Title: Love Accidentally - Chapter 40
Author: kreia03
Rating: M
Warnings: Swear words.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and I hate that fact. Seriously.
Summary: Emily never wanted to hate Effy, but she was making it hard for her.
A/N: Next chapter. Thanks for all the comments! They're all major boosts!
It was all silent until then, deafening almost, if not for the constant ticking of the clock being the only thing Emily could hear, the maddening tick-tocks ensuing into an explosion inside her head, like a bomb detonating in time just as Effy spoke the words, its razor-sharp shards blown up alongside it, all bits and pieces aimed at her, destined to hurt her in someway, scar her even.
She stared at Effy with a look equally torn between apprehension and shock, pain being somewhat mixed with it, twitching and wincing under Effy's scrutinizing gaze as much as she tried not to; and she had to grip the arm rest tight to stop herself from completely cowering, because Effy was looking at her with such intensity that it wasn't plain intimidating anymore but was rather unsettling in the worst possible way, as if Effy was reading past through her reactions and resolve, smirking at every evidence of her discomfort. She watched as Effy crossed her legs and folded her arms over her chest, in a rather defiant manner, while Effy's gaze settled at her, eyes totally unmoving that if Emily didn't know for a fact that it was never possible, she would have thought Effy wasn't even blinking.
She swallowed hard and shut her eyes for about half a beat, being that it was the only thing she supposed she could do at the moment to stop her from losing her nerves completely, and she began to think of what Katie would say if she was here, as much as she hated herself at the same time for it, for being the weak hearted that she was. As her lids met, the image of Katie flashed before her closed eyes, lips curled up tightly on the side and a brow arched up high, hissing "What's it to you?" so harshly that Emily thought for a moment Katie's lisps wouldn't be able to handle it.
She batted her eyes open quickly, before her new found yet temporary courage could even run out, balled her free hand into a tight fist though she didn't say the exact same words that Katie did, spoke it in a less harsh way even. "Why would you like to know?"
For a second, Effy looked like she was actually going to laugh, but stayed the same nonetheless, the same smirk inhabiting her lips and Emily had suddenly developed a strong urge to wipe it off of Effy's face permanently, replace it with an expression less vile and less intense, less unnerving.
"Naomi's my friend." Effy replied matter-of-factly. "I ought to know."
"Don't you think if Naomi wanted you to know, she would have told you herself?" Emily answered back, tone now almost Katie-like, just lower and minus the lisps, and she wondered for a little while if her sister had managed to rub in on her within that span of time they had spent together. Or maybe she had it in her all along, given that they were twins after all, only, she never brought this side of her out since Katie was already doing it for her, for them both.
"She would have." Effy shrugged, looking interested and fascinated by something all of a sudden, in which Emily didn't take as a good sign. "Unless--" She broke off, purposely, smirking while she left her words hanging in the air.
"Unless what?" Emily followed, almost too quickly, flinching subtly as she noticed how shifty she might have seemed like.
"Unless, I'm one of the reasons."
Emily stayed still on her seat, freezing altogether as she watched Effy's face slowly turn into something deeply akin to self-satisfaction, Effy's smirk growing wider while her own lips pressed dangerously close together, biting the insides in the process, her teeth leaving deep dents as they sunk against the thin, delicate skin. She was arguing with herself to whether or not tell Effy the truth, save her the effort of lying, and she nearly said 'yes' to the thought of it if not for Katie's words suddenly ringing in her ears, out of nowhere, thankfully.
"Ems, you've got to keep in mind that Naomi's yours, at least for now. You can make things last longer that you want them to be."
She found herself squaring her shoulders instead, straightening on her seat because somewhere along the conversation, she had figured out that this was what Effy was exactly aiming for, less words, more mind games. "What do you really want?"
Effy snorted a scoff. "The truth obviously."
"What for?" Emily retaliated, fingers curling and uncurling into fists.
"Because I know it's about me yeah?" Effy unfolded her arms and leaned a little bit forwards, and Emily had a sudden inkling to pull back. "I know it's about me, I just need to hear it."
A miffed grunt, though a bit shaky, escaped from Emily's lips as she eyed Effy with pure incredulity. "What makes you so sure?"
"We've been friends since forever Emily." Effy answered, Emily's name rolling out of her tongue edgily, biting. "I know her more than you think I do."
"If you know her enough, you wouldn't do stupid things to her." Emily blurted out through gritted teeth, the words barely making it out in whole. She could feel herself shaking, but couldn't really point out the reason why because there were just too many floating inside her head. "You'd call her if you need her and drop her if you don't. Although you know that it's hurting her somehow." She glided her hand up the arm rest and held onto it tight as she could feel herself getting in the edge of her seat, almost at the point of launching herself to throttle Effy. "You embarrassed her in front of a whole crowd of reporters. How could you even do that?"
It caught Effy entirely off guard, Emily's sudden outburst that was, and her face faltered a little but all too quickly, the stoic, cold expression already back up even before Emily could take notice. "So it's really about me then." She concluded with another smirk, continuing at once when she saw the confused and somewhat defeated look at Emily's face. "The contract was made because of me."
Emily screwed her eyes shut as she stayed hushed for a moment, completely aware of Effy's lingering gaze because she could feel it boring through her skin, the weight of Effy's stares sinking in. She exhaled a resigned sigh and bit her lip hard, because by the looks of it, she was at the brink of losing this fucking mind game Effy was playing. "What do you really want from her Effy?" She asked, her voice cracking though she was struggling hard to make it sound even.
Effy took in the silence that came after, tipping her head up while she inhaled a deep breath. "She's mine." She dragged her eyes down, the seriousness in her eyes unmistakable that Emily nearly trembled with fear, not because she was afraid of Effy, but because she knew that with those eyes, she could lose Naomi in one single snap of Effy's fingers.
"She was never yours to begin with." Emily retorted, hissing back so vehemently that it surprised her entirely, as if it was a new Emily who was speaking, an unknown side of hers brought out only at much needed moments.
"And neither yours."
Emily never wanted to hate Effy, but she was making it hard for her.
She fidgeted subtly in her seat, Effy's words hitting her with a hard blow, and she could almost feel the pain physically, the sting and the sharpness of the words thrown grating her skin. "You pushed her away Effy." She swallowed hard, tried not to flinch under Effy's disconcerting gaze. "You pushed her away from you and now you want her again? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?" She wanted to shout, to scream at Effy for being so selfish. She had a lot of things in mind, so many things to say that she didn't even know where to actually start, and she ended up with a low growl instead.
Effy did nothing but stare at Emily, smirking like she was watching a fucking comedy show rather than an angry red head fighting to keep her temper within her hold, and it only infuriated Emily further more.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Nothing." Effy tilted her head to the side; smiled or rather sneered, almost mockingly.
Emily's forehead furrowed deeply into a crease. "What?"
"I don't have to say anything." Effy paused, and that particular glint that flashed through her eyes nearly made Emily swoon over her seat, because she could feel it in her skin, searing, smoldering. "Except, I'm going to get her back."
***
It was the muffled sound of Naomi's little coughs that broke Emily from her streaming thoughts. Effy had been long gone while she stayed rooted in place, on the couch down at the living room, her face a mixture of a hundred different emotions changing from time to time. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry or be ultimately pissed off that she ended up burying her face in her palms instead, scrunching it all together until it almost hurt, her weary breaths passing through the space between her fingers as she blew them out noisily.
Amidst the fit of coughs and sneezes overheard, Emily took a minute or two to pull herself together, heaved herself up and pushed all her thoughts at the back of her mind, deciding to deal with it in a much better time than now. As she absentmindedly walked straight to the kitchen to retrieve a basin and a towel, she spotted the chicken soup she had planned to cook by the kitchen counter, never making it to the stove. She opted to save it for later then, when she was sure that Naomi was comfortable enough and had gotten a good rest. She moved towards the tap and half-filled the basin with water, tossed the towel in it before treading up to Naomi's room, which eventually turned into their room these past few weeks, and she couldn't help the smile that broke forth her lips at the thought, fueling her resolve to keep Naomi by her side at the same time.
She stopped by the front door and twisted the handle, pushing it open with her foot since she was holding the basin with both of her hands, and she nearly legged the distance between her and Naomi upon seeing her shivering under the thick blanket she had covered her with. She gently placed the basin down on top of the nightstand and sat at the edge of the bed, hand reaching out to brush Naomi's fringe away that was falling along her eyes because she was lying on her side. "Hey." She softly greeted when Naomi opened her heavy lidded eyes. "I'm going to give you a sponge bath. That okay?"
"I don't want to." Naomi answered sleepily, in a rather raspy voice, and Emily had to fight the urge to giggle because it was said in an almost childlike tone, with a matching pout, she took note.
"But it'll make you feel better." Emily replied with a soft smile, letting her palm slide down to Naomi's exposed, feverish cheek, stroking it with the pad of her thumb in the most soothing way that she could. "Come on Nai."
"No." Naomi spoke sternly that if she was feeling well, there would probably be a roll of eyes accompanying it. She shifted and laid flat on her back, taking Emily's hand with hers under the blanket wordlessly, their fingers laced together.
"Naomi." Emily called out; tugged the blonde's hand while eyeing her with a reproachful look. "Come on now."
"I'm too tired to move."
"It's gonna make you feel better."
"What if I don't feel better?"
A hoarse laugh echoed from deep within Emily's throat. "You're so stubborn."
Naomi rolled onto her side again and scooted near Emily, the covers rustling as she moved and wrestled with it for a moment, resting her forehead against Emily's folded knee afterwards. "I just wanna sleep Em."
"I know." Emily lifted her free hand; ran her fingers through Naomi's hair. "But you'll get a much better sleep if you clean up first."
"No."
"Alright, fine." She huffed out, rolling her eyes. "But I'll fix you some chicken soup yeah?"
Naomi dragged her eyes up and let out a throaty groan. "I'm not hungry."
"Nai-Nai." Emily breathed out exasperatedly, glaring at Naomi in the process. "Stop being so stubborn."
"I've got a sore throat." Naomi feigned a cough, which turned into a real one not long after, thus earning her another apprehensive glare from the red head.
"Nai, just--" Emily paused for a good while and tipped her head up, counting from one to ten mentally, her stare full of reproach once she brought her gaze back down. "I'm calling your Mum." She spoke flatly, but it managed to get the one reaction she had been meaning to have. She watched as Naomi stared at her with horror, Naomi's droopy eyes turning into what seemed like a forced squint, and she had to fight hard to stop herself from smiling because Naomi's face was grimacing awfully that it was actually rather funny. "I mean it Nai."
"You don't." Naomi mouthed breathlessly. "You wouldn't."
"Oh I would." Emily replied with a smug smirk. "Just watch me."
Naomi begrudgingly rolled onto her back once more, relentlessly murmuring something that sounded like a curse to Emily's ears. "Alright, clean up it is then."
"And soup." Emily quickly followed, shaking her head while laughing softly.
"But--"
"Ah!" She held out a finger, shushing Naomi completely, and eyed the phone lying by the other nightstand, one that she easily could reach. "And soup."
"You evil, evil--" Naomi grumbled under her breath as she watched Emily laugh at her, and if she just wasn't feeling terribly weak, she would've pounced on Emily and just, just--like, fucking kiss her and then throttle her or something. "Evil--"
Emily's laugh slowly trickled off, ending it with a grin while Naomi watched her through squinted eyes. "Evil what?"
"Girlfriend." Naomi puffed out before wriggling her way out of the messy, tangled covers and duvet, entirely missing the massive, sudden blush that had just invaded Emily's cheeks.
Emily nearly swooned over, for the second time that day though it was for an entirely different reason, and she had to grip the covers tight, crumpling it with her fingers because she could feel like she was going to turn over just at the same time as her heart did beneath her chest.
***
"This chicken soup tastes like, I don't know, shit."
Emily cooled another spoonful before gently bringing the spoon into Naomi's lips, letting her sip the warm liquid, Naomi's face turning into a grimace as she swallowed. "It's because of the cold Nai." She answered casually, not taking any offence from Naomi's remark, and scooped another spoonful from the bowl, blowing on it lightly to cool it off a little. "Does it hurt? Your throat, I mean?"
"A bit." Naomi nodded in answer. "It would be worse tomorrow." She shook her head when Emily offered another spoonful, her eyes following Emily's hand as she placed the bowl down on the tray above the nightstand. "That's why I hate being sick."
"We're calling the doctor then." Emily denoted, scooting closer towards Naomi who was comfortably reclining against the stack of pillows placed behind her. She reached out; tucked in the few locks of hair she had caught behind Naomi's ear. "To check up on you."
Naomi tilted her head to let Emily's hand fall to her cheek. "I bloody hate doctors." She murmured with closed eyes, basking on the feeling of the way Emily's thumb was forming circles on her skin, because it made her feel better and lighter in some way. "They ask the same questions all the time."
"Well, you need to see one." Emily glided her hand down from Naomi's shoulder to Naomi's arm, her fingers finding Naomi's on top of her lap, intertwining it with hers. "I'll call the doctor tomorrow yeah?"
"Like I have a choice." Naomi retorted, twisting back slightly to rid of the pillows behind her so she could lie comfortably, bringing their laced hands along with hers as she shifted onto her side.
A small smile broke forth Emily's lips as she chanced a look at their entwined hands, leaning in to plant a kiss just above the scar on Naomi's temple, the one that had marked Naomi for years now ever since the accident, and she exhaled a contented sigh upon feeling a soft, sloppy kiss pressed at the back of her hand, in return, as she went back to watching Naomi slowly drift to sleep.
***
Naomi had gotten sick for four more days.
On one of the nights, where Emily was struggling to stay awake to keep Naomi's medication in time just like the doctor had ordered, she felt Naomi squirming uncomfortably beside her, mumbling things she couldn't really make out. She shifted a bit, propped her elbow against the mattress and watched for a few more seconds until a stray tear fell down on Naomi's cheek. Emily caught it by the pad of her thumb and she gently shook Naomi to wake her up, whispering against Naomi's ear in the process to calm her down somehow.
Naomi finally opened her eyes after struggling with it for a while, blinking the tears away, caused by the nightmare she just recently had. The first thing her gaze had caught, as her vision started to clear up, was Emily's concerned face and she felt like crying again, for no apparent reason, or maybe there was, she just couldn't exactly remember what.
"Hey, it's just a dream." She heard Emily whisper in her ear and her body instantaneously relaxed at the sound of Emily's voice, like it was some sort of sedative. "It's over now."
"You're not going to leave me too, are you?" She asked from out of nowhere; felt her heart ceasing to beat on the spot as she watched the surprise slowly register on Emily's face. She patiently waited for the answer while holding her breath in altogether, although she had no idea why she asked it in the first place.
Blame it on high fever.
She relaxed in an instant, breathing out a sigh of relief when Emily smiled in answer, quickly followed by "No. Why would I even do that?", though for a moment Emily looked like she was about to cry, and Naomi was most certainly sure that she had never felt that relieved in her entire life after hearing Emily's answer.
"Go back to sleep, okay?" Emily said after a beat, and Naomi found herself hesitating to close her eyes at first, not until she felt a kiss pressed on her temple again, over the scar, and she just couldn't help but think that Emily was trying to erase the mark in some way, as well as the horrible things that came along with it, and she thought that a few more of those kisses planted on the scar, and it would actually disappear in some uncanny way, because, well, she could feel it actually fucking working.
Emily, on the other hand, had a sudden inkling to ask the same question back, for her sanity's sake, the first word already at the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it all in the end upon hearing Naomi's even breathing, and she decided to settle for what she had in her hands at the moment; would think about the rest when tomorrow comes.
***
Effy called the next morning.
Naomi was busy tracing the tired lines, which had formed below Emily's eyes, with the tip of her forefinger, her touch ever so light so as to not wake Emily up, supposing that this was the only time that Emily had managed to get some decent rest from watching her the whole night. Her phone rang loudly that it had her jumping and Emily stirring from her sleep. She rolled onto her other side and hurriedly grabbed the offending mobile, chancing a look at Emily who was stretching out, smiling at her when their eyes met. "Hey Eff."
Emily had to fight hard to not let her face drop at the mere mention of Effy's name, forcing out a smile (although her eyes were saying otherwise) when Naomi flumped herself down the bed, beside her, phone still intact, Naomi's free hand settling right next to hers. "Yeah, I'm quite okay now." Naomi flexed her fingers, letting them crawl towards Emily's until she had filled the spaces in between as they intertwined their hands. "Thanks."
It was somehow comforting for Emily, this little gesture, though in a definitely unexplainable way, and her heart slowed down once again from racing, the alarming pace of its pounding calming bit by bit. She shifted around so she was lying on her side, and kissed Naomi's shoulder while Naomi brought their joined hands on top of her belly, letting it drape around it.
"Listen, can I talk to you later?" Naomi said over the phone; scooted closer to Emily that she could feel Emily's nose almost brushing against her ear. "My throat's really not doing well right now. Kind of hurts and it's a bit itchy." She cleared her throat, hunching one of her shoulders up as if she was asking for another kiss, in which Emily had gladly obliged to give. "Really sorry Eff. Yeah, bye." She flipped her phone close, tossed it back, and rolled around to face Emily, prodding Emily's side with a finger until she squirmed. "Hey." Her eyes softened. "You look tired."
"I'm okay, really." Emily answered with a smile, and when Naomi didn't give out a reply, looking all distressed about something, she leaned in and rubbed her nose against Naomi's until Naomi smiled as well, and it turned into a soft kiss. "You feeling better?"
"Mhm." Naomi dipped her head, chin settling on top of Emily's shoulders as she buried her face at the crook of Emily's neck. "I still feel kind of weak though."
Emily slid one arm under Naomi's side, wrapping it around Naomi's waist. "You'll be all well in the next couple of days."
"How long?" Naomi breathed out a sigh, her hot breath tickling Emily's skin that Emily had to bite her lip to suppress a moan from escaping.
"I don't know. Depends on how compliant you would be."
She let out a strangled groan, the mere thought of meds being taken exactly on time and the occasional visits from the doctor, with his repetitive questions, putting her off already. "I wanna go back to work." She untangled their fingers and slowly dragged hers up along Emily's arm, teasingly, leaving raised skin in its wake. "And, you know, do other things."
"You're such a boy." Emily playfully swatted Naomi's hand away, laughing throatily as she watched Naomi feign a gasp and an offended look. She leaned forth and captured Naomi's lips for a short kiss before climbing out of bed. "I'm gonna fix you some breakfast yeah?" She stretched out, wobbling a bit, that for a second Naomi thought Emily was actually going to topple down, until Emily had managed to steady herself by propping a hand against the thankfully near nightstand. "Oh. Head rush."
"Em, I think you should stay in bed." Naomi cried out, apprehensive. "Come back here." She patted the space beside her and eyed Emily with a worried look. "Here, yeah?"
"But what about--"
"We could eat later. I'm not hungry anyway."
Emily reluctantly climbed back to bed, settling in on her previous position, and it wasn't until Naomi had kissed her and told her to get more rest that she relaxed and allowed herself to drift to a decent, longer sleep.
***
Their room turned into something like a hospital room sometime later in the afternoon.
It was Gina who barged in at first, while Naomi was finishing up her lunch, Naomi's eyes instantaneously darting to Emily, shooting her a sharp, accusing glare, and Emily had to shake her head, because, well, she had no idea how Gina found out.
"Naomi, why didn't you call me firsthand? I'm your bloody mother for Christ's sake."
"Relax Mum." Naomi gently dropped the spoon to her bowl, taking the glass of water which Emily handed to her. "It's just flu yeah?"
"It might have been that, that--that flu the news is talking about!" Gina cried out, propping a hand against her hip.
"Well it's not." Naomi brushed off with a roll of her eyes. "Really Mum, you should calm down."
"Why didn't you call me?" Gina turned her head, gaze flickering between Emily and her daughter. "Why didn't any of you?" She sounded so disappointed that Emily felt guilty in an instant for not calling, even guiltier because Emily knew that she was Naomi's mother and she had a right to know.
"I'm sorry Gina if, if I didn't call." Emily spoke after a beat, when it seemed like Naomi wasn't going to say anything at all. She didn't even bother to give out an explanation, knowing that it wouldn't be able to justify anything anyway, besides the fact that, well, it really was inexcusable.
"Yeah, sorry Mum." Naomi murmured sheepishly, her head kept low.
"I know you're trying to be independent love. And I understand that." Gina blew out an exasperated sigh. "But surely, it isn't too much to ask for a phone call."
"It won't happen again Mum, I swear."
"I know you two are trying to work things out together." Gina continued, and Emily felt her body stiffening at Gina's words, eyes bulging wide with worry that thankfully, she had her head bowed down or Gina would have seen the dreadful look in her face. Emily felt Naomi stopping dead as well, and by then, she knew that they were thinking of the same thing: Gina might have found out about the contract. "You're trying to work things out as partners by living together and doing things together." Gina prattled on, too concentrated on what she was saying that she didn't notice the looks of relief washing over both her daughter's and Emily's faces, which later on was followed by utter surprise. "And that you're preparing for marriage--"
Naomi nearly spewed water all over the bed upon hearing her mother's words, the mouthful she had sipped forcefully swallowed, and all too quickly, ensuing into a fit of coughs. "Jesus Mum." She hissed in between. "What are you even talking about?"
Emily was too surprised by how Gina could be so blatant sometimes that she almost had no idea of what was going on around anymore. She stared at the older woman with disbelief, had a sudden inkling to laugh if it wasn't too awkward for the situation, though maybe, it was the best thing to do at the moment, because, really, how could an argument about a phone call that was never made turn into something that involved marriage.
"I'm just saying that I completely understand, is all." Gina answered in a motherly tone while she watched her daughter wipe her lips with the back of her hand, Emily helping later on by handing over sheets of tissue paper when she seemed to have snapped out of her abrupt daze. "It's essential for you two to have some time alone, and that you deal with this kind of situation by yourselves, but still, you had me bloody worried Naomi."
"Mum." Naomi huffed out. "We're not getting married okay? Jesus Christ." She ran a palm along her face, scrunching it hard in the process, and she surreptitiously wished that a high fever would attack her now because she'd rather opt to lie down while shivering than be on this kind of conversation with her mother, of all people, and with Emily on the same room.
"I didn't say now, or any time soon, but, well you know--"
"How's blondie doing?" A loud cry came from the doorway and Naomi had never been pleased to see Cook in her whole life. He excitedly skipped towards the foot of the bed with a stupid grin plastered in his face, one which Naomi couldn't help but return with a genuine smile, well, out of gratitude for saving her and Emily from the most conversation ever. Katie followed him, strutting towards the foot of the bed as well with Pandora in tow.
"Naomi! How are you doing?" Panda shouted all of a sudden, making them all jump. "Oh, hello there Mrs. Campbell. It's good to see you again!"
"Good to see you too Pandora." Gina greeted back, looking all amused with the amount of people occupying the room, since she had always known that Naomi only had a friend or two.
"Hey." Katie called out, nodding at Naomi. "You okay now?"
"Getting there." Naomi answered, hand subtly stretching out to reach and take Emily's. "Your sister makes a good nurse."
Gina's eyes flickered between Katie and Emily. "Emily dear, I didn't know you have a twin."
"Oh, yeah, I do." Emily beamed. "Gina, this is Katie." She pointed out. "Katie this is Gina, Naomi's mum."
Katie held out a hand and politely shook Gina's. "I'm also Naomi's fashion stylist."
"And assistant Katie." Naomi quickly followed with a light chuckle, knowing how much Katie hated that part of the job. "And assistant."
Katie rolled her eyes. "Right."
"And this young man?"
"That's Katie's boyfriend Mum." Naomi answered. "Cook."
"Pleased to meet you Gina." He wiped his hand on his shirt before stretching out to shake Gina's as well. "Naomi had told me a lot of things about you."
"Really?" Gina blurted out, surprised and a little bit skeptic.
"No Mum." It was Naomi. "I hardly even talk to you, you twat."
"Oi, I'm trying to be polite here yeah? And make friendly talks with your Mum." He winced when Katie elbowed him hard on the rib.
"Tomo wants to give you balloons Naomi." Panda excitedly called out. "Come on Cookie, give it to her." She clasped her hands together and grinned stupidly, her breath actually held in as she waited for Naomi's reaction.
Naomi stared blankly at the mass of balloons that Cook had produced behind him, her expression torn between laughing altogether as if it was all a joke, or actually appreciating the adorable thing that Thomas had given her, well, because, she didn't do adorable. But it was a nice gesture anyway, and she was pretty sure that Thomas only meant good. "Panda, say thanks to Thomas for me." She decided to settle for the latter, though she still couldn't help but find the balloons rather amusing, and so childish, especially when Cook started to tie them at the poles of the headboard.
"He went ape when you didn't show up for work two days ago Naomi. He bloody flipped all over the room."
"I figured."
"But then Emily called at the office and talked to him and he stopped going bonkers." Panda continued. "I think I'm in Emily's debt forever. I really thought he was going to eat me."
Cook and Katie both snorted laughter while Naomi struggled to keep a straight face, amidst the laughter bubbling up inside her and Emily's shaking shoulders.
"Eat you." Cook repeated into which Panda animatedly nodded at.
Emily took one deep breath to hold herself together because she was nearly cracking up. "It's nothing Panda."
Pandora offered a wide smile, her face dropping to what seemed like concern not long after. "You look like a flippin' zombie Emily."
"Excuse me?"
Katie burst out laughing with Cook howling alongside her.
"No, no, no." She shook her head and her hands. "I didn't mean it in a bad way."
Emily turned and shot a glare towards Naomi's direction, pinching her by the side when she didn't stop laughing, and Naomi had to press her lips together to stifle the next round of laughter she could feel bubbling up.
"It's just because you've got dark circles under your eyes. You haven't slept for days, have you?"
"Panda, I'm fne." Emily answered with an assuring smile, which grew wider later on as she felt Naomi's arm snaking around her waist, pulling her closer. "Really."
As far as Emily knew, she never felt any better.
***
When everybody had seemed to engage into a conversation of their own, Cook talking to Pandora and Gina tending to her daughter while sending Emily off to a rest, Katie took the opportunity and nodded subtly at Emily, cocking her head towards the doorway's direction, with a look so serious that the words "We've got trouble" was written all over her face.
Emily studiously followed Katie outside, her forehead furrowing into several layers of creases as she walked behind the older twin. Katie chose the now empty room, which used to be Emily's old one, closing the door behind her once Emily had stepped inside.
"What it is Katie?" Emily asked, anxious. "Something wrong?"
Katie turned around, her arms already folded above her chest. "Has Thomas called yet?"
"When? Today?"
"Yeah. Or even the past few days?"
Emily tipped her head up, as if she was trying to recall something, and shifted her weight on her other leg. "No. I don't remember him calling."
"What about Effy?"
"She called Naomi once." Emily answered, watching Katie squint her eyes in a rather skeptical manner.
"What did she say?"
"They didn't talk much. I think she was just checking up on Naomi."
"Checking up my arse." Katie hissed sharply, grumbling something under her breath which only made Emily more fidgety than she already was.
"Is there something I need to know Kay?" Emily asked after a few beats, bottom lip caught in between her teeth as she waited for Katie's answer. She knew her twin too well that she could already tell that Katie had nothing but bad news.
"Naomi's flying to New York in two days." Katie replied flatly.
"And?"
Katie's brow arched up high, looking at Emily like she was asking the most ridiculous question one person could ask. "With Effy."
Emily closed her eyes and heaved a deep breath, before batting them open again. She was too tired to think about anything at all, let alone, process things. "I should be worried?"
"Christ's sake Emily." Katie huffed out, punctuating each word with a strong exhalation of breath. "Of course you should be worried."
"Why?"
"Because it's just the two of them who's going yeah?"
"Hang on." Emily took a few steps back, face pulling up into a confused grimace. "You're not going with them?"
"No." Katie shook her head. "Thomas told me that it's just the two of them, since only two are needed. And it's Effy who's sponsoring the show." She watched as the back of Emily's knees hit the edge of the bed, her twin flumping down the mattress with a blanched look in her face, as if Emily had become weak and drained all of a sudden, and Katie couldn't help but follow, arms wrapping around Emily's shoulders in an instant. "Ems--"
Emily took a hard swallow, Effy's words earlier ringing in her ears, almost too mockingly. "She knows Katie."
"Knows what?"
"She knows about the contract." She slowly turned her head, facing her twin, and her eyes were already mirroring fear in them. "She told me that she knows."
"Oh God." Katie froze for a few beats, arms stiffening. "No way. How did that even happen?"
"I don't know."
"What did she say?"
Emily hesitated for a moment, her lips quivering uncontrollably already even if she was just merely thinking of the words she was about to say. "She's going to get her back Kay." She blinked a few times as she placed her hand on top of Katie's knee. "She means it."
Katie stayed in silence, didn't say another word as she gave Emily's shoulders a gentle squeeze, working her mind instead, because by the looks of things, a two-person trip was just out of the equation.