Set during Emerald Secret, Nicole comes back to visit and faces an old friend.Â
this took fucking ages and i think itâs pretty good?? thoughts????
Airports were not Nicoleâs most favorite place in the world. To be honest, they werenât even in the top one-hundred. The smell, the pushy people, the surprising lack of human decency⌠Just on her way to her get her luggage from the baggage claim, she had witnessed two people fighting over the last scone at a bakery and a guy eating a hot dog with his feet. Maybe it was just this particular airport that was beyond weird.
It makes sense, considering where she was. A lot of weird stuff went down here, stuff she would rather not be involved with.
She shuddered slightly as she made her way with the crowds towards the baggage claim, her mind a swirl of emotions. Nicole had been gone for⌠was it five months? After the whole fiasco with Dante cheating on her at Love~Love Paradise, she just needed to get away for awhile. A vacation from her friends was just what she needed. As much as she loved Aphmau and the gang, they had way too many⌠âadventuresâ then she liked.
As her mind wandered, a face popped into her head. Katelyn. Nicole had just left the resort without telling anyone, and to be honest, she knew that they didnât really miss her all that much. She wouldnât tell anyone, but she had secretly stalked all their social media since she left them, and they seemed to be getting on just fine. Even the girl she called her best friend, Katelyn seemed to be okay without her. She had a new best friend and stopped trying to contact Nicole after the first three weeks of her disappearance. Katelyn didnât even bother to look for her.
It was a bad idea to come back.
Nicole was jolted out of her melancholy thoughts as her red suitcase appeared on the luggage claim. She quickly grabbed the handle and was out of that stuffy airport as fast as possible. She exited the airport⌠and emerged into the cold. Almost immediately, she began to shiver and her breath came out like smoke from her lungs. Wow⌠it was a lot colder then she had originally anticipated. Nicole crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to trap her heat as huddled in waiting for the Uber she had arranged to pick her up.
She should probably call Katelyn, to tell her she was back in town. Even though she would rather do anything but contact her best friend, she knew it would be best. Maybe she could reconnect with her, and they could be friends again. If Katelyn would even put up with her after her sudden disappearance.
The bright screen of her phone glared up at her as she stared down at Katelynâs number in her phone. Katelynâs picture was a selfie the two of them had taken together just days before she found out about Danteâs infidelity. The blue-haired girl smiled up at the camera with her pristine white teeth, her blueberry eyes shining with happiness. Nicole was just as cheerful, though she didnât reciprocate those feelings now. All she felt was sorrow.
In a split second, she had clicked the call button and held the device up to her ear. Oh Irene, what was she going to say?! Nicole listened in suspense as the phone rang once, twice, three times⌠and a voicemail. Thank IreneâŚ
Katelynâs soothing voice hit Nicole in a crash of longing. She had forgotten how much she truly missed her best friend. When the recording ended and the beep sounded, Nicole took a deep breath and began her message. âHey Katelyn⌠itâs Nicole. Iâm back in town and I⌠Well, I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee or something? I just⌠really need to talk to you. And to apologize. I kinda want to do it in person. Phone calls are awkward⌠Contact me. Please.â
Her finger pressed the âend callâ button and she let out a sigh of relief. Maybe Katelyn was busy and wouldnât hear her message for a while? Surprisingly, Katelyn almost immediately sent a text back, as if the blue haired female just wasnât prepared to speak. Hey, sorry for missing your call, maybe we could meet up at our favorite coffee house in 20 mins? The one on Chestnut? I have to talk to you too. Then, almost twenty seconds later, I missed you.
A warm, happy feeling flushed through Nicoleâs body as she replied in the affirmative, all remnants of the cold weather momentarily forgotten. Katelyn wasnât angry with her! And she even missed her! Just then, the Uber pulled up. She took a deep, nervous breath as she got into the vehicle. She was going to see Katelyn again.
Nicole didnât have enough time to drop her luggage off at the hotel, but she was traveling relatively light and didnât mind carrying it with her to the coffee shop. She was honestly hoping Katelyn would let Nicole stay at her house, but it all rested on how well this meeting between the pair went.
She took a few minutes to compose herself inside the back of her second Uber for the day. All they were going to do is talk. Thatâs all she had to do. Nicole stepped out of the car into the frigid air and grabbed her suitcase, wheeling it behind her as she walked towards the entryway of the coffee house. Oh Irene, she had to calm her nerves if she wished to somehow old a normal conversation with her old best friend or this was going to end badly
Nicole pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by a wave of heat combined with the thick smell of coffee. She missed this place. A man in a red flannel with hipster glasses and a hipster beard sat on stage in the corner, playing an acoustic guitar, and almost all the tables were packed with hipster kids willing to pay way too much for a simple coffee. She took a deep breath of the coffee-thick air as her grey eyes wandered the cafe.
She pretended to look for Katelyn, but she knew exactly where the other girl was going to be sitting: their chairs. Along the far wall was a long window with a dozen or so loveseats scattered underneath it. Whenever the pair came to the cafe, they always sat in the pair of silver plush chairs in the corner around a small black coffee table. She hadnât been there in months.
Her face flushed as she noticed a blue haired girl with her legs curled up underneath her and her face buried in her phone. Katelyn. Nicoleâs heartbeat quickened along with her pace as she drew closer to her friend. Katelynâs turquoise eyes rose to meet Nicoleâs as she turned her phone off with a click. Katelyn wore a simple blue and white striped sweater over black leggings and brown combat boots. She stood and straightened out her sweater as her arms opened for a hug.
âOh, Nicole! I missed you so much!â Katelyn said with a smile as bright as the sun spread across her pale face. Nicole swiftly buried herself into the blue-haired girlâs arms, her own smile on her face. Was that⌠perfume Nicole smelled? It was fresh like roses and sunflowers and violets all wrapped into one perfect scent. She wanted to remain in Katelynâs arms for hours, but when she felt the other girl pull away, she did the same.
Nicole plopped into the open chair next to Katelyn and studied the other girl. She was as gorgeous as always, but it seemed that her hair had lightened a few shades. Did she dye it again? Whatever she did, it looked amazing.
âKatelyn you look⌠fantastic! Clearly, these past few months have been well for you! I guess my presence wasnât missed too much,â she said, attempting to make a joke. It obviously wasnât very funny, since all Katelyn did was grimace slightly.
The blue-haired girl didnât really know how to respond it seemed since all she did was open and close her mouth a few times. After a few awkward seconds, she gestured down to the two drinks on the table that Nicole hadnât noticed before. âI, um, bought you a drink. Dark chocolate mocha with cinnamon and extra whipped cream. Your favorite cold weather drink.â
A slow smile spread across Nicoleâs face. âAnd I assume you drink a plain black coffee with an ungodly amount of artery-clogging sugar, yes?â The two girls shared a laugh as they sipped their preferred beverages, reminiscing on times passed. The silence became awkward again as neither girl knew where to begin their conversation again.
Nicole decided to break the silence first. âIâm sorry I left. After everything that happened with Dante, IâŚâ She shook her head to clear the confusion from it. âI just needed a little alone time, away from everyone. I love âem but you know how they can be.â
Katelyn looked away as her grip tightened on her cup. The old Katelyn would have blown up at Nicole, would have started shouting and throwing a fit. But this Katelyn just took a calming deep breath before turning back to her old best friend. âI know you needed some alone time, but you could have come to me abo-â
âIt wasnât that simple,â she interrupted, her fist clenching. âI was just so caught up with everyone else's problems I began to feel like a side character in my own life!â
Katelyn let out another breath, her glare softening slightly. âI know the feeling. Sometimes I feel like the world revolves around Aphmau and Aaron like everyone else is just living in the background.â She smiled slightly. âI think Iâd like to be my own main character for once.â
Nicole nodded in agreement and chuckled quietly, taking another sip of her mocha.
âSo where have you been? Youâve been gone for months and you come back so tan and beautiful,â Katelyn muttered into her coffee, almost as if she couldnât bare to look Nicole in the eyes. Even though she didnât say it, Nicole knew that Katelyn was sorry for not trying to contact her after her disappearance.
Nicole decided to accept that apology. âWell, I traveled around a lot, mainly in South America. I spent a lot of time in Cuba, Peru, Venezuela, the Caribbean⌠but I spent most of my time away in Brazil. Itâs so beautiful there, and Iâve been working on my Portuguese, but Iâm not that good. Fortunately, I met this really nice girl there who helps translate for me. I already speak Spanish so it wasnât too hard to get along everywhere elseâŚâ She shrugged slightly before an idea popped into her head. âOh! I have pictures!â
Nicole pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened her camera roll. âHere,â she said as she handed the silver phone to her friend as if no time had passed between them. It was like they were in high school again, fawning over boys and gossiping together.
A sly smile appeared on Katelynâs face as she began to tease Nicole. âOooo, your vacation pics? Are you sure I wonât see anything I might regret?â They giggled playfully as Katelyn began to scroll through the numerous photos, making an offhand comment here or there. And then she found that photo.
It wasnât anything too bad, but it was a selfie of Nicole locking lips with a pretty dark haired girl with soft brown eyes. That was something Nicole had never told Katelyn: that she was bisexual. Katelyn had frequently talked about both the boys AND girls she liked, but Nicole had never found the right time to mention it. Well, today was a good a day of anything.
âKatelyn, I guess I forgot to tell you, but⌠Iâm bi. YayâŚâ She said with a nervous smile, doing awkward jazz hands.
Katelyn began to laugh as she gave the phone back to Nicole. âNicole⌠I kinda already knew. You should see the look in your eye whenever you look at the women in the magazines. You get all flowery and blushy whenever you even see a cute girl!â
It took every fiber of her being for Nicole to resist saying âlike youâ.
The blue-haired girl finished the rest of her drink and set it back on the coffee table before letting out a sigh. âOh Irene, it really got hot in here, didnât it?â She fanned herself with her hand before taking off her sweater.
As the soft fabric was pulled over her head revealing her plain white long sleeve shirt, Nicole got a glimpse of Katelynâs stomach. No, it wasnât her stomach: Katelyn was full on RIPPED.
Heat rushed to Nicoleâs face as she hid behind her mocha cup, attempting to block Katelyn from seeing her reaction. This wasnât the first time Nicole had seen Katelynâs abs, but for some reason, this time felt⌠different, to say the least. There was a slight tension between the two, one that had been there since Nicole had walked in.
Katelyn either didnât notice it or chose not to say anything, since she just continued on like normal as she pulled her shirt down. âSo, anything happen with that hottie on your phone?â
Nicole sighed quietly at the distraction. âOh, it was just a week-long fling, to be honest. I donât know why I even still have the photo. She wasnât what I was looking for in a woman. She wasnât-â you. She barely managed to cut herself off before she could say the word.
Unfortunately, it appeared Katelyn caught the intention because she shifted in her seat, whether from uncomfortableness or intrigue Nicole had no idea. She closed her mouth quickly, realizing that if she spoke again she would say something even more incriminating. It seemed as though Katelyn had the same idea because she didnât bother to speak either.
After almost a full minute of both of them looking in any direction but at each other, Nicole decided that maybe she should say something, at least to break the silence. But as she opened her mouth, more than what she originally planned to say came pouring out.
âKatie⌠Iâm sorry for leaving. I know I explained it before but I just, well, I needed a break and I came back to say how much I missed you. Ever since I left I felt⌠incomplete, you know? But now that Iâm here, I donât think I can leave again, at least not without you. You just make everything feel better and the world seems brighter.â
At this, Katelyn seemed a bit stunned, as though she wasnât prepared for Nicoleâs confession. To be completely honest, Nicole wasnât prepared for it either. She just felt as though she had to say it, as though she couldnât stand to keep her feelings inside. She had already dug her grave, so she might as well continue.
âEver since we first became friends, I had always felt kinda strange towards you, but now I finally realize what those feelings were; no, are. Katelyn, I really like you. I like you as more than just friends and oh Irene, I feel like a schoolgirl confessing her feelings.â Nicole let out a nervous laugh, running a hand through her hair.
The man who had been playing the guitar finished his final song, and a small round of applause filled the air of the coffee shop, though the girlsâ eyes were glued to each other. It seemed as though he was the only live music for that evening since low music began to play from the speakers above their heads. It was like elevator music but more hipster, if that even existed.
After a few moments, Katelyn opened her mouth slowly and began to respond, thinking over her response before not bothering to reply eloquently and just get to the point. âNicole, can I kiss you right now? Because I just really want to kiss you right now.â
An uncontrollable smile bloomed on her face as she began to nod her head furiously in the affirmative. She had been waiting for this, longer than she even consciously knew.
The two girls leaned across the armrests of their respective chairs and met in the middle, their lips colliding gently. This may seem a bit cliche, but to Nicole, the whole world began to fade away until it was just the two of them. At first, the kiss was slow and soft as both girls began to explore the feelings between the two of them. Katelynâs angel-soft lips tasted like a thick blend of dark coffee and sugar along with a small hint of⌠peppermint? It seems as though Katelyn still wore the same chapstick.
Their kiss deepened as Katelyn brought her hand up to cup Nicoleâs cheek, pulling her closer. Nicoleâs breath became heavy as she realized her hunger for Katelyn. She wrapped her arm around the blue-haired girl's waist and pulled her body as close as possible as her other hand tangled itself in her hair. She needed this. No, they both did. Katelyn was just as hungry and desperate as Nicole was.
By some mythical power from Irene above, the two managed to unwind their bodies from each other, and Nicole was immediately slammed with an intense feeling of lost once more. From the look in Katelynâs eyes, she had the same feeling.
Silence fell upon the pair once more, but this time the silence was welcomed. Nicoleâs eyes flicked around the cafe, suddenly embarrassed by her outburst of emotion. It appeared as though no one even noticed their intense feelings, and the world outside of them continued as normal, even though nothing between them would ever be normal again.
Katelyn spoke first as she attempted to straighten out her hair. âWow⌠Youâre a good kisser. Why havenât we done this before?!â The two began to laugh again, but this time their laughter was wilder and freer, the tension between them evaporating.
An idea popped into Nicoleâs head. âRun away with me. We can leave everyone behind and escape back to the villa Iâm staying in Brazil. It can be just the two of us forever.â The idea was beyond insane, but from the smile on Katelynâs face, she was considering it.
But then the smile dropped slightly as reality set it. âYou know I would love to do nothing more than leave with you, I have friends here. We have friends here. Everyone has missed you. Even though it seems like we didnât, we did. I know I did.â She reached forward and intertwined their fingers, an almost sad smile appearing on her face, a stark contrast to the pure bliss seen earlier.
âMaybe I could stay a little while longer then I had planned. Is there any room in your house for me? I heard you moved.â
Katelyn let out a snort of laughter, leaning forward to press their foreheads together. âNo one would mind you being around. Plus, itâs only KC and me in the house now, and she is going to die when she finds out about⌠this.â She pressed their lips together once more. Well, not once more. It was honestly more like six. âBut we should be fine.â
Maybe coming back wasnât that bad of an idea after all.
