x__________Chapter Five_____________x

Naomi had barely made it outside before the tears began streaming down her face. She ran as fast as she could, her mind was spinning, full of thoughts and questions, all bursting to get out. She finally stopped once her feet could no longer carry her, she had gotten to a large tree at the back of the school field, she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, she just knew that she needed to get away. She sat down and leaned against the tall tree. She wiped her eyes and breathed out heavily, only for the tears to begin flowing again. 'How could she do this to me?' she asked herself. Memories of the first night they'd spent together at the lake flashed though her mind, every kiss, every touch 'How the fuck could she do this to me!'.

She put her hand to her lips, underneath the salty taste of her tears, she could still feel the kiss they'd shared lingering on her lips. She'd told herself tonight, not to be scared, scared of feeling, scared of finally letting go and admitting what she'd kept from herself for so long. For the first time she didn't care about what other people thought about her, even though she spent her whole life trying to prove that she never did, she always needed the feeling of acceptance. So she kissed Emily, she kissed her because she had never felt more compelled to kiss anyone ever in her life, more than when she was with her. She didn't care how many people saw, and what they thought. She just did it, she took a leap of faith, but now, now she had fallen and reached the bottom, her heart crushed.

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Emily had searched outside for Naomi, but she was nowhere to be found. She placed her hands on her head trying to compose herself, but she couldn't. She would search all night if she had to, she wasn't letting her go without a fight, without knowing how she felt. Emily walked round to the back of the school where Naomi usually smoked. She wasn't there. She sighed and sat down on the step. She'd never felt so terrible in her whole life, sure she'd fight with her Bother and her Mum and Dad....and Katie...But she'd never hurt anyone before, not like this. Naomi's face was etched in the red head's mind, the look of total and utter sadness and hurt on her beautiful face, how could she destroy something of such beauty?

Emily lifted her saddened gaze from the floor, she let out a sigh and looked out across the school field, a faint light catching her eye. She stood up quickly, taking a closer look. The light was from an over looking house coating one of the large oak trees at the end of the field, and from what she could make out, Emily saw a faint figure by it.

Naomi didn't even hear her coming until she was a few feet away to her right. She wanted to run, but she couldn't even move, she was completely exhausted. Emily looked down at the small figure, her tear stained face just staring out to space in front of her. Emily set herself down on the grassy floor, still keeping a slight distance between them. The both sat in silence, neither of them moved or even made a sound. It could of been for a minute, or twenty; It felt like eternity for the both of them.

"Why are you here?" Naomi asked quietly breaking the silence. Her voice almost emotionless if it was for the slight break in her voice when she said 'here'.

"Because....you deserve an explanation." Emily replied, her heart breaking even more every second. Naomi shook her head slightly,

"There's nothing to explain Emily." She finally lifted her head and looked at Emily, their eyes filled with tears.

"Please Naomi, JJ...he...he needed a friend." Naomi looked back out in front of her again, not knowing what to say. Emily got up and slowly walked over to Naomi and sat facing her.

"Naomi...." The redhead pleaded. Naomi looked down and wiped her eyes with her hands. Emily cleared her throat and took a deep breath,

"My whole life, i felt...different, i..." Emily paused and tried to compose herself, feeling her throat tighten, "I just...i felt like i didn't belong, i didn't know why but...i didn't feel normal." Naomi closed her eyes, hearing the pain in Emily's voice was unbearable.

"But...then i found you." Emily reached out and took Naomi's clasped hands in hers, relieved that Naomi didn't pull away. "You helped me realise Naomi....you helped me find that part of myself that had always felt was missing."

"Then why did you..." Naomi started to cry, Emily put her hand to Naomi's cheek and brushed away a tear.

"JJ....he.....he was telling me all this stuff about himself.....explained why he acts like he does. He kept saying how he wished he could just be normal like everyone else. And... it just reminded me so much of what i felt like....hating yourself for not knowing why you felt like you did, not understanding...."

Naomi looked at Emily and brushed he thumb ever so slightly against hers. Emily looked down and gave a sad smile.

"He's such a sweet, kind person and.....and i realised i could do this one thing for him....as a friend and only a friend."

Emily felt frustruated, wishing she could make Naomi understand.

Naomi's mind slowly processed the information she'd heard. The real explanation completely different from the horrid scenarios that had flooded her mind. She couldn't help but think that it was one of the things she loved about Emily, the fact that she would really do that for someone, go out of her way do to anything she could to help the people she cared about. Whether or not she was guilty of being too naive, Naomi could see that, her intentions, like her heart, were pure. It didn't stop the hurt, the pain; that hadn't changed, or the confusion that engulfed her over their tentative relationship. The confusion that she had fought to get over tonight resurfacing with the flurry of emotions she felt. But all the anger and confusion over Katie's outburst gradually dissipated.

Emily searched the blonde's face, desperately looking for something to show her that it was going to be OK. Naomi looked back at the anxious face opposite her,

"I just think maybe, it'd be best if....." They both looked up, the sound of someone running towards them interrupting Naomi. It was Effy.

"Emily!" She shouted, showing a rare sign of any kind of emotion. It was fear.

"Emily, quick, it's Katie...."