I walked through the gallery like a cougar on the prowl. Tonight, I needed to feel something more than my own hand and ghost touches of Emily's lips. Dressed in red heels and a black dress, my long hair wavy around my shoulders, finalised with light make up, and personally I thought I deserved to be appreciated.
As I looked around the gallery there were a number of attractive gentlemen mingling through the crowds, but tonight I didn't want a stubbly chin and chest hair, tonight I wanted soft thighs and full lips. It wasn't hard to pick the straight from the gay here. Generally half these women came just to get in with Effy. I smiled when I thought about the fact that people often thought we were a lesbian couple, the thought of Effy and I wasn't horrible but we loved each other so platonically it could never happen. We had been through too much together, and plus she was a cock cruncher, not a muff muncher.
I slowly peered around the room, when my eyes fell on a young woman. Her hair was as red as Emily's had been but cut short in a bob. Emily would never cut her hair that short so I was safe. I couldn't see her face, but she had feminine curves, covered by a short dark blue strapless dress. I smiled in earnest and slowly strolled towards her. My last attempt at flirting had ended with me dancing on the dance-floor by myself. I took a deep breath.
"Hello", I said standing just behind her
"Hi"
Her reply was short and soft, not even turning to look at me. Maybe she was shy.
"Enjoying the showing?" I asked, taking a sip of champagne.
"Sure", came her reply in the same short and soft tone. Okay so maybe she was just rude or maybe she wasn't gay. I decided one last try, her arse was damn firm. Please.
"It's beautiful isn't it? My name is Na-" I had barely spoken when she whirled around at me
"Look. I'm sorry. I'm sure your lovely. But I'm just not interested. I had a shit day and I just want to unwind in peace. It's not that you aren't very attractive or beautiful. You are. But I'm just not interested", she said quickly staring up at me.
"Emily?"
I choked on the word. My heart stopped beating. It couldn't be. Not in six years, of all places. Here. Now. Me. Her. I watched as a variety of expressions played through her eyes. Confusion. Shock. Hurt, and finally anger.
"Naomi", Emily pretty much spat the word out.
My palms went sweaty and my throat went dry.
"Yeah. Long time, no see" I replied feebly. Long time, no see. What the fuck was I thinking? I had never thought I'd see Emily again. Let alone what I'd say to her. She was the reason I was this living zombie.
Suddenly I feel pain explode through my jaw. Yep I deserved that. I crash to the floor, landing on my arse, a shocked expression on my face and my champagne glass smashed. I looked up at Emily holding my jaw, her mouth hung open. Clearly she didn't expect to do that.
Effy appeared at the front of the crowd forming around us, and took one look between us and shook her head. She glanced at the crowd, and rolled her eyes, clearing her throat, breaking the silence and walked over to one of the lounges. Immediately people began to mingle around her again and the party continued.
"Oh my god, Naomi. I'm so sorry", Emily reached for me, trying to help me up but I flinched away instead standing by myself and casually brushing myself off avoiding her gaze.
"It doesn't matter. I probably deserved it" I reply, nodding thanks to the catering staff for cleaning up the smashed glass. I certainly didn't deserve it She had been the one who didn't want me. I was definitely still in shock.
I saw Emily shake her head slightly and her gaze sweep over me. She's evaluating me. I blushed and looked away.
"You didn't deserve it", she stated simply to me, regret present in her eyes.
I uncomfortably fiddled with my bangles on my wrists, wondering if a natural disaster or perhaps even knife-yielding psycho could run through the room and distract Emily from me. God wasn't that understanding.
I ran a hand over my jaw. It would be bruised in the morning; it was already swelling.
"Sorry", she mumbled under her breath and turned away to the photograph on the wall. While she ignored me I took a moment to really look at her, I don't know how I could've missed it. The hair, maybe short but still as silky and thick. She had grown into her curves but I never thought I wouldn't recognise those hips. Pressed against mine. Her lips on my-Whoa. Easy. She hates you. She broke you. You should be angry.
"You're right. It really is beautiful", Emily said softly.
"She's so talented. Come along way from the Effy Stonem from Bristol", I said icily yet secretly smiling with pride.
"Effy? This is Effy's work?" Emily asked, astonishment in her eyes, she glanced at my quizzical expression, she added "I came with some friends, I didn't catch the artists name".
I nodded and gave a small smile.
I wasn't sure we're we stood right now. I hadn't expected her to punch me and I still wasn't sure why she did. But if experience had taught me one thing, you didn't start a fight with a Fitch twin. I chuckled at this, and then was suddenly overcome with sadness and regret.
Emily was here. With me. In Effy's gallery. The one person who had ever broken my heart. Who in fact had stolen my heart and I had never gotten it back. The girl I had laid my heart out to in front of all our friends and she had stood there like a scarecrow. I growled. Fuck this shit. She had damaged me. I wasn't going to stay and have a nice dandy chat with my ex-girlfriend. And she had punched me.
"Bye Emily", I said icily and began to walk away, when a hand stopped me.
"Wait", Emily said softly. Her skin burnt into mine and I snatched my arm away. She sighed.
"I'm sorry for hitting you. It was unexpected. I just never thought I'd see you again", she said softly, genuine regret in her eyes.
"It's fine", I growled at her. I was hurting. This hurt. To see her, be next to her. She was so different, yet so similar. Age had only improved her looks, and I couldn't help but want to fall into the dark brown pools of eyes.
"No, it isn't. I'm sorry. You're already swollen. Do you need ice?" she asked gently, her eyes tracing up my sore jaw. Fuck, those eyes.
"No, it's fine", I said. I couldn't say her name. My mind was filling with memories. Days in bed. Her laughter was ringing through my ears. Her naked body glistening with sweat. Her dark brown eyes staring into mine in the darkness of my bedroom. It was bubbling up. I had to get out.
"As lovely as it's been, punching I mean catching up, I have to go. So uh bye" I stated simply, nodding at Emily and turning my heel. As I walked away I heard Emily's husky voice whisper
"You look good, Naomi. Take care"
I found my way up to the loft above Effy's gallery. Vodka. Vodka. Vodka. I slugged a mouthful from the bottle and sat down on one of the lounges. Emily. Emily. Emily. Red flashed through my eyes. Memories. Kisses. Touches. Groans. Laughing. The phrase 'I love you' crawling along the back of my neck. With every thought I took a swig. I wasn't just intoxicated by the alcohol; it was Emily too.
She made my head spin. I sat there for what felt like hours, drinking deeply from the bottle. She was creeping through my bloodstream; I was engulfed in red as I blacked out onto the sofa. My last thought being she called me beautiful. Emily fucking Fitch.
