"You got anything?"
"Only E."
"That's good enough. Hit me."
The dealer held out his hand, revealing the small white pill embossed with an 'E'. She took it from him, swallowing it down along with half of her beer. Shaking her head a little, she gazed around the surely overfilled club, her eyes hazing due to the amount of drink she had consumed. The lights blurred, the music died down to just the dull kick of the bass, and her feet just couldn't stop themselves as they tapped along with the music.
"How long til they kick in?"
"Not long at all…"
--
The first thing Naomi heard when she awoke were birds, they'd woken her up. She sat up quickly; disorientated to say the least as she gazed around the small covering they had ended up in, especially after the weather took a turn for the worse. She gazed down at the girl beside her, curled up, her arms folded under her armpits – obviously to keep her hands warm through the night – her legs tangled with Naomi's messily, and a serene look on her face. Naomi stretched herself out, an audible crack escaping from her back as she winced in pain. Sleeping on a hard floor was never good for you. She cleared her throat, and watched as Emily started to shift from her position, rubbing her feet up and down Naomi's legs unconsciously. Naomi couldn't help but smile as her toes curled and a sigh escaped her small lips.
Her eyes shot open after that, her eyes still a little blurry and red from the night of crying beforehand. She slowly moved a little, and then found her feet in an uncompromising position, that she just didn't have the heart to move out of right now. She did try to sit up, but the way her back was feeling, she just couldn't be bothered, so she slumped back down, legs straight on the blanket, an arm covering her face, shielding her from the intruding sunlight.
"Morning sleepyhead."
"Morning." Her voice was recognisably huskier in the morning, and it made Naomi tingle a bit. It was a nice voice to start with, quite similar to her sisters it seemed, but hearing it just now, it was amazing. "How long have you been awake?"
"Literally about 3 minutes. Bloody birds woke me up didn't they." Emily's laugh was quiet, but it managed to reverberate across the lake, sending nearby birds scattering away in seek of protection. Naomi gazed out at the lake, the morning sun reflecting off its surface in the most amazing way. And before Emily could even register anything else, Naomi had jumped up and had begun walking towards her car.
"Wh- what are you doing?" Emily called to her, just receiving a wink from Naomi in return, who had opened the boot of her mini and searched around for a little while, before pulling out a black bag, shaped suspiciously like a camera. Emily smiled as Naomi came back and sat on the blanket again, pulling out her SLR and snapping away.
"I've seen it so many times, just never at sunrise."
"It's gorgeous." Naomi nodded, sat up again and snapped one last landscape.
"Did you… Did you want to be in one? I promise to let you see it before I put it anywhere?"
"I don't know, I look rough Nai!"
"No, you really don't. You look like you've just woken up, which is perfect. I swear it will be amazing."
"Fine…" Emily sighed. "How do you want me?" Bad images flashed through Naomi's mind, making her smirk a little.
"What?" Emily hesitated, but Naomi just shook her head.
"Can you just look that way?" Naomi pointed towards the lake, and sure enough Emily gazed over at the lake, the yellow and pinks of the sky highlighting her nose and the shine of her gorgeous red hair. Naomi smiled before taking the picture, satisfied with herself very much. "Ok, one more… do you – can you stand up for me? Let your sleeves fall over your hands, and just stand in front of the lake, don't look at me…" Emily nodded and they both stood, walking out of their little cover to the edge of the lake. Naomi set herself up, and Emily turned towards the lake, her arms falling to her sides.
Snap.
"Gorgeous..." Naomi whispered watching Emily just gaze out, the sunlight once again making her look so much more amazing that she already was. She cleared her throat.
"Ok! We're done. Thanks so much." Emily smiled as she turned back around.
"So, does that mean I'm gonna be on your big wall of fame?"
"It does indeed, and it can go in my portfolio as well… come on, we best be getting home before it gets too busy…" Naomi packed her camera away, winding forward the film once before zipping up the bag and hanging it over her shoulder. She pulled the blanket up, shook it off a little bit, and then folded it neatly, placing it back in the boot of her mini along with her camera bag. She unlocked both doors, letting Emily climb in, before climbing in herself.
Naomi started the ignition, instantly setting the heaters to full blast, to help them thaw out a little.
"What portfolio is it?"
"Hmm?" Naomi now concentrating on her driving, was less talkative.
"The portfolio you mentioned. What's it for?"
"Oh that." Naomi nodded, turning away from the road occasionally to notice the fascinated on the small girls face. "It's like a folder really, containing all of my photos."
"Like all of the ones on your wall?" She nodded.
"And then, after I've finished Roundview, I'm going to apply to arts colleges I think. I mean, I'm pretty interested in politics so far, but there is only so far you can get with that, you know?"
Emily nodded.
"So the portfolio is to show what I can do."
"Oh, cool."
"Did you want to get breakfast?"
"Is there anywhere open at this time of morning?" Emily gazed down at her watch. 6:00am.
"Of course there is! There always is." Naomi chuckled, leading them off the country roads on to the main road. "I know a beautiful little place right outside Littleton. They are always open at this time."
Emily gasped when they turned the corner and the small café came into view. It really was beautiful. A thatched roof, pretty little blue shuttered windows. It was like out of a storybook.
"Have you taken any pictures of this place?"
"Yeah tonnes. I just don't put them on my wall, because then people will know where it is… see?" Naomi pointed to the town name inscribed in the paintwork right by the door. "I'd rather not people knowing, just like the lake. Well other than my mum, you're the only one that knows. And that only goes on my wall because it makes it look pretty, because I've got so many of them."
"Well its gorgeous… come on." Emily smiled, walking towards the door, already feeling the friendly atmosphere. Naomi pushed through the door, a small bell letting the owners know they had customers.
"Naomi!"
"Hey Janice." Naomi smiled.
"How are you this morning my darling? And why so early?"
"I'm great." She smiled, looking over at Emily. "I slept at the lake, so we just needed some breakfast."
"I see, I see. Gorgeous place, really don't blame you. I'm guessing you saw sunrise? Absolutely beautiful in the summer. Stunning." Naomi nodded, a wide smile gracing her face. The friendly, but worn face of the woman in front of them gazed over at the timid girl standing silently to the right of Naomi. "And who's this? New face."
"This is Emily, a… a close friend of mine."
"Well, well.. nice to meet you Emily. You must be special if Naomi's shown you the lake and brought you here. Actually I think it's the first time we've seen Naomi here with anyone. Think yourself lucky." She smiled warmly and Emily couldn't help but blush.
"Janice!"
"Sorry! People always like to hear the truth… I'll stop. What did you want to eat girls? Same for you Naomi? Cream cheese bagel, blueberry muffin and a hot chocolate?"
"Healthy.." Emily muttered, causing Naomi to turn to her with a small smirk on her face.
"Shh you.. Actually, I'm feeling fat food. How's your full English?"
"Exquisite."
"Then that it shall be. Emily?"
"I'll have the same." Emily smiled shyly.
"Ok darlings, will be ready in about 20 minutes. Can I get you some drinks while you're waiting?"
"Just a hot chocolate for me please Janice."
"Can I have a latte please?"
"Certainly can, I'll bring them over when they're done. Take a seat." Naomi nodded and led Emily over to a small window seat. The sun was slowly becoming more visible over the hills. They sat down opposite each other, the only thing separating them a small candle, scented vanilla, and slowly flickering away to itself, glowing around, lighting up the dim table area. Emily gazed out of the window, sighing at the thought of the night before. Naomi smiled and reached over the table, slowly stroking her fingertips along Emily's hand, playing with the skin softly. Emily's eyes watched as her fingers traced the small imperfections of her hand and feeling brave, reached up to lock their fingers together.
"One hot chocolate and one latte, with compliments." Janice winked, watching as Naomi and Emily's hands shot back separating almost as quickly as they had got together. Naomi carefully pulled the latte off of the tray, placing it in front of Emily, before taking her own and grabbing the small packets of sugar from the side of the table. "Enjoy girls.
"Thank you…" Emily said quietly, shaking one of the sugar packet and pouring it into her latte.
"A bit posh isn't it? Latte?"
"Not posh at all, just very very tasty." Emily chuckled, and sure enough, Naomi's heart fluttered. "Wanna try some?" Emily asked taking a small sip of it herself after stirring the sugar granules into the hot drink. Naomi nodded, and Emily pushed the small glass handle towards the blonde, letting her take the glass and take a sip also. Naomi nodded in satisfaction.
"Nice… but I think I'll stick to hot chocolate in the early mornings." She laughed, and Emily pulled her glass back towards her. Emily noticed the small faded ring of lipstick on the side of her glass and smiled, before taking one more sip herself and placing it back down in front of her, wiping her mouth on the napkin her knife and fork were wrapped in and then sitting back to admire the view again. Naomi placed her hand forward this time, and Emily couldn't help herself when she reached forward once again, taking the soft hand in hers. She smiled up shyly at Naomi, her eyes still a little heavy lidded from her sleep.
"So how's the 'Evil Fitch Clan'?"
"Naomi…"
"I know, but how are they? Haven't rung you yet?" Emily shook her head.
"Mum doesn't get up until 7, and even then she never comes to check on us. She's just off to work straight away. "
"But Katie will notice right? That your beds not been slept in?"
"Yeah but she'll only tell my Dad, and he's hardly any harm." Emily chuckled to herself, thinking about her Dad. "I'll probably get an earful from Katie though… I can hear it now, 'Emily! Emily! Where were you last night? Were you with that Nicole girl? You know, that lezza?!'" Emily shuddered. "Scary."
Naomi laughed, her hand stroking along Emily's arm, feeling the hairs stand on end.
"Will Katie tell your Mum?" Emily nodded.
"She will, but I can deal with that later. I'd rather not face reality just yet.
--
"Where is she Katie?!" Jenna Fitch was never up this early, and never for Emily.
"Mum, I don't know. She's not been here all night OK, look her bed hasn't even been slept in."
"You don't know? You're not lying to me?"
"Mum! I'd never lie to you!" Katie had to hold her breath for that one.
"I know, I know." The next thing they know, James Fitch appeared from the bedroom behind them, wiping tired eyes with his sleeve.
"What are you shouting about?" He groaned. "It's 6 o clock in the morning, in the morning!"
"Emily isn't here, she wasn't here last night. She didn't sleep here last night." James rolled his eyes.
"So you do care about her? Buggering 'ell."
"James Fitch, do you know where she went?"
"We were talking and then the next thing she's out talking to you and then she came back and then climbed outta her bedroom window and got in a car with the girl next door." Jenna's eyes widened.
"Do you know where she went?!"
"How should I know, she just went. She was crying." James shook his head, and turned back into his room, slamming the door. Jenna sighed heavily.
"Were going next door."
"Mum, really? It's 6 in the morning, no one will be up."
"They will after I've been. Are you coming?" Katie shook her head in disbelief. Her mum was never like this. Jenna scoffed, and pulled on her coat and boots, before running downstairs and out of the door. As she approached next door, she faltered a little bit, but then powered through, knocking on the door slightly too hard.
"Fuck, bugger, shit. Who the bloody 'ell is that at this time of the morning?!" The Irish accent was prominent, and a smoother calmer voice countered it.
"I'll go. You sleep. No one likes you when you're a grumpy guts." Gina made her way down the stairs slowly, her tired eyes visible when she looked at herself in the mirror passing the bathroom. As she gazed out through the textured glass of the front door she sighed and slowly unlocked and opened it. When Jenna Fitch appeared, she inwardly groaned.
"Yes?"
"What has your daughter done with my Emily?"
"Excuse me?" Gina wondered how anyone could be this rude, and actually had to blink in disbelief.
"Are they here? Is Emily here?"
"No, she's not. She's at the lake. That's the best bet."
"The lake?!"
"Yes, and I think it'd be better if you don't go and find it, because you wont. It's secret for a reason."
"Just my Emily and your daughter? Alone?" Jenna shuddered.
"Yes, alone. I'm sorry Jenna, but there is no doubt in my mind that she will return. Just give her time. She wanted to get away for the night was the last I heard. So just let her be herself. She'll be back in no time." Gina could do nothing but close the door in Jenna's face. Jenna huffed audibly and walked back around to her house and slowly and solemnly walked back inside.
"Well?"
"She's with that girl. That Naomi girl."
"Who? Oh! Her? The lesbian one? I thought as much."
"Wait… what… lesbian?" The next thing Katie knew, her mum was floored, flat out.
--
The café was still quite for this time of the morning, even though it had only just turned 7am. The sun had truly risen now, and the two girls were finishing off the last of their breakfasts.
"Heard anything from your Mum?" Emily shook her head, pulling up her napkin once again and dabbing the sides of her mouth just incase. Naomi did the same, and pushed both of their plates to the side of the table.
"I haven't, but she's never been that bothered in me staying out." As she said that her phone vibrated in her pocket. She gulped at the message emblazoned across the glowing screen.
New Message from Mum:
Home. Now.
"Shit." Naomi perked up and gasped when she read the text. "I really need to go."
"Say no more." Naomi winked, pulling herself up. "Thanks for breakfast Janice!" Naomi shouted through the kitchen, only to see her appear in front again.
"That's never a problem Naomi… It was lovely to meet you Emily. Make sure she treats you good yeah?" Janice said with a wink, causing Emily to blush. "Or she'll have me to deal with wont you Naomi."
"Yes Janice…" Naomi moaned, carefully taking Emily's hand in her own and leading her out of the café. "Come on then, lets get you home before this mother of yours blows her top." Emily nodded and let herself be pulled towards the car. They climbed back in and headed off home. The small country roads seeming too short to Emily as she headed towards real life again.
--
As they got closer and closer, Emily got more and more nervous.
"Naomi…" Emily's voice was hoarse, so she tried again. " Naomi, can you just, can you just stop for a second?" Emily asked as they reached the turning right before their road. Naomi nodded and pulled over on the side of the pavement. She then turned the engine off and turned to Emily expectantly.
"I just knew I wouldn't be able to say… do this when we get to mine, so I just…" Emily did nothing else but lean in and place her lips on Naomi's. Both eyes closed on impact and Naomi couldn't help but push a little more, engaging in a soft but frantic kiss that she wanted to last forever. All Emily could do was push impossibly closer and ended up sitting in Naomi's lap, pulling her in by her neck to deepen the kiss even more. Naomi's hand stroking Emily's hips, the fabric on then slipping up the reveal bare skin.
"I'm going to miss you…" Emily whispered against her lips, her breathing heavy. Naomi pulled back.
"Don't say that. Don't say it." She said again and again, pushing her lips back on the small redheads in front of her. "Don't you dare. We'll get through this ok."
Emily could do nothing but push as close as she could, pushing against Naomi's lips with so much passion she surprised herself. And almost as soon as it had started, it was over, as a car drove past with a stupidly loud engine, causing the two to break apart rapidly. Emily stayed on Naomi's lap, and tucked her head into her collarbone and tried to calm her breathing down.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm a little scared to be completely honest." Naomi nodded, and placed a soft kiss on the tresses of hair before her.
"Come on, you can be brave."
"Can I tell you… I need to tell you something… it's a little big… but…"
"What is it?" Naomi pulled Emily's face up by her chin carefully and Emily faltered a little bit before gathering her breath.
"I think.. I know it's been what… three days I've known you… but I think… I think I'm falling for you." She bowed her head again. Naomi couldn't help but feel a little choked up that she had confided in her so early on. And if she was completely honest, she felt exactly the same. She could never really say how she felt a lot of the time, so she did what she always did. She cried. A lone tear fell down her cheek, leaving a wet trail on the dry skin.
"Me too Em, me too. Now come on, lets face it together yeah? Be brave for me?" Emily nodded against Naomi's chest and climbed slowly back into her seat, Naomi instantly missing the warmth of Emily's body. She gathered herself and pulled back out into the road again, turning into their road and slowly pulling into her driveway. As soon as the engine had been turned of they both sighed and climbed out.
Jenna Fitch came running out first, an angry look across her face.
"Emily, inside now." She truly was angry. She wasn't using proper sentences. Emily solemnly turned to Naomi and smiled before following her Mum inside. The door slammed and Naomi winced, before pulling everything out of her boot. One thing she did notice that wasn't there before, Emily's jumper had stowed away in the back seat. Naomi smiled, and picked it up. She locked all of her car, and then slowly entered her house, spotting her Mum sitting by herself in the kitchen, a cup of tea in her hands. She looked up as Naomi walked in and smiled a little and motioned for Naomi to join her.
"Nice night love?" Naomi was so glad she had a mum like her mum.
"Absolutley gorgeous. I got some amazing pictures as well."
"That's good. How's Emily?"
"She was fine this morning, took her to Janice's café you know, she loved it. And then she got a text from her mum saying she wanted her home, and that was it, good mood gone. I don't know how she is now, I'm just scared for her to be quite honest."
"I would be too if I had Jenna Fitch as a mother. Nasty piece of work she is."
"What? How do you know?"
"Oh just a lovely little 6am visit from her demanding to see her daughter. Like I'd kidnapped her or something." Naomi gasped. "She was a bit shocked that she was alone with you though, strange one that Fitch family. Well apart from Emily of course."
"What did you tell her?"
"Oh just that you probably went to the lake."
"Mum!"
"You didn't let me finish… I said that you went to the lake, and that it would be better if she didn't go and search for it, and that she shouldn't because it's a secret for a reason."
"And then what?"
"And then she just left, well not left… I shut the door on her. It was 6am for Pete's sake." Naomi laughed at her mum, and her ways. "But that's all I know. Emily might be in a bit of trouble though."
"That's what I'm scared about…" Gina came round and pulled Naomi into a hug.
"Don't you worry love, Emily is a strong girl. She'll sort it out." Naomi smiled and snuggled into her mum a little more before pulling away and boiling the kettle for another one of those lovely hot chocolates.
--
"Where the hell do you think you have been?!"
"I was out for the night, better than staying in this shithole."
"Emily!"
"What! It's true, you made me cry Mum. What kind of mother does that?"
"A good mother that's who. What did you think you were doing? Is this a rebel streak or something? Hanging around with this Naomi girl?"
"No its not mum, I made a new friend. Someone that wasn't Katie for a change. You should be happy."
"Emily, do whatever you want, get a tattoo, get a piercing… whatever, but spending nights out at some sort of 'Lake' with that girl, no more. This has got to stop."
"Mum, what do you actually have against her?"
"Well you know…"
"No mum, I don't. Care to enlighten me?"
"Emily. She's a lesbian." Emily actually couldn't believe her ears.
"And?! So she's a lesbian and that automatically makes me one too? So I cant have a gay friend? Katie has JJ, he's gay, and yet she doesn't get this. Is it because it could turn me gay? Are you really that shallow?"
"No… I'm not.. but… she's gay Naomi."
"I cant believe you! You are such a homophobe!"
"I'm your mother, and you will do what I say. You will not see this Naomi girl again ok. Go, get other friends, other girls, straight girls. Naomi is out of the question."
"But Mum!"
"No buts Emily Jane Fitch. Now, go to your room, and get ready for school. I'll tell Katie about our little arrangement, she'll be sure to stop anything that may be going on between you two."
"Fuck sake!" Emily stomped upstairs and slumped into a heap on her bed. Her eyes flooded with tears she pulled out her phone, typing one simple message with blurry eyes.
New Message to Naomi:
I'm sorry x--
"Guys, this is Emily. Emily, the guys."
"Nice to meet you Emily, seems you've tamed Blondie here. Glad someone finally did."
"Whizzer, nice hair Em. I've always wanted bright hair but was never brave enough."
"Hello Emily, I'm Thomas, so glad to meet you."
"Emily… Naomi… interesting…"