A/N A bit of a wait but here's a longer one for you, thank you for the lovely reviews and please don't hesitate to drop another one :)
Follow the light
"So are you going to help me or not," Naomi asks, staring impatiently at Cook.
They've been sitting on the beach for an hour after a late afternoon surf, what they always did on the odd occurrence that the both of them had the day off it was kind of a ritual. Only Naomi also saw today as the perfect chance to run some idea's by Cook of how to win over Emily, knowing that if Cook was with her he could surely pull Effy and ultimately would give her an advantage with Emily.
"I just think you should count your loses with this one Naomi, I know it must be a blow to your ego but she just doesn't like you blondie," Cook responds," Just chalk it up to a good effort and pull someone else."
Naomi sighs outwardly at Cooks inability to understand that it isn't as easy as just forgetting about the whole thing. Thinks that if her best friend, someone who knows her better than anyone, can't understand it then how is she expected to either?
"You don't get it James I can't just move on, something just wont let me. There's just something about her, I've never felt it before, its like even when she's mocking or insulting me its alright because at least she's allowing me to be in her presence."
"Fuck Naomi, you're sounding dangerously close to being in love with her," Cook points out," You're fucking freaking me out here!"
Love, a four letter word that has frightened Naomi for as long as she can remember. Because it isn't just a word, it's a feeling and quite honestly feelings scare the shit out of her. They are messy and complicated and learning from her moms experience love just causes you a whole load of pain in the long run, and often times the scars never fully heal.
"Its not love," Naomi denies while wondering to herself what it actually was that she was feeling for Emily because it was definitely new to her," Its infatuation, not love."
"What ever you say Naomi, but just so you know infatuation is the prequel to love,"
"Why are you pushing this?" Naomi asks, not having the energy to argue anymore, besides she couldn't be in love with Emily, they've only had 2 conversations in their whole lives and love at first sight is bullshit and Naomi knows it.
"I've just never seen you be so persistent before, figured that this one must be something special," Cook explains.
"I never said she wasn't special," Naomi says softly, digging her feet into the sand so they're almost completely hidden," Now are you going to help me or not? Beware I am willing to revoke best friend status if necessary."
"Well in that case get to fuck!" Cook grins, wincing playfully when Naomi slaps him across the arm," Fine fine I'll talk to Ef, see what we can work out. Don't know what good it'll do, I mean if the girl wanted to go out with you she would have said yes when you asked."
Naomi shakes her head, wonders how Cook ever gets laid when he so obviously doesn't know a thing about understanding women, he's really fucking lucky he's cute she thinks.
"She's playing hard to get Cook, she's got this image in her head of me as this barracuda of a girl that just wants to screw her and then fuck off. Thank you but the way for filling in Effy on my past dating history, she ran straight to Emily and now I look like some heartless slut," Naomi glares and Cook raises his hands in defeat.
"Well your track record kind of speaks for itself," Cook says through a laugh, receiving another smack from Naomi in return.
"Fuck you!" Naomi exclaims.
Later that night Cook calls and tells Naomi that he's spoken to Effy and that her and Emily will be attending the beach party on Friday and Naomi can't think of a better opportunity. This way it won't look super staged like it would if she crashed some other even with just Cook Effy and Emily. This is her town, she has no reason to not go to this party and Emily must know this, so her presence there really shouldn't be much of a surprise.
She finds herself getting nervous as Friday wears on, she almost drives her boat full of tourists into a large protruding rock because she's so lost in thought about what she's going to say to Emily in a few hours from now. Hates that Emily seems to effortlessly throw her completely off her game, makes her feel completely uncomfortable in her own skin. She's swiftly brought out of her musings by the large, hairy, sweaty shirtless man who taps her on the shoulder and points at the rock she's heading for. Once she recovers and apologizes to her passengers she catches him wink at her, shudders at the memory of how he insisted on using her as a floatation device earlier when she took them snorkeling. She really needs this night with Emily to go well now, if for nothing other than to erase the mental image of his hairy body touching hers, she's gagging just thinking about it.
Finally after stopping at one last spot and letting them get in the water one last time (in which she refused to go in the water much to hairy sweaty's dismay) she was letting them off her boat, accepting tips and tying it up for the evening.
Looking at her watch she sees that its just after six, she was to meet up with Cook at eight and they were meeting Effy and Emily shortly after. Just enough time to run home and get ready, figures that Emily wouldn't appreciate her smelling like a fish, though Naomi quite liked the smell of the ocean she was pretty sure Emily wouldn't feel the same. So she throws her keys to Josh, the poor sucker she got stuck working the night shift, though Naomi was sure no one would even come in other than a few drunk idiots needing to fill their boats up for a night of drunken debauchery on the water, to say she didn't envy Josh was an understatement. After sharing a few pleasantries with her boss and agreeing to pick up an extra surf lesson for the next afternoon she was on her way home.
She uses the back door as to avoid her mother or any of the other 20 strangers who could be frequenting her house at any given time. Runs straight to her bedroom, avoiding the naked guy in the hall listening to a Walkman, and locks the door. Fuck was she ever glad that she had her own bathroom sometimes. Letting the water run over her she sighs, grabbing blindly for body wash and praying that its industrial strength to wash away any last remnants of the truly shitty day she just had.
She thinks she must have lost track of time in the shower because when she's out and dried off its already 7:30 and she's rushing to finish getting ready before Cook shows up.
She's still in her robe staring at her outfit choices hopelessly when his bellowing voice fills the room.
"Oi lezzer open the door," Cook shouts.
And Naomi stares at the door a minute with a smile on her face before letting him in and eyeing him with amusement.
"Naoms babes you're fit and all but even you can't pull off the bath robe look." Cook says as he throws himself on her bed.
"James, you're "fit" and all," Naomi mocks his tone," but even you can't pull of using British slang with a completely American accent! Been spending a bit to much time with Effy methinks?"
"Fuck off," is Cook's reply," less talking and more getting dressed, and something hot because from what Ef tells me Ems is looking smoking."
"Fuck," Naomi sighs, riffling frantically through her closet for something, as if she wasn't on edge enough now she had to worry about what she was going to wear too? If this was what liking someone felt like she wasn't sure if she wanted to anymore.
"Naomi just take a breath and calm down will you," Cook insists, feeling anxious himself just from watching her fret.
"How can I calm down!" I haven't even picked out an outfit! I'm useless at this whole trying to impress her thing, I liked it better when I didn't give a shit!" Naomi pouts.
"Then don't give a shit then," Cook offers," She's playing with you Naomi, wants to see how hard you'll try but she told Ef that she likes you so I'm pretty sure it won't take too much effort."
Naomi feels the tension in her body begin to relax Cook's words. Even though she had a pretty good idea that Emily liked her it felt nice to have some reassurance, it gave her some small semblance of her confidence back.
"Okay, good," Naomi says finally, noticing Cook smiling at her new calm demeanor.
"Now there's the Naomi I know, the other neurotic one was starting to creep me out," Cook teases, grinning at the glare he receives for his efforts," Now If I can offer another piece of advice?" Cook waits for Naomi's nod," Just wear a pair of shorts and a tank top. It's simple and doesn't look like you were fretting over it but still looks good. Because Naomi, and I'll kill you if you repeat this to anyone, have very nice legs, might as well show them off yeah?"
Naomi raised her eyebrow in surprise at his declaration.
"Been perving on me this whole time haven't you," Naomi grinned.
"Don't pretend that you don't know how hot you are Naomi, you've been told a million times I'm sure,"
"Well maybe so, but never by you Perve!" Naomi continues to prod.
Cook gets off the bed and walks towards Naomi feigning a menacing stance.
"You know there's still time for me to sabotage this date," Cook threatens," I'm sure Emily would love to hear about Holly, or Jessica, or what was that random blonde girls name from that one time in the club, oh that's right you never got it!"
"You wouldn't dare," Naomi calls his bluff.
"Wouldn't I," Cook takes out his phone, his fingers hovering teasingly over the buttons seemingly ready to call up Emily at a moments notice.
Naomi holds her ground until Cook dials two numbers, grabs the phone out of his hand then and throws it on the bed.
"Fine," she concedes," I won't mention it again."
"Good," Cook grins," Now get dressed or we'll be late."
"Well get the fuck out then," Naomi looks at him expectantly, can't help but let one last tease escape after," as if I'm going to change in front of you now that I know you're harboring secret pervy feelings for me!"
"Whatever you love it," he says before turning and heading towards the door," hurry up lezzar," he shouts as he opens the door, disappears behind it before she has a chance to respond.
It doesn't take her long then, takes Cook's advice and pulls on a pair of black shorts and a white top, quickly pulls her hair into a messy braid on the side of her head and straightens out her bangs. Takes one last once over of her appearance in the mirror before grabbing her bag and leaving the room in search of Cook. Who she finds after a minute downstairs in the kitchen talking to "the messiah" or whatever the fuck he was asking to be called this week, Naomi narrows her eyes at Cook and tilts her head to the side towards the door, hoping that he would get the hint, which he eventually did.
"Is it just me or are the house guests getting stranger with time," Cook asks when they're out the door and finally walking towards the beach.
"Don't even get me started," Naomi replies with a laugh, honestly she had given up trying to understand her mothers inclination to take in any random person who came stumbling by her doorstep, figures she'll never understand so why bother trying.
Its then that she notices them, Effy and Emily standing on the outskirts of the crowd, obviously waiting for Cook before delving further into the crowd of strangers. Cook was right earlier Emily really did look fucking stunning, donning a short denim skirt and black top, hair straight and her fringe covering her forehead the way it had been that night at the carnival. Cook gives her shoulder a squeeze when he notices her staring. Naomi takes it as an act of comfort, as if he could just sense her nerves starting to creep up, so she looks at him and offers a sheepish grin and continues to follow him towards their destination. As soon as they get close enough for Emily to notice her presence she shoots Effy a look that doesn't go unnoticed by Naomi, she's just not quite she what to make of it at the moment. Simply stands in front of Emily when Cook takes his spot in front of Effy, and its awkward for a minute but she stays there regardless.
"So Emily you remember Naomi right?" Cook breaks the tension.
Emily looks from him to Effy and then back to him with an awkward smile on her face.
"Oh course how could I forget," Emily replies, glaring playfully at Effy out of the corner of her eye.
"Good now it's a fucking party so shall we," Cook gestures towards the group of people scattered along the beach.
"Yes," Effy replies, snaking her arm around Cooks waist and leading him towards the party, leaving Emily staring at Naomi expectantly for a minute. When Naomi doesn't say anything Emily sighs and starts off towards the party herself leaving Naomi standing along holding her hands over her eyes.
That was not how she wanted that to go, she was looking to be smooth to say something witty, heck she would have even settled for saying something stupid as long as something would have come out of her mouth.
"Fucking pull it together Campbell," Naomi sighs to herself and drags herself towards the party.
Its about an hour later when Naomi finds Emily again, she's sitting on some rocks staring aimlessly at the sky while Cook and Effy are making out on the rock next to her. Naomi feels quite bad for her actually, knows that the red head isn't the most sociable and now here she is not knowing any one but the two horny teenagers next to her and a girl who seems to lose the ability to speak when around her, she can't be having a very good time. Naomi decides to tell her nerves to fuck off at that point, walks to the keg and gets two beers, mixes a vodka cran and a rum and coke and carries them all, with great difficulty she finds, to Emily taking the open spot next to her.
"Drink?" Naomi offers smiling," They aren't drugged I swear," she adds when Emily seems reluctant.
Emily smiles then, and it makes Naomi's stomach flip in an irritating way but she kind of likes it, thinks it's the first time she's seen Emily smile all night.
"From what I hear you don't need to take such drastic measures to get some action," Emily blurts out, feeling slightly guilty about her outburst when Naomi's face drops.
"Look I just wanted to offer you a drink okay?" Naomi says, feeling irritated with Emily's inability to look beyond her past," You just looked like you weren't having a very good time but how about I leave you to it."
She gets up to leave but stops when she feels Emily's hand tugging on her own. Looks down and sees Emily looking up at her, brown eyes pleading her not to leave, and as if she could say no to that.
"No stay…please," Emily says softly," Honestly the last five minutes were the only ones of tonight that haven't been complete shit."
"Okay," Naomi concedes, sitting back down next to Emily.
It takes her a minute to notice that their hands are still intertwined, and for once in her life she doesn't feel the intense desire to flee. Emily must notice her staring because she quickly retracts her hand and intertwines it in her own and places them on her lap.
"Sorry," Emily says.
"Its okay," Naomi assures her, loves the adorable red color that takes over Emily's face," So how about that drink?"
"Well what do you have?" Emily asks.
Naomi picks up each of the drinks that she had laid on the rock next to her and offers each one to Emily, smiling when Emily takes the vodka cran. It was the one she had figured Emily would go for.
"Christ did you bring the whole bar," Emily laughs as she accepts her cup.
"Well I didn't know what you were drinking, figured you would like some options," Naomi replies, and Emily smiles at her again, that same smile that made her melt earlier.
"You're actually quite sweet aren't you Naomi?" Emily takes a sip of her drink, watches as Naomi sips her beer slowly and eyes her curiously, eyes dancing with amusement.
"As opposed to what, the heartless Kracken that you were making me out to be?" Naomi says.
"Yeah sorry about that," Emily's eyes soften and Naomi can't help but believe her," I was just hearing lots of things and it had me turned around you know?"
Naomi nods, understands completely with the way this town works, surely Emily had been warned from several sources of her escapades. But it was nice to know that Emily was now seeing something different underneath it all, or maybe it was always there and Emily was the first one Naomi actually wanted to see it.
"Its alright, I know this town talks," Naomi points out," I don't blame you for thinking the worst of me."
Emily shakes her head and brings her eyes up to meet Naomi's in an intense gaze, feels to Naomi somewhat reminiscent of Effy's steely gaze for a moment, the one where it feels as if the other person is seeing right into her soul.
"You aren't what they say you are," Emily says with conviction
Naomi smiles awkwardly, looking at Emily somewhat in disbelief. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, when a person gets called something enough its just natural to give in and start to believe it yourself; it's not easy to break a stereotype. Naomi decides to be bold, reaches out and grasps Emily's hand in her own again, waits for Emily to flinch or pull her hand away but it doesn't come. Instead she feels Emily squeeze back, twining their fingers together and smiling shyly at her.
They spend the next couple hours taking about everything under the sun, Cook and Effy, favorite music, books and movies, the superficial parts of life that end up building a person into who they are. By the time Naomi starts giving Emily who's who of the people at the party they notice that Cook and Effy have disappeared from the rock they were just frequenting.
"We should probably go look for them, Effy's my ride home," Emily says, standing up and reluctantly letting go of Naomi's hand.
"Sure," Naomi agrees, can't believe that they had gotten so caught up in conversation that they hadn't noticed Cook and Effy leaving," Lets go."
They find Cook and Effy sitting in what Naomi presumed to be Effy's car, still kissing, Effy almost over into Cook's seat. Naomi clears her throat, smirks when the two of them pull apart instantly looking at her and Emily. Naomi leans towards Emily's ear, whispers low enough for Cook and Effy not to hear.
"Do you wanna walk with me? I'd like to show you something."
Emily smiles and nods murmuring a "sure" back in Naomi's ear.
"We're going to walk," Naomi directs her attention back to Cook and Effy, ignores the smirks they bother were casting in her direction.
"Okay Ems, I won't wait up," Effy smirks
"Have fun," Cook bellows as they drive away
Naomi runs her hand over the back of her neck, sneaking a sideways glance at Emily who's blushing again but smiling all the same.
"Not the most subtle are they?" Emily laughs eyes meeting Naomi's once again.
"Not at all," Naomi agrees," But to be fair they are the ones who tipped me off that you'd be here tonight, so I guess I have them to thank."
"You wouldn't have come otherwise?" Emily asks, suddenly curious because the Naomi she thought she knew was one who would never turn down a party.
"Probably not, this isn't really my scene," Naomi admits
"Well I guess I should thank Cook and Effy then because otherwise I would have been sitting around waiting for you to show up and the night really would have been utter shit," Emily says eyes burning into Naomi's," Now didn't you want to show me something?"
Fuck yes Naomi thinks, she wants to show Emily lots of things, maybe more than she'd ever shown anyone before, even Cook. Settles for taking her hand again and leading her towards the docks, figures that showing her this was a good way to start. Loving that every couple minutes if she looks over she can catch Emily looking back at her in wonder, quickly reverting her eyes when she notices Naomi has caught her.
"You're not going to kill me are you?" Emily grins playfully, squeezing Naomi's hand slightly as they approach the docks.
"Ah see now you've ruined it Em, it was supposed to be a surprise," Naomi jokes, raising her eyebrow and fixing Emily with a gaze. But Emily is to focused on the fact that Naomi has just called her Em.
She had never been a fan of the shortened form of her name, figures her mum gave have a full name for a reason. In fact the only two people who had ever gotten away with calling her Em were Effy and Katie, and only because they just wouldn't not call her it. But now hearing Naomi say it, it suddenly didn't sound so bad, sounded pretty fucking lovely actually. She must have been casting an odd look because before she knows it Naomi stops and looks at her, eyes laced with worry, looking like she's about to apologize.
"Em?" Naomi says, and there it is again the nickname falling gracefully off Naomi's tongue, and Emily thinks that nothing has sounded more right.
"Its nothing," Emily assures but continues when Naomi doesn't look convinced," It's just, you called me Em."
Naomi panics for a minute, eyes widening. Truth was she hardly even realized she wasn't using Emily's full name, the nickname just flowed naturally off her tongue. But maybe Emily didn't like to be called that, Naomi didn't ask after all.
"Shit Em…shit, I mean Emily! Sorry do you not like to be called that?" Naomi rambles.
Emily can't help but smile at the state she has worked Naomi into, clearly panicked, trying desperately to fix things.
"No its nothing like that, it just sounded nice is all," Emily blushes when Naomi smirks at her," You know coming from you."
Naomi releases the breath she had no idea she had been holding, she was so sure she had ruined it that time, but someone must have felt like throwing her a bone on this one. Or maybe it was that she was slowly feeling less and less nervous around Emily now, the more time she spends with her the more she realizes that this little red head is nothing to be scared of after all.
"Well then…Em," Naomi punctuates the name clearly much to Emily's delight," This is my boat," Naomi points out in front of her," Well not mine I guess but it's the one I drive at work," Naomi explains.
Emily's eyes it, she's never really been a fan of anything that floats, has a slight fear of drowning ever since an incident at the lake back home. But Naomi was now standing on the boat and holding her hand out to help Emily on.
"We're not going to take it out," Naomi says sensing Emily's hesitation.
"Okay," Emily says after taking a deep breath," I just have some issues with water," She continues but takes Naomi's hand anyways, trying to calm the shaking of her own.
"I've got you," Naomi says seriously, blue eyes reflecting sincerity back at Emily," I'm a life guard Em, nothing will happen to you I promise."
So Emily takes the leap forward (which in reality is more like a small step down onto the boat, but it feels like so much more in the moment) and before she knows it she's standing on solid ground again, and with Naomi being on a glorified floatation device doesn't seem as terrifying. She's not sure what it is about the taller girl that makes her feels safe, knows it could be the obvious, that Naomi can clearly swim as she basically lives on the water. but Emily feels like its more than that, like some how she could face all her fears with Naomi by her side.
Naomi beckons her up to the front of the boat where she spreads out a blanket and pats the space next to her for Emily to lie down. Reaches her hand up automatically as if she knew Emily would need steadying. And when Emily lays down beside her and looks up at the stars she thinks how about how peaceful it all really is, the gentle rocking of the boat, the stars and the comforting presence of Naomi's arm touching hers.
"This is what you love isn't it?" Emily finally breaks the silence," Being on the water."
Naomi smiles and lolls her head to the side to nod at Emily.
"My dad used to take me out on the water, swimming, floating just like this, just whatever, I can't remember a time when I was happier then when I was on the water with him," Naomi says.
Emily smiles, pictures a little blonde haired wide eye'd Naomi jumping around in the water with her dad.
"Used to? Why did you stop?" Emily asks, curiosity creeping up inside her, driving her to learn as much as she could about Naomi.
Naomi shuts her eyes at Emily's question, it was inevitable that it would come up, it was part of her and getting close to Emily meant showing her everything. It was difficult though, her dad had always been a touchy subject, on that even Cook would usually not touch. Emily noticed the atmosphere change, felt Naomi tense beside her and began silently cursing herself for ruining a damn near perfect moment by bringing up something obviously painful.
"You don't have to tell me," Emily says softly, the last thing she wants is Naomi to go running back scared into her shell.
She considers it for a moment, considers not telling Emily, keeping everything buried and locked up. but something makes her decide against it, figures that so far with Emily she's been doing the opposite of her instincts and it's worked quite well.
"No its okay," Naomi says, watches as Emily props herself up on one elbow to look at her properly," My dad, well the way I remember him to be from when I was little was a great man, very loving. He used to own this marina actually, me him and my mom would spend our weekends here on the beach, he taught me how to surf and everything."
Emily nodded at her to continue.
"My uncle passed away when I was nine and that was when it all turned to shit. My dad and him were close, like pretty much best friends. And thats when we saw a change in him, you know drinking, affairs, drugs, gambling, pretty much any self destructive activity he could get his hands on. Eventually he lost the marina to his gambling debts, left me and mom with nothing. Sad thing was at my 10th birthday I still wanted him to come, we had this tradition where we would pack a lunch and take the boat out on my birthdays, and despite everything I was excited at the thought of that day. He showed up 2 hours late, drunk out of his mind, shouting at my mom, and then he fucking hit her," Naomi's fist clenched at the memory until she felt Emily's cover her own, an attempt to be comforting, which Naomi appreciated. Allowing the feeling of Emily's thumb brushing over the back of her hand to soothe her," The cops came, took him away and he disappeared for a couple years. Heard from him when I was 12, he sent my mom divorce papers, apparently he'd cleaned up and met someone new and they wanted to get married. Last I heard he was living up the coast with 2 new kids, he doesn't even call."
To say Emily was appalled would have been an understatement. Her family had its flaws like any other but she had been nothing but loved her entire life. Couldn't imagine how hard Naomi's childhood must have been, makes a mental note to hug her dad when she sees him next.
"I don't know what to say," Emily says honestly, looking down at Naomi with sympathetic eyes.
"You don't have to say anything," Naomi assures her," I'm fine now," She smiles up at the red head," I've never told anyone that whole story before."
Emily's eyes widen at this, feels completely special knowing that Naomi trusted her with that. No one in her life had ever made her feel like Naomi was right now.
"Not even Cook?" Naomi shakes her head," Why me?"
"I honestly can't answer that," Naomi shrugs," You make me feel safe I guess, there's just something about you."
Emily feels tears welling in her eyes, takes a breath to stop them from spilling over. Doesn't need to ask Naomi to elaborate because she understands completely what the blonde is getting at because Emily feels the same way.
"I know the feeling," Emily admits smiling shyly at Naomi," I wouldn't be caught dead on this boat otherwise."
"What's your problem with water?" Naomi asks," You looked terrified when I asked you on."
She figures she owes Naomi complete honesty after the girl had just bared her soul like she had.
"There's this lake near my house back in Bristol that my dad used to take me and Katie to when we were younger," Emily starts," Katie's my sister, my twin actually."
Naomi's eyebrows shoot up, which Emily doesn't miss, she slaps Naomi playfully on the arm.
"You had better not be thinking pervy thoughts right now," Emily says," Because one Katie's straight, and two that's incest!"
Naomi laughs, tugs Emily's hand closer so its laying flat on her stomach, palm up. Starts drawing random shapes on it causing Emily to lose her train of though for a minute.
"Just amazed that there's two of you is all," Naomi says
"We aren't the same believe me," Emily clears up," Anyways long story short we went to the lake and Katie being the brave one just jumped right in but I was scared. She eventually got tired of playing alone and got out to try and convince me to go in but I wouldn't. When my dad wasn't looking she shoved me in, but I lost my footing and smacked my head on a rock before falling in. All I remember is waking up on the side, my dad and Katie hovering over me looking terrified. And ever since I've had a slight water phobia, I never learned to swim because of it which really just furthers the fear because if I ever did end up in water I wouldn't be able to save myself."
"I'll teach you to swim if you want?" Naomi offers once Emily is finished.
"Maybe one day," Emily concedes, closes her eyes and enjoys the feeling of Naomi's fingers trailing along her hand and up her forearm.
"So why are you here for the summer without Katie?" Naomi asks, wonders why she hasn't asked Emily why they were here before, seems like the most obvious question of all.
"We're looking at American schools, it's mom and dad's dream for me to go to an ivy league university," Emily explains," Katie's getting married in the fall to football player, that was her dream so she's stayed back home to set everything up. She works for my mum at the wedding planning business "Getting Fitched", yes I know lame name you don't need to point it out."
Naomi sits up and crosses her legs, turning to face Emily, still holding her hand in her lap. Wants to be able to see her face when she asks the next question.
"So what's your dream then?" she says
"I just told you," Emily laughs," We're here looking at schools remember?"
"No you said it was your parents dream," Naomi points out," How come Katie gets her own dream but you follow what your parents set for you?"
Sitting up and facing Naomi Emily squints, tries to come up with some logical explanation for the question but can't think of one. Its just how its always been, Katie was the free spirit and Emily was the book worm, the one that was going to follow the path set out for her and would never dare stray off of it. It was one of the main reasons why she down played her sexuality from them, knowing it wouldn't fit into the life they had planned out for her. They knew she was gay Emily was sure, but were living in complete denial at the moment.
"I don't know," Emily says finally
"Well what do you do for fun? What do you love?" Naomi pushes.
All that comes to mind at first are things her parents had pushed her into over the years, piano lessons, extra courses, tennis, all things that she hadn't particularly enjoyed at all, just did because she saw them as a necessity. There was one thing Emily thinks, a hobby she kept hidden away from everyone other than Effy.
"I paint," Emily declares," I love to paint."
"See that's what I'm talking about," Naomi smiles," You have a dream of your own, don't let everyone else's over shadow that."
Emily looks at her, like properly looks at her for the first time that night. Takes in the way Naomi's eye's seem to twinkle in the light, the way the moonlight highlights the hue of her hair, the gentle smile that's gracing her features at the moment.
"You're rather fucking lovely aren't you," Emily blurts out and Naomi's taken aback, no one's ever said anything even close to that about her before.
"Depends on who you ask," Naomi tries to joke but Emily isn't having it, isn't going to let Naomi's inability to accept a compliment to ruin the moment.
"I'm saying it," Emily replies strongly.
Naomi's the first one to lean in, somewhat hesitantly at first because quite frankly she's fucking nervous again and she wants to make complete sure this is what Emily wants. Feels her confidence grow when Emily licks her lips before leaning in as well and meeting Naomi somewhere in the middle.
And of all the kisses Naomi had experience in her life, and there had been a lot, she had never had one that had even come close to this one. It was soft and gentle and dare she say loving, the type of kiss she hadn't allowed herself to have with anyone else before. Emily's lips were slowly gliding over her own, her hand making its way up to rest on the back of Naomi's neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Naomi opens her mouth more and presses forward into Emily a little harder, feels Emily respond by tightening her hold on her neck and allowing her tongue to massage against Naomi's.
And just like that it's over, and Emily's resting her forehead against Naomi's still and they're both breathing heavily and it's the most intense thing Naomi has ever experienced in her life. Emily pulls her back down so they're lying down again, feels the smaller girl curl herself slightly as if to meld herself into Naomi's form. And Naomi finds her arm wrapping itself around Emily on its own accord, pulling her closer.
And Naomi never expected it to be so nice, just lying with someone, just being close to someone. Its so different than what she's used to, the desperate urge to flee is not present, she just feels content. Thinks she likes this much better, thinks she could really get used to it.