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Chapter 4: The door to happiness

"You know I love you right?" Emily asked and all I could do was nod vigorously without hesitation. She gave me a peck on the lips, said "Ok, we're ready" and signaled me to start moving.

As she gave me the signal I moved forward until I got under cover behind a brick wall. Emily was only two steps behind me with her hand on my shoulder the whole time. That small gesture made me feel safer because I knew she had my back, just like I had hers. "Ok I there are two of them, so that makes us even. You take the one at the left; I'll take the one at the right." I said dead serious.

"Ok" she said, readying her gun to start the attack.

I heard their footsteps, so I copied Emily's movements. I moved my finger to hover over the trigger, ready to pull it anytime now. The footsteps were now louder, I knew it was matter of seconds. I heard the footsteps stop; this was the moment of truth.

"At the count of three, yeah?"Emily whispered softly.

"yeah" I replied.

"One, two, three now" Emily said.

At "now" we got up and pulled the trigger. This caused water jets to come out of our water guns and impact into Cook's and Katie's body. They were giving us their backs so they had no idea we would attack. So we won for a second time in a row.

"You are making this too easy" Emily said laughing and putting her gun down. Katie just scoffed and sat down in one the chairs we had in our garden. Cook just laughed and went inside the kitchen only to return moments later. I sat down in the chair next to Katie's, exhaustion getting to me. In that precise moment Effy decided to join us at the backyard.

As I heard Emily laugh and interact with our friends I realized how lucky I truly was. I mean Emily, my Emily is smart, funny, caring, sweet and being with her is very easy. The fact that she was had a body fit as fuck was just a bonus. Honestly what could I have done so good in this lifetime to deserve her? The answer was still unknown to me.

"Hun" I heard Emily's voice interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes?" I asked her

"I just asked you if you want anything" she said with a smirk, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.

"It depends on what you can give me" I said raising an eyebrow.

"Is that a challenge?" she asked me with a glint in her eyes.

"Only if you think you can handle it" I said

"Oi, of course I can" she said with a grin

"Arrogance, mhmm not a good sign. It shows your inability" I said teasing her

"Actually, it is not arrogance if you have the goods" she said sitting in my lap.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and leaned in to kiss her. The moment my lips touched hers, I forgot that Katie, Cook and Effy were there. The kiss intensified as I pressed the tip of my tongue against her bottom lip, asking for entrance. Immediately she granted it, and the moments our tongues touched she moaned quietly and moved her arms around my neck.

"God, you two are sickening" Katie said, causing our kiss to end.

"Good to see, everything is ok, between you two" Effy said, finally speaking.

"So how about the three of us, yeah? Let Cook show you how to have fun" Cook said wiggling his eyebrows at us with a huge grin in his face.

"I think I have all the fun I need" I told Cook, kissing Emily in the cheek this time.

"I'm going to grab a beer" Emily said, standing up, cold replacing her body heat. "Want one?" she asked me.

"Beer sounds good to me" I replied.

As she entered the kitchen I couldn't help but stare at her gorgeous body. My eyes stopped at her hindquarters. Some people considered it perving, I considered it admiring.

"You are such a bloody perv" Katie said watching me ogling her sister.

"Only with your sister, Katiekins, only with your sister" I said grinning.

I woke up with a start it was only two in the morning. I had not had a dream about her since I left uni. But this time I was just remembering one of the many adventures we had together. Feelings of sadness and regret passed through my body causing my heart to tighten. At the same moment I felt tears threaten my eyes. I couldn't stop a sniff as I thought of the dream, and the fun I was having.

I felt Anne stir behind and her arms squeezed my stomach. "You ok?" she asked concerned, sleep noticeable in her voice. Even though she was tired she still worried about me.

"Yeah, it's nothing, let's go back to sleep" I said

"Ok, nights Naoms," she said with a yawn.

A few seconds later I heard her soft snores letting me know she was asleep. I took her lead and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I was fast asleep.

I entered the room we shared for months even after all the problems with Sofia. The first thing I noticed when I entered the room was the silence. The silence, I can't believe how quiet a house without anyone to share it can be. This room, this house, was once filled with joy, love and noises. The noises I admit were of different sorts, but they filled the house no matter what. I also admit that it wasn't always filled with love and joy. There were times in which anger, hurt and screams filled the house. But honestly that was better than all this silence. Because the silence was just another proof of something I don't want to admit, Emily and I are no longer together. I feel if I don't say out loud or if I just keep doing the same routine I did with her, it won't become official. I still think I'm still in shock, even when several weeks have passed. I know my feelings for her are still the same, break up or no break up. I still love her with every fiber of my existence. But I know this is not healthy for me or my friends. But after seeing her today so happy, while my heart is broken in so many pieces, was a reality punch to my face. She's moved on, maybe I should too.

I take several breaths. Inhale and exhale. Once, twice, thrice. It doesn't help. But I gather all the courage I have, and prepare myself to say what I've been avoiding the most. I have to confront it at last.

I take one more deep breathe. Inhale, exhale. I open my mouth and I said

"Emily and I are over"

"Emily and I are over" I say again. I say it a hundred more times. While I'm saying it, the tears I've been repressing finally come out. I cry, and I cry the whole time while saying "Emily and I are over" and that right there makes it a hundred times more real.

"Fuck" I say quietly, waking up for the second time. But this time it was the alarm from my cell phone that woke me. I turn it off, and cover my face with my hands. My face is moist; the tears were not only from my dream. I decide to avoid my dream and the meaning behind it, because all I would get by over analyzing it would be a headache.

I calmed myself down. I feel cold. Why do I feel cold? I look around and see that Anne is already gone. God her job was stressing sometimes. Anne is a doctor, a pediatrician specifically. Kids loved her and she loved kids. Even if her job was stressing she sure loved it.

Work, shoot, I have to go to work. I got off the bed and put some slippers on. 6:30, oh God it's so early. But I had to give a good example and arrive early to work. As I start walking to the bathroom and I take my vest top off. I turn the shower on and take the rest of my clothes meanwhile. Once the water is hot enough I get in.

Thirty minutes later I'm ready for work. I take my car keys, my briefcase, put on my sunglasses and close the front door as I leave. I walk to my car, and turn it on. I drive off the driveway and took what would be my daily route to work. It would be a thirty minute drive to work. So I turn the radio on, Maroon 5 blasted through the speakers.

As I song along Adam Levine, I can't stop wondering about my dream; a dream that was buried, or so I thought, with different memories. If I had had this dream a year ago I would have taken it as a sign that I should've never let Emily go, or let her let me go. But that was a year ago. Today, today I think it's just because I saw Effy again. Yeah, that's why.

Apparently I drive faster than I credit myself, or I was more lost in thought than I actually was, because last thing I noticed, I was already parking my car in my designated parking space. 7:35, that's a going timing, especially if work started at 8:00. I get out of my car, take my briefcase and start walking to my office.

I enter the lobby, walked to the elevator and pressed number five. Unlike yesterday no one tripped with me today. Two minutes later I reached the company's facilities. I said hi to Claudia as I walked in. I went to Jessica's office to inform her I was going to be at my office in case she might need anything. She thanked me and told me that she had some articles I might have to check, and the pictures of some photo shoots which need my and Katie's approval. She handed me the things. With the articles and the photos in hand I walked to my office. I sat on my chair and starting reading the articles.

As I was reading the second article for a third time I heard the door close. I looked up the first I saw was green eyes. I smiled immediately, but then I remembered what had happened at lunch yesterday.

"Sydney" I said, standing from my chair, not knowing what to do.

"Hey," she said holding her camera between her hands. She sat down in one of the chairs that were in front of my desk.

Ok, this isn't awkward, but I remembered what Anne said, this is a new day. So I decided to ignore what happen yesterday, and decided to break the silence.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I asked walking toward my refrigerator, how cool is it right? I have my own refrigerator. "There's water, and umm water and some more water, what will it be?" I asked teasingly.

"Water sounds perfect" Sydney said.

As I poured the two glasses of water I saw a flash go off. I look up to see Sydney with her camera up and a smile.

"There you go" I said handing her one of the glasses. When she grabbed the glass our fingertips brushed and I felt a shiver down my spine.

"Thanks" she said, taking a sip of water.

I sat down once more and looked at her. More silence, and not a comfortable one. I hate uncomfortable silences. Sydney looked up, caught my eyes and smiled.

"Sorry, I couldn't talk with you after lunch, I had another photo shoot and I stayed working late, fixing some pictures." she said.

"Yeah, no problem" I said trying to play cool, like if didn't matter. But I felt my body release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"I just didn't want you to think I was avoiding you" Sydney said biting her lips.

"Yeah, the thought might have crossed my mind," I said dismissively, I tried keeping the insecurity out of my voice, but I couldn't.

"I would never judge you by your past. Time changes things and people as well" Sydney said gently.

"Yeah" I said quietly, taking a sip of my water.

"Well, I was just here to make sure everything between us was ok" Sydney said standing up. "My break is over and I need to continue fixing some pictures, plus you're busy as well" Sydney said walking up to the door.

"Ok, see you later" I answered.

I saw Sydney reach for the door knob but I heard her speak before she opened the door,

"Next time I choose the restaurant, ok?" She said with a wink and she opened the door and left.

I was definitely making the most out of this day.

I was almost done with the articles and the work day was almost done, when I heard my door open again. I looked up and meet blue eyes this time.

"Effy" I said again, just like yesterday.

"Yes and you are Naomi. I believe we have met before" Effy said with her usual smirk. She sat in the same chair Sydney sat a few hours ago.

"How's work?" Effy asked

"All is well. Although there is a model," I said in a conspiratorial whisper, "she is quite attractive, but keeps coming to my office. But as quickly as she enters, she leaves. She has an aura of mystery, it's intriguing." I said

"Maybe she wants to talk with you or something" Effy said

"Or something… like what" I said with curiosity

"Like going out for drinks with you for old times' sake" Effy said coolly but her eyes betrayed her. Her eyes that would always be neutral held a hint of hurt and insecurity in them. I guess I couldn't change the things I've done or the last seven years. But I could do things differently from now on.

"Drinks sound good" I told her with a cheeky smile. I was about to ask her the details of when and where, but she answered before I could even opened my mouth.

"Meet me at the lobby at seven" Effy said with a smile, this time her smile reached her eyes. she left after that.

Typical Effy. God I had missed her. I looked at my watch 6:45. Ok, I still have some time. I put the articles in my briefcase, and closed it. I went to the bathroom to arrange my make-up. Once I was satisfied with how I looked I went back to my office. I closed the windows, grabbed my briefcase, locked the door and took the elevator and pressed the button to the lobby.

As I reached the lobby I noticed Effy was nowhere to be seen. Great, what now? It's not like I have her number anymore. I'm about to ask the guard in the door if he had seen Effy, when I heard someone cough.

"Looking for someone?" Effy asked with a smirk

I turn around at the sound of her voice. Once I saw her I answered "Yeah as a matter of fact, maybe you've seen her, she looks just like you".

"No" she said, a hint of playfulness in her voice

"Shame" I said in the same tone. "But c'mon let's go. Do we go on the same care, do I follow you from my car or how do we do this?

"C'mon, you're driving; the bar is not that far from here" Effy said walking toward the parking lot.

The drive to the bar was spent mostly in silence. It was not an awkward silence, it never was with Effy. Effy and I, we never had the need to talk about things. We would just let them be, until one of us wanted to discuss them. It was good to know that despite the years of separation, that had not change.

Twenty minutes later we were outside the bar. I parked the car, and turned it off. But I was not ready to exit the car yet. There was something I needed to say. Effy didn't question why we were still at the car. She unbuckled her seat belt, placed her hands in her lap and interlaced her fingers.

"Effy, I'm…." I took a deep breath. I looked at my hands but I could feel her eyes on my face. She didn't pressure me. She just waited patiently until I continued.

"I'm, I'm sorry I left they way I did. But I had to leave. I couldn't stay here, not when everything reminded me of Emily and the fact that we had broken up. I hope you understand that. I don't regret leaving, but I do regret the fact that by leaving Bristol I also left you behind, you were my best friend. And I've… I've missed you everyday" I said quietly. The tears were already forming in my eyes, clouding my vision. God I hate crying.

Effy reached out and grabbed my hand. "I understand. I've missed you too." After she said that, she wiped my tears with her free hand and gave me a kiss on the cheek. That was all the reassurance I needed.

"But c'mon" Effy said letting of my hand and opening the door, "this is not sulking time, it's drinking time."

I got out the car and followed her to the bar. As I entered the bar the first thing I heard was TEQUILAAAA TIME! I immediately smiled. To old times right?

So that was it. I hoped you liked it. Comments? Thoughts? Don't forget to leave a review :)