Love Lessons (Part Fourteen)
It seemed like everything was moving fast, too fast, so fast it hurt to breathe. Everyone kept asking her questions, kept talking to her and she couldn’t reply, didn’t know what she’d say even if she could. There was a bruise on her arm, where the guy that had grabbed her had held her so tightly, she could feel it throb and with every pulsation she was reminded of what could have been. She was faintly aware of JJ’s hand in hers, he hadn’t let go, they were sat in a police station now and the only thing Katie had managed to say was a protestation of ‘no’ when the officer had asked JJ to step outside. She wouldn’t let him go, couldn’t, she needed to feel safe.
“Katie, Katie can you remember anything at all. His face? What he was wearing?” The officer prompted, she was young, and female, chosen because the officers hoped Katie would open up to her. The officer attempted a smile, anything to relax the girl in front of her, but she couldn’t even get Katie to meet her eyes, never mind register a smile, it was like Katie was locked in some kind of trance.
“Where is she?! Where is my daughter?” the shrill voice of Jenna Fitch broke through the awkward silence, before anyone could even protest she’d found her way into the interview room and was by Katie’s side. Pulling her daughter into her, despite Katie’s stiffness, and her complete refusal to let go of JJ’s hand.
“Katiekins baby, you alright? Mum and dad are here now. You can head off boy.” Rob snapped at JJ, not aware of the whole story, but aware enough to know that his daughter had been alone when she’d been attacked.
“Please don’t leave.” Katie begged in a tiny voice, her fingers gripping onto JJ’s so tightly it would probably leave a mark. Not that JJ minded, he just nodded silently, before looking up at Rob as if to say what could he do?
“Why weren’t you with her? Why wasn’t Emily with her?” Jenna snapped, looking at JJ and then back at Katie. After everything they’d been through with Effy and the rock, it was hard for Jenna to not be overprotective of Katie.
“It’s not JJ’s fault. It was mine. We argued and I left. Emily is with Naomi. It’s not her fault either. It’s my fault.” Katie stumbled, short stifled sentences, she could barely speak, still shaken from what had happened.
“Do you need any more information from Katie? Can we take her home yet?” Rob asked the police officer, rubbing Katie’s spare hand. Sharing a look with Jenna, panic that Katie really wasn’t responding to anything.
“I think we’re done here, your friends James and Ruby have made statements, Jonah we just need to talk to you, but Katie you can go home.” the officer smiled, nodding to Rob and Jenna who tried to get Katie to move.
“I’m not going without JJ.” Katie blurted out suddenly, panicked as she felt her hand slip from his.
“Darling, your friend has to make a statement, and he needs to get home. His mum will be wondering where he is. You can talk tomorrow.” Jenna assured, shushing Katie like she was a small child. Just wanting to get her daughter home safe.
“Please mum.” Katie begged, making it clear she didn’t want JJ to leave her tonight. Jenna sighed, looked over to Rob who simply looked confused, before making a decision for all of them.
“Well, I suppose if Emily’s not coming back tonight, then we have a spare bed...” Jenna trailed, meeting Rob’s eyes, and the look of horror on his face.
“You think he’s going to be sharing a room with my Katie? No way, no bloody way!” Rob stuttered out, shooting evils at a terrified looking JJ, whilst the police officer looked on in amusement.
“Oh come on Rob, it’s not like they’ll break our trust now. Will you?” Jenna pointed the question at JJ, who shook his head adamantly. Katie didn’t even seem to register the question, just continued to stare blankly whilst everyone else fussed around her.
“Right... We’ll wait outside boy.” Rob huffed, exiting with his arm tightly wrapped around Katie, and with Jenna on the other side, clinging onto her daughter. The three of them sat outside, waiting for JJ to finish giving his statement.
**
“So no sex?” Emily asked, pouting slightly as she listened to Naomi’s instructions. The two girls had arrived home, making their way up to Naomi’s bed, where Emily thought they would just continue what they’d started in the toilets. Now though, Naomi was being ever so slightly difficult.
“Ems I know I gave in back there, but I think the original idea was a good one. No sex. Why don’t we just talk?” Naomi suggested, shrugging as she pulled off her dress, finding an old T-shirt to sleep in instead.
“Because I’m horny and talking doesn’t have quite the same effect.” Emily grumbled, kicking off her shoes, before slowly removing her dress, hoping the striptease might change Naomi’s mind.
“Not going to work on me, you can stand there looking as sexy as you like. I’m not going to cave. This was your idea remember? Come and lie with me, talk to me, kiss me. Don’t you remember our first kisses? How exciting they felt?” Naomi asked, looking up at Emily and patting the space on the bed next to her.
Emily sighed, standing in her bra and knickers, before moving over to find a T-shirt to pull on. Dropping onto bed with Naomi, she immediately curled into her girlfriend, nuzzling into her neck, kissing the soft skin gently.
“I remember our first kiss...” Emily trailed, the bittersweet memory. Something so amazing, but it had been tainted with something so bad. With Katie and her interruption, the wild rumours, the way that she’d just stood back and let Naomi take the blame for everything.
“That shitty party...” Naomi remembered, thinking about how she’d only ended up there because her friend owed her a tenner, and the only way she thought she’d get it back was if said friend was drunk enough to just do it without an argument...
“Cha-ching!” Naomi giggled to herself, stretching the ten pound note out in front of her. Pleased at her epic skills of persuasion in getting the money back off her arsehole friend. Friend was probably too strong a word, she didn’t really have friends, couldn’t really be bothered with half the people here. A bunch of horny fifteen year olds drinking, doing drugs for the first time, partying like they were adults. Fucking ridiculous, Naomi huffed, proudly holding up her tenner again.
“Wow you’re rich.” The husky voice cut through the lame party music, it made Naomi jump, made her drop the money on the floor. The girl in front of her scooped down and picked it up. “Finders keepers.”
Naomi stared at the girl who was chuckling, shoving her money into her pocket, HER money! Fucking cheeky bitch... She couldn’t seem to get angry though, it was something about her, she was just so bloody sweet. A sweet, thieving, cheeky bitch.
“Aren’t you Katie Fitch? Thought you were fucking a footballer? Surely he’s got enough money for the both of you?” Naomi asked, narrowing her eyes at the girl in front of her. She certainly didn’t seem like a WAG, didn’t really give off the impression that she would shag anything for a bit of fame and glory.
“I’m Emily.” Emily muttered, shaking her head as she realised that yet another person just saw her and her twin as a single entity. It made her furious, especially because Naomi Campbell didn’t even realise who she was, the one girl she wanted to notice her didn’t even know she existed.
“Oh fuck right, the twin. Sorry, just saw the red hair and thought... Sorry... You’re nothing like her are you?” Naomi apologised, seeing how offended the smaller girl looked at being called Katie. Clearly something she wasn’t a fan of.
“No. We’re very different.” Emily smiled, biting her lip to stifle a giggle, because her and Katie really were different. Katie wouldn’t be stood here right now thinking about Naomi Campbell in the way that she was. Katie wouldn’t be getting lost in Naomi’s beautiful eyes, wouldn’t be admiring her gorgeous body, wouldn’t be looking at Naomi’s soft skin and wishing she could reach out and touch it.
“You want to go sit in the garden? This music is shit.” Naomi smiled, leading the smaller girl out into the garden, immediately appreciating the cool air. Walking all the way down to the bottom of the garden, Naomi found a bench, covering the bench which was wet with the rain they’d had earlier, with her jacket so that Emily could sit down.
“What a gentleman.” Emily giggled, sitting down as she watched Naomi light a cigarette. Trying to fight a smile at Emily’s ‘gentleman’ comment.
“Fuck off, just didn’t think you’d appreciate a wet arse. I can take it back if you want?” Naomi threatened, turning back to watch Emily, her heart lurching in a way she didn’t understand when she caught Emily’s eyes. They were just so... Beautiful.
“Nope. It’s mine now, all mine.” Emily insisted, running her hand across the fabric, feeling closer to Naomi even with that simple action. This was crazy, a crazy situation, here she was sitting at a party with the girl she’d fancied for months... Not in a gay way or anything, maybe it was just a silly girl crush, it couldn’t really mean anything at all, Emily’s brain insisted.
“I do know you Fitch, you’re in my English class, you made that point about that poem the other day didn’t you?” Naomi suddenly asked, as if she’d been wracking her brains since the moment they’d met, to work out how she knew the girl standing with her.
“Erm... Yeah that was me. Why? Was it stupid?” Emily blushed, she didn’t normally speak out in class, but she’d needed to say something about the poem they were looking at, she’d loved it, loved the words.
“I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.” Naomi quoted looking back at Emily, smiling as Emily blushed. “I think what you said was the most intelligent thing I've ever heard in that class.”
“That wouldn’t be hard now would it?” Emily laughed, watching Naomi chuckle in acknowledgement of the fact.
“You said you liked the idea of something not being able to judge you, of only being able to reflect the truth without giving an opinion... What are you worried about being judged about?” Naomi asked, a lump forming in her throat, as if she already knew the answer to the question, as if something had already passed silently between them.
“Nothing. There’s nothing.” Emily hurried her answer. Refusing to meet Naomi’s eyes, not looking up at her even as the taller girl sat herself down next to her.
“Are you worried about something? Are you worried about someone judging you? Are you worried about Katie judging you?” Naomi pressed on, she could see it, could see what Emily was hiding and she wondered if it was as clear to everyone else as it was to her.
Emily looked up, met Naomi’s eyes, took a deep breath and went for it. Leaned in and kissed her, gently, nervously, hesitantly. Worrying the entire time that she was about to get a slap, or that Naomi was going to run into the house and announce to the entire party that she’d just been attacked by the raging lezza outside. Pulling away, Emily looked at Naomi terrified.
“Well, I guess that answered my question.” Naomi muttered, before closing her eyes and leaning back into the kiss, Emily was surprised at first but wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to keep on kissing Naomi Campbell. This beautiful girl was kissing her, actually kissing her and it felt so incredible, she thought she might explode.
“What the fuck are you doing to my sister!” Katie’s screech broke them apart, Emily forcing Naomi backwards, pushing her away as she flushed bright red. “I said, what the fuck are you doing to my sister you fucking bitch!”
With that the fight broke out, Katie attacking Naomi, Naomi trying to fight back. Emily stood on the sidelines without a word, people gathered, chanting for the bitch fight to continue. Katie announced to the entire party that Naomi was a predatory lesbian who’d jumped her sister, and Emily didn’t deny a single thing.
“I don’t believe it.” Naomi gasped suddenly, as they finished telling the story to each other.
“What?” Emily asked, panicking at the sound of Naomi’s voice. Had Naomi suddenly remembered what a cowardly twat she’d been and decided that she didn’t want her anymore?
“You’ve still got my tenner!” Naomi laughed, Emily biting her lip as she remembered finding the crinkled note in her pocket when she’d arrived home that night. She’d always intended on giving it back to Naomi, but Naomi had practically blanked her since the night of the kiss until they’d been forced together at college, the opportunity had never come up.
“Well, like I said, finders keepers.” Emily grinned wickedly, kissing Naomi quickly, trying not to laugh at Naomi’s appalled expression. The two girls settled back into each other, ready for a night of stolen kisses and shared stories. Maybe there really was something in this ‘no sex’ rule, Emily hadn’t thought it possible to feel any closer to Naomi, but tonight truely was special.
“What do you think would have happened if Katie hadn’t caught us?” Naomi wondered out loud, considering the possibilities, wondering if they’d have wasted less time, been together sooner.
“I think you’d have been really confused, probably run off... I’d still have your tenner.” Emily joked, not really wanting to think about Naomi running from her, she’d had to deal with enough of that, thinking about it really didn’t help.
“Be serious. Maybe I wouldn’t have, maybe we’d have just sat on that bench all night.” Naomi suggested, remembering that night, remembering walking home with her damp jacket that smelt like Emily, remembering feeling so confused and so angry.
“Maybe we would, maybe we wouldn’t be together now then. I think everything we went through to get here has made us stronger.” Emily shrugged, she had to believe that all the pain was for a reason, otherwise it was just pain, and that never made sense.
“I think you’re right. If we could get through my utter twatness, then we can get through anything you know?” Naomi smiled, kissing Emily’s cheek.
“I love you.” Emily whispered.
“I love you more.” Naomi promised, kissing Emily before she could argue.
**
Rob still wasn’t happy, but Jenna hadn’t let him say anything because right now it clear Katie need JJ. Also considering where Emily was right now, it was hardly right to impose different rules on Katie just because JJ was a boy.
“The beds creak boy, if I hear you even so much as move I'll be in there like a shot.” Rob threatened with a smile as JJ climbed the stairs behind Katie. Nodding and gulping, JJ followed Katie up to her room. Looking around, JJ stood nervously, not sure what to say or do. Katie was sat taking off her makeup, not saying a word.
“Katie, are you alright?” JJ asked, resting his hand on Katie’s shoulder, looking into her sad eyes, at how terrified she seemed by everything. He just wanted to kiss her and make everything better, but he wasn’t sure if he should.
A knock at the door, made JJ jump, Rob popped his head round the door, scowling at the sight of JJ’s hand on Katie’s shoulder. Throwing a T-shirt and shorts at JJ, he nodded approvingly at JJ’s ability to catch.
“There you go, something to sleep in. You can get changed in the bathroom, leave Katie to get her pajamas on.” Rob instructed, JJ nodded and walked out the room to find the bathroom. Pulling on the ‘Don’t get fit, get Fitch’ T-shirt and shorts, JJ took a deep breath before walking back to Katie’s room.
She looked beautiful, sat there in pink pajamas, no make-up, her hair falling loosely down over her shoulders. JJ walked over and gently reached out his hand, taking Katie’s in his again, because he needed to touch her.
“He could have... He could have...” Katie stuttered, bursting into tears without being able to say the words. JJ sat down on the bed nervously next to her, pulling her in tightly, soothing her as she cried.
“He didn’t. You’re ok. I’m here now Katie, I’ll never leave you alone like that ever again.” JJ promised, kissing the side of Katie’s head. Wrapping his arms around her tiny frame, he just wanted to stop her from shaking, from feeling scared. They must have stayed like that for an hour before Katie started to fall asleep. Pulling the covers back, JJ started to tuck Katie into bed, before making his way over to Emily’s.
“Sleep in here.” Katie demanded quietly, reaching out her hand to pull JJ back to her.
“Your dad Katie...” JJ reminded her, not really liking the idea of Rob Fitch launching a full on attack on him.
“Please, I just need someone to hold me.” Katie begged, her voice cracking as she felt the tears start to fall again. With that JJ slid into bed next to her, their bodies fitting together perfectly. Katie leant her head back against JJ’s chest, as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek gently. Katie turned around slightly, letting her lips meet JJ’s, as they shared a soft kiss. “Thank you JJ.” Katie muttered, before she started to slip into sleep, JJ finally letting himself relax as his eyes fluttered closed.