Love Lessons (Part Eighteen)
Emily took the long way home, the longer the walk the more time she had to clear her head of all the rubbish that was clouding it. Pulling out her mobile phone, she noticed that the screen was frozen, judging by the date that it had frozen on it hadn’t been working since the night out at the club. Pulling off the back, Emily took the battery out leaving it a couple of minutes, before replacing it and turning the phone back on.
27 missed calls
“Fuck!” Emily cursed, checking her texts, finding she had about ten of those to accompany the missed calls. Reading through the texts, Emily was panicking, the words swirling about, something about Katie getting attacked, making her legs move at double the speed they were before. Her heart didn’t stop racing until she turned into her road, practically running down it, crashing through the front door.
“Katie?” Jenna’s voice called, laced with concern, appearing in the hallway, her face dropping when she saw it was Emily instead of Katie.
“Is she alright? Where is she? I only just got the messages, what happened, please tell me Katie is okay.” Emily rushed, following her mother who had already moved back into the living room, fiddling with her phone, presumably texting Katie.
“Now you care Emily?” Jenna snapped, clearly frustrated with her daughter. Jenna softened when she saw the worry etched on Emily’s face, patting the sofa next to her, indicating for Emily to come sit down. “I’m sorry babe, it’s just Katie’s gone out and she hasn’t told me where.”
“But she’s alright? The other night? What the hell happened mum?” Emily questioned, moving closer to her mum, any of the issues with Naomi and Gina temporarily moving out of her head, whilst her own family’s took priority.
“She walked home on her own, silly girl, some man he grabbed her. God know what would have happened if JJ hadn’t come along, him and that Cook boy scared the attacker away. It’s good she has a nice boyfriend to look after her, I assume that’s where she is now.” Jenna sighed, pressing call on her phone again to try to reach Katie.
“Boyfriend?” Emily asked confused, raising an eyebrow. Surely she wasn’t talking about JJ? Katie wasn’t seeing anyone was she?
“JJ darling, the strange boy that took you to the dance, looks like he’s got his eye on our Katie instead. He was the only person she was responding to, she was pretty shook up.” Jenna explained, oblivious to the look of shock on Emily’s face.
“Katie and JJ aren’t going out, they’re just friends mum.” Emily insisted, her mum must have got it wrong because there was no way that Katie and JJ would be together, Katie had denied it, plus it was impossible because Katie was Katie and JJ was JJ and the two things just didn’t work together.
“Well darling, I may be getting older, but back in my day sharing a bed with someone meant you were a little more than friends.” Jenna laughed raising an eyebrow. “He’s lucky your dad didn’t catch him, because he wouldn’t have reacted as nicely as me. Your dad loves you girls, like fierce, but to him you two will always be little girls.”
Emily couldn’t find any words, settling instead for a wide eyed look and a splutter, snapping out of her shock when she heard the door open. Both Emily and Jenna looking up to watch Katie enter the room, looking a bit tearful.
“I’m a fucking mess.” Katie sobbed, both Jenna and Emily standing up, but it was Emily’s arms that Katie sought out, tucking herself in tightly against her twins body, holding onto her with a determined ferocity.
“It’s alright Kaykay, I’m here yeah? Emsy’s here.” Emily whispered, clutching onto Katie, whilst Jenna stood alongside feeling helpless.
“Oh baby.” Jenna muttered, reaching out to stroke Katie’s cheek. Enveloping both her girls in a hug. “Your dad and James set off on their fishing trip this morning, how about a girls night?” Jenna suggested, stroking Katie’s hair.
Katie looked up at the suggestion, looking at Emily to see what she thought of the idea, Emily shrugged, indicating for Katie to make the decision for them. Jenna could see that the girls looked hesitant, feeling slightly upset that the idea of spending time with her wasn’t one they relished.
“I guess we could.” Katie forced a smile, wracking her brains to remember if they’d ever had a ‘girls night’ before, wondering exactly what it would entail.
“You could look a little enthusiastic, I’ve got three bottles of wine, a pizza and a large bag of Doritos.” Jenna smiled, laughing at the shock on Emily and Katie’s face. “Oh come on girls! Ever heard of fun?”
“Pizza?” Emily asked, not completely sure such an item of food had ever entered the Fitch household. She wasn’t even sure her mum had even eaten a pizza before, normally all meals contained beetroot, and Emily wasn’t sure anywhere made a beetroot pizza.
“Yes Emily pizza, pepperoni in fact, extra cheese. Just don’t tell your dad about the junk food and we’ll be fine!” Jenna grinned wickedly, almost skipping off into the kitchen, leaving Emily and Katie, eyebrows raised looking at each other.
“Who is that and what have they done with mum?” Katie asked with a look of pure confusion, resting her head on Emily’s shoulder.
“I think she’s making an effort to bond with us, we should go along with it, she’s trying at least.” Emily shrugged, kissing the side of Katie’s head. “Anyway you, want to talk? Explain what’s got you so upset? Oh and tell me about what exactly is going on between you and JJ! I’m the last one to find out as usual.”
“Don’t pout Ems, it makes you look like a fish.” Katie instructed, pulling Emily down onto the sofa next to her, glad she had her sister, she needed to talk to someone. Briefly she wondered how JJ was, having snuck out of his house before he’d returned from talking with his mum, she hadn’t been able to face him.
**
“Right so I buggering told him, he had to stop being so blinking weird about the whole Cookie mistake, or we’d never be able to just get on with being boyfriend and girlfriend. Only problem is Eff, I think Thommo might have dumped me, so now I figure I should be crying, but I’m not, but that’s probably because I’m a bit squiffy on this.” Panda sighed pointing to the bottle of vodka, she held clutched in her hands. Effy sat looking slightly disinterested next to her, nodding in all the right places to give Panda the impression that she was listening.
“Probably Panda.” Effy replied emotionlessly, swigging from the vodka bottle before replacing it back in Panda’s hands. Looking up only when she saw the flash of blonde approaching the bus stop where they were sitting.
“Alright?” Naomi smiled, plonking herself down down next Panda, taking hold of the bottle of vodka and taking an almighty gulp from it, stopping only when she became aware of Panda staring at her.
“You’re blinking thirsty Nai! I can only take little sips of vodka or else it makes me chunder like a bad one, don’t it Eff?” Panda grinned, looking to her best friend for affirmation. Effy looked up at the sound of her name, nodded before returning to her phone, she was fervently texting.
“Hmm this could be awkwardly interesting, ladies we are being joined by a fourth.” Effy uttered, reading the last text message she had received. Noticing the raised eyebrows of the two blondes that sat next to her, Effy elaborated. “Ruby’s bringing the spliff Cook owes me.”
“Oh.” Naomi murmured, looking down and wondering if she should leave now. The last time she’d seen Ruby, Emily had her in a headlock. She was pretty sure any friendship they’d had, had quickly dissolved after everything that had happened.
“Stay. She knows you’re here, you’ll look like you’re running if you leave.” Effy instructed, Naomi immediately stopping herself from moving, instead settling for another swig from the vodka bottle, spluttering as she watched Panda’s shocked expression reappear.
“Fucks sake Panda, it’s just vodka.” Naomi laughed, nudging her friend in the side, passing the bottle back to her, indicating for her to take a swig.
“It’s just a bit blimmin’ strong is all. But I’m fucking depressive and I think my mums making monkey with that man next door with the weirdy hair.” Panda sighed, taking a drink, screwing up her taste in disgust as she swallowed it down.
“She is.” Effy confirmed, without even looking at Panda. Naomi bursting out laughing at her hugely dysfunctional friends, finding she enjoyed their company, and finding that she was even slightly looking forward to Ruby joining them.
**
“Is Eastenders on at 7:30 or 8:00 tonight?” Jenna asked, arranging the Doritos in tiny little serving bowls, as if she was preparing for a dinner party and not just a casual night in with her daughters.
“8:00, but when did you last watch Eastenders? Fuck I think Den and Angie were still running the bar when you last tuned in.” Katie scoffed, grabbing a handful of crisps from the bag and sitting down on the sofa.
“I thought thats what girls nights consisted of, soaps and romantic comedies?” Jenna questioned, looking utterly unsure of herself. “I’m also a little confused as to what we should be wearing, is it casual? Smart casual?”
“Mum we’ll be wearing pajamas, you don’t dress up to watch TV with your daughters, you’re really bad at this.” Katie rolled her eyes, spreading out on the sofa, budging over only when Emily came in, already in pajamas, grabbing her own handful of crisps, also from the bag.
“Right.” Jenna nodded, moving to the kitchen and uncorking the first bottle of wine, pouring herself a large glass of wine, downing it in its entirety. She knew she shouldn’t feel nervous, but this was like a test of her mothering skills, something she’d never done before. Jenna wished she hadn’t created this distance between her and her girls.
“Mum is the pizza ready? Me and Katie are wasting away here! Or at least I am anyway, fatty here is scoffing so many crisps I think she’ll be good for food for at least a week.” Emily called, sticking her tongue out at Katie who gave her a gentle kick in the leg in return.
“I’ll just check on it.” Jenna called back, wobbling slightly as she made her way over to the oven, the wine was a little stronger than the one her and Rob usually shared and it was already having it’s effect.
**
“Fucking hell, you lot look like a bunch of tramps sitting in a bus-stop drinking!” Ruby exclaimed the minute she laid eyes on the three girls sat waiting for her, Effy was sat upright, legs crossed staring blankly at nothing. Panda sat to her left, leaning her head on Naomi who had an arm wrapped lazily round the slightly worse for wear looking girl, who was still clutching tightly to the vodka.
“Fuck off, we’d be drinking Special Brew if we were tramps.” Naomi grinned, shooting a smile at Ruby, grateful when one was returned, no hints of awkwardness between them, despite everything that had happened in the short duration of their friendship.
“I think I've got some in here actually.” Effy muttered, searching through the carrier bag of goodies she and Panda had bought earlier on, raising a can of Special Brew in triumph, chucking it at Naomi.
“Classy Eff.” Naomi winked, opening the can and taking a swig, gagging at the vile taste of the liquid before passing it back to Effy.
“Got the spliffy then Rubydoodles?” Panda asked, motioning out her hand desperately, ignoring Effy and Naomi’s matching eye-rolls either side of her. Smiling her goofy smile at Ruby, who simply furrowed her brow in confusion.
“You’re going to sit here smoking it? In public? Where the police could catch us at any moment?” Ruby asked, mouth slightly agape at the idea, she was nervous even carrying drugs, never mind actually taking them in public.
“Flash them our tits and we’ll only get a telling off, if we tell them Naomi is a lezzer then we might not even get that, they’ll be creaming their pants at the thought of hot girl on girl action.” Effy replied with a wry smile. “You could always tongue me hon.” Effy winked at Naomi who spluttered on the Special Brew Effy had passed back to her.
“Well, glad you’ve got a plan.” Ruby sighed, her stomach tightening with jealousy at the flirtation between Effy and Naomi, even if it was in a playful banter way, it didn’t stop Ruby wanting to wipe the smug smile off Effy’s face, reminding herself that if she was going to help Katie then befriending Effy would do more use than gouging her eyes out.
“Thanks for involving me Eff, nice of you that.” Naomi muttered, regaining her composure, trying not to laugh when she noticed she’d sprayed most of the liquid she’d spluttered out on Panda, who was currently wiping her face with a pink My Little Pony handkerchief.
“Always babes.” Effy responded with a wink, taking the handkerchief from Panda and finishing off the clean up job herself. It was moments like this when Panda and Effy’s friendship and bond could truely be seen, the way they cared for each other, looked after each other. To many it would never make sense, to those close enough there couldn’t be two better friends.
“You can come back to mine. If you like.” Ruby shrugged, trying not to look at Naomi who she knew was staring at her. “Parents are away for the weekend, not that they’d give a shit anyway.”
“Oh lets go Eff! I’m freezing my tits off here, my nipples are as hard as... As... Well hard as something really hard.” Panda complained, rubbing at her breasts absentmindedly as Ruby looked on slightly horrified, Naomi and Effy however barely even acknowledged it, so used to Panda’s peculiar behaviour as they were.
“Oh god” Ruby muttered, shaking her head before clearing her throat. “Come on tramps, it’s only ten minutes from here!” Ruby made a move to leave, and the three girls eventually began to follow, Effy swinging her plastic carrier bag of booze as they walked.
**
“She’s pretty, do you fancy her Emily?” Jenna asked, slurring her words slightly as she’d now polished off most the bottle of wine, Emily and Katie had opened the second, sipping cautiously on there own glasses as they watched their mother with amazement, and in Emily’s case, embarrassment.
“Not really mum.” Emily replied, feeling her cheeks flush red, she began to think she preferred it when her mother was an in denial homophobe, at least she wouldn’t be scouting the television for potential crushes.
“Why not? She’s got tits!” Jenna squealed, Katie giggling at the her mother, whilst Emily eyes pleaded with her sister to get her out of this situation.
“Mum she doesn’t fancy ever single girl in the world, yeah?” Katie explained, picking at one of the remaining bits of cold pizza that sat on the coffee table.
“Oh. Doesn’t she?” Jenna exclaimed, looking slightly confused at the concept, finishing off yet another glass of wine, she began to pour herself another.
“Fucks sake mum! Do you fancy every man in the world just because you’re straight?” Emily snapped, only calming when Katie placed a hand on her shoulder, thrusting crisps at her hoping a mouth full of them would prevent Emily from kicking off.
“Well, I suppose not, I guess it all works the same, well not the same because you don’t have the bits for the same but I guess it’s all good.” Jenna nodded, turning her attention back to the television, unaware of Emily’s exasperation.
“All good hey?” Katie laughed, nudging Emily who was burning up with embarrassment, bright red cheeks that almost matched her hair.
“Yeah it fucking well is.” Emily smirked, watching Katie screw up her face in disgust. There was no need to mention the severe sex drought that she was currently suffering with, better to let Katie suffer with the idea that Emily actually knew what an orgasm felt like.
“I don’t want to know, seriously I don’t.” Katie sighed, chewing thoughtfully at the pizza, remembering for a second her and JJ earlier on, remembering how his hands felt on her body, then the memory being torn down by the blackness of everything else that was going on at the moment, the hot breath of her attacker breathing on her neck, boozy and familiar, she wished she could shake it but it wouldn’t go away.
Emily noticed the change in her sister immediately, she knew it wasn’t simply the inappropriate sex talk that was freaking her out, she could see that Katie looked panicked and upset.
“You okay babes?” Emily asked, pulling herself closer to Katie, Jenna still oblivious as she watched the television, scooping a handful of crisps into her mouth.
“Yeah just thinking.” Katie whispered, focusing as hard as she could on the television to try and give her mind something else to concentrate on.
**
“She’s not fucking cheating, she’s Emily, she waited five hundred years for you to start waving the rainbow flag, she’s not going to start fucking it up now.” Effy insisted as Naomi explained her fears to the girls, the fact that she was certain Emily was hiding something from her, how her mind had immediately sprung to the worse possible outcome.
“She’s getting plenty of lady bits loving from you Nai, why would she need to go and visit another girls funbox?” Panda smiled encouragingly, munching on a piece of toast that Effy had made her, cut into triangles exactly the way Panda liked it.
“Well, thats the thing, we’re kind of not having sex at the moment. It seemed like a good idea at the time but now I’m worried she’s bored. You don’t know Emily, she’s like a dog on heat ninety percent of the time.” Naomi groaned, closing her eyes to shift the haunting images of Emily with hundreds of other girls.
“What a glorious way to describe the love of your life.” Ruby scoffed, sitting in the corner away from the others, noticing the glares of the others Ruby quickly dropped her head. “...Sorry.”
“This is driving me insane!” Naomi growled, downing another shot from the ring of shots that Effy had set up around the room.
“Go and fucking ask her.” Ruby suggested, shrugging her shoulders as Naomi looked at her. Naomi turned to Effy to look for some kind of confirmation.
“Can’t do any harm.” Effy nodded, grabbing a pillow from the sofa to tuck under Pandora’s head as she began to fall asleep there on the floor.
“Right! I’m going, I won’t return! Unless she’s fucking some butch girl called Tina with a strap-on. In which case I will be doing all these shots.” Naomi exclaimed, almost tripping over from the vast amount of alcohol she’d consumed.
“Tina?” Panda questioned, stirring from her near slumber to look at Naomi.
“Go back to sleep Panda.” Effy soothed, stroking Panda’s hair until her eyes fluttered closed and the soft snoring began. Watching as Naomi marched out the door, determined to get answers from Emily.
The entire walk to Emily’s was firstly the most difficult one Naomi thought she’d ever done, walking was far too difficult with the amount of alcohol she’d consumed inside her, and the whole way she was rehearsing various speeches to Emily, ways that she could confront her. None of them sounding right, all lacking the tact that a sober Naomi could have mustered.
Knocking on the door, Naomi was aware that her banging was a little aggressive, wary that Emily’s parents might be in. Grateful when it was her redhead that opened the door to her. Naomi couldn’t help but smile at Emily in her pajamas, wanting to kiss her rather than argue with her.
“Needed to see you babes, I gots to talk to you.” Naomi slurred, slightly too loud as Jenna overheard her.
“Is that Naomi? Come and join us! We’re watching television!” Jenna called, Katie shooting a look of utter confusion at her mother. Jenna simply smiling a joyful grin at her, waving enthusiastically as Naomi wandered into the living room.
“Ems is your mum pissed?” Naomi mumbled, pouting slightly.
“Don’t pout, you look like a fish.” All three Fitch girls said in unison, looking at each other surprised, but not as surprised as Naomi who backed away slightly, muttering something about it being ‘fucking stereo.’
“Christ, Katie look after mum, get her some water and get her to bed. Naomi come on, I’m going to get dressed then I'm walking you home, we can talk on the way yeah?” Emily insisted, grabbing hold of Naomi’s hand, pulling her first upstairs to put on clothes and then pulling her out the door.
The entire walk was silent, Emily kept looking at Naomi expectantly, waiting for her girlfriend to come out with whatever was bothering at her. Naomi seemed to be having some kind of internal debate though, barely even acknowledging that Emily was there bar a few squeezes of her hand.
It was only when they began to approach Naomi’s house that Naomi’s expression changed, this time she was determined, pulling Emily into her doorway, pressing her up against the wall, kissing her hard and determined, nibbling at Emily’s lip before pushing her tongue inside Emily’s mouth. Emily cringing slightly at the taste of alcohol in Naomi’s mouth, pushing Naomi back, Emily looked into Naomi’s eyes to try and figure out what was wrong.
“Jesus, fucking hell. Are you cheating on me? Fucking Tina... Fuck Emily are you cheating on me?” Naomi babbled, barely even coherent. Gripping on tightly to Emily who was desperately trying to move away as anger settled in, trying to push Naomi away, but Naomi was pressing herself up against Emily.
“How can you ask me that?” Emily whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, biting her bottom lip to control the sobs that wanted to escape, Naomi’s question had cut through her like a knife, she felt betrayed by such a massive display of doubt.
“You’re lying to me about something.” Naomi explained, pressing her face into Emily’s neck, Emily wanting to move but finding that Naomi had her cornered now.
“I’m not.” Emily tried to lie, blushing red, a dead giveaway to Naomi who suddenly turned angry, the alcohol preventing her from any control over her temper.
“Stop lying to me! Stop fucking lying to me!” Naomi shouted, banging her fist against the wall beside Emily’s head, Emily flinching she immediately burst into tears, she’d never seen Naomi like this before.
“Naomi what the hell is going on!” Gina interrupted, flinging the door open to see Emily pressed up against the wall looking scared whilst Naomi looked on shocked at her outpour of aggression, cradling her now bruised fist.
“You have to tell her, please Gina you have to let her know the truth” Emily pleaded, her eyes begging Gina, her hands finding Naomi, knowing that despite everything she would be there to hold Naomi when everything came crumbling down.
Naomi’s world suddenly stopped, it was like everything had frozen around her, she could just about make out the words that were spilling out of Gina’s mouth, could just about feel her legs give way beneath her, and could feel Emily’s arms grip onto her, whispering into her ear. She was just about aware of her mother reaching out for her, just as she was aware of her hand shooting out to push her away. She had a dull memory of Emily pulling her up and practically carrying her up the stairs.
It was only when she hit the bed that the world seemed to start moving again, like being on a plane when your ears pop, the sound returning in a wave of Emily muttering promises that made no sense. Naomi turning and grabbing Emily, kissing her aggressively, pawing at her clothes.
“No Naomi, not now, not like this.” Emily whispered, trying to hold Naomi back, trying to stop Naomi’s desperate fingers working at the button on her jeans, looking into Naomi’s desperate eyes she felt her heart lurch.
“I need... I need this.” Naomi stuttered, pulling off Emily’s clothes, kissing at her, marking her with angry kisses and bites that made Emily wince with pain.
Naomi barely had the energy to take control, plus she could see she was hurting Emily, instead she fell back and let Emily touch her instead. Far more gentle, soothing caresses that worked their way down her body, making Naomi shiver with just how fucking gentle and loving Emily was being despite everything. Emily’s hands eventually found where Naomi needed them to be, working away with a careful determination until Naomi was crying out, first in euphoria as she erupted in pleasure, before beginning to sob, shaking with tears streaming down her face as everything settled into place. Emily immediately wrapping her arms tightly round Naomi, holding on, their bodies intertwined until Naomi’s sobbing subsided, tiring herself out as she fell asleep in Emily’s embrace.
27 missed calls
“Fuck!” Emily cursed, checking her texts, finding she had about ten of those to accompany the missed calls. Reading through the texts, Emily was panicking, the words swirling about, something about Katie getting attacked, making her legs move at double the speed they were before. Her heart didn’t stop racing until she turned into her road, practically running down it, crashing through the front door.
“Katie?” Jenna’s voice called, laced with concern, appearing in the hallway, her face dropping when she saw it was Emily instead of Katie.
“Is she alright? Where is she? I only just got the messages, what happened, please tell me Katie is okay.” Emily rushed, following her mother who had already moved back into the living room, fiddling with her phone, presumably texting Katie.
“Now you care Emily?” Jenna snapped, clearly frustrated with her daughter. Jenna softened when she saw the worry etched on Emily’s face, patting the sofa next to her, indicating for Emily to come sit down. “I’m sorry babe, it’s just Katie’s gone out and she hasn’t told me where.”
“But she’s alright? The other night? What the hell happened mum?” Emily questioned, moving closer to her mum, any of the issues with Naomi and Gina temporarily moving out of her head, whilst her own family’s took priority.
“She walked home on her own, silly girl, some man he grabbed her. God know what would have happened if JJ hadn’t come along, him and that Cook boy scared the attacker away. It’s good she has a nice boyfriend to look after her, I assume that’s where she is now.” Jenna sighed, pressing call on her phone again to try to reach Katie.
“Boyfriend?” Emily asked confused, raising an eyebrow. Surely she wasn’t talking about JJ? Katie wasn’t seeing anyone was she?
“JJ darling, the strange boy that took you to the dance, looks like he’s got his eye on our Katie instead. He was the only person she was responding to, she was pretty shook up.” Jenna explained, oblivious to the look of shock on Emily’s face.
“Katie and JJ aren’t going out, they’re just friends mum.” Emily insisted, her mum must have got it wrong because there was no way that Katie and JJ would be together, Katie had denied it, plus it was impossible because Katie was Katie and JJ was JJ and the two things just didn’t work together.
“Well darling, I may be getting older, but back in my day sharing a bed with someone meant you were a little more than friends.” Jenna laughed raising an eyebrow. “He’s lucky your dad didn’t catch him, because he wouldn’t have reacted as nicely as me. Your dad loves you girls, like fierce, but to him you two will always be little girls.”
Emily couldn’t find any words, settling instead for a wide eyed look and a splutter, snapping out of her shock when she heard the door open. Both Emily and Jenna looking up to watch Katie enter the room, looking a bit tearful.
“I’m a fucking mess.” Katie sobbed, both Jenna and Emily standing up, but it was Emily’s arms that Katie sought out, tucking herself in tightly against her twins body, holding onto her with a determined ferocity.
“It’s alright Kaykay, I’m here yeah? Emsy’s here.” Emily whispered, clutching onto Katie, whilst Jenna stood alongside feeling helpless.
“Oh baby.” Jenna muttered, reaching out to stroke Katie’s cheek. Enveloping both her girls in a hug. “Your dad and James set off on their fishing trip this morning, how about a girls night?” Jenna suggested, stroking Katie’s hair.
Katie looked up at the suggestion, looking at Emily to see what she thought of the idea, Emily shrugged, indicating for Katie to make the decision for them. Jenna could see that the girls looked hesitant, feeling slightly upset that the idea of spending time with her wasn’t one they relished.
“I guess we could.” Katie forced a smile, wracking her brains to remember if they’d ever had a ‘girls night’ before, wondering exactly what it would entail.
“You could look a little enthusiastic, I’ve got three bottles of wine, a pizza and a large bag of Doritos.” Jenna smiled, laughing at the shock on Emily and Katie’s face. “Oh come on girls! Ever heard of fun?”
“Pizza?” Emily asked, not completely sure such an item of food had ever entered the Fitch household. She wasn’t even sure her mum had even eaten a pizza before, normally all meals contained beetroot, and Emily wasn’t sure anywhere made a beetroot pizza.
“Yes Emily pizza, pepperoni in fact, extra cheese. Just don’t tell your dad about the junk food and we’ll be fine!” Jenna grinned wickedly, almost skipping off into the kitchen, leaving Emily and Katie, eyebrows raised looking at each other.
“Who is that and what have they done with mum?” Katie asked with a look of pure confusion, resting her head on Emily’s shoulder.
“I think she’s making an effort to bond with us, we should go along with it, she’s trying at least.” Emily shrugged, kissing the side of Katie’s head. “Anyway you, want to talk? Explain what’s got you so upset? Oh and tell me about what exactly is going on between you and JJ! I’m the last one to find out as usual.”
“Don’t pout Ems, it makes you look like a fish.” Katie instructed, pulling Emily down onto the sofa next to her, glad she had her sister, she needed to talk to someone. Briefly she wondered how JJ was, having snuck out of his house before he’d returned from talking with his mum, she hadn’t been able to face him.
**
“Right so I buggering told him, he had to stop being so blinking weird about the whole Cookie mistake, or we’d never be able to just get on with being boyfriend and girlfriend. Only problem is Eff, I think Thommo might have dumped me, so now I figure I should be crying, but I’m not, but that’s probably because I’m a bit squiffy on this.” Panda sighed pointing to the bottle of vodka, she held clutched in her hands. Effy sat looking slightly disinterested next to her, nodding in all the right places to give Panda the impression that she was listening.
“Probably Panda.” Effy replied emotionlessly, swigging from the vodka bottle before replacing it back in Panda’s hands. Looking up only when she saw the flash of blonde approaching the bus stop where they were sitting.
“Alright?” Naomi smiled, plonking herself down down next Panda, taking hold of the bottle of vodka and taking an almighty gulp from it, stopping only when she became aware of Panda staring at her.
“You’re blinking thirsty Nai! I can only take little sips of vodka or else it makes me chunder like a bad one, don’t it Eff?” Panda grinned, looking to her best friend for affirmation. Effy looked up at the sound of her name, nodded before returning to her phone, she was fervently texting.
“Hmm this could be awkwardly interesting, ladies we are being joined by a fourth.” Effy uttered, reading the last text message she had received. Noticing the raised eyebrows of the two blondes that sat next to her, Effy elaborated. “Ruby’s bringing the spliff Cook owes me.”
“Oh.” Naomi murmured, looking down and wondering if she should leave now. The last time she’d seen Ruby, Emily had her in a headlock. She was pretty sure any friendship they’d had, had quickly dissolved after everything that had happened.
“Stay. She knows you’re here, you’ll look like you’re running if you leave.” Effy instructed, Naomi immediately stopping herself from moving, instead settling for another swig from the vodka bottle, spluttering as she watched Panda’s shocked expression reappear.
“Fucks sake Panda, it’s just vodka.” Naomi laughed, nudging her friend in the side, passing the bottle back to her, indicating for her to take a swig.
“It’s just a bit blimmin’ strong is all. But I’m fucking depressive and I think my mums making monkey with that man next door with the weirdy hair.” Panda sighed, taking a drink, screwing up her taste in disgust as she swallowed it down.
“She is.” Effy confirmed, without even looking at Panda. Naomi bursting out laughing at her hugely dysfunctional friends, finding she enjoyed their company, and finding that she was even slightly looking forward to Ruby joining them.
**
“Is Eastenders on at 7:30 or 8:00 tonight?” Jenna asked, arranging the Doritos in tiny little serving bowls, as if she was preparing for a dinner party and not just a casual night in with her daughters.
“8:00, but when did you last watch Eastenders? Fuck I think Den and Angie were still running the bar when you last tuned in.” Katie scoffed, grabbing a handful of crisps from the bag and sitting down on the sofa.
“I thought thats what girls nights consisted of, soaps and romantic comedies?” Jenna questioned, looking utterly unsure of herself. “I’m also a little confused as to what we should be wearing, is it casual? Smart casual?”
“Mum we’ll be wearing pajamas, you don’t dress up to watch TV with your daughters, you’re really bad at this.” Katie rolled her eyes, spreading out on the sofa, budging over only when Emily came in, already in pajamas, grabbing her own handful of crisps, also from the bag.
“Right.” Jenna nodded, moving to the kitchen and uncorking the first bottle of wine, pouring herself a large glass of wine, downing it in its entirety. She knew she shouldn’t feel nervous, but this was like a test of her mothering skills, something she’d never done before. Jenna wished she hadn’t created this distance between her and her girls.
“Mum is the pizza ready? Me and Katie are wasting away here! Or at least I am anyway, fatty here is scoffing so many crisps I think she’ll be good for food for at least a week.” Emily called, sticking her tongue out at Katie who gave her a gentle kick in the leg in return.
“I’ll just check on it.” Jenna called back, wobbling slightly as she made her way over to the oven, the wine was a little stronger than the one her and Rob usually shared and it was already having it’s effect.
**
“Fucking hell, you lot look like a bunch of tramps sitting in a bus-stop drinking!” Ruby exclaimed the minute she laid eyes on the three girls sat waiting for her, Effy was sat upright, legs crossed staring blankly at nothing. Panda sat to her left, leaning her head on Naomi who had an arm wrapped lazily round the slightly worse for wear looking girl, who was still clutching tightly to the vodka.
“Fuck off, we’d be drinking Special Brew if we were tramps.” Naomi grinned, shooting a smile at Ruby, grateful when one was returned, no hints of awkwardness between them, despite everything that had happened in the short duration of their friendship.
“I think I've got some in here actually.” Effy muttered, searching through the carrier bag of goodies she and Panda had bought earlier on, raising a can of Special Brew in triumph, chucking it at Naomi.
“Classy Eff.” Naomi winked, opening the can and taking a swig, gagging at the vile taste of the liquid before passing it back to Effy.
“Got the spliffy then Rubydoodles?” Panda asked, motioning out her hand desperately, ignoring Effy and Naomi’s matching eye-rolls either side of her. Smiling her goofy smile at Ruby, who simply furrowed her brow in confusion.
“You’re going to sit here smoking it? In public? Where the police could catch us at any moment?” Ruby asked, mouth slightly agape at the idea, she was nervous even carrying drugs, never mind actually taking them in public.
“Flash them our tits and we’ll only get a telling off, if we tell them Naomi is a lezzer then we might not even get that, they’ll be creaming their pants at the thought of hot girl on girl action.” Effy replied with a wry smile. “You could always tongue me hon.” Effy winked at Naomi who spluttered on the Special Brew Effy had passed back to her.
“Well, glad you’ve got a plan.” Ruby sighed, her stomach tightening with jealousy at the flirtation between Effy and Naomi, even if it was in a playful banter way, it didn’t stop Ruby wanting to wipe the smug smile off Effy’s face, reminding herself that if she was going to help Katie then befriending Effy would do more use than gouging her eyes out.
“Thanks for involving me Eff, nice of you that.” Naomi muttered, regaining her composure, trying not to laugh when she noticed she’d sprayed most of the liquid she’d spluttered out on Panda, who was currently wiping her face with a pink My Little Pony handkerchief.
“Always babes.” Effy responded with a wink, taking the handkerchief from Panda and finishing off the clean up job herself. It was moments like this when Panda and Effy’s friendship and bond could truely be seen, the way they cared for each other, looked after each other. To many it would never make sense, to those close enough there couldn’t be two better friends.
“You can come back to mine. If you like.” Ruby shrugged, trying not to look at Naomi who she knew was staring at her. “Parents are away for the weekend, not that they’d give a shit anyway.”
“Oh lets go Eff! I’m freezing my tits off here, my nipples are as hard as... As... Well hard as something really hard.” Panda complained, rubbing at her breasts absentmindedly as Ruby looked on slightly horrified, Naomi and Effy however barely even acknowledged it, so used to Panda’s peculiar behaviour as they were.
“Oh god” Ruby muttered, shaking her head before clearing her throat. “Come on tramps, it’s only ten minutes from here!” Ruby made a move to leave, and the three girls eventually began to follow, Effy swinging her plastic carrier bag of booze as they walked.
**
“She’s pretty, do you fancy her Emily?” Jenna asked, slurring her words slightly as she’d now polished off most the bottle of wine, Emily and Katie had opened the second, sipping cautiously on there own glasses as they watched their mother with amazement, and in Emily’s case, embarrassment.
“Not really mum.” Emily replied, feeling her cheeks flush red, she began to think she preferred it when her mother was an in denial homophobe, at least she wouldn’t be scouting the television for potential crushes.
“Why not? She’s got tits!” Jenna squealed, Katie giggling at the her mother, whilst Emily eyes pleaded with her sister to get her out of this situation.
“Mum she doesn’t fancy ever single girl in the world, yeah?” Katie explained, picking at one of the remaining bits of cold pizza that sat on the coffee table.
“Oh. Doesn’t she?” Jenna exclaimed, looking slightly confused at the concept, finishing off yet another glass of wine, she began to pour herself another.
“Fucks sake mum! Do you fancy every man in the world just because you’re straight?” Emily snapped, only calming when Katie placed a hand on her shoulder, thrusting crisps at her hoping a mouth full of them would prevent Emily from kicking off.
“Well, I suppose not, I guess it all works the same, well not the same because you don’t have the bits for the same but I guess it’s all good.” Jenna nodded, turning her attention back to the television, unaware of Emily’s exasperation.
“All good hey?” Katie laughed, nudging Emily who was burning up with embarrassment, bright red cheeks that almost matched her hair.
“Yeah it fucking well is.” Emily smirked, watching Katie screw up her face in disgust. There was no need to mention the severe sex drought that she was currently suffering with, better to let Katie suffer with the idea that Emily actually knew what an orgasm felt like.
“I don’t want to know, seriously I don’t.” Katie sighed, chewing thoughtfully at the pizza, remembering for a second her and JJ earlier on, remembering how his hands felt on her body, then the memory being torn down by the blackness of everything else that was going on at the moment, the hot breath of her attacker breathing on her neck, boozy and familiar, she wished she could shake it but it wouldn’t go away.
Emily noticed the change in her sister immediately, she knew it wasn’t simply the inappropriate sex talk that was freaking her out, she could see that Katie looked panicked and upset.
“You okay babes?” Emily asked, pulling herself closer to Katie, Jenna still oblivious as she watched the television, scooping a handful of crisps into her mouth.
“Yeah just thinking.” Katie whispered, focusing as hard as she could on the television to try and give her mind something else to concentrate on.
**
“She’s not fucking cheating, she’s Emily, she waited five hundred years for you to start waving the rainbow flag, she’s not going to start fucking it up now.” Effy insisted as Naomi explained her fears to the girls, the fact that she was certain Emily was hiding something from her, how her mind had immediately sprung to the worse possible outcome.
“She’s getting plenty of lady bits loving from you Nai, why would she need to go and visit another girls funbox?” Panda smiled encouragingly, munching on a piece of toast that Effy had made her, cut into triangles exactly the way Panda liked it.
“Well, thats the thing, we’re kind of not having sex at the moment. It seemed like a good idea at the time but now I’m worried she’s bored. You don’t know Emily, she’s like a dog on heat ninety percent of the time.” Naomi groaned, closing her eyes to shift the haunting images of Emily with hundreds of other girls.
“What a glorious way to describe the love of your life.” Ruby scoffed, sitting in the corner away from the others, noticing the glares of the others Ruby quickly dropped her head. “...Sorry.”
“This is driving me insane!” Naomi growled, downing another shot from the ring of shots that Effy had set up around the room.
“Go and fucking ask her.” Ruby suggested, shrugging her shoulders as Naomi looked at her. Naomi turned to Effy to look for some kind of confirmation.
“Can’t do any harm.” Effy nodded, grabbing a pillow from the sofa to tuck under Pandora’s head as she began to fall asleep there on the floor.
“Right! I’m going, I won’t return! Unless she’s fucking some butch girl called Tina with a strap-on. In which case I will be doing all these shots.” Naomi exclaimed, almost tripping over from the vast amount of alcohol she’d consumed.
“Tina?” Panda questioned, stirring from her near slumber to look at Naomi.
“Go back to sleep Panda.” Effy soothed, stroking Panda’s hair until her eyes fluttered closed and the soft snoring began. Watching as Naomi marched out the door, determined to get answers from Emily.
The entire walk to Emily’s was firstly the most difficult one Naomi thought she’d ever done, walking was far too difficult with the amount of alcohol she’d consumed inside her, and the whole way she was rehearsing various speeches to Emily, ways that she could confront her. None of them sounding right, all lacking the tact that a sober Naomi could have mustered.
Knocking on the door, Naomi was aware that her banging was a little aggressive, wary that Emily’s parents might be in. Grateful when it was her redhead that opened the door to her. Naomi couldn’t help but smile at Emily in her pajamas, wanting to kiss her rather than argue with her.
“Needed to see you babes, I gots to talk to you.” Naomi slurred, slightly too loud as Jenna overheard her.
“Is that Naomi? Come and join us! We’re watching television!” Jenna called, Katie shooting a look of utter confusion at her mother. Jenna simply smiling a joyful grin at her, waving enthusiastically as Naomi wandered into the living room.
“Ems is your mum pissed?” Naomi mumbled, pouting slightly.
“Don’t pout, you look like a fish.” All three Fitch girls said in unison, looking at each other surprised, but not as surprised as Naomi who backed away slightly, muttering something about it being ‘fucking stereo.’
“Christ, Katie look after mum, get her some water and get her to bed. Naomi come on, I’m going to get dressed then I'm walking you home, we can talk on the way yeah?” Emily insisted, grabbing hold of Naomi’s hand, pulling her first upstairs to put on clothes and then pulling her out the door.
The entire walk was silent, Emily kept looking at Naomi expectantly, waiting for her girlfriend to come out with whatever was bothering at her. Naomi seemed to be having some kind of internal debate though, barely even acknowledging that Emily was there bar a few squeezes of her hand.
It was only when they began to approach Naomi’s house that Naomi’s expression changed, this time she was determined, pulling Emily into her doorway, pressing her up against the wall, kissing her hard and determined, nibbling at Emily’s lip before pushing her tongue inside Emily’s mouth. Emily cringing slightly at the taste of alcohol in Naomi’s mouth, pushing Naomi back, Emily looked into Naomi’s eyes to try and figure out what was wrong.
“Jesus, fucking hell. Are you cheating on me? Fucking Tina... Fuck Emily are you cheating on me?” Naomi babbled, barely even coherent. Gripping on tightly to Emily who was desperately trying to move away as anger settled in, trying to push Naomi away, but Naomi was pressing herself up against Emily.
“How can you ask me that?” Emily whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, biting her bottom lip to control the sobs that wanted to escape, Naomi’s question had cut through her like a knife, she felt betrayed by such a massive display of doubt.
“You’re lying to me about something.” Naomi explained, pressing her face into Emily’s neck, Emily wanting to move but finding that Naomi had her cornered now.
“I’m not.” Emily tried to lie, blushing red, a dead giveaway to Naomi who suddenly turned angry, the alcohol preventing her from any control over her temper.
“Stop lying to me! Stop fucking lying to me!” Naomi shouted, banging her fist against the wall beside Emily’s head, Emily flinching she immediately burst into tears, she’d never seen Naomi like this before.
“Naomi what the hell is going on!” Gina interrupted, flinging the door open to see Emily pressed up against the wall looking scared whilst Naomi looked on shocked at her outpour of aggression, cradling her now bruised fist.
“You have to tell her, please Gina you have to let her know the truth” Emily pleaded, her eyes begging Gina, her hands finding Naomi, knowing that despite everything she would be there to hold Naomi when everything came crumbling down.
Naomi’s world suddenly stopped, it was like everything had frozen around her, she could just about make out the words that were spilling out of Gina’s mouth, could just about feel her legs give way beneath her, and could feel Emily’s arms grip onto her, whispering into her ear. She was just about aware of her mother reaching out for her, just as she was aware of her hand shooting out to push her away. She had a dull memory of Emily pulling her up and practically carrying her up the stairs.
It was only when she hit the bed that the world seemed to start moving again, like being on a plane when your ears pop, the sound returning in a wave of Emily muttering promises that made no sense. Naomi turning and grabbing Emily, kissing her aggressively, pawing at her clothes.
“No Naomi, not now, not like this.” Emily whispered, trying to hold Naomi back, trying to stop Naomi’s desperate fingers working at the button on her jeans, looking into Naomi’s desperate eyes she felt her heart lurch.
“I need... I need this.” Naomi stuttered, pulling off Emily’s clothes, kissing at her, marking her with angry kisses and bites that made Emily wince with pain.
Naomi barely had the energy to take control, plus she could see she was hurting Emily, instead she fell back and let Emily touch her instead. Far more gentle, soothing caresses that worked their way down her body, making Naomi shiver with just how fucking gentle and loving Emily was being despite everything. Emily’s hands eventually found where Naomi needed them to be, working away with a careful determination until Naomi was crying out, first in euphoria as she erupted in pleasure, before beginning to sob, shaking with tears streaming down her face as everything settled into place. Emily immediately wrapping her arms tightly round Naomi, holding on, their bodies intertwined until Naomi’s sobbing subsided, tiring herself out as she fell asleep in Emily’s embrace.