Sticks and Skates [Wayhaught]

The Two Greatest Words In Sports

Waverly Earp was nothing if not observant, thank you very much.

She prided herself on those skills. At first it had started out as a way to deal with all the crazy shit in her life—Mama leaving, Ward and Willa dying, Wynonna's reckless years before up and leaving town. It had been easier to sit by and watch, to read people. She'd spent too much of her early life losing people she cared about to let just anyone in, or to let her guard down to anything that could've been a threat. It came in handy still today, even though she'd worked through most of her earlier issues (mostly).

It didn't come without flaws though. For one thing, now that she'd gotten out of it, Waverly wondered what exactly about her relationship with Champ had appealed to her back in high school. Or the fact that her observation skills apparently didn't apply to herself, not even being open to the possibility of female attraction until one Nicole Haught skated into her life. (Or rather she stumbled her way into Nicole's).

Waverly Earp was nothing if not observant, which is why she knew something was up with Nicole.

She'd noticed it since the Devils got in from the last game in Brandon. The girl had seemed on edge in a way that she hadn't been previously. Waverly might've attributed it to the stress of the biggest game of her life so far coming up, but she couldn't help but feel that it was more. At first she'd thought that maybe Shae or Bunny had caused more drama, but the news had been focused on the game more so than whatever nonsense the blabbering owner decided to spew and Nicole had adamantly denied any added trouble from her captain.

Nicole had actually come to work at the rink yesterday, something she hadn't done since the playoffs started, the game schedule affording her little time to do anything other than sleep and recover from the previous day's game. Waverly found it odd, but really couldn't find anything to complain about. Who was she to question any time she'd get to spend in the red head's presence?

She'd kept her eye on the girl, noticing the details that made her suspicious. She knew something was bothering Nicole, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. Nicole seemed tense, jumpy, almost like she'd been looking over her shoulder waiting for someone to jump her. Waverly had returned to the storage room to grab another box of merchandise to stock the store ahead of Game 7, and appeared to catch her girlfriend off guard, if the way she'd jumped a full foot in the air was any indication. She'd watch fear turn to relief as Nicole realized it was just Waverly, releasing a breathy "Jesus Waves, you scared me" as she tried to laugh it off.

The one thing Waverly didn't do was question Nicole on it. Not now. Not when she knew her girlfriend was mentally preparing for a pivotal matchup. Not when she knew Nicole wouldn't have told her anyway, the damn girl being so damn stubborn. Pressing would've only put her in a worse mood.

So Waverly did what she knew best—she sat back and observed. She'd step in if she knew it would help.

The one thing that Waverly did do was press the redhead on the injury she very much had. She'd noticed it when it happened, sitting on a stool at Shorty's with Wynonna and Chrissy, seeing Nicole fling her body in front of the slap shot. Chrissy had cringed next to her as Nicole got up gingerly, Wynonna yelling "Way to wear it, Haught!" at the television. She hadn't been able to talk to Nicole before the Devils got back into town, but knew from the way she'd winced when she moved or breathed too deeply that Nicole did not come out of that interaction unscathed. But again, stubborn as she was, Nicole was not going to jeopardize any amount of playing time in a winner-take-all situation. So, no matter how many times Waverly pressed her girlfriend to go see Doc, or at least rest with an ice pack, Nicole insisted she was fine and kept working around the rink.

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Game 7: Monday, April 22—Brandon @ Purgatory

"...they truly are the two greatest words in sports, Joan: GAME. SEVEN. And we've got three of them on deck as the ever competitive CEWHL playoffs reach the end of its first round. Tomorrow's slate holds Moncton and Sherbrooke on the East Coast, with Calgary and Edmonton taking the primetime slot; but I'm sure the only thing on anyone's mind is tonight's game in Purgatory. Will the Devils get themselves a win in a close series after being chosen as heavy favorites? Or will the Bobcats pull off yet another upset, something that has become their brand?