A/N
Firstly, Happy Easter everybody! And if you don't believe in Easter then Happy Day! So this is my last chapter and it feels really nice because if you knew me in real life you'd know that I never stick to things, seriously I've tried instruments, painting, photography, the works, so I'm just happy to have stuck with this. I have a few mentions, of course, because you guys are the reason I didn't piss it off ages ago, it was nice knowing that people were waiting to read something I wrote and it encouraged me to keep writing.
ReadingNaomilyAllDayErDay, marsupial1974, FrenchKiwi1994 and Lana you all stuck it to the end with me, even in the chapters that I hated posting and everybody else probably hated reading so for that I feel really blessed, thank you! :-)
I wish I could write down personal messages to everybody that has reviewed or read this story but its Easter so I just don't have the time for that haha. Do know though that you ALL made me smile at least once last/this year and I'm really, really, reallyyyyyy thankful for that.
I don't know if or when I'll post another story, I do know I'm writing one but maybe that'll turn out being one of those things where I just want to write it for myself, who knows. I'd like to stay in contact with some of you though so if you have twitter send me a message! ...I'm pretty friendly :P
I feel like I'm literally closing a little chapter in my life, and it's really nice.
Enjoy the Epilogue! X
All mistakes were mine and I never owned skins ;)
Epilogue.
March 31st 2013
"Babe I've gotta go" I leaned down and kissed her cheek, giggling at the way she pulled my arm, keeping a hold of it on her chest "Naoms...I'll be late"
"Don't care" she mumbled pouting her lips for me to kiss
"You're-so-impossible" I smiled kissing her over and over until I felt satisfied enough. "Okay, I've seriously got to go now though so I'll call you later"
"Sure you don't want me to come?"
"I'm sure" I smiled lovingly at how cute she always looks when she wakes up
"Cause I can call in si-"
"I'm sure babe" I tapped my finger against her neck "Ruth said last days are always boring anyway, we'll probably be back by 12 and we're celebrating tonight remember" I stood up and flung my camera bag around over my shoulder "don't sleep in!"
"I won't" Naomi rolled her eyes and then pulled the blanket back over her head. I smiled to myself and turned around to leave when I heard "and Em, good luck"
"Thanks" I blew her a final kiss and then left.
...
"Look" Effy nodded her head at something behind me. I turned around and smirked at the same old man we saw everyday on the train. Being an hour long, the train ride was really boring most days so it didn't take long for us to notice him. He was on the train every morning, wearing the same beanie, drinking the same drink and humming the same song (which we found out a long time ago as being 'pack up your troubles', it was an old war song) and we'd somewhat formed an inside joke over it, mostly just humming the song around Katie to piss her off.
I nodded my greeting at him and then turned back around "nervous about today?"
"Nope" Effy took a sip of her coffee "you?"
"Kind of...it just feels weird"
"Yeah" she nodded
"It's gone so fast, it feels like yesterday we were taking the first train there, having our first lesson"
"Finding Sian shagging one of the blokes from IT in the computer wing"
"Yeah" I laughed "Christ, that was horrible!"
Effy and I spent the rest of the trip mainly chatting about funny things that had happened in the last two and a half years of the photography diploma we had taken and by the time we actually got to Cardiff I was feeling much more relaxed than what id felt leaving Bristol. Effy had a talent of doing that.
We got off at the station and crossed the road reaching the Uni's first building and after we signed in I left her to go have her smoke and headed for our lecture hall.
"Emily! Dead sweet isn't it? Ruth stayed late just to get this lot up" Sophie skipped towards me and pointed at all the balloons and banners that were stuck to the walls.
"Ruuuuuuthy!" I called out, making the teacher blush. Ruth had been our main lecturer since the beginning of our course; she was a lively woman in her mid 30's that had outdrank most of the students on our nights out. She was cool.
"Come on, hop in" Sophie pulled my arm, wanting me to get next to her and a few others for a photo. We had graduated last week and today was our last day, just to say goodbye to everyone. Effy and I were now fully qualified photographers and thinking about it made my head spin because I never thought life would turn out the way it has.
It was almost two years ago I got a flat in Bristol with Katie, back then my relationship with Naoms was completely innocent, we'd kissed and gone on a lot of dates but true to her word we took it slow. Effy and I got accepted in a photography Diploma at Cardiff University, Katie was managing Dad's Bristol gym and working at a clothes shop part time and Naoms had landed herself an apprentice position at the local newspaper which meant she mostly spent her days following the political journalists around and writing small articles, she loved it. It had been almost a year since Eff and I unofficially swapped flats, all her stuff was still at Naoms place but I can't even remember the last time she slept there, we often laughed about it.
I felt lucky to have been accepted in the course because not only did it give me a reason to be near Naoms, it gave me my own group of friends and made me realise what type of photographer I am. I prefer being hired to take random photos of buildings or people when they want it whereas Eff is more into doing photography for weddings. It's great pay and so far I haven't come across one boring job yet.
"Oi, ya know she's up the duff right?" Mary, another girl from the course nudged me looking at Ruth. I raised my eyebrows in shock and ran over to Ruth as quickly as I could.
"Are you pregnant!"
"Shhh" she laughed grabbing my arm and pulling me to a corner of the room "if you must know, no I'm not...but the girls know something's up so just let them think it"
"Cheeky" I chuckled "so what is it then? this big secret"
"Mark proposed!" she pulled a necklace from behind her shirt that had a large diamond ring dangling from the end of it "I'm keeping it here for now"
"That's amazing! Congratulations" I gushed over the ring "when? How!"
"Last night...I got in late after sorting all this" she gestured her hand to the banners and balloons "and opened the fridge to see 'will you marry me', it was a homemade cake, cute as anything!"
"Wow" I grinned "when's the wedding?"
"I've no idea" she chuckled "all I know is I'm hiring Eff for the day, don't go telling her though!"
"I wont' I laughed again.
We spent half the day reliving the funniest moments of our course with the rest of the students and Ruth, some other teachers and students from different courses came in to congratulate us and we shared cake and wine, by the time we had to leave I was a mess, I couldn't stop crying because I was actually sad to say goodbye to the course.
"Tragic" Effy chuckled crossing the street "honestly, you'd think we were mourning somebody, people keep staring at us"
"I can't help it, they're happy tears" I sniffed "I'll just miss everyone here...it feels so weird to know we wont be coming back every morning. I know you're sad too, you're just better at hiding it"
"I'm sad...but more excited" Effy smiled showing the train guard her ticket "I'm excited to go out tonight, it's been ages, I don't even think I can remember the last time I got proper drunk"
"Jay's birthday" I chuckled showing him my ticket and then following her on the train "You offered him Katie for the night, remember? You had to sleep on the couch for two weeks after that"
Effy smirked taking a seat by one of the windows on the train and I sat down across from her thinking about what's next. "I think I'll work in the gym for a bit, until Naoms is finished with her apprenticeship...then maybe I can try London out again"
"I like it" she smiled genuinely "now pass me that paper"
...
By the time I got back to Naomi's flat it was already 2 in the afternoon and I still had to shower, choose an outfit and dye my hair brown before meeting her at a restaurant near her work for an early dinner. I had just finished running the dye through my hair when there was a knock at the door and I frowned wondering who it could be and then washed my hands.
"Someone's lucky" a guy in blue overalls with a nice smile chuckled "Emily Fitch?"
"Yeah" my eyebrows shot up seeing him bend down and pick up a large bouquet of blue and purple orchids "wow..."
"Sign here" he handed over a clipboard and I scribbled my name down, eager to read the card stuck to the side of the bouquet.
"Have a nice one" he handed the flowers over and walked away. I smiled staring at how pretty they were as I took them to the kitchen bench and then quickly ripped the small envelope open; grinning as soon as I even finished reading it.
Wish I could have personally delivered them but we both know this place would fall apart without me ;). Just wanted to make you smile, I love you Ems. Naomi xo
"Lo?"
"Babe!" I squealed pressing the speaker button on my phone "you got me orchids!"
"Assuming you like them then?" Naoms chuckled
"I love them so much that I think I'm going to go into withdrawal when they die"
"Jesus" she laughed "I'll just have to get you more then. How was your day?"
"That's a loaded question" I puffed out a breath of air, walking over to the sink to get a vase from the cupboard "it was nice...I was just sad to say bye to everyone, I mean, I'm glad I'm finally qualified but.." I felt my throat tighten from the emotions that I thought I left in Cardiff.
"It's not forever Ems" Naomi said gently "and before you know it you'll be onto the next thing and won't even dwell on it"
"Yeah I know" I nodded "I'm just being stupid"
"I think it's cute"
I smiled to myself feeling the little butterflies that constantly lived in my stomach wake up and start fluttering around. "Hows work going?"
"Slower now that I know you're home" Naoms sighed
"Aw, you big sook" I giggled "just one more shift and you have a whole week of me, you'll be pulling your hair out by the end of it" I joked
"A whole week of Jenna Fitch's famous spinach and feta soup"
"Something like that" I giggled scratching the side of my head and then noticing the hair dye on my finger. "Christ, babe I gotta go, I'll see you at 4 okay?"
"I'll be there with bells on"
...
The restaurant we chose was a new one that had opened a few months ago and Naoms had to book the table a month in advance because it was so popular. Walking into it I could see why, it looked like the inside of a really clean factory with a winding bar and wooden tables. It wasn't the usual type of place you see in Bristol, it was exciting.
"Sorry I'm late" I squeezed Naomi's shoulder and then walked around the table and took a seat opposite her "for someone who had half the day off I feel like I'm losing too much time" I smiled, pretending to not notice the way her eyes narrowed at my hair. Changing to brown hadn't been something planned, I just felt like after having the red for so long that a change would be nice, especially at a time where my life was changing so much already, so when I saw the dye the other day in the shops I got excited. It was the first spontaneous thing I had done in ages and it made me feel nice.
"So..." I grinned in anticipation watching Naomi turn her head from side to side "what do you think?"
"S'nice" she shrugged and I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the reaction
"What? You could be bald and I would still love it" she shrugged again
I felt my lips pull up at the sides because even though Naoms wasn't the most romantic person in the world she always knew the right thing to say. "Similar to your natural" Naomi stretched her arm across the table and took my hand "so, Emily Fitch, a qualified photographer, feel different does it?"
"Kind of" I smiled pulling her hand to my lips "Ruth got engaged last night"
"About time, how long have they been together? 10 years?"
"5" I bit her knuckles for dramatising it "she wants Eff to do her wedding"
"That's sweet of her" Naomi smiled picking up her menu "you know now that you're qualified you wont be able to get student rates anymore"
"Yeah" I nodded "we'll have to cut back, maybe we can start doing those weekly shops that we planned 6months ago"
"Suppose" Naoms rolled her eyes, smirking "I just...hate cooking, especially now that we'll be having two different meals, guess you'll just have to cut back on the meat"
"Or you can cut back on the veggies" I chuckled snatching the menu from her.
Naoms had decided to become a vegetarian almost 8 months ago now; it was after her Mum demanded that we go to a slaughter factory with her in Bath because a group of activists had been invited to watch how they kill animals, I think the company that arranged it were trying to sway the activist's opinions and for the most part it worked. I mean, it wasn't nice seeing the cows being stunned and then bleeding out but as far as killing them goes it was quick. Naoms came home ranting about how wrong it was and promised herself she'd never eat meat again and ever since she's been keeping record and gloating about how many months she's been meat-free, I find it cute.
...
"I don't know how I'm going to walk out of here" Naomi put down her fork and knife and leant back in her seat "reckon they should make a law on how much a person is allowed to eat when they're dining out"
"You would, I wouldn't be surprised if they have to close after we leave, there's probably nothing left to serve" I laughed at my own joke, catching the napkin she threw at me.
"For that, you don't get your present"
"Present?" my head snapped up
"Bet you're wishing you didn't make fat jokes now" Naomi cockily raised her eyebrow and then I gave her my best puppy dog face knowing it was useless
"What if I make it up to you later" I winked
"Hmm" she stroked her chin "alright, but it has to be an hour long ba-"
"Backrub yes I know" I rolled my eyes playfully "god, we're a boring pair aren't we"
"Probably" she shrugged "but in all seriousness, pass me your keys"
"What?" I looked up again, sure id heard wrong
"Keys please" Naoms grinned holding out her hand and I looked at her weirdly and then lifted my bag off of the ground to take out my keys. Once I handed them over to her, she pulled a key off the set and then handed it back to me with a grin so wide it looked painful.
"Okay...babe, I don't know if you know what you just did but-"
"The spare key" Naomi nodded "it's yours"
"Yeah, it is" I frowned confused
"Ems...don't be daft..." Naomi sighed "I'm asking you to move in with me, y'know...officially"
"You're" I shook my head in disbelief and then felt the smile split across my face "really!?" people looked at us weirdly as I jumped up and ran around the table, pulling her head against my stomach tightly "like moving my stuff in type of thing?!"
"Mhm"
"But what about Eff?" I frowned looking down at her. All of Effy's things were still in her abandoned room and even though she didn't sleep there it was still her place, she still paid the rent and occasionally came over to spend a day lazing around.
"You're swapping" Naomi stood up and let me hug her properly "if you want, that is"
"Is she okay with that?"
"Course!"
...
"Eugh you two are well embarrassing tonight, seriously get a fucking room"
"We've got a flat" I giggled against Naomi's lips "our flat"
"Use it then yeah?"
"No complaints over here babe, you just keep kissing Naomikins all ya like" Cook yelled from behind the bar making most of the group laugh.
"Piss off" Naomi flipped him off and leant back on her chair while I grabbed my beer and listened to JJ tell his girlfriend, Lara, all the ins and outs of what having braces felt like. We'd been at Keith's for a couple hours just sitting around a table laughing and waiting for Cook to finish his shift before we headed out to a club. It was nice relaxing with our friends, some we hadn't seen in months, like Panda and Thommo because they moved to London a year ago or Freddie because we just weren't that close to him, it was good to catch up with them all and hear what they'd been doing.
"5 more minutes Cookie" Keith pointed to his phone and then walked out the front
"Make it quick, places to be birds to see" Cook shouted after him and placed another tray of shots on the bar, indicating for Katie to go over and help him. I smiled and turned to look at Naomi, still feeling bubbly inside about her asking me to move in.
We'd come so far in our relationship that sometimes, like now, I took the time to think back on what my life was like when I met her, even after we got together I don't think I ever imagined our relationship being what it is now, I wanted it but I couldn't picture Naomi committing to someone as much as she has to me because she had so many issues with commitment and every time I remembered that it made me feel like I was falling in love with her all over again because our relationship now was truly the best it could be, sometimes I felt like I was so in love that there was no way on earth anybody else would know how it feels, like it's an exclusive club that only the two of us are in. Other times I want to rip her head off, but mostly I just felt happy and loved.
"Okay so we know you's like, didn't wanna make a big deal out of it or anything but if you thought we were just gonna pretend like you didn't graduate and become professional photographers then you're both dozy cows" Katie smirked walking up to the table with two red envelopes in her hands. Cook was grinning from ear to ear as he placed the tray of shots on the table and sat down between Naomi and I, flinging his arm around my shoulders and looking really smug. Effy and I shared a 'what have they done' sort of look as Katie passed an envelope to each of us and then I opened it.
"Guys...200 quid" I gawped at the camera shop voucher "It's too much..."
"Speak for yourself" Effy grinned blowing everybody around the table a kiss "thanks you lot this can go towards that lens that I've been saving forever for"
"Yeah, really you've no idea how much this helps" I made eye contact with the first person I looked up at which happened to be Thomas, and smiled.
"This calls for a cheers!" Cook stood up abruptly and leant forward to grab a shot
"You could take a shit and think it deserves a cheers" Katie smirked unfolding her arms and grabbing her own shot off of the table.
"To Emilio and Eff for getting a certificate for summit cause lets face it, they've done better than us lot have" I giggled seeing Naoms roll her eyes as everyone stood up and clinked their shot glasses together and in that moment I felt like the luckiest person in the world because even though our lives had changed and some of us didn't see each other as much anymore, I was proud to say that each and everyone of them is a friend.
"So...what's next then?" Naoms bit her lip looking around the table
"Got it!" Cook slapped his knee and sat up straight "how's about we try America?"
The End (seriously)