Next one... Finished it faster than expected. It's a little shorter than the last but it's packed...
Thank you to all who continue to read... thank marsupial1974 for kicking my sorry arse into high gear... that said the next chapter will wait until she's given me a real decent update on her own next chapter. Feel free to drop her a thanks and a gentle push to getting updated.
Shout out to Lizzie mynameislizzie3 for reviewing and encouraging...
almost over...
Cheers
Her clothes were a mess. The sweat made them stick to her body but she didn't care. She found herself laughing a bit as she realized the state she must be in. The music pounded and she could feel the exhaustion that would hit her body once it all stopped. But she felt free.
..
Cook stared at the unsent text. His phone looking at him expectantly. Had Effy gone to find Emily? Had Emily called her? Why didn't Effy wake him? Or Naomi? Was Emily hurt? He sat on the bed and put his phone next to him. He'd done as asked. He'd apologized. He knew in his heart that it had been the right thing to do. He knew he should have done it ages ago. He knew that he should have done more before he'd done anything to apologize for. But he hadn't.
Instead, he'd let himself be dragged down into a pit of darkness and allowed himself to be devoured. He wanted to scream. He wanted to take everything back. He put his head down against the walker's frame and cried.
..
"Who?" Edison ran a hand through his hair and smiled at Effy. He looked at James oddly as he stood behind the pissed off brunette. Effy was having none of it. She shoved past Edison yelling Emily's name. He looked after her. "Well... that's... no please... wake up the entire building.. Jesus... She's not..." He looked at James again. "Who are you?"
"I'm... I'm her back up." He said as he looked at the taller man and nudged the unconscious man with his foot. "James Fitch."
"Ahh... well you might want to follow her in there. In case, you know she stumbles over an open bottle of Scotch... or wine" He stepped aside and let James in. He looked at his guard and simply closed the door. "Drink?" He walked to the couch and plopped down. James stared at him. He took in the flat and it wasn't what he'd expected. It was just a flat. There wasn't anyone waiting to attack them.
"Uh... no. I don't think I should." He was waiting until Effy was done. He was pretty certain Emily wasn't here. He noticed the open wine bottle and empty glasses. There were three glasses. "Who are you again?" A small concern creeping up.
"Edison." The man said as if that was enough.
"Got that. How do you fit in … in perspective?"
"Jameson's brother..." He ran a hand over his face and was thankful Effy had stopped hollering. "I'm sure Effy will fill you in eventually."
"Where the fuck is she Edison? Where's Jameson? Does he have her?"
"No." Edison stared at her. His body was relaxed but his eyes were stone. "Jameson is gone. Won't be coming back. He doesn't have her."
"Her phone's location shows she was here." Effy was considering using the stunner on him. He didn't seem at all fazed by her or James. He shrugged and smiled. He'd been right to think they would keep tabs on Emily. He'd have done the same.
"Yeah she was here. Her phone is on the counter, plugged in. It was pretty much dead when she got here." Effy glared at him. "She's gone though. I was going to drop off the phone tomorrow.. or messenger it over."
"Where is she?"
..
Cook finally dried his eyes. He looked around the room and made a decision. He picked up his phone and deleted the message. He typed up another one and sent it before he changed his mind.
..
"She's bossy isn't she?" Edison addressed James. "Kind of hot though." James nodded as Effy had his back to him and he was safe from judgment. "Look she was here. We... talked... had a couple of drinks." He waved to the proof in font of him. "But she wanted to go out and I wasn't up for it."
"She wanted to go out with you? Really?" Effy crossed her arms in front of her. Not so much as a defense against what he was saying but more as a defense to not throttle him.
"Some women... and men..." He tipped his head towards James. "Might find me attractive."
"I'm not one of them." James was quick to say. "I mean.. yeah.. shirtless, muscles well done. But you're not my taste."
"I wasn't offering." Edison piped up. "I'm not.. gay."
"Me either."
"Nothing wrong with it."
"Absolutely. Just you know..."
"I'd rather be doing her." Edison pointed to Effy.
"Same." Effy turned around at James's admission. He blushed from head to toe. "Sorry. You were.." He cleared his throat. "Interrogating him..." She turned back to Edison who couldn't stop smiling.
"Well?" She was still expecting more in terms of explanations.
"She wanted to go out out. But I didn't want to be around people. It's why I didn't go. I wanted to be by myself tonight really. That hasn't worked out obviously."
"Where did she go tosser?" She was losing her patience even if her body wasn't broadcasting it.
"Be civil.. a little? Please. I've had a shit day."
"Aww... poor you. Where the fuck did she go?"
"A club. I had my driver take her. He's waiting outside to drive her home when she's sorted." Edison sat up and grabbed his glass. "Cheers." He tipped it back. Effy stepped in and smacked it out of his hand. His eyes changed. His hand grabbed at one wrist but she had the knife in the other hand and against his throat.
..
He stood over a sleeping Naomi. He didn't want to wake her, unsure of how she would react particularly towards him. But he had no choice.
"Oi... Blondie." He stood behind the sofa as he gently tapped her shoulder. He hoped it would give him some sort of defense in case she went ballistic right off. He tapped her once more and said her name. She opened her eyes, mildly confused. She sat up once everything clicked.
"Is it Emily? Is she back?" She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and looked around. "Where's Eff?"
"Chillax babes.. Emily isn't back." Not that I know, he thought. Maybe she is and in hospital and no one thought to tell us.
"Eff?" Naomi glanced around again as if she could have missed her on her first look about. She set her eyes on Cook. "Where's Effy?"
"Don't know. She was gone when I woke up. Listen... I need..."
"What's with the rucksack?" She noticed he had a bag on his shoulders. He was also wearing a jacket. "Where the fuck are you going?" She stood up. He held up his hands.
"Please... hear me out." He positioned the walker between him and the open space in case she lunged at him. "I can't stay. I can't."
"You fuckin' coward. You broke her open and now you're fucking off?" Naomi's fists were balled up.
"She's better off." He needed to stand firm. He'd thought it all out and there was no easy way to present this.
"You bastard."
..
"Careful."
"You should heed that warning yourself." Effy growled. James had closed in on them before he even realized he'd done it. "Back off." She directed that to the younger Fitch without breaking eye contact with Edison.
"She's not here Elizabeth." He felt the blade against his skin. He wasn't afraid. The look in her eyes was all business and perhaps he might have been afraid had it been someone else. But he liked her and understood what she was feeling. He relaxed his grip but didn't let go. "She's fine. She came here looking for my brother. He wasn't here. She yelled. We talked. We drank. She wanted to go dancing. I didn't. I made sure she was safe hence the driver. She left her phone charging. She has one of my burner phones just in case." He spoke calmly. A silence fell on them for what seemed like ages. Effy was angry and scared and it was pouring off her. Edison for his part was drinking in her anger and letting it fill him.
"Effy." James spoke up. He'd looked at them and set off to find the kitchen and Emily's phone. Once in hand, he'd returned to find them still in the same locked positions. He wasn't sure what he was witnessing but was both terrified and jealous. Terrified at what Effy might do, at what Edison might attempt. Jealous at the intensity between them. While he was all for protecting Emily, there wasn't a sign of impending danger and his inclination was to act only when it was present. He understood that his sister and Effy and the lot of them had gone through something and it had changed their perceptions but he wasn't there then. He didn't have that and hoped he never did. But he was jealous that they could exhibit such intensity openly. "Effy." He said it softer.
She swallowed and pulled the knife away from Edison's throat slowly. He released her other hand with equal grace. "She's ok?" Her voice shook with emotion, betraying her exterior. He nodded slightly. When Effy stepped back, he let out a breath.
"Jesus Stonem..." He shook his head. He sat forward and took the bottle, putting it to his lips and drinking. He offered it to Effy after. She shook her head. He offered it to James who gladly took it and pulled a hefty swallow.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did she come here?"
"She thought... she thought Jameson could help sort out the thoughts in her head." Edison admitted but didn't want to go into details. "She's conflicted... and thought my brother could help given his... past. But he's not available."
..
"Stop. You don't fuckin' like me. Never 'ave. Me leavin' should make things real easy to make me the bad guy all around yeah? Put a target on me back." Cook took a breath. "We both know I'm not doing 'er any good. If I'm 'ere, I'm a reminder." He met Naomi's eyes. "A walking reminder of every bad thing ever 'appened to her. Every time she sees me. Do you want that? Cause I fuckin don't. I can't live with that."
"So that's it? You can't live with it so you run away?" His words were making sense but it was still maddening that he would walk away. This will hurt Emily. This will hurt Effy.
"No. Jesus... It isn't about me! It's about her. It's about giving her a chance." He wanted to ram his fist into something and almost hoped Naomi came at him. "If I'm 'ere, then she's never leaving the bad shit behind. If me being 'ere would help, I'd fucking stay. I'd let it rip me apart every fuckin' day if it meant she would get past it all." He took a breath and set his jaw. "But we both know it ain't gonna 'appen. She sees me, she'll be one step away from the shit. She'll be one thought, one memory... fuck... one look from being back in that place. I don't want that for her. Do you?"
Naomi was relaxing her fists. She was hearing him, seeing him. He wasn't really leaving because it suited him. He was leaving because it was better for her. "What about Effy?"
Cook shook his head. "I can't think about her." He looked at his feet. "She deserves better than what I can give 'er." There was a deep ache inside him. It was divided between Effy and Emily. What would be good for one, would be pain for the other. He was choosing the lesser of two pains. "Effy... she's probably the love of my life.. truly. But I can't give her what she deserves. She deserves someone that can..." He paused. "Challenge her. I'm not a challenge. Not for her. I know it. You know it. Fuck she knows it."
"She loves you."
"And I love her. But it ain't enough is it? Not for us. Not for her. She's known it... from the beginning." He looked at Naomi. "She let herself get wound up in rescuing me... and that let her feel more than she wanted. But eventually, she'll realize it's not enough. That I'm not enough. And I don't want to see that... not in her eyes. So yeah... maybe that's me running away from that. But I'm thinking of Emily. Something I failed to do before."
"Neither will forgive you."
"Doesn't matter."
"No?"
"No." He shook his head. "They'll live. Thrive. I can live with them not forgiving me in exchange." Naomi nodded. She understood and actually thought it almost noble. "Right then." He pulled out two pieces of paper from his pocket. "I need you to give these to them. Or at least make sure they find them."
"You're leaving now?" She knew that was the case given his attire but maybe a piece of her hoped he would at least say good bye to the girls. "Fuck Cook... you're... you're gonna gut them."
"I know.." His voice caught. "I don't think I can face them and leave. And I can't let them stop me." He looked at her pleadingly. "You get that don't ya?" Oddly, she did. Naomi sighed and stepped forward, extending her hand. She took the letters and saw the names scrawled on the folded papers.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." He gave her a smile. "You do know I love 'em yeah?" She nodded. "Alright... thank you." He extended his hand. Naomi took it and gave it a firm shake. "Take care of 'em yeah?"
"Best I can."
"Laters Blondie." He pivoted and led the walker out the door, shutting it behind him.
..
"So she talked to you?" Effy raised her eyebrow and then took the bottle from James. She took a swig and handed it to Edison who smiled.
"I'm not that bad. I know someone else who sat and talked to me." He gestured to her.
"That was a one off and it was prudent at the time." She glimpsed what Cook had felt when she told him about taking to Edison.
"Eh... I don't think she had much in terms of choices... talking to someone that is.. no offense to any of you."
"None taken." James piped up. Effy rolled her eyes with her back to him.
"Look... maybe you're all too close to her for her to... talk. Everything she's gone through."
"We know what she's gone through." Effy said.
"Maybe that's the problem." He gestured at the two of them. "You've come here... charging in... knocking out my guy... hot by the way."
"Oh yeah." James agreed and then coughed as Effy turned to glare at him. "Sorry."
"And you barge in shouting the place down and putting a knife against my throat... also hot." James simply nodded behind Effy who flipped him off absently. "Not exactly a trusting move. You don't trust her. Trust her to make choices. Make mistakes."
"Sorry... she called a felon."
"My brother's never been arrested let alone charged."
"Details."
"Fair. But you didn't give her a chance to... sort it, to fail." He scratched at his jaw. "You're acting like her keepers. Not her friends. Not her family. Well... somewhat like her family... but not in the good way."
"Fair... but still a shit to point it out." James said both chagrined and annoyed at the reminder.
"Sorry mate but it's true. Emily's a person. She needs to know she's trusted. That you care but you will let her be her. Not what you want her to be." Effy felt a blush creep into her cheeks. Hadn't she said something similar to Naomi? "I get being scared. I do. But you have to let her be." Effy's shoulders fell at that and she nodded, putting the knife away. She turned around and headed out of the flat without a word. Edison and James exchanged sighs.
"Sorry about the..." Edison waved him off. He went to leave but looked at Edison once more. "She'll be ok won't she?"
"You're asking the wrong person. But... I think so. It'll take time. Just..." He thought to his own sibling. "Love her, trust her. Let her fail, let her succeed. But love her."
"That one bit is already done." James walked after Effy. He found her waiting for the lift already. She didn't bother looking at him. "That went well." He quipped.
"You're lousy back up." She added after a moment. Her arms crossed in front of her.
"I could have told you that." He smiled.
"Wanker."
"Yes." He agreed as his smile grew. He was still afraid for Emily but he was taking his situation in. The lift doors opened and he made an overt gesture to let her go first. She huffed and rolled her eyes. The stepped in and he pressed the button.
"Absolute shite at back up." She closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath. James turned to her and wrapped his arms around her. It took her a second but she allowed herself to hug him back.
..
Emily was dancing to some DJ-altered tune heavy on the bass. She was lost to the music, to the energy. It wasn't until she felt a pair of hands on her hips that she opened her eyes. She knew it was a pair of male hands grabbing her from behind. She hadn't minded getting close to people as she danced as it was in passing, fleeting. But this was a grab. Someone holding on and getting closer to her physically. It was a gut reaction. She turned and shoved the man. Her heart was now racing differently than it had been seconds ago. The man looked a little taken aback but merely held up his hands and turned away from her, dancing with the next girl closest to him.
She shook her head and made her way off the dance floor and to the bar. She thought better than asking for a drink. She was getting her breathing under control and managed to ask for water. She downed half the bottle and thought to what had just happened. She turned and looked at the dance floor and realized she'd just defended herself. It had been something inoffensive. A random approach under implied circumstances on the dance floor. But she had claimed her space, herself. Her eyes opened wider. She had stood up for herself. And it had worked. The smile was slow in coming but once it did, she ended up laughing with glee.
