Love Lessons (Part Thirteen)
“This is nice, like really fucking nice... But I've got to go and check my sister is still alive.” Katie muttered, grudgingly pulling away from JJ, instantly missing the warmth of his body pressed up against hers, his soft lips caressing her own.
“Hmm yes, I haven’t heard anything too violent, though I have been a little distracted.” JJ blushed, taking Katie’s hand in his and leading her back to the busy dancefloor. Spotting their friends, Katie instantly released herself from JJ’s grip. She could see the look of confusion and hurt on his face, but she couldn’t deal with it right now, not when her sister currently had some girl in a headlock.
“Emily fucking stop it now!” Naomi screeched, trying to pull her girlfriend away from Ruby, Katie quickly stepped in yanking Emily away. Naomi gripped Emily’s face between her hands, forcing her to look into her eyes, instantly calming the raging red head.
“She’s psychotic! Actually got a fucking screw loose Naomi! I’d be careful about what you shag, it’s dangerous!” Ruby snapped, smoothing down her hair as she backed into Cook who wrapped a protective arm around her. Much to the visible annoyance of Effy, who’d recently arrived with Freddie in tow, she was swaying on the dance-floor, whilst Freddie stood behind her desperate to catch her attention.
“Say another word about my sister and you’ll regret it bitch!” Katie growled, pointing her finger in Ruby’s face.
“Fiesty.” Freddie slurred with a chuckle, he’d clearly had more than enough to drink and smoke. Effy sighed as he leant against her, pushing him back she tried to catch Cook’s eye but he was too focused on trying to stop Ruby from fighting with the Fitch twins.
“Can everyone please calm down, I don’t like all this fighting and someone will ask you to leave, please my friends.” Thomas interrupted, pushing his way through the gathering crowd, his presence instantly causing his friends to calm.
“Thomas mate! You missed the cat fight.” Freddie giggled, wrapping his arm around Thomas. Effy took this as an opportunity to dump him onto someone else, and quickly escaped before Freddie noticed she was gone.
“How about we get you some water my friend, sober you up.” Thomas smiled, leading Freddie away from the crowd. The girls all still obviously shooting evils at each other, the tension tangible.
“You’re fucking bleeding, come on I need to sort this out.” Naomi huffed, running her finger along the small cut that ran underneath Emily’s eye. Grabbing her hand she pulled her off towards the direction of the bathroom.
“Babe we should go, come on, back to my place yeah?” Cook tried to smile, tried to ignore the fact that the girl he liked couldn’t keep her eyes off a tall, beautiful, blonde.
“I want to dance Cook, lets dance yeah?” Ruby replied, pushing Cook back into the crowd of people. Feeling in her pocket for a pill, she needed Cook to lighten up, couldn’t deal with the way he was looking at her... Like he fucking liked her or something.
**
Dabbing the wet tissue on Emily’s cut, Naomi sighed deeply. Neither had said a word since they’d entered the bathroom of the club, Emily simply sat perched on the edge of the sinks whilst Naomi tended to her injuries. Emily half expected Naomi to start shouting at her, get angry and leave her all over again. But Naomi was far more interested in making sure Emily was ok.
“Does it hurt?” Naomi asked, finally breaking the silence. Throwing the balled up tissue towards the bin, grinning when she got it in.
“Yeah. Stings like crazy.” Emily huffed, pouting as she screwed up her face, visibly in pain. Smiling only when Naomi leaned in to gently kiss the cut.
“Good. You can be such a jealous fucking twat sometimes Em, you know I love you, there really wasn’t any need for that.” Naomi explained, gripping on tightly to Emily’s hand. Truth was she completely understood it, if someone was looking at Emily like that she’d be just as jealous.
“She wants to take you away from me, I can’t lose you Naomi, I really can’t.” Emily admitted, a tear escaping despite trying to force it back. Naomi immediately softened, pulling Emily in close, Emily resting her head on Naomi’s shoulder, as heaving sobs escaped her.
“It’s ok, baby it’s ok. You’ll never lose me, never.” Naomi hushed, pulling in Emily tighter, her heart aching at just how much Emily loved her. How scary that was, but also how amazing it felt.
“Kiss me.” Emily demanded, wiping away tears. Her head jolting upwards as she waited for Naomi to meet her demand.
Naomi stood back slightly, staring into Emily’s lust filled eyes. Wondering whether she really should be encouraging Emily, kissing her when she knew that it couldn’t lead to more. Because of their location, and because they’d wanted to take things slowly.
“Emily why don’t we just head home. I’ll kiss you all night when we get back to mine, we can watch a movie or something, I'll even let you pick which one.” Naomi smiled, running her hand along the side of Emily’s face. Jolting when she felt Emily wrap her legs around her waist.
“Show me you love me.” Emily whispered huskily, her hands leaning back against the sinks as she tried to steady herself, tightening her legs around Naomi’s waist, squeezing their two bodies as closely together as she could manage.
“Emily come on, this is just a reaction to what happened out there. You wanted to take things slowly remember? Build up our relationship without all the lust, without the sex.” Naomi reminded her, though finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate as Emily started to run her hands all over Naomi’s body.
“We’ll do celibacy tomorrow, tonight I want you.” Emily smiled wickedly, releasing her legs, sliding down off the sinks, her heels meeting the floor with a loud click that made Naomi jump. Grabbing hold of Naomi’s hand, Emily quickly pulled Naomi into the disabled cubicle, before a group of girls banged noisily into the toilets.
“Em, there are fucking people out there.” Naomi whispered, trying to ignore Emily’s hands tugging at her dress. Desperately conscious that people would be able to hear them, or see the two pairs of feet under the cubicle door.
“You better scream quietly then.” Emily teased, her tongue making its way along Naomi’s neck, before biting down on her shoulder, making Naomi’s knees buckle.
“Fucking hell.” Naomi breathed, grabbing hold of the support bar, thankful that Emily had chosen the disabled cubicle because there was no way she’d be standing otherwise. Biting her lip, Naomi tried her hardest not to make a noise, but couldn’t but let out an excited squeal as Emily’s hand found itself exactly where Naomi needed it to be.
Outside, Effy was adjusting her make-up in the mirror. Another girl stood next to her kept twitching whenever she heard a noise coming from the end cubicle. Eventually the girl turned to Effy, desperate to know if she was just hearing things or whether something was happening.
“Are people fucking in there do you think?” The girl asked Effy, staggering over to try and peak under the cubicle.
“Oh fuck Emily, fuck.” Came Naomi’s strained groan from inside the toilet, causing the girl to recoil with a look of complete shock on her face.
“Yeah, I think there are.” Effy smirked, walking out of the toilets, leaving the intrigued girl standing wide eyed with surprise.
**
Katie stood alone, nursing her drink in the corner of the club. She wasn’t sure what had happened to Emily and Naomi, probably arguing somewhere she decided. JJ had disappeared, annoyed after she’d let go of his hand, she wished she hadn’t done it. She just wasn’t ready for whatever was happening between them to be quite so public yet, if JJ had just let her explain she could have made everything better. Sighing Katie watched as Thomas dragged Freddie over towards her, letting Freddie flop onto the seat next to her.
“He is very drunk. He has tried to kiss me twice already.” Thomas laughed. “Katie I realise this isn’t ideal, but I have to deal with the band. Could you perhaps watch over Freddie for me? I’m worried about how much alcohol he’s had.”
Katie tried to protest, there was no way she wanted to be left with Freddie, didn’t want to look after him. Surely that was Effy’s job? Where was she when things got bad? Katie thought bitterly. She couldn’t seem to turn Thomas down though, maybe it was the way that Thomas was looking at her, pleading with her. Maybe it was how pathetic Freddie looked, or maybe it was just because she was a bloody nice person. Whatever it was, it led to her sitting down next to Freddie, holding his head up as she tried to get him to sip from the water bottle Thomas had given her.
“You’re so lovely Katie, so, so lovely. I should have realised that, should have realised that you’re lovely. So kind, so lovely.” Freddie murmured, grasping for Katie’s hand. “Effy doesn’t love me Katie, she’ll never love me. I should have stayed with you, we had it good Katie, we had it so good.”
“I know we fucking did. You messed it up Freds, you fucking messed it up.” Katie sighed, almost feeling sorry for him. You couldn’t help who you fell in love with, he couldn’t help falling for Effy.
“Maybe we could try again. I’m over Effy, I’m so over her.” Freddie promised, looking up into Katie’s eyes, smiling at how cute she looked when she was surprised.
“I’m involved with someone else Freddie. I really like him.” Katie smiled, thinking about JJ, thinking about the way he’d kissed her earlier. So forceful, so loving, it had felt so unbelievably right.
“Doesn’t matter.” Freddie stuttered, grabbing hold of Katie, forcing a kiss on her. Kissing her fiercely, pulling her tighter towards him as she tried to pull away. “Come on Katie, I know you want this, you always wanted this.” Freddie muttered, persisting with the kisses.
“Bobbins... Fuck Katie. Fuck.” JJ blurted out, standing watching his best friend kissing the girl he liked. He couldn’t explain it, couldn’t explain how his whole heart felt like it would shatter.
Katie pulled away, looking at JJ, desperate to explain but knowing he wouldn’t let her. Pushing Freddie as hard as she could, wanting to get him as far away from her as possible. She glared at Freddie before trying to chase after JJ who was walking away from her.
“Please, JJ! Please will you just let me explain! He kissed me, he kissed me and I wasn’t kissing him back.” Katie yelled, desperate for JJ to hear her over the thudding techno beats that filled the club.
“It doesn’t matter Katie, it doesn’t matter what you say. It will always be guys like him won’t it? It will always be those good looking smooth guys who charm you, who treat you like shit and you just let them! You let them walk all over you because you think you deserve it, well you don’t Katie, you deserve better!” JJ stuttered, shaking as he shouted the words.
“This is who you like? You like my Jonah, you two are in like with each other?” Freddie slurrred, surprised as he tried to figure it all out, scratching his head he tried to reach out to grab hold of Katie.
“Will you just leave me alone Freddie you prick! I don’t want you. I want you JJ, I want to be with you.” Katie pleaded, desperate for JJ to believe her and desperate for Freddie to just leave her alone.
“But he’s JJ. I don’t understand, you’re Katie and he’s JJ and the two of you don’t... You don’t fit.” Freddie insisted, shaking his head as he tried to pull Katie away once again.
“Just get off her!” JJ snapped angrily, punching Freddie in the jaw, his eyes wide as he glanced at his fist before turning to look at Freddie who was laid out on the dance-floor. JJ stumbled backwards, surprised at his own strength.
“Bloody hell.” Katie gasped, trying to stifle a giggle. Leaning down to try and shake Freddie awake.
“Bugger, bugger, bugger... I’ve hurt him, I’ve actually hurt him. I’ve got to go now, I’ve got to go.” JJ stuttered, gripping onto his hair, marching out of the club. Katie tried to call after him, but she couldn’t leave Freddie, deciding she would ring JJ as soon as she’d managed to get Freddie awake.
**
Naomi and Emily exited the toilets hand in hand, hair tussled, dresses scrunched and creased. Naomi raising an eyebrow when Effy gave her a knowing look, blushing at how obvious they must have been.
“Home please.” Emily smiled, looking up at her girlfriend lovingly. She didn’t want to be in this club anymore, she just wanted to enjoy her girlfriend in the comfort of Naomi’s bed.
“You can’t seriously want more, seriously Ems you’re like a dog on heat.” Naomi giggled, leaning in to kiss Emily’s neck gently.
“Thanks a lot! Comparing me to a dog, just the way to get into my knickers.” Emily huffed, pulling herself away from Naomi, quickly finding herself being pulled back into Naomi’s side.
“Been there done that hon.” Naomi winked, kissing the tip of Emily’s nose, before linking their fingers back together. “Taxi or walk?”
“Walk, I want to talk to you.” Emily smiled, leading Naomi towards the club exit, smiling at the bouncer who winked at them as they walked through the doors.
“Sounds ominous.” Naomi worried, tightening her grip on Emily’s hand.
“Don’t get all panicked, I mean I just want to speak to you, talk crap, anything. I’ve missed you, I’ve missed you so much. You’re my best friend Campbell, I’ve had to resort to talking to Katie recently!” Emily laughed, kissing Naomi’s cheek to reassure her that everything was fine.
“Best friend and girlfriend all rolled into one, I really am quite the talent.” Naomi grinned, “I’ve missed you too Fitch.”
The walk home was slow, gentle and calm, the two girls walking and talking. Making each other laugh with stupid stories and bad jokes. Stopping regularly to kiss and touch, to make each other smile. Muttering “I love you” at every available opportunity, saying the words so often, yet they never lost meaning, never stopped making the other persons heart constrict and feel as if it would explode.
“Think we’ll be together forever?” Naomi asked nervously, it was a question that took Emily so completely by surprise, the last thing she ever expected Naomi to ask. Naomi was the commitment phobe, the one who struggled the most to accept love, to let herself love back, yet here she was asking about forever.
“I... I hope so.” Emily stammered, realising that there were a million obstacles that could possibly rear their heads at any time, how could she give Naomi a guarantee when she couldn’t see the future.
“I know it seems stupid, I just don’t see myself being able to love anyone else. Not like this. It’s too much.” Naomi explained, blushing and bowing her head so that she didn’t have to meet Emily’s quizzical glance.
“I want to tell you that we’re forever, but we’ve just proven that we can hit bumps, that we can break apart. I want to tell you I'll still be loving you, even with a colostomy bag and cataracts, but I don’t think anyone can put guarantees on love.” Emily explained honestly, seeing the disappointment in Naomi’s face, but knowing that she understood.
“Only you could make a colostomy bag sound romantic.” Naomi smiled, sighing as Emily’s thumb rubbed tiny circles on the back of her hand.
“Right now though.” Emily stopped, placing her hands on Naomi’s waist, looking into her eyes. “Right now, I love you so much, that forever seems very likely.” Emily stood on tip toes to kiss Naomi’s forehead, before carrying on walking.
“Cool.” Naomi shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant about the whole thing, when really her heart was doing tiny backflips.
“Twat.” Emily sighed, linking her arm through Naomi’s.
**
“Answer my calls, or bloody ring me back, please JJ just talk to me yeah? You know that Freddie kissed me, don’t you? I wouldn’t go near him even if I was paid to, not when I have you... I do have you right? Because you promised you wouldn’t fuck with my heart... Please JJ.” Katie sighed, leaving yet another message on JJ’s phone. Staggering slightly, she regretted drinking so much, and wearing heels that were just too high, especially now she was walking home having failed to get a taxi.
Katie was pissed off at Naomi and Emily just walking off, leaving her alone to get home, she fucking hated walking back at this time of night. Was even half tempted to call her dad and get him to come and collect her, but decided the lecture that he would give her wasn’t really worth it.
Pushing her earphones into her ears, Katie flicked her iPod on, trying to find a fast paced song to encourage her to walk home a little faster. Eventually settling on a track, Katie started to walk with a little more determination than before, mouthing along to some of the lyrics, glad that no-one could see her.
Or so she thought. The footsteps behind her couldn’t be heard through the sound of the music, she didn’t even realise anyone was close until she felt the arms grab hold of her, she tried to scream but the hand was clamped over her mouth so fast she couldn’t let even the tiniest sound escape. Kicking and writhing, Katie could hardly breathe, she was too scared, could feel her whole world collapsing.
She closed her eyes, prepared herself for the worst. Her heart racing... It was only when nothing happened that she dared to open her eyes. Removing her earphones, she watched as JJ and Cook chased after the man. Flinching as someone touched her shoulder.
“Hey Katie it’s me, it’s Ruby. Everything is alright yeah? We’re here now.” Ruby rushed, gripping on tightly to the scared girl. It didn’t matter what had happened between the earlier, Katie was just glad she had someone, bursting into tears as Ruby shushed her gently.
It was a good ten minutes before Cook and JJ reappeared, both out of breath and angry looking.
“Fucker got away, not before I got a couple of good punches in.” Cook explained, rubbing at his sore knuckles. “We’ll have to go to the police yeah babes, do you remember anything?”
“I... I can’t...” Katie tried to speak, but she couldn’t without more sobs escaping. JJ dropped to his knees, Ruby letting go of Katie as JJ pulled her in close to his chest. Holding on as she let herself just cry.
“I’m here now, I’m looking after you. I’m here now Katie.” JJ promised, kissing the top of Katie’s head.