Cheradine - Whole Lotta History

Chapter 8

Cheryl jolts awake, startled by the insistent chime of the doorbell. She almost convinced herself it was a dream, until she see's the the faint glow of the outdoor sensor lights piercing the darkness under her window, confirming the reality of the disturbance. She looks over to the clock on her bedside table and sighs deeply as she see's the early hour. She flings herself out of bed, fumbling in the dark for the light switch.

A chill runs down her spine as she peers through the opaque glass, her heart pounding in her chest. A silhouette, barely discernible, moves slowly on the other side. She knew she probably shouldn't open her door in the dead of the night when she didn't know who was on the other side of it, but something compelled her forward, unlocking it.

She presses herself against the back of door, creating a makeshift shield between herself and the unknown. Her head peeks cautiously around the frame, she tries to make out the figure on the other side. She slowly opens to door wider, relief washing over her when she realises it's Nadine on the other side, clearly intoxicated.

"Nadine?" She manages to croak out, her voice still thick with sleep. "What are you doing here?" She can't help the slight annoyance that rises at being drunkenly awoken, no matter how cute the pout on Nadine's lips was.

"I... I wanted to talk to you." Nadine slightly slurs her words.

"Is everything okay? You seem... off." She lets her eyes check over Nadine, looking for any signs of distress.

"I'm fine." Nadine breathes out, unsteady on her feet.

"Come in." Cheryl steps aside, inviting Nadine in. The moment Nadine crosses the threshold, she stumbles, her feet tripping over each other and she crashes straight into Cheryl, who manages to keep them both on their feet.

"Sorry." Nadine giggles. "I think I might be a little bit drunk." She holds up her thumb and forefinger, emphasising the little.

Cheryl's grip on Nadine tightens slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. She had been enjoying a peaceful sleep, and Nadine's unexpected arrival had rudely interrupted it. The scent of alcohol on Nadine's breath was a stark reminder of the circumstances that had led to this late-night visit.

"A little, Nadine you can hardly walk." Her voice comes out harsher than she intended it to but that doesn't stop her. "You turn up at 2 in the fuckin' morning, wake me up for a chat, and you can't even stand right. Where have you been?"

"Out with Nicola." Nadine replies sheepishly, her hands still gripping Cheryl's shoulders.

"I should have guessed with the state you're in." Cheryl sighs deeply.

"Sorry." Nadine pouts again, doing her best to give Cheryl the puppy dog eyes. "I needed to see you." Her voice dropping slightly.

"Well it better be good." She snaps back.

Cheryl's heart pounded in her chest as she met Nadine's gaze. The vulnerability in Nadine's eyes, the raw honesty that pierced through the drunken haze, struck a chord within her. She remembered the harsh words she had spoken, the way she had pushed Nadine away. Guilt gnawed at her, a pang of regret that she had never felt before.

Now, as they stood there in the quiet of her home, Cheryl felt a connection she had never experienced before. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a side of Nadine that she had never seen. A softer, more vulnerable side that made her heart ache with a strange longing.

The silence stretches on, a tense, electric pause that seemed to hang in the air.

"What did you want to talk about?" She whispers back, brushing a stray hair from Nadine's face.