Chapter Text
Riding your bike into town, the roads are quiet, typical of summer mornings outside of town. You ride close to the curb, like your sister had always told you.The wind dries your hair, still damp from your shower, and you listen to the chirping in the trees, the spinning of your wheels. The long ride doesn’t bother you, it gives you time to think about anything you’d like. Today, you’re zoning out to thoughts about ancient civilizations of the Western Hemisphere.
Perhaps your preoccupation to the Chavin is to blame when you nearly crash into a flash of red three feet in front of your bike. You swerve into the middle of the road and squeeze the brakes on your bike, managing to screech to a stop. Turning back, you see a girl who had emerged from the alley you were passing. She’s pressed herself back against the brick wall next to the alley, with one hand on her forehead.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, out of breath. “My bad,” You shake your head as you walk your bike up to her.
“No, it’s my fault, really. I should be more careful of runners,” you return the apology.
She lifts herself off the wall. “I should probably be more careful of pretty girls on bikes. They’re more dangerous than I would have assumed,” she says. You feel your neck redden and don’t stop yourself from smiling at the flirtation. “I’m Nicole. Nicole Haught.” Her hand is warm, not sweaty, warm.
“Waverly Earp. Are you new here? I haven’t seen you around before...I think I would remember if I had,” you say, a semi-suggestive tone, and cringe for a moment afterward. “Because…” you trail off, trying to neutralize the statement, “your hair. It - it’s red, and did you know that only two percent of people have red hair. Yep, it’s true,” the words tumble out and you don’t know how that made the situation any less awkward. Nicole glances down, hiding a grin.
“Yes, I’m aware of that fact. And I am new, Dad just got a job for the sheriff’s department.”
“Purgatory could definitely use a couple more officers,” you joke, but based on the confused look on Nicole’s face, it probably wasn’t the best.
“Well, I will see you around, Waverly Earp,” she says with another smile.
“Definitely,” you say. She starts walking off before picking up pace back into her run, going the way you came from while you continue on your bike to Shorty’s.
It’s only eight-thirty in the morning, but Wynonna and Willa are both already at Shorty’s, playing pool together. Seeing the Wynonna up and out of the house before nine is a bit of a surprise.
“Morning, baby girl,” Wynonna greets you when she looks up at the noise of the doors closing.
You nod a hello to your sisters. “What are you two doing here so early?” They look at you in response, knowing you are really wondering why Wynonna is awake at this hour.
“Wynonna and I figured we ought to start accomplishing some things this summer,” Willa says.
“Like a good game of pool?” you tease, earning an eyeroll from Wynonna in response.
“We were starting to fix the rest of the apartments upstairs. Gus wants to rent more of them out,” Wynonna explains during Willa’s turn. You raise your eyebrows as you take in the information.
“Why would Gus do that? Nobody’s stepped foot in those since I was in preschool.”
“Actually, a couple people moved into one the other week,” Willa corrects you. She leans against the wall, waiting for Wynonna.
“I must be dreaming. Not only has somebody rented a dinky apartment, but Wynonna is actually performing physical labor?” Wynonna narrows her eyes at you and takes a shot at a ball.
“There are a few kids coming back from college who are looking to get away from their parents for the summer,” Willa continues. “Maybe you can assist us in getting the apartments in shape.” You can tell she isn’t making it an optional activity.
They finish the game within five minutes, Willa being the winner, and trudge up the rickety stairs to the four apartments above the bar. Wynonna trips, cursing.
“We won’t have any renters if they fall trying to get up these stairs.” You step around the equipment Willa and Wynonna have on the ground of the first available apartment. Your older sisters have already cleaned the kitchen - dusted, vacuumed, and washed every corner.
Together, you and your sisters finish the living room and one bedroom by noon. Everybody is covered in dust and you’re sure the smell of old wood and cleaning supplies will never leave your clothes.
Shorty’s has a stack of towels in the supply closet that you go hunting for. Stepping out of the apartment, your eyes meet another pair. Surprise flashes across both of your faces. Nicole’s face lights up with recognition after a split second.
“Hi, Waverly,” Nicole greets you. She’s changed out the clothes she was running in earlier, and has two bags of groceries from the store across the street in hand.
“Nicole, hey.” She has a set of keys out in her other hand. “Do you live here?”
“This,” she gestures to the door, “is my dad’s apartment. What’s with the crew?”
“My aunt is having my sisters and I clean up the other apartments. It’s proving to be quite the task,” you say with a chuckle. You’re suddenly very aware that you are now the one covered in sweat.
“Would you like an extra pair of hands?” she offers, tilting her head as if she would genuinely enjoy being in the same state as you, sweaty and dirty.
“Nicole, that’s so sweet of you, but we’ll be okay. You get on with your day.” you decline, even though you would like to have the chance of talking to her for a while longer.
“Well, alright. But any time you want some help, you know where to find me,” she says, unlocking her door and nodding at you with a cheeky grin. “I mean it.”
You still have a smile on your face by the time you’ve grabbed a couple of faded blue towels and have returned upstairs. Before you’ve had a chance to stop smiling, Wynonna comes out of the apartment with a bucket and sponge. Water sloshes in the bucket, over the side, and to the ground when she sets it down.
“Something’s got you in a good mood. Care to share with the class?” she says, jolting you from zoning out.
“Nothing important. Let’s go start the bathroom,” you say.
“I’ve known you for your whole life, Waves. This isn’t a ‘nothing important’ smile.” Neither of you say anything for a while. Wynonna is looking at you, her eyebrows are raised, waiting for your answer.
You don’t know what to tell her, so you lean back. The railing of the staircase is pressing into your back. You make eye contact. “Someone was flirting with me, is all,” you confess.
She smiles, satisfied, a little proud. “Glad that somebody is giving my sister the attention she deserves. Since there’s nobody else doing that,” she teases about Champ. Wynonna takes the towels from your hands. She steps back into the apartment, leaving you alone in the hall, the railing still pressed on your back.