"Dear control freak, I will talk to you when I want to talk to you. Until then, have a nice life hurting the ones you love."

Nicole spends the entire night reading and rereading her text. She can't stop. All Nicole's ever wanted was to make her happy, to protect her. All she's done is hurt her, but she can't help but be hurt herself. Angry and hurt that Waverly won't even let her explain herself, won't even let her touch her.

She loves her. She loves her so devastatingly much. Sometimes she thinks that maybe she'll always love Waverly more than Waverly can love her back. And most days, Nicole is okay with that. She's okay with it because it's Waverly. It's her Waves. She's such an enigma to Nicole, a Phoenix that has just grown wings and all Nicole wants to do is help her fly, to ensure she never burns again.

But today, god, today Nicole just wants to be loved. She wants to be held and cherished, but most of all, she wants to be wanted. It's become abundantly clear to Nicole that she doesn't really have anyone here at Purgatory. Anyone except Waverly. And even that might be just a fading thought. She's lonely. So when she hears the knock on the door, Nicole can't help but feel relief flood through her. Can't help but think 'Waverly', can't help but sigh out her name.

Nicole opens the door only to be met with Mercedes Gardener in a tattered black widows dress. Nicole can't help but think maybe she deserves this as her soft smile drops from her face.