Chapter Six

Naomi's hand hovered over the door handle tentatively. She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. It was nearly nine, after she'd left the bedroom earlier she'd gone with Gina into town hoping it would prove a welcome distraction from the argument they'd had this morning, but it didn't at all. It'd taken everything she had not to call Emily and just apologize, stubbornness also playing a small part. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was pitch black. Naomi switched on the light, her eyes scanning the place, finally her gaze falling onto a small piece of paper on the bed. Just one short line scrawled onto it,

Gone to stay with Effy and Panda.

Emily

Naomi sat on the bed, clutching the note. No text messages, no phone call. Just one little line on a note, that's all she had to say? Naomi shut her eye's tightly as she felt them starting to well up. She reached for her mobile, blinking away the wetness in her eyes and dialing Emily's number,

"I'm sorry, we were not able to connect your call, please try again later."

She couldn't stop the tears now as they began to stream freely down her face.


She was awakened by a tap on the bedroom door. She jumped up out of bed immediately, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her top.

"Hi." Naomi breathed, failing to hide her disappointment.

"I heard you might need cheering up." Rachel said, lifting up the large bottle of vodka in her hand.

"You heard right." Naomi replied, stepping to the side and inviting her in.

"That makes two of us then." She said, smiling sadly.

Rachel went and sat down on the bed and lent back on the headboard. She unscrewed the cap on the bottle,

"Sorry. I've had a little head start." She said, the vodka having already been opened earlier. Naomi went and sat down beside her. She reached over to the beside table and checked to see if she had any messages or missed calls. Nothing.

"How'd you know I needed cheering up?" She asked as Rachel passed her the vodka.

"My brother told me he saw Emily leave with a couple of bags today....she looked really upset..." Naomi took three large swigs, she scrunched her face as she felt the liquid burning her throat.

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Rachel assured her. Naomi nodded slightly.

"What about you, why do you need cheering up?" The brunette sighed heavily and shook her head.

"I did something stupid." She admitted, "I went home with your mate last night. Cook."

"That is fucking stupid. And trust me, he's not my mate."

"I've been such an idiot. Especially now I've seen what he's like. I should of known."

"So what happened?"

"We went back to some shitty B&B, fucked, then he told me I had to 'piss off' straight after. Bastard. I had no money, no phone credit. Fuck all. I walked miles into town and got for a taxi. Had to wake Adam up and get some money off him. He was already pissed off with me. He told me not to go and I didn't listen."

"He's such a fucking prick." Naomi muttered bitterly, passing the bottle to Rachel. "We had a fight....me and Emily. And it all started 'cos of him." Naomi looked down, fiddling with the bottle top in her hands. "It was such a stupid fucking fight but..."

"But what?" Rachel asked.

"It's just....The whole argument, it made me think....I just wonder sometimes...." She sighed heavily, "Some things she says sometimes...makes me think she just don't believe in me....how much I love her I mean. And it's probably my fault, acting like such a bitch for so long before we got together, even then I still couldn't cope."

"I'm sure she knows Naomi."

"I thought I was just being paranoid before but now....After everything, everything we've been through she still thought I'd cheat on her...and then she just up and left...I just, I don't know what's going on..." Naomi ran her fingers through her hair, "I can't believe that fucking wanker caused all this."


"Wow, it looks amazing." Effy said as they walked down the driveway. Emily swallowed hard, her stomach was in knots. She straightened out her hair and the bottom of her black dolly dress. If it wasn't for Panda's bright yellow summer dress, people would of thought the were attending a funeral not a wedding. Effy too wearing a little black strappy dress. Their new attire all being paid courtesy of Mr Stonem's credit card of course.

The lawn was filled with hundreds of people, a large white arch with bouquets of flowers either side was at one end, a small white wooden gazebo at the other. Keiran was stood by the side with the four ushers next to him. He looked so nervous but equally happy, a wide smile on his lips. They found a few spare places at the back and sat down. Three days. It had been three days. Emily still hadn't had the courage to turn her phone on. She was scared, scared that Naomi was still angry, even more scared that she was still upset, her heart could never stand to see Naomi upset. She had no idea what to do. The furthest her plans had gone today was just to turn up. That was it. All she knew that she couldn't bare not seeing her for any longer.

The ceremony was under way before she knew it. A huge grin grew upon Keiran's face. The music started, everyone turning their heads round to the back as Gina walked down the aisle, arm locked with her Father's, who looked on proudly. Emily saw Naomi straight away though, her eye's were drawn to her like a magnet. She looked beautiful. Her hair was put up into bun high on her head, a few blonde strands left down on either side of her face. She smiled slightly when she saw the dress, remembering how stroppy Naomi was whenever Emily asked her what it was like. It was a light pink colour, the dress would of looked hideous on anyone else, this proven by the three other bridesmaids proceeding Naomi. But she looked stunning in it, clinging to her frame in all the right places. Naomi hadn't seen her, they we seated at the side and Naomi seemed concentrate more on trying to walk in her heels, this making Emily's smile grow even more.

The wedding itself didn't take long, thirty, forty minutes or so. Emily managed to stop staring at Naomi momentarily to see the final 'I do's' from Kieran and Gina and the traditional, 'I now pronounce you man and wife; You may kiss the bride.' Everyone stood up and clapped as Keiran leaned in and kissed Gina softy, a huge cheer followed. Even Effy was smiling broadly.

The reception was held at the back of the building, the land spreading out just as far there as it did at the front. There was a huge white fabric gazebo, that was more like some sort of giant tent, on the lawn, fairy lights scattered everywhere. Dozens, if not a hundred or so, tables were set up around the sides and at the back. The party was already in full swing, guests packed inside chatting over their meals, with plenty of drink being consumed of course. Certain family members that had already had a bit too much champagne had already hit the dancefloor.

"We're gonna go into town." Effy said, placing her hand lightly on Emily's shoulder. She nodded, her eye's fixed on Naomi who was sitting with Gina across the other side of the room. She'd changed out of her pink bridesmaids dress now, wearing a dark blue one that cut off just above the knee, her blonde hair now down, slightly wavy. She looked breath taking.

"Are you coming with us, or...are you staying here?" Effy asked softly. Emily bit the inside of her cheek not knowing what to do.


"I can't believe it." Gina giggled, staring at the ring on her finger. Naomi topped up both their glasses with more champagne,

"Neither can I. You managed to find yourself a bloke that isn't a complete wanker." She laughed.

"I know! Can you believe my luck?!" Her mother said gleefully.

"I'm really happy for you Mum. I really am." Gina leaned over and hugged Naomi tightly,

"It means a lot that you like him Naomi." She leaned back in her chair, taking a sip from her glass, "And you know you're still my number one right?" She winked.

"Oh, of course." Naomi chuckled.

"Where's Emily got to anyway? You don't have to spend the whole night with your old Mum, go have some fun!"

"She's here?" Gina looked back, confused,

"Yes, she....she came over to congratulate me earlier...why wouldn't she be here?"

"It...it doesn't matter...I...I should probably go find her." Naomi forced a smile and got up out of her seat.


She walked over to the buffet table, still looking around through the crowds of people, searching for a flash of that unmistakable bight red hair. She sighed reaching for one of the many open champagne bottles on the table.

"Ahh, nothin better than free food ay?" Her whole body tensed up, anger rising fast. She looked round at him, stuffing his face with food from the table.

"What the fuck made you think that you're welcome here?" She spat. He shrugged his shoulders,

"It's a free country. Plus, Keiran's my teacher, I'm sure he wouldn't mind...Anyways, it ain't up to you now is it?"

"Maybe if he knew what a cunt you were to Emily-"

"Ahh, little Emily. The other half of the dyke force. How is she?" Naomi gritted her teeth. He made her sick to her stomach, but she tried to remain calm, she wasn't going to fuck up her Mum's big day because of him.

"Just Leave." She said, her voice low, wavering with anger.

"Come on babe. Look around, it's a time for love! Not hate." He wiped his hands on his tatty jeans and grabbed a bottle of wine, gulping it down.

"I'm not gonna tell you again Cook. Fuck off." He held his hands up innocently,

"Okay, okay. No need to be so tetchy...." She clenched her fist, "But Naomikins, if you ever fancy a change, ya know, wanna bit of meat in your sandwich.....just say the word babes. Just say the word." He laughed vanishing into the crowd. Naomi pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily.


It was late, the party was still going strong but her Mum and Keiran had left ages ago. Off on their honeymoon to America for two weeks. They had an emotional goodbye, Naomi finally being able to cry and not have her Mum worry why, but she was just as much, even more so, crying about Emily than seeing her Mum go if she was being honest with herself. She hugged Keiran and wished them both a good time and to make sure they sent her a postcard. And with that they were gone. She was alone.

She'd spent the rest of the night looking, but there was no sign of Emily. She made her way to the front of the house, smiling a little as she walked down the aisle remembering the events earlier in the day. She stepped into the little raised wooden gazebo at the end and sat down, placing a bottle of vodka beside her on the hard floor and lighting up a cigarette; Finding the nicotine no relief at all. She propped her arm up on her knee, resting her jaw on the palm of her hand, letting out a sigh. A dozen thoughts flashed through her mind at once. Maybe Emily had been looking for her too? Maybe they just kept missing each other? Or what if she left, came to see the wedding and just left. No talk about what had happened. Nothing. Was it over? What if she'd gone back to Bristol? Maybe...Her thought's were interrupted by a small, timid voice,

"Hey." Emily was stood by the steps, nervousness etched all across her face, those big sad eyes starring right at her, a small shy smile on her lips.