First of all I'm sorry it took so long for me to update. Second thanks to anyone who subscribed, favorite or reviewed, you brightened my days. So I had problems with some friends and then school became even more annoying, ergo the lack of updates. But I'm officially on vacations so updates will be faster. Anyways enough with the excuses, here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy. Any mistakes are mine,
Chapter 3: A new day
I can't sleep. I've been lying on my bed restless for the last two hours. I keep going back to what happened today. I started my new job, met very interesting people, just like I would've done in any other job. But, that was not all. I met my former best friend who I had not seen for seven years until today, and then I went to lunch with Sydney, where I told her how I met Effy. I decided to omit several parts; some of the things that happened with Emily mostly about our break up. That is something I'm not willing to talk about, as a matter of fact, only Anne knows what happened. So after I told her most of my story, she just looked at me, smiled and said "I see." We finished our tacos, drank our beverages and went back to work. I didn't see her afterwards. Then it was time to go home, so here I am unable to sleep.
It's almost midnight. I'm really tired, but I can't sleep, so much for logic. I get out of the bed, put some sweatpants and a vest top, yes I still sleep naked. Going down the hall I walk to the kitchen and start to make some tea. I put the pot of water; take out a cup, when I hear the front open. Finally, I've been waiting for her.
"Hello? Naomi, are you there?" she asked
I'm not going to bed anytime soon, so I decide to have some fun. I leave the kitchen as quietly as possible. Sneak through the dining room, until I reach the living room. When I'm reaching the living room, I heard her speak again
"Naomi are you asleep?" Anne asked, and I see her take her coat off and place her purse and car keys on the coffee table.
Its a little dark and the lights are not on, so I sneak behind her and answer, "Nope, I'm most definitely not asleep"
As she hears my voice she jumps and brings her hand to her chest, and screams at me "You asshole, you scared the hell out of me, I think I have ten years less to live now.
I couldn't help laughing, and after her shock passed she started laughing with me.
"You think that was funny?" Anne asked.
"Well, you should have seen the look in your face, priceless. Anyway I'm sorry I scared you so much", I said sweetly
"No you're not" Anne replied with a smirk
"Maybe, c'mon I have some tea in the kitchen". I replied walking to the kitchen
"Tea sounds good, what's the reason behind it?" Anne asked
"None at all, can't I just make some tea and offer some to my best friend without a reason?" I replied, pouring her a tea cup
"Ok, c'mon out with it. I want to hear everything about your first day as editor in chief." Anne stars laughing softly
"What's so funny?" I asked
"Nothing I was just thinking, fashion beware Campbell is in the building and she is even worse than Campbell the model" Anne replies laughing, taking a sit in one the high chairs,
"Oi! Not funny, bitch" I replied with a pout
"Oh, c'mon don't be such a baby", Anne said laughing. "Now seriously how was it?" she asked with interest
"Ummm, it was eventful" I replied with a sigh, seating next to her
"Eventful? How? Oh, did you pull? You slapper!" Anne replied with a cheeky grin
"No" I replied shaking my head.
"So?" Anne asked taking a sip of her tea. She looked up expectantly at me.
"How was your date?" I replied changing topic, thinking the third degree was over.
"Don't change the subject. It was good though thanks for asking, the food was lovely and I think a second date is near". Anne answered with a smile.
"Now, what's it you're not telling me? You know you can trust me." Anne said with a hint of hurt in her eyes.
"I do trust you, it's just that I saw someone I was not expecting to see, and it… I don't know, it was just unexpected." I answered looking at my hands.
"Hmm, ok. Who did you see?" Anne asked quietly, she knew pushing was not a good idea just I knew pressuring her into doing something or telling something she doesn't want to, is not a good idea.
"Effy" I whispered quietly
"What? What was she doing there anyway?" Anne asked incredulously
"Well remember how I told Effy is stunning?" I didn't wait for her reply as I continued. "Well she was one of the models in one the shoots." I told her
"Did you guys talk?"
"Not really we just hugged. But we never really talked with Effy, we just were. And hugging was like acknowledging everything would be ok, and that there are no hard feelings between us. Besides that she took to Sydney's desk, who I had already met" I said yawning, finally sleep was here, and logic sucks.
"Oh ok. Who is Sydney by the way?" Anne asked curiously.
"A photographer from the magazine" I replied casually, a smile fighting its place between my lips.
"Just a photographer?" Anne asked with a smirk
"Well we sort of collided before I even entered the building, you she hit me all of a sudden and took me by surprise" I said smiling.
"Huh" Anne said looking deep in thought.
"Huh what?" I asked
"Well I think Sydney must be quite attractive if you felt like you two collided, even before entering the building." Anne said
I couldn't help laughing at that.
"What's so funny?"
"Sydney is quite stunning but we collided, literally I mean. She was carrying some boxes and she didn't see where she was going, so she tripped and we both fell." I said
"So that was it?"
"Well we walked together to her desk, and then I went to meet my boss. She is very well prepared I'd say. She gave me the keys to my office. Told I had access to the business car and have my own assistant. You have to see my office though; the view from one of the windows is breathtaking." I said excited just by remembering the view.
I took a sip of my tea, but it had gone cold. I stood up and took my cup to the sink and threw the remains of my stone-cold tea.
"And then we had lunch at a Mexican restaurant nearby" I said dismissively.
"Really?" Anne asked incredulously. "She really likes you then"
"What does that mean?" I asked
"I mean she had to endure lunch with you" Anne said chucking to herself.
"Bitch! Unlike you, some people appreciate my company and find my sarcasm rather entertaining" I replied with a smirk
"Yeah let us not forget about your modesty" Anne said laughing
"Well, modesty is just one of my many awesome qualities, what can I say? I am quite the catch." I said
"Hmm, that's what you think" Anne said smiling
"It's I know" I said confidently, it was always like this her, our banters. I just loved her, even if I didn't say it a lot.
"If you say so," Anne said, getting up and leaving her cup in the sink.
I could tell she was getting ready to go to sleep, but if I were honest with myself I didn't want to be alone, not tonight.
"Wait" I said quietly
"Yes?" Anne said rubbing her eyes. I guess her job was very exhausting.
"I can't sleep, and I well" I started playing with the bottom of my vest top " I was wondering, if you wanted to sleep with me, just for today." I said quietly, I'm sure she barely heard me. I started playing with my hands now at her lack of response.
We had not shared a bed for two years. Sometimes I would ask her to stay with me. Sometimes it would be because I had a nightmare. And other times because I remembered everything that happened in Bristol, whenever that happened I would feel tears fill my eyes, and my sleep would go away. There were other times in which it was she who asked me to keep her company. We would cuddle. There was nothing sexual about it; it was about reassurance and protection, making sure I had someone there for me after everything that had happened. And today after seeing Effy, I needed that reassurance. With Effy not only the memories I had tried so hard to forget came back, but also all the feelings I had fought so hard to overcome. Love, regret, happiness, guilt, but mostly love. It took me a long time, but I had finally done it. But was I ready to see her again? Not really, maybe I never would be ready, maybe, maybe, I just don't know. Maybe it's for the best that I saw her again now, today, maybe.
"Naomi, Naomi, Naomi, Nai, Nai, NAI" Anne's each call louder than the previous one.
I guess I was deep in thought because it wasn't until I felt her touch and gently move my forearm that I reacted.
"Yeah?" I said confused
"I said yes" Anne answered
"Yes to what?" I asked even more confused than before, what were we talking about? I yawned, I really was tired. Right, I asked her if she could sleep with me.
"OK, I think you are a little bit more tired than you think, c'mon let's go to bed" she said grabbing my hand and taking me to my room.
We went down the hall to the right; Anne opened the room to let us both in.
"I'll be right back, unlike you, I'm still wearing my work and so called date clothes, and honestly these heels are killing me. But I'll be right back," She said smiling
I walked over to my bed, hoped on and pull the covers up until they reached my chest. And I couldn't help thinking that despite every memory and feeling that came back, I was very happy to see Effy again. She was my best friend when I was just a teenager and she helped me through most of the rough times with Emily. Needless to say Emily and I broke up. Truth be told it was a nasty break up, so bad that the only solution I found was packing my bags and leaving Bristol. Plus the fact that everyone seemed to support Emily just made it somehow easier. So I left and never looked back. But there was and still is a part of me that always missed Effy, Cook and even JJ everyday and somehow wanted to meet them again.
As my train of thought was departing, Anne came back. She was wearing some sweatpants as well and a shirt that had GOLDSMITH, in golden letters written in the front.
"Scoot over then" Anne said
I did as she said. Moments later I felt the bed dip under her weight and I felt her mover close to me, felt her body heat. Then immediately I felt her take the covers, all of them for herself.
"I'm starting to question if this was a good idea" I said
"Well, you're the selfish one, inviting me and then taking all the blankets it gets cold. You should know that" Anne replied
"Sorry" I said
I felt Anne move even closer and then wrap her arms around my waist, snuggling into my back, just like the other times. I instantly felt better. I could already feel myself surrendering to my sleep, finally. But before I fell asleep I knew there was something I had to do, to say.
"Anne", I said gently touching and moving her hands that she had placed on top of my stomach. When I didn't feel her move, I tried again,
"Anne, Anne, Anny"
"Go to sleep Naomi, I'm tired" she said her voice deep with sleep.
"I know, but there is something I need to tell you first, please," I said with my sweetest most innocent voice, and tried to turn
She snorted but then answered "Ok, I'm listening"
"I, I, thank you" I whispered softly
"For what?" She asked just as quietly as I had
"For being there for me, always there for me. Cause you put up with my shit. And you know everything about me and you haven't stated running for the hills. I know I'm not the most affectionate person, and maybe I don't say it enough, but I love you and you make my life better." I was fighting the tears at this point. But something was compelling me to tell her all this.
"Who are you and what have you done to Naomi?" Anne said jokingly
"Way to ruin the moment Anne" I said pouting. I felt Anne's arm wrap tighter around my waist and I felt her come closer once more.
"Oh c'mon Nai, you know I love you too, you're my best friends." Anne said kissing the top of my head. "But let's go to sleep now, yeah? We are both tired. But remember tomorrow will be a new day, and it is up to us to make the best of it. Good luck at work tomorrow, love ya bitch"
And with that I felt Anne's breathing even out, and I was sure she was asleep. Moments later I felt sleep winning the battle as I felt my eyelids close again and again, slower every time. But before I fell asleep I saw the brown eyes that I hadn't seen for years, those eyes I used to miss so much. But the brown eyes were slowly changing color, until they turned green, a green I recognized immediately and despite my tiredness I smiled. And I couldn't help thinking Anne was right. Tomorrow will be a new day, and I will make the best of it. Suddenly I felt happy, and something I had not felt for a long time, hope. I had found hope again, maybe I'm rushing but I think this job is definitely going to make my life better, not only financially. And with it I felt I had to go to work tomorrow and overcome any problem that might come my way. Until finally my eyelids closed one more time, and I fell asleep.
So what do you think about that? Any comments, thoughts, and things you want to see, how do you think things are going to go now? Reviews are welcomed. Again, sorry for the delay, no excuses. But I promise you, that I'll be updating faster.
Take Care,
IP25