Chapter 5

All the girls had gathered into small chatty bunches on the back lawn of the school. From the steps where everyone had exited I was just barely able to make out a red-head in the distant back corner of the crowd. I quickly mapped out a route in my head to get to her.

When I came closer I was able to see that she was talking to some other girl I didn't know, and an uncomfortable feeling came over me, and I was unsure whether I should intrude. I was so close now I could make out their conversation.

"Jeezus. Emily, I swear if you start another fire like that she's going to catch on, and we aren't ever going to get to bake those cookies… in fact, we'll probably never be allowed in the kitchen again." The two girls were laughing and it made me cringe at the thought of another girl making Emily laugh. I followed the sudden and strong urge that propelled me into intruding on their little chat.

"Um, hey Emily." I tried not to sound so insecure, but the way they were standing kind of gave the uninviting impression. The girl who was talking to Emily was clearly annoyed by my intrusion although I momentarily forgot about her when Emily grabbed me closer, locking our arms. Her grasp caught me by surprise, and I gasped at the shocking feeling of tingles that were rippling through me from the point of contact.

Emily seemed to be in her own world, smiling to herself, but the girl facing us had obviously noticed my hitched gasp.

"What the fuck was that?" She shifted in her place, challenging me.

Both were looking at me but Emily had a look of contentment, while the other girl was waiting for me to cough up some valid explanation. Unintentionally removing my arm from Emily's I covered my mouth.

"Sorry, hiccups." I immediately regretted losing Emily's touch, but inwardly scolded myself for having the unusual feeling I couldn't place. The thrilling sensation had been lost as Emily's arm hung limp at her side.

There was an awkward moment between the girl and I, while Emily just chuckled. What the fuck was she laughing about… but then she chimed in.

"Cute. Anyway I'll see you around Jess, I promised Naomi the grand tour!"

Emily turned to me and grabbed my hand. I was going to make up for the awkwardness by trying to be courteous and say goodbye to Jess, but I was then all to aware of Emily's strength tugging me rather hurriedly towards the front of the crowd.

An authoritative voice then rang out through a megaphone nearby.

"The fire has been put out, but classes shall not resume today for the facility's reorganization and cleaning. Please stay out of the kitchen area, as well as the ward it is located in. You may spend the time as you like, however, I strongly recommend studying in your newly found spare time. Thank you."

Once again I was being pulled by great strength yet still somehow soft and small hand that was tightly clasped to my own. She took me through an entrance I hadn't seen before, that no one seemed to be going towards other than us. We were drifting further and further from the crowd and the loudness of the crowd was overcome by the silence of the hallways she was taking me through.

I was about to ask where we were going but Emily came to a sudden halt in front of a large metal door. She stopped holding my hand, which had grown slightly damp at the thought of being completely alone. As far as I could tell there was no one in this part of the school. She shot me a knee-weakening smile then opened the door. Behind the door was pitch black, I couldn't make out anything inside, not even the size of the room or what was in it.

"You trust me?" she asked. My hand once again shot up to cover my mouth to hide the giggling coming out of me.

"What?" she smirked.

"Well, we hardly know each other, how am I supposed to trust you?" I was smiling to show I hadn't meant it rudely. Honestly, I really wanted to trust her but I couldn't help but feel the doubt that invaded my thoughts.

"Because, Naomi, I know you want to trust me. Not to mention, I haven't done anything to lose your trust." She was completely serious. I was almost frightened when she was reiterating my thoughts out loud. First Effy, now her. How the hell was I going to be able to keep any secrets of my own if people could read my mind so easily? But something told me they were special, only they had such powers over me.

"I can feel it too Naomi, I want to trust you also." She encouraged me.

I saw the glint of happiness and sheer trust in her beautiful brown eyes, and realized they were reflecting my own. I knew it would be okay. The second I nodded she had grabbed my hand again and pulled me into the room.

"Careful Naomi, it's a bit slippery in here."

Trying not to trip, I allowed Emily to guide me. There was a strong scent crawling through the air that I was struggling to indentify. The husky voice spoke and my heart beat heightened.

"Sit."

Complete trust. I let myself fall, even though I couldn't see anything beneath me, but I was quickly reassured by a light fabric that enveloped me. I realized I was being swallowed by a hammock. Laying down on my back, I balanced myself to keep from falling out, and enjoyed the slow swing of it.

Shit. Where's Emily going to sit, I quickly sat back up and almost fell out but two small hands instantly gripped my shoulders and steadied me while pushing me back down, I shuddered at the touch and hoped she didn't notice.

"Stay here, I'll be right back."

I closed my eyes and listened to her footsteps distance themselves from me. I heard a faint click, then the sound of rushing water, calm but still rushing, nearby, and from under my eyelids I could sense she had turned on the lights as well. I right then recognized the lingering scent to be chlorine. I was so soothed by the background noise that I almost flipped out of the hammock in surprise when I felt Emily's hot breath on my ear.

"You can open your eyes now."

I sat up and took in the entire room. There was a fairly large pool with a controlled waterfall at one end, as well as a long diving board.

"They took swimming out of the curriculum ages ago, but never got rid of the pool. No one really knows about this place except for me. It was only by accident that I wondered in here… I come here whenever I get the chance… it's just so peaceful…" Emily explained to me.

She sat down in a hammock next to mine, and I mimicked her lying again on my back. Our hammocks were slightly bumping together as we swung gently back and forth.

I decided to break the comfortable silence that was upon us, I had so badly wanted to get to know Emily better. I turned so I was facing her, and she must have sensed it because she too turned to face me. Before speaking, I took a second to admire her smile looking up at me.

"Emily, is it just me, or was this grand tour a bit short?"

She let out a husky chuckle. "I figured Panda would want to be the one too show you around… and I kind of wanted to be alone with you…" she blushed and tried to hide it. "You know to uh, get to know you better…"

"Emily, why haven't you told any of your other friends about this place? It's amazing…"

I was looking around the room, Emily must've moved around the furniture for her purposes because it wasn't the most organized looking, and there were random posters hanging around that I hardly thought the school would approve of. I had to get to the point though, because the question was repeating itself in my head over and over… why me?

"Because, I dunno, you're special." We both looked away from each other this time, both embarrassed.

She tried breaking the tension by sitting up and walking towards the diving board.

"Lets go for a swim, yeah?"

I sat up again as well, but was nervous.

"Emily, we don't have swimming costumes…"

"Its okay, I have more uniforms in my room. They'll also probably fit you better than the one you're wearing right now."

So she noticed… I felt the heat as it invaded my cheeks and neck.

"Alright Emily. Doesn't seem like there is anything else I have to do this afternoon. May as well allow you to try and entertain me. I'm warning you though, it's not easy to get a laugh out of me, Miss Fitch!"

She chuckled at my sarcasm as she made her way up the ladder to the diving board.

"Right so, this is an impression of Katie!" When she got to the top she started swaying her hips aggressively as she got closer and closer to jumping off, and I couldn't help but give her movements my full attention. " I am so fucking hot, yeah?" Right before she jumped, she perfectly mimicked Katie's voice and shouted, "BIIIIIIIIITCCH!"

I was still laughing pretty hard at her impression when she popped up back to the surface. My laugh had been so contagious that Emily started laughing too. I settled myself at the edge of the pool with up to my knees dangling in the water as I got used to the temperature.

I blushed again when I noticed she was staring at me, and looked away.

My breath hitched when I felt two wet soft hands grab my ankles. She splashed me a bit and tugged my ankles gently.

"Come in the water" Her voice sent chills down my spine, and I couldn't help but smile down at her. She took some of the pool water in her mouth and spat it out at me, successfully getting my top wet.

"Bitch!" I jumped in on top of her, shoving her well under the water, but making sure to let her get back up for air. For awhile we went back and forth splashing each other. I couldn't see a damn thing through the water that was aggressively but all in good fun, shot at me. We were both coming to a stop, our breathing heavy as we swam to the edge of the pool for something to hold, making it easier for us to catch our breath.

But then Emily erupted in a fit of laughter.

"What? What the fuck is so funny?" I was getting annoyed at how easily Emily could make me feel so self-conscious in a matter of seconds. She pointed to a black pleated skirt that was floating in the water. My eyes shot down to where my skirt should've been and saw my knickers clearly visible. Shit.

"Fuck you!" I said with a smile, letting her know I didn't actually think it was her fault. I swam over and grabbed my skirt, and attempted to slip the heavy fabric back around my waist under the water.

When I turned back to face Emily she was hauling herself out of the water and pulling out two towels she must've left in here and set them flat on the floor, taking her place and lying on her back on one of them.

The whole time I watched as the wet fabric clung to her body and the excess water dripped down her legs. She was lying down silently, closing her eyes. I got out by then, and laid down on the towel next to her. Emily's face was turned away from me.

I could easily see through her shirt, her beautiful and sexy black bra was making my head go wild with crazy thoughts I was trying to erase just as quickly as they came, but they were too many and too filled with desire and pleasure to ignore. I looked back down at myself and saw my red bra was equally as visible. Fuck. Whatever. I went back to watching her chest rise and fall.

I blushed furiously when I noticed the reflection of two brown eyes that caught me perving on her in a mirror reflection. Fuck. She's going to think I'm a creep. Fucking Fuck. I can't even believe I was even checking her out. I shook my head to myself in denial, but Emily grabbed my hand sending my heart beat into a rapid speed as she turned to face me.

"Naomi, I like you." She smiled, but it quickly faded away when she saw the scared look on my face.

"Naomi, I was curious, do you have a boyfriend?"

I was panicking inside, but I told myself that normal friends ask these type of questions right? This was completely normal. I mean, for some reason, I also wanted to know if she had had a boyfriend, so it was only fair for her to ask me, right?… Calm down Naomi.

"Uh yeah, I do."

She frowned, but quickly turned away to hide it. "Cool."

SHIT! WHY DID I SAY THAT? I DON'T HAVE A FUCKING BOYFRIEND! I wanted to scream at the stupid head of mine looking for an easy way out. I don't even know what I was trying to escape. Always deceiving what my heart truly desired. I couldn't figure out what I was looking for, I had no idea what was normal anymore. I just knew I felt like shit when I saw the look of disappointment on Emily's face. But we were just friends right? There was no reason for her to be sad. My thoughts were flying, trying to give me millions of rational excuses as to why she could be disappointed by my answer. However, my curiosity ultimately overthrew my voice.

"Do you?"

"Uh, no." I could've sworn I heard a deep sigh come from her, but I was too scared to prod. I didn't want to know why. I was too afraid. I'm not ready for this.

"I'll see you later okay Emily?" I grabbed the towel and rushed out of the room. I wrapped it tight around me so no one could see through my shirt. Luckily everyone was outside or in their dorms so I was able to get back unnoticed. Even Panda wasn't in the room. I changed into my pajamas and got under the covers. It wasn't even late, but I felt incredibly tired.

Until I was hit by sleep, the image of Emily's disappointed face wouldn't stop haunting me, or the last words I heard when I walked out of the pool room. They had been so quiet I wasn't even sure I heard them at all.

"Be brave Naomi. Please."

A/N: (apologies for the typoes, I usually go back and fix it a day later after I've posted it online…)

Shewritesforher- THANKS! I lurves Emily too. XD

(tons of x's) notintolabels – THANKS! Err sorry but you going to hafta wait a bit longer for the real naomily stuff, but I hope this chapter had enough suggestive hints to get you riled up to settle for a little more of a wait? (err and your comment showed up twice, but it was the same as the first, so you don't get a complete second shout out sorreh xD …)

HappyasIam- THANKS! More naomi's pov! xD

Chleoc40- THANKS! I took your compliment to heart, I really try to make my writing smooth and well err a bit professional sounding I guess… hehe. Thanks… and yes. I love adorable Emz too!

Clyyd- THANKS! I was def trying to chanel some keiren there, but a less bitter version of him, you know that would actually appreciate teaching… (not that I don't think keiren deep inside loves to teach those little bastards) hope that chapter was "a bit of naomily" enough for yah

WELLZ FOLKS. What a sad way to end this chapter… Kinda felt like I was going to cry… Idk… I really feel it when I right it, get into their heads I suppose. Anywho, do not fear, I don't think they'll always be so afraid –wink wink

Trust me I definitely already have some real naomily plans in my head that will leave you begging for more… you'll just have to wait a little bit longer so it's all set up and perfect. ;]

I think it'll satisfy yah. LEMME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER IN THE COMMENTS BELOW PLEASE 3 Billion points to you, my lovers! Following my story is amazing but comments are even better! THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS. Err oyeah, and THANKS! Lol. Gnite.