Ah, here we are with the next part. The disclaimer remains the same--I receive no money, and I do not own Skins.
Hope you enjoy what you read and for those die hard Naoimly fans--well, lol...my apologies in advance.
I hope to have the next part up within a week from this posting.
As always, thanks for reading. I appreciate all reviews and suggestions.
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It should be raining. Isn't that how it always happens in the movies? And sad songs—yeah—sad songs ought to be playing, Emily thought as she walked across the college green. Instead, incongruent to the dark storm brewing inside her, the weather was strangely pleasant for this time of year.
As she approached the usual meeting place, she could see the sun shining on her friends. Everyone was gathered around JJ who was performing one of his magic tricks. Freddie held Effy lovingly in his arms and Cook was making lewd gestures to Laura who was laughing good-naturedly. She could feel a pang in her heart when she heard Naomi laughing at JJ"s reveal and was instantly drawn to the blonde. Her hair shone around her face like a halo and her crystal blue eyes sparkled with love and laughter when she spotted her girlfriend.
My angel—my goddess. Emily smiled despite the news she carried heavy in her chest. Naomi turned away from JJ and gave the red head a welcoming smile. Emily found her own smile turning into a grimace. In a few minutes, neither of them would be smiling. A flash of red caught her attention and broke her gaze with Naomi. Brown eyes the same as hers were looking at her. As soon as Katie saw Emily catch her eye she looked away from her twin guiltily.
She knew. Emily realized, feeling a torrent begin to rage inside her.
Katie attempted to move away from her fast approaching sister but stopped when she realized that Emily would just follow her. At least out here, only their friends would hear the argument and she really didn't want the embarrassment that would come from the entire college seeing the twin' unavoidable fight.
"You knew." The icy tone of Emily's voice caused everyone to stop talking. JJ quietly slipped his magic cards back into his back pack and everyone turned toward the twins. "You fucking knew that she was going to do that. You knew—and couldn't even fucking warn me?"
Katie took a step back from her sister. Deliberately she kept her voice calm, "It's not like I could stop her—she was crazed when she came home. Mum practically tossed my clothes at me and told me to get out."
"But you could have at least called!" Emily shouted.
"I'm sorry. But—"
"No, Katie! Emily yelled, moving closer to her sister. Lowering her voice she continued, "You promised me you'd accept this. You're my sister. You're supposed to be by my side."
Katie arched her eyebrows and laughed. "Oh that's well and good isn't it? But I'm not, am I? She," Katie jerked her head toward Naomi who was standing stunned watching the exchange, "makes sure of that."
"What?"
"You made a promise too. You promised you'd never really leave me. But how many times did I see you over the summer?"
"I—"
Katie rolled her eyes at her twin. "The few times mum and dad made you come home, that's how many. So don't go off telling me that I'm the one who abandoned you. You've abandoned our whole fucking family for that lezzie bitch."
With that, Katie gave her a final smirk and spun on her heel walking away from her sister. Emily stood shaking for a second then her knees weakening; she dropped to the ground sobbing loudly. Stunned everyone watched the younger twin as she began to disintegrate before them.
Effy slid next to Naomi and whispered, "You gonna take care of your girl?"
It wasn't really a question and Effy didn't wait for an answer from the blonde. Instead, she gave her a reassuring smile and moved back to her boyfriend. She looked to the group, giving each member a stern glance. Freddie appeared pained for the redhead's suffering; JJ looked like he wanted to go to Emily but wasn't sure if he should, and Cook seemed confused by the twin's outburst. The only one who didn't seem surprised by the red head's obvious misery was Laura.
Strange, Effy thought and with one last glare at the newest member of the group, began leading everyone away from the couple to give them their much needed privacy.
"Emily?" Naomi reached for her girlfriend's hand. "C'mon, let's go find somewhere we can talk."
Emily remained on the ground crying seemingly oblivious to her girlfriend's approach and Naomi moved to her side. She sat with the girl for a few moments rubbing small circles on her back. At last with Naomi's comforting gestures, Emily's crying slowed and she tried again, "Let's go find somewhere we can talk without anyone interrupting."
Emily nodded this time and accepted Naomi's outstretched hand. She allowed her girlfriend to lead her around the side of the main building to an outside staircase that led to the upper levels of the college.
Taking her girlfriend's bag Naomi helped Emily to sit on the steps before moving beside her. Once settled, she reclaimed Emily's hand. "I take it something happened with your mum when you got home last night?"
Emily nodded; still unsure she could form the words she had to say.
"That's why you didn't text me?" Naomi prodded gently.
"Yeah."
Naomi sighed. She had known that this would eventually happen. The summer had been too perfect, too much like a fairy tale. And there's always a villain in fairy tales, Naomi mused.
"Your mum found out about us ditching classes?"
Emily nodded. Knowing she couldn't just keep leaving Naomi to keep guessing, she began recounting the argument with her mother.
Naomi listened quietly allowing her girlfriend to get it all out. She had to clench her teeth several times and her eyebrows shot up when she Emily told her about her possessions being thrown out. It was so different at her home. Gina wouldn't dream of even coming in Naomi's room without her permission, let along taking her things—communal living guests excluded—that is.
"And so, we can't see each other anymore." Emily finished with a sob.
Naomi narrowed her eyes at her girlfriend's choice of words. "You mean we can't go out after school anymore."
Emily looked up at her girlfriend for the first time since she had begun revealing the punishment she was to receive. She had spent several hours the night before crying on her bed before succumbing to exhaustion. The most prevailing thought that kept her awake was that Naomi would say that it was just too hard. Now it sounded like she may have been wrong. Did she dare to hope that Naomi would stand by her?
"What?"
Naomi could see the emotions playing in the red head's chocolate orbs. Truth be told she was a wee bit hurt that Emily would think that she wouldn't want to fight for their relationship, but she supposed that she hadn't always stayed around. She had walked out twice on Emily, after all. But after the love ball, she had made her choice. She knew that it would be hard, but she wanted to assure her lover that she wasn't going anywhere.
Trying to sound positive she spoke, "Well, Ems, its bullocks that we can't go out at night and we will only get to see each other at school, but it's not the end of the world. I mean, we won't be in college forever, and I'm sure your mum will calm down after a while."
"You want to stay together?"
Naomi looked deeply into the dark eyes of her girlfriend. "Of course Emily, I love you. This—this is right—we are right. And I hate that your sister and parents can't see that but I won't let them tear us apart."
Naomi furrowed her brow when the red head didn't immediately answer. "That is, if you want this."
Emily found herself falling even more in love with her girlfriend. Nodding she allowed herself a small smile.
Naomi returned the smile, and wanting to give her girlfriend more reassurance dipped her head gently brushing lips with the red head.
Emily pressed her forehead against the blonde's "I love you."
Naomi grinned widely at her girlfriend. "You better Ms. Fitch; now let's get to class before someone calls your mum again."
Emily giggled and the two walked back around the building toward the front entrance of the school. They both knew that the next few weeks would be difficult but they had each other and they would get through it together.
As they walked through the doors, neither saw the figure hiding in the shadows a few feet away watching them.
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Fridays are always the hardest, Naomi complained to herself standing beside Emily's locker waiting for her to get out of class. The end of Friday meant that she wouldn't get to see her girl again till Monday.
At first, they would speak on the phone, but eventually, Mrs. Fitch decided to make it even more difficult and canceled Emily's cell phone plan. Occasionally, the red head would bribe her brother James into letting her borrow his, but this weekend Emily had told her that James was staying the weekend with his friend and would surely take their only form of communication with him.
She dreaded the weekend away from her girl but was even more worried for Emily. Naomi could at least get out of the house and try to keep her mind off of the red head but Emily would be stuck inside the house with only her disapproving family to keep her company.
The first couple of weekends they couldn't see each other, Naomi stayed at home just like her girl was forced to do. But by the third weekend she was roused from her self-imposed punishment by Cook and JJ.
She smiled remembering Cook's words "Oi Blondie," he said, showing up at her house and entering her room unannounced with JJ toting along beside him, "time for you to get out of here and go get mental with us."
Indignantly, she had told him to "fuck off" but he just laughed and continued.
"Somebody has to be having fun in your relationship and it's not doing Emily a fuck of good knowing that she's causing you to arse around here moping."
JJ nodded emphatically behind Cook, "Too right. Statistics show that as long as one person in the relationship is—
"Alright, alright—I'll go." Naomi interrupted realizing that they wouldn't take no for an answer. "Just let me get changed."
At first she felt guilty about going out, but Emily had assured her that Cook's logic was right, so Naomi had begun spending the weekends joining Cook and JJ on their adventures. Usually that meant getting trashed at Cooks uncle's bar or starting a fight in the underground. Even though this wasn't her idea of fun, she had found herself growing quite close to Cook and JJ as she watched the two interact. The first time Naomi watched Cook talk JJ down after he had locked on during one of their outings; she was reminded that Cook really was a good guy at heart.
Naomi was roused from her memories by the arms of her girlfriend encircling her from behind.
"Hey Na"
Naomi turned in Emily's arms welcoming her with a kiss. "Hey yourself," she murmured, teasing her girlfriend's lips. Gently she nuzzled her neck and began trailing kisses along her jaw line.
Emily moaned beneath the blonde's assault. "Na…"
Naomi could feel the red head's pulse quicken beneath her lips. Her arms tightened around the red head and she kissed her deeply.
Breaking the kiss, Emily panted, "God no. You can't—you can't do that."
Naomi looked into the darkened orbs of her girlfriend. She could hear the huskiness in her girlfriend's voice and instantly regretted teasing her girlfriend.
"I'm sorry Ems, it's just…"
Naomi sighed, shaking her head.
"I want you so bad…"
Emily looked sadly into her girlfriend's eyes, the reminder that they were unable to make love killing the lust that had built inside her.
"I know Naomi—I want you too." Frustrated, she groaned. "God this is so hard."
"I know, but we've got to stay strong, yeah?"
"Yeah. "
"Hey red." Cook greeted, interrupting the couple from their conversation.
"Hello Emily, hello Naomi." JJ added nodding to each of the girls as he walked up behind Cook.
Cook noticed their flushed expressions and smiled. "Been snogging, then? Well, don't stop on our account." He nodded toward his friend. "JJ needs a good show."
JJ blushed and looked away from the girls.
Emily laughed, "Oh fuck off, you tosser."
The group laughed and JJ gave Emily a small smile of thanks. Cook laughed again and looked toward Naomi, "You ready blondie? My uncle's got us all set for tonight--Pub quiz.."
Naomi looked at her girlfriend, still feeling a bit guilty for going out. Emily smiled at her reassuringly,
"You go on babe, I better get home before mum sends the royal guard."
"Want to give us a second?" Naomi asked glancing toward Cook.
Cook smiled at Naomi. "Sure, get on with it then."
Naomi waited for them to walk away, but realizing that they weren't going to budge, shook her head and then kissed Emily gently on the cheek.
"I'll see you Monday."
Emily nodded, "Monday." As she walked away she could hear Cook and JJ teasing Naomi about their kiss.
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Emily sat on the sofa with her back leaning against the arm cushion. She stared blankly out the window across the room. It framed the gray and dreary sky outside. The only occasional change in scenery was the intensity of the rain that fell. To Emily, it looked like the entire world was crying.
Emily sighed deeply, God, how did this get so fucked up. How do I go from being so happy to so miserable?
Oh, that's right, mum—my own mum who is too busy being a selfish bitch to let me be me. She'd rather we all hate each other as long as we paint the perfect family picture to everyone.
It had been an entire month and her mother still showed no signs of relenting or backtracking on her punishment.
"Emily?" Speak of the devil.
The sound had interrupted her inner rant. Recognizing the voice, she ignored her mother and continued gazing out the window.
"Emily," Jenna tried again, this time moving directly in front of the window. She had watched her daughter sit on the couch since after breakfast and she was sick of the red head moping about.
"Emily!" it was a command this time Emily knew, as her mother was using her authoritative voice.
At last, with a sound of irritation in her throat, Emily flicked her eyes up at her mom. "What?"
Jenna settled down on the window seat. "Are you just going to sit here all day?"
Emily looked at her mother incredulously and laughed bitterly, "What else do you expect me to do? I'm not allowed to go out with my friends."
Jenna pursed her lips, "Well, I'm sure that there's something you can do instead of just laying around the house all day. Why don't you play with Jame's playstation?"
Emily glared at her mother. "Sounds like a load of fun, mum, unfortunately I have plans with the window here." Emily nodded her head sarcastically.
"Don't you have any male friends you could invite over? " Jenna didn't trust letting Emily out of the house just yet—even with a male escort, but she could certainly have one over.
Emily knew she was treading on thin ice and that she shouldn't pusher her mother, but she just couldn't resist saying what came to her mind, "You know it's not like I'm going to go out and jump the first thing that has tits and a fanny."
"Emily!" Her mom shouted through a clenched jaw. For the millionth time that very day, Jenna wondered why her daughter couldn't just be normal.
Emily laughed, enjoying the horror written across her mother's face.
Jenna shook her head in frustration. She was sure that Emily meeting the right boy was the key to her getting over this gay thing and she wouldn't be able to meet a boy if she stayed hidden away in the house. Watching her daughter she considered several options, dismissing each that came to mind.
Finally, she suggested: "You know, you could go to the gym, I suppose."
"What?"Emily stared up at her mother in disbelief. "You want me to go dad's gym?"
"Well, your father is there to watch over you, and maybe you'll meet a nice boy. At least you'll be doing something."
Emily started to tell her mother exactly how fucking mental she thought that idea was when she stopped herself. She was sick of being cooped up in the house, and if she were exercising she'd be too occupied to think about Naomi, or rather, the lack of her lover.
It would also give her a chance to work out the frustrations building inside of her. With Emily only getting to see Naomi at school, the couple hadn't been able to do much more than kiss for over a month and then it was always around other people. They certainly couldn't find release from the sexual tension building inside them.
At least Naomi has her own room—fucking twat, Emily mused. With her sharing a bedroom with Katie, she couldn't exactly take matters into her own hands. And she had heard somewhere that exercise could help to relieve the tension. Finally deciding, she looked up at her mom. "Alright, I'll guess I can give it a go."
Standing up she warned "But I'm not joining some stupid class—I'll just work out with the weights and maybe run on the treadmill. "
Her mother nodded, pleased with herself. "Well, go upstairs and get some clothes, I'll give you a ride."
Bloody hell, the point is to get away from you, Emily thought.
"Mum, I can just take the bus."
Jenna glared at her daughter, "Oh no, I'll be giving you a ride and your father can bring you home. "
Emily sighed, shaking her head and walking toward the stairs. "Whatever."
From doorway to her room she called out: "Cause nailing the blue haired bus driver was top notch on my list!"
Jenna closed her eyes at the comment. Teenagers, she thought as she grabbed her car keys from the dish beside the door.
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Emily carefully blew on the hot soup before taking a tentative swallow. She immediately cringed at the taste. Glancing across the table she noticed a similar reaction from her twin. Putting her spoon down she mused, James is damned lucky to be at Gordon's tonight.
"So, you know how I've been saying I'd like to expand the hours at the gym—start a night class?"
"Yes dear?" Jenna asked, stopping her fork just shy of her lips.
Emily and Katie glanced at each other before turning to watch their parents. Rob staying late at the fitness center had been a sore subject in the Fitch family for years. A few months after he had first started the business, Jenna had threatened to divorce him so that he could just marry the gym. Things finally settled down after the business became steady, though, and both girls were shocked to see that their dad was about to rock the boat.
"Well, I think I'm going to do it." Rob grinned at his wife excitedly.
"What's this about? I thought we decided that it would take away from our family time."
Here we go. Don't I hear mum scream enough at me? Now dad's gonna get her going. Emily shook her head.
"Not now." Rob grinned proudly and continued, "I figured out a way to do it and still be at home."
Emily furrowed her brows listening to the conversation between her parents. I wonder what dad's up to now. She looked over at her sister who shrugged slightly and continued eating.
"You know that family that moved in down the street –the Wilsons?"
Wilsons, Laura's last name is Wilsons. Emily's head snapped up in recognition. She could see her reaction reflected across the table on the face of her twin.
"You mean Charlie and Marian? I ran into them at the grocer—they seem like a nice couple," Jenna answered.
"Yeah, well, turns out that Charlie used to be a personal trainer. I got to talking to him the other day while I was outside and he was asking about the center. He said that he'd love to do a few hours work in the evenings."
"Who will help him set up and break down?" Jenna asked.
"Oh, he's got a daughter-uh-Lori-Laura I think. She's well into sports and he said that she'd be helping him.
Rob looked over at Katie. "I think she goes to your college."
Katie glanced over at her sister before responding, "Uh, yeah, she has a couple of classes with me."
Emily set her spoon down and turned her head to watch her mother's reaction. She was surprised to see that her mom seemed pleased.
Jenna nodded relieved that her husband had indeed found a way to make more money without sacrificing their time together. "Well, dear, I think that's wonderful."
Rob bobbed his head up and down. "Right, I'm going ring him and tell him that he can start a class next week then."
Emily watched her father rise from the table and pick up his plate.
"Dinner was wonderful honey." He looked toward his daughter. "I've got to go down and repair some equipment later on, so I'll give you a ride to the gym if you want."
Emily nodded at her father. "Sure dad."
So, Laura and her dad working at Fitches'—Emily going to the gym--this will be interesting. Katie mused looking toward her twin.
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"Fuck," Emily muttered wiping the sweat off her face with a towel. Wearily she dropped it on the bench and picked up her water bottle taking a long swallow.
This was her third week at the gym, and although she still wasn't crazy about working out, at least it did give her something to do during the weekends and it helped Naomi to feel less guilty about hanging out with Cook and JJ.
At last, she settled on the bench beside her things and felt her back tighten in protest. "Bloody hell, I can't fucking move," she groaned, talking to herself oblivious to the girl who had slipped into the room and was watching her.
"You're not using the right form."
"Sorry?" Emily snapped her head up to see blond hair loosely piled into a clip and eyes the hue of emeralds.
Laura smiled at the red head as she looked her over. In an olive sleeveless top and black track shorts the red head looked quite sexy. Her flushed face and hair slung into a loose pony tail added to the sportier casual look. Laura continued gazing appreciatively as moved to the bench and sat beside Emily.
Emily glanced at the girl for a moment and then darted her eyes toward the door. Laura had apparently closed it when she came in the room. Unless her father or Mr. Wilson came by no one from the outside would be able to open the self locking door.
She returned her gaze to the blonde lounging beside her. She looked completely at home in the gym wearing dark shorts and a black spaghetti strapped shirt. She couldn't help but notice how the shirt showed off Laura's well toned arms. It didn't quite meet the top of her shorts and when she shifted Emily could see the toned abs underneath.
I'm completely alone with a girl for the first time in nearly two months and she's fucking gorgeous. Emily's eyes widened as the thought came into her head. What the hell? Where did that come from?
Confused by the disagreement that was quickly forming between her mind and body, she cleared her throat and asked, "Right form?"
Laura watched the thoughts playing in those chocolate orbs and grinned when she noticed a hint of desire. Not wanting to overplay her hand and scare the red head off she answered, "Yeah, you're doing it wrong which makes the muscle have to work harder to compensate."
"Oh." Emily responded, still dazed by the emotions playing in her heart and the stirring she was beginning to feel deep inside her core.
"Figured you would have known that—what with your dad being an instructor." Laura chastised.
"Well," Emily defended herself, "I never really came to the gym before…" Visions of Naomi flooded her mind and she instantly felt guilty for the thoughts she had had just a few moments before.
"I'm just not that into working out." Emily finished her voice low.
Laura frowned. Naomi. Fuck, when is she ever going to get over that girl? The phone call I made to her mom about skipping should have been enough to break them up, but here they are holding on and everyone in the gang just has to be so bloody helpful. Bullocks.
Laura refused to be deterred by Naomi when the girl wasn't even present. With a plot hatching inside her head, she asked, "Fancy me showing you the right way, then?"
Emily raised an eyebrow warily at Laura. "You want to show me how do the exercise?"
"Sure," Laura shrugged, trying to come across as nonchalant, "dad's got another 45 minutes before he needs my help cleaning up and it's not like I've got anything better to do." Or anyone, she silently added.
Emily slowly nodded.
Seeing that she almost had Emily where she wanted her, Laura added, "Besides if you don't learn how to do that right, you're gonna pull a muscle. And we wouldn't want that, now would we?"
Emily considered the blonde's reasoning. If she got hurt, she wouldn't be able to come to the gym, and although she didn't really like working out, she was at least getting toned which her girlfriend would appreciate—if she ever got to have time alone with her again.
Finally deciding Emily said, "Alright—I guess you can show me."
"Right, up you go then." Laura grabbed the dumbbells and lifted them testing the weight.
"What?" Emily asked confused by the instruction. She had thought that she would just sit and watch the blonde demonstrate the correct way to do the moves.
"Stand up and I'll guide you."
Emily stood and looked blankly at the girl. "Uh, okay." She took the weights Laura offered her and moved toward the center of the room still unsure of the other girl's intentions.
"Oh," Emily's eyes widened in understanding as she felt the other girl move behind her. Feeling suddenly weak at the knees, her stomach tightened and she cleared her throat.
Laura allowed herself a small smirk, feeling the other girl's reaction when she slid her arms around her. She rested her hands just above Emily's belly button and couldn't resist whispering into her ear "Relax."
"Look," Emily shivered at the warmth of Laura's breath tickling her ear and protested, "I'm really tired and maybe this isn't—"
"Nonsense." Laura scoffed behind her. "This won't take but a few minutes."
Emily closed her eyes. She could feel the heat from the other girl seeping into her pores; unconsciously she moved further back into Laura's arms. God this feels so good.
Swallowing she asked, "So what do I do?" Her voice came out huskier than she had intended and she cleared her throat again.
Laura moved her hands till they rested on Emily's hips and gently pressed down on the red head. "First, relax your legs and bend your knees."
Emily nodded falling into the stance.
"Ready?" Laura asked.
Emily swallowed and nodded again, "Yeah."
"Okay, let's begin."
Emily moved with the blonde behind her following her lead. For the next several minutes Laura led her through a series of movements. Each time their bodies came into contact, each had stifle a moan. The heat between the two was growing and it had nothing to do with the work out.
"Got it?" Laura asked finishing the last repetition.
Hearing the desire laced in Laura's question Emily turned around to face the girl. She didn't realize how close the blonde had been standing next to her and found herself only inches away from Laura's mouth. Nervously she bit her lip.
The gesture immediately caused Laura's eyes jump from the dark chocolate orbs of the red head to her equally beautiful lips. Right where I want you.
Emily found that couldn't take her eyes away from the emerald orbs sparkling in front of her. Slowly she tipped her head back to meet Laura's lips.