Sweat, Treachery and Scorn (WAYHAUGHT)

🔪 Soap Can't Wash Away Scars, But You Can 🔪

Nicole Haught was crying. Real, physical tears dribbled down her cheeks like baby drool, making her feel disgusted with herself. If Waverly could see her now, she'd probably laugh. At the end of the day, that moment in the cell had been stupid. Feelings were stupid, especially ones for a Dynamite Sister by the name of Waverly Earp. Surely the brunette hadn't meant anything by what she'd carved into the redhead's skin? No, of course not. She was just trying to take her mind off bad memories, and Nicole just so happened to be there. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't. Never. Nobody loved her, or even liked her. She was a bastard, and she'd be lucky if she ever got out of prison legally. 

Shakily, she reached for the bar of soap supplied in every shower stall, running the block over her skin, hoping to wash the scars away. The scars her parents had left on her. But at the end of the day, they weren't physical scars, they were cut deep into the fabric of of heart, and the stitches had popped open when she saw the hearts connected by swirls the brunette had drawn across her neck. The wound was bleeding because she was worried it was all a joke. What if the brunette didn't actually care? What if her first friend―though admittedly, Nicole didn't want to be just friends, but now wasn't the time to gay it up―didn't actually like her, and was just trying to gain power in the prison hierarchy by using her? 

She hadn't talked to Waverly in a week, always going to bed early for fear of having to have a conversation with her. This was the first time the redhead had showered in a week, too afraid to see what was printed on her flesh. But now that she had, she didn't even know why she was crying. Waverly was sweet, caring and selfless, and despite what criminals worldwide thought of her, she was an angel. And she seemed to enjoy Nicole's company, at least during the conversations they'd had. 

Just then, there came a soft knocking at the door of her cubicle. The redhead froze, her grip on the soap tightening. Had someone heard her crying? Would they expose her now that they had heard her during a moment of weakness? She cursed beneath her breath at the thought, turning away from the door to try and erase any signs she'd been crying, secretly hoping whoever it was would leave her alone if she didn't answer. 

"Nicole?" A soft, almost shy voice called out. If the water's velocity had been any stronger, she surely wouldn't have heard the brunette speaking over the roar of the water pounding against the tiled floor. "Nicole, it's Waverly. Um, I know you've been avoiding me, and that's your own personal choice but―" Waverly swallowed, hard. The lump in her throat had been there for days. Sure, she hated being made to feel weak because of the other woman's pull, but it hurt even more to be ignored. To be truly alone. "But I've come to invite you to lunch. With me." 

Nicole blushed, grateful that the door separated them so that the smaller woman couldn't see the crimson flush adorning her cheeks like a medal. She felt elated. Waverly wanted to spend lunch with her. Her. Oh Jesus, she had to stop. It was weird to feel these things again, especially for someone she barely knew. Nope, she couldn't have feelings. There was no way. It was impossible. 

Waverly Earp wanted to have lunch with her!!!!!!! 

"Actually, scratch that," Waverly spoke once more, interrupting the swarm of gay thoughts invading the redhead's mind. She felt a chill run down her spine. Was the brunette reconsidering? "I'm going to sit with you at lunch, dinner and breakfast everyday. I don't care if that ruins your whole vibe or whatever, because if you try to avoid me again, I'll tell everyone you talk in your sleep about cheese and onion sandwiches. Wait, I can't say that. That's too cute, I wanna tease you about that privately. Erm, anyway, yeah. Yeah. Now, um, erm, get your butt out here and dress yourself or else I'll kick down the door and do it myself!" 

There was silence. Nicole couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Is it natural for Waverly Earp rambling to be so insanely cute and arousing all at once?