Lyrics used in this part are from the song 'Light years away' by Mozella

Chapter Twenty-three: Screwed Over by a Redhead in a Sports Jersey (Naomi's POV)

It's almost like you had it planned
It's like you smiled and shook my hand and said
"Hey, I'm about to screw you over, big time"
And what was I supposed to do?

As soon as everybody exited her mother's Jetta, Naomi sped away from the front entrance of the college to find a parking space and clear her head. She knew she was being counterproductive, an asshole, and, quite frankly, the worst friend that ever lived but Naomi couldn't help but think of what Cook's relationship with Effy would mean for her. Naomi was pissed off (and afraid): how was she going to stay strong on her whole staying- away-from-Emily thing if she was likely to see her every day? She already had to endure the ordeal of seeing her in most of her classes and Naomi didn't know if she could hold her resolve if Emily was thrown in her face day in and day outside a neutral environment. She feared she'd do something really stupid (like sleep with her again) if she was exposed to that much Emily every day. In simpler words, I'm screwed! Naomi thought, banging her fist against the steering wheel. How could anyone expect her to become a better person if she was stuck in the same rut? How was she supposed to let go of Emily if she was always near her?

I was stuck in between you and a hard place
We won't talk about the hard place

Naomi exited her vehicle, a bit ashamed of herself for how she had treated Cook earlier. It wasn't that Naomi wasn't happy for Cook for getting his first girlfriend (even if it was Effy) and she knew she had been a bitch for ruining his happiness but she couldn't help but feel that her whole world was falling apart. It all to do with a redhead who seemed to be more often than not in a sports jersey then she was in normal people clothes. Naomi knew she had to apologize to Cook eventually for how she had acted earlier, but for now, she had something to do.

She made her way into college with determined and hurried steps, her destination set: she was going to find Emily and talk to her, clear the air and set some things straight. If she had to around Emily, they may as well be on speaking terms. Naomi knew where Emily would be at this time of the day: near Kieran's political science class, lingering outside the door before the bell rung. (It wasn't that she had stalked Emily; it was just where she always was before 1st period).

Naomi passed through the hair and beauty geeks (they were a bunch of annoying fucks who thought they knew everything about grooming and beauty, but in reality they were the ugliest and least-groomed people of 2nd year), the male football players (they hated her; she had slept with the sister of one of the lead players and hadn't call), and the rugby jocks (she was cool with them, but it was only because they were grateful to JJ for helping them win the big game last year). Naomi didn't stop to interact with any of them, she was on a mission. When she had finally made it to where the female football players hung out, Naomi had been right about where Emily would be (lingering outside of Kieran's classroom with her football team). Emily and Effy were laughing at something that one of her friends had said but Emily's laugh was lifeless, only for show. She looked worse for wear and it seemed that maybe she had had a worse weekend then Naomi.

But I don't blame you anymore
That's too much pain to store
It left me half dead
Inside my head

Naomi didn't take time to be polite as she stomped over and grabbed Emily's arm. "Mind if I talk to you?" Naomi asked firmly, leaving no room for argument. They needed to talk and her cronies needed to leave.

And boy, looking back I see
I'm not the girl I used to be
When I lost my mind
It saved my life

Emily gave her a hard look (clearly not liking the tone of her voice) and removed her arm from Naomi's grip, but she still dismissed her friends; "I'll see you guys later," she said with a forced lopsided smile. Her football friends nodded their heads and headed to their assigned classes but Effy didn't leave straight away; she kept looking at Naomi with an overprotective gaze (that made Naomi mentally roll her eyes), but after a few minutes, Effy took her leave with "See you inside, Emily." Effy shot Naomi one last warning look and went inside.

"You know, there's such a thing as manners, Naomi," Emily spat. "Get some."

It's how you wanted it to be
It's like you played a joke on me
And I lost a friend
In the end

"Whatever, Emily. I'm not here for that," Naomi seethed. "Got a game?" she asked, when she really got her chance to take Emily in; Emily was wearing her infamous football jersey which read ["Tigers"] in the front, "Fitch" at the top on the back, and had the number thirteen at the center of the back, all in gold block letters. The jersey itself was a dark blue that made the gold pop out.

And I think that I cried for days
But now that seems light years away
And I'm never going back
To who I was

Emily shrugged at Naomi's question, agitated by Naomi's presence. "Yeah, we're playing this private school in northern Bristol." Emily's tone told Naomi that she was still infuriated with her for Naomi's behavior earlier.

"Who you playing?" Naomi asked, trying to be polite and make amends for her rough behavior from before. It was never right to grab someone and Naomi was a little (a lot) annoyed with herself for it.

"Naomi, what do you want?" Emily asked, crossing her arms. She wasn't in the mood to play nice. It seemed Naomi was going to have to get straight to the point.

"Cook told me that he and Effy are dating now," Naomi said bluntly, seeing no need to pussy foot around.

"Yeah, it seems so." Emily said, indifferently. "What's your point?"

"So…" Naomi trailed off, growing irritated all over again. "What does that mean for us?" Why did Emily have to be so damn infuriating?

Emily sighed loudly, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "It means nothing, Naomi." Emily said. "It doesn't concern us. We'll still go our separate ways," Emily said with such finality that Naomi couldn't help but be a little disappointed. She would never admit it, but a part of her hoped they could have been friends or worked their shit out.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Naomi said, softly.

"That it?" Emily asked and Naomi nodded her head in response. There was nothing left to say and once again, Emily gave Naomi a long look before she picked up her sports duffel. She began to make her way into Kieran's classroom then turned around.

"My mum is in town and she's getting remarried." Emily spoke suddenly, with such a lifeless voice, that Naomi flinched a little.

"So?" Naomi said. What did that have to do with anything?

Cause I don't blame you anymore
That's too much pain to store
It left me half dead
Inside my head

Emily gave Naomi an empty look. "She's getting remarried to your dad, Naomi," Emily said tonelessly (Emily's voice so lifeless scared Naomi). The shock of Emily's news nearly caused Naomi to fall down, "No."Naomi couldn't breathe. "No," Naomi repeated. Her father couldn't be in town? Her father couldn't be marrying…

"I guess I'll be seeing you around, Sis?" Emily said, bitterly, as she made the rest of the way into the classroom.

And boy, looking back I see
I'm not the girl I used to be
When I lost my mind
It saved my life

What? Naomi tried not to hyperventilate. This couldn't be happing! It wasn't necessarily what Emily had said about her father marrying Emily's mother, even though that was so wrong in and of itself. No, what had Naomi one step from vomiting on the tiled college hallway was the part about her father being in town. Naomi hadn't seen her father in about three years and quite frankly, she wanted to keep it that way; she had nothing to say to her father and if Naomi was being honest with herself, she was likely to punch her father's lights out if she ever did see him again. The man may be her father (by seed) but he wasn't anything to her and if Emily's mother wanted to marry him, that was all fine and dandy, but keep it the fuck away from her because she didn't want it. She didn't want to be Emily's step-sister. She just didn't want it, she just couldn't handle it, she just couldn't… Naomi glanced around the hallway before stuffing her feelings deep inside herself; she didn't have time for this bullshit. She had to get to class, she had to remain impassive, and she had to live her life.

With a deep breath, Naomi made her way into Kieran's class.

And that life seems like light years away
Light years away

Naomi really had been screwed over by a fucking redhead in a sports jersey. Son of bitch!

That life seems like light years away