Author's Note: Oh my gosh, thanks for all the reviews you guys! They make me so happy. I especially loved hearing all your favorite parts and what makes you guys laugh. Marsupial1974 - to answer your questions - I think it's very common for people to fall in love with their friends, it doesn't always mean anything in the long run - but I think anyone falling in love with Emily other than Naomi puts most of us off anyway. And as far as whether or not Emily knows she's gay - well, that's all a part of the story for us to find out, isn't it?
Chapter Three: The Distraction Attraction
It was another rainy day in Bristol - an opportunity to hole up in the small coffee shop instead of going for her usual morning run. Sometimes Naomi liked running in the rain - enjoyed anything that took her mind off personal thoughts. Today's activities included writing, or attempting to, while the raindrops tapped and drizzled down the window she was leaning against. Her current journalism assignment was to write about the upcoming "SlutWalk," a protest against excusing rape by attributing horrific crimes to the way women dress, or their physical appearance. Unfortunately, Naomi had not gotten very far:
"The SlutWalk" Wow. A fucking title - how informative. That will really catch someone's eye... Fuck's sake.
She was far too distracted by the strangers walking in and out of the shop. The blonde already had two different coffees in the two hours she had been there. It seemed like really anything that was an excuse not to write was far more interesting. Even the dull conversation between an elderly couple, a few tables to her right, about their adorable grandkids visiting seemed interesting. She was so invested in the story about "Jacob not sharing his new birthday toys with Toby" that she had not even noticed when her friend unexpectedly sat beside her.
"It seems you've discovered a fascinating new species, Campbell."
"Ah, yes, the elderly. Ha, ha."
"What are you doing? You know, aside from creepily staring at old people?"
Naomi turned her attention away from the old couple and faced her friend. If you did not know Effy, short for Elizabeth, you would think she was stereotypically Goth. She had straight, long, brown hair; blue eyes surrounded by heavy, black eyeliner; pale skin; and skimpy, black clothing. Naomi's friend did not shy away from wearing shirts that barely covered her arse as dresses, and tights that were more like single threads against her skin. You would definitely be intimidating if you weren't my friend.
We must make quite the pair; you and I. Naomi smiled at the thought of people fleeing away from them in terror like an old-school Godzilla movie.
"I'm writing," Naomi looked at the notebook on the table that only had a title and her name in the corner.
"I see," Effy said, although her tone suggested she meant more than the absence of writing. Oh, shut up.
"Yeah, I've got old people blocking my train of thought. They're like my kryptonite or something."
Effy raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Really?" Naomi just responded with an indifferent shrug; she liked to think she was immune to the judgmental looks of her friend. This time Effy spoke out loud. "So what's really bothering you so much that you can't write a novel like you usually do?" Emily practically said the same thing when I told her that dog story, about writing, errr, talking, like a novelist.
"Nothing." Naomi was suddenly way more interested in the old couple once again.
"I wonder how their sex life is - with his wrinkled dick, and her loose vagina - saggy balls and tits everywhere," Effy said as though she were actually contemplating it deeply while turning her attention in the same direction as Naomi.
"Ugh, Jesus fucking Christ, Eff. You're disgusting! I'll never look at old people the same way again, ugh." Naomi's face scrunched up very disturbed by the imagery that had obviously presented itself in her mind.
"I had to say something to get you to stop staring at them - to answer me." She shrugged as if what she had said was now no big deal. "Where were you last night?"
"Effy, you're not the fucking journalist here, what's with the fucking interview?"
"Because last night you were supposed to be smoking with me on the roof, but apparently you were so distracted by something that you forgot. And I'm under the impression you're still so distracted by it that now, that you can't easily write an article like normal."
"Oh." Naomi looked away, remembering the night before - where she had been and whom she had been with before she called it a night early and dozed off. Effy was visibly waiting for an elaboration. "I was, uh, studying."
"You're a shit liar."
"No! I was studying. I have a maths exam coming up."
Effy rolled her eyes, "Okay, so what was different about your studying from normal? Because I know you wouldn't miss out on a fag break for maths."
Fucking hell. "Nothing," sighed Naomi. "Will you stop looking at me like that? Drop it, Eff."
The greatest thing about Effy was that she knew when her friend needed pressing and when to stop. "Want that fag now?"
Naomi took the alternative to their short conversation gratefully. "Yeah." She packed her things into her bag and followed Effy outside, pulling her gray hood over her blonde locks - it was still raining. Jacketless, her friend let the rain hit her skin and hair. It was not as if Naomi had another jacket or hoodie to offer the brunette and she was not going to offer the one she was wearing and let herself get wet. She rationalized that Effy would feel more comfortable with wet, see-through clothes than she herself would anyway.
They found a small portion on the roof covered by a raised, thick billboard near the fire escape. They took shelter in the dry space beneath it, lighting their fags with slight difficulty at keeping the flame long enough in the cold wind. Naomi began to feel the stress from their talk fade with the increasing amount of nicotine in her system. Silently, they smoked in the rain; each lit a second fag and smoked some more.
"If you're looking for a distraction, you should go out with me." Effy rolled her eyes. "Not on a date, dumbass. I already have one; Cook's taking me. You should join us."
"Oh yeah, being a third-wheel sounds like a total blast."
"Well you would hang out with other people, Naomi. The whole fun of going to a party is that everyone will be trashed and there are no long-term commitments. No one will remember your name in the morning and you will have successfully taken your mind off things."
"Hmm." Yeah. Anything distracting sounds good.
Effy knew she already won Naomi over but entertained her friend by pressing further. "Do you really want to spend tonight trapped in your mind?"
Naomi gave the invitation more thought. No names. Not like Emily. No new friends. No thoughts. Plenty of alcohol. "Alright, I'll go... if you want me to so badly." They both knew saying she was going for Effy was a safety net for Naomi's emotions - denial of her situation, whatever it was.
"Yeah, cool. I'll pick you up at ten, wear something hot." The brunette flicked her fag off the roof and started climbing down the fire escape.
"I don't always look hot?" Naomi joked, but Effy was already gone or not responding. Wear something hot? What have I gotten myself into...?
It was 8:58 p.m., one hour until the party, and Naomi was strutting back and forth between the mirror and closet in her single-flat. She cursed whoever's brilliant idea it was to put a full-length, mounted mirror on the wall on the opposite side of the room instead of beside the closet itself. She was sure she had walked off her lunch and dinner in the last half hour. The blonde took her frustration out on whoever knocked on the door. "WHO IS IT?!"
Naomi put on her bathrobe to answer it after a few minutes of silence was followed by another persistent knock, because she had already tried on the majority of her clothes that were now lying on her bed or on the floor, decidedly not hot. "Can I fucking help y-" She abruptly stopped talking when she saw it was Effy. "Oh, hi, I thought we were leaving at ten."
"Yeah, we are. Which is why I came early to help you pick something... hot. I figured you would have tried and tossed all your clothes everywhere already. I knew I should not have told you to wear something 'hot' - you think too much," said Effy, pushing past an annoyed Naomi, and going into the bedroom. "Just as I thought." Effy saw the messy state of Naomi's room. They had known each other since childhood; there was little either of them could not predict about one another.
It was time to leave, when Effy had managed to find Naomi a classic, sexy (of course Effy would choose black) dress, and had helped her with her makeup. Cook did not bother knocking and entered the flat. "You ladies look fuckin' ace, t'night. I'd do ya both togetha' if you girls were int'a that." A grin Naomi could not help but think was incredibly stupid, perverted, and misogynistic spread across his face. Why the fuck is Effy even going out with this guy? Naomi questioningly looked at her - Effy just shrugged.
They got into Cook's cheap, two-door Ford Pinto. They had to roll down one of the front seats to let Naomi into the backseat. "Welcome to the Shaggin' Wagon ladies!" he obnoxiously chuckled. The car was surprisingly clean inside, something entirely unexpected for its terrible appearance on the outside. Cook noticed Naomi's shocked expression in the rearview mirror, "Not many ladies want to shag in a car full of old pizza boxes and condom wrappers." Dick smart, eh?
They knew they arrived at the right place when they saw a group of people carrying bottles of beer and alcohol up stairs through the glass door. Rosencrest Apartments, what kind of fucking name is that? Effy let Naomi out of the car. "Smoke first?" Naomi gladly took the offer; she was already feeling anxious about going inside, where the people were.
"I'll see you ladies up there! Got'ta grab the alcohol before the good stuffs all taken, yeah." He followed the group they had seen when they pulled up.
"Whose flat is this anyway?"
Effy did not answer; she had no idea she had brought Naomi to the exact location of the person the blonde was trying to avoid. In not saying anything, Effy intended to imply that the less Naomi knew, the less Naomi could give it any extra thought. They were at a party to stop thinking - the name of the host would not make any useful, legitimate difference to achieving the goal.
"Right then, shall we?" Naomi suggested, accepting Effy's obvious implication. Naomi felt ready to just get the evening over with. With that, they stubbed out their cigarettes and went inside, up the creaky staircase. Jesus, this place is quality. Even her thoughts were sarcastic...
"I'm going to look for Cook," Effy shouted to Naomi. The music was too loud to hear anything, but Naomi managed to read Effy's lips and nodded. As soon as she could not make out her friend among the faces, she searched for alcohol. She was going to need a lot of alcohol to tolerate the people invading her space and undesirably ogling her like she had a cheap price tag between her breasts.
Success! Naomi took the unopened bottle of tequila all for herself. It was not going to be that great without a chaser or a lime and salt, but she had no high expectations of leisurely drinking going into the house party. She drank four shots' worth directly from the bottle incredibly quickly; paying no attention to the few drunk fellows that had attempted to start meaningless conversation with her. Naomi's intimidating presence was coming in handy.
Even after half of the bottle, several stupid, drunk arguments, and one odd guy who seemed more stoned than drunk, Naomi was no more interested in the party. She was distracted but hating the process. Looking for somewhere away from everyone, she traced her hand along the wall until she found a door. She managed to twist the knob and push it open. A girl behind her nearly fell into the room with her, but she managed to push the girl away, now alone, or so she thought.
"WHAT THE FUCK? I THOUGHT I LO-" Emily turned around. Her headphones were definitely not loud enough to have drowned out the sound of her door slamming shut. "Fucking hell, what are you doing here?"
Neither Emily nor Naomi could hear the fight outside her door, starting between Katie and Effy. "What the fuck are you doing, dancing with my boyfriend, slag?!" The twin was riled up, known by nearly everyone to be a hothead.
"He invited me." Effy had no need to embellish her responses with name-calling. It was not going to make any difference to the situation - Katie was pissed.
Cook stepped between them. "Ladies, ladies, I'm sure we can come to some sort of compromise, preferably a three-some, ay? We're all good lookin' people. Everyone can have a piece of the Cookie Monster. We're all winners," he voiced his practiced speech and laughed.
"Fuck off, Cook," the girls said simultaneously.
"I didn't know he was your boyfriend, Katie."
"Sure you didn't. Everyone knows you sleep with everyone. I bet you heard he was my boyfriend and got all jealous or something." Katie's lisp was more noticeable when she raised her voice.
"You know he's just using you for sex."
"And you're not, bitch? You can fuck off like the miserable, lonely cunt that you are. You're not welcome here."
Accepting that logic was not going to make any difference, Effy smirked to piss Katie off and turned on her heels as if she knew something more and was not sharing it. By the gasping, she figured Katie was overcompensating for her temper by passionately making out with Cook to spite Effy.
Meanwhile, Naomi stared shocked at the girl cutely crossing her arms, upset, in front of her. "I... I, uh..."
Emily was fired up enough to ignore the stutter. "I did not take you for the partying type. You're not exactly a social butterfly."
"Effy dragged me here. I should, uh, probably go look for her," Naomi tried to say, but it was slurred. Fucking alcohol. Damn, has your face always been this pretty?
"Naomi, why are you acting so hot and cold?" What? Where is this coming from? Nobody has ever spoken to me so directly and softly, other than Mum. Naomi was too stunned and frightened by the behavior to respond.
Thankfully, Emily managed to understand. "Yeah, well you can fuck off then."
Naomi took a deep breath. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. "Right, I'll, uh, leave you to it... enjoy your night." She didn't know what she did to piss Emily off so much, but figured her last three words would not hurt. Before she had even closed the door behind herself, Emily had already turned around in her chair and propped her feet back up. Naomi stood there a moment with her hand on the doorknob, listening, as if she could hear something inside - something that would reveal Emily's thoughts on the other side. Instead Naomi felt the lock turn. Yep, it's locked.
Frustrated and unsure what to do with herself, Emily sat back down and tried to turn up the volume. What the fuck is Naomi doing here? But the sounds from outside her door were too loud to cancel out the noise tonight. She took her headphones off and let herself fall facedown into her mattress. Emily felt no better than before, even after releasing an emotionally charged scream into her pillow. Nothing was helping. Giving up on finding comfort in her room with all the commotion just outside her door, Emily grabbed her leather jacket and a bottle of Malibu from her closet. She locked her bedroom door and left the flat. She walked down the hall, up a few floors, down another hall, and climbed up the ladder to the roof. Residents were not allowed up there, but that did not stop anyone who wanted some fresh air and a good view of the city.
You've got to be shitting me. Naomi was leaning against a tall chimney smoking. Emily could not withhold her anger. "I thought you were looking for Effy."
Naomi shrugged nonchalantly. "Couldn't find her... Have you seen her?"
UGH. "No, I haven't. I'll just leave and find another vacant roof, then." Fucking bitch.
"Wait, Emily. Don't go," Naomi had her hand with the fag dangling at her side, her standing body entirely facing Emily now.
"I don't smoke." I'm not taking your shit. I don't smoke. Or smoke that often, anyway.
"Stay anyway." Hot again? Really?!
"Fine, but if you're going to be mean..." Emily reflected back on their notes arrangement as if it applied to every social situation now - note sharing or not.
"I promise, I won't be." Genuine-sounding.
"Fine." Emily zipped her jacket. It was kind of chilly up there. She remembered the Malibu, untwisted the cap, and took a few gulps. The alcohol reduced the evening chill. She did not like drinking multiple nights in a row, but this particular night had become a unique exception.
"Can I have a sip?" Naomi stepped closer and shyly held her hand out expectantly.
Emily looked to the outstretched hand and made a grudging face before handing it over, "Am I always going to be sharing my things with you?"
"Maybe," Naomi laughed then realized she should probably say something to start a conversation. "So, where'd you get the, uh, rum from?"
Are you shitting me, are you that trashed? There's a fucking party in my flat and you're asking me where I got alcohol... "The fucking party..." Emily was still upset so she did nothing to mask it in her tone. Despite the attitude, the wit returned them to the casual, sarcastic, and straight-faced teasing that they usually conversed through.
Naomi was not discouraged. "No, I know, I just, I guess..." she realized she sounded stupid and struggled to make her words come out properly with the newly introduced alcohol joining the rest already in her system, "I just guess I didn't see any rum on the table."
"Yeah, alright." Okay, maybe you're not so terrible. "I have my own stash of alcohol. I would not want to waste it on people who are too trashed to notice the difference between decent and shitty tasting drinks."
Naomi smiled at Emily's statement, and then added a seemingly random statement of her own. "I don't like people."
Emily momentarily ignored the randomness. "Yeah? They aren't all mean."
"No, but the nice ones don't always stay nice. I would rather avoid the risk altogether." Naomi took another gulp of the rum and passed it back to Emily, then lit another fag. She made sure to blow the smoke in a direction where the wind would not carry it into the other girl's face.
"Not giving anyone a chance may eliminate the bad people, but you won't meet any of the good people either, that way. What's the point of living such a boring life?"
Naomi shrugged. "I think that star is moving."
Off-topic again. Whatever. "I think what you mean to say is that you see a shooting star. And I don't see it." Emily looked into the dark sky, taking some more alcohol in her mouth as she did so. The coconut flavor masked the drink well enough for her to take a considerable amount without cringing.
"You must not be close enough." Naomi looked down at Emily who was sitting cross-legged.
"You're joking right? You're what - a few feet closer just 'cause you're standing. That would not make the slightest difference."
"You would still be rather far, you're rather short in comparison to the likes of me, shrimp."
"I am not that short."
"Pretty sure your nose is up to my belly-button."
"Now you're just exaggerating."
"Pshhhh, nooooooo."
"Look, you drunken fool." Emily stood up next to Naomi, showing that she was only a few inches shorter - the height of her nose was well past the other girl's belly button.
"Drunken fool? Really? Was that the best you got?"
"You did just call me a 'shrimp' a moment ago."
"Hmm. Would you rather I call you shorty, short stuff, smurf, midget, half-pint, runt, teeny-weenie, peewee, munchkin," Naomi cleared her throat, "or would you prefer my favorite - vertically challenged?" She laughed.
Emily, mostly amused by the abnormally charming rant but not willing to admit it, shoved Naomi. The blonde ended up tripping and falling backwards, on her arse.
"Shit! Are you alright? I didn't think you were that unstably drunk."
"I'm fine, Emily, I just tripped, is all. Your shrimp body couldn't push me over even if you used all your strength." Naomi was leaning on her two hands that she propped behind herself. It was probably the alcohol, but the fall had not actually hurt.
"Oh, good," Emily chuckled, sat down next to her, and mimicked her position, "but I'm sorry anyway; I shouldn't have pushed you."
"Do you think you're one of the good people?"
"Do you always ask important questions relevant to past conversations out of the blue?"
A noncommittal shrug. "Maybe."
"It's dumb."
"Yeah? Well you're dumb."
"No, you're dumb!" Emily tried to point with the hand holding alcohol and some accidentally sloshed out onto Naomi's bare leg. She laughed, "Get what you deserve, dummy."
"Gim'me that!" Naomi took the alcohol from Emily and faked as if she were about to dump the remaining contents on her.
"No, wait! Don't!" Emily tried to block Naomi with her hands up in front of her body.
Instead Naomi pulled her own hand back and took another drink from the bottle.
"Bitch," Emily mumbled. Always falling for it.
Naomi spat out the drink in her mouth, and erupted in laughter. She couldn't help it, the way Emily was pouting like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Oi! You got spit and alcohol all over me now."
"Karma's a bitch." Naomi winked before taking another swing. They both laughed.
Their eyes shot in the direction of clanging metal. A familiar face popped up at the top of the ladder. "Hey Emily... and girl who doesn't talk..." Naomi recognized him as the stoner lad she had proudly chased away without even saying a word, earlier.
The girls said "hi" in unison. The comfortable setting that had developed in their time alone together changed to an awkward one. Sensing something was off, Emily tried to kill the silence and introduced them to each other, "Naomi, this is Freddie. Freddie, this is Naomi."
"Hi," the blonde repeated.
"Ah, so she talks!" Freddie said while Naomi shifted awkwardly, unsure how to respond. He turned his attention back to Emily. "I was looking for you. How about we fuck with Katie's party?"
"Sounds grand. You up for some fun trouble, Miss...?"
"Uh..." Hesitance. "Campbell. Try not to laugh, yeah?"
"Wait, your last name is Campbell? Like Naomi Campbell, the crazy model?"
"Yes."
Freddie laughed but Emily obligingly held hers in. "Alright, Miss Campbell, you up for some fun trouble?"
"May as well, the company up here was getting a bit boring," she teased.
The three of them climbed down the ladder, down the staircase, and returned to the party. Before joining Freddie and Emily again, Naomi wanted to find Effy. Naomi searched around and gave up after what felt like forever. She found Emily. Huh, why are you wearing different clothes than before? Naomi asked her, "Have you seen Effy?"
The girl turned around and Naomi was shocked to see facial features very similar but slightly different to Emily's. A twin. That explains it. "Are you joking?" When the twin saw Naomi was confused she did not hesitate to clarify, "I fucking kicked her slag-arse out of here hours ago. Crazy bitch had the audacity to show up with my boyfriend."
Naomi panicked. She felt horrible for not having noticed her best mate was gone all along. This is why she could not make new friends - they would get in the way of keeping her old ones; the reliable ones that were there for her when she needed them. Emily was the distraction - not the party. She had to leave. She had to go find Effy.
"Hello? Earth to whoever the fuck you are. Are you there?"
The blonde snapped out of her mental rant and swiftly turned on her heels to leave, ignoring the annoyed, bitchy voice speaking at her from behind. Emily looked just in time to see Naomi leave without having said a word about why she was leaving. She had just said she was going to stay with her and the presently confused Freddie, but now she was leaving. Fucking stupid. Why did I bother being hopeful? She's always going to be hot and cold. She'll never change.
"Fucking bitches, tonight," she heard Katie say to some people.
Emily felt the need to take her frustration out on someone. She decided a prank was less sufficient than a fight. Ignoring Freddie's protests, even telling him to "fuck off" a few times until he faded away, she confronted her sister. "You're such a selfish bitch!"
"Excuse me?" Katie said as if that were the most preposterous accusation. "You think I'm a selfish bitch? Who's the one who sent their loving sister - one kind enough to always invite you to parties and give you top advice - a terrible, bitchy, mean prank call?!"
Emily could not deny what Katie said. She remembered last night with Freddie. Instead she deflected with an accusation of her own. "You're always throwing parties. I don't want to go to your stupid parties, but I have no fucking choice because they are in our apartment. I fucking found some people trying to have sex in my bed last night. It's all your fucking fault!"
"That's stupid!"
"It's the truth, Katie."
"You're just jealous 'cause I'm smarter, prettier, more popular, and all-around better than you," the drunk twin growled. Everyone was crowded around silently watching the heated feud. Someone had even lowered the music so they could all hear the argument more clearly.
"I'm done with your bullshit, Katie. I'm moving out." Emily turned around and went to her room. Everyone moved aside as she stormed away and slammed then locked her door shut.
"You have nowhere to go!" Katie shouted after her, relentlessly banging on her sister's door with her fists.
Emily had long ago figured out she could exit through her window in case of an emergency using the tall tree only a foot away. She packed her backpack with her camera, laptop, chargers, and wallet before climbing out and down with her helmet on. She drove her moped around for a while, feeling significantly sobered up before she had decided to take it for a ride. Tired, Emily parked outside a pub and went inside.
She brushed passed the few people by the entrance. For the most part it was a relaxed place - not too many people there. Everyone was sitting at tables minding their own business. She approached the bar and took a seat on an empty stool. Emily was unsure how she felt when she looked to her left, after ordering a few pints of lager, and saw Effy staring at her.
"Hey."
I have no energy to run anymore. "Hey." She waited for her lager patiently and downed the first one relatively quickly. The blue eyes, very different from Naomi's, were watching her. After another drink, Emily turned in her seat so she was facing Effy. "What's her deal?"
"What's your deal?" Effy returned the question quickly.
Silence. Blink. Drink. Reflection.
Effy said the last thing of meaning that evening very quietly, to herself. "I get it now. You both hide from what matters most to you."
Author's Note: Whew, that was a long one! Let me know what you love in the reviews, I appreciate every single one of them! I suppose this chapter explored a bit more of Effy and Katie - I hope I stayed true to their characters (and everyone else's), at least, this is how I imagined them. Have a lovely day!