CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
"Man," Freddie had no answers for his friend, but he did admire how she kept it together when she clearly wanted to lash out.
"It's a fucking colossal nightmare," Naomi nodded in agreement.
"Maybe you could, you know, go with her?" Freddie suggested. Naomi had never taken time off work, but he was sure he could manage the store for a week without her. He might even ask Effy if she wanted to come in.
"No, I can't. We're not there yet, Freds. Her father would not understand that at all, and I couldn't sit around all day waiting for Emily to return home with her father and pretend like I don't want to fucking kiss her." Fuck, Naomi wasn't even sure Emily would want that anyway. They weren't exactly sure about their relationship.
"Telling him is not an option," Freddie guessed.
"That's something for Emily to decide," Naomi replied.
"Come on, we're not going to get this shit solved tonight. Let's try and enjoy the night," Freddie pulled Naomi up from the floor, laughing as she almost fell into the bath. Naomi would sink in the anguish of it all, she needed distraction.
"Thanks, Freds," Naomi loved how she could count on him all the time.
"Here," Effy handed a beer over to Freddie as they left the bathroom, Naomi smiling in the direction of Emily, who was currently talking with Steve and some petite blonde girl next to him.
"Thanks, babe." Freddie pulled Effy in for a kiss.
"Okay, you two are making me sick," Naomi remarked.
"Shut up," Freddie smiled, following Effy out the door for a spliff.
"Naomi," Naomi turned to see Katie standing near-by.
"I hear you've been sticking your nose where it isn't welcome," Naomi remarked angrily.
"It was a fucking sappy-as-shit letter," Katie mocked, but her smile took off the edge.
"Yeah well I've always been one for opening up," Naomi replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, right," Katie didn't believe that at all.
"So, you've come to a party to which you weren't invited to attend to tell me what, that you appreciate my prose?'
"No, I came with someone who was invited, and I came over to you to tell you I'm going to try and be less of a bitch," it was hard for Katie to admit that, she really thought she was protecting her sister.
"I'll keep my pepper spray with me, just in case," Naomi smiled, realising the struggle Katie was having.
"Leave her alone, Katie," Emily appeared, wrapping her arm around Naomi's waist.
"It's okay Ems, we're okay," Naomi assured her.
Katie watched, as if she was looking for any cracks, but her sister looked happy. She's never seen her that happy, it bounced off her. Fuck, this was not going to be easy for any of them, Katie thought. Her mother for starters would not take this relationship seriously, and her father would not understand. Then she had to worry about what strangers thought of their relationship.
"Something to say?" Naomi challenged Katie.
"Don't fucking break her heart," Katie didn't back down, she never did
Emily knew her sister wasn't exactly happy with who she was with, but she had effectively just given them her blessing as warped as it might be, by threatening Naomi. They still had a ways to go to understanding each other, Katie and herself, but in this moment Emily felt close to her. Smiling, Emily silently thanked her sister for trying.
"See you later, Ems," Katie felt her heart swell at the look of appreciation on her sister's face.
"Why are you two smiling? She threatened me," Naomi teased.
"She gave us her blessing," Emily explained, taking a sip of her beer.
"Warped shit," Naomi muttered. "I'm going outside for a spliff, you want to come?"
"I'll stay in here, I'd like to know your friends a bit better," Emily replied, smiling as Naomi kissed her knuckles.
Once Naomi left, Emily made her way over to Pandora who was sitting on the floor in the kitchen.
"Hi Pandora," Emily frowned at her location, but slid down the wall to sit next to her.
"I should be happy that Effy has a boyfriend, I have Thomas," Pandora smiled sadly.
"But you miss her?" Emily had only ever seen Pandora when she was loud and exuberant, and she shook her head at her own misjudgment. There was more to her, just like everyone else, and she was able to hide it like everyone else behind her preferred method: over-the-top happiness.
"Yeah. Is that wrong?" Pandora asked, watching as Thomas played the music for the party. She had tried talking to him about it but he didn't really understand.
"No. She's your friend, right? You need someone like that to talk with," Emily patted Pandora on the leg.
"Effy's so fucking beautiful and she knows loads more than I do," Pandora admitted.
"Panda, you're a sweet girl, you accept everyone without prejudice. That's something to be proud of, okay?" Emily replied.
"So you're saying I'm simple?"
"No, not at all," Emily laughed softly. "I mean that as a compliment. So many of us judge people before we even meet them, and sometimes that means we don't give them a chance."
"Are you and Naomi lesbians?"
"Um," Emily was stumped.
"I mean, if you don't want to tell me, that's okay."
"I am, yes. I don't know about Naomi."
"But if she's you know, kissing you and touching you, doesn't that mean she's a lesbian?" Pandora frowned. She kissed and touched Thomas, so she was straight.
"It's not about that," Emily shook her head. "It's about attraction."
"So how do you two surf and turf without having you know, the think that Thomas uses when we make monkey in his bed?" Pandora was fascinated, but Emily was fast become embarrassed.
"Pandora, I don't think Naomi would like it if I talked about that," Emily suggested.
"Right. Private, got it," Pandora smiled as Thomas waved at her.
"If you want to see more of Effy, you should just make time." Emily offered.
"Like double date? You and I could double date too!" Pandora smiled widely.
"Um, yeah, okay," Emily wondered what she had just got herself and Naomi into.
"I'll give you my number," Pandora rattled off her number and excused herself. Emily remained on the floor, watching as people enjoyed themselves. She would miss being a part of something when she left Bristol.
Thank you. More soon ...
