Nicole walks down the well lit corridor, almost bouncing as she takes a swift right. She's clutching a tray as though it's the most important item in the world. It is laden with food, a full days worth. It doesn't look that exciting but she's only been a guard six months so getting placed on this special assignment was huge.
Reaching her destination she slows, placing the tray carefully on the floor before turning back towards the door. It's just like all the other doors in this area but she hesitates, touching the weapon attached to the side of her belt. Something feels different to her but she stretches her arm out towards the door anyway.
He said she wasn't dangerous.
Nicole mulls over what she knows while her hand hovers in the air.
I wonder what she looks like.
Her free hand sweeps a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Air rushes furiously out of her mouth as she gives a slight shake of her head. One deep breath later she's finishing her task. The door opens, noisily welcoming her before her eyes widen and swing over walls covered in writing, tiny letters neatly packed on to every available surface. The floor is just as jammed - overflowing piles of paper and cardboard both scraps and large pieces, all chock full of words. The bed is relatively free of material but that seemed to be the only clear space as Nicole continued to scan the room.
"Give me one minute."
A distracted voice floats out from behind a table laden with several piles of books. Underneath she can see most of a pair of bare legs jutting out, crossed at the sockless ankles.
Nicole breaks out of her stupor, closing her mouth which seems to have dropped open of it's own accord, only for it it open again and have "Y...yeah sure ok." stumble out. She turns lifting a hand to her lips as if to stop it acting without her consent again. When she's regained her composure she picks up the tray. Obstacles stand in her path but she navigates them successfully and finds a spot between stacks for the tray. It's a tight fit but she makes it work. There's been no more chatter from the six legged table although she can hear a faint scratching noise over the usual background hum. Nicole takes a few careful steps around the heaps, approaching the table from behind. A slight figure with long brown hair is hunched over in her chair, a tiny nub of a pencil clasped in a rapidly moving hand.
"I didn't know that you'd be a writer."
Books spill onto the floor as the woman jumps to her feet and knocks into into the table. Her hands flying outwards hitting in to more books. Now that she is standing up Nicole could see that she is wearing a pair of shorts and a cropped top.
Waverly Earp. An orphan. In prison for the past 18 months.
"Perfect." the woman of her thoughts exclaims sarcastically, back still facing Nicole.
"Sorry I thought you knew I was here. I did..." she's interrupted by Waverly who protests, " No, no it's not your fault, I just space out when I'm writing. I forgot all about everything else. And surprise, surprise, I don't get that many visitors here."
Waverly turns around in the middle of her speech with a happy but slightly apologetic expression. The facts that had been passed onto Nicole by the powers that be did not give her any indication of Waverly's character or how attractive she was. "I babble on sometimes, don't mind me. Just tell me I'm doing it and I'll stop." Waverly says as her cheeks darkened.
Nicole is thrown off by the bubbly yet meek demeanour but recovers, smile creeping onto her face as she says "I'm Nicole, Nicole Haught."
"Hi."
"You must be Waverly Earp." Waverly reaches out and grasps her hand and Nicole wishes that she had thought to take off her gloves before entering the room. She can feel the other's woman's warmth through the material anyway.
"Yes. I uh...welcome to my humble abode." Waverly finally lets go of Nicole's hand to spread her arms out. "It's a little messy right now. I would have cleaned up, I just wasn't expecting anyone. The guard usually leaves the food by the door."
Nicole looks around again at the room that's decorated with information and says, "No I like it. It makes a change from the rooms here. They're so...sterile." She ducks her head, not meaning to talk so honestly. When she hears the warmth in Waverly's words, she brings it back up.
"I'm glad you think so." Waverly says eyes twinkling at Nicole. "But maybe you could help me clean up the latest mess I've made."
Nicole returns Waverly's smile with a confident "Sure" taking off her gloves to make it easier to handle the materials. She wants to ask how Waverly got a hold of all the books but doesn't knowing it will lead to a lot more questions.
It's better not to go down that path.
Once Nicole's finished restacking the books and paper on the table, she picks up the tray of food and holds it out to Waverly who's reorganising the her piles of paper. "Here's your meal. Nothing special unfortunately" she says sympathetically.
"Maybe you could have a word with the chef?" Waverly jokes. Nicole grins and replies "I'll try but I can't promise anything."
Reluctantly she puts her gloves back on knowing that she can't hang around too long. Only a select few know of her assignment and she had to swear to let no one else find out . When she looks back up, she reckons Waverly's smile has dimmed a little. It compels her to ask, "Same time tomorrow?" She doesn't have to be nice, she's a guard and Waverly is technically the prisoner. Her superior hadn't explained what crime had been committed, had only said that the situation was complicated. Her orders are not to treat Waverly like a prisoner, but like a patient in sick bay.
"I suppose I can fit you into my busy schedule." Waverly's reply has Nicole flashing her a cocky grin before walking out of the room with a swagger that wasn't there on the way in.