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Chapter 7

Nicole's POV

Nicole was lounging on the couch, snacking on some popcorn and catching up on some of her favorite Golden Girls episodes when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw a message from Gus.

G: You were right. Waverly is here with Wynonna. Good call on not coming in with me...unless you do want to see her. In which case it was a bad call. Just letting you know so you can decide what you want to do. Curtis and I will be home late so don't wait up. Love you.

N: Thanks Aunt Gus. I'm just not sure if I can do it, I think I'll just hang here with my girls Dorothy, Blanch, Sophia, and Rose. Besides, she's with Champ now.

G: No offense sweetie, but get a life. No college-aged girl should be a Golden Girls trivia expert. And Champ doesn't hold a candle to my beautiful niece. I may be biased, but that doesn't mean I'm not right!

N: Haha. I'm uniquely me. No shame in that. And thanks, Aunt Gus. You always know how to make someone feel good.

G: No there isn't. I always loved that about you. And that's my job! Enjoy your night.

Nicole put her phone away, torn about what to do. Waverly hasn't reached out to let her know she actually arrived in town, but in all fairness Nicole never responded to her message. It would be weird if she showed up at Shorty's now. Or maybe it wouldn't. She did go there a lot. And her Aunt and Uncle owned the place. Screw it...if I am negotiating with myself about this I am clearly not ready to see her. Nicole turned her attention back to the tv, trying her best to ignore the nagging voice that lived in her head ever since Waverly contacted her.

Waverly's POV

She watched Gus approach her booth, slightly scared about what she might say to her. And rightfully so. But she was shocked when Gus scooped her up into a warm hug.

"Waverly Earp. It is so good to see you back in town. I hear you're doing pretty well for yourself. Fancy movie, fancy life, fancy...boyfriend." It could've been Gus' imagination, but she swore Waverly flinched at that last part.

Waverly ran her fingers through her long brown her, laughing nervously. "Um, yeah. I can't complain. I've been very fortunate with how things turned out for the most part. And I still have this lovely family," she motioned to a clearly drunk Wynonna who was trying her best to tame the mechanical bull Gus had installed since she left town, "to come back to." She laughed genuinely this time, a subtle difference that was not lost on Gus. "So, umm..."

"What is it sweetie? Just ask what you've been meaning to ask since you got back into town." There was no bite or animosity behind Gus' words. Only concern.

Waverly gulped, looking away from Gus' intense gaze, suddenly feeling very ashamed.

"Waverly, look at me. I hold no ill-will towards you. What's done is done. Only, I get the sense that maybe it isn't. So what do you want to ask me?"

Waverly looked back at Gus, at her soft expression, using every acting trick she learned to control her emotions and keep the tears from spilling out of her eyes, "Well, did Nicole come home for break? I called her but I never heard back from her. Not that I blame her, really. I just. Well, I was just hoping to see her again, or at least talk to her. I don't know."

"I'm not sure what Nicole is thinking right now. What I do know is you really shouldn't be calling her or seeing her if you are just trying to make yourself feel better. I am telling you this with love, Waverly. Nicole cannot be your friend. So if that's all this is, then please enjoy your visit here, go back to your world, and let Nicole get back to hers. She knows you are here. So if she really wanted to see you, she would've contacted you by now."

There was no intent to hurt Waverly in Gus' words, but they hurt just the same. She could tell Gus took no joy in saying them to her, but she was just trying to protect Nicole. And who could blame her? Maybe she was right. Waverly didn't even know what she wanted, anyway. Well, she did know. She always knew. But she was too scared to say it. To be honest and open about it.

"You're right, Gus. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt her again. I never meant to hurt her at all. I'll just. I think I'll go. Can you just make sure Wynonna gets home okay?"

"Waverly, I wasn't chasing you out of the bar. Please stay and enjoy your time with your sister."

"No, it's fine. She's too drunk to realize now, anyway. Just call Doc to get her."

"Already done, sweetie. This is not my first Wynonna rodeo!" Gus laughed at the irony, considering Wynonna's precarious position on the bull, and pulled Waverly into a warm hug. "It really is so good to see you again. I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks Gus." Waverly backed away and gave another wave to Gus before walking out of Shorty's, any hopes of seeing Nicole as good as dead.