Chapter Text
Nicole pulled the suspenders tight over her shoulders and fidgeted with the buckles. Looking at herself in the mirror, she straightened her bowtie, which already felt like it was strangling her. She was suddenly regretting letting Dolls and Jeremy dress her. She pulled on the end of the bowtie in an attempt to loosen its hold on her throat, but a hand slapped her fingers away. She turned to glare at the perturbed face of Jeremy Chetri.
“Don’t touch,” he instructed. “You’ll ruin the look.”
Frowning, Nicole begrudgingly dropped her arms and took a step back, allowing Jeremy to tighten her tie. When he stepped away, she stared at her reflection and felt a smile form. She had to hand it to him, Jeremy knew his stuff.
She was clad in a crisp, white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and she felt more herself than she had in a while. She relaxed her shoulders, noting how the suspender straps loosened their death grip on her and the buckles stopped digging into her stomach. She didn’t know how they pulled it off, but her friends had somehow found a pair of perfectly fitted pants and a blazer, both in classic black, to complete the ensemble.
She looked good .
She just hoped Waverly thought so.
Clearing her throat, she turned and faced her friends. “So, what’s next? We pick up our dates?”
“Not exactly,” Jeremy started. “We thought this occasion called for something a little…special.”
Nicole quirked her head. “What are you…”
“Ok losers, are we ready or what?” Wynonna burst through the door with the grace of stampeding elephants, kicking the door closed with her boots. She was wearing a bright red dress and her trademark leather jacket, the perfect dichotomy between glamor and grunge.
Nicole’s eyes bulged out of her head. “Is Waverly here?” she questioned, quickly brushing off non-existent dust from the front of her outfit.
“Cool your jets, Red Haught,” Wynonna quipped. “Waves is at home getting all dolled up.” She sauntered over and kissed Dolls on the cheek. “I’m just here to get a different kind of dolled up.”
“Wynonna,” the three other occupants of the room groaned, although Dolls didn’t seem too troubled by that phrasing.
“Tough crowd,” Wynonna mumbled, leaning into Dolls’ side. “It’s like somebody died in here or something. It’s not the apocalypse.” She threw up her arms. “It’s Prom, bitches!”
Nicole bristled. She was nervous enough without having to deal with Wynonna’s shenanigans. She opened her mouth to match Wynonna’s snark with some of her own, but a steady hand on her shoulder stopped her. She felt Dolls squeeze lightly, providing the silent support that he always did.
“I think Nicole’s just a tad nervous about the dance, Wynonna,” Jeremy explained.
“I’m not nervous,” Nicole grumbled under her breath.
“Tell that to your face, Haught Pants,” Wynonna quipped.
Nicole sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets to stop her hands from shaking. Jeremy was right, she was nervous. It didn’t matter that she knew how Waverly felt about her, this dance was the culmination of years of yearning to be with Waverly. She couldn’t screw it up.
Wynonna sighed, pulling Nicole back to the conversation at hand. Nicole noticed Dolls nudging Wynonna with his shoulder, giving her a pointed look and nodding in Nicole’s direction. “Fine,” she grunted softly. “Look Nicole, I’ll deny that I told you this, but Waverly has been talking about wanting to go to the dance with you for days. There’s literally nothing you could do to disappoint her.” She paused, as if she just realized that she was being nice. “Except maybe being a Haught Mess and not showing up for her. And I would definitely kick your top-shelf ass if you did that.”
Those words were enough to ease Nicole’s fears. Knowing the Waverly was as excited about tonight as she was felt like a cool drink of water on a hot day, soothing the burning fire of nerves in her stomach. She sighed audibly, feeling the tension drain from her body.
Wynonna pointed a finger in Nicole’s face. “Do not narc on me, Nicole Haught.”
Nicole let out a low chuckle, nodding her head. “Sure, Wynonna.” She paused and made eye contact with her friend. Sincerely, she promised, “I got you, Earp.”
There was a slight quiver in Wynonna’s lip, a fact that she would never admit, and Nicole knew that it was best to drop the conversation before it got too serious. Wynonna was always weird about her emotions, and the last thing that Nicole wanted to do before her big night with Waverly was make Wynonna feel the need to overcompensate for her feelings. That would surely end with a tense and annoyed Waverly.
That was not how her night was going to end.
She had other goals in mind.
“See, everything is a-ok, Nicole,” Jeremy assured, breaking through the unseen barrier of emotions surrounding Nicole and Wynonna. Nicole was grateful that Jeremy always seemed to sense when he was needed. He grabbed a small plastic box and threw it to Wynonna, giving her a meaningful look.
“Alright,” Nicole heard Wynonna stage-whisper, before clearing her throat and taking a step forward. “Think fast, Haught Potato!” Wynonna tossed the box at Nicole, who struggled to catch it before it fell to the floor.
Nicole gripped the box and glared at Wynonna, confused as to what was happening. She took her eyes away from her friend to finally look at what everyone was so eager to give her. A gasp flew from her lips before she could stop it.
She was looking down at a brightly colored wrist corsage and she could instantly envision Waverly wearing it. The corsage was literal sunshine: deep oranges and reds with pops of yellow mixed in. She brushed her fingers over the lid, not daring to touch the flowers. Seeing the corsage made it real, and she could imagine herself placing it on Waverly’s wrist. She could picture Waverly’s beaming face, her eyes scrunching into half-moons which always indicated that she was truly happy.
She gave Wynonna a watery smile. “It’s perfect,” she whispered, launching herself into Wynonna’s arms. “Thanks, best friend.”
She felt Wynonna chuckle, her body shaking in the hug. She pulled away and noticed that Wynonna’s eyes seemed misty. Neither girl commented on the emotion in the room, they just let it float between them.
That was definitely going to be too much emotion for the older Earp.
Wynonna broke the moment first, forming a fist and gently punching Nicole in the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah.” She sniffled, using her leather jacket to wipe underneath her eyes. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Waverly’s jeep is outside. She’s waiting for you at the Homestead.” She tossed the keys at Nicole. “Treat her right, Haught.”
Nicole caught the keys with ease, the feel of the metal in her hands grounding her. It all felt real for her now. She knew that she had Wynonna’s approval, and it gave her a calming sense of comfort. She stood tall, clutching the keys in one hand and the corsage in the other, and nodded at Wynonna. “I promise, Wynonna,” she vowed, her voice unwavering.
Jeremy moved over to her, stroking his chin and giving her the once-over. He nodded his head in approval, looking like a proud mama. He straightened her bowtie once again, and clapped his hands together. “Perfect.”
Dolls threw his arm around Wynonna’s shoulder and pulled her into his side. He gave Nicole a crooked grin. “You got this, Haught.”
And she did, she knew that she did. So, with the confidence that her friends instilled in her, she left the room to get her girl.
She was prepared for anything.
She was wrong.
Nicole was not prepared for how amazing Waverly looked. She had a death grip on the corsage as Waverly made her way down the Homestead porch steps. Nicole gulped when Waverly slinked her way closer, a bashful smile gracing the younger Earp’s face.
“Waverly you…” Nicole started, her voice shaking. She licked her lips, noting how dry they suddenly seemed. “You are…a vision.”
Waverly stopped on the bottom step, her eyes never leaving Nicole as she took in her date. Nicole raked her eyes up Waverly’s body, drinking her in.
Waverly was wearing a bright yellow dress that hugged her in all the right places. It sparkled in the sunlight, the light creating a halo glimmering around her. She truly looked like an angel.
Waverly leaned forward and grabbed the lapels of Nicole’s blazer, pulling on them slightly, causing Nicole to stumble forward into Waverly’s space. Nicole normally towered over the younger girl, but she noticed that because of Waverly’s high heels and the fact that she was standing on a step, they were almost eye to eye.
Or rather, lip to lip.
Nicole let her eyes fall to cherry-tinted lips and almost leaned in, but a soft chuckle fell from Waverly’s mouth and drew Nicole out of her bewitchment.
Waverly was smirking at her, and although she should feel embarrassed at being caught, the smirk somehow made Waverly more attractive. Nicole didn’t even know that was possible.
“You look Haught as Hell,” Waverly stated, unabashedly admiring her. Nicole waited for Waverly to finish appreciating her outfit, loving how it felt having the cheerleader’s eyes on her. It felt like an electricity coursing through her body, threatening to break free. Or a wildfire of adrenaline burning deep in her heart.
After so many years of wishing that Waverly would look at her that way, Nicole felt everything more deeply; she felt everything everywhere and all at once.
“Is that for me?” Waverly inquired, bringing Nicole back to her.
Nicole nodded, not trusting her voice. She pulled the corsage out from the container, the plastic crinkling with each movement and mixing with the crickets chirping and the wind blowing to create a soundtrack for this moment.
She gently took Waverly’s hand in hers and ran her fingers along the inside of her wrist, feeling her way across the soft skin. She looped the corsage band around Waverly’s wrist, pushing it up slowly until it was snug.
Nicole would need to thank Wynonna. The corsage was perfect. Not only did it match the dress that Waverly was wearing, but the mix of yellows and oranges painted a beautiful sunset, and Nicole felt happy just looking at her.
Which was nothing new. Nicole always felt happy when looking at Waverly. From the moment they met, in this exact spot, with Waverly peering out of the Homestead door while Nicole and Wynonna spoke on the steps, Nicole was hooked.
“Perfect,” Nicole whispered.
“Not perfect,” Waverly started. “Not yet.”
Before she knew what was happening, Waverly grabbed Nicole’s blazer again and pulled her close. Nicole gasped as Waverly’s mouth met hers, soft lips sliding across her own. She fought back a moan when Waverly ran her tongue over Nicole’s bottom lip, but instantly allowed her access.
At the first taste, Nicole shot her hands out and gripped Waverly’s hips, tugging her closer. Even with the limited distance between the two, it didn’t feel like Waverly could be close enough. Waverly pulled away slightly to take a breath and Nicole took advantage, chasing Waverly’s lips, wanting more of her warm embrace.
Waverly chuckled at Nicole’s eagerness, her breath caressing Nicole’s cheek, as she pushed gently against Nicole’s shoulder. As quickly as the moment began, it was over. Nicole pressed her forehead against Waverly’s, trying to catch her breath as her heart beat fast in her chest. They stayed in that moment, just feeling their closeness, breathing each other in.
Nicole had never felt this at peace.
The seconds ticked by, but neither girl wanted to break the spell that they were under.
The sound of a phone vibrating alerted them to the presence of the outside world, and Nicole felt Waverly pull away slowly, a sly smile gracing her slightly puffy lips.
Waverly pulled her phone out of her purse and glanced at the screen, chuckling softly at the message. Nicole quirked an eyebrow in interest, nudged the brunette with her shoulder, and asked, “What?”
Waverly put the phone back in her purse, shaking her head lovingly. “Wynonna said to stop ‘macking on’ her sister and get to the dance already.”
Nicole scoffed, “Of course she did.” She sighed loudly and gave Waverly a crooked smile. “But she isn’t wrong.” She straightened her back and reached out her arm. “I believe it’s time to get our Prom on, Waverly Earp.”
Nicole was treated with a thousand-watt smile in return. Waverly eagerly took her arm, allowing Nicole to lead her to the Jeep. Each step felt like walking on air.
Everything was coming together for them, and Nicole couldn’t wait to make a night full of memories with Waverly.
Oranges and reds filled their vision as the sun began to set around them. Waverly took Nicole’s hand off of the steering wheel and laced their fingers together. Nicole pulled her eyes away from the road, taking in Waverly sitting beside her, bathed in the sunset hues, and she squeezed her hand. Driving away from the Homestead, the wind gently blowing through their windows, Nicole was overwhelmed by the gravity of this moment.
This was the start of something magical.
The bass pumping beneath their feet led the couple through the halls of Purgatory High and into the gym. Blue and white streamers hung from the ceiling, criss-crossing to create an elaborate web above their heads. Nicole kicked a balloon that was in her path, smiling when Waverly laughed as it floated away.
Bright lights and loud music filled the gym, a cacophony of noise and strobe lights. A chaotic sea of students clustered together on the dance floor, ebbing and flowing to the beat. Waverly squeezed Nicole’s hand and pulled her to a side table. Nicole let Waverly lead her across the room, because truthfully she would follow Waverly anywhere.
“Took you long enough!” a voice shouted over the pop song that was playing on the speakers. Wynonna and Dolls were leaning against a table, knowing smirks on their faces.
Waverly squeezed Nicole’s hand, stopping the redhead from the biting comment that was on her tongue. Nicole took a deep breath in through her nose and released a loud sigh. “Just wanted to spend some time with my girl, Wynonna.”
Waverly’s eyes widened and her lips twitched into a small smile.
Worrying that she misspoke, Nicole backtracked. “I mean our girl…the girl…Waverly! I was just spending some time with Waverly.”
Three sets of amused eyes watched as Nicole panicked, before Wynonna finally let her off the hook. “Easy, Haught Mess. I’m just kidding.” She took a flask out of her jacket pocket and took a swig.
“Wynonna!” Waverly scolded, nodding her head in the direction of the chaperones. “Do not get us kicked out of Prom!” She leaned forward and stage-whispered, “You know what this night means to me.”
Nicole felt her heart sore at those words.
Unaware of Nicole’s internal bliss, Wynonna proceeded to ‘Wynonna’. “School is basically over, Waves. You can drop the teacher’s pet act.”
“Wynonna,” Dolls started.
Wynonna shook her head, ignoring Dolls’ warning. “This is the end of our shitty high school careers, Waverly! No more pencils, no more books, no more dealing with Champ and his stupid looks…or however that song goes. We passed!” She raised a hand to high five Waverly, but the younger girl only glared at her. Wynonna groaned, “Ugh, come on, baby girl, that was funny. And true!”
“Not the point, Wynonna,” Waverly began. “This is a really special night for me and I don’t want you to Earp it up!”
Wynonna’s jaw dropped, “I take offense to that slander. It is a weekend night and I am in school , Waverly. I need whiskey. No! I deserve it.”
Nicole chuckled at the back and forth, completely used to the Earp sister dynamic. She loved both of them, so she could deal with Wynonna’s chaos in order to spend time with Waverly.
Waverly let go of Nicole’s hand and leaned closer to her sister. “I just want to be able to spend Prom with my friends and my sister, Wynonna.” She lowered her voice, but Nicole could still make out what she said. The words were music to Nicole’s ears. “I’m finally with Nicole, and you know how long I’ve wanted this. I’d love to have my sister as backup tonight.”
“Kinky,” Wynonna joked, before sighing and squeezing Waverly’s hand. “I got you and your ginger, baby girl.” She looked around and took a quick swig from the flask. “Last one, I promise.” She paused and smiled. “See, nothing bad happened.”
Nicole was just about to chastise Wynonna for egging on Waverly, but a booming voice shouted over the music. “Is that alcohol?”
Four sets of eyes watched in horror as Coach Lucado and Ms. Clootie headed their way. Wynonna’s eyes bugged out of her head as she frantically tried to hide her flask. In a panic, she threw it at Waverly, who caught it and shoved it in her purse, doing her best to look nonchalant. Nicole took a step forward, bypassing Waverly, and put herself into the line of the chaperones. She hoped that her ability to charm adults would come through and she could talk them out of kicking Wynonna out of the dance.
Anything for Waverly.
Much to her surprise, Lucado and Ms. Clootie stepped around her and headed toward the punch bowl. The group turned and watched in amusement as Lucado grabbed Champ’s hand, stopping him from pouring alcohol into the bowl. The conversation was muffled by the music, but the distraught look on Champ’s face would replay in Nicole’s mind forever.
It was priceless.
“See, everything is fine,” Wynonna exclaimed, looping her arm through Dolls’ and pulling him into her.
Nicole could see the tension drain from Waverly, allowing her own muscles to relax as she reached out and took Waverly’s hand. Warm hazel eyes met hers, and she felt her body hum with contentment.
With danger in their rearview, it was time to enjoy the festivities.
The festivities, it would seem, included taking a multitude of photos with all of their friends. Literally all of them. Nicole didn’t even know that she had that many friends, but it seemed like everyone wanted to take a picture with Waverly.
And really, who could blame them?
Waverly saw Rosita and Chrissy across the room and sent Nicole an apologetic look as she dashed over to see them. As the trio giggled and took selfies in front of the blue spotlights, Nicole stood with Perry and Doc, attempting to make small talk. Unfortunately, they had other plans.
“So, I hear through the grapevine that you finally acquired the courage to request Waverly’s presence as your companion to Prom?” Doc began, a sly grin forming beneath his bushy mustache. He tilted his black Stetson Gambler hat up and winked at her.
“Oh, she did,” Perry chimed in, leaning closer to Nicole and sending her a Cheshire Cat smile. “Chrissy told me that Nicole really made an impression.”
Feeling her face instantly flush, Nicole averted her eyes from the boys, choosing instead to stare at her date from across the room. She caught Waverly’s stare, noting that, even in the darkness, her eyes twinkled brightly.
“You really love staring at her from across a crowded room, don’t you?” Dolls observed, appearing behind her from the shadows. She tried not to jump, but as usual Dolls and his ninja-like skills surprised her.
She made a tutting noise with her tongue and pulled her eyes away from Waverly to glare at her best friend, only to be met by the amused gazes of Dolls, Perry, and Doc. “Guys,” she warned, holding her hands up. “Don’t…”
“No wonder Waverly realized what you were up to, Haught. All that staring is a dead giveaway,” Perry quipped.
Doc chimed in. “Perry is correct. It is not difficult to see that you deeply care for her, Nicole. Your emotions are broadcast across your face.”
Blushing under the scrutiny of her friends, Nicole scowled. She opened her mouth to object to their statements, to tell them that she was better at hiding her emotions than that, but nothing came out. They were right. Nicole had spent so many years loving Waverly from a distance, that it made sense the others could see it too. She couldn’t even be embarrassed by it anymore, because everything led her to this moment: being Waverly Earp’s date.
“What are we talking about?” Jeremy asked, popping into the circle and throwing his arms around Dolls and Nicole. Robin stood behind him, giving them a small wave.
“We’re just talking about how obvious Nicole is,” Perry answered.
“Oh, you mean how she obviously loves Waverly,” Robin revealed, fiddling with the edge of his suit when the group turned to look at him.
Nicole groaned. “Yes,” she relented. “Everyone knows that I love Waverly. Thank you all for pointing it out.”
“What?”
She recognized the voice instantly, quickly turning around, her eyes bugged out of her head, and squeaked out a response. “What?”
Waverly cocked her head to the side, interrogating Nicole with her stare. “What did you just say?”
“About what?” Nicole wanted to die of embarrassment, but hoped that playing dumb would work in her favor.
Waverly slid closer to her and looped their pinkies together. “Do you have something to say to me?” she whispered, the words floating across Nicole’s cheek and into her ear, causing her to shiver.
She inhaled sharply, her words catching in her throat. This wasn’t how she envisioned telling Waverly that she loved her. She had a much grander plan for that task. But if she’s learned anything from her promposal attempts, it’s that sometimes the simple plan is the right one.
“Because I am standing right here, Nicole,” Waverly prompted, her lips grazing Nicole’s ear.
Nicole’s entire body was on fire. She knew that Waverly had probably heard her. She wasn’t naive. She glanced past Waverly and noticed Chrissy and Rosita give her thumbs up.
Oh good, so everyone had overheard her confession. The pumping bass music dissolved into a slow song and Nicole knew that this was her time. She opened her mouth, but once again, Fate had other plans.
“Tucker Gardner,” Mattie Perley shouted through the speaker system.
The group’s attention was pulled to the side of the gym, a spotlight illuminating Tucker sitting underneath the bleachers with his cell phone, clearly taking upskirts. He sends Mattie a bored look, as if he didn’t just get caught being a creep.
Nicole knew that Tucker was bad news. He’d always given her the heebie jeebies, but this was a new low. She watched in amusement as Bunny Loblaw, local mayoral candidate and puritanical nuisance, pulled Tucker away from the bleachers. Her scolding words floated over the music as she dragged him out into the hallway.
Mattie gave Nicole a salute, as if she had planned the whole thing for Nicole’s benefit. After what Tucker had said at the basketball game, Nicole had been a step away from putting a voodoo curse on him. To even suggest that anything about Waverly Earp was unnatural made her blood boil.
He deserved every punishment that dear old Bunny would throw out.
Wynonna’s cackling brought Nicole’s attention back to her friends. Waverly was still standing in front of her, but she was whispering under her breath to Chrissy. Nicole’s brow furrowed in confusion.
Weren’t they having a moment?
“Tucker and Champ were thrown out of Prom?” Wynonna shouted. “Did you cast a bad luck spell on all of Waverly’s suitors, Haught Stuff?”
“What can I say, Wynonna?”
“You can finish what you started and tell my baby sister that you’re in love with her,” Wynonna stated.
“I…” Nicole sputtered.
“Look around you, Nicole. There’s lights, balloons, fancy clothing, romantic slow songs, and all of her friends around her,” Wynonna explained. She grinned widely and leaned in conspiratorially. “Not to mention the blessing of her favorite sister,” she joked. “It’s the perfect night.”
“I know,” Nicole started. “I am working on it.” And she really was. She knew that, at this point, everyone, including the girl in questions, knew that she was in love with Waverly. But there was something about saying the words out loud that just felt more…real.
Nicole wasn’t a scared person, but saying the words to Waverly’s face made Nicole’s stomach flip-flop like she was riding on a roller coaster.
Wynonna shook her head. “You are such an overthinker, Haught!” She clamped a hand down on Nicole’s shoulder. “These pep talks are really getting old. Just tell her,” Wynonna insisted. She made a cross gesture over her chest, kissed her finger, and then bopped Nicole’s nose. “Clear eyes, full bra, can’t lose!”
“That makes no sense, Wynonna.”
“Don’t question the logic.”
“I fail to see the logic in ‘clear eyes, full bra’, Earp.”
“Boobs, Nicole. The logic is boobs,” Wynonna replied.
Nicole stared at her for a millisecond before responding emphatically, “What does that mean?”
Wynonna just clicked her tongue and shot finger guns at Nicole, before turning around and walking back to Dolls, leaving a confused Nicole behind.
She had no idea what Wynonna was asking of her, but Nicole did know that it was about time she started paying attention to her date. Her beautiful date, who was currently staring up at her beneath thick eyelashes. Chrissy whispered something in Waverly’s ear, which Nicole thought sounded like ‘just ask her’.
It sounded like advice that Nicole should take too, so she took a confident step toward Waverly with the intention of finally being honest about her feelings.
Of course, as seemed to be the norm with Nicole, she was stopped from her goal yet again.
Only this time, she couldn’t find it in her heart to be mad.
Jeremy stood in front of her, effectively blocking Waverly from her view. A grin was spread wide across his face, and he seemed to vibrate with excited energy. “Take a picture with us!” he shouted, pulling Robin closer and thrusting his phone into Nicole’s hands. “As the tallest one you are required to take the shot.”
Nicole chuckled and took the phone, holding it high to get the three friends in the shot. “Say cheese, guys!”
“Fromage!”
“Queso!”
The phone snapped a moment in time when Nicole was laughing with her friends, surrounded by love. It was a memory that she would treasure. She handed the phone back to Jeremy who gleefully clapped his hands before throwing his arms around Robin and Nicole. “This is the best night ever! Oooh, I am so happy!”
Jeremy’s enthusiasm was contagious and Nicole soon found herself on the hype train along with her friend. Robin looked lovingly down at his date, affection clear on his face. It made Nicole’s heart full.
“I’m really happy too, Jere,” Nicole confessed, the words spilling from her lips. “I don’t think I could ever thank you for giving me the courage to do this.” And that was the truth, she could admit that now. Without Jeremy and Dolls she would have given up trying to have this night with her crush. Hell, even Wynonna helped to prop her confidence up. She would have to give her friend a proper thank-you in the future.
According to Waverly, Wynonna enjoyed the promposal basket. Nicole could make another catered to Wynonna and fill it with powdered donuts and whiskey.
Her thoughts were interrupted when an arm looped through hers. She didn’t need to look down to know that it was Waverly. She couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t feel Waverly’s presence. She was always with her.
“What are you thinking about?” Waverly asked softly, leaning into Nicole’s warmth.
Nicole hummed in response. “Just you, Waverly. Always you.”
“And what are you thinking about me?”
Nicole grinned. “Just about how lucky I am to be at the dance with the most stunning girl that I’ve ever seen.”
“You are quite the charmer tonight.” Waverly leaned up to Nicole’s ear and whispered, “I like it a lot.”
Nicole felt her face flush with heat. She had witnessed Waverly’s flirting before, but being on the receiving end of it was a whole new experience. Waverly was so self-assured in her actions and it was honestly such a turn-on. The look on Waverly’s face said that she knew exactly what she was doing to her.
Waverly took her arm out from Nicole’s and moved to stand in front of her, ran her fingers up the front of her shirt and played with her bowtie. “And I really like this.” There was a sultry tone in her voice that Nicole was not used to.
But she sure as hell loved it.
“Oh yeah? And what else do you like?” Nicole questioned.
Waverly smirked and reached forward, grabbing the lapels on her jacket. “I like this.” She patted them lightly before moving down to her suspenders.
“I like these.” She pulled on them slightly, grinning when Nicole moved closer to her.
She let go and trailed her hands across Nicole’s chest, down her arms, and linked their hands. “And I’ve always loved these.”
Nicole’s pulse raced at this new version of Waverly that she was experiencing. “I like you too, Waverly.” She leaned her head forward and pressed their foreheads together in an attempt to control her hormones. “I’ve always liked you.”
She felt a puff of air on her face as Waverly laughed softly. “I had a feeling that you did.”
“And what else are you feeling, Waves?” Nicole asked, hoping that they were finally on the same page.
Rather than answering her, Waverly squeezed their connected hands and pulled away slightly, leaning away from the redhead. Their faces were mere inches apart, but their bodies were still pressed so closely together that Nicole could feel Waverly’s stomach muscles tremble with each breath. There was a moment of hesitation when Waverly was just staring up at her, but the moment passed and Waverly pushed up to connect their lips. Nicole met her eagerly, grinning into the kiss. Their mouths met as if they had been designed to do so all along.
It was over before they knew it, but Waverly pulled back with a smirk on her face, clearly amused by her affect on the older girl. “I think you know what I’m feeling, Nicole.”
Nicole nodded, because she was feeling it too. The air crackled around the two of them as they stared into each other’s eyes. The lights shone brightly around them, but they were in their own world.
This was it.
This was when Nicole should confess her true feelings.
“This next song is for a special couple,” Mattie said over the loudspeaker, interrupting Nicole’s internal monologue. “Waverly and Nicole, this song is a dedication from your friends.” Mattie paused and gave Nicole a thumbs up. “Now everyone, grab a date and get out there!”’
A slow song started, and Nicole instantly recognized it. The humming from the singer filled the gym and set Nicole ablaze. She knew how much she related to this song, and she was not going to let this moment pass her by.
She turned and reached out her hand. “Dance with me,” she stated. She didn’t need to ask the question, because she knew that Waverly was with her. Waverly was all in.
Where did you come from? Are you for real?
My heart, it was so numb, but now I can feel.
It feels like I'm falling and I don't know where,
But I'm spinning with you, love so I don't even care
The words floated around them as Waverly took Nicole’s hand and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor. The lights above them glittered like stars, but all Nicole could see was Waverly.
The younger girl was beaming up at her as Nicole placed her hands on Waverly’s waist, pulling her close. Waverly’s arms wrapped around her neck, her thumb gently finding a place at the base of Nicole’s neck. She played with Nicole’s hair, twirling it between her fingers as they swayed to the music.
Nicole rested her hand on the small of Waverly’s back and pulled her closer so that there was no longer space between their bodies. She felt Waverly sigh and lean her weight against Nicole’s front, tilting her head to the side and resting it on her shirt.
Nicole wanted to live in this moment forever.
“I can feel your heart beating,” Waverly said softly, not moving her head off of Nicole’s chest.
Nicole hummed, not trusting her voice.
Stalling, falling.
Calling, all in.
Stalling, falling.
Calling, all in.
“This night has been…everything,” Waverly started, pulling back slightly. “ You made this night everything that I could ever want.”
Nicole’s heart soared. Waverly was here with her, sharing the same bliss. She grinned down at her. “This is all I’ve ever wanted too, Waves. Just you. Just to dance with you,” she confessed.
“Hopefully not just to dance with me,” Waverly began. “Because there are so many other things we could be doing.”
“Yeah?” Nicole gulped.
“So many things.”
“Whatever you want, Waverly.”
Waverly sighed loudly, causing Nicole to send her a questioning look. “I want a lot of things, Nicole, but right now I want to dance with my Haught as Hell date.”
“Check,” Nicole joked.
Waverly smiled softly. “I want to go to college and see if I can be more than what people expect of me. I want to travel and see the places that have only existed in books for my entire life. I want to check things off my bucket list, even the small ones, because we never know what will happen in the future and I don’t want any regrets. I want to see if I can find my happy ending.”
Nicole felt a rush of emotions at Waverly’s confession. She knew that the younger girl was more than this town. Waverly was smart and kind and special . Purgatory was lucky that it had her as long as it did.
“I think you can do whatever you want, Waverly.”
“But do you know what I want more than anything?”
Nicole shook her head, allowing Waverly to speak from the heart without any interruptions.
“I want to do those things with you,” she whispered, holding eye contact with Nicole. “I want to do everything on my list and more with you.”
Nicole couldn’t stop herself from placing her fingers underneath Waverly’s chin and tilting it up. She ran her fingers along Waverly’s jawline, relishing the feeling of this moment.
“I love you, Waverly Earp.”
Waverly looked down, and for one brief moment Nicole considered taking it back, but then Waverly looked back up. She had tears glistening in her eyes, but she looked happy. Nicole brushed the hair off of Waverly’s cheek and danced her fingertips along the soft skin. “I love you,” she repeated, feeling emboldened by Waverly’s reaction.
She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Waverly’s cheek. “I love you,” she whispered. They continued to sway to the music, but Nicole made it her mission to tell Waverly in any and every way how much she cared. She pressed her lips against Waverly’s, pushing all of her heart into the kiss.
She pulled back, but kept a firm hold on Waverly’s back. Waverly had not responded, but the grip on Nicole’s neck tightened, as if she was afraid that Nicole would float away.
The silence was notable, but Waverly was still clinging to her, so Nicole continued, “I remember the first time that I saw you, peering around the Homestead door, hoping to join Wynonna and I on the porch. You were so small, yet so determined, and when you smiled at me I knew in that instant that I wanted to protect you.” Nicole shook her head, the thoughts of that day swirling through her brain. “You let me be your friend, Waverly. You let me be a part of your life and that was enough for me. Being your friend was enough.” She closed her mouth, mulling over her next words carefully. “I don’t know when exactly I fell in love with you, but I’ve felt this way for a while. So I am ok, Waverly. It’s ok. Being your friend, loving you…it’s enough for me. However you want me…I’m yours,” she whispered softly, nuzzling her face into Waverly’s hair and inhaling deeply.
It didn’t matter if Waverly didn’t feel the same way, Nicole knew that she truly cared about her, and that was enough. She would follow Waverly wherever she wanted to go, for however long she wanted her around for. Maybe they would date, or maybe Waverly just wanted to experience all that life had to offer and wanted Nicole along for the ride.
It was ok if Waverly decided that this was as far as their relationship went. Nicole had loved Waverly for so long that it was a part of her now. It came as easy to her as breathing did. And she would always respect whatever decision Waverly made. Even if…
“I love you too,” Waverly whispered into her chest.
Nicole pulled back quickly, the emotional whiplash causing a jolt to her heart. “What?”
“I said that I wanted to travel the world with you and find my happy ending, Nicole. Of course I love you.” She bit her lower lip, clearly working through her thoughts. “I remember that day…on the porch. Wynonna wouldn’t hang out with me, but I could hear you guys laughing on the porch and I wanted to see what I was missing.” Her lips were downturned, and Nicole desperately wanted to make her smile again, but she didn’t want to break Waverly’s stride.
“There wasn’t a lot of laughter around the Homestead in those days, especially from Wynonna. So I knew something special must be happening.” Her eyes danced with fond memories. “And then I saw you. All red hair and flannel, laughing with my sister as if it was the easiest thing in the world. And I knew. I knew I needed to be around you.”
Nicole didn’t move, afraid that she would stop Waverly’s confession. She craved to hear more.
“You were always there for me. Always such a good friend. You stood by me in school. You were a shoulder to cry on whenever Champ hurt me. You always tried to make me smile. You were a best friend to my sister,” she paused, a swell of emotion catching in her throat. “I don’t think I realized just how much you meant to me until recently, but I know now. I know how I feel now, Nicole.” Determined hazel eyes met Nicole’s. “And I love you.”
Nicole swallowed thickly, not quite believing that all of her dreams seemed to be coming true. “Say it again,” she practically begged.
“I…love…you,” Waverly assured, peppering kisses along Nicole’s jaw.
Nicole’s smile was uncontrollable. She twirled Waverly around, the brunette’s heels sliding along the ground. “I love you too,” she responded, knowing that those words would be said often. Waverly deserved to hear those words everyday.
“Good,” Waverly said, happiness glowing on her face. “Now…dance with me.”
“For as long as you want me, Waverly,” Nicole promised.
Stalling (and I'm stalling).
Falling (and I'm falling).
Calling (and I'm calling).
All in (and I'm all in).
The music kept playing, the words blending together as they swayed slowly to their own beat. Everything blurred around them, forming shadows in an abyss. They couldn’t hear when the song changed, or their friends cheers and hollers on the sidelines. It was all both of them ever wanted, just the two of them, dancing as one.
Breathing together.
Loving each other.
Forever.