Sea Glass (WAYHAUGHT)

Slumber Party

Waverly slipped out of her parents' house without detection. Backpack slung over one shoulder, she hurried towards the Sharksfin, hoping Joe was long gone. He was. She let out a relieved breath as she trotted up Jetty Street. Keys in hand, she let herself into the upper flat, dumping her belongings in the smaller room. She'd used this very bed before, twice in fact, although on both occasions she'd had to navigate around a mountain of boxes. True to her word, Nicole had removed most of the stuff in readiness for her arrival.

Robin too was gone when she entered the kitchen, finding Nicole sweeping up in the dining area, there being little for her to do other than watch. It was easy to see this place meant everything to her, a dream of freedom fulfilled.

It struck her Nicole's idea of freedom happened to be completely opposite to Wynonna's, and her own. Hers was meant to reside somewhere other than in the village. Perhaps it lay in the job at Heligan's, if she was lucky enough to get it. Perhaps it lay far beyond Cornwall, imagining what it might be like to live abroad, say in Dubai, or Paris, or wherever Nicole might want to establish herself next. Until that moment, she'd not considered being that far from home. A few hours at most was her limit. London was four by train, five by car, seven or eight hours by coach. That was the furthest she'd travelled, her university considerably nearer, one of the reasons she'd chosen it.

"I can do that," she said, holding her hand out.

Nicole yawned. "Nearly done. You want a drink?"

Waverly shook her head. "I'm good. Looks like we could both do with an early night."

"It's only..." Nicole retrieved her phone. "11.07...the night is young." She yawned again. "Sorry, old age catching up with me."

She left Nicole to finish her final chore of the night. Sat in a small bedroom, wondering if she should have stayed for that drink, her phone rang.

"Tell me you're not seriously considering sleeping upstairs."

"No," she replied. She had.

"You have two keys."

"I'm in my PJs."

She heard Nicole laugh. "It's not that far. Unless you want me to come get you, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you downstairs."

A thrill rippled through her at the thought of being Nicole-handled into bed. "I'm coming."

Key inserted in the lock, she entered Nicole's flat, the lights on, the TV still mumbling to itself. A hand on her shoulder had her jump.

"Nice PJs," Nicole observed. "Is that Sesame Street?"

Waverly's cheeks flushed. "Alice chose them for me."

"Super sexy."

"Super comfortable."

Nicole removed Waverly's backpack from her shoulder. "Welcome to my humble abode. Bedroom's on the left. Bathroom's over there. Help yourself to tea, coffee, anything in the fridge."

From thinking Nicole didn't want her here, to giving her the deluxe tour, Waverly could scarcely believe her luck. "So, I stay here?" she said, more to reassure herself this wasn't a dream. "Even though I have the room upstairs."

"Best of both worlds," Nicole replied. "I won't be offended if you want to use upstairs occasionally. You're free to do whatever you want."

Waverly retrieved her bag, chucking it on the floor. "Right now, I want to cuddle up in bed, if that's okay."

"Sounds good to me. I might have my own PJs somewhere. It'll be a slumber party."

About to enter the bedroom Waverly stopped. "Do you ever turn the TV off?"