#jen la

From:  Purgatory Town Hall – Lands Division

Subject: Re: Information Request for 244 Fifteenth Avenue

Hi Nicole, It’s nice to hear from you! We definitely need to catch up sometime soon. I’m super swamped right now and will add the trace to my to do list. Give me a couple days. Thanks!

Jen La

Chief Planning Officer Purgatory Town Hall – Lands Division Office: 555.0182

A short background fic about everyone’s favorite cop/agent and her connection with a one Jen La. AKA the story behind Nicole’s ring.

Nicole had always grown up being referred to as Haught. 

Going to an all girl high school and playing on over five sports teams had a way of making your last name become your calling card. 

However, it took Nicole until her early years in college to find out that people thought that she was H-O-T hot as well.

Throughout high school she had only gone on a couple of dates with a few guys, but it had just never worked out. They were either too intimidated by her athletic prowess or too uninteresting for her to spend much time on.

Then there had been Dennis in her senior year. He was the yearbook editor and somehow managed to look past the tangled hair, thick glasses, bad acne, and obnoxious braces that had plagued Nicole since her youth. 

He was a really nice guy who took her on great dates and always was a true gentleman, but once he kissed her...all she could think was “eh.”

She had remained good friends with Dennis after their relationship’s eventual demise, but she knew that deep down in her heart she could never love him the way that he still secretly loved her.

During her freshman year in college, Nicole discovered the miracles that were conditioner, contacts, and acne cream as well as had her braces removed. And the difference it made in the number of people interested in her was astounding.

Haught was now Hot.

But even with all of the new attention, Nicole still felt off about the whole dating thing.

At least that was until she met Jen La.

Jen was a finance major while Nicole was studying criminology. One fateful day after Nicole had spent hours arguing with her academic adviser about how a finance course was totally useless to someone who wanted to be a cop and that the requirement was only a way to extort more money from poor college students, she found herself angrily dropping into a chair in a large lecture hall for her new course.

“Easy now. This school barely has the money to offer public computers to students, if you break that chair there won’t be enough money in the budget to get a new one. Like ever. Trust me I’ve run the numbers.” A voice says from behind Nicole.

The red head turns around to see a beautiful brunette with stunning white teeth smiling at her. Instantly she turns on a charm that surprises even herself.

“Well you would think that with the extra money that I’m paying for this stupid, useless course they could buy me all the chairs I need.” Nicole responded.

“Ouch. Don’t knock my major like that. It might not be as cool as criminology, but if you ever need help with your taxes one day then you’re gonna come crying to me.” The girl says with a cheeky grin.

Nicole smiles. She finds the girl adorable. Well maybe a bit more than adorable. But something about the statement bugged her.

“How did you know I was a criminology major?”

“Please. With that hair and that bod. I would be an idiot to try and not find out more about you. You’re Nicole Haught. Freshman. Criminology Major. 19 years young. Living in Curie Halll.” The girl responds with a sly look.

Nicole doesn’t really know how to respond. She knows that she’s blushing hard.

“Some would find that totally disturbing that you knew all that.” Nicole shoots back daringly.

“And some would find it totally endearing.” The girl almost whispered back, a sultry tone to her voice.

And God, Nicole totally did.

Within the month she and Jen were dating.

Nicole had never been so happy. Not only was kissing no longer “eh,” but instead it was addictive. Whenever one of them wasn’t in class or studying, they were studying each other.

And when they had shared their first time together about two months into their relationship, Nicole had cried. She had finally found someone that she connected with on an emotional and physical level.

They dated throughout all of college and well into Nicole’s time at the Police Academy. There was a time when they were even close to getting engaged. But that’s when things started to head south.

They were both incredibly busy with their jobs and their careers started to take importance over their relationship. 

Even though things were tense, there were never fights. They were both too level headed for that, so when it finally came time for them to end the relationship. It was amiable.

Heck Nicole had even expected them to get back together once they had both settled into their jobs. But once she moved to Purgatory she knew that would never happen. 

During the three months when they were no longer together and before Nicole moved the pair had tried friendship as an option.

It started out awkward and uncomfortable, but once the initial shock wore off the two were thick as thieves. 

They became each other’s wing women and helped the other bring home women from bars, they had weekly shooting range competitions where they laughed until they couldn’t breathe, and of course they talked about how much it sucked that they were finally getting comfortable with each other again to only have Nicole moving away.

As Nicole was hugging her goodbye outside of her pick up truck on the morning she was leaving, Jen gave her her green jade ring that she had worn since their college days. 

“Jen I can’t take this.” Nicole said putting her hands up.

“Take it nerd. Maybe it will keep you safe out there in the wild west.” Jen said with a giggle.

“You have to promise you’ll come out and see me from time to time. And swear you’ll write.” Nicole said with tears in her eyes.

“Don’t worry. I promise. Now get out of here. Find yourself a hot chick to settle down with Haught-stuff.” Jen said laughing, but crying at the same time.

“Yeah yeah you two Jen.”

“I’m telling you Jen she’s amazing. Beautiful, funny, and even better in bed than you were.” Nicole says poking fun at her best friend over the phone three months later.

“Yeah man, Waverly sounds great. I’m really happy for you! I actually have some news too.” Jen says excitedly.

“Oh do tell.”

“I’ve been dating this girl Kara for a few months now and I think she might be the one!” Jen said quietly

“Holy shit! A few months! How could you not tell me?” Nicole yells through the phone.

“I wanted to be sure, but yeah she’s great.” Jen says clearly happy.

“I’m excited for you! That’s amazing.” Nicole says with genuine joy in her voice.

“How about you and Waverly come and meet us for Christmas here in the city. Kind of a double date situation.” Jen offers.