Chapter 18

Emily stared out her window down to the quiet street below. It was weird being back in Bristol, sleeping in her old bed like nothing had changed.

"What are you looking at, loser?" Katie asked, throwing something at Emily's back.

Emily rolled her eyes. Then again, some things hadn't changed.

"Nothing," she said, shutting the curtain.

"Are you still pining over that blonde bitch?" Katie asked.

"I'm not pining," Emily replied.

"You've been acting like a lovesick puppy all week and it's making me sick," Katie stated. "Oh god—you don't love her, do you, because I think I really will be sick."

"No," Emily replied. "Maybe." Emily looked away. "I don't know."

"Well, you might wanna get over it," Katie stated. "She hasn't talked to you in a week, so clearly she doesn't want you."

Emily frowned. "Thanks, Katie."

It was true that Naomi hadn't spoken to her in a week despite Emily's numerous tries at contacting her. She tried talking to her before their final, but got a very short 'I need to study', she tried knocking on her door, she tried calling her, she even tried waiting in the hall to catch her as she came out of her room, but Naomi was MIA. She hadn't really spoken to the blonde since leaving her room after they slept together. Emily didn't understand why Naomi was avoiding her, but it wasn't surprising; she seemed to run every time things got a little bit complicated.

Katie sighed. "Stop acting like this."

"I can't help it, Katie," Emily replied.

"Then do something about it," Katie demanded. "You said her and her mum were moving here, so go find her ass, and make her stop being such a pathetic little bitch."

"That's easier said than done," Emily replied.

"Girls!" Rob called down the hall to them before opening the door and poking his head in. "Your mum wants you downstairs in five minutes."

"What for?" Katie asked.

"We have new neighbors and your mum wants us all there to greet them," Rob replied.

"Even James?" Katie asked.

Rob paused before answering, "James is grounded, so he's staying in his room."

"Can I stay home?" Katie asked.

"No," Rob replied.

Katie sighed and looked at Emily, "What's your problem?"

"New neighbors," Emily repeated.

"What're—oh," Katie said. "Maybe not as difficult as you were thinking."

"Yeah," Emily said, looking away.

"What's going on, girls?" Rob asked.

"Nothing," Emily lied.

"Five minutes," Rob repeated as he turned and walked out the room.

"It can't be her, right?" Emily asked, looking at her sister. "That's too big of a coincidence that she would move here. It's got to be someone else."

Katie shrugged. "Guess we'll see, yeah?"

Emily sighed. She needed to talk to Naomi, but she didn't want to do it with her mother so close by. What were the chances of it being Naomi and her mum, though? Bristol was a large place and it really could be anyone. Before she knew it, Emily was standing outside the modest house with her parents and sister. The outside of the house was a light green, recently painted since it was previously white, and there were flowers along the banister of the small porch. Two bikes leaned against the short staircase and a very old, dilapidated car sat in the driveway—the same car her former politics teacher drove.

"It's them," Emily whispered to Katie as they walked up the stairs and Jenna knocked on the door.

A moment later the door opened and Naomi's mum was standing in the doorway. "Can I help you?"

"Hello," Jenna greeted. "We live across the street and wanted to be the first to welcome you to the neighborhood."

"Isn't that sweet," Gina said, smiling. "I'm Gina Campbell; my daughter, Naomi, and my fiancé are just inside. Please, come in."

"I'm Jenna," Emily's mum said. "This is my husband, Rob, and our daughters, Katie and Emily."

"I know you," Gina said, spotting Emily for the first time. "You go to school with my daughter, don't you?"

"Yes," Emily replied. "Hi again."

"I think my daughter is up in her room if you'd like to see her," Gina said. "Would you go up and bring her down? She's been incredibly stubborn since she came home and maybe she'll cheer up if she sees a friend."

"I uh—" Emily glanced at Jenna, who had a very tight smile on her face. "Sure."

"It's just up the stairs, the first door on the right," Gina instructed.

Emily nodded and walked toward the stairs. She stood at the bottom, staring up for a moment; she then took a deep breath and ascended the stairs. Emily stood outside Naomi's door for several minutes before she finally knocked.

"I'm not hungry," Naomi called from inside.

Emily knocked again and waited; it took a little bit, but the door finally flew open. Naomi was standing there, her mouth opened as if she was going to say something, but stopped before any words formed.

"Hi," Emily said.

"Hi," Naomi echoed. "What're you doing here?"

"My mum wanted to welcome the new neighbors," Emily replied. "Apparently you're the new neighbor."

"Oh," Naomi exhaled.

"Your mum asked me to bring you down," Emily stated. "Can we talk first, though?"

"I guess," Naomi said shortly.

Emily walked in and Naomi shut the door behind her. The redhead looked around the room, and even though she had only just moved in, it seemed very Naomi. There were still a half a dozen boxes around the room, but books already lined the shelves and clothes were scattered around the floor. The room was big—a lot bigger than the room Emily shared with Katie—and a large bed sat unmade against the wall with a large window above it. It was the only piece of furniture in the room, so Emily walked over and sat on the corner of the bed.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Emily asked.

"Who says I am?" Naomi countered.

"I haven't seen you in a week," Emily stated. "I tried calling and knocking all week, but you've been ignoring me."

Naomi shrugged. "My finals were over Tuesday, so I came back early."

"That doesn't explain why you've been ignoring my calls," Emily said.

"I've been busy," Naomi replied.

Emily sighed. "Naomi, we slept together—it doesn't have to mean anything else. Just stop avoiding me and let's talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Naomi stated.

"Fine," Emily replied. "I like you, Naomi, and I keep trying, but if you want to pretend like nothing is happening then I can pretend too. I'm not going to keep doing this if you're not even going to try." Emily stood up, walked over to the door, and looked over her shoulder. "Your mum wants you downstairs."

Emily opened the door and walked down the stairs; she found her family and Naomi's mum in the living room, where they were all sitting around drinking tea. Gina looked up at the sound of her footsteps and smiled at her.

"Is my daughter coming down, dear?" Naomi asked.

"I don't know," Emily said, sitting down next to Katie.

"She's a moody cow right now, isn't she," Gina said.

"A little bit," Emily agreed.

"Emily!" Jenna exclaimed.

"It's alright," Gina said, waving her off. "She's speaking the truth; my daughter is ridiculously stubborn, and right now she's decided to lock herself in her room and pout. Lord knows what it's about, but she better get over it soon."

Emily heard Naomi's heavy footsteps on the stairs and watched as Katie looked back and glared at the blonde.

"There's my daughter," Gina said. "This is Naomi. Naomi, this is Jenna and Rob Fitch. You already know Emily and Katie."

"Hi," Naomi said unenthusiastically.

"Moody cow," Gina mouthed to Emily, making her laugh, and Naomi roll her eyes. "Stop scowling and come over here. Didn't I teach you better manners than this?"

"No," Naomi replied.

"Well, pretend I did," Gina said, smiling.

Emily locked eyes with Naomi and the other girl scowled at her; Emily sighed, standing up, and said, "I forgot I promised Effy I'd come over. It was nice meeting you again, Ms. Campbell."

"Me too," Katie said, jumping up.

Emily frowned, wondering what Katie was doing. With one last glance at Naomi, Emily walked toward the door and with her sister following her out. Emily breathed a sigh of relief once she was out of the house and away from the blonde. Naomi was beyond frustrating and she didn't want to be in the same room with her right now. It was one thing for Naomi to ignore and avoid her before, but it hurt more now. She knew Naomi liked her back and she just didn't understand why she felt the need to run every time they made any progress.

"What happened?" Katie asked.

"Why do you care?" Emily asked.

"Because you're my sister," Katie replied. "I don't understand why you—I'm trying, okay? If Naomi hurt you, I'm going to make sure she regrets it. So tell me what's going on. Why's Naomi been ignoring you?"

Emily sighed and took a few steps down, sitting on the middle step. "Naomi and I slept together last weekend and she's been avoiding me ever since. I don't know why, okay? She's just—every time I think things are getting better, they're not. It's one step forward, fifty steps back with her. I think she's afraid, so she runs away, and I don't know how to make her stop."

"I really didn't need that imagine," Katie said, scrunching her nose up in disgust.

"Katie—"

"Okay, look, I don't know what to do about Naomi," Katie interrupted. "You're a Fitch, though, and when we want something, we don't give up. If you want Naomi and I have no idea why you would, but if you do, make her listen. You're good at talking, yeah? Talk to her and make her really heard you."

Emily shook her head. "I've tried, but she's too stubborn to listen."

"Then you need to be just as stubborn," Katie replied.

"I will be," Emily stated. "If Naomi's going to avoid me, then I'm going to do the same."

"How's that going to help?" Katie asked.

"I don't know if it will, but I'm tired of being the one that always chases after her," Emily replied. "I'm going to ignore her like she's been ignoring me. Maybe then she'll realize that she actually needs someone and that I'm actually here for her. Until then, though, I'm done trying. She can be the one to come to me if she wants me."

"Good," Katie said. "You're a Fitch and she'd be stupid to not realize it."

Emily smiled. "Are you actually encouraging Naomi and me to be together?"

"I didn't say that," Katie said, rolling her eyes. "I'll never understand why you want her, but if you want her—I've realized there's nothing I can do to stop you."

"Effy talked to you, didn't she?" Emily asked.

Katie sighed. "That bitch knows everything."

Emily laughed. "I know; she's a little scary sometimes."

"I guess Eff finally told me what I needed to hear," Katie quietly said.

"What's that?" Emily asked.

"That—just because you find someone, I'm not going to lose you," Katie replied.

Emily frowned. "Didn't I tell you the same thing?"

"Yeah, but Effy was a lot more convincing," Katie replied. "You know I don't do apologies, but—" Katie looked away. "Yeah."

"It's okay, Katie," Emily said, smiling.

"Wanna go home?" Katie asked.

"Definitely," Emily said, standing.

"If James ate all the leftover cookies, I'm going to kick his ass," Katie commented.

"I'll help you," Emily replied.

Emily looked at Katie and smiled; her sister was actually trying to be supportive, which Emily appreciated. She didn't know if things were going to get better with Naomi, but she hoped the blonde would finally come to her senses. Despite all her thoughts about not knowing how she felt about the other girl, she realized now just how much she was falling for her. She hadn't realized it until she knew what it was like to really be with her and then to be faced with not being able to talk to her. Emily hated that Naomi was doing this, but, truthfully, she would probably never give up on the other girl. Not now—not after finally realizing that she was falling in love with her.