Thank you for the reviews, especially to * who pointed out a mistake I made, that I didn't even realise until it was pointed out to me. I then realised I made a mistake with the last chapter as it was supposed to be two chapters, part 2 being from Emily's point of view. So I had to spend a little bit of time seeing how I could rejig things to make sure they end the way they're planned to. This chapter certainlty wasn't planned but I think it worked out okay, I hope that * is happy with the direction I have now decided to take...

Disclaimer: I don't own Skins...if I did season 3 cast would be in it forever and ever.

Katie was already at the café when Emily arrived, she ordered them both a drink and Katie told her about a party that was planned for the weekend, to celebrate the end of their exams. Emily stayed silent, still processing what she'd witnessed in Naomi's bedroom.

"So anyway, Cook's bringing the gear, Freddie's bringing his sister and JJ's apparently bringing a girlfriend," Katie informed her, talking faster than the speed of light.

Emily's ears pricked up, "JJ's got a girlfriend?"

"Apparently," she replied, "You're really quiet, what happened with Naomi?"

"Naomi," Emily repeated, her thoughts struggling to catch up with her, "I have to go."

"You've just got here," Katie shouted, annoyed.

"I'll explain later."

Emily ran out of the café to the complaints of Katie, obviously put out by her speedy exit. But Emily had realised what a mistake she'd made. How could she leave Naomi alone when she'd just nearly been sexually assaulted? It sent her head spinning out of control, thoughts dancing around, images of James holding her breasts, touching her in places that Emily couldn't help feel belonged to her.

-

Her breathing became shallower and her side hurt, the stitch stopping her in her tracks. She was still round the corner from Naomi's house, so she set off again, ignoring the pain from her side so that she could return.

"Naomi," she shouted, running up the stairs and into her bedroom, it was empty.

The sound of the shower running reached her ears and she wondered what to do. They weren't together anymore, but she was worried. She tried the bathroom door anyway and it fell open under the weight of her hand. She proceeded with caution, then her heart sank when she saw Naomi curled up on the bathroom floor, fully clothed.

"I'm sorry," Emily cried out, wrapping herself around her, "I shouldn't have left."

-

Naomi's body was shaking, her eyes were full of tears, she looked like a deer in the headlights, right before the car collided. Emily stroked her hair, pushing the wet locks from her eyes and behind her ears.

"I was going to have a shower," Naomi finally spoke "but we don't have any shampoo, so I just…" Emily nodded as she trailed off, it didn't matter, talking didn't matter.

-

Emily handed a mug of coffee to Naomi, then took a seat beside her at the kitchen table. They'd found some shampoo and Naomi had finally showered, Emily waited in her bedroom until she'd finished. Then they went downstairs to get a drink. Emily couldn't help but watch Naomi drinking her coffee, a question on her mind.

"What?" Naomi asked, noticing her staring.

"Nothing," Emily whispered, "I just, James said you'd led him on, so you two never…?"

Naomi shook her head.

"Right. You should probably go to the police."

There was a long pause, neither of them said a word. When Naomi finally spoke, her voice was weaker than Emily had ever heard it, "No,"

"But…" Emily tried.

"No. It was a mistake, it was just a stupid mistake."

-

Mistake. The word span around Emily's head, it was a word she was all too familiar with, a word that felt wrong everytime she heard it. Before when she heard it, she thought of hate, hate of Naomi, hate of the situation. Now she didn't. She wondered if she should ignore what her heart and mind were telling her, what she'd decided to do when talking to her counsellor. But with Naomi sat in front of her, she wondered if it would be better to change her mind. Then she shook her head, it was the wrong thing to do. She knew that. Her decision was final, the discussion her and Naomi would have when things had settled down would end the same way it would have ended had James not attempted to rape Naomi.

-

When Emily left Naomi's later that evening she felt ready. Ready to take on the challenge of making things right between them, ready to go to university, whichever one accepted her and ready to make the changes she needed to make to feel stronger. The past eight months had been hard, they'd be a challenge that she didn't hope to take again, but she looked back at the person she was before and she knew deep down that she was a better person as a result.

AN: Thanks for reading this chapter, you know a review/comment is greatly apprecited, so feel free to post one!