Hunger in my Heart

Chapter 9

Nicola watched the scene as she leaned against the door frame to Cheryl's room, her two friends were now grinning at each other like idiots and silence had descended as they appeared to be content to hold hands and stare at each other. Nicola felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders, finally things can get back to normal around here she reckoned. It had been highly upsetting to her to see Chez so sick and Kimberley so...well, lost she guessed was a good word.

Not wanted to interrupt, but seeing the necessity considering she had a Starbuck's venti triple espresso for Kimberley currently burning her hand, she spoke up.

"I see sleeping beauty has finally decided to join us." Nicola said with a smile.

Kimberley and Cheryl both jumped at her words; being so focused on each other they hadn't heard her enter the room. Cheryl smiled widely when she looked over and took in the redhead in the doorway with a large cup of coffee in each hand.

"Is one of those for us then?" Cheryl asked, she was joking, but now that she thought about it she realized she was gagging for a cup of tea or coffee and gazed at the cup enviously.

Both Cheryl and Kimberley watched as Nicola strode into the room dressed in the latest designer trend, looking chic and confident, of all of them Nicola was definitely the most knowledgeable about fashion and it really showed. Oblivious to the admiring looks of her friends, she handed Kimberley her coffee, and then reached over and gripped Cheryl in a one-armed embrace, kissing her soundly on the cheek.

"I'm so happy to see you Cheryl, you really scared us," Nicola whispered in Cheryl's ear.

Pulling back to look into Nicola's eyes, Cheryl noted that even stoic Nic seemed to be about to turn on the water works. Giving her arms a squeeze, she reassured her friend, "I'm really happy to see you too Nic. I'm fine now." Exchanging a glance with Kimberley, she was relieved that Kimberley seemed better now and was smiling broadly at them.

Nudging Cheryl in the leg, Nicola unceremoniously plopped herself down on the end at the bed. "Well, now that you seem so much better, maybe you can convince herself over there," nodding her head in Kimberley's direction, "to actually go home and sleep in a real bed and eat some real food."

"Nic..." Kimberley started, but was interrupted.

"She's exhausted, but she wouldn't leave. I don't think she's even been outside in days. She hasn't had anything remotely resembling real food, I think she's been living on coffee and the crap in the vending machine and that's about it," Nicola finished emphatically.

Cheryl looked at Kimberley and arched a brow in question.

Kimberley sighed and shrugged at Cheryl. "Nice tattling there Nic, thanks very much, anything else you want her to know?" She said sardonically.

"No, that's about it," Nicola said cheerily, "we just want you to take care of yourself too," she finished in a more serious tone. They had all been worried about Kimberley too.

"Kimberley," Cheryl started, "Nic's right. You need to take care of yourself, babe. You do look knackered. I'll be fine here and you can go get some rest and something to eat and come back later. Besides, I'm sure Justin misses you if you've been here this whole time."

"Justin's in France still, so it's fine if I stay," Kimberley said.

"Oh god, your holiday!" Cheryl exclaimed, belatedly remembering Justin's plan to take Kimberley away for a real break. Feeling guilty, she reached over and wrapped one hand around Kimberley's forearm, "You're supposed to be on holiday and here you've been sitting here in this dreary hospital all this time because of us. I'm sorry Kimba, you should go and spend the rest of the time with Justin," Cheryl said mournfully.