I Knew Her As August

eleven: the forbidden fruit

Nicki told herself to count to a hundred to try and slow her rampant heartbeat. She shut her phone off and back on again, the message still illuminated at her like a beacon in the night.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," she muttered under her breath as she hurried back to her room in the dark, a trail of hazy smoke behind her.

With the door safely closed, she threw herself onto her bed and finally opened the message.

Okay, what do I say now? Nicki desperately wished Conrad was there to help her.

SAGEEE: Sorry I took so long to contact you. I've been busy.

Nicki chewed on her thumbnail as she waited for a reply.

WYATT.OMEN: That's okay, love. I'm a very patient man.

Nicki screamed into her pillow. This was unreal. Her phone vibrated again.

WYATT.OMEN: How are you on this early morning? I'd love to grab a coffee and talk more with you.

Nicki glanced over at the clock on her nightstand. It was almost four in the morning. She thought it over in her mind if that was even possible. Maybe she could take the tunnel down to the train station and then board a train. Nicki believed she could do it. But would she be back before anyone woke up?

There was a soft tapping on the bedroom door. Nicki froze in place, listening for whoever was on the other side. The door creaked open slowly and a little blond head poked around the corner.

"Are you awake, Nicki?" Tulip asked softly. Nicki relaxed but discreetly slid her phone under her pillow.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Why are you up?" Nicki asked, gesturing for her friend to come in. Tulip shuffled over in her pink slippers and sat next to Nicki tentatively.

"I can't sleep either, I just keep worrying." Tulip pulled her robe tighter around her, like the room was suddenly colder.

"Worrying about what?" Nicki asked kindly.

"Copenhagen."

"You don't need to worry about him, he can take care of himself," Nicki assured her.

"You saw how those girls at the ceremony treated him. They ruined everything. Copenhagen deserves more respect." Tulip fussed, her fists balled together.

"Yeah, but Copenhagen can handle crazy girls like that. They're not as scary as you think," Nicki tried to reassure her but Tulip still fidgeted with angst. Nicki wished she could soothe Tulip's worries, an idea coming to her mind.

"You know what, you're right, Tulip. Copenhagen could use someone by his side to make sure the girls keep their heads straight. Like a girlfriend, or something."

A large grin spread across Tulip's plump face.

"Exactly! That way the girls would know he's taken so there's nothing for them to get excited about," Tulip exclaimed wisely.

"You should ask him," Nicki stated.

"Me? Ask Copenhagen to be my b-boyfriend?" The last word was hardly a whisper from her lips. "I don't think it would be proper to advance the king with something like that."

"Why not? You have my blessing, and I'm the king's sister," Nicki insisted.

"I don't know...I don't think he likes me like that." Tulip pulled on one of her pigtails.

"You guys should go on a date then and find out." Nicki tried to be as genuine as possible, keeping her smile stiff. Tulip was still unsure, but the excitement of the possibility of her and Copenhagen being together was playing in multicolor behind her eyes.