Hello everybody! I'm so sorry about the delay, I've been working on the chapter for a while now and I've had Naomi's part written for about two weeks. Thankfully, Emily felt it was finally time to pop back in my head and tell me what happened next!

I'm quite literally in the middle of exam month right now, so this could be the only update you guys will get for a while. Sorry about that :(

I'm trying to work out whether this is the last chapter and the next update will be an epilogue or whether the next update will be the last chapter and then be followed by an epilogue. I'm also toying with the idea of a sequel, though I'm much more interested in starting another story I've been planning. Let me know what you guys think!

Anyways, on with the chapter! As usual, I don't own the characters or have anything to do with Skins.

Chapter 30: Beginnings

Naomi

The sound of the front door closing was far too familiar to me. I didn't know what was wrong with me - why wasn't I ever able to convince Emily to stay with me? Half of me was dying to run out after her and yell at her for being so stupid, for always leaving me. I wanted to run after her and beg her to love me even half as much as I loved her. My other half just wanted to curl up in our bed and cry for the rest of the day.

Effy walked over to me and grabbed my arm, squeezing gently. I looked up at her, comfortable enough to let her see me cry. I heard Katie sobbing in the bedroom Emily and I once shared. Effy leaned into me and hugged me tightly.

"You can't go after her, Naoms," Effy whispered. "I know that you want to – I can see it in your eyes."

I sniffled into her shoulder as she hugged me even tighter. I clung to her just as tightly, desperate for some kind of comfort. "I can convince her to stay, Eff, I really think I can. Just drive me to the train station. Please."

Effy shook her head against me. " I can't do that. Let her go, Naomi."

I knew she didn't just mean that I should let Emily go to Paris. I broke down, my knees giving out from underneath me. Effy pushed me up against the wall and absorbed my extra weight, slowly bringing us down to the floor, consoling me as I sobbed into her shoulder. I kept begging her to drive me to the station, and then after realizing that she really wouldn't let me go after Emily, I begged her to hold me tighter and comfort me.

"It's okay, Naoms, shh, it's okay, I know you love her...you can't keep hurting yourself like this... I can't keep watching you get hurt...shh, Naoms, it's okay," she whispered over and over again, her fingers running through my hair comfortingly.

I knew Effy was right – I just wished I could have honestly told her how much I knew Emily loved me, how I knew she didn't really want to leave. But I didn't honestly know any of that anymore. If Emily really did love me, why was she always able to leave me? I knew that all I wanted was Emily. I wanted to take her back to the beginning, back to Paris. I wanted to remember everything about us, live it all over again. I'd do it again a million times, and I'd never get bored of it.

Effy managed to get me up and walk me to bed, where I did exactly as I wanted and tried to remember everything about Emily. I remembered everything, from the first time I met her and the blue hat she wore out in the cold Parisian weather, to the last words she said to me before leaving today.

Katie came in to check on me, her eyes puffy and red and her cheeks tear-stained. She sniffled as she asked me if I was okay. I shrugged at her, scooted back to make some extra room, and lifted the duvet to let her in. She smiled a watery smile at me, before climbing into bed with me. She grabbed my arms and wrapped them around her waist and sighed against me.

"The sheets smell like her," Katie whispered as I nodded against her shoulder. Katie proved to be the perfect distraction to get me to stop reminiscing – she cuddled into me the exact same way Emily used to, but Katie wasn't as skinny as Emily was. She felt more like Emily did when I first met her, before she vanished for months to go after John and came back home looking a skinny mess.

Effy walked in to the bedroom, carrying two glasses of water, not even questioning why Katie and I were cuddling in bed. She simply climbed in behind me and wrapped her arms tightly around both myself and Katie. We all fell asleep that way.

Emily

I stood at the teller's booth at the Bristol train station, staring up at the departures board. There was a train to London that left in fifteen minutes. After I got to London, I'd take the next train to Paris. I had my money in my hand. I was ready. I was leaving. My future was ahead of me. I was ready.

I still hadn't said anything to the teller. I could feel the older woman staring at me as I continued to stare up at the departure board. I could do this. I was ready. I could leave her. I had to leave.

"Miss?" The lady prodded, breaking my trance and forcing me to look at her.

"Sorry," I said, rubbing my eyes tiredly. I pulled my fingers through my hair and bit my lip. I wasn't normally this conflicted when it came time for me to move on. But I couldn't stop hearing Naomi's voice in my head.

"You need people who love you around you right now, Emily. You need Katie and Effy to help you. And if you want, I'll help you, too."

Was she trying to tell me that she loved me? That if I wanted her, I could have her back again? Was I really standing here over-thinking her words, hoping that maybe she still cared for me? I could be on a train in fifteen minutes, headed straight towards a new beginning.

But Naomi had a power over me that I couldn't understand. Normally, when it was time for me to leave, I just left. I'd done it once before. I could do it again.

"Miss," the lady prodded, breaking me from my thoughts once again. She smiled gently at me. "I find that when someone is this conflicted about buying a train ticket, they don't actually want to go anywhere, dear."

I nodded at her and bit my lip again.

"Well, I can tell you how to fix whatever you're running away from," She smiled knowingly at me. I nodded at her again, desperate for whatever knowledge this woman possessed that I certainly did not.

"Forgiveness, dear. That's all it takes."

She smiled at me again, softly this time. Her eyes held a tale of regret, lost love and lost opportunities. Her message was clear – don't end up like me. Her smile turned watery as her clear blue eyes brimmed with tears.

"Thank you," I whispered before sending her a small smile. I quickly gathered my bags and ran out of the train station. But this time, I ran towards Naomi instead of away from her.

Please don't forget to let me know what you thought about the update! And don't forget to tell me your thoughts on whether there should be a sequel or a new story once Stranded is finished!