Champagne's For Celebrating (4/?)
Title: Champagne's for celebrating (4/?)
Rating: PG- 13
Disclaimer: I don't own Skins, or anything of any real value. Epic life fail :) Title is taken from the Mayday Parade song of the same name.
Summary: My first A/U fic. Read on :P
A/N: Another short one I'm afraid. And not exactly my best work since I'm not really used to writing lots of dialogue. But yes, I hope it isn't too much of a let down. And comments, as always, would make my day :) Also, thank you to Noe for being wonderfully inspiring and keeping me sane :P
It's 20:57 when Emily glances at her watch for the umpteenth time that night. It's pathetic really, when she thinks about it. Doesn't actually need to think all that hard or eloquently to realise that glancing at her watch every 5 fucking minutes since she started her shift several hours ago is indescribably ridiculous. Mentally slaps herself for the millionth time in a week and thinks that perhaps her mind should have a fucking ASBO or something.
She's about to completely give up in fact, when it gets to half nine and there's still no sign of Naomi. Feels completely disheartened and actually rather embarrassed that she's somehow managed to become so attached to someone she knows absolutely nothing about. So fucking attached that she willingly came in to work at a job she hates at the best of times, just because Naomi might, might show up.
Less than half an hour (and two Jack Daniels and Cokes) later, just as Emily is about to feign illness so her boss will allow her to leave early and she can continue feeling utterly sorry for herself in the comfort of her own room, the door opens and Naomi casually strolls in. The first thing Emily notices (after her rapid increase in heartbeat) is the fact that Naomi's faded jeans appear to be at least two sizes too small. The second thing she notices is that Naomi's jacket bears a striking resemblance to the tacky curtains in her gran's living room (the ones which look like they've been there since the 50's and should have been thrown out long ago for the sake of fashion.) Thirdly, Emily notices that it shouldn't be possible for someone to look so fucking effortlessly amazing whilst wearing said curtain-jacket. Katie would have a fucking field day if she saw it, she thinks to herself.
Emily's expecting some sort of smile, a vague look of recognition or acknowledgment at the very least, given their fleeting conversation the previous night. Can't help the way her stomach drops as Naomi completely ignores her presence and instead saunters across to the opposite end of the bar, orders her usual pint as though Emily doesn't even exist. (Emily wishes she didn't right now. Wonders if she did something wrong, or if the blonde just suffers from ridiculously anti-social mood swings.)
She watches as Naomi finds a seat and slumps down into it, pint in hand and headphones in. Finds her feet subconsciously carrying her over towards the blonde and hears the vague thud of music blasting out from Naomi's headphones as she waits for her to notice that Emily's standing right in front of her. Catches her eye before speaking.
''What you listening to?'' Emily attempts to sound casual. Apathetically cool, even, despite the scowl which is displayed across Naomi's face so very prominently as she pulls the headphones out of her ears with a dramatic sigh. Christ, this girl is confusing.
''Music, surprisingly.'' Naomi looks intensely irritated by Emily's intrusion. Doesn't even bother to conceal it.
''Yeah, I kinda gathered that actually. Not as stupid as I look, y'know?'' Emily's assertive outburst is brought about by a mixture of intense irritation and mild amusement (or possibly the fact that she's been covertly downing glasses of J.D and coke behind the bar when her boss wasn't looking) because, really, she's only trying to make bloody conversation and it's completely fucking unnecessary for someone to be so incredibly anti-social and rude (and manage to be so bloody attractive whilst doing so.)
''Lucky for you, eh?'' Emily's pretty sure the blonde had every intention of maintaining her bitch-of-the-century exterior. Would have been pretty fucking offended, actually, had she not detected the slightest hint of a smile on Naomi's face, despite her best intentions to shield it behind her hand.
''Oh, charming.'' The words spill out before Emily even has time to process them. Is suddenly panicked that perhaps she sounds far too confrontational. Thinks that such panic is rather irrational given the fact that she's talking to the queen of confrontation herself.
''Wasn't trying to be, actually.'' Naomi shrugs her shoulders apathetically, doesn't bother attempting to mask her smile this time.
''Lucky for you, eh?'' Emily flashes a slight smile of her own as she repeats Naomi's words back to her, can't help the smile from turning into a ridiculous grin as the blonde lets out a slight laugh and offers Emily one of the earphones. Frantically searches her brain for any slight recognition of the song or band as she listens intently. Comes up completely and utterly blank despite her best efforts and wishes. Typical, she thinks. I couldn't be cool just this fucking once, could I?
''Haven't got a clue, have you?'' The blonde observes, seemingly taking some sort of pleasure from Emily's complete cluelessness. (Why shouldn't she? Everyone else does.)
''None whatsoever. They sound a lot like a local band I know, though.'' She's not lying, really. They do sound vaguely similar. Very, very vaguely, but similar all the same. Or so she tells herself.
''Yeah?'' Naomi doesn't seem in the slightest bit interested, doesn't even bother to make eye contact as she takes another sip of her pint. Emily decides that, fuck it, she hasn't really got anything to lose, since the blonde most likely thinks she's a complete twat anyway.
''Yeah. They're, erm, playing at The Magpie tomorrow night actually. You should....come along. If you're not busy, of course. I mean, I know it's a pretty shitty bar and you're probably busy anyway but..'' Emily's relieved when Naomi cuts her off in the middle of her nervous rambling.
''You want me to come along?'' Naomi raises an eyebrow, glances at Emily incredulously, as though she's just sprouted another head.
''Well... I'm going anyway and I just thought maybe you would, I mean, if you wanted to....'' Emily trails off, sighs to herself in the realisation that, if the blonde didn't think she was a complete twat before, she certainly will now. Stupid fucking idiot. There's an awkward silence which lasts far too long for Emily's liking. (There's only so long someone can gaze blankly at the patterns on the carpet without looking at least noticeably odd.)
The silence lasts for several moments, or lifetimes in Emily's opinion. She doesn't dare look up, for fear of seeing scorn present in the blonde's eyes. Or worse: Pity. She's seen both those expressions far too many times before to be able to cope with seeing either one again.
''Fine, whatever. Saves me from yet another night stuck at home with the messiah anyway.'' Emily's head snaps up at Naomi's words, and she tries desperately to figure out if the blonde is being serious, or if she's simply humouring her.
''Yeah?'' Great. Way to sound over-enthusiastic, Emily.
''I guess. Got nothing better to do.'' The blonde's lips curl up into a subtle smile as she produces her mobile from the pocket of her jacket. Fumbles with it for a second before passing it to Emily with her number displayed on the screen. Waits patiently as Emily produces her own phone, saves Naomi's number and tries to be covert about checking it several hundred times before being shaken out of her obsessive compulsive trance by Naomi continuing. ''Text me when you're already there, yeah? I'm not waiting around outside in the cold for you to show up. It's Emily, right?''
''How do you know my name?'' Emily can't recall ever introducing herself to Naomi. Think she would most certainly at least have some slight recollection of doing so, since she's spent 99% of her days lately going over and over each conversation she's had with the blonde. (It's not pathetic, really. It's just that she's lonely and, well, she doesn't really have any other distractions. Or so she's tried to convince herself. Several times.)
''You're not the only one who isn't as stupid as they look, y'know. I do pay attention occasionally. When I can be bothered, of course.'' Another smirk. Emily's getting quite addicted to the sight of it, actually.
''Of course.'' Emily laughs, wondering how the hell it's possible for one person to make her feel such a wide range of emotions in such a short space of time. Figures she probably shouldn't over-think it, but has a feeling she will anyway. Stupid brain.
''Anyway, only came in for a quick pint. Promised the mother I'd be home early so she can feign a mild interest in my life and attempt to spend time with me. See you tomorrow, Emily.'' Naomi nods in her direction as she stands up to leave, doesn't seem to notice the grin which has spread across the redhead's face.