My face. Has anyone seen my face? I'm afraid it's fallen off from all the smiling I do. Have I told you all you're amazing? Yes? Well, it's true, so hear it again: you're amazing. I'm a little unsure about this chapter. I had a lot of work to do on a project, and then couldn't focus on this, which is why it wasn't up sooner. I hope you enjoy, but it's alright if you don't :)
To 6seatertable: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Even if it is belated, I hope you had a good one!
TROLL: I'm afraid that you are the one who is being lovely. Here, would you like to hold my hand while we wade through all the Naomily? I need to make sure you keep off the rooftops.
Naomi inhaled deeply. The end of her cigarette glowed and the embers crept up and consumed the paper. Without taking the fag from her mouth, she exhaled through her nose and then inhaled from the cigarette again. She'd been repeating this process for over thirty minutes. The underground line had been delayed, of course, and Naomi had arrived late. She had run frantically to the terminal where Emily's flight came in and immediately checked the arrival board. Emily's flight was also delayed. Not by much, but long enough that Naomi had to buy a new pack of cigarettes to keep her occupied while she waited. So she was standing outside the glass doors to the terminal, glancing at the watch on her wrist so frequently that anyone watching her would have suspected she had a strange tick of some sort. Her hands were fidgeting, constantly moving. They'd run through her hair, tuck a stray strand behind her ear, muss it all up and repeat the process.
A plane flew overhead and her eyes shot to the sky. She'd been doing that a lot, as well. Each time she heard the engines or the whistle of the wind as a plane cut through the air, she would throw her head back, wondering if that was the one that was bringing Emily back to her. She mentally kicked herself for thinking that. Emily wasn't coming back to her. She was just coming back. Period. Full stop. End of sentence, end of thought. And then her hands jerked from her pockets back to her hair.
She slid her phone out again. Her eyes grew wide. It was time. Emily's plane should have landed a few minutes ago. She rushed forward through glass doors and then stopped suddenly. She turned around and marched to the rubbish bin just outside. She took the cigarette from between her lips and stubbed it out on the edge of the bin before chucking it in. Right. She turned around and took a deep breath before steeling herself and walking inside.
She made a beeline for the information screen and her eyes scanned hungrily down the list until they landed on the flight number she had memorised weeks ago. Her eyes lit up at the status. 'LANDED' shone brightly and Naomi spun around, as if Emily would be standing right there, bags in hand. Naomi scolded herself. Life wasn't like a black and white film, where you could wait right on the tarmac until whoever you were waiting for came down the small set of stairs and ran into your waiting arms. There were security checks. Customs checks. All sorts of bollocks that meant that even though Emily was there, in the same building as her, Naomi wouldn't actually be able to see her for what was sure to feel like an eternity.
Naomi looked around the arrivals area. There was some seating, but she decided against sitting. She was too fidgety to sit still. She walked as slowly as she could manage, which was still a rather brisk pace, to a doughnut stand.
"Medium coffee. Uh, decaf, please?" She added as the young man grabbed a cup. The last thing she needed was more chemicals pumping through her body. Her nerves were doing a good job of keeping her heart racing without any help. Naomi pulled a bunched up bill from her pocket and smoothed it out as she waited. Something to do to keep her hands from getting tangled in her hair again. She handed it over as he put the cup down and then she waited while he made her change. He was dreadfully slow about it, and even though Naomi was grateful that he was killing some more of her time, her patience had been steadily dwindling for weeks. She took her change and slipped it into her pocket. "These are crap for the environment, you know," She told him as she lifted the paper cup. "You should tell your manager to switch to something more compostable or biodegradable."
He stared at her blankly for a moment. "Yeah, I'll get right on that," He said with the hint of a sneer.
"There's no need to be a twat, Alfie," She snapped with a quick glance at his name tag. "When the whole planet's gone to shit and the sky is brown every day from smog pollution, you'll wish you listened to me. See how you like surfing when the ocean is the consistency of custard." Naomi gave a curt nod of her head and left quickly before he could respond. Jesus, she was a mess. She was starting to sound like her mother. A much more crazed version of her mother. She went back outside and struggled to light a cigarette with one hand, while trying not to drop her cup in the other.
She smoked four more fags and drank half her coffee, all the while staring at the glass doors for any sign of Emily. A small crowd had grown and Naomi grumbled as what appeared to be a very large family completely obstructed her view as they headed inside. "It's like the bloody von Trapps," Naomi mumbled as she threw the rest of her cigarette to the side. It had to be getting close. Security and baggage claim can't take that long, right? She took a gulp of her coffee, which had cooled considerably, and chucked it in the rubbish bin before heading inside. She shuffled between bodies and rushed to the information board. 'LANDED' had changed to 'BAGGAGE IN HALL'. Naomi's heart sped up impossibly faster. She walked quickly, trying to steady her breathing, back to where people were milling around, waiting behind the metal railing. She slipped between two men in sharp suits with little signs and held her breath.
Naomi saw a shadow coming down the hall, and then the first person walked into view. Fuck, it wasn't Emily. Naomi didn't really think she'd be that lucky, but she could hope. She muttered a few choice swear words to herself, barely able to see through the flood of people suddenly filling the hall. Emily was so tiny there was no way Naomi would be able to spot her. She tried, though. She squinted and tilted her head and waited as passenger after passenger came down that corridor. And there was just no sign of Emily.
The last straggler out was a small, older woman with a carpet bag clutched in her hands. The entire von Trapp clan erupted and Naomi watched them, half expecting them all to break out in song. The old woman dropped her bag as she threw her arms open wide and called something out to them, shuffling forward. Naomi smiled to herself as the woman disappeared from view in what looked more like a rugby scrum than a group hug.
"Ten fucking months and you'd rather watch a stranger get a hug than give me one?"
Naomi inexplicably melted into a giddy little puddle of joy. That voice. Oh God, had it really been ten months since she last heard that voice? It was dripping with amusement and snark and… Jesus. Naomi took a deep, steadying breath and turned slowly to look at the owner of that fucking voice. The voice that meant everything was right in the world and Emily really was here. Within arm's reach.
Emily was fighting a losing battle as she tried not to smile. Naomi could see the corners of her mouth twitching. Her cheeks were practically vibrating with the effort of holding it back. Naomi fought just as hard to contain her own excitement because Emily's eyes were brighter than anything she had ever seen. If the shine in them could be harnessed and used for power, all of London would be lit up brighter than the sun. For… forever. And her hair was more vibrant than Naomi remembered. Like ripe, freshly picked cherries. Or apples. Naomi caught her bottom lip between her teeth, unable to contain her grin any other way. She lifted her left shoulder in an attempt at a coy shrug. "I'm a romantic like that." Emily stopped any attempt at containing her smile. "I can't believe you're back," Naomi said quietly, opening her arms as she took a step forward. Emily crashed into her. Naomi stumbled and laughed, wrapping her arms tightly around the smaller girl as they fell back against the railing. "Ems," Naomi chuckled as she tightened her hold around her.
"Naoms," Emily murmured into her shoulder, squeezing her arms around the blonde's middle.
"No, Ems," Naomi tried to straighten up, but the tiny redhead clinging to her waist made it impossible. "Emily, there's a bolt or a corner or something in my arse."
Emily straightened up and her hands slid down Naomi's back, settling just above her shorts. Emily pulled their hips together and smirked. "Sorry," She said, not looking sorry at all. Naomi's hands slid around Emily's shoulders and then down her arms. Emily's gaze fluttered between Naomi's eyes and her lips.
Emily tilted her head, moved to lean forward and Naomi cleared her throat, looking away as she dropped her hands abruptly. "Why do you not have as many bags as when you left?" She asked, eyeing the single rucksack on the floor as they broke apart. "And why is the only bag you have not one you left with?" She tried to calm her heart, which was fluttering around somewhere in her chest, as Emily let out a disappointed sigh and stepped away.
"I bought it because I brought some things home with me and there wasn't room for it all. It was my hand luggage. They think my suitcase and duffel went to Germany," Emily chuckled as she picked her bag up and threw one of the straps over her left shoulder.
"You should have followed them there," Naomi said dryly, her mouth turning down in a frown. Emily gave her a small, confused smile. "You're the only person in the world who can go to Greece for a year and not come back with even the hint of a tan. Maybe a stint in the Black Forest would give you some color?"
Emily laughed indignantly and shoved Naomi's shoulder. "I wasn't there on an extended holiday to just lie around on the beach."
Naomi jerked her head and they started walking through the arrivals hall, step in step. "Didn't you spend a month in Crete? You'd think some of that sun would have sunk in."
Emily sighed as they followed the signs for the Underground. "You're making me regret coming back."
"You want to go back? I'm sure if we try really hard we can figure out a way to get you there," Naomi said, pulling a serious face.
Emily glanced at her out of the corners of her eyes. "Don't tempt me," She said with a smirk.
"You could hop over to France. Go to Italy, swim to Greece."
"I've never been good at swimming."
"Hmm. You could stow away in someone's luggage? You're small enough; you could fit with no problem."
"I like that idea. Where's the departures level?"
"How do you feel about disguising yourself as one of the cabin crew?"
"I don't think I'm tall enough."
"What?"
"To be one of the attendants. I can't reach the safety equipment or the overhead bins."
"Really?"
"The woman in the next seat over had to grab my bag for me."
"Oh, that's precious."
"Shut up."
"No, it is, it's adorable."
"So, you're like, properly fluent now?" Naomi asked with a hint of awe as she arched an eyebrow.
"Not quite. I can write and read better than I can speak it," Emily said with a shrug that bumped Naomi's shoulder. "My accent is shit, though."
Naomi grinned and turned excitedly in her seat as the tube rumbled through a dark part of the tunnel. "Go on. Say something."
Emily chuckled. "Like what?"
"Anything. Speak Greek to me," Naomi said playfully.
Emily shook her head, biting back a smile. "I'm not saying anything."
"Oh, come on!" When Emily continued her refusal, Naomi huffed and turned back around in her seat, folding her arms across her chest. She chanced a few glances at Emily, who was smiling contentedly, arms wrapped loosely around the rucksack in her lap. "You really won't say anything for me?" Naomi gave her best pout.
"You'll just take the piss. I'm not putting myself through your torment," Emily said with a sly smile.
Naomi rolled her eyes. "I will not, Ems. Why must you always think the worst of me? Just say something." Emily mumbled something and Naomi leaned closer, cupping a hand around her ear. "What was that? Ass may is he?"
"I told you you would just make fun," Emily laughed.
"No, no! That was really good," Naomi insisted, nodding her head. "Ass may is he," She said slowly, as if seeing how it felt on her tongue. "What's that mean?"
"Leave me alone."
"Ems, you do excellent Greek. Better than I could. I'm not having a laugh, honest."
"Naoms," Emily cocked her head, a teasing glint in her eye. "It's ase me isihi. And it means 'leave me alone'."
"Oh." Naomi's eyes darted to one of the windows as the train slowed. "Where are we getting off, anyway?"
"I don't know. I thought you'd have a plan of some sort?"
"I hadn't really thought past making sure you were back and in one piece, to be honest," Naomi said with a chuckle.
"Your level of premeditation is shocking," Emily said, starting to stand up. "Let's just get off here and find a pub. I need a strong bitter or two."
"Now that sounds like a plan."
"All your worldly possessions are in here?" Naomi asked with a hint of disbelief as she lifted Emily's rucksack with one hand. She glanced up and looked at Emily, sitting in the shade from the umbrella in the middle of their table outside a pub.
Emily shrugged and leaned back in her chair. "Passport, papers, a book or two, a change of clothes. Everything important, anyway."
Naomi dropped the bag onto the ground between their chairs. "You seem alarmingly calm about your bags being in a different country."
"The man said as soon as they were located they'd let me know and send them back on the first flight available. Gave me a redemption code for some sort of 'gift' for the trouble." Emily bent over the arm of her chair and unzipped the main compartment.
Naomi glanced down as Emily rummaged through it and her face lit up. "Mr. Gordo!"
Emily grinned, her eyes flicking to Naomi for a split second before she pulled the shirt out and held it up. "I kept him as innocent as the day he was screen-printed."
Naomi reached for it and then stopped herself. "Is he your 'change of clothes'?"
Emily's eyes drifted down to the rucksack and then back up. "No?"
"And yet I don't believe you," Naomi grinned. "Keep him. Your luggage might not be back for a couple of days. I would feel guilty leaving you naked and… such." Naomi finished awkwardly. The truth was that with the way Emily was bent over the arm of her chair, Naomi could see straight down her top. And was trying very hard not to stare. She didn't entirely mind the thought of a naked Emily, but she pushed the thought out of her mind almost as soon as she had it.
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Thanks," Emily said with a smile. She stuffed the shirt back in her bag and pulled out a small slip of paper that she handed to Naomi.
"What's this?"
Emily chuckled. "It's the souvenir I brought you back."
Naomi arched an eyebrow. "My souvenir is the free gift from the airline for losing your luggage?"
Emily grinned as she took a sip of her drink. "I would have given you something better, but, you know," She shrugged slightly as she set her empty glass down on the table, "my luggage got lost."
"Pretty cheap gift, that," Naomi smirked at the memory of when she had brought Emily to the airport almost a year before.
"Payback for your going away present," Emily laughed as she pushed her chair away from the table. "I'm getting another one, you want anything?"
Naomi shook her head. "I'm alright, thanks," She said as Emily picked up her empty glass and headed inside. Naomi grabbed her pack of cigarettes off the table and pulled one out. She lit it and leaned back in her chair, letting her eyes drift across the table. They dropped back down to Emily's rucksack and Naomi frowned. She glanced inside and saw Emily was still at the bar, watching one of the televisions mounted on the wall. Naomi held her cigarette between her lips and reached down, pulling the bag closer to her. She held it open with one hand and grabbed what had caught her attention with the other. Naomi smiled as she pulled out the stack of envelopes, held together with orange string. She recognised the handwriting on the envelopes straight away. She flipped through the corner of the bundle and saw that every letter she had written to Emily was there, even the drunk one where she had rambled for almost three pages, front and back, about the decline in the quality of chips near her house. Everything important, Emily had said, was in her rucksack. Naomi wasn't sure what the strange pressure in her chest was, but she carefully placed the stack of letters back in the bag and pushed it over next to Emily's chair. She was still smiling when Emily came back outside.
Naomi watched Emily as she put her pint on the table and sat down, scooting her chair closer to the table. Emily lifted her glass to her lips and froze when her eyes landed on Naomi's. "What? What's that look for?"
"Hmm? Nothing," Naomi said quickly, busying herself with taking a drag off her cigarette, which had been reduced to almost entirely ashes. Emily watched as Naomi avoided her eyes with an incredulous stare.
"Right then," She said slowly, taking a sip from her pint. "So how have things been with you?"
"Fine," Naomi said with a nod. "Busy with classes and work."
"I got that article you sent me. It seems like you're doing a lot there."
"Yeah, I really like it. It's… fulfilling, you know? I know it sounds stupid, but-"
"It doesn't sound stupid at all," Emily said, that megawatt smile reappearing. "It sounds amazing. You really love it, ay?"
Naomi dipped her head and tried to contain the blush that Emily smiling like that had caused. "I do. It's really great." She took a sip of lager and cleared her throat. "We're actually having a fundraiser later in the month."
"You don't sound thrilled about that," Emily said with a grin.
Naomi rolled her eyes. "It's a swank party, dinner, ball thing. Fancy dress and all."
Emily shot Naomi a serious look. "Do you even own a fancy dress?"
"That's mainly the reason I'm not looking forward to it," Naomi laughed.
"We should go get you one."
"What, right now?"
"Why not?" Emily chirped. "We can pretend like we're in a movie. You can try on dress after dress and I can pull faces while some upbeat, but preferably obscure, pop song plays in the background."
Naomi grinned. "Preferably obscure, eh?"
"Well, you can't have anything too mainstream," Emily said with a knowing smile like there was no argument against it.
"As fun as that sounds," Naomi said with a chuckle, "Anna said I could just borrow something of hers. We're pretty much the same size."
"Anna?" Emily's smile slipped a bit.
"My, um," Naomi cast for the perfect title and came up blank, so she settled on something safe, "employer. Sort of. I mean, she has the power to make me unemployed, so that seems fitting."
"That was a lot of words to say she's your boss. What, are you shagging her on the side?" Emily laughed, intending it as a joke, but when Naomi's eyes snapped to hers the laughter died in her throat. "You're fucking… you're actually shagging her on the side?"
"Sort of." Naomi shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Oh." Emily lifted her glass and put it right back down. "You didn't say anything," She said with a hint of questioning in her voice. "Why didn't you didn't tell me?"
"I'm telling you now." It came out sharper than she had meant it and a flash of hurt crossed Emily's features. Naomi sighed. "Ems, it's nothing serious. After everything with Effy, Anna was a really good friend. Somewhere along the line it just evolved into more than that."
"So are you two, like, together?" Emily asked quietly, paying far too much attention to her pint as her fingers trailed up and down the sides of it.
"I don't know. Maybe? Between my exams, all the new volunteers and now these massive fundraisers, we've both been really busy."
"Not too busy to sleep together, though," Emily forced a chuckle.
"It's just something that happens from time to time," Naomi muttered before taking a drink.
"So it's accidental shagging," Emily said with the hint of a smile.
Naomi rolled her eyes and smirked slightly as she put her glass down. "It's not like 'How did your hand get there?' but, you know-"
Emily held her hand up and laughed. "I don't need details, Naoms."
"You seemed interested," Naomi explained.
"Please, I know how casual sex works."
"Oh?" Naomi grinned. "Were you shagging your way from bed to bed across the Greek isles?"
"It saved me money on hotels," Emily shrugged.
Naomi's mouth fell open in a disbelieving grin. "You little slag! What happened to keeping my shirt innocent?"
"Relax, Naomi, I was only joking," Emily chuckled and took a sip of her bitter.
"Just for that I should take it back and make you pick up your luggage naked," Naomi said, trying to sound upset. Her smirk gave her away though.
"Like you wouldn't enjoy it," Emily teased.
"You're so sure of yourself, aren't you?" She shot back while rolling her eyes. When Emily didn't answer, Naomi looked at her. And then tried to swallow the lump in her throat.
Emily held her gaze as a satisfied smirk settled on her lips. "Yes. I am."
Naomi felt a blush starting behind her ears and averted her eyes as she downed the rest of her drink. "So," She said with an overly casual air, "what do you want to do now that you're back in jolly good England?"
"Honestly," Emily chuckled and settled back in her chair, "I want to have a shower."
Eleven pages. Maya has managed to fill up eleven pages. There are scribbles all over from where she's crossed out events or details that, I assume, she's deemed irrelevant. And the edges are filled with arrows and question marks, connecting some pieces and guessing at the importance of others. I glance up at her and smile as I turn the page over. Her palms are pressed against the glass and she watches, in awe, as an octopus plays with a Rubik's cube. "They're intelligent and curious," She calls over her shoulder, never looking away.
"Sounds like a certain young lady I know." That earns me a cheeky grin before her attention is stolen away again. "I thought you wanted to see the sharks?" I ask, flipping through more pages.
"Certain octopuses- octop- octo-"
"Octopuses, you had it right."
"-octopuses eat small sharks, you know."
"Really?" I'm only half paying attention because a pattern is emerging in her notes. Or maybe it was always there and I'm just now seeing it. Nothing in the 'EMILY' column is crossed off. Except for Allison. She has been blacked out entirely.
"Mmhmm. Half their nerves are in their tentacles. And there are scientists that say each arm might have a sort of mind of its own. Because of the nerves."
I look up from the pad and frown. "Are you sure that's right, Maya?"
"Yes. I saw it on National Geographic. Right before Banged Up Abroad."
"Jesus." I cringe and flip the pages back. "Let's go see the sharks, alright? And have a chat about what you aren't allowed to watch."
So Emily had a shower. She also needed a place to stay, since she wouldn't be able to move in to her residence hall until the following Sunday, but she denied Naomi's offer to stay the weekend. "It's not like anyone would mind," Naomi said as she held out a spare towel. "The sofa is quite comfortable. Freddie used to sleep on it all the time."
Emily took the towel from her with a grin. "Freddie used to get stoned and pass out, you mean."
"Details," Naomi said with a dismissive shake of her head. "Panda would love it if you stayed. She already plans to take you out dancing later."
"Oh, Christ," Emily chuckled. "She'll never change, will she?"
"It's not likely, no," Naomi said and leaned against the door frame.
Emily made a sort of humming noise as she rested her hip against the edge of the counter. She smiled at Naomi. Naomi smiled back. Emily's eyes darted to the shower and then back to Naomi. Naomi tilted her head. Emily rolled her eyes and laughed. "Are you just going to stand there while I strip down and wash up?"
"What? No," Naomi straightened up immediately and grabbed for the door handle. "Sorry, I just… it's nice," She said, pulling the door closed slightly, "having you back."
Emily smiled and pushed off the counter. "It's nice to be back. Thanks for, you know," Emily lifted her hands a bit as if to say 'everything'.
Naomi nodded. "Of course," She smiled at Emily. And then watched as Emily looked at her with a bemused expression.
"Seriously, Naoms," She said as she took a step forward and grabbed the edge of the door, "if you want to take a shower with me all you have to do is say so." Naomi's mouth fell open and before she could say anything, Emily closed the door.
Naomi wandered downstairs, her head cloudy with thoughts. Emily was back. She was back and it was exactly the same. Only different. There was an undercurrent of, well, something. There had been all day. Naomi remembered feeling strange at the airport. She wasn't sure why, exactly, but she felt lit it should have been… more. Better. Different. She went into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She sat down at the table and lit a cigarette. Emily had seemed slightly off. Like she was expecting something more, as well. Her eyes still had that shine as when Naomi first saw her, but it was dimmer. Disappointed, almost. Naomi took a big gulp of water and shook her head. She couldn't figure it out. Maybe it was just that they hadn't seen each other in so long, things were bound to be a little strange at first. Once they got used to talking in more than just letters, once she adjusted to Emily being a living, breathing, tangible person again, things would be fine. They'd go back to normal and everything would be fine.
Except there were the letters. Emily had kept every single one. And Naomi had… She glanced up at the ceiling and sighed. It didn't mean anything, she told herself. She held the fag between her lips and inhaled deeply. It didn't matter.
The front door opened and Naomi leaned over in her seat, glancing down the hallway. Panda bounded towards the kitchen, grinning. "Naomi! Is Emsy back? Did she get back alright? Is she here?" Panda spun on her heel and leaned back, looking up the staircase. Effy was just behind her, shutting the door as she came inside.
Naomi smiled. "She's upstairs having a shower. Travel grime and all. You two just finish classes?"
"Yeah," Panda answered as she hopped fully into the kitchen. "Bumped into Eff on the tube. I love when that happens," She smiled. "Makes life feel like a movie." Naomi laughed as Panda pantomimed an excited scene that, she assumed, involved two people who know each other meeting on one of the trains. "Brill, isn't it?" She said, dropping into the chair next to Naomi.
"Yeah, Panda," Effy said with a small smile as she tossed the post onto the table, "brilliant. So is she staying here tonight, then?" Effy asked as her gaze settled on Naomi.
"Don't think so. I told her she could, but she didn't seem too keen on it."
Panda rolled her eyes. "Of course she's keen on it, she-"
"Shut up, Panda," Effy interrupted, sounding more bored than upset. "I have to work, but let her know I said 'welcome back' or something equally as charming."
Naomi smirked and arched an eyebrow. "Charming. Got it."
Effy nodded and crossed the kitchen to the refrigerator. Panda spun around in her seat. "You're comin' out with us tonight, aren't ya? After your shift?"
Effy shrugged as she straightened up, a small bottle of juice in her hand. "We'll see."
"Well I'll ring ya."
"Sounds good, Panda," Effy said noncommittally.
"Later, Eff!" Panda called as Effy left the kitchen
"Later," Effy threw over her shoulder, opening the front door and heading out.
Panda turned in her seat and widened her eyes at Naomi. "Blimey, what was that about?"
"Dunno," Naomi shrugged. "That's Effy, though, isn't it?"
"I guess," Panda said with a sigh. "So how's Ems?"
"Exactly the same, as far as I could tell," Naomi chuckled as she reached across the table to pull the ashtray closer.
"Good," Panda said with a nod. "I hate it when things change."
"Don't we all, Panda. Don't we all," Naomi drawled, stubbing out her fag. A clanking noise sounded in the wall as the shower upstairs turned off and Panda jumped out of her seat. "Panda, you should-" Naomi started to say, but Panda was already running up the stairs, "let her get dressed," she finished with a laugh as a scream and then a squeal of delight rang through the house.
Panda looked absolutely disgusted. Emily was eyeing her with amused concern and Naomi was nodding her head slowly. "That's not half bad," She said loudly to be heard over the music.
Emily laughed and leaned closer to Naomi's ear. "It's fucking vile, Naoms, but it does the trick."
"Too right it does," Naomi muttered, placing her glass on the bar top. "One more, ladies?"
Panda shook her head. "Not for me. I feel a bit ill from just the one."
Emily rubbed her hand up and down Panda's arm. "Just one more for us and then we'll get lost in the crowd. You'll feel better once you dance a bit." Panda nodded solemnly and Naomi bit back a laugh as she turned to lean on the bar. It was still rather early, but the place was packed. Naomi didn't mind it one bit, because the crowd was keeping Emily, in her tight jeans and one of Naomi's tops, in her proximity. She leaned a little further onto the bar, well aware that the angle meant that the barman could see just a hint of cleavage. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as his gaze flickered to her chest before rising to her face as he walked over.
"Another?" He asked, pointing to the glasses.
"Just two." He nodded and Naomi straightened up, glancing over her shoulder. Emily's neck was craned as she looked around and Panda was rubbing a hand slowly across her belly. She turned around just as he was placing the glasses down. Naomi paid him and picked them up, turning to nudge Emily with her elbow. Emily grinned and took the shot from her hand. They clinked glasses ceremoniously and then threw them back. Naomi had never worked so hard to swallow something in her life. "Jesus, Ems," She choked out, "Black Gold? More like the Black Plague." She shook her head and Emily laughed.
"It's meant to get you pissed."
"I definitely think it's working, then," Naomi said, feeling the liquor settling in her stomach.
"Good!" Emily grabbed Panda's hands and started pulling her into the crowd. "Now we dance!"
"You went out a lot," Maya says, swinging our hands between us.
"Yes, I did."
"Mummy went out a lot, as well."
"Yes, she did."
"Can I go out that much when I'm older?"
"Let's cross that bridge when we get to it, shall we?"
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a 'you'll be in trouble for the rest of your life if you even think about it'," I say with a smile.
Maya rolls her eyes. "Fine. Continue."
Cook and Effy showed up not too much later. They all danced, clearing quite a bit of space around them. Emily disappeared when she saw a group of people she knew. She returned twenty minutes later with a grin and wrapped her arms around Panda's neck. Naomi watched as Emily said something in her ear and Panda's face lit up with laughter. Effy sauntered off at one point, with a smug smirk and a brunette in tow. Emily glanced at Naomi, who just shrugged in response. Emily abandoned Panda, slowly moving closer to Naomi. Cook brought them all drinks, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he downed his entire beer in one massive gulp. And then he threw his cup over his shoulder and started jumping around Panda as the music changed seamlessly into a fast paced, heavy beat.
The more Naomi drank, the better everything became. The few lights became beacons to her eyes, drawing their attention. The music felt like it was pumping through her veins. Like she wasn't in control of her own body anymore. Which might have explained why her hand kept landing on Emily's hip. As soon as she noticed, she'd pull it away, but a few minutes later it would stray right back. And then she would gulp down whatever was left of the drink she had and wander off to the bar to get another. She lost count after the sixth time that happened.
Naomi, barely having to lean forward they were dancing so close, said into Emily's ear, "I'm going out for a fag." Emily's fingertips grazed across Naomi's wrist and then she nodded and made a motion indicating she would go with her. Naomi gulped and headed for the door, trying to ignore the ghosting touches on her hip as Emily followed closely behind her.
"Fuck," Emily laughed as they pushed through the door and settled back against the building. "I forgot how nice this was."
"What, having Cook slam into you every five seconds?" Naomi smirked and started to take her cigarettes out, fumbling a bit as the world swam around her.
"No, just being here. Out with you," Emily said. Naomi's eyes dragged up and Emily quickly continued, "Panda and everyone. All of you. It's easy." Emily shrugged and took a fag when Naomi offered.
"Well, this'll teach you to abandon us for so long again." Naomi flicked her lighter several times before she got a flame and Emily stepped in closely in front of her, lighting her own cigarette.
Emily straightened up and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Lesson well and truly learnt."
"Glad to hear it. I hate having to teach people things time after time."
"Yes, it can be so annoying when people don't pick up on things straight away." Emily shifted slightly closer.
Naomi nodded and took a drag. She was fighting against gravity, as if her equilibrium was just nonexistent. She could feel herself being pulled forward, urging her to eliminate the space between herself and the redhead in front of her. She gave the slightest shake of her head and the world rocked. Fucking… gravity. Fucking drink. She hadn't planned on getting so drunk. And now every cell in her skin was electrified with the awareness of just how close Emily was. "Yes. Frustrating."
"Very." Emily held Naomi's gaze as she lifted her cigarette. Naomi's eyes darted down to Emily's lips, which were pulled up in a smirk. There was a beeping coming from somewhere, but Naomi couldn't be arsed to figure out what it was because Emily's eyes were boring into her own and Naomi was trying to figure out just why they had gone so dark. "You gonna answer that?"
"It's probably not important," Naomi murmured.
Emily cocked an eyebrow and slid her right hand into the front pocket of Naomi's jeans. Naomi's breath caught as Emily slowly, teasingly, pulled her hand back out, never breaking eye contact. She flipped the phone open and held it to her ear. "Naomi Campbell's phone, this is Emily speaking. How may I help you on this lovely evening?" Emily practically purred and Naomi was grateful that she was leaning against something because her knees suddenly didn't seem able to hold her weight. Naomi heard the faint sound of a reply and then Emily's eyes dropped down and to the side as the smirk slipped from her mouth. She took a step away and held the phone out. "It's Anna. I guess it was important, then."
Shit, Naomi thought as she took it. "Hello?" She said, trying to remember what breathing was. She felt like it had something to do with air and lungs, but Emily's frown as she took another step away made her uncertain of anything.
"That was Emily?" Anna said quickly. "Is her voice always like that?"
Naomi breathed out a laugh. "Yeah, it is," Naomi answered, wondering why it was suddenly all she could think about.
"Jesus," Anna said quietly and then cleared her throat. "Listen, I know you're out and I'm sorry to bother you, but J.J. rang me in the middle of the night in an absolute panic." Naomi cringed. "He's not handling having to organise bits of this fundraiser well at all, I'm afraid. He's driving himself, and everyone else, up the bloody wall."
"You want me to come in tomorrow?" Naomi asked, watching as Emily leaned back against the building next to her. Well, not next to her, but near her.
"Yeah. I know you asked for the whole weekend off, and I'm sorry again, but there's a good chance that Jay will actually give himself a heart attack over this whole thing," Anna said with a chuckle.
Naomi nodded. "No, I understand. I'll be in at ten."
"Thanks, Nai. Sorry again."
"It's no problem."
"…how pissed are you right now? Scale of one to ten."
Naomi pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. "Would it be horrible if I said maybe an eleven?"
Anna laughed. "I'll kill you myself if you die on your way home. And try to be functional tomorrow."
"I'll try."
"Later, Nai."
"Bye," Naomi responded and flipped her phone closed. "Bollocks." She slid her mobile back into her pocket and let her head loll back against the wall.
"If you're working tomorrow, you should probably go get some sleep."
Naomi rolled her head to look at Emily, never breaking contact with the building behind her. "I don't want to go home."
Emily smiled and shifted a bit closer, bending her left knee and placing her foot flat against the wall. "You should go, though. Get up early and be responsible and all that."
Naomi frowned. "I don't want to."
"Go home or be responsible?" Emily asked with a grin as her eyes scanned up the street.
Naomi took a drag and thought it over. "Both. I'm too young for a job like this. It's… it's a grown up job."
"But you love it."
"Not when it means I have to leave your welcome back party."
Emily kicked off the wall and stepped into the street, throwing her arm out. "Come on, Naoms. I'll take you home. That way you're not leaving the party, it's just going with you," Emily said, hopping back as a black taxi slowed down and started to pull over.
"But Cook and Panda and Effy are still here."
"Yes, but it's my party," Emily said as she grabbed Naomi's free hand and pulled her toward the curb, "and if I go with you, then so does the party. I'll call Panda and let her know."
Naomi wanted to protest. She wanted to just say 'sod it' to going into work and stay out all night and into the morning, drinking and dancing, but Emily's hand was soft. And seemed to fit perfectly in her own. She dropped her cigarette and gave Emily's hand a squeeze. Even that felt right. The way Emily's fingers tightened around her own in return and how Emily's thumb brushed across the back of her hand. "Steady," Emily said quietly as she opened the door and ushered Naomi forward. Naomi let go of Emily's hand, begrudgingly, and climbed into the cab. She settled into the seat and Emily followed a moment later. Naomi folded her hands in her lap and looked out the window as Emily spoke with the driver. Emily sat back and not a moment later they were off.
"I don't want to go home," Naomi mumbled.
"So what do you want?"
Naomi's eyes drifted from the window to the floor of the taxi. "I don't know."
"Well then I can't help you." Emily shifted in her seat. Not closer, not further away, just shifted.
Naomi frowned. Her brain felt slow. She felt like she was missing something. "Are we still talking about going home?" She asked tentatively.
Emily sighed. "It doesn't matter. We'll get you home and in bed and when you wake up in the morning you won't even remember this."
"I'll remember. I always remember." Naomi leaned back and her left hand fell onto the seat between them. "Will you remember?" She asked as she looked out the window.
"Definitely," Emily chuckled. "Maybe."
Naomi grinned and turned to look at her. "Maybe?"
"It depends," Emily said coyly.
"On what?"
"On if you figure out what it is you want."
"I want," Naomi thought about it, "a shower."
Emily laughed, really laughed, and Naomi smiled, the bleary, pleased smile of the drunk. Emily reached down to take her hand. "All you have to do is ask, Naoms."
"I'll remember that," Naomi said, adjusting her grip until her fingers twined between Emily's. Her head felt heavy and she let it drop back as she shut her eyes.
"I hope you do."
Naomi held onto the railing with her left hand and Emily's waist with her right. Emily laughed as Naomi stumbled her way upstairs. "How did you get so pissed? I drank as much as you did."
"I don't know," Naomi mumbled. "I think it started when someone suggested I drink Goldschlager and bloody Jager mixed together."
Emily chuckled and wrapped both arms around Naomi, steadying her as they stepped onto the landing. "Don't blame the Black Gold for your inability to hold your own."
Naomi pushed her door open and stumbled onto her bed, almost taking Emily down with her. "Jagermeister is evil. Even the fucking deer on the bottle looks like a demon." Her voice was muffled as she scooted up the bed, burying her face in a pillow.
Emily pulled Naomi's shoes off and tossed them onto the floor. "Just one more thing to add to your list of demon-drinks."
Naomi's eyes closed as she wrapped an arm around her pillow. "Fucking Remy."
"Fucking Remy, that's right," Emily agreed as she took off Naomi's socks. Emily said something else, but Naomi was finding it harder and harder to concentrate. Her bed was so comfortable and her brain was so fuzzy and all she wanted to do was sleep. She tried to tell Emily to repeat herself, but it came out as more of a series of rolling grunts and mumbles than an actual sentence. Emily chuckled and Naomi felt a hand rest gently on the small of her back, rubbing soft circles over her shirt. Naomi felt sleep tugging at her consciousness, and as Emily whispered something in her ear and placed a light kiss on her temple, she succumbed to its pull.
Naomi groaned and rolled over, swatting at the alarm clock next to her bed. Her hand fumbled for a minute before she found the button that silenced the bloody loud beeping. She tried to remember what had happened the previous night, but drew a lot of blanks. She could remember snippets, like dancing, and drinking, and Emily bringing her home in a taxi, but details of any sort were fuzzy. Except for work. She remembered that she had agreed to go into work, and that made her groan again. She sighed and swung her legs off the edge of the bed and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that she was wearing the same clothes as she had been the night before. The second thing she noticed was the full glass of water and two pills next to her clock. She smiled as she picked them up. She swallowed them and skulled the entire glass. She took a big gulp of air and stood up, hoping the pills would help with the headache that she felt creeping up on her. She gathered a change of clothes and left her room to take a shower.
Once she had washed up, trying to make herself as presentable as possible, she headed downstairs. She heard a noise coming from the lounge and popped her head in. The television was on in the corner, stuck on the main menu for some Xbox game. Naomi smiled as she stepped over Panda's sleeping form and hit the power button. Cook was sprawled out on the floor, with his back against the sofa and an unlit spliff hanging from the corner of his mouth. Naomi plucked it from between his lips and put it on the table in the middle of the room. Her eyes drifted to the far corner of the sofa, where Emily was curled up into the arm. Her hair was mussed, covering half her face. A few strands were stuck to her bottom lip. Naomi smiled and resisted the urge to walk over and tuck her hair behind her ear. Instead she stepped back over Panda and closed the door softly behind her.
She made herself a bit of toast and brought it with her to eat on her way to the tube. By the time she got to the shelter, with medicine and a bit of food in her stomach, she was feeling better. Tired, but better. She had barely gotten two steps into the building before J.J. was on top of her, hands full of papers. "It's a nightmare, Naomi. No one talks to each other, and the people that do give all the wrong information."
"J.J."
"Half the barristers don't even know who I am when I call-"
"J.J."
"And the other half just ask to speak with you or Anna. And all that is on top of dealing with catering and selling tables and arranging appropriate entertainment-"
"J.J.!" Naomi screamed, wrapping her hands around the lapels of his jacket. "Take a deep breath, Jay and answer a question for me." J.J. gulped for air and nodded. "Have you heard back from Mister Moore?" J.J. shook his head. Naomi smiled and smoothed down the wrinkles caused by her hands. "Then ring him. There's no point having the fundraiser if we aren't having press coverage of it. Press means good exposure for businesses. Exposure means anyone with pockets deeper than a teacup will be there."
"Call Mister Moore," J.J. repeated.
"Call Mister Moore." Naomi gave him an encouraging smile and patted his shoulder. "I'll double check with the venue and arrange for a string quartet or something posh like."
J.J. nodded and started to walk away, before stopping himself. "Oh, and Anna wants to see you straight away."
"I'll bet she does," Naomi sighed. She trailed behind J.J. all the way to the office. She had barely walked in when Anna was sweeping her back out again.
"Walk with me, we need to talk. I made you some tea," She said, offering Naomi a mug as they walked into the corridor.
Naomi took a sip and smiled. "Thanks."
"I figured you'd need it, after your big night out. How was it, anyway?"
"Good," Naomi nodded and took another sip.
Anna narrowed her eyes and smirked. "You got totally pissed, didn't you?"
Naomi chuckled. "I didn't die and I am completely functional."
"Good," Anna said, leading Naomi into the storage room. "Glad to hear it, on both counts."
Naomi arched an eyebrow as she set her mug down on the table and Anna closed the door behind them. "Why are we in here? I've got a lot of work to do and a very locked on J.J. to calm down."
Anna grinned and stepped in front of Naomi, folding her arms across her chest. "Tables are ninety percent filled. Everything else is minor details. And J.J. has been locked on for almost a week, as you know. He won't breathe properly until this whole thing is done."
Naomi smirked and leaned back against the table. "That still doesn't answer why you brought me in here."
"Well," Anna drawled as she let her arms fall to her sides. "The first reason is because I couldn't do this in the office." Anna placed her hands on Naomi's hips and caught her mouth in a kiss as she brought their bodies together.
Naomi smiled as Anna's lips pulled over her own, and she snaked her right arm around Anna's waist as her left wrapped around her neck. It was comfortable, being with her. It wasn't fireworks, or a primal need, like it had been with Effy, but it was nice. It felt nice to pull back slightly and then lean forward, capturing Anna's bottom lip. And Naomi knew it would always illicit that hum.
Anna quickly pulled away, shaking her head. "You're distracting me from the second reason."
Naomi grinned and gave Anna a peck on the cheek. "Fine. What's the second reason?"
"Amnesty International."
Naomi stared at her blankly. "Odd. Kissing me in the storage room makes you think of Amnesty International?"
Anna laughed, her head dropping into Naomi's shoulder. She straightened up and took a step back, grabbing Naomi's hands. "No. The two are completely unrelated. Well, not completely. I wanted to kiss you because of Amnesty."
Naomi cocked an eyebrow. "Still odd. Maybe even more odd. Is this a new gay rights thing? The 'Kiss Pretty Girls Campaign'?"
Anna scoffed. "Funny you should mention that, actually." She took a deep breath and brought their hands up between them. "There's an opening-"
"I don't want it," Naomi said quickly. "I don't want to go for it."
Anna visibly deflated and dropped their hands. "Why not?"
Naomi shrugged. "I don't." Anna looked gob-smacked and Naomi sighed. "Look, I know you want me to go on and change the world or whatever, but that's not what I want. I like it here. A lot. I get to actually have a hand in helping people. I hate the stupid fundraisers and the pissing research, but I get to see how it helps. I see how the money gets used and sometimes even help with its disbursement. I get to spend my days educating people and trying to open their eyes."
Anna cocked her head to the side as a slow smile pulled up her mouth. "You got pro bono victim services set up."
"Fuck yeah, I did," Naomi said with a laugh. "Look, you can't change the world in one fell swoop," She said as she wrapped her arms around Anna's waist and pulled her close. "I feel like I'm actually making a difference here."
"You are," Anna said, resting her hands on Naomi's forearms.
"And I want to see it through. I love it and I want to stick with it."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"So long as you stop trying to get me to move on to 'bigger and better' things," Naomi smirked and rolled her eyes.
Anna chuckled. "Deal," She said and placed a chaste kiss on Naomi's lips.
"So, the tables are ninety percent sold?"
"They are."
"Jesus, that's a lot of money."
"It is," Anna said, taking a step back and pulling Naomi toward the door. "Over three hundred people all expecting some heart-warming, wallet-lightening evening of magnificence."
"Oh, alright, so no pressure then."
"Did you really believe that?" Maya asks, pulling me to a stop.
"Believe what?"
She scrunches up her face. "That you can't change the world all at once."
I sigh and take a deep breath as I slowly think of how to explain. "I think of it as making pancakes."
"Making pancakes?" She asks with a cocked eyebrow of disbelief.
I laugh at her expression, a perfect blend of myself and my soon-to-be-ex-wife. "Yes, Maya, making pancakes. A lot of different things have to go into pancake batter, right?" She nods as she looks at me intently, focused on following what I'm saying. "If you have too much flour, or not enough milk, or anything really, the batter is ruined." I see her struggling to understand and kneel down, getting on eye level with her. "There are a lot of different ingredients that go into making pancakes. Just like there are a lot of factors that go into changing laws and policy and minds. If you don't have the right mixture, then you can't use the batter. You can't change anything. Or the pancakes, the hoped result, don't come out properly. The most important thing is knowing what the ingredients are, and then trying time after time to cook them until you get them right."
"The first time I made pancakes on my own," She says suddenly, "I messed them up. But you let me remake the batter and try again."
"I did."
"And even though I got the batter right, I burned them."
"You did," I say, biting the inside of my cheek to stifle a laugh at the memory.
"But then I tried again and I got them right."
"And they were delicious."
"Thanks, Mum," She grins. "But I understand what you're saying. I think." Her eyes drift to the ceiling and her faces screws up in thought. "Making the batter is like the research you do. Talking with people, understanding when a law is wrong. Or," She says excitedly, gaining confidence in her thoughts, "that there isn't a law at all for something, but there should be. And cooking them is like actually fighting to change things." I bite my bottom lip, trying to contain my grin. "Sometimes you'll burn a pancake, but there's more batter and you have to try to get it with the next one. It's why you always call it a fight. Or a battle, or a war. Because pancakes keep getting burnt, but you still have batter to try again."
I literally have no words. For the first time, probably ever, I'm totally speechless. How on Earth I was blessed with this little genius, I'll never know. But Maya's looking at me, her eyes bright with pride, and all I can do is narrow my eyes at her in return and say, "How old are you again?" She laughs and I see her cheeks redden as she blushes. "No, I'm serious," I say as I stand up. "You're far too clever to only be ten."
"Mum," She whines, "stop it."
"Fine. But I'm bringing you to the GP to get an age verification," I say as she takes my hand again. "You have to be at least thirty, as smart as you are."
She rolls her eyes. "I'm ignoring you now."
