Once again sorry for the wait. I really did try to get it up sooner but it just didn't happen. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Skins and it's characters don't belong to me. All mistakes are mine.
"Mmm, I don't know Em. You just can't beat chocolate"
"But look how pretty it is" Emily held the ice cream container in front of Naomi's face. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder in Emily's apartment on the floor, leaning against the couch.
"But it just doesn't taste as good."
"Urgh you're an unbeliever"
"Jesus it's only ice-cream" The two of them had been hanging out almost every day for the last week since the date.
"I think I like so much because it reminds me of when I was a kid, you know" Emily lapsed into silence. Naomi watched as she carefully scooped out a spoonful of ice cream and placed it in her mouth, letting it melt. Emily turned back to her smiling warmly.
"Have you always wanted to be an actor Naoms?"
"Not really. I didn't even know I could act until I got my first role"
"What did you want to be when you were a kid then?"
"I wanted to be a lawyer"
"A lawyer! Really?" Emily laughed "Was that just because you watched one too many episodes of law and order?"
"No! I wanted to be a human rights lawyer, change the world kind of thing?"
"So what happened, how did you end up in acting?"
"I just kind of stumbled into it really. It's all Effy's fault I suppose, you know Effy don't you?"
"Yeah, I saw her at the club the other day. We actually went to college together, in Bristol, did you know?"
Naomi frowned "Yeah...she mentioned it."
"Where in England are you from?"
"Bristol"
"No way!"
"It's true"
"You never told me that"
"You never asked"
"You didn't meet Effy at school did you?"
"No I met her just after I finished school"
Naomi could barely remember the day she had met Effy. She supposed she had repressed it or something because she knew it was one of her blackest days. All she could remember was that she had been with Alexei and then all of a sudden a strange brunette with intense eyes was wrapping her skinny arms around Naomi. Effy told her later, after they had become friends, that she had tracked Naomi down after she found out what had happened to Cook. She'd wondered at first why Effy had wanted to find her, but the more she knew Effy the more she just took it for granted that Effy had some reason why. Of course she hadn't known then that Effy was in love with her best friend had secretly been dating him. Effy had only told her that they had been friends.
"Naoms?"
"huh?"
"I was saying that Effy hasn't changed at all since college"
"No. I suppose not."
"I had a crush on her all through school."
Naomi snorted in laughter at the idea of Emily and Effy together "Should I be worried?"
"No" Emily lent in to gently kiss her. Their lips had barely met when Emily's phone started to ring.
"Shit sorry it's Katie. I should probably take it. Hey Katie"
"What the fuck Emily?"
"Hello Katie. It's so nice to hear from you, haven't talked in a while" Emily resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her twin. She knew Katie couldn't see her anyway so what was the point.
"Naomi fucking Campbell?"
"What? How did you – "
"It's on the front page of US fucking weekly. "
"oh"
"Thats all you have say, you fucking – "
"Jesus Katie, I don't know what your problem is, it's none of your business"
"Firstly I'm your fucking twin so have you to fucking tell me when shit like this fucking happens, and because it reflects badly me on me too. And secondly Naomi is a slut who sleeps with anything that moves. I doubt she even fucking likes you"
"Fuck off Katie, you don't know her"
"I just don't want you to get hurt"
"It's my own life Katie I can do whatever the fuck I want" Emily hung up.
"That sounded pleasant" Naomi remarked
"We don't exactly get on that well. She was always more popular than me through school and when I started getting attention for my music and stuff, she was so jealous. We haven't really been close since – "
Naomi's phone started to ring; she looked at the caller ID. Shit.
"Sorry Ems, I won't be a moment" Naomi stood up and walked into the next room before answering.
"Hello"
"What the fuck Naomi?"
"Listen, it's not what you – "
"Which one of us are you using?"
"What?"
"Either you're using her or you're using me?"
"I don't – "
"You start like dating Emily a few days after you saw me and I pretty much told you that there was no way we were ever going to like casually see each again"
"God, you think everything revolves around you, like I'm in love with you and since you're not available that Emily will do. You're so full of shit"
"Right so if it's not that then you were using me?"
"I really have no fucking clue what you're on about"
"You don't remember do you? When you said Emily's name while I was fucking you"
Oh. That. Naomi could remember it. But just. She had been off her face, drunk and on some drug or other. She remembered Katie pulling her into the bathroom of whatever nightclub they were at and roughly pushing her hand under Naomi's skirt, fingers pumping. The way Katie had looked at her for just one second, had been just like how she wished a different person who looked so like Katie would look at her. She hadn't been able to stop the word that escaped her lips, though as soon as she said it she knew it was a lie. Emily.
Of course Katie had freaked out. Screaming at her that she wasn't Emily. For the first time Naomi realised they were related. Up until then she just thought they were two people who looked similar. Katie had left, leaving Naomi alone. She didn't know how long she had sat there, but eventually Effy had found her, cleaned her up and taken her home. It was always Effy who was there to clean up after Naomi had made a mess of her life.
She hadn't seen Katie for a few months after that. When they did finally run into each other again, it was never mentioned, even though they became friends. But the casual fucking stopped. Naomi had all but forgotten all about the whole thing by now. It was just another in a long line of her fuck-ups.
"So it's true then" Naomi started as Katie voice invaded her thoughts. Katie must have taken her silence as an admission. "The whole time you were fucking me you wished it was Emily"
Naomi wanted desperately to say no, that it wasn't true. But she knew it was. Sure, she hadn't thought it at the time but that's what it was.
"I'm sorr –
"I should have known. It's the way things are. People only like me because they associate me with Emily."
"That's not true, you're a good person in your own right" Naomi wasn't exactly sure when she had started to think that. But it was true; Katie was a better person than Naomi would ever be.
"Spare me Naomi. Just tell me that you're serious about Emily. That you're not going to fuck her around"
"I'm not"
"Make sure you don't, yeah because I'd hate to have to fuck up your career by breaking your nose. Does Emily know about us?"
"No"
"Keep it that way okay."
"Okay" Katie hung up, leaving Naomi to wonder what had just happened. She had pretty much admitted to being in love with Emily for a good part of her life and to using Katie. Yet it seemed like she had come away with Katie's blessing.
"Everything okay?" Emily called from lounge
"Yeah" She walked back it the room and sat down again next to Emily. "Everything's fine"
XXXXXXXX
Alexei smirked the whole way home, as he drove her back from Emily's apartment.
"Would you please stop that?" But she knew she hadn't said it with enough venom for Alexei to take it seriously. Damn Emily. Naomi felt happier then she had in ages.
Her good mood evaporated as she as she saw Effy sitting in her kitchen with a strange man as she walked in.
"I know you probably don't want to talk to me. But I'm still your agent and we need to discuss the case. This is Tony. He's going to be representing you in court." Tony smiled at her, rather disconcertingly. He had the same strange eyes as Effy.
"Good to meet you Miss Campbell. Effy has been telling me a bit about you and there are some concerns I have regarding the DUI charge. If you would like to take a seat we can get started"
Naomi stared distrustfully at the man in front of, and then glanced at Effy, who was looking calmly at her. Effy should know that she wasn't about to tell her secrets to a complete stranger.
"He's my brother. He knows the rules" Naomi frowned. She hadn't know Effy had a brother, but it didn't do much to ease her mind, he was still a stranger. She sat down opposite them. He probably only wanted to know how much she'd had to drink. What had happened in England was nothing to do with this.
"You should be aware that the news you were charged with a DUI will be in tomorrow's papers. From what I understand the new DA is keen to convict you as an example. He wants it known that he will not let Hollywood's stars get out of jail free. They will pressing for jail time. Normally this wouldn't be an issue. I could easily get you off with a slap on the wrist and a fine. However since they intend this to be a highly publicised case, they need a conviction with jail time otherwise they will end up looking like fools. This is where we have the issue. I have a friend who works for the DA and he has told me that they've started doing some digging to see if they come up with anything they could use against you. Effy mentioned that there was an incident in your past that could potentially be used."
"I love this song" He exclaimed. It was the first time she had seen him so animated and so happy. She turned the radio up, the song blaring through the car. The two of them started singing like loons. Naomi wasn't really paying attention to the road. Headlights flashed into her eyes, blinding her for a moment. But that was all it took before the two cars were buried in each other so deep it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
"Naomi?" She wasn't sure who said it, all she could feel was her chest constricting, closing around her lungs and heart so tight so couldn't breathe. Her whole world seemed to be tipping sideways before it faded to black.
XXXXXXXX
She opens her eyes. All she can see is Alexei, his eyes wide. Her head feels damp, and she reaches up to her temple to see what it was. When she brings her fingers back to her face they are coated in red. She suddenly realises that Alexei's nose is squished against his face, blood pouring out of it, his face already starting to swell. Then she smells it. The unmistakeable acidity of gasoline. She isn't sure why she feels calm, but she does. She knows they needed to get out. She's seen enough movies to know that cars blow up after car crashes if the petrol leaks. Car crash. This is what it was wasn't it.
"We have to get out" Alexei didn't react. Just stays where he is, his eyes still wide and staring. "We have to get out now!" Why isn't he moving?
"Jesus. Are you okay?" Alexei's lips hadn't moved so it couldn't be him talking. The voice was coming from the other direction. She tries to turn her head. It won't move at first but eventually it does, her muscles screaming in pain. Through the twisted metal and broken glass she can see a face; pale skin, brown eyes and red hair.
"She fainted" This time the face's lips haven't moved so it must be Alexei talking. But it was a female voice.
"I've called for help and I'm going to get you out of there okay?" defiantly the face talking. It disappears and after the screech of metal grinding against metal reappears. This time there is no broken glass in the way. Suddenly a cool hand is pressing against her forehead. But the face hasn't moved.
"Her temperature is elevated"
The face is suddenly right in front of hers, and she realises it looks familiar. A name appears on her lips. Emily. Emily's hands close around her and she feels herself being pulled forward. As soon as they are free of the car Emily pulls her upright and wraps an arm around her. Emily lowers her onto the ground a few metres away from the car. She can faintly hear sirens in the distance.
"I'm going to get your friend. Stay here"
Cold metal presses against her chest, near her heart. "Heart rate is a bit high, but nothing unusual."
She surveys the scene in front her; there is broken glass everywhere and bits of metal and plastic laying on the ground. Two cars are smashed together in the middle of it. Another body is suddenly beside her and Emily is standing in front of her.
"I'm sorry, your friend is dead" Emily has tears running down her cheek
"Blondie. Fuck, are you okay?" She realises it's the body next to her speaking. Cook. He wraps his arms around her. She cries into his shoulder.
"Cook"
It's about this time that Naomi realises she's dreaming. It's always at this point. She knows she's dreaming because in real life Emily didn't save her. In real life it's the other way round, Alexei doesn't die. She can feel herself being pulled back into consciousness but she doesn't want leave her dream just yet, because she wants to enjoy the feeling of Cook for a few more minutes before she returns to the real world.
Suddenly her eyes explode with bright light. When Naomi refocuses she realises Alexei's holding her and there is a man is leaning over her.
"Can you hear me Naomi?" Naomi remembers him. Dr Roberts. Behind him are Alexei and Effy, both looking concerned.
"What happened?"
"You fainted. Dehydration and exhaustion I suspect." He fusses around for another few minutes muttering about rest and drinking lots of water before finally he leaves and it's just her and Effy. Naomi waits for Effy to say something. Effy, predictably, remains silent and waits for Naomi to start.
"Do you think they can find out?"
"It's not hard information to find if you know where to look. It's just up until now nobody has known where to look. "
"So what happens?"
"They use it to convict you on the DUI. Tony thinks that worst case scenario, you'll only get a few months. Of course your career will probably suffer –"
"I don't care about that. It's not like I need the money."
"I think that maybe you should release statement saying exactly what happened. Before anyone tries to twist into something even worse"
"No"
"What are you scared of Naomi?"
"Emily can't ever find out"
"She already knows she just hasn't realised it yet"
"What?"
"She was there when it happened. She clearly hasn't realised yet who you are"
"She was there when it happened?"
"You don't remember? Emily was the one who pulled you and Alexei out of the wreckage"
Naomi was totally dumbfounded. She and Effy had never discussed the car crash in explicit terms before, so she wasn't exactly sure what Effy was telling her. In her nightmares where she remembered the crash it was always Emily who saved. But that was only what happened in her dreams. It hadn't actually happened in real life had it?
"No, it was..."
"If it wasn't Emily, who was it?" Effy challenged
"How do you know? You weren't even there"
"Alexei told me the other day. I asked him why you were so obsessed with Emily. And he said it was because she was like your guardian angel. She saved you"
Saved. It was the wrong word. Naomi felt anything but saved. Ever since then she'd wished she hadn't been saved. That it was her and not cook, that it was Alexei instead of Cook. It seemed so unfair. Alexei didn't have anything to live for. His whole family were dead, at the time of the crash he hadn't cared if he lived or died. Cook had his whole life planned out. But Alexei was the one living it. If only Emily had let her die.
Thoughts?