Safe Place ~ WayHaught

I'm Out Of 'Haught' Puns

[ A/N: So the title of this part is exactly what it says. I have run out of suitable 'Haught' puns and after this chapter, the parts will start having more in depth titles. ]

~Nicole POV~

I'm in the car with Waverly right now and I swear I have no clue what is going on. I think she just tried to ask me out, but she is so cryptic. First, she calls us friends, then she asks me if that's what I want? Was she asking if I want to be more than friends? I am so confused right now. She told me she was going to breakup with her boyfriend and not to sound cynical or anything, but I'm starting to feel like she only likes me because she doesn't like her boyfriend. I guess I should say something to her, about literally anything other than a relationship.

"Waverly?" I know how I said, or thought really, that I didn't want anyone to know why I moved here, but if she does have feelings for me then I think she should know.

"What's up?" Her voice is so gentle.

"Remember how I said we should get to know each other better?" I start to talk and she nods her head, urging me to continue, so I do. "Well, just between us, I didn't want to move here. I kinda had to. My-uh-my parents, they saw something that they shouldn't have. I don't know if they were more mad that it happened or that I didn't tell them, probably both. They kicked me out. I've been living with my older sister here in Purgatory ever since." I try to avoid telling her what they saw, but she starts to push a bit.

"What did they see? I-uh-I mean you obviously don't have to tell me, but I'm here if you want to." I can tell that she really wants to know. Or maybe she can just tell that it's upsetting me and wants to help. Either way, I met this girl yesterday and I already want to share all my secrets with her.

"I kissed someone. Someone they-uh-someone they didn't approve of." I know she knows that I'm gay, we kind of established that with the whole 'maybe then we can talk about an us' thing, but saying the words is a lot more difficult than taking actions to show it. "The thing is, this is hard to say, even though I'm pretty sure it's really obvious and if you can't tell. . . I don't know. I guess you'd either have to be blind or an idiot not to know." I tense up and stop talking for a moment when I feel her hand on my shoulder, but she pulls it away. "I just feel like everyone can tell, like I have this giant sign on my head and I'm walking around and people just know. I mean I'm probably just paranoid."

"No, I get it. I feel like people are watching me too." At first her words actually make me feel better. Even though I haven't said the words yet. "But you're a lesbian not a unicorn, right?"

Record scratch.

"What?" I somehow manage to say after choking on my own spit and nearly swerving into a ditch. I can see her face go white and she can obviously tell that came out wrong. 'Came out' wrong. HA! Seriously, Nicole? Now is not the time to make puns. Ugh.

"What?" She's adorably trying to cover up what she just said, but I think it's cute so I don't mind. "That came out wrong. I'm sorry. I guess what I meant was, if people can tell, if they are staring at you, they really shouldn't be. I feel like people care too much about who other people love and well, for one thing it isn't any of their business, and another thing is that, I don't know." She pauses to find her words. "Just that I don't understand why people don't just treat gay people like everyone else. People either saying that it's brave or that it's disgusting, but sometimes it would be nice for someone to just be like 'Okay, that's cool.' or like 'Well, thank God you finally said it.' I just don't get why people make such a big deal out of it."

"So, you've told other people? That you're-um-what exactly?" I'm still confused, but I understand what she's trying to say and I think she's right. I don't know if she's told other people yet, she hasn't even really told me. I feel like she's avoiding the words, same as I'm doing. I can hear a tiny gay sigh from her before she starts talking. Seriously, Nicole, not everything is gay. And don't make any Carmilla references, it's weird.

"I haven't told anyone yet." Another tiny gay sigh. "I haven't even said the words out loud. I want to, but I'm too scared. I've seen how people react and I don't want anything bad to happen." This time it's a broody gay sigh. "Okay. I'm gay, but I've never kissed a girl or anything. I just never felt right with any of my boyfriends and I've had like one crush on a girl, but somehow it just feels more natural to me."

My car has been parked at the school for a while now, but we haven't gotten out. I know we're both late for class, but this conversation seems more important. I met her yesterday and she has my heart. I know I want to be with her, but the thought of her being with me so soon after breaking up with Champ is holding me back. She hasn't even dumped him yet. I know what I want. I know she wants it too. So, I'm standing by what I told her earlier. When we know each other a little better, then we can talk.

"You wanna ditch today?" I hear myself asking before I can stop myself.

"Definitely." She replies with a smile and puts her seatbelt back on.

As I pull out of the parking lot and start driving down the road, I notice she put her music on the radio. It's funny, this is my favorite song. We're laughing and singing along to the music. I stop singing after a moment and she smiles when she notices.

"What?" She giggles.

"Nothing." I smile back at her. "You just have an amazing voice."

Maybe it isn't such a bad thing that I'm falling for her. Maybe this will be good for me.