This is quite possibly the busiest I have been since graduating. In the past few weeks I have had four interviews, a huge project due a work, packed up my life, moved said life, and gone apple picking for my birthday *exhale. Enjoying a break from the madness and being the ever procrastinator that I am; here is the next chapter.

mzsavanna, phantomfundraiser, anon, StayWithMeForTheKids, anon, T, LoveTypeThing-SureTypeThing, and winsome wonder - thank you for reviewing. Getting a review and hearing (reading?) what you all think really makes my day.

Please let me know what you think. And as always, thanks for reading.

I don't own Skins or anything of the sort.

Chapter XVI: Everyone knows I'm in over my head

..

..

Naomi let out a sigh. "In the library. Entertain me." Never in her life did she think that would be the statement she regretted most, but currently that's how things fell. It was Thursday night of exam week and she had her politics final exam that next morning. Most people were done, not having a Friday exam let alone in their concentration. Some of Tony's friends were celebrating with a big finale of a party as they put it. So mostly everyone outside her concentration that she talked to was there, getting royally fucked up as she sat in the library diligently going through her notes.

Succumbing to temptation she signed onto Facebook for a moment's procrastination, a break she told herself, and put up the status "In the library. Entertain me." Expecting a message or two or a text. Maybe even a call from Alex who had dutifully not called her all day after she had instilled a twenty-four hour no call rule in preparation for her most important exam. Instead she got a personal visit.

"Hey there."

Naomi jumped pulling herself away from her book, procrastination forgotten.

"Oh, hello Andy," she greet curiously.

"What're you up to?" he asked.

"Studying," Naomi stated tapping her notebook with her pen, "for my exam."

"Right, well I saw you were in need of some entertainment so I figured I'd come and give you some company," he smiled obviously proud of himself.

"Oh," Naomi responded, "Well I'm just organizing notes, reading, it's boring shite really."

"I don't mind," he said pulling up a chair to her table.

"Do you have an exam tomorrow as well?" Naomi asked not looking up from her book.

"Had my last one this morning."

"Oh, right," Naomi said, "well, I'm going to keep studying, you know exam tomorrow and everything."

"Okay," he said, that smile still planted firmly on his face. Naomi looked at him noticing he hadn't brought anything for himself to do: not even a book or iPod.

She could feel his eyes on her as she tried to focus on editing her notes.

"Want a sweet?" he asked a few minutes later.

"Sorry?" Naomi asked.

"Do you want one?" he asked holding out a pack of candy toward her.

"Oh, no I'm alright thanks."

After about an hour of reading and printing being interrupted by Andy every so often Naomi couldn't take it anymore. She wasn't the most patient person to begin with.

She snapped her book shut and placed her laptop into her bag.

"Alright well, I'm just going to finish putting my notebook together back in my room," she stated quickly gathering the rest of her materials. "Thanks for err…entertaining me."

He lit up, "You're very welcome, was a pleasure."

"Right well…I'm just going to head back now," she said her eyes darting to the stairs toward her exit.

"I'll walk you."

That was half an hour ago. And for the past half hour Naomi has sat at her desk organizing her notebook, checking for messages online, and tuning out Andy. She even wished a call from Alex, anything really, but Alex was being a good friend and letting her study. She was also probably off on some date with dentist girl if Naomi thought about it. That was probably why she was sticking so well to the no calling rule, had a good distraction.

The dark haired puppy of a boy was sitting on her floor going on and on about his most resent climbing adventure, or so he was the last time Naomi had said her dutiful "Oh yeah?". Andy walking her back to her dorm resulted in him following her to her room and talking her ear off as she attempted to get work done.

Just then a flash of red walked by Naomi's open door. Blue eyes met brown for the briefest of moments and she was rewarded with the quirk of an eyebrow and a smirk.

"Jesus," she sighed.

"I know, right?" Andy said continuing his story. "It was a wicked ledge, don't know how I made it up."

"What? Oh, yeah," Naomi said rolling her eyes. Andy was a nice guy, but a little slow on social ques.

Naomi looked at her computer screen and saw a message pop up.

Emily: You look bored.

A smile slid across Naomi's face.

Naomi: You have no idea. Save me.

Emily: Can't you just tell him to bugger off?

Naomi: If it were that easy, he'd have been gone ages ago. He followed me back from the library.

Emily: Library? Do you still have an exam?

Naomi: My politics tomorrow at 10 unfortunately.

Emily: Huh. Tell him you have to help me with something, and just come here.

Naomi: Really?

Naomi's heart was racing. This night was about to potentially take a huge up swing.

Emily: Yeah. Just bring your stuff in here.

Naomi: Really? I don't want to be a bother.

Emily: Really, Naomi. And you're not.

Naomi: Okay. Thanks.

"Hey Andy?" Naomi said cutting him off mid word. "Sorry, Emily's just messaged me. She needs help going over the outline. I've got to go."

Naomi: He bought it. Hero.

With that she shut her laptop and grabbed her bag ushering Andy out the door. Watching Andy wander further down her hall past the exit Naomi went to her right. She was suddenly nervous. There were only four rooms to the right of the stairs on this end of the hallway, two on each side. Naomi's room being in between the stairwell and Emily's at the end of the hall: their rooms sharing a wall.

As Naomi walked the few paces to Emily's door she suddenly realized she had never come here before, never gone beyond her own door.

"Fucking hell. What are you doing?" Naomi said to herself before knocking softly on the door.

"Open," she heard call from inside the room. And with a final breath she turned the doorknob and entered.

"Hey," Naomi greeted.

"Hi," Emily smiled.

"Err, thanks again," Naomi said. "You really are my hero."

Emily's smile grew. She nodded toward her desk chair, offering it to Naomi. The blonde sat down placing her bag on the floor at her feet.

"Yeah well in that case I guess I should save you more often. Looked as if you were being bored to death."

"I was nearly. If you hadn't walked by then I'd probably have been a goner."

"Well then good thing I walked by when I did."

"It's just," Naomi began hesitating slightly, "this is going to make me sound like a complete tit but you know how sometimes a person can talk, and you just don't care?"

Emily just looked at her waiting for her to continue.

"Well he's one of those people."

That little smirk pulled the corner of Emily's mouth again. The same one Naomi saw as she had walked by.

"You don't like him then?"

"Who Andy?" Naomi said, "No! I mean he's a nice guy and all but, he talks and I just can't listen. What can I say, I'm a tit."

"You're not a tit," Emily said, "Usually it's there or it isn't, not much you can do about it either way."

"Yeah, guess you're right," Naomi said not breaking the eye contact Emily had started. "I am a tit though."

Emily laughed, "I'll be the judge of that."

"Alright, well don't say I didn't warn you."

Naomi allowed herself to properly look around the room after she had sorted out her notebook a bit more. She took in the drastic contrast between the two sides of the room. Emily and Katie.

Behind Emily there were posters; Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Manson, a few other intense looking bands she didn't recognize, and a poem that she did. Katie's side featured shirtless blokes; Daniel Craig, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham to name a few.

"I can't believe she actually lives next door as well," Naomi stated examining Katie's décor, "I never noticed."

Emily was sat on her bed, legs crossed. Unlike Naomi's bed, Emily's was low to the ground at a usual height. The look Emily gave her over the top of her laptop did things to the pit of Naomi's stomach that had no adequate translation in the English language.

Naomi shifted her gaze from those brown eyes instead to the printed words behind her. She had recognized the William Carlos Williams poem immediately.

"Plums, eh?" Naomi quirked an eyebrow.

"They were delicious," Emily shrugged that smirk tugging on the edge of her mouth again.

There was a knock on the door. The two girls looked at each other quizzically before back at the door.

"Open," Emily stated brow furrowed.

Andy popped his head in causing Emily's brow to shoot up, "Yes? Can I help you?"

He looked unsurely at Emily before turning to Naomi, "They've just gotten Sophia back…she's well gone."

"Good for her," Naomi deadpanned, "But some of us still have exams."

Andy hesitated in the doorway, "She's been um…asking for you?"

This time Naomi's brow furrowed. What the fuck? She was also acutely aware of the two sets of eyes currently on her. So much for an up swing.

"Panda's trying to get her up to her room now," Andy added.

Giving a curious looking Emily an apologizing look she followed Andy. The little bubble of a sanctuary that had been Emily's room was abruptly popped the moment she went into the hall. It was as if leaving Emily's room had sent her down the rabbit hole.

"No," Panda said looking at Naomi, "You, our room, now."

"What?" Naomi asked confused. The usually peppy blonde was in the doorway from the stairwell. As she stepped further into view Naomi realized she had a completely pissed Sophia on her arm. The girl looked up and saw Naomi standing outside Emily's door.

"Naomi!" Sophia slurred, still being supported by Panda, "I hate you! I hate you!"

Naomi was a deer in headlights.

Panda pulled Sophia toward the girl's room, "Naomi bloomin' hell, go inside will you?"

Remembering her limbs had a function she followed Panda's instruction and went into their room. Once inside she stood as useless as she had in the hall. Now what?

The now muted noise of the hall seemed to dissipate. After minutes that presented themselves as something much larger the commotion in the hall seemed to return. Naomi opened her door to watch a girl she recognized from one of her lectures get taken into the stairwell on a stretcher.

"Your friend alright?" she heard a policewoman who had just assisted with the girl ask. Turning her attention down the hall she saw her with Sophia, Panda, and Andy.

"Yes Officer, just going to bed now," Panda said politely. Naomi walked over to Panda's side.

The policewoman eyed a swaying Sophia suspiciously.

"I am not," Sophia scoffed.

"What's going on?" Naomi asked Panda as the officer continued to talk with Sophia.

"Sophia's bein' a bloomin' idiot, that's what," Panda replied, "You should go back inside."

"Why?"

"Because you'll just send her off the loony end again."

"But I haven't done anything."

"She's not exactly been wacked in the head with logic tonight," Panda explained.

This wasn't a campus security person. This was an actual her majesty's finest policewoman.

"Sophia stop talking."

The look of venom Naomi received surprised her, "No! Fuck you Naomi!"

Naomi's fingers found the bridge of her nose.

"You need to calm down," the policewoman said.

"You need to go fuck yourself." Sophia shot back.

"Alright, you can come as well." The policewoman stated.

"Where are you taking her?" Panda asked as Sophia was led down toward the stairs.

"She's going in the ambulance with the other girl to hospital."

"I'll follow," Andy offered taking his keys out of his pocket, he hadn't been drinking.

"I don't think you should come," Panda said to Naomi. "We'll be back."

..

"Alright?" Emily asked as Naomi reentered the girl's room.

Naomi rolled her eyes, "She's a fucking twat."

Emily raised an eyebrow.

"She's completely pissed and then decided it'd be best to telling the bleedin' police to fuck herself."

Emily scoffed, "Police?"

"Apparently some other girl on the floor drank enough to make Sophia look sober. Gone to get her stomach pumped now. Police decided to bring Sophia as well, make it a pair for the ride."

"Eventful," Emily quipped.

Naomi huffed, "Right well, I figured I'd grab my stuff, before the chaos returns."

"Right," Emily nodded.

Naomi picked up her bag, "Thanks again, for saving me an all."

"Doesn't look like I really saved you from much in the end," the redhead shrugged.

"It was a much appreciated reprieve," Naomi smiled.

..

..

Attempting to get any further on her notebook was futile and Naomi knew it. So she sat. And she marveled at time; how it was impartial yet how it seemed to slow and speed at inopportune moments.

Panda entered their room alone some time later. She sat on the floor in front of Naomi.

"She wants to talk to you."

"You think that's wise?"

"She's calmed down."

"What's she been saying?"

Panda paused, "Well she got blinkin' bashed at the party, started bumbling on how 'Naomi kissed me! Naomi used me!'"

Naomi felt herself sink in her chair. She covered her face with her hands before slowly running her hands through her hair.

"Great," Naomi muttered, "Just fucking great."

"Did you?" Panda asked curiously.

"No!" Naomi stated emphatically. "I mean," she sighed, "at the formal we got drunk and we snogged. But that's all it was! Just the once."

"Bonkers," Panda said, "Well that makes sense. You two acting all bumblin' and bleedin' weird round each other. Like a surf 'n' turf gone sour."

"We didn't surf 'n' turf, Panda," Naomi stated, "just kissed."

Panda nodded that she believed her.

"It's all fucked up," Naomi breathed. "I don't like her," she added looking up to meet Panda's eyes, "Not like that."

Panda nodded taking in the new information.

"And she kissed me. Not the other way round." Naomi felt the need to defend herself. "I didn't use her."

"…then she mentioned you like Emily." Panda added delicately.

"Jesus."

"Whole way back in Andy's car, just kept repeatin' it, ramblin' on."

"Fucking hell," Naomi muttered returning her head to her hands.

"Do you?"

Naomi looked up almost pleadingly into Panda's kind eyes.

"It's alright if you do, you know," Panda continued.

"I know," Naomi hesitated. It was kind of hard to keep your cards close to your chest when someone has already ripped the cards from your hand, "I think I do, like her I mean."

"Thought so," Panda smiled.

"You what?" Naomi was surprised.

"I'm your roommate," Panda grinned, "It's my job to know these things."

Panda was far more observant that Naomi gave her credit for.

"She's the first girl I've, you know, liked," Naomi admitted.

"Is she?" Panda asked, this time being the surprised one.

"Oh but that surprises you?" Naomi states slightly exasperated.

Panda just shrugged.

"You're not going to tell people are you?" Naomi asked wearily.

"Not my business to tell," Panda shrugged, "Besides I reckon Sophia bloomin' did that enough for you already."

Naomi winced that the mental image of Sophia's proclamations at the party.

..

..

Naomi knocked before opening the door. The room was dark but she made no move for the light. She didn't want to look at Sophia nor did she want to see Sophia look at her with those expectant eyes.

"You awake?" she asked standing in the middle of the room. Effy must have stayed elsewhere.

She turned to leave when Sophia finally mumbled a yes.

"Panda said you wanted to talk?" Naomi prompted crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry," Sophia mumbled.

"For?"

"For being a prat, for tonight," Sophia said. Naomi could tell, while much improved from earlier in the night, Sophia was still drunk. This didn't bode well for a rational conversation.

"I like you," Sophia continued.

"Okay."

" But I don't like you."

"Okay..."

"We're friends."

"Yes," Naomi agreed.

Naomi attempted to follow Sophia's ramblings.

"We could be friends with benefits?"

"That's never a good idea," Naomi dismissed, "No."

"I don't like you."

"I know."

"But you like her," Sophia accused.

"What?"

"But you like Emily."

"What does Emily have to do with any of this?" Naomi asked instantly annoyed, "Emily was not at a party splashing about, yelling to everyone that I kissed her and used her."

Sophia was silent for a moment.

"Have you kissed her?"

"No, not that it's any of your business," Naomi answered. "And I didn't kiss you, you kissed me, remember?"

"We kissed each other."

"Alright," Naomi relented, "but you kissed me first," she clarified, "you initiated."

A soft "I know," came from the depths of Sophia's lofted bed.

"I know you know," Naomi affirmed.

"So it's not going to happen again?" Sophia asked.

"No, I think not," Naomi answered.

"I feel like you just used to me figure if you like girls or not," Sophia said, "And now that you know, its not me that you want."

"It's not as if I went into the night thinking 'I'm going to snog Sophia and see if I like girls," Naomi snapped, "It was simply a byproduct of a drunk snog."

"Cos that's all it was, a drunk snogging?" Sophia pushed.

"Yes," Naomi breathed.

Naomi sat down in the circle chair and stared hard out the window in the dark. She watched the ice meet its end as it met glass as she tried to figure out what to say.

"Why are you acting as if I've wronged you?" she dared.

"It's not you," Sophia sighed.

"Pretty certain it was my name you were shouting about tonight," Naomi replied.

"You're not the first girl I've, you know liked."

Naomi was silent. This was news.

"In college, I dated this girl," she paused, "Stephanie…we were engaged."

"What?" Naomi couldn't keep in her surprise. "So you've seriously dated another girl, yet you're the one that's freaking out on me because we had a drunk snog?" Naomi asked a bit incredulous, "Seems a bit backward doesn't it?"

"You freaked out too."

"Not to the whole world."

"I'm sorry," Sophia said. Naomi could hear her shuffle in her bed. "I've been taking it out on you. We kept it a secret, didn't tell anyone, not even my best friend," Sophia continued, "Our families could never know, you should hear the things my Mum says…"

There was a pause.

"Then we broke up…" Sophia said softly, "She broke up with me, right before I left for university, said she couldn't do it."

"Well, I am sorry bout that, but what's it got to do with me?" Naomi asked.

"I guess I never really fully sorted myself out after that, never properly dealt with it. Then you came along, and all those feelings sort of flooded back." Sophia explained, "I'm sorry."

"I hear what you're saying, but Sophia you've got to realize, I'm not her." Naomi said, "And I'm not going to be her. So whatever you've got left to sort out about that, doesn't involve me."

"I know, I'm sorry."

Naomi's head returned to her hands again. She was drained and possibly forming a headache. She looked at her watch, her politics exam was in five hours. So much for that upswing.