A/N: The reason I'm posting so later is because today it this time was the only time I could and the reason I'm posting only two chapter's instead of my usual four is because I'm a little stuck on the other two, so I decided to post the other two and an additional chapter later tomorrow as I'm going to spend the rest of the night writing them out.

I know I dove a little deeper then necessary into the colors the strobe lights made in the cave in JJ's part as well as Katie's and now I'm going to do it in Naomi's, I know it seems excessive but I have a reason for it… and you'll just have to wait and see why =)

Chapter Nine: Dream like Presence (Naomi's POV)

The first thing Naomi noticed once she had gotten into the Party was the lights. They reminded Naomi of the crazy drawings she used to make for her dad when she had been younger: the wide array of messy colors as they gave off a dream- like presence when they bounced off the oddly shaped cave walls. The colors made Naomi sad for a split second but Naomi pushed the thoughts about her father to the back of her head no need to think on the past Naomi thought with a shake of her head putting her game face on: she was looking to have a good time and she wasn't going to let two people in one night ruin that.

The next thing Naomi had noticed was the handsome young man checking invitations and Naomi immediately pulled out her own No reason to hold anyone else up Naomi thought with a stroke of the equally crazy colored invitation.

In no time Naomi had passed the young man and his bouncers and headed into the party, Naomi immediately went in search of the bar; she needed a lot of booze to even remotely enjoy her surroundings but Naomi soon gave up when the sea of people kept her from seeing past ten feet in front of her and decided to search for the drugs instead.

The music was right to dance to on ecstasy but the crazy lights would make an MDMA trip be more enjoyable: so that was what she decided to search for but she soon gave up on that as well when it seemed all anybody had was weed and Xanax Who brings xanax to a rave? Naomi thought with a roll of her eyes Stupid people that's who? And it seemed they were in abundance here.

Naomi's mood quickly soured again; she couldn't get high and she couldn't get drunk how was she to have any fun? How was she to face Emily completely sober? Naomi felt like kicking Cook in the face for talking her into going to this party.

"Looks like someone's having a good time." Naomi immediately groaned at the sound of Effy's nasally voice. Naomi didn't think she could handle Effy sober either; sober Naomi couldn't suppress her need to chock the bitch to death.

"What you want, Effy?" Naomi didn't turn to look at her "Here to start more trouble?"

Taking a drag from her cigarette, Effy said, "No. Just wanted to apologize about what I said earlier." She scrapped her heels against the stone floor before adding "It was wrong and I'm sorry."

Effy then looked at Naomi and said softly, "Didn't know you knew… well that you know about Emily and ..." Naomi flinched a little at that but kept her eyes straight ahead.

"Apologize not accepted." Naomi didn't need Effy's pity on this subject. Naomi didn't respect anybody who condoned a cheater or someone who was likely to be one, Effy of all people should know that about Naomi.

Effy sighed so loudly that Naomi could hear it over the extremely loud music and it caused her to finally turn around to look at Effy.

"Naomi, why do you hate me so much?" Naomi was so taken back by the hurt look on Effy's face that for a minute Naomi felt sorry for her but it was quickly replaced by anger… anger over the past.

"You know why, Effy?" Naomi snatched the cigarette out of Effy's hand and took a drag. Effy's solemn expression was soon placed by one of surprise and … understanding.

"Naomi that was a long time ago." Yeah, maybe for Effy but Naomi lived with it every single day.

"Effy, what if it was your father?" Naomi stated uncomfortably. "How would you feel if it had been your father and my mother you saw fucking?" Effy seemed to really consider what Naomi had just said as she took her cigarette back from Naomi.

Effy unfazed said, "Free." Effy throw her cigarette on the floor and snuffed it out.

To say Naomi was surprised by Effy's answer would have been an understatement; she had been shook by it. Free Naomi thought with a raise of her brow, How Could that be freeing? Naomi had felt like it had been burden. Some days it still was.

"How could that be freeing, Effy?" Effy gave Naomi such a heart aching look of sorrow that Naomi had ever seen on another human being.

"My dad wouldn't have something to make my mum miserable over." Naomi had stared at Effy with such a look of compassion that it almost made Effy break down crying but she stuffed it back inside(as usual) and instead shoot Naomi a blank look.

Effy and Naomi stood like that for what seemed a really long time, just looking at each other; not saying anything. Not really needing to… it was almost like in that silence her and Effy had come to a deep understanding of one another.

It was finally Effy who broke the silence with "Go easy on Emily, Naomi. She may be much more fucked than you but she cares a lot more than you do." Naomi couldn't help but roll her eyes at that Emily wasn't fucked up, she was just a spoiled rich girl who thought she could use people but a part of Naomi knew Effy was speaking the truth, everything almost seemed to matter more to Emily: While Naomi expected people to leave, Emily expected them to stay.

"Later." Effy patted Naomi on the back and headed off to god knows where.

Naomi smiled at the fact she was kind of sad that Effy was leaving, Naomi was seeing Effy in a new light but it didn't mean Naomi liked her, it just meant that maybe Effy might be one of the good ones (Just maybe Emily was too), for some reason that made Naomi want to cry.

"Hi, Naomi. Are you okay?" A husky voice sounded behind her and Naomi automatically knew it was Emily, turning away from Effy's retreating form and for a split second Emily reminded Naomi of the dream like presence the strobe light colors had made when they bounced off the cave walls and how they were also giving Emily the same treatment of some kind of serene bliss.

What Naomi could never explain to herself later when she recalled this night was why she suddenly had the overwhelming desire to ball her eyes out?