Chapter Text
Nicole rounds the corner just in time to hear a strange water gushing sound and someone’s surprised sputtering.
“Agh. Geez…ahh Jesus!” This was followed by an exasperated sigh and “Perfect” as the owner of the voice came into view.
Woah. Nicole’s steps falter slightly, but she recovers quickly enough that the other woman doesn’t notice. Her eyes rake up and down the now water-logged woman in front of her and she can’t help appreciating the sight. Everyone knows Waverly Earp. With long brown hair and a gentle smile, Waverly was the sweet girl next door, high school cheerleader, and town beauty queen that was born into the wrong family and recently returned to her Alma Mater as the new World Languages teacher. Her older sister, Wynonna, was known to be a bit of a loose-cannon and a delinquent growing up, but had eventually matured and fit in well as a Dean for the school. The kids know she isn’t one to be messed with. Unfortunately, Nicole thinks Waverly may not be able to get away with the same “Don’t mess with me” attitude her sister exudes so well. She is entirely too kind. She’ll probably have to win over the kids the good old fashioned way. Or, you know, she could just fall into the trap that is the broken water fountain…
“I didn’t know Purgatory High had wet t-shirt competitions. Glad the kids aren’t around. You might have found yourself with a few new admirers.” Waverly looks up, slightly startled by the teasing voice coming from just over her left shoulder where she meets the laughing brown eyes of a very amused and very attractive School Resource Officer.
Waverly knows she’s seen the redhead around campus in the past few days. After all, she is hard to miss. No one should look that sharp in a standard issue navy blue button-down uniform shirt and pressed brown khaki pants. But, the white Stetson cowboy hat the officer wore when she was outdoors was like a bonus cherry on top of a very enticing sundae. Not that Waverly had spent an over-abundant amount of time checking out the other woman, she convinces herself. She is just trying to learn about all of her new colleagues and had yet to officially meet this one. Well, this is sure to make a lasting first impression, she thinks sarcastically.
“Are you okay?” the officer asks.
“Yea… yeah. Just a bit jumpy. This thing definitely caught me by surprise.” Waverly gestures one hand toward the offending water fountain which thankfully was no longer spewing water at her while her other hand attempts to shake off some of the excess water droplets now clinging to her skin.
“Sorry I wasn’t here to warn you in time. That thing’s been whacky for years. Best to avoid it. Plus, the school water?” She leaned forward conspiringly. “Tastes awful,” she finishes the sentence with a wink. When she smiles, Waverly notices the adorable dimples on either side of the other woman’s perfect, sparkly white grin. Dimples and sparkly white… what? Where did that come from?? But, the officer is already speaking again. “I’ve uh- I’ve been meaning to introduce myself. I’m Nicole. Nicole Haught.” The redhead reaches forward to shake Waverly’s hand. It goes unnoticed when both women hold on for just a second longer than absolutely necessary for the greeting. “And you are… Waverly Earp.” Waverly rolls her eyes. Of course Nicole knows her name. Her reputation- better yet, her family’s reputation- always precedes her. “You’re quite a popular girl around here.”
Waverly smiles and brushes off the comment. “Oh, you know. It’s all in the smile and wave.” She mimics her former beauty pageant wave half-heartedly, not wanting to talk about whatever the officer has heard to make her seem “popular”.
Nicole takes the hint and quickly changes the subject. “I was on my way over to the cafeteria for a cappuccino. Why don’t you join me and I’ll grab a spare t-shirt out of my office for you?”
“Uhm. Officer? It’s Friday afternoon.” She gestures vaguely to the empty hallway around them. “The cafeteria is closed.”
Surprisingly, the redhead doesn’t seem embarrassed about her mistake. Instead, she takes it in stride and replies, “Oh, right. My bad. It’s just… when I see something I like, I don’t wanna wait.” She looks up at Waverly from under her long red eyelashes and grins, without missing a beat. “Well, come on then. Let’s get you that shirt.”
Attempting to shake the water off as they walk is of no use, so Waverly gives up and follows Nicole to her office. Soon, they step into a small room where Nicole reaches into a cabinet behind a wooden desk and pulls out a PHS tshirt that proudly exclaims PURGATORY HIGH SCHOOL: GO PANTHERS! in big, bold letters.
“Right. God, I’m sopping wet,” Waverly says disgusted. “Sorry. Do you mind just uh…” She awkwardly gestures turning around or covering her eyes and thankfully Nicole takes the hint. The officer turns to face the door and pulls the blinds closed, so Waverly can strip out of the offending garment. Unfortunately, the task becomes more difficult when a button gets caught in Waverly’s long brown locks and she soon finds herself in yet another embarrassing situation. “Oh. Ohh… crap. Uhhh Officer? I’m stuck.”
When Nicole turns around she has to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the comical situation the younger woman has now found herself in with her arms caught in the shirt above her head. “Oh! Let me help you. I got you.”
Waverly can tell Nicole is trying hard to keep the laughter out of her voice and sends a silent thank you in her direction as they manage to pull the shirt over her head at last. “Good thing you’re not some guy, right?” Waverly jokes. “This could be…” Suddenly, light brown eyes meet with dark chocolate ones and both women feel their hearts stutter in response to the almost palpable spark of chemistry between them as Waverly’s sentence trails off. Noticing the close proximity of the other woman, she takes a small step back and recovers her words. “…really… really awkward.” Nicole blushes slightly as she looks down at her feet, not saying anything, but not making any attempt to increase the distance separating them, either. “Uhm. I- I owe you one.” Waverly offers as she pulls the borrowed PHS shirt over her head into place and smooths it down with her damp palms.
“Alright.” Nicole makes her way back towards the door and grabs her Stetson off the hook where it’s hanging on the wall, but doesn’t put it on, yet. “Well, how ‘bout you buy me that cup of coffee? How ‘bout tonight?”
“I can’t. No. I mean, I’d love to- like. I’d like to uhh. But, I have plans. I’m a planner. Like to know what I’m doing at least two or three days in advance.” She knows she is rambling but can’t stop herself. “Uhm. I’m in a relationship,” Waverly states strongly. “With a boy. Man.”
Nicole simply shrugs off Waverly’s relationship declaration and smoothly replies, “A boy-man? Yep. I’ve been there!” She laughs quietly, then says in a mockingly serious tone, “It’s the worst.” She allows Waverly to exit her office, places her Stetson firmly on her head and locks the door behind them. “Okay. Well. Some other time.” Handing Waverly a worn out business card displaying the officer’s name and personal cell phone number, she smirks and says, “I mean it” before walking away with a confident sway of her hips.
After watching the other woman make her way across the quad, Waverly looks down at the card in her hand. “Officer…. Haught. Of course.” Waverly pockets the card and starts to make her way back to her classroom to gather her things and head out for the night, not noticing the small smile she can’t quite keep off of her face while thinking about the bizarre events of her afternoon.