AN: Thanks soo much for everyone who reviewed, I did notice less reviews this chapter, so feel free to backtrack a review the last one, lol. This story is going to get darker, it has been decided. I also have a request for information from cloudindasky; does anyone know of a fanfiction from ages ago, it's about Naomi and Emily when they're older and together but it begins with a fire in Freddie's shed caused by JJ. Anyone know? Drop me a line. Enjoy!
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There was a chilling frost between Naomi and Gina when she entered the hotel room that evening. They hadn't spoken since they moved in, or more Naomi hadn't replied every time Gina had tried to start a conversation. The poky bedroom gave Naomi a headache. It was only their second night in the room and already Naomi hated it more than anything else in the world. She spent an hour stood up watching fuzzy television until her mum came home with fresh, clean covers for their bed. Naomi didn't even thank her, instead she waited until the covers had been put on the bed, before laying back and relaxing in the middle of it, leaving little room for her mother.
"Do you have to be like that?" Gina asked, perching uncomfortably on the corner of the freshly made bed.
Naomi merely glanced at Gina, a cold hard stare that made her retreat slightly.
"I'm doing the best I can,"
"The best you can?" Naomi laughed, "You're joking right? If you were doing the best you can, we wouldn't be in a poxy hotel that probably has rats."
"Please, Naomi," Gina whispered, her voice growing quieter. "This isn't easy for me."
"Yeah, well it's not easy for me either, having a mother like you."
Gina's eyes grew wide, "Don't say that."
The tension between them was growing by the minute. Naomi had moved into a seated position, her eyes glaring at Gina's with anger and frustration. Naomi watched as Gina's eyes filled with water. She knew she was being difficult, she was being horrible. But she couldn't help it. She was angry and she wasn't in a forgiving mood.
"I'm going to bed," Naomi mumbled, stopping herself from saying anything worse, by slipping into the clean bedspread and turning out the bedside lamp.
"Okay, night love."
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There was only another few feet to the door, Emily walked slowly. She hated this, feeling like something big was going on. Katie was only in hospital, it didn't mean the end of the world, it didn't even mean she was that ill. But Emily felt vulnerable, like something had already happened and she merely didn't know. As she walked towards the door, she decided to keep walking, planning to do a lap of the hospital floor before entering the room.
"Is that Emily?" came a voice from the doorway, it was Katie.
"Oh, hey," Emily muttered, walking through the door as though she'd not realised it was the door to Katie's room.
"What are you doing here? It's really early," Katie asked, rubbing her arms where a piece of material covered what Emily assumed was a blood test mark.
"I had to see you, see that you're alright," Emily mumbled, shrugging her shoulders.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Do I look alright?"
Emily let her teeth tug at her lip, a nervousness setting in. She was stood in front of her twin sister, the person she'd spent almost every waking hour with for almost eighteen years and she was nervous.
"You look pale," she responded, looking away.
"I'm like a ghost, pity the pale look isn't in right now," Katie chuckled, making Emily smile slightly.
It was difficult to let herself laugh, when she felt such a strong sense of foreboding. But Emily gave in and shared a moment with Katie. She felt a lump forming in her throat, but she swallowed it quickly. Within seconds the door opened and they were quickly interrupted by blond hair and a bunch of flowers.
"Wow, you look sick," Naomi muttered, stood in the doorway.
"Thanks," Katie rolled her eyes.
"You two aren't going to fight are you? Katie's not up to any arguments."
"Chillax," Naomi smiled, "I'm just visiting, I brought some flowers."
"If you get the nurse she'll put them in water," Katie whispered.
"I'll do that later, Emily, you gonna come to college today?"
It hadn't occurred to Emily that she would have to return to college. Katie was, according to the doctors, doing okay. There was no need for her to stay with her, there was no need for her to miss a second day of college over Katie's ill health. It just wasn't practical, especially not on the second day. But she was reluctant. Emily looked from Naomi towards Katie.
"Go, I know you want to," Katie smiled, "Pick up anything I've missed."
"Okay," Emily replied, before she even had time to think about it, she was following Naomi out of the hospital.
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The day was mostly uneventful. A handful of people asked after Katie, most people just wanted to know where she was. After a while Emily decided to tell a few people the full story in the hope that word would get around. Once the final bell of the day rang, Emily met Naomi by the front doors. They quickly fell into step beside each other.
"How's your day been?"
"Horrible, I'm sick of people asking if Katie is okay," Emily complained.
"It's over now," Naomi sighed, linking hands with her girlfriend, "Are you going back to the hospital or can we hang out?"
"Hang out?" Emily giggled, letting her imagination run wild.
Naomi smiled, "Yeah, you and me, hanging."
Emily lent forwards and pushed her lips against Naomi's, "It has been a few days since we last, hung out."
"Come on," Naomi mumbled, pulling Emily down the street away from the college.
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The cool air felt good against Emily's warm skin. She knew she was flushed, she guessed it was probably obvious to some what she'd just been doing. But she didn't care. She squeezed Naomi's hand between their bodies, letting their shoulders brush against each other accidentally in an act that Emily knew would make Naomi want her to stay.
"So, back to the hospital?" Naomi whispered, looking from Emily to the building behind them.
"I promised I'd come back, besides, another five minutes with you and I'd be needing hospital treatment,"
Naomi laughed, her chuckle making Emily ache to stay with her girlfriend, until an equally significant ache pulled her away. She had to go back to her sister.
"Do you want me to come inside with you?" Naomi checked.
"No, it's okay, you go home, I know you have that massive politics assignment," Emily muttered, "I can tell you've already written half of it in your head."
Naomi's lips curled into a smile.
"I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Tomorrow probably," Naomi grinned, "That assignments going to keep me busy."
"Tomorrow..."
"Love you," Naomi smiled, letting her lips brush Emily's as they pulled apart.
"Love you too."
The hospital smelled like hospitals usually did. It was a smell that never escaped Emily and one that she wished she didn't have to smell again for a while. She floated through the corridors, her afternoon with the girl she loved helping to perk up her mood. She pushed down on the handle to Katie's room and stopped instantly. She glanced around at her family; James was sat in the corner looking sternly at a very silent computer game, her dad was wiping his face and sniffling and her mother and sister were sat opposite each other, their faces stained with tears. Emily felt her heart jump; she'd never seen her dad upset before and she rarely saw her mum's strong exterior broken down. She felt a lump reach her throat before any of them could even greet her.
"What's wrong?" Emily managed to whisper, her voice delicate, "What's happened?"
Emily looked at Katie, who looked to their mother; Jenna who was staring at Katie, waiting for a response. When Katie shook her head, Emily turned back to Jenna, hoping for an answer.
"Emily darling, come sit down,"
She felt her feet moving, but weights dragged her down. That sense of foreboding she'd felt was growing stronger with each step. As she perched on the end of Katie's bed, she felt like she was going to cry.
"Your sister has," Jenna began, the words growing quieter as they pierced her eardrums, "Katie has leukemia."
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AN: Please review, it makes it worth writing…besides, now the truth is revealed, I'm looking for thoughts, opinions, anything at all. Just hit me with it, I'm ready to know what you think of the direction of this story.
