Fic: ... And the Battle Began (Chapter Five)

[flister]

Title: ... And the Battle Begun
Chapter: In her Drawer (Chapter 5)
Pairing: Naomi/Katie, Emily
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 19,800
A/N: Ahem, so, like... this is long! That's about all I have at this hour!! Many thanks as always to twistomatic and thecon12 for betaing and pep, respectively.

Got me feeling like an outsider // They're in her drawer but she says she doesn't take them


There's no easing into it. It's like, one day Emily knows nothing and the next day she knows everything. Or as much as Katie has deemed appropriate to tell her anyway.

But the next time Emily joins Naomi in their usual spot, Emily's quiet at first, and it's fucking awkward. So much so that Naomi starts to wonder if they had made a big mistake telling her. Not that they'd had a choice in the end but... it could have been a one-time thing, or Naomi could have grabbed Katie and kissed her and they could have made it all Naomi's fault.

It's not the way it went though, which is of course better in reality. Though it's all a big deal, obviously, for Emily to realise that her sister's in a relationship with another girl. It's a lot for anyone to take in, really.

Yet, Emily is still Emily, and she's still winning at whatever this is, if it's a game they're all playing. And, if it is, Emily seems to be playing it right.

She turns after a moment, and Naomi is a bit fucking scared to look at her in case there's anger in her eyes, or if she's about to tell Naomi to back the fuck off and that her sister isn't gay, but she looks anyway.

Of course, it's none of that stuff that she sees there, and Emily shoots her a cheeky smile.

"So then. Apparently you like bowling."

They laugh, then, and it's all much easier after that. Especially when Emily shares her crisps and lets Naomi talk a little bit about what's been going on. Not for too long, though, because sometimes she catches a look in Emily's eye like she's not keen on hearing too many details, so Naomi changes the subject and then it's all fine again.

Emily's been clued in on where Naomi goes at the end of their breaks and lunches, and where Katie goes at 10 o'clock every night. And who she's bought new, sexy underwear for, which makes Naomi blush and Emily roll her eyes. She's also been told how much of a massive secret it all is, which changes the mood somewhat.

"What? Does that bother you?" Naomi asks, twirling a cheese string around her finger.

"I dunno, it's just... If it were me, you know, I'd hate to keep you a secret."

It's something that Naomi can't think about, though, because she got more than she asked for from Katie and to want anything else just seems greedy. It's what she's been telling herself anyway. So she skims over it, says instead, "Ah well that's something you'll never have to worry about, Ems. When you get a boyfriend you won't have to keep him a secret."

Naomi smiles but Emily doesn't, and she wonders what she's said wrong.

She's about to say more when Emily says, "Well, it's five-to. You'd better go," and offers Naomi another smile. "See you tomorrow." It's more cheerful, and Naomi's relieved that the awkward moments never seem to last for long, so she puts her hand on Emily's knee, just for a second before she goes.

Katie's waiting for her, as always, and it only takes a heartbeat for her not to care if this is the biggest secret she'll ever keep. It's for both their sakes, after all.

****

They spend the Easter holidays, the three of them, at Naomi's house mostly.

The weather's improved slightly, and it's nice to sit in the garden listening to music, which they all argue over. Naomi can't help but find it cute the way they go off at each other, Emily complaining about the gangster rap that Katie likes and Katie turning her nose up at everything Emily suggests.

Naomi just sits quietly, watching, knowing that it'll never turn into anything big. They could never argue for real. It'd just be too horrible.

When evening comes, Emily says her goodbyes and heads home, leaving Naomi and Katie to fall into each other. They're never too affectionate with each other around Emily, which is fine really. Naomi hates it when couples are all over each other in public and even though she hasn't got a sister she can imagine what it'd be like to see her getting off with someone in front of her.

And Emily's always gracious about it, when it's time for her to go. She knows what to tell their parents, and she seems fine about it, and Naomi hopes that one day she can repay the favour. That maybe she can keep a secret for her, too.

****

They've agreed that one night Katie has to spend at least half an hour with Jamie or everyone will get suspicious. He's been calling and she's been blowing him off, but she bumped into him in town and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Naomi's not thrilled at the concept, but Katie's told her on numerous occasions that she really would knee in him in the balls if he tried anything and she's also told her in more ways than one that Naomi is who she wants to be with. And Naomi believes her.

But, still, as Katie's pulling her knickers back on under her skirt and Naomi's in bed, watching, absently wondering where her own knickers are, it's not an image she's comfortable with, him spending all evening with her girlfriend.

"But what if he tries to kiss you?" Naomi asks, frowning, and Katie turns around with a sigh.

"Then I'll tell him to back the fuck up. Look, babes, we've been through this, yeah? It's just for a few more weeks, then we'll be on study leave and I'll break it all off." She looks pleased with herself, and grins at her reflection as she checks the bounce of her tits.

"Yeah, but what about after," Naomi says, and she knows it's a conversation she didn't want to have, but it's coming out now, regardless. "There'll always be a Jamie, won't there?"

"Naomi," Katie sighs again, and walks around the bed before climbing onto it and straddling her partially-clothed girlfriend. "Listen to me. Whatever happens, it's you I want, okay? And I don't want to go away with us being in a mood with each other." She leans down for a kiss that's laced with a taste that's so familiar and by the time Katie's pulled back Naomi's smiling again.

"So, if I get properly pissed off with you, you won't go?"

"Hmm, nice try, babes," Katie grins, stealing another quick kiss before jumping off Naomi and the bed. "Just this once, okay? And then I'm all yours. Why don't you give Ems a ring? I doubt she's doing anything interesting. She might take your mind off it."

It's an appealing thought, sort of. They've never spent time together out of school without Katie and it might be weird but they've been getting to know each other, slowly. So Naomi thinks why not?.

"Cool, will do. I'll see you later then," she says through another sigh.

"Yes you will. And, Naoms, babe," Katie says, throwing some pink and white striped girly boxers at Naomi's head, which she catches just before they hit her in the face. "Put some pants on, yeah? I doubt my sister would be too impressed if she turned up and you still had your bits out."

She winks, blows a kiss, and heads out of the bedroom. Naomi hears her call out a hurried, "Bye Gina!" before the front door slams.

All Naomi can do is sigh, loudly, deeply, and flop back down onto the bed.

She knows it's the way things need to be and whenever she thinks that it's all so unfair she just feels like a petulant teenager so she tries to stop the thought before it really starts. And, fine. Maybe Katie was right. Maybe she just needs a distraction. Or, really, a friend.

****

Emily's there within the hour, and Naomi feels her chest get a little lighter when she sees her.

She's always kind of lovely, and her civvies are so much better than her school uniform, Naomi reckons, what with the way she wears bright clothes that accentuate the red of her hair, and she's like a sort of explosion of colour in person form.

Sort of like art, she thinks, as Emily steps inside.

"I didn't know what you wanted to do so I brought Scrabble. Is that all right?"

Naomi's about to say yes when she changes her mind.

"Actually, no," she says, biting her lip, and then hurries on when Emily looks like someone just stole her favourite bow. "I was thinking we could go out. I never really... well, Katie sort of doesn't like..."

"No problem," Emily smiles, the grey cloud already gone. "I know just the place."

****

Naomi's following blindly, though she's not quite sure why. Emily won't say where they're going and just answers Naomi with a grin and a shake of her head every time she asks. It's difficult to talk, anyway, when they're both cycling, and Naomi's a bit worried that Emily's going to come flying off the fucking bike every time she stops looking forward, so it's better just to keep quiet.

They'd borrowed a bottle of wine from Gina (Naomi going so far as to ask this time, at which her mum had looked at her with surprise, and nodded) and grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and set off just after rush hour.

They're definitely going somewhere that's outside, Naomi thinks as she lets Emily steer them forward, but other than that she has no clue. She's never felt the compulsion to explore Bristol further than the town centre, nor has she wanted to break her neck in the middle of nowhere by crashing her bicycle into the back of her girlfriend's sister, but Emily makes it all something worth doing.

Taking the risk, maybe. Taking the time.

It's still sort of warm when they get there, and it's so tucked away, this little part of the world that Emily's come across, that Naomi has to take a moment to absorb it all.

"I can't believe this is here. We've only been cycling for about twenty minutes and... well, I just had no idea."

"It's one of my favourite places. I always come down here when I want to get away for a bit, you know?"

"Yeah," Naomi says, stealing a glance at Emily who's standing staring into the lake, and it really is peaceful. "Thanks for bringing me here, Ems. We'll have to bring Katie down one day, make an afternoon of it."

She's not sure if Emily knows that she's watching her, and Naomi sees her wrap her arms around herself before she looks around.

Shaking her head she says, "Yeah, course. Come on, let's get the blanket out."

****

It's probably the quiet that Naomi likes the most. It's nothing like her house, with all the lodgers kicking around, and the sound of the wind lightly hitting leaves and branches is so much better than the bickering and arguing that she hears daily.

And Emily, really, is nothing like Katie. She doesn't talk for the sake of talking, doesn't fill silences with questions or anecdotes. Doesn't make Naomi feel like she should be constantly paying attention to everything.

It's not that she'd change Katie - of course she wouldn't - but the break is nice. Even if it is only supposed to be a distraction from whatever the fuck it is that Katie's getting up to.

Remembering that, though, puts her on edge, and she ends up taking a larger gulp of her wine than she intended.

"Christ, go easy. We've only got the one bottle," Emily says from somewhere to Naomi's side, taking the bottle from Naomi's hand.

"Sorry," Naomi sighs. "Didn't mean to hog it."

"It's fine. This is nice though, isn't it? So quiet."

"Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing."

They're silent again for a moment, but Naomi can feel the air around them change, a dip in temperature as the evening wears on.

"Naomi," Emily says quietly, and Naomi closes her eyes. Something in the way Emily says her name warms her, calms her. "Do you ever get... jealous?"

Naomi stiffens. It's such a blunt question, so demanding of an answer that she immediately doesn't want to give one. Not even to Emily.

She looks down at the blanket, picks a leaf from it and flings it back onto the woodland floor, and says nothing.

Emily, apparently not put off, continues. "It's just, I mean. If it were me -"

"Well it's not you, is it Emily? So can we just leave it?"

It's so fucking blunt, and so not the way she wants to talk to Emily, but it's all too close. All too much to get into. She feels the guilt nonetheless, lets it settle heavy on her chest.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Emily hangs her head, then, letting her face disappear underneath her hair and Naomi wishes she could figure out a way to stop making her do that.

"You didn't upset me... Fuck, I'm sorry Ems," she places her hand on top of Emily's on the blanket, and Emily lets it lie there for a second before she slides her thumb out and rubs it gently across the back of Naomi's hand.

It's a bit nicer than it should be, probably. And it's just a friendly gesture, so Naomi's not sure why her lungs forget how to take in air for a moment or so.

Even so, when Emily passes back the bottle and their eyes meet, there's something Naomi thinks she can see. Something more than before.

She'd never realised just how much Emily needed a friend. Maybe they need each other more than either of them realised, Naomi thinks, taking a smaller swig than the last.

They've got time, after all, so she might as well take it as easy as she can.

****

The trip back is what Naomi would call almost terrifying. Slightly tipsy Emily on a bike is far more dangerous than sober Emily (she should have known, honestly) even though they push their bikes up the steepest part of the hill.

Emily's got more talkative, chattier, and it's nice now that they're not sat by a lake and they're creeping back into civilisation. Almost like Emily is easing her back into what the real world is supposed to be like, with it's noise and people and lack of serenity.

And, actually, Emily's kind of funny. Not in the same way as Katie, where she's mostly taking the piss out of people and questioning the most simple of things, but in a way where she's just naturally humorous.

"What," Naomi says through giggles. "You mean your mum has never eaten a potato in her life? I don't believe you."

"Honestly! I mean, fuck if I know if she's lying or not, but that's what she says." And then she does an impression of her mum talking about beetroot soup, and Naomi's just shocked because it tells her something she had no idea about.

"Hang on - your mum is Scottish?"

"Yeah, didn't you know? And Dad's from Liverpool. I can't do that accent as well though," she grins, jumping back on her bike.

"No," Naomi says, almost to herself. "No, I didn't."

She gets on her bike too, catching Emily up quickly, hoping that they don't get stopped for having no lights.

It makes her think, what Emily said, and she wonders how much more there is that Katie's not telling her.

****

Naomi invites Emily in, after checking her phone and finding nothing from Katie yet, even though it's almost 10pm.

''Let's have a cuppa," Naomi offers, opening the door for them both, and looks back to Emily who nods in agreement.

Before Emily's followed all the way through the door, though, there's the sound of footsteps thudding heavily on the staircase and a flash of red and then Katie's in Naomi's arms, pressing a forceful kiss to her lips.

"Christ, babes, where have you been? I've rung you loads of times," she says, more concerned than angry, and it's then that Naomi notices that she's only wearing a dressing gown and her hair is a bit damp.

"Sorry," Emily says from behind them, shrugging. "I forgot there's no reception down there."

Naomi catches Katie's brief glare at her sister before she says, "Whatever," dismissively and turns back to Naomi. "Anyway, listen, it's really good that you're here, right, because I have been waiting for ages and I'm a bit, well... you know." She smirks, and tilts her head back up towards the stairs.

It's not a big task to guess what Katie's on about, especially with the way she's pulling at the bottom of Naomi's t-shirt, and she feels that familiar shiver run through her body that tells her that Katie's pulling on more than just her clothing.

"Right, well I'll be off then." Emily says, croaking a little, and Naomi had forgotten she was there for a moment.

"Ugh," Katie rolls her eyes, and it's not nice, the way she's being right now. "Are you still here?"

Naomi turns to see Emily stiffen, her lip twisting in disgust, though she shakes it away by the time she looks at Naomi. "Well, see you."

She's already out the door when Naomi realises that she's being horribly rude and, hard as it is to go anywhere but with Katie, especially with the way she's pushing her tits into Naomi's chest, she excuses herself for a second and heads after Emily.

She hears Katie's "What the fuck?" as the door closes behind her, and hopes that this means that whatever Katie had planned isn't off the cards, and she calls out to Emily.

Emily stops from where she's pushing her bike down the drive but doesn't look around.

"Ems, I just wanted to say thanks. You know, for this evening. I had a really nice time," she tries, but Emily keeps her head down.

"Yeah, so did I," she mutters, and she's about to push off when Naomi catches up with her completely.

"We'll do it again soon, okay?" and before she knows what she's doing, she's left a soft kiss on Emily's cheek.

Emily nods then, and turns her head a little more towards Naomi, but not all the way.

"You'd better go. Katie can be a right cow when she's left waiting." There's almost a smile there, so Naomi offers one back as Emily gets on her bike and pushes off.

"Be careful," Naomi calls after her.

"Always am," Emily shouts back, and Naomi watches until she's out of sight and then jogs back into the house, hoping that her girlfriend isn't already fully clothed and ready to follow her sister.

She's still in the hallway, though, and Naomi holds in a sigh of relief.

"Sorry," she says when she sees Katie's face set in a frown, and when it doesn't go away Naomi brushes her wet hair back over her shoulder and presses her lips against her neck.

It takes a few more before Katie relaxes and stretches her arms around Naomi's waist, pulling her closer.

"You don't have to look after her, you know? She's a big girl."

Naomi leans back, and sighs. "Yeah but... she looked after me a bit today. So..."

"Aw babes," Katie says, leaning up for a proper kiss. "I told you you had nothing to worry about."

They're already lost in more kisses by the time Naomi realises that that's true.

She's got Katie back, now. It's all she wanted.

"Come on, though. We need to go upstairs - it's getting a bit drafty down here, if you know what I mean." Katie holds her gaze as she takes Naomi's hand and slides it through the gap in her dressing gown where it's met by nothing but skin, and then the warmth of Katie's already-wet cunt.

"Fuck," Naomi gasps, biting her lip as she pushes her fingers further, sliding along the length of Katie's wetness, Katie's hand still wrapped tightly around her wrist.

She pulls Naomi's fingers back, though, and Naomi almost protests but then remembers that, yeah, they're in the fucking hallway.

Clearing her throat she says, "Right. Let's go then," and Katie leads her by the hand up to the bedroom where they close the door and Naomi stops thinking about lakes and blankets and the simplest of touches that mean nothing, really.

Absolutely nothing.

****

Before they sleep, wrapped in each other as usual, Naomi asks Katie how evening was, confident now that she can ask without worrying about the answer.

"Ugh, complete fucking drag. That boy has no sense of fun, you know? Fucking wanted us to go sit in a park or some bollocks. Watch the fucking ducks."

"Oh," Naomi says, and abandons the idea of taking Katie to the lake. To Emily's lake.

"Glad to be back here with you, babes. I missed you."

Naomi shivers, and Katie runs her foot along her calf.

"Yeah," she whispers into Katie's hair. "Me too."

****

The day before the twins turn sixteen Katie actually bothers to tell Naomi that it's happening.

They're in bed, Naomi having brought them tea and some biscuits, when Katie says, "Oh, so listen. I totally forgot to tell you - it's our birthday tomorrow."

For a moment Naomi thinks We share a birthday now? before she realises that Katie's talking about the other other half of Katie, and she nearly spills her tea on the duvet.

"What? What the fuck, Katie. Why didn't you tell me?"

Katie looks back at her like she's a bit special, and says, "Um, well I'm telling you now? Besides, you never asked."

And, well, Naomi can't argue with that. She meant to ask, of course she did, but she just didn't get around to it. But, honestly, why tell her at all if it's going to be this late?

"Right, well. Brilliant," she huffs, but then relaxes because it's a birthday, and it's meant to be fun. It's not up to her to spoil it. "Okay, so, surprise over. What do you want to do?" she asks, kissing Katie's bare shoulder.

"Oh, well that's the thing. My mum's sort of throwing a party. For me and Ems, I mean. So I won't be able to come round tomorrow."

It feels like a right kick in the gut. And, okay, so Katie does look chagrined about the whole thing but she's not being at all delicate.

"Right. And the big secret girlfriend isn't invited, yeah? Well great, have a nice fucking time." She shifts away from Katie, as far as she can do without falling off the bed, and dips her garibaldi angrily into her tea and she doesn't even like soggy garibaldis.

"Jesus," Katie grumbles, snatching Naomi's tea out of her hands and reaching over to put it on the bedside table.

Naomi protests with a mouthful of biscuit but she's caught too unawares to be able to come out with a decent retort, and Katie's got onto her knees so she's right in Naomi's face, and she's just always so right there that Naomi has nowhere else to look other than directly at her.

"Listen to me, you massive idiot. Like, I was going to suggest something, and I thought you wouldn't like it but, as per, you've fucking flown off the handle and now I'm not even sure I want you to come."

Naomi swallows slowly as she watches Katie purse her lips together and raise her eyebrows, daring Naomi to say something else stupid.

Instead, she offers a quiet, "So... you do want me to come?"

"Ugh," Katie rolls her eyes and then does whatever she does when she's about to win an argument and straddles Naomi so she's really got no chance of escape. "Of course I do, for fuck's sake. You're my fucking girlfriend."

It's definitely not fair when Katie starts tracing a circle just around Naomi's nipple as she speaks that causes a rush down to between Naomi's legs, right below where Katie's sitting.

"Well, yes but it's not like I can come as your girlfriend."

Katie wiggles her eyebrows and Naomi laughs through an eyeroll, sliding her hands up Katie's thighs towards her waist, resting them there.

"Very funny. But you know what I mean."

"Okay, yes," Katie says, grinding her hips down once and Naomi closes her eyes and tilts her head back as she pushes back up. But Katie continues and Naomi remembers that they're supposed to be having kind of a serious conversation. "So that's where my idea comes into it. You should come - not with me, but with Emily."

"What," Naomi says before she's thought it through. "As Emily's girlfriend?"

Katie laughs, and tweaks Naomi's nipple. "No, pervert. As her friend. Which you are, really, so it shouldn't be that big a leap for you."

"And how does Emily feel about this?" Naomi asks, though her concentration is wavering, and her hands are slipping around Katie's back towards her arse.

"I'm sure she'll be well happy. She's hardly got anyone coming so it'll be nice for her."

"Right," Naomi says, and thinks that maybe Emily should have been consulted about this first, that Emily should actually get a say in what she does and does not want, that Emily is a person and not just an accessory for Katie to pick up and discard at her discretion. But, as usual, Katie's doing something that makes Naomi forget about all of it, and it just feels too good to be stopped.

Her breathing's become more ragged as Katie's cunt presses into her own, and fuck if they're not almost touching somewhere that would feel incredible, but they don't quite make it.

And it's like Katie knows that it's time, like she is so tuned into Naomi now that she doesn't even need to ask, and she's sliding a hand between them when she says, "So, you'll come then?"

Naomi manages a nod just as Katie's fingers are pressing against her and they're both tilting their heads back at the feel of it, and it's so fucking hot how Katie gets into it so much. That she enjoys the feeling of fucking her as much as Naomi likes to be fucked.

She feels hair tickling her chest before the word, Good is said in a deep, wanting voice right up against her ear and Naomi lets Katie take her.

Not for the first time and certainly not for the last.

****

Shopping when you're looking for something you don't know you're looking for is a fucking nightmare, apparently, and by lunch time Naomi wants to kill Katie for telling her so late, Emily for not telling her at all and her mum for raising her to be such a useless fucking girl.

Because it's Easter there are fucking children everywhere and she's about ready to go home and just ask her mum to buy some wine that they can all drink next time the girls are round when she spots the sports shop and remembers Emily shakily curving her way down the hill to her lake and she smiles at the memory.

It doesn't take her long to spot what she was thinking of. The helmet's not that expensive, and it looks pretty cool - blue with different coloured flowers on it - and she's finally happy that she's bought something. And the thought of keeping Emily safe is a nice one, so she walks on with more determination, struggling to think of what the fuck to buy for her actual girlfriend.

****

Usually, Naomi despises shops like New Look but the only thing she's got left is her knowledge of Katie's love for all things leopard print.

She's looking at tops, and they're all a bit rubbish, when she spots the underwear section. And even though she'd never expected to be buying stuff like that for anyone other than herself, the bras look okay. And, of course, there's a leopard print one with a matching thong.

There's one in Katie's size near the front, and she's picking it off the rail when she feels someone standing a little too close.

"Not quite your size, I think," says a voice before Naomi's had the chance to look around but when she does she finds a girl there, very slight, with long dark hair and the most startling blue eyes she's ever seen.

"Well, no. It's for a friend," she says, drawing out the f a little longer than necessary.

"Hmm," the girl hums, picking out a blue bra from the next rail. "Don't often buy bras for my friends." She turns to Naomi with accusing eyes and she has to try hard not to flinch at the intensity behind them.

The girl smirks and puts the bra back on the shelf and Naomi's incredibly relieved not to be looking directly at her for a moment.

A girl shouts from somewhere in the shop something that sounds like, "Eff, come on! It's two-for-one at the milkshake place and I'm just about gagging for a proper creamy one," and though the girl with the brown hair and those eyes doesn't respond to her in any way, she turns to leave.

Before she's gone, though, she says over her shoulder, "I hope your friend likes her underwear," and Naomi watches her catch up to a blonde girl in pigtails who bounces her way out of the shop while the other one - Eff, apparently - slinks along beside her like she's walking on air.

Fucking Bristol, Naomi thinks, finding the matching thong and heading to the counter, trying not to blush furiously as she pays for her girlfriend's birthday present, hoping that it's not just as obvious to every other fucker she comes across.

****

The party starts at seven so Naomi arrives closer to eight and is greeted at the door by Emily who looks incredibly relieved to see her insomuch as her entire body relaxes as Naomi catches her in a quick one-armed hug, wishing her a muffled Happy Birthday.

"Christ, where have you been?" Emily says, leading them into the kitchen where Naomi puts her bags on the table. "They've been driving me fucking mental."

Naomi doesn't have to ask who? because she can hear them outside, cackling along to something or other that's clearly hilarious.

"Fucking hell, have they been like that since they got here?" Naomi says cringing, taking a small plastic cup from Emily that looks like it's just coke but smells a lot like it has vodka in it too.

When Naomi smiles questioningly, Emily laughs. "Yes, they have. And, really, don't look like that - you're going to need it."

She can't disagree. Alcohol is about the only way she's going to get through the evening.

In fact, she's eternally grateful she's had a sip of something that's a bit hard when a woman with long, dark hair enters the kitchen and Naomi doesn't need to be told that it's their mum.

"Oh, hello," she says, sizing Naomi up, and - she can't help it - Naomi immediately dislikes her. "You must be Naomi. Emily's told me all about you."

Naomi almost smirks, but she's a little bit scared, and instead just says, "Oh, has she?"

She about to say more when a boy's voice beats her to it.

"Woah!" he says, nudging his equally short friend. "Ems never said you were a fittie! Isn't she, Gordon?"

"Yeah!" the other boy pipes up, and Naomi hides her mouth behind her hand to stop from laughing right at them. She figures it wouldn't go down all that well what with the way Mrs. Fitch is shooing them away and telling them not to be so vulgar.

"Honestly boys. That's hardly something Emily would mention, now, is it?"

"Yeah, but mum -" he starts, but Emily interrupts him.

"Shut up, idiot. Come on, Naomi. Let's go and sit in the garden away from the children."

She's not sure, but Naomi thinks that Emily kicks her brother on the way past and it's kind funny, so she allows herself a chuckle once they've made it into the garden.

"He's a little charmer," Naomi says, and smiles again when Emily takes her by the elbow and leads them towards some patio chairs.

"Gets it from me, obviously," Emily says with a grin, and Naomi laughs harder then.

It catches Katie's attention, and Naomi's about to head over when the other girls turn around too, and then there's muffled laughter as they turn back towards Katie.

Katie fakes a laugh and nods, taking a sip out of her own pink plastic cup - no doubt filled with something similar to Naomi's own - and averting her gaze from Naomi's.

It stings, even though it shouldn't. Even though she knew it was coming, and it makes her want to run. She probably would have, if not for the small hand that was gripping her a little tighter around her elbow and the voice that was saying, "Come on, don't worry about them," and leading them away.

****

It gets a bit better after that, and their dad is actually really nice. He's been doing the barbecue, which is apparently, according to Emily, the only time they have something other than soup that resembles dirty water.

They keep to their little corner, and Katie sticks with her friends, and there really is no opportunity for them to even meet somewhere quiet for a minute.

So Naomi lets it go, enjoys her evening with Emily, and gets steadily drunk on the vodka that Emily keeps plying her with.

They do presents after food, all sat in a circle on the grass, and Katie's friends get her things that range from necklaces to earrings and Naomi's relieved she didn't opt for anything similar. She smirks to herself, thinking about how none of them would have gotten her underwear and finds herself looking forward to giving it to Katie, seeing it on her, taking it off her again...

And Emily blushes furiously and drops her head when she opens Naomi's present, which is the only one not from her parents, and Naomi asks (foolishly in retrospect) why none of her other friends are there.

"Emily doesn't have friends," one of the ridiculous girls mutters, and Naomi's temper flares even as Emily sinks into herself more than usual.

"Yeah?" Naomi says, hoping she's not about to slur any of her words. "At least Emily knows how to spell her own name, Charisse."

"Naomi," Emily almost-whispers next to her, and Naomi shakes her head. They're fucking ridiculous, and Katie doesn't even bother to stick up for her, and then makes it worse by laughing herself.

"Yeah, who asked you, Naomi Campbell," she scoffs, and her eyes give nothing away even after Naomi glares at her and the others start laughing uproariously.

"Yeah, Naomi Campbell. Hardly a supermodel yourself, are you?" one of the others says, and Naomi grits her teeth, mutters fuck this and her breath, and stands and stalks back into the kitchen, downing the rest of her drink and slamming the cup down on the counter.

"Naomi, wait," Emily says behind her, slowing to a stop. "Don't go."

"Why not?" she asks more angrily than she'd like.

Emily's silent for a moment, stares at her, and then her eyes become hard.

"Actually, no. You're right," and then she's grabbing the rest of the vodka from the back of a cupboard and straightening up with an-almost smile. "Let's get the fuck out of here."

It's the best suggestion Naomi's heard all night, and she grabs her bag from the hall, glancing back quickly, once, just catching Katie finish a laugh and meet her gaze.

Naomi doesn't wait to see if it turns apologetic before following Emily out of the house and away from people who clearly couldn't give a fuck about her. About either of them.

****

Having decided that the lake was a bit far to get to without bikes they headed to a park fairly nearby Naomi's house. And it meant that they would pass a shop on the way so Naomi could buy them both some fags.

It was definitely a plus that Emily smoked so Naomi didn't feel the constant need to chew gum after every one, knowing that Katie hated it so much, and because she Katie's been such a dick tonight Naomi plans to smoke more than usual. Just to spite her. Even if she doesn't even know about it.

They walk quickly, though Naomi only did it at first so that she could look like she didn't want Katie to come after her if she came looking, and then, when it became apparent that Katie wasn't going to follow her (or them), she walked even faster because she really just wanted to get as far away as possible.

The park's not empty. There are some boys about the same age as them spinning each other around on the roundabout, so Emily and Naomi sit on the opposite side of the play area, perching themselves on the swings, which are thankfully unoccupied.

Towards the tail-end of spring the weather in Bristol never really brightened up but, Naomi thinks as she unscrews the cap on the vodka and pops it into her pocket, at least it isn't fucking raining.

And the night isn't all that cold yet, and Naomi wonders what the girls will do back at the house when it gets properly dark - if they'll sit and discuss boys and who they all fancy, and if Katie will tell them all about how wonderful Jamie is, or if they'll continue to sit outside laughing about the two losers they managed to get rid of.

"Are you still angry?" Emily asks, reaching for the bottle.

"Nah, fuck 'em."

"You don't mean that," Emily smiles.

"Well yeah, fuck them all. Katie just... well, you know."

"Yeah. I mean, I don't want to complain to you about your girlfriend, but Katie's always been like this. I wonder sometimes if she only hates me so much because they made her."

It's really horrible to hear her say that and Naomi shakes her head, feeling a little woozy as she does it.

"Hey, hey, Ems. She doesn't... Katie doesn't hate you."

Emily sighs, passing the bottle back over.

"Shit, yeah. Sorry, I know. I just wish she didn't care so much about what they think."

"Yeah. Me too." Naomi smiles, because, really, they have a lot in common. It just seems that most of that was somehow related to Katie.

Everything was always about Katie, for both of them. Even today Emily couldn't have a day that was just hers so Naomi thinks, fuck it - Katie's not here now so this can be about Emily. Just for a bit.

****

After that night at the lake everything seems more comfortable between them. Sort of like Emily let Naomi into a place that wasn't just somewhere to go but also somewhere to be.

But then, sitting in the park on swings meant for twelve year-olds, it feels like that here, too. It's like it's not where she is but who she's with, and the way Emily looks at her sometimes feels a bit like she thinks it too.

They settle into lazy chat about school and what's going to happen after, about how great it'll be to get away from morons like Charisse and hang around with people who are there for a good reason. And Emily tells her that she wants to do English, and maybe Politics, and Naomi widens her eyes and stores it in her little Emily bank of knowledge that's getting bigger daily.

Time slips away as they sit here, swinging lazily, and Naomi only knows that it's getting on a bit because the sun's completely gone and so are they.

She's about to suggest heading back, because she's really dying for a piss now and they've nearly run out of fags, when one of the boys breaks away from the group and starts walking towards them.

"Shit," Emily says, panicked. "Shit, what do we do?"

"Relax, Ems. I doubt he's gonna knife us or anything."

"Yeah, I know but -" And it's too late and he's in front of them asking for a light.

Emily hands hers over and he grins at her from under his oversized, woolly hat.

"Cheers. So listen, what are you two doing sat in the park by yourselves?"

"Just enjoying the company," Naomi says, and he grins some more.

"Cool, well if you fancy it we're all off to a party round my mate Mike's. Wanna come?"

"That might be -" Naomi starts, but Emily interrupts her.

"We're okay, actually. Thanks."

He shrugs and takes a puff on his fag, blowing it away from them.

"All right, no worries. Have a good night then." He does a weird finger point at them, and Naomi wonders if he winks but it's too dark to see.

Once he's out of earshot, she says, "What's up, Em? Didn't you want to go? It's still your birthday, after all, and you're sat in a park in the dark with some loser who can't even stay on her swing properly."

Emily stops swinging and stills. "Yeah, well. I'm not doing a brilliant job of that either. And, besides, you're better looking than him."

Naomi laughs, slips on her seat again, and grips hold of the metal that's holding the whole thing up.

"God, you'll never get a boyfriend at this rate." She gets up and comes to stand in front of Emily, taking the bottle from her and wincing as the burn hits the back of her throat.

"No," Emily says, leaning forward and holding onto Naomi's waist, probably to stop them both keeling over. "Probably not."

"Here, you get the last swig, birthday girl."

Emily takes the bottle with one hand but keeps hold of Naomi with the other.

Naomi watches as Emily tilts her head back to get the dregs and her neck looks so white in the moonlight that for the briefest of moments Naomi wonders what it would be like to nuzzle against it.

She shakes the thought away, though - qualifies it as her brain telling her to get to fucking bed before she passes out in the children's play area - and waits as Emily sets it on the floor and then stands up.

They're so close for a moment, and Naomi has to hold onto Emily's shoulders to keep from swaying, and Emily's looking up at her with wide, brown eyes. It makes her think of Katie, and she almost says so, but it feels too much like a nice moment without bringing up someone that has royally pissed them both off this evening.

Emily seems to have other ideas, though, and squeezes Naomi's hips once before saying, "She's lucky, you know. To have you. I wish she'd get that."

"Yeah, well," Naomi says quietly, pulling Emily into a hug that seems to surprise them both. "She's lucky to have you, too."

"Um, Naomi," Emily murmurs from Naomi's shoulder. "This is really nice and everything but if you squeeze me any harder I'm going to piss myself and that is not a birthday memory I want to have."

Naomi giggles, kisses the top of Emily's head, and pulls away. "Fuck, sorry. Me too actually. Let's go to mine, it's closer."

"Yeah, all right," Emily agrees, and they set off, stumbling against each other, towards Naomi's house.

Somewhere along the way, Emily's hand finds its way into Naomi's and it fits there so comfortably that Naomi doesn't even consider taking hers away.

It'll keep them upright, Naomi rationalises. It's much safer this way.

****

They're giggling and trying not to giggle because the weeing situation has gotten a bit desperate, and they're so distracted that they almost don't see the small figure sat on Naomi's porch.

Naomi spots her first, though, and pulls her hand out of Emily's like it was wrong for it to be there to begin with, which alerts Emily to what Naomi's seen.

"Oh," Emily whispers.

"Yeah."

Katie hasn't seen them yet, and she's sat in jogging bottoms with her legs pulled up to her chin and her arms wrapped around them.

"Fuck, she looks upset," Naomi says, her smile turning into a sneer. "Or like, cold."

"Ugh, well, she deserves to be a bit. Upset, I mean. She was a right cow earlier."

"I really can't be fucking arsed with her right now. She doesn't get to treat you like that and then -"

"Us, you mean," Emily whispers, and Naomi feels a hand on the small of her back and she gets that Emily's used to this. Being treated like shit by Katie. It doesn't make it better that it's both of them now.

"Yeah, well." Naomi chews her bottom lip and then sighs heavily. "Right, fuck it. We're gonna have to go over. Let's not let her get off too lightly though, yeah?"

"Deal," Emily says, and moves her hand away as they start walking. Naomi's back is colder without it there, and far less ready for a fight.

Katie looks up as they approach, and then gets to her feet as quickly as her drunken legs will allow her to.

In the light, Naomi can see that she's been crying and her make-up has left big, black splodges under her eyes.

"Shit, where the living fuck have you two been? I thought you'd fucking, like, eloped or something."

"Eloped?" Emily says, and Naomi catches a hint of panic in her voice, whereas her own is only begrudgingly amused.

"I think you mean emigrated, Katie. Or something like that, yeah?"

"Fucking hell, what-the-fuck-ever. I don't care, because at least you're all right."

"Yeah," Emily says, and kicks at something on the floor.

They're still a few feet lower than Katie, and it feels a bit uneven so Naomi joins her on the porch, gripping hold of the wood for support.

"So, Katie. What happened? One of your friends go through your text messages and realise that not only do you not hate that loser, Naomi Campbell, but that you've also been shagging her for the last few months in secret?"

The concern vanishes from Katie's face, and it scrunches up again in anger. "Oh that's fucking great. I fucking leave them all to come find you, worry myself sick about where you are, and you're still being a cow about it. Thanks, Naomi. Thanks for ruining my fucking birthday."

She tries to push past Naomi but ends up stumbling against her, and Naomi finds her hands gripping tightly on Katie's hips.

And Katie's fuming, like almost shaking, and Naomi can feel Emily watching them both, probably wondering who's going to hit each other first, and when Naomi worries that it's not something Emily would want, she relaxes.

Katie's still struggling against her, so she says quietly, "Babe, you know... you're really shit at apologising."

"You fucking..." Katie starts, but she must catch the look in Naomi's eye and she softens and stops flailing about. "And you're fucking shit at accepting it."

Naomi's got no time to think about whether Emily is still watching them (of course she is) because Katie's pulling her down into a fierce kiss that really makes it feel like they just survived their first proper fight as a couple.

She indulges Katie for a second, but then pushes gently against her shoulders, catching her when she rocks back a little too far on her heels.

"Look, Katie. I know that this is... it's hard for both of us, okay? But you can't expect me to let you treat me like that. I don't need you to tell everyone, I just won't put up with being treated like shit in front of people. Or, like, at all."

"Yeah," Emily pipes up, joining them on the porch. "Me either, you cow. It's my fucking birthday too."

"Shit, Ems," Katie says and pulls her sister into a crushing hug, Naomi laughing as Emily mouths Help! over her shoulder. "I'm fucking sorry, okay? You know I love you."

"I love you too, but I am dying for a piss and I've already had one close call this evening."

The memory jolts back to Naomi, then, of Emily holding her close by the swings, and it makes her feel hot and panicked, like they've done something wrong. Like it's a secret that shouldn't be one.

She realises she's spaced out when a hand takes her own and she has to look up to see whose it is.

"I am sorry, babe. It's not what I wanted my birthday to be like," Katie says, and it's sincere.

She half-expects Emily to say, Yeah, me either but Naomi knows that she won't.

Katie keeps hold of her hand as Naomi lets them all into the house and out of the cold.

****

Emily rushes to the loo first, and it gives Katie and Naomi a chance to be alone for a minute.

"So, what did you say to them in the end? To be able to leave?" Naomi asks, brushing a strand of hair behind Katie's ear, and she turns her cheek into the touch.

"Obviously," she starts, pressing a kiss to Naomi's palm. "I told them that I'd just really upset my rather fit girlfriend and I needed to go and find her before all fingering privileges were, like, taken away."

Naomi laughs, and feels her bladder bother her again. "Katie, sorry, but I really need to go and wee - there's wine in the kitchen. Mum bought it for you and Ems - want to go get it and some glasses?"

She kisses Katie on the head and takes the stairs two at a time, but catches herself wondering when Emily became Ems. She wonders if Katie's noticed.

Naomi surprises Emily on her way out of the bathroom, and she jumps a little when she sees her.

"Christ, thanks for that, babe" she says as she slips past Naomi. It should be wrong hearing that word out of Emily's mouth. It should be reserved for Katie to use, and Katie alone.

But, for some reason, it sounds right. And maybe, Naomi thinks as she shuts the door behind her, maybe it's okay for Emily to call her that, too.

****

It turns out that none of them actually want wine; Naomi wants to go to bed, Emily's already dozing on the couch, and Katie wants Naomi.

So, abandoning her glass, Katie suggests they call it a day.

"Right," Emily says, standing and stretching. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

"What?" Katie shakes her head. "No way, Ems. You're not going home now - it's late and you're smashed."

"But, Katie - "

"No, Ems," and then she beams, proudly, and puts a hand on Emily's knee. "You're my sister and I'm going to look after you, yeah? The last thing any of us wants is you getting fucking molested on your way home. So you'll stay here."

Naomi just nods. It's not her decision anyway, but Katie's right. There's no reason Emily should go.

She catches Emily's eyes widening, and she thinks that it's shock that her sister's being so nice to her for a change. But then it disappears, and she's looking at Naomi like she's waiting for her okay.

"Course, Ems. You should stay. I'll get you a blanket."

"Okay, thanks."

"Good," Katie says. "Can you sort her out babes? I'm about ready to crash, yeah?" and she gives Naomi a pointed look that suggests crashing isn't about to happen any time soon.

Naomi nods, dumbly, and receives a kiss on the cheek from Katie before she leans over to hug Emily.

"Happy Birthday, Ems."

And then she's out of the room and up the stairs, doors slamming as she goes.

Naomi fetches Emily a blanket from the cupboard under the stairs, and takes it into Emily who's taking her bra off through her t-shirt and it stops Naomi dead. She shouldn't be looking, really, and even though there's nothing actually to look at with Emily facing away from her, she's acutely aware that Emily's now braless.

She clears her throat and Emily spins around quickly.

"Oh shit, sorry. I just didn't want to sleep with it on."

"It's fine," Naomi says, draping the blanket over the couch. "You gonna be all right down here?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks."

"Cool," Naomi mutters but doesn't move. She thinks that they should hug but braless Emily is something she's not sure how to deal with.

"Hey, Naomi. Do you..." Emily says quietly. "Do you have, like, an iPod or something? I always... sleep better with music."

"Oh, course." Naomi pulls it out of her bag that's by the couch. "There's some of your stuff on there, actually. I put it on before."

Emily takes it from her, and catches Naomi's wrist when she does it.

"Thanks for tonight. I know I'm not exactly who you wanted to spend the evening with."

Naomi almost tells her not to be ridiculous, but it's a little bit true. Or, at least it was until they actually did spend the evening together.

"Look," she tries instead. "I know it wasn't for a brilliant reason but... I'm glad. It's nice... spending time with you. I had fun."

Emily smiles a half-smile, and Naomi steps forward for a hug.

It's better than before. Like it feels like they're properly friends now, and it makes Naomi hold her a little bit tighter.

"Happy Birthday, Emily. Let's go test out your present soon, yeah?"

Emily nods against her chest, and then breaks away.

"Right, bugger off then. Unless you want to see me in my pants."

Naomi fake shudders, winks, and heads upstairs.

Katie's waiting for her, and Naomi's already kept her too long.

****

When they fuck that night it feels different in a way that Naomi can't put her finger on.

It's lovely, as it usually is, and Katie's attentive and firm when she needs to be and delicate before Naomi even has to ask.

Her kisses are the same. They're still like little flames being lit and extinguished against Naomi's skin and they all tell her how much she's wanted, how much she's needed, by Katie.

When she falls asleep on Naomi's chest, whispering, "Thank you for my present. They're fucking perfect. I'll wear them tomorrow," Naomi kisses her head and tells her she's welcome. She's getting things right. Finally.

****

She wakes up in the night, gasping for water that she'd forgotten to get for them, and carefully extricates herself from Katie.

There's a whimper but then Katie rolls over onto her side, burrowing her face in the pillow, and Naomi slips out of bed and out of the door as quietly as she can.

The lamp's still on in the lounge, and she tiptoes in to turn it off, careful not to wake Emily.

She glances over at the couch to check that she hasn't and what she sees stops her where she is, thumb and forefinger digging into the switch, no doubt leaving an imprint.

Emily's in her t-shirt and knickers, legs clamped tightly around the blanket, one in and one out. Her face looks so soft with her eyes closed, and Naomi's overcome with the urge to go over and stroke it with her fingers, along the curve of her jaw and down her neck.

Oh, she thinks, stuck where she is. Oh fuck.

She turns the lamp off quickly, almost smashing into the side of the doorframe as she goes, her eyes not adjusted to the dark. As she pours herself a large glass of water it's all she can see - Emily.

Emily, her girlfriend's sister. Emily, her friend. Emily.

****

The morning greets them all with massive hangovers and horrible headaches.

Naomi and Katie are both reluctant to get out of bed but they agree they can't leave Emily downstairs by herself, so they have a quick snuggle and head down to find her.

She's already up, all her clothes back on, and it feels normal again.

Emily looks as rough as they do and she groans to acknowledge it, and Katie laughs until it hurts her head and they end up curled up together on the couch while Naomi makes them all tea.

Coming back into the room, they both look up at her and smile, reaching out for their drinks.

When Emily says Thanks, it's with a croak to her voice, and Naomi knows it's because they'd smoked so many fags, and she feels a bit guilty that it might have been her fault.

And she remembers, then, how she'd come down in the night and how Emily had been there and she'd looked so peaceful, and she feels her head get heavy all over again.

As she sits next to Katie, she's a bit stiff until their hands are locked together and Katie's running her thumb over her fingers.

It was nothing, Naomi tells herself. It's Katie. It's always been Katie, and just because the light was shining just so, and how Emily looked calmer than she'd ever seen her, it didn't mean anything.

It doesn't mean anything.

****

Thankfully, after that there's little time to let her mind work itself up into a frenzy because two weeks turns out to be a really short time, actually, and once they're at the end of it Naomi realises how fucking little time she has left to revise.

Coursework had all been done and handed in and not looking too bad, and Naomi had pretended not to be at all jealous that Katie's Graphics work had ended up being better than her own. And, actually, jealousy aside, Naomi was a bit proud of her, especially when, at the end of their last class, she slid a piece of paper onto Naomi's side of the desk that was covered in sketches that Naomi had said she particularly liked earlier in the year, signed with a: To N, love K xxx.

Naomi had almost molested her right there in the classroom, but had restrained herself until the bell rang and she could walk quickly into the girls' loos and push Katie back against the door until they were both breathless and giddy.

There was a lot of sweetness about Katie that Naomi was coming to be familiar with. Like, she'd circle things in the TV guide that she thought Naomi would like and pick out necklaces from Naomi's collection for her to wear that day.

Naomi wishes she were as good as Katie. She still can't quite figure out, even on evenings where Katie's lying with her head on Naomi's shoulder and playing with the tips of Naomi's hair that was getting steadily longer, why it is that Katie likes her.

She knows it's best not to question, though. Not when things have been lovely for so long.

****

On the day that they go on study leave in mid-May, the three of them go back to Naomi's house and celebrate with wine that Gina's bought for them. (Naomi thinks that her mum's trying to win brownie points by being the Best Mum Ever and she begrudgingly admits that it might be working as she unscrews the lid off another bottle of Pinot.)

The evening is lazy, long, and when the sun finally sets they stumble into the lounge to watch TV, Naomi in the middle with the twins either side of her and she thinks, family, absently as Katie leans into her and Emily's feet rest against her own from where they're both curled up on the couch.

She only allows herself a fleeting thought to another time when Emily had been on the couch, and it almost makes her snatch her feet away but it would have seemed too weird.

The two of them, Katie and Emily, were being perfectly normal, so Naomi doesn't want to be the one to put a spanner in the works. Just because one time, for a fleeting, drunken second, she felt like she might want something other.

Part Two