A/N: Again sorry for the late update and thanks for all those who reviewed the last one. I actually don't know as of now on where I really want to bring this story, having a bit of a block here. But I think I have a few so just want to start first with this chapter.

Disclaimer: Don't own Skins.

Chapter 12

"Fuck sakes there she goes again..", Katie grumbled walking heavily back to the bar where Emily is busy flirting with her date.

"Can you fucking stop sucking on her face first and look at me?", Katie snarled glaring at Emily's back. She is quite annoyed that Emily did not even give her a glance.

Emily gave a sigh and stop teasing her dates neck. She look at her date eyes and see that she is irritated by the interruption as well, making Emily smirk, thinking, "yup this one is mine tonight".

"Emily!"

Emily rolled her eyes and twisted around to look at her sister.

"What?!"

"Are you not even listening to what I am saying here?"

"I heard ok? And first of all, I am NOT sucking on her face", pointing at the girl who obviously looks frustrated now that the interruption looks like it will not end anytime soon. "Second, what the hell is your problem anyway? If its a guy you can't twirl around your lil fingers then just accept it, not all the time, you'll have them begging for you, you know?"

"First, I would have gotten the guy I want if she had not interrupted, TWICE!"..

"Then, there is someone better out there in flirting with guys than you, big deal, get over it"

"Don't you even want to know who I am referring to?"

"I don't need to know.. Knowing you it would be some random bloke here." Emily felt her date started kissing her neck and rubbing her hands up and down Emily's arms, turning her on all the more. "Now If you'll excuse me I am busy ok?". She turn her back to Katie and kissed her date hard.

"ugh! The girl Emily. I am talking about the girl". When Katie saw that Emily has no intentions anymore in helping her in anyway, she blurted.. "Fuck sake it's Naomi ok?! Ugh! Fine! I'll go then". Katie was about to walk away when she felt Emily's hands on her arms.

"What?!"

Katie paused and turn back to look at her sister raising one of her eyebrows at the same time.

"Katie.. who did you say?", Emily repeated looking at her sister sharply.

"Never thought that I only have to mention her name then to get your attention eh?"

"Katie.. what were saying about Naomi?", Emily asked slower scanning her eyes at the same time at the crowd near them. Emily was pretty sure that Naomi is not here, she has looked for her first when she arrived. She heard from Effy that Naomi is getting trashed more lately and she doesn't like the sound of it. She know she meant it when she said she still cares for Naomi and she can't help but be guilty that she might be one of the reasons for the girl's actions lately.

Katie smirked and then released an exasperated sigh.. "She is in there.." pointing to somewhere near the dance floor but Emily can't see sign of Naomi's peroxide blonde hair from all the people jumping around.

"And she is practically like throwing her self at men.. Ugh.. I know she is a bitch back then but never thought that she can be quite a whore.. Thought she kind of mellowed already.."

"What do you mean throw herself at men", Emily interrupted, a sudden twinge of something she can't pinpoint tugged at her chest upon hearing what Katie said.

"Well she is flirting like crazy.. Imagine all the flirt moves rolled into one and I mean down and dirty moves ok? And the thing is she look quite high on something and since you said you both are supposed to be friends, then I thought you should know, she gives girls here a bad name." Emily would have rolled her eyes at the last comment that Katie made, but her thoughts are too preoccupied with finding Naomi that she even forgot about her date not until she felt someone preventing her from walking off to the direction that Katie pointed to.

She looked back and see the flash of anger in.. Fuck, she forgot her name...

"What the fuck, are you just gonna live me here for some stupid chick?"

Emily knows that she should feel guilty leaving her just like that but felt herself getting annoyed instead at the comment that the girl made.

She cant help but squint her eyes at her when she replied.. "First, you're right that I will JUST have leave you like that.. And second? That chick.. Is not JUST a chick, she's a woman who happens to be dear to me.. Third? She is nowhere near stupid.. not even close, got it?" And then she turned around walking fast with a purpose, her heart hammering as she desperately tried looking for that blonde hair she knew so well.

"Come on Naomi.. Why are you fucking doing to yourself?", Emily whispered anxiously when after a few minutes she still was not able to get a glimpse of her. She sees Effy at the bar though and she quickly walk over, pushing through sweaty bodies that seems to be tangled in the dance floor.

Effy sees her approaching and gave her a raised eyebrow and a slight smile.

"Did you see Naomi?", Emily immediately asked when she reached Effy.

She gave Emily a knowing smile before saying, "Yes.. she asked me for a few pills earlier.."

"Fuck it Eff, I thought you knew what she has been doing lately, why still give her more pills?"

"Hey Relax ok? I tried telling her but she just would not back down. And since I am not her mother, who I am to tell her otherwise.."

"I'm sorry.. It's just that.. ".. Emily shakes her head not knowing what to say.. "What did you gave her?"

"Top notch MDMA..", Effy replied with an apologetic look.

"Fuck sake.. I need to find her.. Did you see her lately?"

"Uhm.. I think I saw her a few minutes ago went out the back door with some guy? I am not sure though.."

Emily was already on her way before Effy even finishes her sentence. She roughly pushed the back door open and look both sides hoping that she is not too late. Too late for what, she does not know, but all she knows is she does not like what is happening one bit.

She was about to turn to her right when she heard someone cursing at the alley on the left side and instantly change route and half walk half jog towards the corner. Just as she was about to turn she heard a guy grunt, "Yeah babe.." and he grunted again.. "Feels gooood.."..

Emily halted her steps abruptly just before turning and pushed her back to the wall and slowly peered towards the two figures that seems to be having sex or about to from the looks of it huddled not far from the corner. She then heard the guy suddenly shouted. "Why the fuck are you crying bitch?.."

"I said Stop.." Emily knows the voice. It might sound a little broken and slurred but fuck it she knows it. Emily looked at the guy more clearly weighing her options. The guy is huge and she knows that he can easily knock her out with just a slap, but she does not have time to go back and call for reinforcements, she just have to do this alone, and hope that she can intimidate him without him having to hurt her.

The guy did not listen instead continued caressing her roughly.. "I said fucking stop for a while ok?", Naomi hissed a lil bit stronger now. Emily looked around trying to look for something to defend her just in case.

"What the fuck is your problem.. you drag me all her to fuck and then you stop"..

"I am not stopping.. I just.. Just give me a while to breath?"

"What am I? Your boyfriend? I don't need this stupid excuse bitch.." and with that he roughly pull Naomi up and hitch her legs up clearly intent on roughly taking Naomi.

"Get the fuck off her you stupid wanker!", Emily shouted so loud and fierce that it will be quite a shock knowing that the shout belongs to someone as small as her.

The guy startled drop Naomi and looked at Emily but then started to smile when he sees her. Emily continued her eyes glaring as she took a step forward. "What? You think I am scared of you?"

"No.. what I think is what a little girl like you threatening someone like me.. ALONE", the guy sneered.

"Do you think I am stupid?! I already asked one of my friend to go back and call some more people to help..", Emily spat convincingly as the guy started to look panic and immediately release his last grip on Naomi and backed up.

"I didn't do nothing to your friend that she did not suggested ok? She was the one who drag me here.. " he desperately tried to explain still looking at the corner where Emily just appeared afraid that people will be coming and with that he turned around and ran past the alley to escape.

Emily looked at Naomi and throw the steel that she was clutching before walking briskly to where Naomi still half stands, her back against the wall preventing her from fully dropping. She took hold of Naomi's arms and pull her up, brushing the few wet strands that falls on her face, she looked into Naomi's eyes and whispered.. "Despite's the obvious, are you ok?", putting in a light smile while she asked this.

Naomi turns to look Emily in the eyes before closing them shut as tears threatens to fall, she turned her head sideways in order for Emily not see her tears. And it breaks Emily's heart to see Naomi like this. She knows for a fact that the sudden urge of bravery despite the obvious danger to her, the desire to keep her safe dropping everything that she is doing just to do that, the warmth that she feels knowing that she can still put a smile into Naomi lips, all those just means that she still really cares about Naomi.

She hugged her tighter and said.. "Naomi.. please.. why are you doing this to yourself?" Only to feel Naomi stiffen by her actions or maybe on what she said. She squirmed away from Emily's arms and look at Emily angrily..

"You are asking me why?!"

Ok, Emily thought maybe she should not have asked why because she has a pretty clear idea on why

"Naomi.." Emily tentatively started, her eyes sad.

Standing up suddenly, Naomi spat, "Forget it I was just having fun ok? You shouldn't have ruined it "

"Ruined? The fuck Naomi, the guy almost raped you and you are telling me that I ruined it?! I just saved your fucking ass!" , Emily glared back suddenly irritated about the way that Naomi pushed her back and towered over her.

"So? What do you want me to do huh? Give you praise? Say bravo?" . Naomi knew that Emily is right but she is not what she need right now. Seeing her while she had made that stupid mistake just makes her feel more like a fucking loser and she wish Emily would just drop it. She saw Emily surprised at what she was saying and she knew she is on the right track. She would rather see Emily like that instead of looking at her feeling sorry and having pity.

"What the fuck is YOUR problem?!" Emily raising her voice all the more thinking 'Why Naomi is being fucking difficult on this where in fact she should be thankful to her right?'

Naomi was just about to blurt back a reply when decided to stop it because truth is she is exhausted. She shrugged her shoulder and whirled around right after saying a sarcastic "Whatever" .

Emily unbelievably gaped at Naomi s back wondering what the hell went wrong for Naomi to act like that after her helping her on the situation. But as Naomi turned from the corner and disappeared from view, it all dawn into her that Naomi is not really great in handling vulnerable situation since then and concluded that this might be her way of covering it up. She immediately felt guilty because she of all people should know that so before she knew it she was sprinting back to the club to look for her.


******************

Naomi was just about to grab her things and go when she felt hands gripping one of her upper arms.

"Naomi.." Emily said her voice somehow pleading.

Naomi stilled. Not wanting to look back knowing full well that she might break in front of Emily again, a scene she did not want to repeat.

"Naomi I m sorry.. I.. I did not mean to yell.. "

Seeing that Naomi has no intention of acknowledging her apology, Emily sighed in defeat. "Naomi please? I- "

"Why do you even bother Ems?" Naomi interrupted still not looking at her.

"Because I care Naomi. A lot might have changed between us.. But I still do care.. I will always be here Naomi.. always.. please don't do this to yourself.."

Naomi closed her eyes trying to distract herself so as not for her to cry. The club has a lot of noise but surprisingly they seem to hear each other clearly. To break the tension, Naomi focused herself to what Emily just said and forced herself to chuckle lightly.

"Don't do what? Have fun? Honestly I was just having fun Emily. Just like old times.. "

Emily looked at Naomi s back. She still has not turned around to face her and she so desperately want to look into Naomi s face so that she will know if she is lying or not.

"But even then you don't let yourself get wasted and reckless like this "

"It been almost 2 years since we last seen each other Emily, what made you say that? For all you know I am even worse during my last year in college."

"Naomi please look at me?... Please? "

Naomi took a deep breath and turned. "Happy? "

Emily slightly smiled looking at Naomi s eyes. "Better "

"I was just having fun ok?" Emily search Naomi s face but Naomi quickly looked down and Emily knew that what she said is not exactly the truth but decided to drop the matter for now.

"Ok if you said so.. But please.. be careful next time ok? I wont be able to stand it if you ll get hurt"

Why the fuck does she have to care Naomi thought but decided to not blurt out what she just thought and instead rolled her eyes and said "Just like what they always say, sometimes shit happens and tonight was just one of those nights.. But yeah, I will be careful next time ok? I got to go "

"Are you sure? "

"Yeah I think I have a fucking headache "

"I can bring you home.. "

"I am not a baby Ems.. I can easily go home fine.." Naomi insisted actually not trusting herself to be alone with Emily again. So with a nod and then a wave to Effy and the rest of the guys, she picked up her things and turned around.

"Wait!"

"What?" Naomi looking back.

Emily smiled, her genuine smile that never fails to make Naomi s heart flutter.

"Friends?" Emily asked extending her hand for a hand shake.

Naomi look down at Emily s stretch hands and back at Emily's face. Will she now accept that this is what they will all become to be? Only as friends? But then looking deep into Emily ' brown eyes she sighed and raised her hand to shake Emily's and mutter a low "Yeah.. friends" , before smiling timidly at Emily and dropping her hand immediately.

"I really got to go.. Bye" and with that Naomi turned around thinking that its better friends than no Emily at all, at least for the early part until she get used to the idea of them not being "us" .