A/N:

Hiya. Sorry about the delay. Forgive me?

To 90sSongCrush – your comment made me LOL so there's a nod to you in this chapter. You'll know it when you see it!

To Guest who took the PLL quiz - *bows down to HBIC* Ooooh, you got Ali! Don't think I would have minded getting her, but alas, I'm Mona. Honestly though, so long as I didn't get Aria I was happy! :)

ITR continues where we left off. A quick recap: Chap 8 brought us Sophia's back story and a look into Naomi's world pre-Delfino House. Naomi's diagnosis was also revealed.

Naomi's POV

Delfino

"Jesus, Campbell – you look like shit," Effy declares as she saunters into my room sitting at the bed opposite me.

Scowling at the brunette before me, I get up and walk towards the plastic mirror affixed to the wall and attempt to flatten the bed head massacre that is my hair.

From behind me I hear drawers being opened and closed. Promptly I turn around to find Effy kneeling in front of my nightstand rifling through my belongings. Walking over to her, I cross my arms at the chest. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Nah, I'm good," she says shaking her head as she throws the old welcome pamphlets that were shoved in the back of the drawer onto the ground with a look of utter distaste.

I look at the mess she's created on the floor. "Effy! What the fuck are you doing?"

Hearing my tone, Effy turns around, standing up to meet my gaze before beginning in a very serious tone, "Just trying to find the chainsaw for your hair."

"Ha fucking ha. Funny, that. Coming from you," I respond looking pointedly at the ratted mess of her own hair.

She smirks at my comment. "Oh, is that funny, Eff?"

"Yeah, it is – a bit – but not nearly as funny as you think," she explains while tucking a chunk of my hair behind my ear. "Let's get some breakfast and you can tell me about your night." Effy then wraps her hands around my wrists, walking backwards towards the door in an attempt to tug me out of the room.

"I'm not hungry," I answer stubbornly resisting further movement.

"Okay," she concedes, sitting on the bed and looking at me expectantly. "Then you can tell me about your appointment right here."

I roll my eyes. "It was fine. Foster wanked off to the sound of his own voice whilst I attempted not to lose my lunch. The usual."

"If it was 'fine,' then why'd you disappear into your room straight after?"

"Maybe I just wanted to be alone?"

"And miss the chance of beating Cook at poker? Unlikely," she says dismissively. "Go on, try another excuse."

"Can't you ever just let things be, Effy?"

"Can't you ever just freely admit to how you're feeling without all this nonsense?"

Arguing with Effy is pointless and so I find myself settling onto my bed in defeat. She crawls next to me with a triumphant smile on her face.

"Stop looking so pleased with yourself," I scold.

She laughs at my words. "Funny, I said the very same last night."

"Oh yeah, to who?" I ask curiously.

"To Cook," she winks, "about 30 seconds before I let him fuck me."

Ugh, gross. "That's a mental image I can do without," I say scrunching my face in disgust.

Effy shrugs.

I open my mouth to begin to ask a question before deciding against it.

"What," Effy asks. "What were you going to say?"

Scratching my arm I begin again. "Did he even get you... off?"

"Definitely."

"Cook? Really? We are talking about the same person, yeah? I can just see him jack-hammering for all of two minutes before falling over into a sloppy, sticky mess."

"Well, if you're really curious, I'm sure he can show you exactly what he's capable of. He is quite taken with you."

"Ugh, stop," I say with a raised hand. "That's never happening."

She laughs with a shrug. "Your loss..." After a few moments she turns to me with an inquisitive expression. "But you have before though, right? Fucked a guy?"

"Well, yeah... a few anyway," I explain. "I just prefer the fairer sex is all."

"Understandable, I suppose," she says.

I'd nearly forgotten that Effy had admitted to being with girls before. I can't say that it's shocking news exactly, just a bit surprising. She just seems to attract so many men. Maybe she was only kidding though? We didn't actually know each other very well when she made that claim. "When we met you'd said that you had...?"

"Fucked girls before? Yeah," she says nonchalantly.

I regard her curiously for a moment, before shaking my head. "Yeah, I don't think I can see it."

"Shall I prove it to you then? Fancy a go in the toilets?" she says as she trails a finger from my shoulder and down my arm.

"Fuck off," I say as I wriggle away from her touch.

Effy sighs feigning disappointment. "Yeah, I suppose I'm not really your type, am I? I reckon you fancy rather petite redheads..." she says looking directly at me daring me to disagree. I decide on keeping my mouth shut, hoping that she changes the subject. Whilst she may not be entirely wrong in her accusation, it doesn't mean I'm prepared to agree with her just yet. Of course praying to the gods that Effy stop doing anything is simply a waste of effort. I suspect the gods consult Effy before going about their business.

As suspected my prayers go unanswered as she continues. "Katie's cute, don't you think?"

"Did you know she has a twin?" I ask, intentionally evading her question.

"Yeah?"

I nod. "A gay twin actually."

A strange look occupies Effy's face and for a moment I think that perhaps I might know something she doesn't. But as the seconds pass another look entirely takes over and I'm quite sure I've never seen a bigger smirk in my life.

"Right. You mean Emily," she explains.

Ugh. "You know, for a second there I thought I knew something before you did.

"Don't be stupid Naomi."

Emily's POV

Delfino

After taking a rather enjoyable shower (it's sad when a mental units' bathing facilities are preferable to your schools') I decide to check up on Naomi. I didn't see her much yesterday and can't help feeling a bit disappointed and perhaps even a bit worried. After all, it wasn't that long ago that she had a total meltdown. The thought of her incapacitated makes me nervous and I find my pace quickening. What I find when I reach her room is Effy and Naomi sat upon the bed. Effy must have said something that the blonde doesn't like as her face is occupied with a scowl but it doesn't last. The brunette quirks an eyebrow and Naomi shakes her head and rolls her eyes spectacularly with a bright smile.

I can't help but feel jealous of their easy, natural friendship. Granted, I haven't known Naomi as long as Effy – but still. I guess I just thought that we had made a connection. But maybe we didn't. Maybe she's just this incredible person that everyone wants to be near. It's strange really. With the exception of Panda, Effy always seemed so impenetrable. Not with Naomi though. Effy couldn't have feelings for her though, could she? Images of the brunette and blonde together begin to form in my mind when I feel a pair of eyes on me.

Effy wraps her arms around the blonde pulling her into a hug and whispers something into her ear. Her eyes never leave mine as she places a kiss on Naomi's cheek. She then gets off the bed and walks towards me with a quirked brow.

"Katie," she states.

"Effy," I say matching her tone and cross my arms over my chest.

"So happy we all know each other's names. I'm Naomi by the way, in case that wasn't clear already," Naomi says as she waves her hand and stands in between us.

"Do we? Know each other's names? I think perhaps someone here hasn't been quite as honest as they should be on that front."

Effy looks at me expectantly and my traitorous mouth drops open in shock. How does she know? Fuck. She continues staring at me as she addresses Naomi. "What do you think Naoms? I reckon it's time for some honesty."

Unsure of my next move, I look over to my new friend in an effort to buy time. It is then that I notice thinly veiled annoyance radiating from Naomi. "Yeah, alright. Whatever," she says, waving her arm. "Go on then, Eff. You've been dying to tell everyone I'm sure – might as well begin with Katie."

Oh. Thank fuck. This isn't about me. Looking at Effy in confusion, I see her smirking. She doesn't say anything immediately and I begin to worry that perhaps it is about me, but then she opens her mouth. "Naomi's rather beautiful, don't you think Katie?" She doesn't wait for an answer (thank God!) before continuing. "Like properly beautiful. Actually, enough to be a model I'd say."

Effy runs the back of her hand against Naomi's cheek adoringly before it is slapped away by the blonde in question. "Stop taking the piss, Effy. Get on with it." Effy looks between the both of us. "Actually, I think I'll leave you to it Naoms. You can tell your secret to our dearest Katie. And who knows perhaps Katie has a secret of her own she'd like to share with you as well?" Despite her addressing Naomi, her eyes never leave mine. She cocks her head to the side almost to say "your move," before leaving us. She does know.

I am still looking at the retreating brunette and pondering the implications of Effy having this information when I hear Naomi apologize. "What for?" I ask as I turn around.

"For Effy. She's... well, she's Effy," Naomi answers as if it's explanation enough. And in some odd way, it kind of is.

I shake my head in resignation... she knows.

"You alright Katie?"

Come on Emily – you're a Fitch, you'll sort it. "'Course I am," I say as I invite myself into her room and plop myself onto the bed where Effy was sat before.

"Come right in," Naomi says as she extends her arm in a grand welcoming gesture. "So I suppose you want to know my 'big secret'?" she asks rolling her eyes at the last bit.

She settles herself into her previous spot on the bed, her soft, warm arm bumping into mine. "Not if you don't want to tell me," I say with a shrug.

Naomi sighs as she begins. "It's nothing really. Effy just thinks my surname is absolutely hilarious."

"Oh, is that all? It can't possibly be that funny?" I ask curiously.

"Right?!" she agrees. "Seriously, it's just a bloody name."

"Well, go on then," I say bumping my shoulder into hers.

She sighs. "It's Campbell, okay? My name is Naomi Campbell."

I try. I really do. But who the hell names their child that? Oh, cruel world. I cover my mouth and try to bite back laughter. I bite my lip and nod. "Right. Well that's..." I trail off.

She sighs more forcefully. "Go on," she says. "You have one free pass, one comment and then you're done. It won't be mentioned again, hear?"

"...God-awful - no wonder you need psychiatric care!" I laugh, though I stop when I see her cringing.

"Just one of many reasons," she grumbles, looking away.

"Hey," I say patting her knee. "You were supposed to come back with some clever retort at which point I call you a loser-lezzer and storm off spectacularly."

She looks up at me with a sad smile. "S'pose you're right. Bit off my game today, it seems."

Nodding, I say, "Well let's hope you're back to normal soon. I don't reckon I can handle a mopey Naomi."

"I'm not mopey," she argues back.

"You're right," I say examining her face. "A bit more emo, really."

"I am not emo."

I pat her arm condescendingly, "Riiiight."

She turns to look at me, our faces mere inches away. "You really are infuriating, did you know that?"

"I may have heard that once or twice..."

"a minute?" she finishes.

"Ahh, there we go. Welcome back Naomi Campbell," I smile.

Naomi tries not to return my smile, but fails – only to deepen my own. And it feels good. Like properly good... to make her happy.

"Today we're going to break off into small groups and pairs," Harriet explains, taking out a paper from a leather folder, "and begin from there. I have a list here of our partners. Once I've called your group, please find a quiet area in the room and sit across from them."

Looking around the room, I can only hope that I am paired with Naomi... or maybe Pandora. Perhaps even JJ. Fuck it, I'll even take Cook. Just not Effy.

"Our first group is James and Naomi," Harriet announces consulting the list before continuing. "Freddie, Pandora and JJ – you'll form one group as well. And finally Katie and Effy."

So much for wishful thinking. I sigh and drag a chair to an empty corner of the room. Effy follows suit, but then leaves her chair in the circle and drags two oversized bean bags into the corner. After plopping herself down onto one of the bags she looks up at me expectantly. I roll my eyes, letting go of the chair and slide the remaining bag a bit further from her before sitting down.

"Everyone situated? Yes? Good," Harriet says and returns to her folder. "Now, I hope I don't need to remind everyone that this is a judgment free zone. We're hear to listen and support. To learn and grow." She takes a breath before continuing, "I'm going to ask you a series of questions. I want you to answer not only honestly, but also thoughtfully. Take a minute to process the question before you share your answer and explain why. Everyone understand?"

I don't miss the pointed look Harriet gives me when she mentions the bit about this being a judgment-free zone. I can only imagine the things Katie has said and done to earn such a look.

"First question: A cave-in occurs while you and a stranger are in a concrete room deep in a mine shaft. Before the phone goes dead, you learn the entire mine is sealed and the air hole being drilled will not reach you for 30 hours. If you both take sleeping pills from the medicine chest, the oxygen will last for only 20 hours. Both of you can't survive; alone, one of you might. After you both realize this, the stranger takes several sleeping pills, says that it is in God's hands, and falls asleep. You have a pistol; what do you do?"

My eyebrows furrow as I contemplate the situation. Shooting the stranger isn't even an option, I mean no one in their right mind would choose that. I look at Effy and find her watching Pandora's group. As I follow her gaze I hear JJ explaining the probability of surviving such a situation.

"I think JJ will out-live all of us," she says honestly.

I shrug as Effy turns around facing me again. "So... what would you do in this highly unlikely scenario?"

"Shoot the stranger," Effy deadpans.

I scoff. "You would not."

"Oh, I would," Effy affirms.

"You would murder someone, just like that?"

"It wouldn't be murder. I would be doing the kinder thing... like a mercy kill."

"How do you figure that?"

"The stranger is obviously the sensitive sort – evidenced by them taking the sleeping pill. Can you imagine the amount of survivor's guilt they'd have if I died and they lived? They'd be a mess... and that's no way to live," she adds with conviction. Effy nods then and continues, strengthened by her last statement. "It makes more sense for them to die peacefully. I'd do it quickly. After I'd made sure they were soundly asleep, I'd place the pistol directly on their temple and shoot."

I'm not sure how long I'm staring at Effy with my mouth open, but when I finally remember myself, I close my mouth with a snap.

"Your turn Katie – what would you do?"

"I wouldn't bother doing anything with the gun. I'd just take the pill and hope for the best."

"Interesting... where's your fighting spirit Katie? It's not like you to just give up."

"Yeah, well I'm not going to become like a murderess. Besides, I wouldn't look good in a prison jumpsuit."

Effy snorts. "Nice save, Katie."

"Has everyone answered? Yes? Alright, next question: You and a person you love deeply are placed in separate rooms with a button next to each of you. You know that you will both be killed unless one of you presses your button before 60 minutes pass; furthermore, the first to press the button will save the other person, but will immediately be killed. What do you think you would do?"

I straighten my back and adjust my posture to how I think Katie would sit on a beanbag. Which is laughable really because she would never sit on the ground like this. Shit. So why am I? The fear that I'm getting worse and worse at playing Katie resurfaces. And to top it all off Effy obviously knows something.

"Katie? Do you need more time or do you have an answer?"

"No, I'm ready," Effy motions for me to answer first with her hand.

"I would push the button," I answer simply.

"Didn't take you long to think about," Effy muses. "Emily?"

"Huh?"

"You were thinking about your sister as your loved one, right? Her name is Emily?"

"Right. Yeah."

Effy watches me closely. "You really would do anything for your sister, wouldn't you? In fact, you have done... haven't you?" she challenges.

Alright. It's time to get a handle on this. "Listen, whatever you think you know Effy, you're wrong."

Her eyebrow raises. "I only know that you would go to any lengths for your sister, even sacrifice yourself. How can I be wrong about that when you've just admitted as much?"

I narrow my eyes. "Fine. So, your turn - answer the question."

"I would push the button," Effy answers with a shrug.

"No elaborate or creative plan? You'd just push the button?"

Effy nods. "My brother, he'd be the one in the other room. The only problem is that I would have to push the button before he pushes his to try and save me. Or maybe we would both press it at the same time and die together." She says the last statement as if it would be the ideal solution.

After Group Therapy we all found ourselves going to the Dining Hall together for lunch. Pandora was thrilled at the prospect of all of us eating together – it happens so infrequently. Or at least, me joining the group for meals. It's awkward if I'm honest. I'm really only close to Naomi and she seems to pretty much get along with everyone else. I try not to feel left out when they continue old conversations and go about in what has clearly become routine for them. A routine I am not part of. But this is what Katie wants – to be isolated from 'the freaks' - and so I center myself and go about the task of murdering the shepherds pie before me.

"You sure you're getting enough oxygen there?" Naomi asks with an amused expression.

In response, I take a rather large forkful of the delicious pie and stuff it in my mouth with the smuggest look I can muster.

She shakes her head and returns to the debate of who has more power at Delfino – Harriet or Ramona.

"Katie? Wanna play a game with us after lunch?"

I open my mouth to respond when Effy says, "She can't today Panda. Katie promised to help me with something in the library."

"Really?" Naomi questions skeptically. "Help you with what, Eff?"

"I just have some questions and Katie's familiar with the library. She can help me in answering them. Can't you, Katie?"

Both Effy and Naomi look at me waiting for a response. "Yeah, you see they're still using the Dewey Decimal System and Effy's hopelessly lost. Bless," I grin widely.

After closing the door behind her, Effy looks around the library. Finding it empty, she grabs a book from the closest shelf and drops it with a loud bang onto a table in the middle of the room.

"Sit," she says pulling out a chair for me.

"I think I'll stand, thanks" I reply.

"Sit down, Emily."

I look at her with wide, shocked eyes. "Effy, shhhh!" Looking around the room, ensuring it's still empty, I sit down.

Effy pulls the chair that was across from me and moves it so that she is sitting adjacent to me, at the head of the table. The irony of her having this information as she sits at the seat of power is not lost on me.

I prop my elbows on the table cradling my head in my hands and sigh. "So how did you find out?"

"Let's just say that Katie tends not to stare at Naomi's arse quite as much as you do," she smiles.

"Effy, this isn't funny. Katie and I could get into a world of trouble if we're found out. You can't say anything to anyone... you have to promise me. Please."

"Oh come on, you have to admit that it's at least a little funny," she says holding up her pointer and thumb.

Shaking my head in my hands I hear a groan leave my lips. "This can't be happening."

Effy places a hand on my arm. "Emily, relax. I'm not going to narc on you."

My head snaps up. "You're not?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't know, because you hate me?"

Effy rolls her eyes. "Don't be stupid, I don't hate you. Although, I do hate your version of Katie. It isn't very good you know..."

"And why's that?"

"When Katie's being mean, there's always a reason behind. Like when she feels insecure or left out, she cuts people down before they can reject her. When you 'play' you just act horrible for the sake of being horrible. You miss the big picture. There's a method to her madness," she explains smiling at her own joke. "Besides," she adds "you try too hard to be mean and it comes off as forced – you can tell it's not really in your nature.

"You've really been paying attention, haven't you?"

Effy shrugs and pulls her legs up onto the chair, tucking them into her chest.

"Okay, so maybe you don't hate me, but what about Katie?"

She shakes her head. "I don't hate Katie either. She's selfish and arrogant and a total bitch but she has her moments. She's entertaining."

"That's one way to describe her."

"God, you really are nothing like her, are you?"

"Yeah, we're pretty different," I say through a snort.

Effy nods in response and opens the book at the table, flipping through the pages at random. "So if you're here, where is Katie? Surely she's not back at your boarding school...?"

"Well, actually..." I trail off, "where else is she meant to go?"

"You're shitting me."

My eyes scrunch and close in frustration. I know it's a crap idea, but it's the only thing we could think of. It's not that bad, right? Opening my eyes, I mumble, "When I'm here, she's at Grayson's."

Effy allows both her legs to drop off the chair, landing with a quiet thud onto the carpet and leans back in her chair. "This won't end well – for either of you. You must know that?"

"It's worked fine so far," I shrug.

"Oh? So I was meant to find out then?"

"Not exactly..."

"And now that I have? What happens next, Ems?" Effy asks with a quirked brow.

Shaking my head, I confess, "I've no idea. Oh God, Katie's going to... ugh, she's going to lose it."

"We'll sort it," Effy says confidently.

"How do you figure that?"

"Because, sweet Emily, I'm going to help you."

Katie's POV

Grayson's

You know, being the more attractive twin has it's downfalls. It's not easy being this good looking. As a twin you constantly get compared. Granted, I always came out on top in the comparisons... but anyway. I'm brought to this line of thinking after having to rebuff Presley's advances yet again. For a closeted muff-muncher she sure as hell knows what she likes. I have to wonder if Emily has to stave Presley off like I've been or if I've inspired it through my well impressive tits. I smirk down at my breasts with a fond smile and walk out of the small bathroom connected to the shared dorm.

"Wow, you look great, hun," Presley says quietly as she sidles up next to me pulling me into a hug.

"I'm wearing what I always wear," I say after briefly hugging her back and walking to the foot of Emily's bed. As I bend down to reach for my backpack, Presley beats me to it.

"Well you look especially nice," she says with a smile holding the bag out to me.

Taking the bag and emptying the contents onto the bed, I say "cheers, babes." When I hear chuckling behind me, I turn around. "What?"

"You seriously sounded like Katie just then."

Sometimes I fall out of character, particularly when I'm distracted. And to be honest, Presley has become a bit of a distraction. "Well we are sisters, twins in fact. You know, we like share the same DNA?" I answer trying to temper my defensiveness.

She rolls her eyes. "Don't remind me, Ems."

Scoffing, I begin to put everything back into my bag.

"Where are you going?" Presley asks looking at me in confusion. "I thought we were going to dinner?"

"You can go to dinner, I'm going to the library." I answer pushing past the blonde, bag in hand.

"Emily-" she begins lifting her arm so she's blocking the doorway. "What is going on with you?"

"Nothing," I sigh in frustration. "I just have coursework that needs to be done and I don't fancy having yet another conversation about how much you hate my sister, okay?"

Presley's arm slides down the framing of the door slowly. "Oh. Okay..." she says but doesn't move her body away from said door. "Actually, it's not okay," she says a moment later.

"Pardon?" I ask incredulously. "Presley, just move out of the way. I told you I'm not having this conversation again."

"Fine, then don't. But you will listen."

The expression on my face must be a treat as Presley raises her hands in surrender and steps away from the door. I adjust the bag on my shoulder and storm out of the room. Who the actual fuck does she think she is? I'd rather kiss the bloody door than stand around listening to that twat. The words echo in my head before I find myself stopping at the main stairwell. She's Emily's girlfriend – she has like every reason to want to talk things through. Shit. I promised Emily not to fuck things up for them, didn't I? With a scowl I turn around and make my way back to the room.

She's sitting on her bed, back facing away from the door, staring intently at Emily's bed. "You're back," she says, not bothering to turn around.

Presley turns her head when she feels the bed dip down next to her. "Yeah, well, I shouldn't have walked away. You obviously want to talk, so I should you know, listen or whatever."

The blonde smiles sadly and takes my hand. "Thanks," she says rubbing circles onto the back of my hand. "I really care about you Emily, I want you to know that."

I nod in response before realizing she's waiting for me to reciprocate. "Yeah, I do too," I say quickly, inwardly cringing.

She leans over placing a chaste kiss on my lips before pulling away with a smile. "Good." Presley releases my hand and stands up, somewhat pacing the room. "The thing is that as much as we care about each other, there's something that's keeping us apart. I've been trying to ignore it, hoping it would go away but it just hasn't. And this last week, has been... I don't know... just very apparent of the... distance... between us."

"Is this like a sex thing?"

Presley laughs, "Nooo, Ems, no. Although, if you want to have that discussion I'm all ears?"

Her joke is met with a cocked head and raised eyebrows. "So? This "distance" you're talking about, isn't about sex. So what is it?"

"It's Katie."

I can't help but roll my eyes.

"No, Emily, don't do that. Don't just dismiss my feelings like they don't matter."

"This conversation is exhausting you know that?"

"That's bullshit! We skirt around the issue and every time I try to address it you either ignore me entirely or get ultra defensive."

"Jesus, Presley – she's my sister! What would you have me do, disown her?"

Presley sighs, "No, of course not..."

"She's in treatment, yeah? What more do you want?"

"Oh come on, Emily. Even you admitted the unlikelihood of treatment being successful!"

I feel it in the pit of my stomach first. Disbelief, betrayal... don't even realize tears are streaming down my face until I see Presley through blurry eyes knelt before me.

"Fuck... Ems, I'm sorry, so sorry. I—I... I shouldn't have ever used your words against you like that. I'm so sorry," she nearly begs attempting to wipe the tears from my face.

"I said that, did I?" I question as I pull my face away from her hands.

"God, you don't even remember do you? I'm not surprised... you were a wreck. It was the night Katie was sent away."

"Right."

She stands up to sit next to me, pulling me into her side, tucking my head into her neck. I let her hold me. I'm not sure why. She places kisses onto the top of my head before moving to kiss my forehead. "I'm so sorry," she repeats cupping my face pulling me in to her lips for a kiss. When I feel her pull away, my hands find the back of her neck and pull her forward crashing my lips onto hers.

Emily thinks I won't ever get better does she? I suppose there's no use in trying then, is there?

After breaking our kiss to breathe I get off the bed, standing in front of her sitting form. My arms reach out to her shoulders slowly moving around her neck. I bend down moving my face so our eyes are even with each other. She tries to move her face forward to kiss me, but I keep her held back. I move closer, our lips mere millimeters apart. When she tries to close the gap between us again, I grab at the hairs at the nape of her neck roughly and smile wickedly.

Only when Presley all but whimpers a pathetic "please" do I relinquish my lips pressing them against hers in a bruising kiss. I waste no time in forcing my tongue into her mouth eliciting a deep moan from the blonde. When her hands wrap around my back, I move forward, sitting on her lap straddling her. Presley's hands move to my ass pushing me further into her, moaning when she feels my tits against hers. God, she is so gay.

Emily's POV

Delfino

I'm not sure how Effy plans to help me exactly but the way she so resoundingly announced that it would be sorted makes me believe that she actually can, help that is. So, I'll let her. I mean what choice do I have anyways? But Gods, telling Katie that Effy knows? Well, that's one conversation I'm not looking forward to having.

"Relax, it will all be okay," Effy assures me as we walk from the library towards the Common Room.

I regard her skeptically. "Really?"

She smiles in lieu of an answer as we enter the room. My eyes automatically dart around the room looking for Naomi. When I don't immediately see the blonde, I try to hide my disappointment.

"Looking for someone?" Effy quirks.

"That obvious?" I ask.

"Ah, well not really. Only if you consider the look on your face that positively screams that you've just lost your puppy. Then yes, rather obvious, I'd say."

I find myself smiling at the brunette, it's difficult not to. "You know, I'm not supposed to like you. So, maybe you could, you know, go back to being a cunt or something?"

"A cunt? Well, you'd be the expert on those, yeah?"

"For fuck's sake, that only lasted about a minute or so."

"Just trying to make things easier on you," Effy smirks.

"Mmm, yes, regular Good Samaritan, you are."

"Something like that, yes," she laughs. "In fact I'm going to help you a bit more. Naomi mentioned wanting to shower after lunch – she's probably done and back in her room by now."

I knock on the door tentatively not wanting to bother Naomi if she's busy. A few seconds later the door is opened by a flushed and towel clad blonde.

"Oh," she says in surprise.

My mouth opens to say something – anything – but my brain fails me entirely as the actual concept of words escapes me.

"Uhh, just give me a minute, okay?" Naomi asks with a smile.

I nod dumbly before she closes the door softly. I turn around muttering at myself for being such a tit.

"Talking to yourself? You know, I was told when I got here not to do that. I'd advise the same of you."

Turning around I smile, "Yeah, well, I'll keep that in mind," and enter the room.

"So, how did it go with Eff?"

"Fine," I answer quickly. "Didn't take long, she got what she needed I think," I elaborate.

"Right," Naomi says with a smile indicating that she knows something's not quite right, but seems to let it go. "So, everything alright? You seemed a bit... flustered?"

"No, no, I'm fine. Thought I'd see what you were doing – bit bored is all."

Naomi nods, "Well I'll have to consult my diary, you understand, make sure I don't have anything on this afternoon."

"Oh, fuck off," I laugh and make my way towards her bed, sitting down.

She joins me on the bed, running her hands through her still wet hair, examining it with a frown. "Are my roots showing?" she asks as she tips her head down, exposing the top of it to me. My hand reaches out before I can think and strokes her hair once, then twice before pulling it away.

"Uh, just a bit but it's not very noticeable. Unless of course, you start walking around with your head at that angle."

She raises her head back to it's natural position. "I'll keep that in mind," she laughs. "It's unfair though, you don't have roots at all. How do you manage that?"

"I don't know what you mean? This is my natural color?"

"Riiight. Yes, natural. My apologies. Tell me do you come form a long line of cherry-red gingers?"

"Mmm," I nod sagely, "Quite a long line yes, quite a rich history in fact."

She takes a pillow off the bed and begins hitting me with it on my side in response.

"Alright, alright, Jesus – I'll tell you," I say in surrender. Once she stops I say simply, "My hair just grows like really, really slow is all."

Naomi makes a face in disgust, "Ugh, I thought you had access to some secret stash of hair dye or some shit."

I shake my head in apology.

She hugs the pillow into her chest. "Well, what good are you then?"

"Bitch! I'm good for a lot of things!"

"Providing old issues of Heat don't count Katie."

"Ha-ha. I'll have you know I can get a lot more than some shitty magazines."

Naomi's eyes narrow. "Yeah? Like what?"

"I don't know," I shrug, "anything really."

"Anything, huh?" She cocks her head in consideration. "I'd do just about anything for a cigarette."

"I could probably get you some but it's not exactly like you'd have any place where you would be able to smoke them."

"Bet there's loads of places I'd be able to sneak off to for a smoke. Surely Effy knows a good little hidey-hole."

"While I don't doubt Effy's resourcefulness, I don't see how you'd get around the shit ton of smoke detectors. They're a bit maniacal when it comes to smoking. Had a big fire a couple years back, loads of damage – smoking's been banned since."

She sighs in frustration. "Paranoid fuckers."

Smiling in response, "Anything else you'd want?" I ask.

"Not really unless you can manage to get your hands on a time machine?"

"Fresh out, I'm afraid."

Naomi rests her head against the pillow still clung to her chest. "That's too bad," she says softly.

"I'll listen you know," I say gently, "if you want to talk?"

Shaking her head into the pillow she says "It's... complicated."

"I can handle complicated." I extend my hand out and take hold of it. "Tell me," I urge.

Naomi looks at our entwined hands and then back at me. At my face. Her brows furrow and I wonder what she must see, what she must be thinking. She must reach some decision as she nods once and squeezes my hand back.

"Okay... I'll tell you - but not from the beginning, I can't go there again so soon. At least not yet."

"So start where you want."

She smiles sadly. "Foster says I have PTSD, have you heard of that before?"

"Yeah," I say rubbing my thumb back and forth on her hand. "I've heard of it."

"Do you think I'm nuts?"

"Just because you're in a madhouse, doesn't make you mad."

"Doesn't it?"

"No. At least I don't think so. I think it makes you pretty brave."

She laughs cruelly. "Yeah, how do you figure that?"

"It takes courage to admit that you need help. Just being here takes strength. You've got both – at least I think so."

Naomi shakes her head and smiles carefully. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"I thought we agreed to be friends?"

"Well yeah, but... you, you're just not who I thought you were."

"In a good or bad way?"

She looks down at our still entwined hands. "In a good way," she admits quietly.

Those four words make me happier than I've been in a while. It's the reason, I argue for what happens next. The hand not clutching hers finds its way to the side of her face, pulling her damp hair behind her ear. Naomi leans her head into my touch and closes her eyes briefly. Only when tears begin to fall down her face do I let go of the hand holding hers, bringing it to her chin lifting her head up. When our eyes meet, I swear my heartbeat doubles in pace. I lick my lips and see her swallow hard. As our heads move closer to each other, her hands find my shoulders, slowly moving around my neck. When our lips finally meet I know I am well and truly fucked. Her soft lips press against mine tentatively at first but they don't stay that way. Her mouth opens and I get my first taste of Naomi. My god, may it not be my last.

We pull away but only for lack of oxygen. With our foreheads pressed against each other, she whispers, "Definitely good," into my lips.

A/N:

The questions asked in Group are from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D. It's a book I've used from time to time over the years. I'll admit some of the questions are kinda lame but there are a few good ones. I've even referenced some of the questions when I've found myself in those awkward quiet moments on dates... you know the ones. Anyway, it's a good way to get to know someone. Or you know, determine that they are complete idiots that shouldn't be allowed to cross the street on their own. Or worse still, discover the very real possibility that you're on a date with a sociopath. That too.

So someone told me I was gaycist since I've only written a hetero smut scene in a "supposedly slash" fic. It was definitely said in more of a playful than judgmental way, but yeah. Um, I'll get to it. Seriously, I will. Or something? Idk... I mean I'm following my damn story map. LOL. That is literally my excuse for everything, isn't it? Besides, can someone really be gaycist when their OTP is of two girls? Anyways, smut is a-coming. Heh. See what I did there?

Some quick thank yous: alexberkley for reviewing every chapter of ITR all in one go, tiffythetitan for the encouragement and always calling me out on my BS, Violetw for just being one of the most genuine people like ever, FclydEN for finding the inconsistencies from the original death certificate & asking some brilliant questions and finally scriptmanip... because you're a goddess AND because you've just posted a new fic!

xx,

tinderbliss