A/N: Hey everyone! Things have been quiet lately so I decided to sit down and write a new part. I promise I'll get back to WWF but I'm (FINALLY) switching to Emily's POV so I wanna get the tones right. In other news, I had a goal to reach for this chapter but literally no plan for plot so this Ch. is basically improv writing, so if you like it, drop a note saying Good improv Rosey! I'm really excited for next chapter so hope this in between doesn't disappoint too much...

Also, SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGAL IN THE USA FINALLY YESSSSS TIME TO CELEBRATE! Who else is super excited?!:D Happy Saturday everyone, enjoy your weekend. I'm done! Have at!:)

One for the road

Ch 2- Invitations

James Cook was going broke. He was scheduled to work 6 days a week for the following week when Naomi openly offered to cover all of his shifts, and with the prospect of his nights now free to party and pull, how could he resist? But after spending all his money on quality spliff, he quickly realized only four days later that he needed to get back on the boring job. For some reason, this set Naomi on edge and it freaked him out, honestly, until she became desperate and offered him half the wages she made.

"Why's ya want the money anyway babe? I know ya off doin' that high classy learnin' shit and stuff, but you'd be workin', what, three weeks straight? Fook blondie, what's fuckin' innit f'you?" She elegantly told him to go fuck himself before offering the deal once more. He accepted, smoking Freddie's spliff he paid for with the money his best mate was earning basically for him.

All was well for Jack the Lad.

…...

Naomi was on her eleventh day of work in two weeks, really starting to feel it. She had increased her already ridiculous crutch of coffee from 5 cups to almost 8 and managed to keep her mood from souring with the help of Effy's playful digs but it started to get tiring when she ran to the toilets about four times per shift. She sighed wearily, dreading going back out. The bar wasn't necessarily too bad, a huge step up from the griminess of Keith's a few blocks away, but that didn't mean she preferred to be there unless she was the one actually drinking.

In fact the only reason she was there for so long at all lately was because of a promise she made last week to that girl, Emily, to listen once she caught a break. Which apparently wasn't anytime soon. It wouldn't have bothered her too much if she had known when the girl might come back. If she came at all. She better, Naomi thought, I really like that jacket. Tiny, jacket thief. Red haired, shy smile-y jacket thief.

"Nai! Seventeen needs a round!" The blonde couldn't even get out of the loo before she was back at it. Biting her tongue, she grabbed the mugs and pitcher from the counter and went to fill rounds for the old bearded men that more or less lived here. It was only 8:30 and one was already tipsy enough to slosh his beer around and go for a feel up on her leg. Luckily, she slipped away with fake smiles to hide behind her bar again, shaking her hands from the fizzy drink splashed onto her. The blonde slowed in surprise when the stool she had been staring at all week had been filled with a familiar shy figure, a towel in her hands.

"Ahh look who came back," Naomi smiled widely, "I was beginning to think I'd never get my jumper back." Emily blushed and looked away, holding the towel out to the taller girl.

"I'm really sorry, I might have forgot it at home...but I will bring it back, honestly! Just my luck that I'd actually come on a shift that's yours," she laughed sheepishly. Despite the humor, the blonde couldn't help but feel slightly dejected at the confession and struggled not to let it show. Emily was observant though and caught the small falter. "Oh God, no! I didn't mean it like that! You're a lovely person, you are, I just feel a bit mortified coming back without something you loaned me. Makes me feel, I dunno, like I seem unappreciative of sorts..." she rambled on. An easiness settled back with Naomi as she wiped her hands clean.

"Did it help?" she interjected. The redhead paused at the question.

"Well, yes of course, I didn't die from hypothermia, so I'd say it did the job alright," Emily replied, her wit outstanding. A smile tugged on the blonde.

"Then it's no problem for me." Naomi put the empty glasses and pitchers onto the counter, walking back to her familiar spot behind the bar and felt her eyes flicker back when the smaller girl twirled around on the bar stool playfully until she was facing the barkeep again. She's a great deal happier, Naomi thought, or at least not drenched.

With the thought in mind, the blonde glanced over the girl, taking care not to noticeably linger, and saw the difference in her demeanor and her outfit. What was simple and rebellious before in skinnies and her soaked band tee had been replaced by a striped pale-orange and white shirt, loose, with comfortable khaki's, chucks and her hair half pinned up. She was completely dry as well, making the barkeep's neck heat when she wasn't prepared for how cute and vibrant Emily's hair fell around her shoulders, beaming the cherry tones. Don't linger, she thought.

"So then," she cleared her throat, "why did you come back if not to return my jacket? It must obviously be the good company." Emily laughed throatily when the blonde dramatically posed.

"I can't deny that, so very true. You've got me all figured out," she joked back. The two fell into easy company, light jokes and banters keeping things moving easily. A few times, Effy called out to her for table clear-ups or getting help from the back, but she was back in just a few minutes, Emily content as if the unconscious smile on her face had always been there. Between the playful jabs and teasing, there would be a question passed between the two, something small and irrelevant like What's your favorite food? or What music do you listen to? The answers would be passed off as non-nonchalant and unimportant but neither of the girls knew that each was noting the remarks, storing it away for a time when it could be used helpfully.

Once the blondes' legs started to tire, she checked the time, stunned that it was nearly midnight. She had been running her rounds comfortably enough but hadn't realize how much she had wound down when she had been coffee free for nearly five

hours already. But it didn't matter, she was enjoying herself and Emily's company too great a deal to complain. She pushed her energy loss aside.

Emily on the other hand was buzzing. Throughout their light banter and casual conversations, Naomi had gotten her a few drinks—to celebrate such 'incredible company'—and humored her with two rounds of pina colada, refusing to let her pay for more than one. The small girl tried to insist until the barkeep gave her a pointed look and left her pretending to pout, sipping on her blended drink. A useful but certainly not helpful shot of adrenaline wound through the blonde when Emily had her first taste and moaned in delight, her face contorting from pleasure. Naomi had to excuse herself to the loo that, for the first time, wasn't because of the coffee she drank. Well she's certainly out of her shell, the barkeep thought as she splashed water on her face, and I really hope I can keep it together.

Convincing herself that she's just a fiery girl, Naomi made her way out considerably more relaxed and was able to be herself as the night wound on. She felt pointed glances at time from her partner at the other end of the bar, but pushed it aside. She would get to Effy later. For now, Emily was enough to keep her going for the night, and allowed herself just one beer from the tap.

"Are you allowed to do that? Drink on the job?" the redhead questioned her, poking fun at the blonde who barked out a laugh.

"Emily look around the place, you really think with these people in here, I'm not allowed a single moderate drink?" She giggled when the small girls' face puzzled together, giving it much thought. "Besides my best friends' boyfriend owns the place. I don't think he'll mind terribly," she whispered with an added wink.

"He owns McClair's?" Emily asked, shocked. Naomi laughed again, placing a hand on the counter, trying to shake away her spinning head that wasn't from the alcohol.

"He is a McClair. Freddie. Freddie McClair. Known him since college actually," the blonde reminisced, leaning on the counter now. "Thought he'd be a bum really, with how much the tosser smoked, but Effy was good with numbers and Freddie was good with people. His best mate Cook gave him a start up from his uncle's place and here we are a few years later. I was always impressed they did it but never really wanted to work here. I'm only here for a few months and then off to Manchester I go." Naomi didn't realize how much she talked until she finished and Emily was staring intently at her, leaning forward.

"You're...you're leaving?" A speck of happiness, so not right from how the redheads voice and face had dropped, spread through the barkeep's chest. It meant she cared, just a little. Naomi didn't know why that seemed important.

"Yeah I have to. I'm in my last year of uni. That's why I'm here, trying to pay down the money hole I dug myself."

"Oh. Right..." The smaller girl seemed to shrink even more when she slumped ever so slightly and her eyes dropped down into her lap. Naomi wished she had been choosier with her words but at least it was true. It was the reason for how things panned out. Unfortunately the timing couldn't have been worse as Effy called to her and circled a hand in the air: start wrapping up for closing.

The blonde swore and Emily noticed and seemed to look even more defeated.

The barkeep couldn't shun her job so as Effy shooed everyone out, she quickly got her bin and towel (that was tucked under Emily's elbow) and tried to rush clean up, checking back to the counter frequently to see she wouldn't miss Emily if she left unexpected. I mean she has every right to, Naomi told herself, I just...wish she wouldn't.

She sped through the tables (checking for Emily) and chucked empty glasses and mugs in the container (looking back to Emily), almost out of breath from how much she was carrying so fast as she rushed to dump it in the back. She came back out in a huff as the door closed and no one was left in the place. No redhead. Fuck, she thought as she ran a hand through her hair and gunned it to the bar, not even closing the cooler's door as she swiped a bottle and more or less sprinted out the front. She stopped on the sidewalk, panting and looking down the street, desperate to catch a flash of red on either side. There was nothing. She stared for a minute until there was not a soul left on the streets. Sincerely depressed, she walked heavily back in the bar and almost passed out on the spot if it weren't for the sight of a figure standing next to her favorite stool, looking around the room as her fingers fidgeted. They locked eyes and were equally surprised.

"I...I thought you'd gone," Naomi said quietly across the room, pointing to the door with the bottle.

"I was in the loo," Emily said a bit stunned that the barkeep was still here as well, "I wanted to see you before I left."

"Oh." The two stared at each other for a long few moments, waiting for...well not really sure what they wanted. Finally, and unexpected for them both, Emily made the first move and walked forward to stick out a hand, waiting for her goodbye. She even had her signature shy smile placed quietly on her face. Naomi moved to meet her but instead of her hand meeting the smaller girls', cold glass did. Perking her smile up more, she read the label above the opaque pink liquid of Strawberry Daquiri wine cooler. They paused awkwardly, Emily gripping a bottle Naomi was holding until the blonde pulled toward herself, essentially pulling the redhead towards her, until her arms were wrapped around fragile shoulders and her nose was filled with scents of the pina colada and lavender. Emily, rather stunned, happily wrapped two hands around the blonde, a strange combination of old ale and lemon cleaner that she somehow didn't mind whatsoever.

They pulled apart respectfully, if not a bit strained, smiled and laughed awkwardly at each other. Emily tucked her waved hair behind her ear and Naomi wished she might be able to know the girl enough one day to do that. These affections were getting to her.

"So, take that one to go okay? It's pleasant but not too heavy and good for the walk home." The smaller girl nodded, biting her lip on the edge of her smile. "So I'll see you..whenever then?" A twinge worked down Naomi's body from discomfort at her own statement. Emily quirked her lips and inhaled sharply, before reaching behind her and then giving the barkeep something. Her mobile. A similar smile played on the blonde's lips as she wordlessly tapped her number in, watching Emily rock on her heels.

"You message me and then hmm..I tell you when I'm working and you can stop by if you'd like?" Naomi asked suddenly nervous before Emily's cheeky smirk returned.

"Is that an invitation?" Her full smile stopped hiding her perfect teeth and Naomi decided to go for broke.

"For you, I would love to make it an invitation. By all means, come every day that I'm working," she smiled back brightly.

"What if I take you up on that? You'll tire of me quite soon I'm sure..." Emily provoked, waiting for a slip up as she started to back step to the door, but there was none to find.

"Well there's only one way to find out isn't there? I'd love to see for myself," Naomi was quick to play back as they stopped in front of the door. The moon was speckled through the clouds leaving bursts of areas lightened. Emily lost their quick paced banter as she faltered for a moment, looking up suddenly bare.

"I think...I might love that too." Before she lost her nerve, she took a half step forward and stretched on her toes to barely touch her lips the blonde's cheek, who closed her eyes instantly on contact. As she pulled away, leaning against the door to start her way home, she bit her lip and brought a hand up to wave, cherry hair darkening to crimson in the late night. She called out down the sidewalk in a loud scratchy voice, "For what it's worth, I guess I'm happy you went to Manchester!" Naomi smiled and stepped out past the door.

"For what it's worth, I'm really glad you're gay!" she yelled out. The barkeep immediately smacked a hand over her mouth and cringed at her word choice. She had meant glad that Emily being gay had brought her to the bar that night, but it definitely didn't come out like that. Emily just laughed down the street, waving largely in the air happily.

…...

As Naomi undressed and cleaned up for bed that night, she sunk into her sheets and was about to finally get a well deserved rest when her phone buzzed on the side table. She grabbed it and grinned to herself as she read.

'I'd love to accept your invitation. When can we start? ;) -Em x'