1 comments/ 16416 views/ 15 favorites Intoxicated Ch. 01 By: AbsolutelyOverYue A/N: This story is inspired by a night of daydream and boredom. I've never seen many Interracial+Incest stories so...I decided to try it out. Hopefully it turns out great. ^^ (P.S; No intercourse or sexual content other than kissing will occur between characters unless they are 18+. Currently Naomi is 17.) Enjoy. oOo Lightning flashed across the sky, accompanied by thunder as rain fell heavily down and hit the asphalt. Naomi Williams was loosely sprawled across the couch, her big gray eyes staring out the glass that separated her from the rest of the world. It was raining heavily, thunder and lightning filling the skies as dark gray clouds drifted by. Most people she knew didn't like the storms. Her best friend, Lisa, in particular hated them. The girl was justified of course. She had severe agoraphobia and astraphobia, and that alone made her prone to panic attacks in many situations. Naomi had made sure to walk the girl home before returning to her own house, knowing Lisa would probably be locked in her room by now and covering her ears as thunder roared in the sky. But unlike Lisa, Naomi was actually fond of storms. Not because of the lightning or the thunder, but because of the rain. She loved the way rain felt. The way it sounded. The way it looked. She loved everything about it. When she saw rain she never felt depressed or sad, instead she would feel an overwhelming feeling of peace. That of course had to be because of her mother. Elle Williams had been a generous and somewhat eccentric woman. Everyone in Gray Village had loved her. She was never angry, never afraid. She constantly helped others and could bring a smile to the lips of even a person with a heart of stone. One thing that everyone knew about Elle, was that she was completely fascinated with rain. She drew it, wrote songs about it, and she would never miss a chance to dance in it whenever a storm hit. When Naomi was little and when her mother was still around, both her and Naomi would hurriedly put on their coats and rush outside to dance in the rain and stick out their tongues to let the cold drops fall inside of their mouths. Naomi's father would simply watch from the window, laughing and shaking his head at his families playful aura. Sometimes Naomi could convince him to join them, but more often than not he would kindly refuse. Back then everything had been perfect really. When the rain would stop both Naomi and her mother would go inside and warm themselves up while Naomi's father would prepare them a warm meal. They would laugh and joke and chat avidly until Naomi fell asleep in her parents arms. Everything back then had been filled with happy memories. She had been happy. All of them had been happy. But now many years later as Naomi stared out at the rain, a solemn expression on her face and tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, Naomi realized just how drastically things had changed. Once upon a time she had been an innocent little girl content with her life. She had a loving family, plenty of friends, a wonderful home and everything she could ever want. She had never had a reason to cry. And briefly she wondered if she had taken things for granted. Of course, how much could an eight year old girl take for granted when she was as naive as they came? Naomi sighed and turned away from the window, eyeing the TV across from her as the news forecast played on the screen. That naive girl had quickly been forced to mature. Her mother was dead, murdered, and now several feet beneath the dirt. For weeks the death had flashed through the news. Victim to a hit and run car accident. Murdered by a gunshot and a gas explosion. Shock had been Naomi and her fathers companion, along with the rest of the town. Everything, her life and her heart, had shattered and fell apart. Elle was dead before she even reached the hospital. That was just the beginning of a downward spiral of events. Her father grew depressed shortly after; neglecting Naomi and rarely returning home. Her fellow students had shown her pity, as rest as most of the town. A large memorial had been in honor of Elle, but the only thing present during the event had been tears. Naomi slowly withdrew herself from everyone, including Lisa and her father. It was like the effort to go on had been switched off. Her grades went down, her social interaction went null. No one knew how to snap her out of it. She treated each day as if in a silent, cold daze. Even the teachers had contacted her father, requesting him to talk some sense in her. They had tried to get her into counseling, but spending a day with someone paid to act like they cared wasn't something Naomi could agree with. Like everything else, things became worse before they got better. Naomi's father took comfort in drowning his sorrows in alcohol. He never touched Naomi of course. Even when he lost his temper with her, he would never hit her. Her father would have rather killed himself, because even though he had lost his wife he still loved Naomi no matter what. But that didn't mean he took it well. They had rarely spoken through the years, the occasional 'Good morning' and 'How was your day' being their usual greeting. Even now, 9 years later, they still didn't speak to each other much. They had regained some of their lost closeness, but Naomi was still as distant as ever. She was constantly swamped with school and work. And when she wasn't busy with that, she was cleaning the house, checking over Lisa, or making sure her father hadn't forgotten to pay the bills. It was almost as if she were a robot. She could smile again, laugh again. But it was always forced. Life without Elle in it was barely a life at all, but Naomi was too much of a coward to join her mother in death. So she endured, and endured, and endured some more. The rain helped her go on. Even though it now brought a painful clench to her heart, she could still get lost in the sound and let the cool sensation of it wash over her. It brought back painful memories, but it brought back wonderful ones too. And for that, she was grateful. Faintly she grew aware of a throbbing pain on her arm that she had ignored before, but she refused to lift her sleeve to look at the large bruises there again. During one of her depressed phases, Naomi had gotten involved with Prince Long, a handsome boy at her school. He had seemed charming at first, and he never questioned her or pitied her, which was something Naomi found comfort in. Their relationship had gone long term, and her father hadn't seemed to mind or even care really. But recently Prince had been getting a little too aggressive toward her. Lisa disliked him immensely, but even she didn't know about how he would lose his temper and sometimes hurt Naomi. At first she had chalked it up to family problems and stress. After all, Prince had his own fair share of shit he had to go through. But soon it began to get serious and he started to get more brutal. He could still be charming when he wanted. He wasn't a school heartthrob for nothing. With his dark hair and big green eyes, as well as his impish smile, he could make anyone melt. Male or female, teacher or student. But now it was serious enough where Naomi had to hide her bruises in long sleeved clothes and makeup. Not even her father was aware of her predicament. He had only met Prince a few times and even then they rarely spoke. Being on the student council, Naomi had learned to hide her emotions well. So no one ever noticed her troubled aura when she was around. It helped that most chalked up her distant behavior to the loss of her mother and stress. And while that was a portion of the reason, Prince was a more serious issue at the moment. She had contemplated leaving him several times. She knew about girls who were stuck in abusive relationships and she had always assumed she'd never be part of one. It wasn't like Prince was FORCING her to stay with him. But every time their fights would end, usually with Prince slapping or grabbing her hard enough to bruise, things would calm down and go back to normal. He'd apologize, grovel, do anything he had to until Naomi finally gave into him. Maybe it had to due with his big green eyes that reminded her of a forlorn puppy when he did so. Or maybe it was the way he would gently kiss her bruises and softly rub her shoulder as he apologized. But she always gave in. Internally she knew that she wouldn't be able to take his abuse forever. Though he never broke any bones or went farther than hitting her or grabbing her, he still went too far a little too often. His apologies wouldn't always be able to soften her up, and briefly Naomi made a promise. The next time he went too far and bruised her skin, or even made her bleed- she would snap. She rarely hit him back, but as an athlete it wouldn't be hard to fend him off and give him a taste of his own medicine. He was strong, but she was strong too. Elle wouldn't have wanted her to stay with such a person anyway, even if he was handsome and seemed like 'Prince charming'. That very day Prince had greeted her when she was on her way to Biology. He had cornered her in an empty hallway and kissed her, saying he hadn't been able to speak to her for days. Mostly because she was on Student council and he was always at practice. She hadn't been in the mood when he had tried to make out with her, and she knew that if she was late for class again the teacher wouldn't be as accommodating. So she pushed him away. And so ensued an argument that soon led to him getting annoyed. And when Prince was annoyed, he was angry. And when he was angry, he got physical. Luckily all he had done was pin her to her locker. But his vice grip on her arm had been painful, and she had been severely relieved when the bell rang- making way for her to escape as students came into the hall. She had avoided him for the rest of the day. Usually Prince drove her home, but Naomi had ditched class early to walk home with Lisa before Prince could find her. When she finally reached her house and unlocked the door, Naomi realized rather quickly that her father was gone and the house was empty. He had left a note on the fridge, saying he was 'out with a friend and would be back by midnight'. It wasn't uncommon for him to go clubbing or meet up with his firefighter buddies after his shift was over. In fact her father had been leaving home early alot as of late. So Naomi had simply undressed from her uniform and collapsed on the couch as the first rainfall came. The house was dull and quiet and dark. The grace and happiness that had always been present when her mother was around to greet her was gone. There was nothing to look forward to. Nothing to feel happy for. Naomi felt strangely empty as she sat there, her fingers curling around her arm. And at that moment, the phone rang. oOo Naomi eyed the phone as its red light flickered. She checked the caller ID and internally groaned when she realized it was Prince. For a moment she considered ignoring his call. But then she remembered that he had his ways of reaching her, especially since he had a key to her house, and decided against it. Quickly Naomi stretched across the couch and snatched the telephone off the coffee table. Pushing talk Naomi pressed the phone against her ear and turned down the TV. "Hello?" She asked calmly, leaning back on the couch and biting her cheek in preparation for Prince to yell at her. To her surprise, he didn't. "Where are you?" There was an unspoken demand in his tone, but surprisingly his voice was soft and even sounded a little tired. She heard shouts and grunts in background, and realized he was at soccer practice. She almost laughed. Even in the rain, the team coach never let them take a day off. "Home." She replied simply, pushing strands of her hair out of her face as she turned on her side and relaxed. "Why didn't you wait for me?" He asked. His tone went dark, and Naomi tried not to roll her eyes even though she knew he couldn't see her anyway. "Well." Naomi began slowly. "I, uh, I had to take Lisa home. You know how she is with thunder storms." And Prince did know about Lisa's phobia. They had gotten acquainted with each other after Naomi had introduced them. Lisa disliked Prince of course, she seemed to dislike all popular people at Braxton Heights, and Prince as well wasn't fond of her. But that didn't mean he was ignorant. He growled into the phone at Naomi's excuse. "I could have given you both a ride home Naomi. Don't pull that crap with me-" He snapped, his voice getting louder. But at that moment he stopped, and Naomi heard a voice in the distance calling for him. She suspected it was his coach. The old man didn't take well to electronics being present during practice. Mentally she thanked him for the distraction. "Cripes. Naomi..." Prince sighed into the phone a few minutes later. "I'll call you back another time. But just know that I'm picking you up tomorrow since you ditched me today." And then after a brief ''I love you'', he hung up. The dial tone sounded in Naomi's ear. With a sigh she placed the phone back on the coffee table and stood up to fetch her duffle bag beside the couch. She might as well do her homework before she rested for the day. After all, Naomi had a stressful morning to look forward to. oOo Intoxicated Ch. 02 A/N: Part II of Intoxicated. And a warning to readers, since I received a complaint that the last chapter had no 'action', this story will be romance. Never mind the extra taboos like incest. It's romance and as such, there will not be just sex but actual character development and a plot. Enjoy. oOo Between the calming sound of rain, the buzz of the TV set, and the blur of ink on her school papers, Naomi wasn't sure when she fell asleep. But when she did, she dreamed of a barren mountain covered in snowflakes and frosted grass. For hours she tried to find her way off of the mountain and out of the bone numbing blizzard that trapped her there. But no matter how long she trudged on through the snow, she couldn't escape. What was worse was that unlike her other dreams, she couldn't force herself to wake up from this one. It was an oddity for her, as the only dreams she had nowadays consisted of nightmares concerning her late mother- or the rain. So when she found herself in a dreamscape blizzard, she was more than a little confused. What was even more weird, was that she felt like the dream meant something yet couldn't figure out what. All of her dreams weren't just random pictures her mind conjured up. They all meant something. Whether they foretold a future event or constantly brought up old ones, there was always a message. She just didn't know what message this dream was trying to convey. Yet. oOo "Naomi! Naomi, wake up you lazy bum-" Lisa shook Naomi awake, the hazy eyed girl staring up at her in a confused daze. "Mmh?" Naomi muttered, her gray eyes dilating as her blurry eyesight began to clear. Eventually she had a clear view of Lisa's freckled nose and annoyed blue eyes. "Don't mmh me! You were supposed to call me last night but you didn't!" The brunette scolded as she dragged Naomi off the couch. Naomi only stared at her in mild confusion as she tried to register what she was saying. After all, she wasn't exactly a morning person. Lisa obviously didn't notice her distant expression because she continued to complain as she led her through the house. "-And then I wake up early, early Naomi!, only for Prince to call me and tell me not to wait up for you? That prick! I don't understand why you date him." Lisa went on as she pulled her toward the entrance, totally oblivious to the fact Naomi was only wearing a skin baring camisole and short shorts. At her boyfriends name, Naomi's eyes suddenly brightened. But not in happiness. She instantly remembered Prince telling her he would pick her up the next morning. Groaning and untangling herself from Lisa's tight grip, Naomi sped to the kitchen and checked the time on the stove. She sighed in relief but then squeaked in panic when she realized she wasn't late for school- but she only had thirty minutes until she would be. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier!" Naomi snapped angrily as Lisa trailed behind her into the kitchen, her arms folded over her neatly ironed school uniform. "Well excuse me." Lisa muttered, rolling her eyes as Naomi shot past her like a bullet and jumped up the stairs toward her room. Like a tornado Naomi grabbed her uniform and ran into the bathroom to take a shower, brush her teeth, and do all the girl things she did before leaving the house. Since she was part of the Student Council, she was used to waking up early. What she was NOT used to however, was waking up early and having to rush to school. She was never late. Never. So she was a bit sour about Lisa not coming earlier. Of course, Naomi thought as she jumped in the shower and let the warm water roll over her skin, it wasn't really Lisa's fault. In fact, Naomi didn't blame her in the least, she just needed someone to focus her ire on. She really blamed the dream from last night. Ever since she was little she could tell the difference between reality and illusion, so she was always aware when she was in a dream. She had learned rather quickly how to alert her body and gain consciousness whenever she wanted to, unless it was a nightmare. So she was pretty pissed that for once her mind had trapped her in an illusion, especially since it was of snow and not rain. 'Damn cerebral cortex.' Naomi thought irritably as she finished her shower and scurried to pull on her uniform. By the time she was finished, Lisa was already waiting by the front porch. When Naomi emerged from the front door, Lisa quickly pushed herself from her position against one of the porch pillars and eyed Naomi up and down. "Well," Lisa said with a wry smile. "You look like you just went to hell and back." And since Naomi had spared a quick glance in the mirror before leaving the house, she knew it was true. Her hair, which was usually worn in a neat ponytail, was now pulled into a messy bun with tendrils framing her face. Her skin shone with sweat and moisture from her shower, and her clothes were wrinkled and mostly unbuttoned. Of course her face still had that stern and practical look to it, but the rest of her attire...kind of made it hard to take her seriously. Lisa guffawed and nudged Naomi's shoulder, sending her a teasing look. Naomi glared at her, but didn't have time to respond to her earlier jab when Prince's sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The faint sound of music wafted towards them from the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, and Naomi took a second to admire the expensive vehicle before the passenger window slid down, revealing Prince's face. His hair was greased back and was glossier than Naomi's own hair, and the shades he wore over his eyes made it impossible to tell if he was glaring at her or not. But she didn't dwell on it when Prince silently but coolly gestured for her and Lisa to get in. "Narcissistic bastard. Why cant he buy a normal car like a normal person." Lisa muttered for only Naomi to hear as they descended the steps of her home and approached the car. "You can complain when you actually OWN a car Lisa." Naomi replied cheekily and quickly pulled away with a grin when the brunette tried to swat her. "Coward!" Lisa called out, her tone showing a hint of playfulness as she chased Naomi around the car. "Nerd!" Naomi retorted, squealing when Lisa almost cornered her. "I am not a nerd! I'm...intellectual!" Lisa sputtered, causing Naomi to laugh hysterically at her. They called each other names and played cat and mouse for a few more minutes before Prince finally had enough and blew the horn of his car, startling them both. Lisa sent him an annoyed glare, but Naomi only took a deep breath before reprimanding herself for being so immature on a school day. When she quickly slid in the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt, she avoided Prince's gaze. And it stayed that way the whole ride, thanks to Lisa's bickering distracting him. Naomi smiled inwardly. Lisa was something else. But she wouldn't trade the sharp tongued junior for the world. oOo "What the hell happened to you Williams?" Jake, the president of the Student Council, whispered to her as they headed toward the councils meeting room. It was the end of the school day, the student council meeting being her last school obligation before going home, and since Prince and Lisa didn't share many classes with her she hadn't spotted them all day. She was very surprised that Prince hadn't tried to catch her alone, but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She had been getting odd looks all day from students and teachers alike. And she couldn't blame them. Naomi had always shown a quiet elegance and professional appearance to the rest of the world excluding Lisa, even when she mourning for her mother. Never had they seen her look so...disheveled. At least not since Elle's funeral they hadn't. It was embarrassing really. Prince hadn't questioned her about it thankfully and hadn't even acknowledged her attire beyond a simple raise of his eyebrows. But as a member of the Student Council and having a reputation as an ice queen, well, it wasn't good for her image. Not that she had really cared too much about what other people thought lately, but that didn't mean she could just disregard it like it was nothing. Even Principle Bartlett had stopped her in the hallways while she was on her way to Health. He had taken one look at her and asked if she needed to see a doctor, or even if she was on her cycle. He had said it in a partially filled hallway too. To say she had been mortified was an understatement. "I'm fine Jake, I just slept in on accident. I know, it's not like me!" She explained hurriedly as Jake raised a light eyebrow and gave her a worried frown. "Well I can't hold it against you, it's not like you came to school in your birthday suit." Both laughed lightly, ignoring the looks of the departing students as they walked down the hall. "But," Jake went on, his arm now wrapped around Naomi's shoulder. "I think it'd be best if you...try to...er, you know, clean up a bit and rest yourself before attending any more meetings. You've been acting off for the past few weeks. And don't think I haven't noticed." Naomi slowed in her tracks at his words and sent him a blank look. "But we have an important meeting, I can't be late for that. I'm the vice president." She replied and struggled not to let the annoyance show on her face. Despite her good poker face, some of her emotion must have gave itself away in her tone because Jake's smile turned apologetic. "Missing one meeting wont be the end of the world. Not to mention there won't even be much to miss, we've already covered a lot of discussions in our last one. There won't be much to discuss today except for the upcoming dance-" Jake explained, but was cut off by Naomi's raised palm. "Which is exactly why I have to be there, since I AM part of the dance committee as well-" She interjected. "And you're the principles assistant, vice president, and the head of three school clubs. I know Naomi, I've heard this all before." Jake reprimanded softly as he turned and placed his firm hands on her shoulders, holding her into place. Naomi pouted up at him as his hazel eyes met her own; shoulders sagging. Jake and her had never been particularly 'friends' per see. But he was a good brotherly figure and was one of the most mature people in the school. His status as the president of the council and student body gave him authority that he handled well, and Naomi had a begrudged respect for him. When he said something, Naomi knew to take it to heart. Because he knew what was best for her, even if they didn't interact much outside of school matters. "Fine..." Naomi murmured, her forehead creased in disdain that she was neglecting her duties, even if for one day. "I'll spend the rest of the day off." Jake's smile was bright and contagious and he ruffled Naomi's already messy hair, causing the smaller girl to groan. "Excellent." oOo After grabbing her things and slugging her duffel bag over her shoulder, Naomi wasn't surprised to find Prince waiting for her outside of the school. He was leaning against his car, ignoring the admiring gazes of passing bystanders. The dark sunglasses he wore kept his sharp eyes out of sight, but that didn't mean Naomi didn't feel his gaze when it snapped to her. Lisa must have already left thinking she would be busy with the meeting. 'Shite.' Naomi thought sullenly as she straightened her posture and walked steadily towards her boyfriend. He unfolded his arms as she approached, and didn't complain when she reached up and removed his glasses. At seeing his heavily lashed jade eyes, Naomi smiled faintly. During their relationship she had made it clear that his eyes were her favorite feature. When they kissed, she kept her eyes on his. When they argued, she always met his gaze head on. They were a mirror into his emotions, and she loved looking at them. So of course she knew wearing shades was his way of getting on her nerves. "I see you're out early." Prince muttered and paused, waiting for an explanation. Naomi didn't give it to him. "Prince, what do you really want to talk about? That phone call from yesterday was a warning, but I know Lisa prevented you from being alone with me. So spit it out." Naomi expertly began to change the subject, leaning on the hood and ignoring the gazes of the students walking by. Prince tilted his chin down to look at her, part annoyance and part amusement showing in his eyes. He reached for his glasses and tucked them in the collar of his shirt before opening the passenger door for Naomi to get in. At her questioning gaze, he explained,"I'd rather not talk out in the open, babe." Not bothering to remind him not to call her such an annoying nickname, Naomi readjusted her duffel bag and slid into the car, Prince shutting the door right after. Her eyes followed him calmly as he circled the car and slid into the drivers seat. When he closed his own door, the voices from outside the car became quieter and the atmosphere became that degree colder. He expression was serious when he turned to look at her. "Naomi, is there something going on?" He asked, and to Naomi's surprise he didn't sound angry. Only worried. Really, her appearance wasn't 'that' bad! At her incredulous look, Prince quickly raised hands in defense. "Despite what you may think, I'm not referring to your clothes. Though you do look...different." A smirk had formed on his lips at his last words, causing Naomi to avert her gaze and roll her eyes. Prince wasn't put off by her attitude though, and his hand was on her shoulder a second later. Naomi forced herself not to flinch and unconsciously tugged at the sleeve of her bruised arm. "You've been distant lately, Naomi." Prince murmured, trying but failing to catch her eye. "I'm worried about you." He sounded so utterly sincere. But Naomi couldn't help but feel a spark of anger rise in her chest. The only reason she hadn't pushed his hand away yet was because she had learned to discipline herself at an early age- she could control herself. But that didn't mean she had to take his bullshit. Prince with his late night practices and parties could never be truly worried about her. He was just confused with how intolerant she had become lately. He was a good person, on some level. But he was selfish and conceited and his false acts of kindness and love were starting to make Naomi wish she hadn't started dating him in the first place. Lisa would have a field day with that, since she had been the most against it. Naomi had never gotten involved with anyone before, because she had too many responsibilities. But like always, Prince gets what Prince wants- and he had wanted her. But at the moment, she didn't want him or his false care. Slowly Naomi turned her head to face Prince, and she forced herself not to react to the worried expression filling his jade eyes. Nor did she react to the expression of hurt that replaced it at her next words. "Just shut up and drive." Naomi muttered, brushing his hand away and turning to face to window. "I really don't have time for this right now" oOo The ride to her house was silent and uncomfortable. Every now and then one of their phones would ring, but each time they would silently ignore it. They didn't look at each other. They didn't talk to each other. Naomi would have been fine with it, if Prince's aura didn't make her skin crawl. Obviously he was pissed off at her, but he wasn't acting on his anger. And for that she was relieved, because her own bad mood wasn't helping the situation. Both Prince and Jake were right. She had been acting distant lately. But that was her choice, it helped her stay sane. It helped her not to snap at people. It was her way of discipling herself. Lisa was like her teddy bear, something to go to for comfort. She was sarcastic and witty and straight forward. But Naomi loved her for it. Because unlike everyone else, Lisa was real. She never hid her feelings behind a mask like Naomi did, she was never afraid of offending anyone. Lisa was herself, proud of herself, and loved herself. She was the balance to Naomi's life, and always had been. Of course Naomi had pushed her away during some stressful moments in her life, but Lisa always came back. Her love was real. Which was why Naomi couldn't stand it when Prince tried to take Lisa's place in her heart. Naomi was hurting of course. Physically, mentally, she was hurting everywhere. She had moved on after Elle's death, though she could never forget the pain. She had moved on from her fathers neglect, but she could never truly forget the hurt. And now she was about to move on from Prince. She had been thinking about her decision all day, weighing and studying her advantages. In the end, she had decided it was best to just get it over with and sever her ties with him. She had always been a patient person. Dealing with idiots her entire life had did that to her ironically. So she had thought patience was the key to enduring Prince. He was handsome, generous, and a gentleman- at least when she had first started dating him. Meeting him had been a coincidence really. She'd heard of him around school, especially since his father was the largest shareholder of not only the school, but most of the organizations in the town. Of course Naomi being indifferent to money hadn't thought much of it. Girls gossiped about him, the few guy friends Naomi knew chatted idly about him since he was the star of the soccer team. And Lisa constantly belittled him, calling Prince a prepubescent pretty boy who had earned his given name purely through his fathers work. There were so many mixed opinions about the guy that Naomi had simply erased his name from her memory, since she had better things to do than gossip about the golden boy of Grey Village. At the time she had still been recovering from her mothers demise, which meant she was still in her usual dazed and quiet persona. They had met during a walk in the park. Naomi had been listening to Lisa babble on while she licked the ice cream she had bought from a nearby food stand. Prince had been walking in the opposite direction with his friends in tow. Long story short, they hadn't seen the other coming. Naomi's ice cream went flying when Prince collided with her, and it splattered everywhere. On Lisa's new silk shirt, on Prince's hair, and on several of Prince's friends clothes. Naomi could only stare in mild shock as loud complaints went up. Lisa had easily defended her, despite her annoyance at ruining her expensive shirt, and surprisingly Prince had managed to calm his friends down and had even offered to buy Naomi another ice cream cone for her trouble. One thing led to another, and somehow Prince had managed to make her smile, albeit it was a wary one, in the ten minutes they'd known each other. They ran into each other at school, and soon enough they slowly went from acquaintances to friends to a couple. Naomi wasn't stupid, she knew Prince and her were barely a 'real' couple based on societies standards. She was pretty strict even in love. Most of their interactions with each other consisted of lunch dates, studying together, and every now and then they would stay at each others house. Naomi was a virgin, and she wasn't ashamed of it. Prince had more than once pressured her to sleep with him, but he didn't try to force her in anything. They kissed, hugged, occasionally made out. But they never went too far, because Naomi would always stop them. Naomi had been called a prude more than once by several of the student body. It wasn't a secret to anyone that she didn't date, Prince being her first exception, and that as one of the most authoritative people in the school she wasn't to be messed with. Intoxicated Ch. 02 She was a no nonsense girl. Lisa had been the only one able to break her stone exterior, though she didn't count because Naomi had known the sharp tongued girl since she was in diapers. But Prince...well, Naomi wasn't going to suffer needlessly- even for her first love. He had started out fine, but then he became overprotective. If another guy even so much as touched her, even platonically, he'd snap. Then he'd get angry at her, and then they would argue. And in the beginning that's all they did. Argue. But eventually their arguments became physical, the first time being when Jake (her superior) had hugged and kissed her on the cheek when they were departing from school. Jake wasn't one to publicly show affection, and neither was Naomi. That day had been a rarity for both of them though. Unfortunately, Prince had seen them. Jake and Prince exchanged heated words, and eventually got into a fight that Prince obviously started. Naomi wasn't exactly equipped to stop them. When a teacher finally came to break it up, Naomi had been steaming. After Prince was released from the infirmity due to his bloody condition, Jake receiving only minor wounds himself, Naomi had been waiting for him. Needless to say, she yelled at him. And he yelled back. And she said some awful things that couldn't be withdrawn. That was the first time he hit her, a slap to the face. And to say she was shocked was an understatement. They stayed away from each other for weeks afterward. Naomi slowly became more quiet than usual, and had taken to staying home until the bruise on her face finally faded. Her father, being away to who knows where all the time, didn't notice when she was home. And Lisa...well of course she tried to call Naomi. And when Naomi gave the excuse that she was ill, Lisa tried to visit. But to no avail, Naomi never welcomed her inside of the house, for fear that she would see the rarity of Naomi crying. When she finally came back to school, everything seemed the same as always. Prince approached her, begged her to meet him after school. Lisa badgered Naomi about why she hadn't called. Jake had simply went on as normal, though he warned her to have a doctors note the next time she wasn't present during their meetings. And of course the teachers gave in to her illness explanation. Soon enough, Naomi was able to imitate happiness. Prince took her out to dinner and apologized, and eventually she forgave him. But as their relationship went on, she began to see his true colors. And even now, she had bruises on her arms from one of their frequent encounters. By then she had become an expert at hiding them, even from Prince himself. However, enough was enough. She wasn't happy, and neither was Prince. They weren't happy together, no matter how much he tried to claim they were. Honestly deep down she did still feel for him. That same sweet and kind gentleman she had fallen for was still there somewhere. But the Prince she knew now was fake. And she couldn't stay with a fake man. So when Prince pulled up to her house and helped her out of the car, Naomi wasted no time. The second she stepped out of the expensive vehicle, Naomi spun on her heel and stood to her full height. "Prince," She murmured, placing a warm hand on his arm, stopping him when he tried to reach for her bags. He halted for a moment, turning his somber eyes to hers. The anger he had been suppressing during the whole ride was evident in his eyes, but he obeyed her silent command to stay still as he stared at her so intensely that she forced a nervous lump down her throat. Naomi couldn't help but let a small amount of guilt cloud her vision as she slowly lifted her chin to place a chaste kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, she didn't miss the mild look of surprise moving across his features. But by the time he was able to react to it, Naomi had already backed away, bag in arm, as he hesitantly lifted his hand to reach for her. "I think it's time we broke up." oOo The second she heard the roar of his car engine going off and the skid of tires as he sped down the street, her tense shoulders relaxed. Naomi collapsed on her couch, quickly and silently wiping the tears that dared to fall from her eyes. The pain she felt was physical, so utterly physical. 'This is for the best.' Naomi thought as she leaned farther into the cushions. 'You'll be better without him.' But would she? Prince, like many other things in her life, had become a very invaluable part of her. Naomi had learned early on that letting go of something, even if it wasn't healthy for her, was like ripping a piece of her heart out. And that's how she felt at the moment. Most could claim that she was just an immature girl going through her first heartbreak. But this wasn't her first heartbreak. Losing Elle had been the first time. Losing her father, even though he still lived, was the second. And then losing herself to the pain had been third. And now Prince was the fourth. Honestly Naomi had truly been attached to him, or the former him. The Prince that comforted her when she gave into memories of Elle and broke down. The Prince that silently made soup for her when she grew ill. The Prince that always knew how to make her smile, even when there seemed to be nothing to smile for. 'It was my decision to do this.' Naomi reasoned, growing irritated that her tears wouldn't stop. 'I've gone through worse than this, I need to control myself...' But no matter how hard she shut her eyes or brushed the tears away, she still cried. Truly, Naomi subconsciously knew that she regretted losing the Prince she fell in love with more than she regretted losing the Prince that had hurt her so frequently. It was more than just the physical pain he had inflicted on her that made her so angry. It was the fact that he had given into the darker part of himself that hurt her so much. More than once Naomi had blamed herself for his change. By the time she accepted that it wasn't her but 'him', well it was too late. She was already attached. But now she had broken the chord that held them together, though Prince was obviously reluctant to let her. After she had kissed him and suggested they separate, he was adamant on finding out why. And when she vaguely said they they just weren't good for each other anymore, he grew confused and to her surprise; panicked. "Naomi." He had begged quietly, taking a hold of her arms. She didn't pull away, but she didn't look at him either. He knew that direct eye contact always made her weak to open up. "Talk to me, please. Why are you doing this?" Averted eyes and a silent shake of her head, a clear refusal to talk, had been his answer. That was the first time she ever seen him look so crestfallen in front of her. His hurt expression in the car was nothing compared to the shattered look he gave her before she forcefully suggested he leave so she wouldn't be tempted to change her mind. When he finally did leave however, Naomi was already contemplating if she should. That had angered her considerably. She had never second guessed her decisions before. When she decided something that was final, it was pathetic to think that Prince of all people and not say her mother, father, or Lisa, could. Naomi let out a deep aggravated groan and pushed face into the pillow to muffle her soft choked up exhales. Her entire body was warm, as it always was when crying, and she felt nauseous. Brushing curls out of her face, Naomi pushed herself off of the couch and staggered to the kitchen to get some water. She wasn't going to tarnish herself, not even if she felt like shit. Kicking off her shoes by the kitchen entrance, Naomi took a deep calming breath as she approached the cupboard and retrieved a glass. Rinching it off and pouring herself a drink, Naomi allowed herself to slump down into one of the stools surrounding the kitchen island. As always the kitchen was chilly, since that's how Elle always liked it, and the sun shone through the window above the sink. Naomi gazed silently at the light and the trees visible beyond it as she sipped her water. For a moment she got lost into her thoughts, wondering how she would explain her situation to Lisa and eventually how she would handle it when the school found out. It couldn't stay secret forever. It wasn't unknown that Prince and Naomi didn't see each other much during school except at lunch. Naomi doubted Prince would pick her up next Monday, since it was currently Friday, and she also doubted that people wouldn't notice she was arriving to school without him at least greeting her. Prince knew she needed space, and he would grant it to her. At least, at first he would. But gossip was rampant, and sooner or later Prince would be forced to bring her up or vice versa. 'And this is why I only hang out with Lisa...' Naomi thought irritably, draining the last gulp of water out of her glass. At that moment the sound of the front door being unlocked drifted to her ears. Curiously Naomi wondered if it was Prince or even Lisa. But she quickly dismissed both notions when her father walked into the kitchen several seconds later. "Naomi!" Nathan exclaimed when he saw his daughter nonchalantly pushing her glass away, still in uniform. "What...you're home already?" Naomi blinked up at him for a moment; taking in his features that were like a male version of her own, minus the bloodshot gray eyes and runny nose, before she blanched. No doubt her eyes were still red from crying, and she hadn't bothered to clean away the wet tear trails on her face. And by the long puzzled and then sharp look her father sent her, Naomi knew he had already noticed. "My...meeting ended early." Naomi lied, quickly turning her head away to dab at her face with her uniform sleeve. It didn't help. The firm hand on her shoulder stopped her movements, and a second later her father was tilting her face toward his. "What happened?" He demanded, his usual distant expression now bordering on anger. Naomi groaned. Of all the times to actually come home and pay attention to her, Nathan had picked the worst possible time to do it. "Nothing dad." She replied briskly, standing up from the stool and pulling away from his hold. "I'm just tired." "You've been crying." He pointed out, folding his arms and glaring at her when she opened her mouth to deny it. "It's nothing." Naomi snapped, instantly regretting it. She never yelled at her dad, so that was automatically a heads up that something was wrong. And by the way Nathan's brown eyes darkened , Naomi knew he was aware of it. "Young lady, I am your father and you will not take that tone with me-" He began, taking a step toward her. Naomi returned his glare and simply backed away further, unconsciously tugging her sleeve lower so he wouldn't notice the bruises peeking out from under it. That morning had been so rushed she had forgotten to cover it more securely. The combined worry of him noticing and annoyance at his words only made her anxiety convert to anger. "You're my father, not my dad. A dad loves his children and is there for them. You aren't my dad. Not anymore." Naomi muttered softly. But not soft enough, if her fathers sharp inhale and narrowed eyes were anything to go by. In one second he was in front of her and grabbing shoulder in another. His grip was firm, but not snaring or overwhelmingly tight like Prince's hands were. Naomi slowly lifted her gaze to Nathan's, showing absolutely no expression as she met his angry gaze. So different from the indifferent looks and nonchalant gestures he always sent her way. But then again she had never shown her tears to him before, not since the funeral. He had always been keenly aware of her moods throughout her life, and now was no exception. Naomi cursed whoever had made Nathan so adept at knowing her, even when he was too depressed to care. "Naomi Elena Williams, don't you ever say such a thing again. Yes, I AM your father AND your dad and you will treat me as such." Naomi flinched away but Nathan's grip only grew firmer, though he took care not to hurt her. "I'm aware I've been away from home far more than I should, but that doesn't change the fact that you're my daughter." Nathan said quietly, anger cloaking his tone and making his presence all the more intimidating. When Naomi still only stared into his eyes blankly, Nathan sighed and enveloped her into a hug that was warm and loving and everything he should have been for her all of those years he had pushed her away. 'Now, when I'm was letting Prince go. Now, when I'm already suffering and trying to heal. Why did it have to be now when he finally see's me?' Naomi swallowed thickly, her expression still guarded and distant but her tone holding every emotion she felt as she struggled not to cry for an entirely different reason. Despite her fathers tall and imposing exterior she knew he was really hurt by what she said. That seemed to be the only thing she knew how to do lately. Still, she wanted him to regret leaving her to mourn alone all of those years. And she wanted him to see how it effected her, not just himself. "It's not just you not being there for me. It's you drinking and torturing yourself that changes everything. How would mom feel, if she saw you this way?" Naomi muttered into his chest. Inwardly she let out a sigh of relief when he stiffened but didn't pull away. Elle had been an off limits topic in the aftermath of her death. A silent rule that Naomi had never broken, until that moment at least. Silently Naomi waited for her father to answer, holding her breath so she wouldn't break the silence that passed as he silently held on to her. Eventually Nathan pulled away, his arms still on her back, as he lowered his chin to look into Naomi's eyes. What she saw there was discomfort, but not for the reason she suspected. "Naomi..." He began slowly, turning his gaze to ceiling as if contemplating on how to tell her something. A dreaded feeling uncurled in Naomi's chest when Nathan let out a sigh and let go of her. He turned in the opposite direction, his back facing her, and Naomi couldn't help but frown at him. "What?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed. "Dad, what is it?" Another long and dreary silence passed, in which Naomi's heartbeat pounded in her ears loudly. She briefly thought back to yesterday, when he had left a note to tell her he would be away with 'friends'. She had thought nothing of it then. But now she wondered what he had been doing while he was away. Never had he looked like he did now, so uncomfortable and...and nervous. "Nathan?" Naomi whispered again when the silence refused to break. Finally Nathans shouldered sagged, alerting her that he was about to speak. He didn't turn to face her, so she couldn't see his expression anymore than he could see hers. But that didn't stop her heart from stopping when he spoke again. "Naomi..." His voice was tired and wary. Another silence passed, but this time Nathan didn't let it drag on. "Naomi, I'm thinking about remarrying." If she had still been holding the glass from before, it would have shattered. oOo Intoxicated Ch. 03 A/N: Part III of intoxicated. Naomi seems pretty weak willed and emotional at this point. But she'll get it together. Or she'll try. Greenwich, Grey village (Hemingford), etc. are inspired and named after real UK places. But I tend to hate proof-checking, so I'll just wing it. Some places are real, some aren't. Don't be surprised if you recognize anything. Enjoy. oOo Grey Village: Stone Residence: ~L~ When Lisa decided to walk home alone instead of tag along with her best friend and her best friends annoying lover boy, she hadn't expected said best friend to barge into her home. In her pajamas. With tears trailing down her face. At midnight. She did it while Lisa was reading her favorite novel, 'Reclaimed', no less. Just a nice cup of coffee in her hand, the buzz of her lamp light, along with some soft country music wafting from her radio and 'Reclaimed' snuggled into her lap. No thunder, rain, loud noises or any other panic inducing shenanigans present. It was Friday for crying out loud! Her annoying drunkard parents and stupid older brother weren't home and she had the entire house to herself. So why did Naomi have to choose THAT particular day to barge into her house. Why did she have to choose THAT day to induce Lisa with nerve wrecking news that took her five whole minutes to comprehend. Lisa loved the girl. Truly, she did. They had known each other since their diaper days. Granted they had gotten off to a rough start, with Lisa being a bratty crybaby and Naomi being a meek little sweetheart. But they accepted and adored each other. Lisa being the only one to actually have the ability to make Naomi LAUGH had to count for something. She didn't mind listening to Naomi's problems. Despite the fact it was usually Lisa doing the whining and Naomi doing the listening. But WHY did it have to be on Friday! And during her horror mystery book marathon too...Oh well, the marathons could wait. "Okay, so let me recap on this because I'm trying not to miss anything." Lisa muttered, her book now abandoned at her bedside as she sat beside a rather pale looking Naomi. Well, as pale as Naomi could be considering her skin tone. "Your father, who I lately consider a total dick by the way- never mind his delicious sugar cookies, started dating some buxom blond station commander?" Noting the slight mocking edge in her friends voice but deciding not to comment on it, Naomi nodded mutely as she slowly sipped from Lisa's coffee mug. Lisa sent Naomi a mildly pissed off look, she hated when Naomi drank her stuff, but went on anyway. "And she just happens to live in Greenwich, which harbors only three high schools? All of which are rivals to ours mind you... And he NEVER told you about her before today?" Naomi nodded again, this time her expression pained. Lisa's face grew dark as she went on, her arm pressing painfully into her headboard as she faced Naomi. "But he wants you to attend a dinner with her and her kids...did he even think this through? Seven months with some widowed mother, no matter if she's rich or not, and yet they're considering MARRIAGE?" Lisa's voice had risen by then, and the crackle of her radio seemed to add a dramatic and even a humorous undertone to her voice. Naomi would have smiled if she had the strength to. But the dark lines under her eyes and subjectively 'pale' tone of her skin made it quite clear she didn't have the strength? Or the will either. "Usually I don't interfere with what he does you know? But I...but..." Naomi nearly choked on her tears as she took another gulp of coffee, the hot liquid providing a calming relief to her nerves. Lisa quietly scooted across her bed to lift an arm around Naomi's shoulder. The comforting gesture made Naomi lean into her friends embrace, signaling her thanks. Lisa may have been snappy when it came to her coffee or book marathon moments, but she knew when to quietly comfort and when to speak up- at least when it concerned her. Naomi was infinitely grateful for it. "But," Naomi went on, "he says he's only known her for seven months. I feel like...I feel like he's trying to forget mom completely. The fact that he kept this from me at all and for so long proves it. I've seen the picture of this woman, Heather her name is, and she's the EXACT opposite of Elle." Lisa raised a dark brow in curiosity, her expression making Naomi pause. "Do you have a picture or..." Lisa's voice trailed off, as if she realized she had asked a stupid question. Thankfully Naomi only shook her head instead of mocking her. Though Lisa hadn't expected her to. Naomi wasn't the mocking type, especially in times like this. "No, dad didn't give it to me." Naomi said with a sigh as she pressed her face into Lisa's shoulder, the mug forgotten in her sweatpants adorned lap. "But like you said, she's a blond- not that it even matters. But she's a pure blood Brit and everything. Her house is a fucking castle and apparently she has kids. Guess dad wanted another try at a functioning family." Naomi turned her head to softly and bitterly chuckle at the ceiling. She didn't see the deeply concerned look passing over Lisa's sharp features. Nor did she notice the tightening of Lisa's arm around her shoulder as she turned Naomi's face back to her. "Naomi, you don't think he's replacing you. Do you?" She asked softly, her eyebrows furrowing at Naomi's bloodshot eyes. The cause of her distress now took on a whole new meaning. Naomi met Lisa's blue eyes with her own gray ones squarely. Lisa was never one to hide her emotions well. She always wore them on her sleeve...and let them tumble out of her mouth no matter the consequences. And right now Lisa was concerned for her. Worried for her. Soaking in the pain- for her. Naomi couldn't help but briefly feel that she didn't deserve Lisa. Which was ironic, because Lisa had said the same thing about her not deserving Naomi three years prior. How things changed. In less than a week Naomi had cried more than she had in her entire life. Excluding the arc of her life where Elle took her exit of course. Naomi wondered what would have become of her, if Lisa hadn't been there like a loyal puppy to keep her from giving up. Instantly Naomi knew she'd have been pretty damn screwed without her. The feisty brunette had refused to let Naomi succumb to suicide in her worst moments. At first Naomi had been too scared to even think of it. But at such a vulnerable time, she almost couldn't take it anymore. But Lisa wouldn't let her. She couldn't let her. What her father and Prince couldn't do- she did. Lisa had been there. She had shielded Naomi even when she pushed her away. And after it all she refused to be angry about it, instead just reminding Naomi how much they needed each other. If that wasn't love, Naomi didn't know what was. "He may not be trying to replace ME." Naomi admitted after a few long seconds of their silent stare down. "But he is trying to replace mom. The way he described her...just think of everything Elle wasn't. Now put all of those qualities in Heather." Naomi paused, watching as Lisa mentally did what Naomi had told her to do. The brunettes eyes narrowed briefly for a moment before she turned back to Naomi, a crooked and sad half smile on her face. "Well we all know Mrs.Williams was pretty badass. She was fearless... and amazing at making people laugh. And you know she sucked at cooking, unlike your dad..." Lisa's smile widened a little as memories of Elle flooded her mind. The display of affection on her face made Naomi swallow thickly and quickly turn her head away. She had forgotten for a moment that Elle had been a huge role model for Lisa. Especially since Lisa's own parents were a sad excuse for any type of caregiver. Lisa had practically lived at Naomi's house in their younger days. Until her death. And like the abruptness of a lightning flash, Lisa's face darkened back into its somber state. Her smile faltered, and Naomi could have swore she saw the brunettes eyes tear up. "Well," Lisa coughed, quickly brushing her hand against her face. "I guess that means this Heather is going to be an excellent cook. If she's the opposite of Elle." Lisa tried to crack a smile at her best friend, but it was forced and weak. Naomi didn't try to humor her by attempting to smile back. Instead she just pulled Lisa back into a hug and let the taller girl take her turn to cry. It took a few long abating moments, in which the soft sounds of the radio and Lisa's labored breathing filled the darkly lit room. But eventually Naomi felt wetness on her shoulder, and her arms instinctively tightened around Lisa. "Hey, Naomi..." Lisa muttered many minutes later after she finished her silent painful endeavor. Her body went limp against Naomi's as they silently listened to the music. Naomi straightened up a little at finally hearing Lisa's voice, though Lisa herself didn't even lift her head to look at her. But she continued to speak anyway, her voice slightly hoarse, demanding, and every bit of desperate. "Promise me that you'll never forget us...how we used to be, even if you end up moving to Greenwich. You better call every day. And visit too, every chance you get. I want to see your dads famous cookies in the mail sometime soon. If I find out you replaced me with some other bitch as your best friend at your new school I'll-" She would have ranted on endlessly, if Naomi didn't shift her weight to nudge Lisa off of her shoulder. When they were eye to eye, Lisa saw that Naomi now had an incredulous look on her formerly pained face. It was a nice change since her eyes were finally alive with emotion, never mind that the emotion was disbelief, instead of the previous bitterness and jadedness. Still, Lisa wasn't all that keen with Naomi directing that look at HER of all people. "What?" The brunette snapped, her cheeks flushing when Naomi raised an eyebrow. "Don't judge me, I really will kill you if you decide to become besties with some Greenwich snob..." Naomi stared at Lisa silently for a moment, the same expression pasted on her face, before she cracked the first smile she had worn all day. "You are something else Lisa Stone." Naomi murmured, her expression turning to one of amusement. "Of course I would never trade you for some other girl. You're like a birthmark or something. I can't get rid of you." Lisa couldn't help but scoff at that, but at Naomi's soft laugh which revealed every emotion- good and bad- that she had been trying so hard to hold back, so angered and pained and yet beautifully raw... Well Lisa couldn't help but smile as well. And soon they were both laughing and holding on to each other for dear life. That is, until Lisa decided to ruin the moment. "So, how come you walked all the way here? Couldn't Prince have given you a ride?" oOo Greenwich: Fellers Manor: ~G~ oOo "Heather did what?" Gwen demanded quietly, her pale fingers unconsciously tracing the bare surface of Luke's chest as they laid beside each other on her king sized bed. The young man in question simply grunted in annoyance at having to repeat himself. After his mother had given him the news about her impending engagement with some no-name man who resided in Hemingford Grey, or apparently Grey village as most called it, Luke hadn't been the happiest person in the world. Adding that to the fact that his least favorite professor seemed to have it in for him wasn't helping either. So when he had heard Gwen was coming back into town he had fetched his car and went to pick her up at the airport. She had been studying abroad for two years but apparently her father had ordered her to return to the UK for reasons even Luke didn't know. Truthfully, he didn't care about it. He had simply needed something to get his mind off the very thing that he had been dreading for months. And considering his relationship with Gwen, though complicated and all kinds of annoying, she had been the perfect choice. So he had picked her up at the airport, let her reunite with her family, and then she had convinced him to have lunch with her at 'Gee Wiz', a small diner where most didn't recognize them. Eventually things had led them to Gwen's bedroom, not that Luke minded, and that was when Gwen had dropped the bomb and asked what had been bothering him all day. Not only was Gwen inhumanly beautiful, but she was creepy as fuck when it came to reading people. She could be telepathic with her skill, especially since Luke wasn't the easiest person to figure out with his constant indifferent expression. He wasn't called the ice king for nothing. Though the title had more to do with his snowy locks than with his personality. God, he hated that nickname. Knowing she wouldn't let it go until he gave in -Gwen had a much higher patience level than humanly possible- Luke finally explained everything to her. She simply watched quietly as he turned to look her in the eye. One of the things he liked about Gwen was that she was a good listener. Unlike his past girlfriends who always babbled on about their own trivial problems, Gwen rarely spoke at all unless needed. Sure she reprimanded him from time to time, but he was used to it. Shifting himself so he was level with his girlfriend, Luke's blue eyes were accommodating yet aloof as he summarized the cause of his ire. Or more specifically the indirect cause of his ire. "My mother canceled the Southeast gala, Gwen. She completely annihilated our plans for that night, in favor of us having dinner with her new plaything and his daughter. Happy? Good." Luke murmured with finality, in hopes that she would just drop it so he wouldn't have to worry about a 'heart to heart' talk as they call it. He really believed girls were too emotional, even the ever stoic Gwen. He leaned forward to brush his lips against Gwen's pale neck, warmth instantly spreading there, and when she faltered; Luke smirked and attempted to remove the blankets hugging her bare form. But Gwen wasn't having it. Pulling away from his touch, the blond narrowed her eyes at Luke and pushed a cold hand against his shoulder- forcefully stopping him. "No, Luke." She replied, her tone as cold as her gaze. She had known from the start that Luke was letting steam off her, and she was tired of him dodging the subject. "We need to talk about this. You were dreading the gala, and now you're free of it. So why are you really upset? Is it because of the dinner? Or is it because of your father." The last sentence struck a chord, and the stiffening of Luke's jaw didn't go unnoticed. Gwen let out a sigh when Luke stared at her guardedly, a clear sign that she was right in her assumptions. As she relaxed into the satin pillows beneath her, pale green eyes lifting to the ceiling, understanding filled her expression. "I knew it, your father's heard about the rumors I'm guessing." She directed at him, though her gaze didn't leave the ceiling. "He knows Heather is attempting to marry this man doesn't he? That must be why you're so disgruntled. What has he done or said to you Luke? You can tell me." The blond in question simply muttered incoherently as he turned his back to her and silently shifted the covers over his body- signaling his retreat from the conversation. The covers slid over his pale shoulder blades, but not before Gwen's eyes got a glimpse of the long scar that traveled between them. The ripped muscle tissue had healed since it's infliction on him ten years prior. But every time Gwen set her sights on it, a rare occurrence since he rarely went shirtless, she was reminded of what Mr. Heath had done to his son in his rare but boisterous fits of anger. It was one of the many reasons Gwen had left Greenwich in the guise of studying abroad, much like Luke's little sister had did, though she was at boarding school in France still. She may have seemed like an emotionless girl, but Gwen loathed the secrets and lies that filled the village. Especially since everything that affected Luke and Heather eventually affected her. It always did. "Goodnight...Luke." Gwen sighed. oOo A/N II: Hopefully the story line is becoming slightly more clear. Gwen and this new Luke character are both going through some trauma. I really don't want them to be 'relatable' yet so their scene was short. Eventually you'll see how Naomi fits in this. ^^ Till next time.