convinced she hasn't done anything to deserve it.
She gets her answer when Emily's hand moves to cover hers that are wrapped around the redhead's waist, sinking back into Naomi a little. They sit like that for a moment, Naomi's arms moving in and out with Emily's breaths, before the redhead finally straightens up.
"You ready for this?"
It feels like Emily's question is about much more than this scooter ride. Naomi feels the gravity of what is really being asked. Knows that if she does this there's no going back, for either of them, and that Emily is giving her one more out.
She could take it. She could say she changed her mind and go home. Give in to every fear and anxiety and thought that she wasn't good enough. It would be easy. Much easier than the alternative, and she's always done the easy thing. Always hidden in her room with her books. She's always thought that taking the easy way out is a family trait.
But she doesn't want to be that person. She doesn't want to be the girl who dreams about having the kind of adventures in life and love that she's read about in her books. Doesn't want to always be running away from things. Wants to run toward something for a change. Toward Emily. Even if it ends up in disaster.
It's thrilling and terrifying at the same time, the way she always feels around Emily. It could be the best choice she's ever made or the biggest mistake, but something about Emily Fitch makes her want to take that chance.
So she tightens her hold around the redhead, leans in close to her ear and takes a deep breath.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
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So, I wasn't intending to leave it here but I'm fucking tired...(it's 3.30am). I'm going to try like hell to finish their date and upload it around the same time tomorrow...if I don't I give one of you permission to punch me in the face...seriously, I've blown off plans to get this done because I've been an ass with uploading lately...so I'm gonna try.
Also, I just wanted to put in a shameless plug for something I like. Aussies might be familiar with a singer named Katie Noonan (she is awesome!), although nobody else probably is. Anyway, she is odd but fantastic, and her and her band have an awesome duet with Sia called 'Sweet One'. It's wonderful and weird in a way that both her and Sia's songs are always wonderfully weird, but I just thought I'd let some of you know it exists, because it's brilliant and you may not have heard of it...you can find it here: www .youtube. com/watch?v=pKf8IECZph8
Again, I'm sorry I took so long...please leave a review to tell me how annoying I am...or your thoughts on the chapter...i have a fairly firm idea of where Emily is taking Naomi for their date but if you have any let me know, they could be better than mine!
:)