Sorry about the long wait, but I hope this is worth it

Please Review

I don't own Skins or its characters. Any mistakes are mine.

Alexei checked his watch for the hundredth time that morning. Naomi had been MIA since she'd driven off last night and he was starting to get worried. To make matters worse her phone had been switched off and Effy wasn't answering hers either. He dialled Naomi's number again, but it still went straight to voicemail.

"Shit, Naomi" he tossed the phone down in disgust. Alcohol, fast cars and Naomi were a bad mix at anytime but add in an encounter with Emily Fitch (he wasn't sure what was going on between her and Naomi, but it was clearly freaking Naomi out) and it was even worse.

Alexei didn't think Naomi realised just how fucked up he would be if something happened to her. They didn't really ever talk about feelings or anything, but he loved her. Not like big romantic love of your life love, but just simple he would do anything for her love. Naomi had saved him, had given him life. So when her life fell apart it had only felt fair that he try to hold it together for her. He still remembered holding her one night as she cried and screamed and thinking that he wouldn't be enough, he wouldn't be enough to save her. But he didn't have to be enough, Effy had knocked on Naomi's door that night and the two of them saved Naomi. He didn't know how Effy knew Naomi or why she had chose that particular night to come calling but he'd never questioned it. If Naomi was his life, Effy was his god.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It was pretty lucky, Naomi thought, that after all the shit she'd done this was only the second time she'd ended up behind bars. Naomi poked her head through the bars and called to the guard standing nearby.

"Don't I get phone call?"

The guard grimaced but unlocked the cell all the same and led her to the phone in the hallway.

"Make it quick"

Naomi paused for a second, why hadn't she thought about who she was actually going to call before she asked to use the phone. It didn't take her long to remember the number; she quickly punched it in before she had time to change her mind.

"Hello?" the voice on the other end picked up after a few rings.

"It's Naomi Campbell"

"What are you calling me for? Get desperate did you?" Naomi could hear the smirk

"I need a favour – not that kind" she added before the person on the other end could make a joke.

"What would be in it for me?"

"The enjoyment of watching me be humiliated"

"That does sound tempting. What do you want me to do?"

"Pick me up. I'm at the LAPD station." Naomi grimaced as laughter came down the line. As though this wasn't bad enough all ready.

"I didn't know they had a fashion crimes department"

"For fucks sake, will you do it or not?"

"Calm down, I'm only having a laugh. I'll be there soon"

Naomi hung up the phone quickly to avoid further insults. The guard slid the door shut with a loud clang as she stepped back into the cell. The night hadn't been her finest. Her Ferrari had been impounded, she'd have to face court in a few weeks on a DUI charge and her licence was suspended until then. She'd also spent the last 6 hours in a cell sobering up. Not to mention the fact that the person she'd begged to come get her would probably call the paparazzi instead of coming to pick her up and have them waiting for her outside the station.

"Naomi Campbell? You're good to go."

Naomi followed the guard out, collected her phone and keys from the desk and waited for the guard to open the door. It buzzed open to reveal a smirking redhead chatting to one of the officers on duty.

Naomi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. But only barely. She walked up to the pair.

"If you're done, I wouldn't mind getting out of here Katie"

"Thanks so much for showing me your gun officer, but I have to go" Katie Fitch flashed a smile at the star struck officer before following Naomi.

"I take time out of my busy schedule to come pick you up from the police station even though we haven't seen each other for months and you don't even say hello nicely. But it's totally worth it" Katie burst out laughing "What did you do Naomi? Forget that wearing plaid is in public is illegal?"

"No. DUI" Katie raised her eyebrows

"God for someone who is supposedly clever you are really very stupid"

"You, on the other hand are practically Einstein" Naomi shot back

"Naomi you know drink driving is kind of serious, you could have hurt someone...or yourself"

"Don't act like you care Katie"

"We may have been like occasional fuck buddies or whatever but that doesn't mean I don't care"

"How sweet of you"

"Oh grow up Naomi!" Katie speed up and walked a few metres in front of Naomi. Naomi wasn't entirely sure why it stung but it did. She had always enjoyed Katie's company; she was loud and obnoxious, liked partying, sex and expensive clothes and was hot. But Naomi had also felt that while Katie was shallow and immature, she was deeper than Katie, she was more intelligent. It seemed that in the few months since she had last seen Katie their roles had reversed. Great, I wanted to see Katie so I could have a laugh and blow off some steam not because wanted to revaluate my life and how I see myself Naomi thought bitterly.

This however wasn't entirely true, and Naomi knew it. Naomi had spent her entire 6 hours in a cell thinking about one particular redhead. And not the one currently walking next to her. Naomi just wanted Em – her, out of her head. Katie was like the complete antithesis to her. In fact when Naomi had first met Katie she hadn't realised they were related. Admittedly it had been before Katie was famous (if you can call having a sex tape and your own reality TV show famous) and she hadn't learnt Katie's last name until a few weeks later. Katie was the perfect distraction. Except all she was doing now was making Naomi think. Then Naomi caught sight of the car Katie was heading to. That was a better distraction.

"That is the trashiest car I've ever seen" Naomi said smirking. It was a purple Lamborghini Gallardo Sypder with leopard print rims. "Where did you even get leopard print rims?"

'Well if you're going to be like that, you can walk home"

"What happened to the Porsche?"

"I thought you hated it?"

"I did, but I hadn't seen this car had I?"

"It's new, you have no idea how hard it was to find those rims, I had to get them specially made" Katie said opening the door and sliding in. "Are you going to walk or are you going to get in?" she asked Naomi who was hovering by the passenger door.

"Only if you put the top up, I don't want to be recognised" Katie rolled her eyes but did as instructed and the soft top unfolded and slid over the top of them as they pulled away from the curb.

"You'll have to tell me where to go I've never been to your house"

Naomi frowned, Katie hadn't ever been to her house. Nobody had except Alexei and Effy (and Alexei didn't really count anyway because he lived there). She'd have to get Katie to drop her off at the gate. She didn't really want Katie to see her house. It was her sanctuary.

"How's Lee?" Lee was Katie's NFL star boyfriend.

"We broke up. A few weeks ago actually" Naomi was surprised to hear that.

"Really what happened?"

"I guess I out grew him. Besides I wouldn't want to marry him so what was the point"

"Why wouldn't you marry him? He rich and hot, I suppose, for a guy at least"

"Yeah but I kind of pictured myself marrying someone with an IQ bigger than the number on their jersey"

"Wow Katie, you really have grown up" Katie grinned across at her.

"I haven't changed that much Naomi, you just thought I was a shallow bitch"

"Weren't you?"

"Jesus you have the tact of a corkscrew. I just acted that way because I thought that's what I had to be like to be famous. But now that I have it, I don't really want it anymore. Surely you can relate. The things people say about you"

Naomi shrugged "I don't really give a fuck about them, they can say whatever they want about me as long as I'm making my money"

"And people say I'm shallow"

Naomi smiled as they lapsed into silence. She'd known Katie for a few years but they'd never had anything resembling a meaningful conversation before. Well they didn't see each other often and for the first year they knew each other it was just to fuck. But then Katie decided that she actually wanted to be faithful to her boyfriends so that stopped but they still met occasionally to bitch about how shit it was to be young, rich and famous.

"I kind of feel like the clock is ticking. Like if I don't meet the one soon, I never will and it'll be too late. You know?"

"So what you can meet the perfect guy and settle down and have kids?"

"Yeah I suppose ever since I was a kid that's what I imagined my life to be like. I know it's cheesy but when I meet the perfect guy - "

"Why are you so sure it'll be a guy?"

"Sure I like to fuck girls but I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with one."

"Thanks"

"You know what I mean Naomi. I'm not Emily"

It was such an offhand statement Naomi thought. It didn't mean anything to Katie, but she didn't even realise how much it had affected Naomi. The car rolled to a halt in front of the gate. Emily. She couldn't stop thinking about the redhead; she'd always been lurking around in the background somewhere, ever since Naomi was 18. But until the other night she'd just been an idea, a dream, she wasn't a real person. Except now she was and she reminded Naomi what it was like to be 18. And Naomi just couldn't cope with 18 year old self. Not when she knew how the story ended, what she would become.

"Hello? Earth to Naomi?"

"Huh?"

"I asked you if you ever had dreams like that when you were young, of how your life would be?"

Her life would be fantastic. She would meet Emily Fitch and they would fall in love and party until they turned 25 and then they would get married and live in a house next to...next to –

"God Naomi, pay attention would you. Were here"

"Thanks so much Katie, for picking me up"

"Make sure I don't have to do it again, okay. Take care of yourself"

Naomi got out of the car. Instead of heading to her front door, she veered to the left approaching the rooms slightly separated from the rest of the house. They were where Alexei lived. She pushed through the door and straight into a startled Alexei and burst into tears.

"Jesus Naomi. What's wrong?" Alexei wrapped his long arms around her

"I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm losing hold on who I am. But I can't ever forgot him"

Alexei didn't have to ask who. "Naomi you're such a strange creature sometimes. You do all these crazy things and you don't care if you get physically hurt but if it's emotional pain then you're the biggest wuss. Just do it and see what happens. Me and Effy will be there to keep safe no matter what happens."

"But what if you aren't?" Naomi whispered into his chest but he didn't hear her. "Can you drive me somewhere?" She asked a bit louder.

"Of course"

XXXXXXXXX

"Thanks, I'll call you if I need you to pick me up"

Naomi stepped out of the car and hesitantly walked into the building. She got in the lift and punched the button for the floor she wanted. After quickly checking her hair and makeup she stepped out of the lift and found the door she wanted. She knocked and waited nervously for it to be answered. The door opened and deep brown eyes widened in shock.

"Naomi"

"Hey Emily