So, I guess I'm having a lot of fun writing this because I'm already partway through the next chapter. I'm so excited that you lot are enjoying it :) And I'm glad that the tense changes and things aren't confusing anyone lol


Emily and Naomi spent a lot of time together studying in their room. It didn't take long before they had fallen into a routine. They had agreed to be respectful of each other and decided that weeknights would be solely for coursework. They would get the occasional phone call, Emily from her girlfriend and Naomi from Gina, mutual friends and acquaintances would stop by sometimes for a chat or to try and convince the girls to come to a party, but quickly learned that weekends were reserved for those activities. Naomi's workload kept her up late into the night, almost every night. She would sit, pouring over a textbook lit up by the small lamp on her desk, with a pencil spinning between her fingers while she read. She'd occasionally stop to write down some notes or highlight an entire passage or complain out loud about how strange certain schools of thought seemed. Emily would always chuckle from her bed, leaning back on her pillows propped up against the bed's railing.

"You're the one who decided to go for political science and women's studies. You had to know it would be frustrating," Emily said, her eyes barely leaving the book resting on her bent-up knees.

"Easy for you to say," Naomi sighed as she dropped her pencil and picked up a yellow highlighter. "You're studying books and stories. All you have to do is read. What's so hard about that?" Emily made a strange noise and Naomi looked over her shoulder at the smaller girl, who was staring at her with wide eyes and an open mouth. "What? It's not exactly difficult."

Emily gasped and lifted the book from her lap, shoving the cover as far toward Naomi as she could without falling off the bed. "Do you see this?" She demanded as she jabbed the soft cover with a finger. "Read that. What does that say?"

Naomi blinked and looked to the book. "Ulysses."

"Ulysses. Fucking Ulysses!" Emily shouted, throwing her hands into the air. "I could have happily gone my entire life without ever reading this book, and then my pretentious twat of a professor assigns it for an entire semester. Like I won't have enough work analyzing poems and stories for other classes, now I have to spend time on this," She huffed as she dropped the book back to her lap.

Naomi watched as Emily tried to calm herself down and settle back into a comfortable position. Her lip started to quiver with the effort of trying not to laugh. She couldn't help it. There was something adorably funny about seeing Emily all worked up and huffy. "What class is it for?" Emily mumbled something and seemed to shrink into herself. "Sorry," Naomi said, her chest and shoulders shaking with silent laughter, "didn't quite catch that."

Emily sighed and brought her knees even closer to her chest, adjusting the book so she could still read it. "It's about Homer's influence on modern writers. James Joyce in particular," She mumbled.

Naomi lost it at that and doubled over with laughter in her chair. Emily glared daggers at her from above. "I'm sorry," Naomi choked out, "but that says it all, doesn't it?"

Emily rolled her eyes and a slow smile stretched the corners of her mouth. "It's a required course on the impact of classical epics on modern literature. I didn't want to study it at all. I'm more interested in the classic classics than the modern ones."

Naomi sat up straight and pressed a hand to her stomach as her laughter died down. "Well at least you've got your Dante filled Thursdays."

Emily hummed. "Highlight of my week, Thursdays. Now leave me alone and get back to your Narcissist studies."

"Marxist," Naomi corrected, turning back around in her chair.

"I meant what I said."

Naomi glanced over her shoulder and grinned at the small smile tugging at Emily's lips. "Tosser."

Emily's smile grew as she turned a page, never taking her eyes from the book. "You love me."


"Did you?" Maya interrupts.

I'm lying on my back sideways across her bed and I turn my head to look at her. "Did I what?"

She's on her stomach, her elbows propped up and her chin resting in the palms of her hands with the paper and pencil right in front of her. Her legs are bent and she's crossing and uncrossing her feet in the air. "Did you love Emily?"

"I liked her. We were friends."

"Just friends?" She asks with a knowing grin and I roll my eyes.

"Yes," I say pointedly, turning my eyes to the ceiling of her room. "Just friends. In fact, by the time Halloween came around, we were best friends…"


Naomi stood in front of the mirror and backcombed her hair with her fingers, trying to give it as much volume as she could. She adjusted a few strands and then grinned. "Perfect," She said with a grin as she spun around.

Emily chuckled and nodded slowly, taking in the bright blue heels, matching tights and loose fitting blouse that completed the outfit. "You make a surprisingly good Debbie Harry."

"Surprisingly good, ay? I don't know whether to be insulted or not."

"Well Debbie Harry is quite a hard woman to match up to."

"That she is. Good thing I already had the blonde hair going for me."

"Hmm, yes, and it looks so natural, too."

"Piss off. It's more natural than yours. So when do I see the completed outfit?" Naomi asked, gesturing to Emily's large black jacket that was buttoned straight up to the throat.

"You know what I'm going as."

"Yes, I know, but I can't see it."

"…you just want to see my tits, don't you?"

Naomi rolled her eyes. "You've made me stare at that disgusting green sequined skirt for a fortnight; the least you could do is let me see the rest of the costume."

"I had to leave it out in the open!" Emily protested. "You buried it in the wardrobe and half the sequins came off. I had to make sure I could see it all times so you didn't ruin it any worse."

Naomi sighed and let her eyes drag down to where the skirt was poking out, a bit of it showing between the bottom of the jacket and just above Emily's knees. "Jesus," She muttered, "it really is hideous."

Emily laughed. "It's not that bad."

Naomi scrunched up her face. "With a skirt that ugly no one will be looking at your tits. You might as well whip 'em out already."

Emily hit her arm playfully. "You better not talk like that in front of Allison. She's already jealous enough of you."

Naomi placed a hand over her heart and took a dramatic breath. "Jealous? Of me? Why, whatever for?" She said with a light chuckle.

Emily's phone started buzzing across her desk. "Speak of the devil," She said with a smile as she flipped it open. "Hey, babe… Yeah… Okay… Yep, we'll be right down… No… No… Absolutely no-…. Maybe." She flipped her phone closed and glanced at Naomi's quirked eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that."

"She wants to shag you on the staircase again, doesn't she?" Naomi said, the slightest tone of disgust creeping into her voice.

"That was one time, and no, she doesn't," Emily said as she slipped her phone into the pocket of her coat. "She said there's an alcove in the lobby that looks like it needs to see some action," She said as she crossed to the door.

Naomi groaned as she followed Emily out of the room. "Just make sure I'm far, far away when you do it. I never need to see you with your leg thrown over her shoulder again, thank you very much."

"You shouldn't be so jealous, Naomi. Green isn't your color," Emily said with a smirk as she sauntered off down the hallway.

Naomi didn't know how to respond to that, so she just closed the door behind her with a snap.


"Hold on," Maya says as she slides off the bed, landing on all fours on the floor.

"Where are you going?" I ask, craning my neck to see her get up and walk out of her room.

"I need a glass of water," She calls as her small, bare feet pad across the wooden floor out to the kitchen.

"We'll never finish this story if you keep making me stop telling it!" I shout, grinning at the small noise of protest coming from across the flat.

"It's not my fault you're telling it slow!" She shouts over the water running from the faucet.

"Hey, don't insult the storyteller or I'll go right to bed and you'll never find out who your Mummy is!"

She must think I'm serious, because she runs back into the room, water sloshing out of her glass onto the floor and she jumps back into bed, landing with a huge grin. "Okay. No more interruptions. Not for a while, at least. Promise."


Sure enough, Allison was standing in the corner of the building's lobby, eyeing a small alcove in the wall which housed a large plant as if it should house two very horny lesbians instead. Naomi refrained from rolling her eyes as Emily skipped over to Allison and wrapped her arms around her neck. Naomi hung back and folded her arms across her chest, averting her eyes to give them some privacy for their ritual greeting. After a minute they walked over to her side, hand in hand.

"Hey, Naomi," Allison said with a small wave and an even smaller smile.

"Hey right back," Naomi replied as her eyes took in her costume. She was wearing tight, dark blue trousers, with a solid gold stripe running down either side, that were tucked into black combat boots. Her loose white shirt was tucked into the trousers and her long black hair was pulled back in a plait. They were the same height and when Naomi's eyes met Allison's bright green ones, she saw a glint of something strange in them. "Alright?" Naomi challenged.

Allison made the smallest movement, but somehow managed to bring her entire body closer to Emily's. "Never better."

"Right then," Emily said with a huff and pulled Allison toward the glass doors that led out to the street, "if you two are done, I'd like to get to that club before the bar gets crowded and we can't even get a drink."


Most Halloween parties don't need a theme beyond the obvious: Halloween. However as Naomi, Emily and Allison walked into the club, they saw that indeed everyone had dressed up as characters, people, and even objects from the 80s. Naomi was so distracted by trying to count how many Madonnas were in attendance that she didn't notice Emily unbuttoning her jacket. "Seven," She said as they all headed to the bar, never taking her eyes off the dance floor. "Seven Madonnas and it's not even packed yet. How many do you think will show up by midni-" She suddenly lost her words as she turned her head and saw Emily.

Emily's jacket was thrown casually over her right forearm and she was leaning back against the bar on her elbows. Her skirt was just as ugly as it was every other time Naomi laid eyes on it, but she didn't pay any attention to it now. Because Emily's costume seemed to be nothing more than an attempt at redefining the meaning of 'scantily clad'. The skirt barely reached above her hips, and then there was nothing but skin. Smooth, soft looking skin all the way up to her breasts, which were barely covered by a purple strapless bra, and then the wonderful, teasing space of her chest and collarbone. Emily's bright red hair was falling softly around her completely bare shoulders. Naomi had an overwhelming urge to do… something. Something that certainly wasn't acceptable for just friends.

Emily cleared her throat and Naomi tore her gaze away from her… top? When she brought her eyes up to Emily's, she was met with a mirthful and teasing gleam. "Alright, Naoms?"

"Yeah, just, well, I don't remember the Little Mermaid looking quite like that," She said slowly.

"Prince Eric didn't have tits, either," Allison said as she handed a drink to Emily. Emily took it and Allison slid an arm around her shoulders, pulling their sides flush. Naomi didn't miss the claiming gesture. "Gotta modernize it."

The music changed and suddenly the club was filled with a simple drum beat and then a familiar bass line that made Allison actually grin with excitement. "Billie Jean! Emily, we have to dance!" And without any further ado, she pulled Emily away from the bar and out into the quickly growing dancing crowd. Was it Naomi's imagination or was Emily swinging her hips much more than usual? Emily shot a wink over her shoulder at the blonde and Naomi gulped. Nope, definitely not her imagination.

She turned around and caught the barman's attention. "Tequila, please," She said as he stepped in front of her. "Actually, make it a double." Her eyes wandered around the club, looking everywhere but at Prince (Princess?) Eric and her mermaid. She saw a few people she recognized from classes or just around campus. She smiled when she saw a girl from her building dressed as a giant Rubik's Cube. The barman came back with her shot and she held up her right hand, signaling him to wait while she lifted it with her left and downed it. "Another?" She rasped as she slammed the glass back down onto the bar top. He raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything as he took the glass and went to refill it.

"You might wanna slow it down there, Blondie. The night's still young."

Naomi turned her head to the grinning young man who had sidled up beside her. "I seem to need a distraction," She said simply.

The boy grinned even wider. "Then the Cookie Monster is here to oblige," He said, throwing his arms out wide.

She glanced down at his outfit, a beat up and cheap looking black suit, and then back up to his shining eyes. "Cookie Monster?"

"That's what all the ladies call me," He said with a wink. Naomi watched his grin spread even further. "So how 'bout it? Fancy a willy-waggle with Cook?"

"Hate to burst your bubble, Cookie, but not only are you barking up the wrong tree, you're in the wrong forest entirely." His grin didn't fade, but his eyes did look a bit confused. Naomi rolled her eyes and pointed a finger to her own chest. "Me? Not cock-cruncher. Me muff-muncher."

Cook titled his head and if it's possible grinned even wider. "Ah, that's a shame. Can't blame a guy for tryin' though." He rested his forearms on the bar and watched as Naomi downed another double shot and then stuck a hand inside her blouse. He arched an eyebrow as the blonde pulled out a few bills and paid for her drinks. "No pockets in that Spandex?" He asked with a chuckle.

Naomi shook her head as she tucked her money safely away again. "Who needs pockets when a bra works just fine?" She gave her chest a light tap to prove her point.

Cook threw his head back and howled with laughter as he pushed away from the bar. "Oi, Blondie, you must be a piss poor lezzer if you think that is what tits are for!"

Naomi turned to face him fully. "I know what tits are for. A lot better than you, I'd wager. And my name isn't Blondie, it's Naomi."

"I know. My mate Panda pointed you out," He said casually, gesturing over his shoulder to a dancing Rubik's Cube. "It's just you're here as Debbie Harry, yeah? So," He shrugged, "Blondie."

"Oh," Naomi said quietly, completely taken by surprise.

"Tell you what," He took a step away, "We've got a little table in the corner an' more pitchers of beer than we'll be able to drink. Come join us."

"I don't know. I came here with some people," Naomi said as her eyes searched for Emily.

"So you'll spend time with some other people. You said you needed a distraction and we are quite the distracting bunch."

Naomi actually laughed. "If Panda is a part of that I don't doubt it."

Cook chuckled. "Exactly. So come join us." Naomi looked at him, looked at how he had settled into a calm and almost trustworthy demeanor, and nodded.

"Sure. Sounds good."

Cook shot her a wink and a saucy smile. "Atta girl."


"Uncle James," Maya says slowly as she writes his name down and draws a small box around it.

"How do you know that's James?" I ask in what I hope is a mysterious voice.

I know I've failed when Maya rolls her eyes. "He still calls you Blondie all the time. And he's the only person in the world who can be so annoying and still make you love him at the same time."

I laugh and nod my head. "That's him to a 'T'." I glance at the rest of the notes on her pad and see that she's written down Allison's name with a tiny skull and crossbones next to it under a column titled 'EMILY'. "What's that for?" I ask, pointing to it.

She frowns. "I don't like her."

"Why? She's hardly even been in the story so far."

Maya glances at me out of the corners of her eyes and after a moment she shrugs. "I just don't."

I know she's holding something back, but I don't push her. "Alright. So, I followed Uncle James-"

"Cook," She says quickly. "Call him Cook in the story."

"Okay. So I followed Cook back to his table…"


"Right, Naomi, this is Freddie and Effy." Cook gestured to a boy with messy black hair wearing a loose fitting shirt with the Batman logo plastered across it and a girl wearing a grey tank top underneath a leather jacket. They were both sitting at a table and Freddie gave Naomi a smile, but Effy… she stared at Naomi, tilting her head ever so slightly and the light caught her startlingly blue eyes. The hint of a smirk pulled up her mouth and Naomi could feel it as her eyes trailed slowly down and then back up her body. "Freds, Effster, this is Blondie." Cook clapped Naomi on the shoulder and sat down, pouring himself a glass of beer.

Effy inclined her head slightly toward him, but she never took her eyes away from Naomi's. "This your shag for the night, then?" She asked as casually as if she was inquiring about the weather. Naomi narrowed her eyes, feeling insulted, and glared at her

"Nah," Cook said before taking a big gulp of beer. "We both chase tail," He said as he shot Naomi another one of his signature grins.

"Hmm." Effy seemed completely uninterested and finally turned her attention to the drink in front of her.

"Sit," Cook said, nudging a chair with his foot. Naomi obliged and Cook poured beer into an empty glass for her.

"So what are you supposed to be anyway?" Naomi asked as she took the glass from him.

He puffed out his chest with pride. "Michael Keaton."

Naomi's eyes shot to Freddie, who was smiling and shaking his head. "Bruce Wayne and Batman," She said with an appreciative nod. "Clever."

"Not really," Freddie said through a chuckle.

"Cook here got confused about which century he was supposed to dress from," Effy said and Naomi once again found herself under her powerful gaze. "Popped out of his room saying he was a young Einstein."

Cook laughed and shrugged. "Ditched the wig and fake moustache before we left."

"Oh, I would have loved to see that," Naomi said before taking a sip of beer.

Cook winked. "Any time, babe, you just let me know."

"Charming," Naomi said with an eyeroll.


Naomi was well on her way to drunk. She'd had a few more glasses of beer and her head was getting quite fuzzy as the tequila swirled through her bloodstream. Panda had gotten tired of dancing and joined them, standing between Naomi and Effy since her giant costume prevented her from sitting down. They all talked easily and at first Naomi was slightly sad and jealous about how easily they all conversed, but it didn't take long before they were including her in everything. They talked and joked about all sorts of things and Naomi found out that Freddie was in his third year of law school, Effy was in her first year studying psychology, Cook was only two years older than her but had a well-paying job working for the city services, and all three of them lived together in a house with someone they just referred to as 'The Great Knob'. Naomi had no idea how any of them came to be mates, but as she downed another beer, she found she didn't really care.

Naomi heard her name being called and she and Panda both started to turn around, but the edge of Panda's costume bumped the table and Cook lunged forward to catch the pitchers of beer yelling "Save the piss!" Naomi laughed and turned back around to give him a hand steadying the table.

"Emsy!" Panda cried happily as she rocked forward. Naomi looked over her shoulder and saw that Panda was attempting to give Emily a hug, but they ended up just sort of bumping into each other. Emily took a step to the side and settled on shaking one of Panda's hands sticking out the side of her costume.

"Panda, love the cube," Emily said with a laugh.

"Thanks! It only took an hour to paint all the squares on," Panda beamed. "Oh, Emily this is Effy, Freddie, Cook and you already know Naomi. Guys, this is Emily." Freddie smiled and waved, Effy inclined her head with a small smile and Cook opened his mouth to try and pick her up.

"She's not interested, Cook," Naomi said quickly.

Cook glanced from Emily to Naomi and back again quickly. "You another lezzer then, Red?"

"Yes, she is," Naomi answered.

Cook's eyes widened and he gave Naomi's arm a light punch. "Nice one, Blondie! Landed a right fit bird!"

"What? No- I- not me- she- Allison- NO!" Naomi spluttered.

Emily raised her eyebrows coolly and turned her gaze to Naomi. "Try and contain your excitement, please. You know how I hate it when you gush so."

Everyone laughed, Effy smirked, and Naomi huffed. "I didn't mean to- You know I- I just-"

"It's alright," Emily said as she placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. She turned her attention to the rest of the table. "I'm just Naomi's friend. We room together in the same building as Panda here." She turned her eyes back to Naomi's. "I just came over to make sure you were alright and to let you know Allison and I are leaving."

"What? Already? We just got here."

"Naomi, it's been almost three hours."

"Oh. Are you going back to hers, or…?"

Emily shook her head. "Some of her mates showed up and we're all going out to a party. I'll probably go to hers after, though."

"Oh, alright. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Emily nodded and then gave a big smile and a small wave to the rest of the group. "It was really nice meeting you all. Sorry I've got to run so soon."

"It's alright, have fun at that party," Freddie said with a genuine smile. "It was nice meeting you." A murmur of assent came from the others and Panda gave her an enthusiastic "See you around, Emsy!"

Naomi watched Emily disappear into the crowd and when she turned back around she found four pairs of eyes focused on her.

"Are you always that smooth?" Effy asked with a smirk and Cook howled with laughter.


Maya sighs. She's sitting up, her legs crossed and her right elbow resting on her knee with her cheek in her hand. "Oh, Mum."

There's such a clear tone of disappointment in her voice I actually sit up a bit and balk. "What?"

She gives a slight shake of her head. "Nothing." She reaches over to her bedside table and grabs her glass of water. "So Emily went off with Allison and you stayed with Uncle James and the others?" She asks before taking a sip.

I nod and lay my head back down, folding my hands across my stomach. "Yep. That was Halloween."

She narrows her eyes. "There has to be more to the night than that," She says as she places her water back on the table.

I remember all the drinks, and dancing, and losing myself in the group that would soon become like family and give a small shrug. "Nothing too exciting."

"You saw them all again, right? I mean, you're still friends with Uncle James, so you had to see the rest of them, too."

"Do you want to tell the story?" I fight back a grin.

Her smile breaks wide and she shakes her head vigorously. "No. Keep going."

"Good. So, yes, I did see them all again, and often. Panda lived on the floor below Emily and me, so she started stopping by the room more often." I have a sudden, random memory and start to laugh.

"What?" Maya asks, bouncing.

I shake my head and laugh even harder. "There was this one time, at the end of November…"


The far end of the corridor was packed with students. There was an overturned rubbish bin in the middle of the empty hallway, halfway between the group and Naomi. This was a bad idea. She knew that. It was a terrible idea. She'd be lucky not to break her neck. But Emily was standing at the front of the shouting group, her face lit up with the biggest grin Naomi had ever seen on her. And Effy was stoic beside Emily's left side, nothing but a smirk showing her interest. Panda was right next to Emily, jumping up and down and cheering Naomi on. So she took another swig from the bottle of vodka in her hand and steeled herself. Freddie was standing to her left, a hand holding her elbow steady. What had started as a small gathering of her mates in her room had turned into a floor-wide party and Naomi's head was swimming with alcohol and excitement and the buzz of feeling like she belonged. She bent down, placed the vodka bottle on the floor and then stood up.

"Ready?" Freddie asked with a smile and a small waggle of his eyebrows.

"As I'll ever be," Naomi muttered, gingerly putting her left foot on the front of his skateboard.

"Sweet. Now," He said as she wobbled a bit, testing the waters by lifting her right foot off the sturdy floor of the hall, "Just like I showed you. Give a good push with your right foot, place it on the back of the board, and then right before you reach the bin, pop off the ground."

"Push. Place. Pop." Naomi said simply. "Easy."

Freddie chuckled. "Exactly."

Naomi nodded and Freddie let go of her elbow. The group at the other end of the hall erupted and Naomi's ears were filled with the sound of two dozen people cheering her on. Cheering for her. Her whole body buzzed as she pushed off hard with her right foot and went coasting down the hall. The wheels didn't flow well across the cheap carpeting and Naomi, having seen Freddie do it a hundred times, kicked her right foot in front of her and then gave herself another push. She didn't fall. She was flying. She was coming up fast on the bin and before she knew it, she was tumbling right over it.

A loud groan, mixed with laughter, rose up from the crowd at the end of the hall. Naomi screwed her eyes shut tight. Shit. Footsteps sounded across the floor and she started to push herself off the ground. Two gentle hands grabbed onto her arms and helped her to her feet, but when she straightened up, her eyes locked onto a pair that weren't what she was expecting. Bright blue eyes danced across her face and the girl was smiling. Really smiling and Naomi felt her heartbeat stutter just like the skateboard's wheels across the carpet. "Alright?" Effy asked, softly trailing her fingertips down Naomi's bare arms before pulling away.

"Yeah," Naomi breathed. "Might need a bit more vodka after that, but I'll be alright." She ran her fingers through her hair and watched as Effy's gaze followed the motion.

Effy brought her eyes back to Naomi's. They were shining and oh, so very blue. Naomi couldn't help but relish in the thought that she could get lost in the ocean-like depths of those eyes. Easily. Effy's smile morphed into a cheeky smirk, like she knew what the blonde was thinking. "Let's get you that vodka, then."