Between Daylight And Darkness Chapter Seven
Title: Between Daylight And Darkness
Chapter: 7/9 It Tastes Like Death But It Looks Like Fun
Pairing: Naomi/Emily
Word Count: 7573
Disclaimer: I don't own, or claim to own, anything related to Skins. Borrowing the characters and throwing them into an entirely different universe altogether. I also don't own Twilight, and wouldn't ever want to. Chapter title from MGMT's 'The Handshake'.
Summary: Finally, it seems like Naomi is getting the hang of being a gay. Then, like so much rock on scull, Naomi gets hit in the head with reality. Again. (summary courtesy of doopits)
Previous Chapters: Chapter One: Cause Anywhere Is Better Than Here
Chapter Two: Like Stars Burning Holes Right Through The Dark
Chapter Three: The Youth Is Starting To Change
Chapter Four: Happiness Hit Her Like A Bullet In The Back
Chapter Five: Who Is The Lamb And Who Is The Knife
Chapter Six: No More Dreaming Like A Girl So In Love With The Wrong World
It Tastes Like Death But It Looks Like Fun
Something was buzzing on her bedside table, and it tore her away from a dream that involved her dad speaking to her in a Mickey Mouse voice about recycling peanuts. She grabbed for her phone, frowning when it stopped ringing just as she answered. She rolled over, holding her phone in her hand and cradling it against her chest as she snuggled further into her bed. But Dad, she was thinking as her mind slipped back into the dream, aren’t cashews more sustainable in the long term…
She jerked as her phone started vibrating in her hand, pressing it to the side of her head quickly.
“Cashews?” She mumbled, blinking her eyes open when she heard Emily’s voice.
“What? Sorry to wake you. Did I? Shit, sorry. Listen, can I come in?”
Naomi cleared her throat, rolling onto her back. “Emily?” She rubbed her eyes for a moment, pulling the phone from her ear to look at the time. “It’s three in the morning…”
“I know, I’m really sorry. Just, please let me in?”
Naomi yawned loudly, feeling half asleep. “Look, I know you don’t need to sleep but being a member of the living, I actually do so…”
Emily cut her off again, and Naomi realised that she sounded vaguely panicked. She sat up in her bed, feeling slightly more alert.
“You can go back to sleep, just let me in, yeah?”
Naomi pulled the blankets off her legs, yawning again. She sat on the edge of her bed, sighing. “Tell me what happened first.” She heard Emily swear softly.
“Shit. Listen, I had a row with Katie, alright? A big one. She disappeared and I’m, well, just let me in okay? Just to be on the safe side.”
Naomi felt like laughing, because what the fuck did that mean? “What, you think she’d come here?” That was ludicrous, but she stood anyway, opening her bedroom door and making her way in the darkness down the stairs.
“I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Naomi cracked the front door open, peeking around the side of it. She hung up her phone when she saw Emily chewing on one of her fingernails on her doorstep, watched as Emily put her phone back into her jacket pocket.
“Fuck, I’m really sorry…” Emily started saying, walking forwards but Naomi lifted a hand up to shush her. She gestured inside the house with a nod of her head, and Emily followed her, shutting the door with a soft click and turning the lock.
Naomi teetered slightly on the stairs, still tired, and she felt Emily place a steadying hand on the small of her back, keeping it there until they were in her bedroom.
Emily moved to stand awkwardly by Naomi’s bed as Naomi shut her door, moving blindly in the dark until she found the lamp on her bedside table and turned it on. She leant her back against the window, waiting for Emily to turn and look at her.
“So.” Naomi said, looking at the floor for a moment, feeling the coolness from the glass seeping through the oversized t-shirt she’d worn to bed.
Emily walked over to lean against the opposite side of the window. “Katie and I, we had a fight. I can’t find her, I don’t know where she’s gone. Effy’s out searching, and I couldn’t stop thinking that she might come here and, well, do something.”
Naomi frowned. “Why would she come here?” She looked longingly at her bed for a moment, struggling to remember what she’d been dreaming about.
“Because she’s, I don’t know, adamant that you and I shouldn’t be,” Emily licked her lips, looking away from Naomi. “Friends.” She rasped.
“So you’re here to protect me, then?” Naomi knew she sounded sceptical, pushing off from the window and moving to sit on the edge of her bed. Emily folded her arms.
“In a nutshell.” Emily muttered, and Naomi thought of Mickey Mouse and peanuts and had no idea why. She tilted sideways, lying down and bringing her feet up to rest on the bed. “I won’t watch you or anything, will just sit on the floor and read or something. Just in case.”
Naomi stared at Emily, felt her eyelids drooping, wondered for a moment if this was part of her dream. “You can leave the lamp on, to read.” She mumbled, shifting herself under her blankets.
“It’s okay, we can see in the dark.” Emily said, walking over to click the lamp off. Naomi heard her moving away from the bed, and reached a hand out blindly to grab the material of her jacket.
“You don’t have to sit on the floor.” She half whispered, heard the sudden warmth in Emily’s voice when she replied.
“Thanks.”
Naomi felt the bed dip as Emily climbed over her, rolled over to face Emily in the dark. Something inside her had missed this, sleeping next to Emily, almost too much. Her eyes closed, and she could feel her breathing evening out already. Emily moved closer to her.
“Lift your head.” She heard Emily whisper, and when she did so she felt Emily slip her arm under her neck. Naomi had her head on Emily’s shoulder, and wrapped her arm around Emily’s waist, sighing contentedly because this was a wonderful dream. She could hear Emily humming something, a song she didn’t recognise, her voice giving out on the notes that were too low or high. Naomi snuggled into her further, her head moving onto Emily’s chest. Her last thought was that no, she couldn’t hear a heartbeat.
She found that she really didn’t mind.
V^^^^^V
Emily snuck out of the house in the morning while Naomi distracted her dad with breakfast, knocking on the door a few minutes after she’d closed it and smiling brightly when Naomi’s dad answered it with a surprised smile.
“Emily! I hadn’t expected to see you again. You look well.” Naomi’s dad made room as if to let Emily in.
“It’s nice to see you too, Mr Campbell.” Emily smiled sweetly, making no move to enter the house as Naomi rushed up behind them.
“Sorry Dad, running late. See you tonight.” She kissed him quickly on the cheek, pushing Emily down the path and waving when her dad called out a goodbye. Emily was giggling when they got to the car, and Naomi smirked at her.
As they drove toward college, Naomi felt the smile slipping off her face, remembering how Emily and Cook had been acting the day before. “So you and Cook are good friends, right?” Naomi bit her lip, rolling her eyes when Emily winked at her and laughed.
“I thought you were all for pretending we weren’t friends anymore?” Emily changed gears, flipping off another driver when they honked at her.
“I am, but, I don’t know. Are you with him?” Naomi felt stupid, especially considering she’d woken up cuddling Emily that morning and it had startled her out of her mind.
“Of course not.” Emily reached a hand over, placing it on her knee. “He and I were never like that. Anyway, it was Effy’s idea. She said your minions wouldn’t interfere anymore if they thought I wasn’t, well, interested.” Emily squeezed her knee, and Naomi quickly placed a hand over Emily’s when she went to pull it away.
“Oh.” Naomi mumbled, feeling her face heat up. She was relieved, more than relieved, but JJ had still made a point. “Why are you interested in me?”
Emily pulled up a few metres from the entrance to the college so Naomi could get out and it wouldn’t look like she’d driven her, as they’d agreed before Emily had snuck out that morning. Emily turned to her, reaching her other hand out to cup Naomi’s face.
“I honestly don’t know what it is about you. I’ve never had this before. Sid and Tony think, well, Michelle too actually, and Cassie, they all think you’re…” Emily trailed off, pulling her hand back and closing her eyes briefly. “Anyway, they think you’re important, that’s all.” Emily gave her a small smile, before leaning over and quickly kissing her cheek. “I think so too.” She whispered into Naomi’s ear, causing her to shudder.
Naomi opened her door, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car. “I’ll see you in there?” She asked, leaning down and smiling at Emily though her voice sounded a little shaky. Emily nodded, and Naomi stood allowing her to drive off.
She kept her fingertips lightly touching her cheek as she walked toward Roundview. She thought about how depressed she had felt the night before, the jealousy she’d unsuccessfully swallowed when she’d seen Cook with his arm around Emily, and the sick feeling in her stomach when JJ had called her a virtual blood bag. He was wrong, it seemed. Emily had just called her important.
Fuck she had so many questions, the least of all concerning whether Katie actually wanted to cause her harm. As she sat next to Pandora, automatically tuning out her excited ramble, she could feel Emily’s eyes watching her even though she didn’t turn around.
All this time, she thought, that she’d spent trying to figure out what she meant to the people around her, and a realisation had just snuck up and whacked her, as Pandora would say, in the pants:
Emily was important to her too.
V^^^^^V
She waved goodbye to Pandora, JJ and Thomas, walking toward the bus stop by herself and glancing around for any sign of Emily. Effy had dragged Emily away once politics had finished, and she hadn’t seen either of them after that. As she waited for her bus, she frowned suddenly, feeling like she was being watched.
Did Katie actually mean her any harm? Sure, she was a vampire, but she couldn’t be all that bad, considering she was Emily’s twin and, aside from the initial secrecy, Emily was proving to be someone she wanted to spend time with vampire or not.
Freddie had smiled at her at lunch, offering her a small wave, and even Cook had thrown her a wink when she’d walked into philosophy. If only they could all get along… she stopped the thought with an eye roll. She was turning into mother fucking Theresa.
She jumped slightly when a car pulled up at the bus stop, and honked. The passenger window rolled down, and she saw a boy she didn’t recognise. Beside him, another leaned over to smile at her broadly, and she realised it was Chris.
“Fancy a lift?” He called out, and she hesitated, looking down the street for any sign of the bus.
“I don’t know.” She said after a moment, and the second boy said something to Chris that made him shake his head.
“It’s alright, we won’t bite.” Chris raised his yellow sunglasses, winking at her cheekily.
“Yeah, just here to see you safely home.” The other boy said, and shrugged.
She stood up, walking cautiously to the car, and the second boy stuck his hand through the open window.
“I’m Sid, friend of Emily and that lot.” He waited while she just looked at his hand, biting her lip. “Well.” He pulled his hand back into the car awkwardly, looking at Chris as if for help.
“Listen, yeah, Ems couldn’t drive you home and was like, deathly concerned so we said we’d do it.” He held his hands up. “Swear to God, or whoever you like.” He smiled at her, as did Sid, and she wondered about strangers in cars and Katie hiding in the boot, and got in anyway.
Sid turned around to keep smiling at her, though it froze on his face after a moment.
“So.” He said, blinking at her once. “Emily’s talked loads about you.”
She buckled her seat belt, falling back into her seat as Chris revved the engine and took off.
“I’ve heard.” She said back, and then gave Sid the friendliest smile she could muster.
“And you’ve met Cass. She really likes you.” He nodded at her, and she bit her lip.
“Yes, we met last week under interesting circumstances.” She turned her head to glance at the passing scenery, checking they were heading to her house.
“Yeah.” Sid nodded, kept nodding as he looked at Chris who was puffing on a cigarette and leaning forward.
“Just Michelle and Tony left.” Chris said, and she wasn’t sure if that was directed at her or Sid. “Actually, fancy coming round now?” Chris waggled his eyebrows at her, turning around for longer than she was comfortable with since he was meant to be driving the bloody car.
“Don’t know about that, Emily might not be, er, happy we brought her round without warning her.” Sid turned back around, giving her a half smile before he turned his head away.
“Nah man, she’d be cool. Plus Naomi here has to meet Tony and Michelle first anyway. It’s like,” Chris gestured with his cigarette toward Sid. “The rules or something.”
Naomi sat in the back wondering how mental she was for considering the offer. The offer to go to a house filled with vampires, when one of them apparently wanted to kill her.
“I think Sid’s right.” She said, leaning forward. “I mean, Emily thinks Katie might…”
“Nah.” Chris cut her off. “Katie’s all talk, she’ll come round. Particularly if Tony and Michelle are onside. And Ems would love to have you visit.” He tapped his head with one hand, grinning at her quickly. “I just know it.”
Sid turned around to look at her, and for a moment she was lost in the brown of his eyes, and couldn’t help but think of Emily. “It’s perfectly acceptable to say no. Chris gets a bit excited sometimes. He once convinced an entire convent to drink a barrel of holy wine each and…”
Chris reached over and punched Sid in the arm. “Firstly, they loved it! And secondly, if you want to bring up stories I’ll tell Naomi about how you tricked Cass into turning and then…”
Sid punched Chris in the arm, pointing his finger at him and frowning. “That’s unfair, I told you her version was barmy, and what actually happened was perfectly innocent and can’t be held against me.”
Chris scoffed, and Naomi realised, looking out the windows, that she didn’t recognise where they were heading.
“Uh, where are we?” She asked, but both of them ignored her.
“Bullshit mate, it was totally evil what you did to her. Like, practically old Tony evil.” Chris lit another cigarette as Sid put a hand to his chest and looked completely affronted.
“Old Tony? That’s fucking low, man.” He shook his head, looking out his window.
“Well, maybe not old Tony exactly.” Chris lit another cigarette, and Naomi leant forward.
“Really, where are we?” She frowned at Chris as he winked at her.
“We’re almost home, poppet.” He turned the car onto a long driveway, and she sat back, feeling her heart hammering in her chest. Jesus, she was actually entering a vampire den. Or coven. Nest?
“Can’t believe you compared me to old Tony.” Sid mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Come on Sid, you have to admit it was a tad dastardly.” Chris pulled the car up outside a massive house nestled at the top of the driveway. Naomi wondered what would happen if she fainted, and if she asked them nicely whether they’d take her home.
“Dastardly? I like that.” Sid raised his eyebrows at Chris. “Old Tony was a bit dastardly when he was on a strict virgin only diet.”
Chris laughed, jumping out of the car. “Dastardly and bastardly, our old Tony.”
Naomi felt forgotten as they started to walk toward the house, her hand frozen on the handle, wondering if she should get out or not.
“I miss him sometimes.” She heard Sid say, and Chris put his arm around him.
“Me too.” She heard faintly, before they both turned around and looked at her.
“Coming in?” Sid called out, and she took a deep breath, opening the door. She stood, pressing herself against the car and willing herself not to freak out. Her thought pattern felt like it had been possessed by JJ. All she could think was ‘Vampires. Blood bag. Katie. Death. Bitch. Fuck. Vampires. Blood bag.’ Before the front door swung open suddenly and Emily stormed out.
“What the fuck?” She said, punching Chris in the stomach and glaring at Sid. “I asked for one fucking favour, one!”
Chris bent over for a moment, and Sid held his hands up. “Wasn’t my idea.” He mumbled, and Emily made as if to punch him as well.
“Jesus Ems, way to say thank you, yeah?” Chris rubbed his belly for a moment, and then swept his arms to the side of him as if presenting Naomi to her. “Your lady love arrives!” He grinned at Emily, and Naomi had never seen Emily more, well, deadly looking.
“You,” She shoved him. “Should,” She shoved Sid. “Have,” She glared at them, and Naomi felt frightened. “Warned me.” She finished in a low voice, before walking quickly over to Naomi and attempting to smile, though it was strained and didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” Emily mumbled.
“Maybe you should take me home.” Naomi whispered, and Emily nodded once, turning back toward Chris.
“Give me your keys, you tit.” She held her hand out, and Chris shrugged, getting them out of his pocket. Before he could throw them, a very tall boy walked slowly out of the front door with his hands clasped in front of him and his head cocked to the side.
“Hello.” He called out, and Naomi blinked. He walked past Sid and Chris, didn’t look at anyone but her. “I’m Tony. How do you do?” He extended a hand, and she felt herself taking it without hesitation. He brought her hand up to his lips, placing the briefest of kisses against it.
“Oh, so she takes his hand and not mine.” She heard Sid saying somewhere behind Tony.
“Hi.” She said, her voice cracking and she cleared her throat. She tore her eyes away from his, noticed Emily leaning against the car with an unreadable expression on her face.
“Would you join us for some afternoon tea?” Tony raised an eyebrow at her, and she frowned slightly. “Michelle loves any excuse to use the kitchen.” He gave her a small smile, inclining his head toward the house.
“Tony…” Emily began, sounding vaguely panicked.
Tony turned toward Emily, and put his arm around her. “It’s alright Ems, Katie and my lovely sister just took off out the back. I think it’d be lovely if your Naomi joined us for a bit, and then you can take her home.” Tony squeezed Emily’s shoulders, turning his attention back to Naomi. “Wouldn’t it?” He asked her, and she found herself nodding in agreement.
Tony put his other arm around her shoulders and began to lead them into the house. Naomi felt her jaw dropping as she looked around. The house was fucking massive, and gorgeous. She would love, she thought, to live in a house like that. She was lead through the entrance hall, past a grand staircase, and into a living area where she saw Cassie jump up from reclining on a lounge and practically skip toward her.
“Oh, wow, I’m so glad it’s today.” Cassie said, pulling her from Tony’s half embrace and hugging her. She held on a bit too long, swaying them both side to side, and Naomi felt like pinching herself to check she wasn’t dreaming.
Tony moved to sit in a large armchair, crossing one leg over the other and staring at her as if, she thought, examining her. Cassie pulled back, grabbing Emily and hugging her as well. Naomi felt like laughing at the look on Emily’s face.
“I’m so happy for you.” Cassie breathed, letting Emily go and Emily looked slightly embarrassed.
“Would you like to take a seat?” Tony asked, gesturing toward the armchair next to his, and Naomi looked quickly at Emily before moving to sit in it, awkwardly.
Emily resignedly sat herself opposite them on the lounge Cassie had been on. Cassie had disappeared somewhere as had Sid and Chris, and Naomi looked between Tony and Emily for a moment, half expecting Tony to ask her what her intentions were toward Emily and whether she had a stable income.
“Thank you for not squealing on us.” Tony said after a pause, offering her a smile and otherwise not moving. “I quite like it here, I would hate to have to move.”
“Oh, well.” Naomi bit her lip, gripping her bag to her chest. “Apparently there’s been loads of opportunities for me to be killed and I haven’t.” She shrugged slightly, feeling her eyes bug out of her head as she realised she was rationalising her actions on the sheer fact that she was still alive.
“Trust me, you wouldn’t stand a chance against any of us.” Tony shrugged slightly, smiling reassuringly. “But that’s not what we’re about, anymore. Is it Ems?” He turned his head slightly to look at Emily, who licked her lips and then nodded.
“I don’t think she’s ready for this, Tony.” Emily murmured, struggling not to look at Naomi, but Tony waved her off.
“No one’s ever ready.” He said simply, before Cassie and another girl came rushing into the room.
“Shit, she is pretty.” The other girl, who Naomi could only assume was Michelle, smiled at her. Cassie sat down next to Emily, reaching over to hold her hand. Naomi watched the movement, feeling the faintest tug of jealousy in the pit of her stomach. “I’m Michelle.” Michelle leaned forward to grasp Naomi’s hand briefly, smiling warmly and then sitting on the other side of Cassie, who reached to hold her hand as well.
Jesus, they were an affectionate bunch. Had she not known they were vampires, her weird sex cult idea would have reared it’s ugly head and declared itself the winner.
“Nice to meet you.” Naomi tried to smile, felt her heart beating far too hard and wondered, for a petrifying moment, whether they could all hear it.
“Ems, she’s beautiful.” Michelle turned to Emily, her eyes rolling back in emphasis as she nodded. Naomi felt like she was five years old and being paraded around in front of her parents friends.
“It’s been ages since I’ve had tea.” Sid walked toward her with a tray in his hands, proudly setting it down on the little table that separated her chair from the lounge Michelle, Cassie and Emily sat on. She frowned when she saw scones messily arranged on a plate, covered in whip cream and what looked like a whole jar of jam.
“Cass warned me you were coming, so I shopped.” Michelle smiled at her, expectant. Naomi reached for the pot of tea, her hands shaking as she poured the steaming liquid into a cup and stirred in some milk.
“Thanks for warning me.” Emily grumbled, frowning, and everyone ignored her.
“How did you know I was coming?” Naomi asked Cassie, blowing on her tea, and taking a small sip, feeling entirely too awkward as three eager faces looked at her, Tony gazing steadily and Emily looking like she wished she could be anywhere else.
“She can tell the future.” Sid said, sitting himself on the floor and leaning back against the lounge. Chris walked into the room, shrugging at Tony.
“Can’t find Katie or Ef.” He sat on the floor at Emily’s feet, looking at Naomi excitedly. “Like the scones? I used to eat them like that. Bloody lovely they were.” She watched him eye the scones for a moment.
“Hang on. You mean like Effy?” She asked, looking at Cassie, who giggled.
“No, the actual future.” Emily mumbled.
“Yeah except she rarely tells us what it is.” Chris reached for a scone, smelling it and closing his eyes.
“What, like everything?” Naomi blinked in surprise, and Cassie leant her head on Michelle’s shoulder and stared at her with a small grin on her face.
“It’s enough to drive you mad.” Cassie giggled again, and Emily took her hand out of Cassie’s grasp.
Tony watched the interaction with his head resting on one of his hands.
“Right, well I’ll show Naomi round then take her home.” Emily stood up, motioning toward her.
Naomi put her tea cup down, noticing a price sticker still on the side of it, and stood as well. Chris hastily put the scone down, and made as if to stand up but Emily put her hand on his shoulder and held him down.
“Alone.” She said, and Sid reached for the tray as he stood up.
“Right, well I’ll get rid of this, shall I?” He picked it up, walking out of the room, Chris forlornly watching the disappearing plate of scones and muttering something about waste. Cassie and Michelle stayed on the lounge, Cassie whispering in Michelle’s ear and making both of them giggle.
Emily walked toward her, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the staircase in the entrance hall.
“I’m really sorry, I tried to tell them that you wouldn’t want me here but they started arguing and then we just sort of arrived.” Naomi felt Emily tighten her grip on her hand, leading her up the stairs. Emily glanced back at her, her expression softening.
“It’s alright, really. I’m actually sort of glad you’re here. Just bad timing.” Emily shrugged slightly, gesturing with her free hand as they reached the top of the stairs. “Right, so to the left are where Tony, Michelle, Sid and Cassie have rooms when they want to be by themselves. Chris has one just there, though he’s rarely in it. Actually, we’re all rarely in them other than when we need, you know, escape.” Emily began walking to the right, leading her to a hallway.
Naomi looked around, noticing the floor to ceiling windows and exquisite artwork on the walls. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but was surprised that it was so light and nice looking. The windows had heavy looking drapes at the sides of all of them, and Emily glanced at her, noticing where her gaze was focused.
“On sunny days they’re closed and it’s much more, well, gothic looking in here.” Emily smirked at her slightly when Naomi blushed.
“I was expecting, I don’t know, that I guess.” She looked down at their entwined hands, felt herself squeeze Emily’s and smiled.
“Come on, I’ll show you where I go when I want to be myself.” Emily tugged her down the hall, passing closed doors, and she found herself wondering what was on the other side of them.
“Where are Cook and Freddie?” She asked as they approached a door at the end of the hallway, and Emily opened it, letting go of her hand.
“Don’t know, they took off after college saying they’ll see us later.” Emily walked into the room, Naomi waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She blinked in surprise when Emily threw open some drapes revealing a large bay window at the front of a surprisingly neat room.
She walked in, breathing deeply, pleasantly realising that Emily’s smell seemed to coat the room. There were bookshelves lining one wall, an assortment of instruments in a corner, and a comfortable looking armchair in another corner near the door. She walked along the bookshelves, running her hands over the spines and frowning slightly as she noticed some in languages she didn’t recognise.
Emily stood awkwardly by the bay window, watching Naomi as she moved through the room. Naomi raised her eyebrows at a large oil painting on the wall opposite the bookshelves. She walked toward it slowly, recognising what had to be Emily and Katie seated next to each other and wearing demure looking dresses. A man stood behind them, smiling broadly, a pointed faced woman standing next to him with an expressionless face. A boy stood next to Emily, his hand resting on the arm of the lounge Katie and Emily were sat on. He was grinning and wearing a small suit.
“They’re our family.” Emily said softly, walking to stand next to Naomi and gaze at the painting. “I found this about five years ago through an art dealer who managed to track down where it had ended up after the war.”
“What happened to them?” Naomi asked, gazing at Emily and Katie in the painting, and the colour in their skin. That’s what they’d looked like, she thought feeling her stomach drop, when they were alive.
Emily turned away from the painting, moving to the bay window to sit. She stared out of the window, and Naomi moved to sit next to her after a moment. The view from Emily’s window was beautiful. The garden was enormous, and in the background she could see Bristol.
“They died.” Emily muttered, and Naomi had almost forgotten her question by the time Emily replied. Naomi opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she noticed Emily watching something in the garden with a frown. Naomi followed her gaze, saw Katie standing beneath the window and staring up at them with a blank look on her face. “I’ll take you home.”
Emily stood, and Naomi moved away from the window as Emily shut her drapes.
“How old are you?” Naomi asked as Emily strode to the front of the room, half skipping to keep up with her.
Emily turned as she opened the door, peering at Naomi, and in the resulting darkness from the drapes being closed, Naomi could barely make out her expression.
“Seventeen.” Emily answered, her voice soft. She paused, staring at her as Naomi took a step toward her.
“How long have you been seventeen?” Naomi reached out a hand, covering Emily’s on the door handle, biting her lip as Emily leaned slightly toward her in the half light.
“A long time.” Emily whispered, and tilted her head until their mouths were almost touching.
“How fucking sweet.”
Emily jerked her head back just as they were about to make contact, and Naomi felt her face flush. Katie stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite Emily’s door.
“Fuck off Katie.” Emily muttered, shaking her head and grabbing Naomi’s hand, tugging her down the hallway.
“Oh sorry Ems, did I interrupt your little moment?” Katie walked after them, and Naomi heard her laugh. “Far be it from me to walk around my own house. Yeah? The house you promised me she wouldn’t be invited to. Yeah, Ems?”
Emily stopped walking, turning around to face her sister.
“Meet me downstairs, yeah?” Emily looked at her quickly, and Naomi felt herself nod. “Look Katie, it was Chris and Sid who brought her, alright?”
Naomi turned to look at them before she hurried down the stairs, Katie smirking and baring her teeth, Naomi feeling like she might be sick when she saw Katie’s fangs were extended.
“The fuck I care who brought her, yeah? She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Fuck’s sake, you’re so fucking stupid sometimes. It’s just a matter of time before all this blows up.”
She could hear their voices getting louder when she reached the bottom of the stairs, finding Tony standing with his hands in his pockets and waiting for her. Fuck he’s tall, she thought, as he tilted his head and listened.
“No it won’t. Jesus Katie, why can’t you just trust me for once, okay? You don’t know anything about it.”
“The fuck I do! Or have you forgotten that I can hear what’s in that little tart’s head? She still barely believes in us let alone can be trusted. It’s like a fucking merry go round of confusion in there, Ems. She doesn’t even think she’s gay!”
There was a sound like something being hit, and a scuffling noise, and Tony gently put his hand on Naomi’s shoulder and steered her toward the door.
“Let’s wait outside, shall we?” He gave her a brief smile, and she struggled not to turn her head toward the raised voices and, what the fuck, was that a growl?
Tony shut the door behind them, staring off into the distance as she shakily lit a cigarette.
“Katie has a point.” He said, not looking at her, and she blinked in surprise. “She usually does, on account of the whole psychic thing.” She exhaled, watching his face. He turned to look at her. “Why did you come?”
Naomi took a step backwards, sucking on the end of her cigarette. “Sid and Chris…” She started, but he held up a hand.
“Why, Naomi?” He stared at her intently, and she felt like her heart would beat out of her chest.
“I don’t know.” She stammered, inhaling again. “I was curious.” She winced, knowing that wasn’t the right answer.
He stepped toward her, keeping his hands in his pockets, and after a moment surprised her with a smile.
“Curiosity is somewhat natural.” There was a loud crash from inside, and Naomi jumped. “Michelle won’t be impressed, that sounded like the antique vase she just bought back from Italy.” He smirked when she looked at him slightly fearfully.
“I don’t want to cause trouble.” She hastily dropped her cigarette, crushing it with her shoe.
“Well, it seems like you already have.” He turned to peer at the darkening sky, storm clouds rolling in over a distant hill. “Emily thinks you’re worth it. But,” Her breath hitched as he leaned his face toward her. “It’s really up to you.”
She gulped, weakly smiling at him. “I don’t really know what you mean.”
He raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “I think you do actually.”
They stared at each other for a moment, and she jumped when the front door opened suddenly and Emily walked through with a wary look on her face.
“Ready?” She asked, walking past Tony toward the car. Naomi took a step away from him, and he reached out quickly to touch her arm.
“Don’t forget what we are. We won’t hurt you, of course. But don’t forget that we could.” He smiled, disarming the threat, and then surprised her by winking. “Come back when you’re ready.”
She gaped at him slightly, nodding and hurrying over to the car, Emily already in the driver’s seat waiting.
“Well, that could have been worse.” Emily muttered, starting the engine and turning the car to drive away from the house.
“Oh?” Naomi’s voice shook, and she watched the house get smaller in her rear view mirror, Tony continuing to watch them drive away.
V^^^^^V
Emily dropped her home, promising to return later in the night to keep an eye out. Naomi briefly smiled, kept seeing Katie baring her fangs, and agreed if only because she wasn’t sure she would be able to sleep without Emily there.
Her dad bade her goodnight sometime around eleven, and she received a text from Emily soon afterwards telling her she was outside. She crept to the front door, opening it and seeing Emily with her back toward her. She smiled.
“Hey.” She whispered, reaching forward and taking Emily’s hand.
Emily turned, grabbing her hand and jerking her out of the house, and Naomi felt like screaming when she saw it was Katie. Katie moved so fast, pulling her toward the front gate and through it before she could blink, and she was thrown into the back of a car, feeling sick from moving so fast.
She struggled to sit herself upright as the door was closed behind her, and Katie appeared in the driver’s seat, starting the engine and beginning to drive before Naomi could grasp the door handle and struggle to open it.
“Please let me out!” She shrieked, and Katie gunned the engine, the car gaining speed.
“Shut up.” Katie replied. “Just shut the fuck up.”
Naomi twisted the door handle, grabbing desperately at the lock and unsuccessfully attempting to unlock it.
“Where are you taking me? Please don’t do this Katie!” She felt tears pricking her eyes, felt her blood run cold with fear.
“I told you to shut the fuck up.” Katie twisted, glaring at her. She laughed when Naomi felt her face go slack with horror, looking at Katie’s fangs.
“Jesus.” She groaned, struggling with the door handle, hitting it with her fists and feeling tears leaking out of her eyes.
Katie drove onwards, silently, the car leaving Bristol behind and countryside stretching out on either side of them. Naomi struggled to stop herself from outright weeping, but she was blinded with panic. Emily, she felt her mind screaming, Emily!
“Fat lot of good that will do. I’m the psychic twin, babes.” Katie’s voice was eerily calm.
“Where are you taking me?” Naomi whispered, her voice completely failing her. Katie didn’t respond, pulling the car over and stopping on the side of the empty road. Katie turned in her seat, peering at her.
“Right, I’m this close to killing you, yeah? So listen closely, bitch.” Katie narrowed her eyes, and Naomi shrank back in her seat. “Just what the fuck do you think you’re playing at?”
Naomi gasped, unable to speak, shaking her head side to side.
“Well? Fuck’s sake I’m not like, killing you right now though if you don’t say anything I will, yeah? And stop fucking screaming, it isn’t helping you.” Katie pursed her lips, and Naomi felt nothing but a high pitched noise inside her own head.
“I, I don’t know.” She stuttered finally, pushing herself as far back in the car and away from Katie as possible.
“No, you don’t know. You don’t know a fucking thing about what we’ve been through, about what it’s like. Fuck you’re both so stupid. What did you think, you’d have a bicurious tumble with a fucking vampire and get on with your life?” Katie slammed her hand against the passenger seat head rest, breaking it and causing it to falling onto Naomi’s feet.
“I don’t…” Naomi stammered again.
“Stop saying that! What the fuck does she see in you? All of them blathering about how Emily’s found her other fucking half, who she can bond with and fucking turn.” Katie snarled, suddenly, turning away from Naomi for a moment.
Naomi gasped, her mind blinded with panic. “What?” She whispered, and Katie turned toward her again with a sickly sweet smile on her face.
“Oh yes bitchtits, you heard me right. Or did you think Emily was only into you to hold hands and play happy teenage romance before you graduate and go your separate ways?” Katie leaned over the gap between the front seats, peering intently into Naomi’s face. “She wants you, babes, she wants you to be one of us.” Katie’s voice was low, cruel and mocking.
Naomi couldn’t look away from Katie. “I don’t understand.” She hastily wiped her eyes, not wanting to lose sight of Katie for too long.
“No, you don’t understand. Anything.” Katie leant backwards, peering out of one of the windows for a moment.
“I keep trying to tell her that you’re not it, that you’re flighty and stubborn, and will fucking run away as soon as you get half the chance. She can’t admit that I know you better than she does, and not by fucking choice.”
Naomi felt something well up inside her, something angry and insulted. “You don’t know me.” She muttered, all her muscles taught.
“Don’t I?” Katie said dangerously low, turning slowly to face her again. Katie smirked at her, raising an eyebrow in challenge. “Listen up you repressed little dyke. End it with Emily, get on with your life. College is a fucking waste of time for us, I doubt the rest of them will last much longer. And then you can forget, yeah? Have a nice little life, tell your grandkids about how you once had a run in with a vampire, and they’ll laugh because you’re clearly bonkers.” Katie narrowed her eyes at her. “Don’t forget that she’s mine. Otherwise, I can kill you now. I’m not fucking fussed either way.” Katie shrugged her shoulders, and Naomi looked at her fearfully, hating that she felt powerless.
“Emily won’t forgive you.” She whispered, thinking if she could only get one up on Katie, she could go home.
Katie rolled her eyes, and Naomi felt like hitting herself. Fuck it was annoying dealing with a psychic. “It might take her ten, twenty, even fifty years. But you’re not the only pretty blonde in the world, and certainly not her first.”
Naomi grimaced, wishing she hadn’t. Katie laughed, and started the car.
“Why are you such a bitch?” She asked, and couldn’t help herself. Katie snorted, turning the car around.
“Because we’re not fucking designed to be friendly, they all fucking know it. It’s just a matter of time before they revert and we start having some fucking fun again.” Katie changed gears, and Naomi turned her head to gaze sullenly out of the window, the slightest relief creeping in when she saw the lights of Bristol again.
“Emily won’t.” She muttered, unsure why she felt she had to believe that so strongly.
“Did Emily ever tell you about our brother, James? Right little shit he was, fucking pervert too.” Katie hummed softly for a minute as Naomi closed her eyes. “Used to watch us when we bathed. Well, Emily sure enjoyed snapping his neck and feeding from him. Surprised the little fucker, particularly after we killed mum and dad in front of him.”
Naomi put her hands over her ears. It was too awful to listen to.
“Emily, well fuck, she was glorious once, yeah? Left me to shame in the cruelty department. When she lost control it was fucking mint, babes. It was beautiful.” Katie’s voice got louder, and Naomi pressed her hands as tightly as she could against her head.
“I don’t believe you.” She said loudly, unable to block out Katie’s laughter.
“I don’t give a flying fuck whether you believe me or not.” Katie went quiet as she drove the car back toward Naomi’s house, flicking a button on her door when they stopped moving. Naomi lunged, able to open her door and tumbled onto the grass breathing heavily.
Katie turned the car around, winding down her window and waving a phone at her, one that looked like Emily’s.
“I don’t do warnings, yeah? This is like, a fucking first for me. Don’t make me regret not killing you cause it’s easily rectified.” Katie tooted the horn once, raising both eyebrows quickly and blowing her a kiss, before the car tore off down the street.
Naomi scrambled to her feet, breathing heavily, thankful she hadn’t wet herself because she’d never been so terrified in her whole life.
She locked the door with trembling fingers, bursting into tears when she curled up on her bed in the darkness, sobbing into her pillow.
She received a text from Emily half an hour later, telling her she was out the front and ending it with a smiley face. She typed back ‘Leave me alone.’ And turned her phone off. She hugged her pillow tightly to her chest, shrieking when there was a tapping at her window, and Emily was peering through it looking concerned. She knocked against it again, and Naomi stood up quickly, walking toward it but not opening it.
“Go away.” She said, sniffling and shaking her head, and Emily pressed her palms against the glass. Naomi looked out, seeing Emily balanced precariously on a drain pipe and pressed against the window.
“What’s wrong?” Emily asked loudly, frowning in concern. “Please let me in, did something happen to you?”
Naomi shook her head again. “Get the fuck away from me.” She turned her back, stopping when Emily banged against her glass.
“Naomi please!” Emily looked on the verge of tears. “What the fuck happened?”
Naomi turned back around, striding to the window and pressing her nose slightly against it to stare into Emily’s eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what the fuck happened to your family?”
Emily visibly blanched, and Naomi thought she would throw up. Fucking hell, Katie had told the truth.
“Fucking Katie.” Emily said, dark tears dripping onto her cheeks. “Naomi, please don’t hate me for something that happened years ago. Fuck knows I hate myself enough for it.” Emily’s voice was rasping, and Naomi could barely make it out through the glass of her window.
“You really are monsters, aren’t you?” Naomi said softly, knowing Emily could hear her. She shut her curtains on Emily’s crying face, her breath hitching as she threw herself onto her bed.
Emily had killed people, had killed her own family. It didn’t fucking matter that she hadn’t been killed yet, didn’t fucking matter that Emily was nice to her. They were vampires, actual vampires, and she couldn’t believe it was just sinking in now.
The worst part, she thought as she continued to sob into her pillow, the worst part was that she’d actually entertained the thought for the briefest of moments, that it would be something wonderful to spend forever with Emily.
Katie was right about that too.
They were both fucking stupid.
V^^^^^V
Chapter Eight: But I Thought This Wouldn't Hurt A Lot
Chapter: 7/9 It Tastes Like Death But It Looks Like Fun
Pairing: Naomi/Emily
Word Count: 7573
Disclaimer: I don't own, or claim to own, anything related to Skins. Borrowing the characters and throwing them into an entirely different universe altogether. I also don't own Twilight, and wouldn't ever want to. Chapter title from MGMT's 'The Handshake'.
Summary: Finally, it seems like Naomi is getting the hang of being a gay. Then, like so much rock on scull, Naomi gets hit in the head with reality. Again. (summary courtesy of doopits)
Previous Chapters: Chapter One: Cause Anywhere Is Better Than Here
Chapter Two: Like Stars Burning Holes Right Through The Dark
Chapter Three: The Youth Is Starting To Change
Chapter Four: Happiness Hit Her Like A Bullet In The Back
Chapter Five: Who Is The Lamb And Who Is The Knife
Chapter Six: No More Dreaming Like A Girl So In Love With The Wrong World
It Tastes Like Death But It Looks Like Fun
Something was buzzing on her bedside table, and it tore her away from a dream that involved her dad speaking to her in a Mickey Mouse voice about recycling peanuts. She grabbed for her phone, frowning when it stopped ringing just as she answered. She rolled over, holding her phone in her hand and cradling it against her chest as she snuggled further into her bed. But Dad, she was thinking as her mind slipped back into the dream, aren’t cashews more sustainable in the long term…
She jerked as her phone started vibrating in her hand, pressing it to the side of her head quickly.
“Cashews?” She mumbled, blinking her eyes open when she heard Emily’s voice.
“What? Sorry to wake you. Did I? Shit, sorry. Listen, can I come in?”
Naomi cleared her throat, rolling onto her back. “Emily?” She rubbed her eyes for a moment, pulling the phone from her ear to look at the time. “It’s three in the morning…”
“I know, I’m really sorry. Just, please let me in?”
Naomi yawned loudly, feeling half asleep. “Look, I know you don’t need to sleep but being a member of the living, I actually do so…”
Emily cut her off again, and Naomi realised that she sounded vaguely panicked. She sat up in her bed, feeling slightly more alert.
“You can go back to sleep, just let me in, yeah?”
Naomi pulled the blankets off her legs, yawning again. She sat on the edge of her bed, sighing. “Tell me what happened first.” She heard Emily swear softly.
“Shit. Listen, I had a row with Katie, alright? A big one. She disappeared and I’m, well, just let me in okay? Just to be on the safe side.”
Naomi felt like laughing, because what the fuck did that mean? “What, you think she’d come here?” That was ludicrous, but she stood anyway, opening her bedroom door and making her way in the darkness down the stairs.
“I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Naomi cracked the front door open, peeking around the side of it. She hung up her phone when she saw Emily chewing on one of her fingernails on her doorstep, watched as Emily put her phone back into her jacket pocket.
“Fuck, I’m really sorry…” Emily started saying, walking forwards but Naomi lifted a hand up to shush her. She gestured inside the house with a nod of her head, and Emily followed her, shutting the door with a soft click and turning the lock.
Naomi teetered slightly on the stairs, still tired, and she felt Emily place a steadying hand on the small of her back, keeping it there until they were in her bedroom.
Emily moved to stand awkwardly by Naomi’s bed as Naomi shut her door, moving blindly in the dark until she found the lamp on her bedside table and turned it on. She leant her back against the window, waiting for Emily to turn and look at her.
“So.” Naomi said, looking at the floor for a moment, feeling the coolness from the glass seeping through the oversized t-shirt she’d worn to bed.
Emily walked over to lean against the opposite side of the window. “Katie and I, we had a fight. I can’t find her, I don’t know where she’s gone. Effy’s out searching, and I couldn’t stop thinking that she might come here and, well, do something.”
Naomi frowned. “Why would she come here?” She looked longingly at her bed for a moment, struggling to remember what she’d been dreaming about.
“Because she’s, I don’t know, adamant that you and I shouldn’t be,” Emily licked her lips, looking away from Naomi. “Friends.” She rasped.
“So you’re here to protect me, then?” Naomi knew she sounded sceptical, pushing off from the window and moving to sit on the edge of her bed. Emily folded her arms.
“In a nutshell.” Emily muttered, and Naomi thought of Mickey Mouse and peanuts and had no idea why. She tilted sideways, lying down and bringing her feet up to rest on the bed. “I won’t watch you or anything, will just sit on the floor and read or something. Just in case.”
Naomi stared at Emily, felt her eyelids drooping, wondered for a moment if this was part of her dream. “You can leave the lamp on, to read.” She mumbled, shifting herself under her blankets.
“It’s okay, we can see in the dark.” Emily said, walking over to click the lamp off. Naomi heard her moving away from the bed, and reached a hand out blindly to grab the material of her jacket.
“You don’t have to sit on the floor.” She half whispered, heard the sudden warmth in Emily’s voice when she replied.
“Thanks.”
Naomi felt the bed dip as Emily climbed over her, rolled over to face Emily in the dark. Something inside her had missed this, sleeping next to Emily, almost too much. Her eyes closed, and she could feel her breathing evening out already. Emily moved closer to her.
“Lift your head.” She heard Emily whisper, and when she did so she felt Emily slip her arm under her neck. Naomi had her head on Emily’s shoulder, and wrapped her arm around Emily’s waist, sighing contentedly because this was a wonderful dream. She could hear Emily humming something, a song she didn’t recognise, her voice giving out on the notes that were too low or high. Naomi snuggled into her further, her head moving onto Emily’s chest. Her last thought was that no, she couldn’t hear a heartbeat.
She found that she really didn’t mind.
V^^^^^V
Emily snuck out of the house in the morning while Naomi distracted her dad with breakfast, knocking on the door a few minutes after she’d closed it and smiling brightly when Naomi’s dad answered it with a surprised smile.
“Emily! I hadn’t expected to see you again. You look well.” Naomi’s dad made room as if to let Emily in.
“It’s nice to see you too, Mr Campbell.” Emily smiled sweetly, making no move to enter the house as Naomi rushed up behind them.
“Sorry Dad, running late. See you tonight.” She kissed him quickly on the cheek, pushing Emily down the path and waving when her dad called out a goodbye. Emily was giggling when they got to the car, and Naomi smirked at her.
As they drove toward college, Naomi felt the smile slipping off her face, remembering how Emily and Cook had been acting the day before. “So you and Cook are good friends, right?” Naomi bit her lip, rolling her eyes when Emily winked at her and laughed.
“I thought you were all for pretending we weren’t friends anymore?” Emily changed gears, flipping off another driver when they honked at her.
“I am, but, I don’t know. Are you with him?” Naomi felt stupid, especially considering she’d woken up cuddling Emily that morning and it had startled her out of her mind.
“Of course not.” Emily reached a hand over, placing it on her knee. “He and I were never like that. Anyway, it was Effy’s idea. She said your minions wouldn’t interfere anymore if they thought I wasn’t, well, interested.” Emily squeezed her knee, and Naomi quickly placed a hand over Emily’s when she went to pull it away.
“Oh.” Naomi mumbled, feeling her face heat up. She was relieved, more than relieved, but JJ had still made a point. “Why are you interested in me?”
Emily pulled up a few metres from the entrance to the college so Naomi could get out and it wouldn’t look like she’d driven her, as they’d agreed before Emily had snuck out that morning. Emily turned to her, reaching her other hand out to cup Naomi’s face.
“I honestly don’t know what it is about you. I’ve never had this before. Sid and Tony think, well, Michelle too actually, and Cassie, they all think you’re…” Emily trailed off, pulling her hand back and closing her eyes briefly. “Anyway, they think you’re important, that’s all.” Emily gave her a small smile, before leaning over and quickly kissing her cheek. “I think so too.” She whispered into Naomi’s ear, causing her to shudder.
Naomi opened her door, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car. “I’ll see you in there?” She asked, leaning down and smiling at Emily though her voice sounded a little shaky. Emily nodded, and Naomi stood allowing her to drive off.
She kept her fingertips lightly touching her cheek as she walked toward Roundview. She thought about how depressed she had felt the night before, the jealousy she’d unsuccessfully swallowed when she’d seen Cook with his arm around Emily, and the sick feeling in her stomach when JJ had called her a virtual blood bag. He was wrong, it seemed. Emily had just called her important.
Fuck she had so many questions, the least of all concerning whether Katie actually wanted to cause her harm. As she sat next to Pandora, automatically tuning out her excited ramble, she could feel Emily’s eyes watching her even though she didn’t turn around.
All this time, she thought, that she’d spent trying to figure out what she meant to the people around her, and a realisation had just snuck up and whacked her, as Pandora would say, in the pants:
Emily was important to her too.
V^^^^^V
She waved goodbye to Pandora, JJ and Thomas, walking toward the bus stop by herself and glancing around for any sign of Emily. Effy had dragged Emily away once politics had finished, and she hadn’t seen either of them after that. As she waited for her bus, she frowned suddenly, feeling like she was being watched.
Did Katie actually mean her any harm? Sure, she was a vampire, but she couldn’t be all that bad, considering she was Emily’s twin and, aside from the initial secrecy, Emily was proving to be someone she wanted to spend time with vampire or not.
Freddie had smiled at her at lunch, offering her a small wave, and even Cook had thrown her a wink when she’d walked into philosophy. If only they could all get along… she stopped the thought with an eye roll. She was turning into mother fucking Theresa.
She jumped slightly when a car pulled up at the bus stop, and honked. The passenger window rolled down, and she saw a boy she didn’t recognise. Beside him, another leaned over to smile at her broadly, and she realised it was Chris.
“Fancy a lift?” He called out, and she hesitated, looking down the street for any sign of the bus.
“I don’t know.” She said after a moment, and the second boy said something to Chris that made him shake his head.
“It’s alright, we won’t bite.” Chris raised his yellow sunglasses, winking at her cheekily.
“Yeah, just here to see you safely home.” The other boy said, and shrugged.
She stood up, walking cautiously to the car, and the second boy stuck his hand through the open window.
“I’m Sid, friend of Emily and that lot.” He waited while she just looked at his hand, biting her lip. “Well.” He pulled his hand back into the car awkwardly, looking at Chris as if for help.
“Listen, yeah, Ems couldn’t drive you home and was like, deathly concerned so we said we’d do it.” He held his hands up. “Swear to God, or whoever you like.” He smiled at her, as did Sid, and she wondered about strangers in cars and Katie hiding in the boot, and got in anyway.
Sid turned around to keep smiling at her, though it froze on his face after a moment.
“So.” He said, blinking at her once. “Emily’s talked loads about you.”
She buckled her seat belt, falling back into her seat as Chris revved the engine and took off.
“I’ve heard.” She said back, and then gave Sid the friendliest smile she could muster.
“And you’ve met Cass. She really likes you.” He nodded at her, and she bit her lip.
“Yes, we met last week under interesting circumstances.” She turned her head to glance at the passing scenery, checking they were heading to her house.
“Yeah.” Sid nodded, kept nodding as he looked at Chris who was puffing on a cigarette and leaning forward.
“Just Michelle and Tony left.” Chris said, and she wasn’t sure if that was directed at her or Sid. “Actually, fancy coming round now?” Chris waggled his eyebrows at her, turning around for longer than she was comfortable with since he was meant to be driving the bloody car.
“Don’t know about that, Emily might not be, er, happy we brought her round without warning her.” Sid turned back around, giving her a half smile before he turned his head away.
“Nah man, she’d be cool. Plus Naomi here has to meet Tony and Michelle first anyway. It’s like,” Chris gestured with his cigarette toward Sid. “The rules or something.”
Naomi sat in the back wondering how mental she was for considering the offer. The offer to go to a house filled with vampires, when one of them apparently wanted to kill her.
“I think Sid’s right.” She said, leaning forward. “I mean, Emily thinks Katie might…”
“Nah.” Chris cut her off. “Katie’s all talk, she’ll come round. Particularly if Tony and Michelle are onside. And Ems would love to have you visit.” He tapped his head with one hand, grinning at her quickly. “I just know it.”
Sid turned around to look at her, and for a moment she was lost in the brown of his eyes, and couldn’t help but think of Emily. “It’s perfectly acceptable to say no. Chris gets a bit excited sometimes. He once convinced an entire convent to drink a barrel of holy wine each and…”
Chris reached over and punched Sid in the arm. “Firstly, they loved it! And secondly, if you want to bring up stories I’ll tell Naomi about how you tricked Cass into turning and then…”
Sid punched Chris in the arm, pointing his finger at him and frowning. “That’s unfair, I told you her version was barmy, and what actually happened was perfectly innocent and can’t be held against me.”
Chris scoffed, and Naomi realised, looking out the windows, that she didn’t recognise where they were heading.
“Uh, where are we?” She asked, but both of them ignored her.
“Bullshit mate, it was totally evil what you did to her. Like, practically old Tony evil.” Chris lit another cigarette as Sid put a hand to his chest and looked completely affronted.
“Old Tony? That’s fucking low, man.” He shook his head, looking out his window.
“Well, maybe not old Tony exactly.” Chris lit another cigarette, and Naomi leant forward.
“Really, where are we?” She frowned at Chris as he winked at her.
“We’re almost home, poppet.” He turned the car onto a long driveway, and she sat back, feeling her heart hammering in her chest. Jesus, she was actually entering a vampire den. Or coven. Nest?
“Can’t believe you compared me to old Tony.” Sid mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Come on Sid, you have to admit it was a tad dastardly.” Chris pulled the car up outside a massive house nestled at the top of the driveway. Naomi wondered what would happen if she fainted, and if she asked them nicely whether they’d take her home.
“Dastardly? I like that.” Sid raised his eyebrows at Chris. “Old Tony was a bit dastardly when he was on a strict virgin only diet.”
Chris laughed, jumping out of the car. “Dastardly and bastardly, our old Tony.”
Naomi felt forgotten as they started to walk toward the house, her hand frozen on the handle, wondering if she should get out or not.
“I miss him sometimes.” She heard Sid say, and Chris put his arm around him.
“Me too.” She heard faintly, before they both turned around and looked at her.
“Coming in?” Sid called out, and she took a deep breath, opening the door. She stood, pressing herself against the car and willing herself not to freak out. Her thought pattern felt like it had been possessed by JJ. All she could think was ‘Vampires. Blood bag. Katie. Death. Bitch. Fuck. Vampires. Blood bag.’ Before the front door swung open suddenly and Emily stormed out.
“What the fuck?” She said, punching Chris in the stomach and glaring at Sid. “I asked for one fucking favour, one!”
Chris bent over for a moment, and Sid held his hands up. “Wasn’t my idea.” He mumbled, and Emily made as if to punch him as well.
“Jesus Ems, way to say thank you, yeah?” Chris rubbed his belly for a moment, and then swept his arms to the side of him as if presenting Naomi to her. “Your lady love arrives!” He grinned at Emily, and Naomi had never seen Emily more, well, deadly looking.
“You,” She shoved him. “Should,” She shoved Sid. “Have,” She glared at them, and Naomi felt frightened. “Warned me.” She finished in a low voice, before walking quickly over to Naomi and attempting to smile, though it was strained and didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” Emily mumbled.
“Maybe you should take me home.” Naomi whispered, and Emily nodded once, turning back toward Chris.
“Give me your keys, you tit.” She held her hand out, and Chris shrugged, getting them out of his pocket. Before he could throw them, a very tall boy walked slowly out of the front door with his hands clasped in front of him and his head cocked to the side.
“Hello.” He called out, and Naomi blinked. He walked past Sid and Chris, didn’t look at anyone but her. “I’m Tony. How do you do?” He extended a hand, and she felt herself taking it without hesitation. He brought her hand up to his lips, placing the briefest of kisses against it.
“Oh, so she takes his hand and not mine.” She heard Sid saying somewhere behind Tony.
“Hi.” She said, her voice cracking and she cleared her throat. She tore her eyes away from his, noticed Emily leaning against the car with an unreadable expression on her face.
“Would you join us for some afternoon tea?” Tony raised an eyebrow at her, and she frowned slightly. “Michelle loves any excuse to use the kitchen.” He gave her a small smile, inclining his head toward the house.
“Tony…” Emily began, sounding vaguely panicked.
Tony turned toward Emily, and put his arm around her. “It’s alright Ems, Katie and my lovely sister just took off out the back. I think it’d be lovely if your Naomi joined us for a bit, and then you can take her home.” Tony squeezed Emily’s shoulders, turning his attention back to Naomi. “Wouldn’t it?” He asked her, and she found herself nodding in agreement.
Tony put his other arm around her shoulders and began to lead them into the house. Naomi felt her jaw dropping as she looked around. The house was fucking massive, and gorgeous. She would love, she thought, to live in a house like that. She was lead through the entrance hall, past a grand staircase, and into a living area where she saw Cassie jump up from reclining on a lounge and practically skip toward her.
“Oh, wow, I’m so glad it’s today.” Cassie said, pulling her from Tony’s half embrace and hugging her. She held on a bit too long, swaying them both side to side, and Naomi felt like pinching herself to check she wasn’t dreaming.
Tony moved to sit in a large armchair, crossing one leg over the other and staring at her as if, she thought, examining her. Cassie pulled back, grabbing Emily and hugging her as well. Naomi felt like laughing at the look on Emily’s face.
“I’m so happy for you.” Cassie breathed, letting Emily go and Emily looked slightly embarrassed.
“Would you like to take a seat?” Tony asked, gesturing toward the armchair next to his, and Naomi looked quickly at Emily before moving to sit in it, awkwardly.
Emily resignedly sat herself opposite them on the lounge Cassie had been on. Cassie had disappeared somewhere as had Sid and Chris, and Naomi looked between Tony and Emily for a moment, half expecting Tony to ask her what her intentions were toward Emily and whether she had a stable income.
“Thank you for not squealing on us.” Tony said after a pause, offering her a smile and otherwise not moving. “I quite like it here, I would hate to have to move.”
“Oh, well.” Naomi bit her lip, gripping her bag to her chest. “Apparently there’s been loads of opportunities for me to be killed and I haven’t.” She shrugged slightly, feeling her eyes bug out of her head as she realised she was rationalising her actions on the sheer fact that she was still alive.
“Trust me, you wouldn’t stand a chance against any of us.” Tony shrugged slightly, smiling reassuringly. “But that’s not what we’re about, anymore. Is it Ems?” He turned his head slightly to look at Emily, who licked her lips and then nodded.
“I don’t think she’s ready for this, Tony.” Emily murmured, struggling not to look at Naomi, but Tony waved her off.
“No one’s ever ready.” He said simply, before Cassie and another girl came rushing into the room.
“Shit, she is pretty.” The other girl, who Naomi could only assume was Michelle, smiled at her. Cassie sat down next to Emily, reaching over to hold her hand. Naomi watched the movement, feeling the faintest tug of jealousy in the pit of her stomach. “I’m Michelle.” Michelle leaned forward to grasp Naomi’s hand briefly, smiling warmly and then sitting on the other side of Cassie, who reached to hold her hand as well.
Jesus, they were an affectionate bunch. Had she not known they were vampires, her weird sex cult idea would have reared it’s ugly head and declared itself the winner.
“Nice to meet you.” Naomi tried to smile, felt her heart beating far too hard and wondered, for a petrifying moment, whether they could all hear it.
“Ems, she’s beautiful.” Michelle turned to Emily, her eyes rolling back in emphasis as she nodded. Naomi felt like she was five years old and being paraded around in front of her parents friends.
“It’s been ages since I’ve had tea.” Sid walked toward her with a tray in his hands, proudly setting it down on the little table that separated her chair from the lounge Michelle, Cassie and Emily sat on. She frowned when she saw scones messily arranged on a plate, covered in whip cream and what looked like a whole jar of jam.
“Cass warned me you were coming, so I shopped.” Michelle smiled at her, expectant. Naomi reached for the pot of tea, her hands shaking as she poured the steaming liquid into a cup and stirred in some milk.
“Thanks for warning me.” Emily grumbled, frowning, and everyone ignored her.
“How did you know I was coming?” Naomi asked Cassie, blowing on her tea, and taking a small sip, feeling entirely too awkward as three eager faces looked at her, Tony gazing steadily and Emily looking like she wished she could be anywhere else.
“She can tell the future.” Sid said, sitting himself on the floor and leaning back against the lounge. Chris walked into the room, shrugging at Tony.
“Can’t find Katie or Ef.” He sat on the floor at Emily’s feet, looking at Naomi excitedly. “Like the scones? I used to eat them like that. Bloody lovely they were.” She watched him eye the scones for a moment.
“Hang on. You mean like Effy?” She asked, looking at Cassie, who giggled.
“No, the actual future.” Emily mumbled.
“Yeah except she rarely tells us what it is.” Chris reached for a scone, smelling it and closing his eyes.
“What, like everything?” Naomi blinked in surprise, and Cassie leant her head on Michelle’s shoulder and stared at her with a small grin on her face.
“It’s enough to drive you mad.” Cassie giggled again, and Emily took her hand out of Cassie’s grasp.
Tony watched the interaction with his head resting on one of his hands.
“Right, well I’ll show Naomi round then take her home.” Emily stood up, motioning toward her.
Naomi put her tea cup down, noticing a price sticker still on the side of it, and stood as well. Chris hastily put the scone down, and made as if to stand up but Emily put her hand on his shoulder and held him down.
“Alone.” She said, and Sid reached for the tray as he stood up.
“Right, well I’ll get rid of this, shall I?” He picked it up, walking out of the room, Chris forlornly watching the disappearing plate of scones and muttering something about waste. Cassie and Michelle stayed on the lounge, Cassie whispering in Michelle’s ear and making both of them giggle.
Emily walked toward her, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the staircase in the entrance hall.
“I’m really sorry, I tried to tell them that you wouldn’t want me here but they started arguing and then we just sort of arrived.” Naomi felt Emily tighten her grip on her hand, leading her up the stairs. Emily glanced back at her, her expression softening.
“It’s alright, really. I’m actually sort of glad you’re here. Just bad timing.” Emily shrugged slightly, gesturing with her free hand as they reached the top of the stairs. “Right, so to the left are where Tony, Michelle, Sid and Cassie have rooms when they want to be by themselves. Chris has one just there, though he’s rarely in it. Actually, we’re all rarely in them other than when we need, you know, escape.” Emily began walking to the right, leading her to a hallway.
Naomi looked around, noticing the floor to ceiling windows and exquisite artwork on the walls. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but was surprised that it was so light and nice looking. The windows had heavy looking drapes at the sides of all of them, and Emily glanced at her, noticing where her gaze was focused.
“On sunny days they’re closed and it’s much more, well, gothic looking in here.” Emily smirked at her slightly when Naomi blushed.
“I was expecting, I don’t know, that I guess.” She looked down at their entwined hands, felt herself squeeze Emily’s and smiled.
“Come on, I’ll show you where I go when I want to be myself.” Emily tugged her down the hall, passing closed doors, and she found herself wondering what was on the other side of them.
“Where are Cook and Freddie?” She asked as they approached a door at the end of the hallway, and Emily opened it, letting go of her hand.
“Don’t know, they took off after college saying they’ll see us later.” Emily walked into the room, Naomi waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She blinked in surprise when Emily threw open some drapes revealing a large bay window at the front of a surprisingly neat room.
She walked in, breathing deeply, pleasantly realising that Emily’s smell seemed to coat the room. There were bookshelves lining one wall, an assortment of instruments in a corner, and a comfortable looking armchair in another corner near the door. She walked along the bookshelves, running her hands over the spines and frowning slightly as she noticed some in languages she didn’t recognise.
Emily stood awkwardly by the bay window, watching Naomi as she moved through the room. Naomi raised her eyebrows at a large oil painting on the wall opposite the bookshelves. She walked toward it slowly, recognising what had to be Emily and Katie seated next to each other and wearing demure looking dresses. A man stood behind them, smiling broadly, a pointed faced woman standing next to him with an expressionless face. A boy stood next to Emily, his hand resting on the arm of the lounge Katie and Emily were sat on. He was grinning and wearing a small suit.
“They’re our family.” Emily said softly, walking to stand next to Naomi and gaze at the painting. “I found this about five years ago through an art dealer who managed to track down where it had ended up after the war.”
“What happened to them?” Naomi asked, gazing at Emily and Katie in the painting, and the colour in their skin. That’s what they’d looked like, she thought feeling her stomach drop, when they were alive.
Emily turned away from the painting, moving to the bay window to sit. She stared out of the window, and Naomi moved to sit next to her after a moment. The view from Emily’s window was beautiful. The garden was enormous, and in the background she could see Bristol.
“They died.” Emily muttered, and Naomi had almost forgotten her question by the time Emily replied. Naomi opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she noticed Emily watching something in the garden with a frown. Naomi followed her gaze, saw Katie standing beneath the window and staring up at them with a blank look on her face. “I’ll take you home.”
Emily stood, and Naomi moved away from the window as Emily shut her drapes.
“How old are you?” Naomi asked as Emily strode to the front of the room, half skipping to keep up with her.
Emily turned as she opened the door, peering at Naomi, and in the resulting darkness from the drapes being closed, Naomi could barely make out her expression.
“Seventeen.” Emily answered, her voice soft. She paused, staring at her as Naomi took a step toward her.
“How long have you been seventeen?” Naomi reached out a hand, covering Emily’s on the door handle, biting her lip as Emily leaned slightly toward her in the half light.
“A long time.” Emily whispered, and tilted her head until their mouths were almost touching.
“How fucking sweet.”
Emily jerked her head back just as they were about to make contact, and Naomi felt her face flush. Katie stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite Emily’s door.
“Fuck off Katie.” Emily muttered, shaking her head and grabbing Naomi’s hand, tugging her down the hallway.
“Oh sorry Ems, did I interrupt your little moment?” Katie walked after them, and Naomi heard her laugh. “Far be it from me to walk around my own house. Yeah? The house you promised me she wouldn’t be invited to. Yeah, Ems?”
Emily stopped walking, turning around to face her sister.
“Meet me downstairs, yeah?” Emily looked at her quickly, and Naomi felt herself nod. “Look Katie, it was Chris and Sid who brought her, alright?”
Naomi turned to look at them before she hurried down the stairs, Katie smirking and baring her teeth, Naomi feeling like she might be sick when she saw Katie’s fangs were extended.
“The fuck I care who brought her, yeah? She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Fuck’s sake, you’re so fucking stupid sometimes. It’s just a matter of time before all this blows up.”
She could hear their voices getting louder when she reached the bottom of the stairs, finding Tony standing with his hands in his pockets and waiting for her. Fuck he’s tall, she thought, as he tilted his head and listened.
“No it won’t. Jesus Katie, why can’t you just trust me for once, okay? You don’t know anything about it.”
“The fuck I do! Or have you forgotten that I can hear what’s in that little tart’s head? She still barely believes in us let alone can be trusted. It’s like a fucking merry go round of confusion in there, Ems. She doesn’t even think she’s gay!”
There was a sound like something being hit, and a scuffling noise, and Tony gently put his hand on Naomi’s shoulder and steered her toward the door.
“Let’s wait outside, shall we?” He gave her a brief smile, and she struggled not to turn her head toward the raised voices and, what the fuck, was that a growl?
Tony shut the door behind them, staring off into the distance as she shakily lit a cigarette.
“Katie has a point.” He said, not looking at her, and she blinked in surprise. “She usually does, on account of the whole psychic thing.” She exhaled, watching his face. He turned to look at her. “Why did you come?”
Naomi took a step backwards, sucking on the end of her cigarette. “Sid and Chris…” She started, but he held up a hand.
“Why, Naomi?” He stared at her intently, and she felt like her heart would beat out of her chest.
“I don’t know.” She stammered, inhaling again. “I was curious.” She winced, knowing that wasn’t the right answer.
He stepped toward her, keeping his hands in his pockets, and after a moment surprised her with a smile.
“Curiosity is somewhat natural.” There was a loud crash from inside, and Naomi jumped. “Michelle won’t be impressed, that sounded like the antique vase she just bought back from Italy.” He smirked when she looked at him slightly fearfully.
“I don’t want to cause trouble.” She hastily dropped her cigarette, crushing it with her shoe.
“Well, it seems like you already have.” He turned to peer at the darkening sky, storm clouds rolling in over a distant hill. “Emily thinks you’re worth it. But,” Her breath hitched as he leaned his face toward her. “It’s really up to you.”
She gulped, weakly smiling at him. “I don’t really know what you mean.”
He raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “I think you do actually.”
They stared at each other for a moment, and she jumped when the front door opened suddenly and Emily walked through with a wary look on her face.
“Ready?” She asked, walking past Tony toward the car. Naomi took a step away from him, and he reached out quickly to touch her arm.
“Don’t forget what we are. We won’t hurt you, of course. But don’t forget that we could.” He smiled, disarming the threat, and then surprised her by winking. “Come back when you’re ready.”
She gaped at him slightly, nodding and hurrying over to the car, Emily already in the driver’s seat waiting.
“Well, that could have been worse.” Emily muttered, starting the engine and turning the car to drive away from the house.
“Oh?” Naomi’s voice shook, and she watched the house get smaller in her rear view mirror, Tony continuing to watch them drive away.
V^^^^^V
Emily dropped her home, promising to return later in the night to keep an eye out. Naomi briefly smiled, kept seeing Katie baring her fangs, and agreed if only because she wasn’t sure she would be able to sleep without Emily there.
Her dad bade her goodnight sometime around eleven, and she received a text from Emily soon afterwards telling her she was outside. She crept to the front door, opening it and seeing Emily with her back toward her. She smiled.
“Hey.” She whispered, reaching forward and taking Emily’s hand.
Emily turned, grabbing her hand and jerking her out of the house, and Naomi felt like screaming when she saw it was Katie. Katie moved so fast, pulling her toward the front gate and through it before she could blink, and she was thrown into the back of a car, feeling sick from moving so fast.
She struggled to sit herself upright as the door was closed behind her, and Katie appeared in the driver’s seat, starting the engine and beginning to drive before Naomi could grasp the door handle and struggle to open it.
“Please let me out!” She shrieked, and Katie gunned the engine, the car gaining speed.
“Shut up.” Katie replied. “Just shut the fuck up.”
Naomi twisted the door handle, grabbing desperately at the lock and unsuccessfully attempting to unlock it.
“Where are you taking me? Please don’t do this Katie!” She felt tears pricking her eyes, felt her blood run cold with fear.
“I told you to shut the fuck up.” Katie twisted, glaring at her. She laughed when Naomi felt her face go slack with horror, looking at Katie’s fangs.
“Jesus.” She groaned, struggling with the door handle, hitting it with her fists and feeling tears leaking out of her eyes.
Katie drove onwards, silently, the car leaving Bristol behind and countryside stretching out on either side of them. Naomi struggled to stop herself from outright weeping, but she was blinded with panic. Emily, she felt her mind screaming, Emily!
“Fat lot of good that will do. I’m the psychic twin, babes.” Katie’s voice was eerily calm.
“Where are you taking me?” Naomi whispered, her voice completely failing her. Katie didn’t respond, pulling the car over and stopping on the side of the empty road. Katie turned in her seat, peering at her.
“Right, I’m this close to killing you, yeah? So listen closely, bitch.” Katie narrowed her eyes, and Naomi shrank back in her seat. “Just what the fuck do you think you’re playing at?”
Naomi gasped, unable to speak, shaking her head side to side.
“Well? Fuck’s sake I’m not like, killing you right now though if you don’t say anything I will, yeah? And stop fucking screaming, it isn’t helping you.” Katie pursed her lips, and Naomi felt nothing but a high pitched noise inside her own head.
“I, I don’t know.” She stuttered finally, pushing herself as far back in the car and away from Katie as possible.
“No, you don’t know. You don’t know a fucking thing about what we’ve been through, about what it’s like. Fuck you’re both so stupid. What did you think, you’d have a bicurious tumble with a fucking vampire and get on with your life?” Katie slammed her hand against the passenger seat head rest, breaking it and causing it to falling onto Naomi’s feet.
“I don’t…” Naomi stammered again.
“Stop saying that! What the fuck does she see in you? All of them blathering about how Emily’s found her other fucking half, who she can bond with and fucking turn.” Katie snarled, suddenly, turning away from Naomi for a moment.
Naomi gasped, her mind blinded with panic. “What?” She whispered, and Katie turned toward her again with a sickly sweet smile on her face.
“Oh yes bitchtits, you heard me right. Or did you think Emily was only into you to hold hands and play happy teenage romance before you graduate and go your separate ways?” Katie leaned over the gap between the front seats, peering intently into Naomi’s face. “She wants you, babes, she wants you to be one of us.” Katie’s voice was low, cruel and mocking.
Naomi couldn’t look away from Katie. “I don’t understand.” She hastily wiped her eyes, not wanting to lose sight of Katie for too long.
“No, you don’t understand. Anything.” Katie leant backwards, peering out of one of the windows for a moment.
“I keep trying to tell her that you’re not it, that you’re flighty and stubborn, and will fucking run away as soon as you get half the chance. She can’t admit that I know you better than she does, and not by fucking choice.”
Naomi felt something well up inside her, something angry and insulted. “You don’t know me.” She muttered, all her muscles taught.
“Don’t I?” Katie said dangerously low, turning slowly to face her again. Katie smirked at her, raising an eyebrow in challenge. “Listen up you repressed little dyke. End it with Emily, get on with your life. College is a fucking waste of time for us, I doubt the rest of them will last much longer. And then you can forget, yeah? Have a nice little life, tell your grandkids about how you once had a run in with a vampire, and they’ll laugh because you’re clearly bonkers.” Katie narrowed her eyes at her. “Don’t forget that she’s mine. Otherwise, I can kill you now. I’m not fucking fussed either way.” Katie shrugged her shoulders, and Naomi looked at her fearfully, hating that she felt powerless.
“Emily won’t forgive you.” She whispered, thinking if she could only get one up on Katie, she could go home.
Katie rolled her eyes, and Naomi felt like hitting herself. Fuck it was annoying dealing with a psychic. “It might take her ten, twenty, even fifty years. But you’re not the only pretty blonde in the world, and certainly not her first.”
Naomi grimaced, wishing she hadn’t. Katie laughed, and started the car.
“Why are you such a bitch?” She asked, and couldn’t help herself. Katie snorted, turning the car around.
“Because we’re not fucking designed to be friendly, they all fucking know it. It’s just a matter of time before they revert and we start having some fucking fun again.” Katie changed gears, and Naomi turned her head to gaze sullenly out of the window, the slightest relief creeping in when she saw the lights of Bristol again.
“Emily won’t.” She muttered, unsure why she felt she had to believe that so strongly.
“Did Emily ever tell you about our brother, James? Right little shit he was, fucking pervert too.” Katie hummed softly for a minute as Naomi closed her eyes. “Used to watch us when we bathed. Well, Emily sure enjoyed snapping his neck and feeding from him. Surprised the little fucker, particularly after we killed mum and dad in front of him.”
Naomi put her hands over her ears. It was too awful to listen to.
“Emily, well fuck, she was glorious once, yeah? Left me to shame in the cruelty department. When she lost control it was fucking mint, babes. It was beautiful.” Katie’s voice got louder, and Naomi pressed her hands as tightly as she could against her head.
“I don’t believe you.” She said loudly, unable to block out Katie’s laughter.
“I don’t give a flying fuck whether you believe me or not.” Katie went quiet as she drove the car back toward Naomi’s house, flicking a button on her door when they stopped moving. Naomi lunged, able to open her door and tumbled onto the grass breathing heavily.
Katie turned the car around, winding down her window and waving a phone at her, one that looked like Emily’s.
“I don’t do warnings, yeah? This is like, a fucking first for me. Don’t make me regret not killing you cause it’s easily rectified.” Katie tooted the horn once, raising both eyebrows quickly and blowing her a kiss, before the car tore off down the street.
Naomi scrambled to her feet, breathing heavily, thankful she hadn’t wet herself because she’d never been so terrified in her whole life.
She locked the door with trembling fingers, bursting into tears when she curled up on her bed in the darkness, sobbing into her pillow.
She received a text from Emily half an hour later, telling her she was out the front and ending it with a smiley face. She typed back ‘Leave me alone.’ And turned her phone off. She hugged her pillow tightly to her chest, shrieking when there was a tapping at her window, and Emily was peering through it looking concerned. She knocked against it again, and Naomi stood up quickly, walking toward it but not opening it.
“Go away.” She said, sniffling and shaking her head, and Emily pressed her palms against the glass. Naomi looked out, seeing Emily balanced precariously on a drain pipe and pressed against the window.
“What’s wrong?” Emily asked loudly, frowning in concern. “Please let me in, did something happen to you?”
Naomi shook her head again. “Get the fuck away from me.” She turned her back, stopping when Emily banged against her glass.
“Naomi please!” Emily looked on the verge of tears. “What the fuck happened?”
Naomi turned back around, striding to the window and pressing her nose slightly against it to stare into Emily’s eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what the fuck happened to your family?”
Emily visibly blanched, and Naomi thought she would throw up. Fucking hell, Katie had told the truth.
“Fucking Katie.” Emily said, dark tears dripping onto her cheeks. “Naomi, please don’t hate me for something that happened years ago. Fuck knows I hate myself enough for it.” Emily’s voice was rasping, and Naomi could barely make it out through the glass of her window.
“You really are monsters, aren’t you?” Naomi said softly, knowing Emily could hear her. She shut her curtains on Emily’s crying face, her breath hitching as she threw herself onto her bed.
Emily had killed people, had killed her own family. It didn’t fucking matter that she hadn’t been killed yet, didn’t fucking matter that Emily was nice to her. They were vampires, actual vampires, and she couldn’t believe it was just sinking in now.
The worst part, she thought as she continued to sob into her pillow, the worst part was that she’d actually entertained the thought for the briefest of moments, that it would be something wonderful to spend forever with Emily.
Katie was right about that too.
They were both fucking stupid.
V^^^^^V
Chapter Eight: But I Thought This Wouldn't Hurt A Lot