Hello again! I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has alerted or added this to their favorites. And an even bigger thank you to HappyAsIAm.X and the anon that reviewed. Greatly, greatly appreciated :)
Promise the next chapter will be up sooner. Also, thank you to everyone who's reading this. Legit, you're all top notch. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
I don't own Skins or anything of the sort.
Chapter IV: Passerby
..
Naomi sat in her last class of the day, the week actually. She was thirty minutes through the fifty minutes class when she saw it, or rather saw her. In the back row on the opposite side of the lecture hall, that flash of red amongst the washed out surroundings.
Realizing she'd been staring Naomi snapped her head back in the direction of the board. She writes down the newest equation on it. Fucking math class, this had nothing to do with any of her concentrations but a core credit was a core credit. She found her eyes wandering back over to red hair. The girl's small features currently held a slightly bored and not particularly happy look. Shit. Naomi cast her eyes elsewhere. The girl had looked up.
Naomi spent the next twenty minutes of class playing a game of 'look anywhere but at her' which more realistically should have been called 'how long can I go without looking at her, again.' Either way, she failed miserably.
She bolted when class ended. Sure the girl had caught her gazing at her more than once. Naomi didn't know what was wrong with her. Or why her eyes found it so impossible to not look at the girl. It was if her eyes were drawn to her like a magnet.
Naomi sat down at her desk, a huff escaping her lips in the safety of her own room. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her left thumb and index finger squeezing her eyes shut. "What're you doing?" she mumbled to herself before releasing her fingers. She was facing her open door, as always. She glanced up just in time to watch red hair flash by her door. She leaned back in her chair placing the heel of her hands over her eyes. "Fucks sake."
That was the other thing becoming a routine in her new university life. Watching her, watching red. She didn't do it in a creepy or stalker sort of way, it was purely happenstance. This girl, this mystery girl with her bright red hair, lived next door to her, at the end of the hallway. For her to go anywhere to and from her room, she had to pass Naomi's room. And Naomi being the antisocial butterfly she was, happened to be in her room quite a lot.
A knock on her door startled her.
"What?" she said sitting up and removing her hands from her eyes.
"Sorry," an equally startled brunette said hovering in the doorway, "I can go?"
It was Sophia, and a considerably timid and regretful looking one at the moment.
"No, it's fine," Naomi said, "Just startled me is all."
"Sorry," the girl repeated shyly.
"You can stop saying that, you know?" Naomi said, "What's up?"
"Sorry…right, I mean," the girl stammered, "I was just wondering if you were planning on going to the activities fair?"
A few weeks into the fall semester every year the university held an activities fair. All the clubs put on a booth in hopes of recruiting more members as all the students got to see what clubs there were. Naomi had been waiting for it since she arrived at university. She was particularly interested in the school's paper.
"Yeah, I was planning on heading over to it after supper with Effy and Panda. And before we head to Tony's." Naomi answered. Tony was Effy's older brother who had an on campus apartment with a few of his mates.
"Oh," Sophia said looking slightly dejected.
"You're free to join," Naomi shrugged, "Probably to Tony's as well, I doubt Eff would mind, you being her roommate and all."
A smile broke across Sophia's face, "Yeah, alright." She beamed.
Naomi sat there for a moment, waiting for Sophia to say something else as she just stood there awkwardly in the doorway.
The silence continued.
"Right well…" Naomi began, opening up her laptop, "I'll see you later then, yeah?"
"Yeah later," Sophia said realizing she was being dismissed.
She backed out of the doorway.
"Oh sorry," Naomi heard her say and looked up to see a disgruntled red head sling her bag over her shoulder and walk around Sophia. Who had clearly just backed into her.
"Right." Naomi heard a husky voice say. Her eyes met with brown before those brown eyes flicked back to Sophia again and disappeared out of view. Sophia disappeared shorty after.
"Fuck me." Naomi muttered to herself leaning back in her chair replacing the heel of her palms in their familiar place over her eyes.
..
..
Naomi was walking across campus with Effy, Panda, and Sophia towards Tony's flat. The activities fair has proven worthwhile, Naomi signing up for far too many clubs. Most importantly she had signed up for the paper and was excited about the meeting next Monday. To her surprise Sophia had also signed up for it.
They hiked a flight of stairs before walking down a dirty looking hallway. Naomi had her hand raised to knock on the door when Effy just turned the handle and walked in. Awkwardly bringing her hand back down to her side Naomi followed.
"Hey!" One of the boys in the apartment bellowed in welcome as the girls walked in. He was wearing a black beanie and glasses.
The door they had entered was in the corner of the living room. Across the room there were doors on either side of the couch, which Naomi presumed led to bedrooms. In front of the left bedroom door there was a table and chairs and across from it was a small opening to the kitchen.
"Beer's in the fridge," A boy with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stated in a bored tone from the couch. He had to be Effy's brother.
Effy disappeared straight into the kitchen.
"Tony, is that any way to greet guests?" A fit blonde haired boy chastised playfully as he walked out of the bedroom across from the front door.
A wicked grin appeared on Tony's face and even if his name hadn't been revealed Naomi was sure that look would have been just as much confirmation that he was the other Stonem.
"You sign up for the climbing club?" He asked his sister.
Reappearing from the kitchen Effy just looked at him.
"Fantastic!" He replied as if she had spoken, "Well then, lets get fucked up shall we?"
He pulled a half drunk bottle of vodka onto the coffee table. Slamming it down with enthusiasm.
"Whizzer!" Panda said taking a seat on the floor across from Tony, "Shots!"
Naomi and Sophia joined Panda on the floor as Effy took a seat next to Tony on the couch.
"Something to chase them down with yeah?" The blonde boy smiled placing an armful of beers onto the table.
Tony gave him a nod before cracking open one of the beers and taking a languid sip. "Introductions?" he asked lining up the shot glasses Effy had brought in from the kitchen.
"Panda, Naomi, Sophia," Effy stated nodding toward each one in turn, "That's Maxxie," she pointed at the smiling blonde, "Sid," the boy with the hat and glasses gave a nod, "And?"
"Andy." The boy seated across the table from Sid stated. He had dark brown messy hair and a work in progress goatee. He smiled.
"Andy's Sid's roommate." Tony explained.
"Yeah cos someone's best mate didn't wanna live with them." Sid interjected sarcastically.
"That, Sidney, is because someone's best mate is a fucking slob." Tony quipped.
"Am not."
"Sidney."
"Whatever." Sid said taking a swig from his beer.
"You two are like a married old couple I swear." Effy rolled her eyes and took up one of the now full shot glasses, tossing it back. Everyone followed suit.
..
A few hours later and a considerable amount of drinks more Naomi found herself four rounds deep into a game of beruit. She had never played before, but her and Maxxie, her partner, kept winning, meaning they kept playing, and drinking.
"Champions!" Maxxie shouted as Naomi hit the last cup, again. He lifted her up spinning her round. She giggled, though stopped once her feet were back on the ground and she felt as if she was still spinning slightly. She'd drank in college, but as the night wore on it became evident not to the same caliber as this lot.
"Bollocks," A defeated Sid said following Andy back over toward the couch in surrender.
"Oh don't be a sore loser Sid, blondes are just best, accept it." Maxxie said flashing Naomi a smile.
"Isn't the phrase, blondes have more fun?" Sid corrected.
"That too." He smirked.
Naomi returned to sitting down in a chair. She hadn't realized just how drunk she'd gotten. "I don't think I'm up for another game Maxxie, need a break."
Maxxie beamed at her, "Yeah, getting a bit boring dominating everyone. But you and me yeah, king and queen." He winked.
The room was still spinning slightly as Naomi stood up again. Yes, she was definitely drunk. Checking her phone she found two missed texts, both from Alex. It was half midnight.
"I'm gona head back." Naomi stated turning to face Effy who sat on the floor leaning against the couch, twirling a lighter between her fingers. Panda was sitting passed out next to her using her arms as a pillow against the couch.
Effy nodded.
"Want me to take her back with me?" Naomi asked gesturing toward Panda.
"I'll have the boys carry her back when I leave," Effy said simply before taking a drag.
"Alright, night." Naomi said with a wave and headed out the door. The rest of the alcohol consumed during her last game was hitting her and she didn't like being so drunk. Things just slipped out when you got really drunk. And she always had to be in control.
Walking down the sidewalk Naomi heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to see Sophia approaching at a quickened pace.
"Hey hold on." Naomi said into her mobile before nodding a greeting at Sophia. She had called a less drunken and highly amused Alex as soon as she'd left the boys flat.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Naomi nodded before putting a finger up to say one second. She put the phone back up to hear ear. She heard her friend talking away.
"Hey I'm gona have to call you back…have you been talking this whole time?" She laughed. "What, yeah…no…I'll call you back. Yes, when I get to my room…fucks sake, yes…okay, bye." Naomi rolled her eyes.
"Sorry bout that." She smiled.
"I didn't mean to interrupt?" Sophia replied.
Naomi waved her hand at the air, "You weren't."
"Wanted to head back as well," the brunette shrugged, "figured we could walk back together."
Walking side by side in an awkward silence the two girls headed toward their dorm. Naomi hadn't really spent much time with Sophia. She didn't even know she was Effy's roommate the first few weeks of school. Sophia had a habit of going home on the weekends. This being the first one she hadn't.
"So you interested in the school paper as well?" Naomi broke the silence, finding herself much more chatty in her current inebriated state.
"Yeah," Sophia replied.
The two began talking about politics, well more accurately Naomi began ranting about injustice and her views on the world while Sophia would just smile and nod at appropriate moments.
"Wow, sorry, I'm talking a lot," Naomi said as she finished her latest rant, "Played one game too many I think." She shrugged dopily.
Sophia just smiled, "No, it's fine, keep talking, it's interesting."
"Wow, you must really be able to hold your liquor." Naomi said after a moment, looking at Sophia, "I'm here rambling and meandering about and you look as if you're sober." Naomi laughed.
Sophia didn't say anything.
"You're sober?" Naomi said stopping as she came to the realization.
Sophia stopped too looking nervous.
"Yeah…" Sophia said quietly, "I um… I don't drink."
"Oh." Naomi said giving Sophia an accessing look before she continued walking back toward the dorm.
An awkward silence fell back between them.
Again Naomi broke it, "Why'd you come tonight then?" she asked. Then hastily adding, "I just mean, if I was sober the last place I'd want to be was around a bunch of drunken twats." She smiled, swiping her key card through the dorm door.
"I don't think you're a twat." Sophia said following.
"Hah." Naomi laughed as walked up the stairwell. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket again, taking it out she hit answer.
"Keep your vagina on. I'm almost back to my room. Jesus." She breathed into the phone as she rounded onto their floor, taking a right toward her room.
"Night." Naomi said with a wave putting her key in the door. Not waiting for any parting words in return she disappeared into her room, missing the curious look on Sophia's face.