Fighting For the One
By Dueler312
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of OLTL.
Chapter 2
It seemed that the rest of the week went by fast for Nicole. She and Jake couldn't stop taking a peek at each other, smiling at one another. Crystal was glad that her two friends opened up to each other, but did ask if they could minimize the flirting a little.
However, Nicole was so ready for her date tonight with Jake that she was having trouble holding in a squeal. She wanted to be ready so bad that as soon she finished breakfast this morning, she went back to her bedroom to pick out what she wanted to wear.
"She's really excited about the date with Jake tonight," Cole noticed after seeing his daughter taking the stairs three steps at a time.
"Give her a break, Cole," said Starr. "You know how long she's had a crush on Jake. Plus, it's her first ever date. Girls intend to be excited by that."
"Well, its too bad I wasn't your first date," said Cole. "That would of make it really special," he added, wrapping his arms around his wife.
"Well, at least we found each other and trusted in our love for one another," said Starr.
"True, and I can't till renew our vows," said Cole. Starr turned around to face him and giggled a little
Just then there was a knock on their door.
"Who's here at this time?" asked Starr.
"I don't know," said Cole, and he went over to the door to see who it was.
"Hey, Crystal," greeted Cole. Crystal was waiting outside, wanting to come in.
"Hey, is Nicole here?' she asked.
"Yeah, sweetie," said Starr. "She's in her room, preparing for her date tonight."
"I figured," said Crystal, as Cole let her in. Crystal then headed upstairs to meet with Nicole.
When she knocked and entered, Crystal was shocked. Nicole seemed to have taken out every clothing that she had and laid it on her bed, which was hardly recognizable.
"Crystal, hey," Nicole said, spotting her as she laid down an orange shirt.
"Are you trying to impress our best friend, Nikki?" asked Crystal. "You don't have to since you've known him for years."
"I know that," said Nicole, "I just want to look really good for him. And I'm having trouble trying to find what to wear for it."
Crystal saw how important this was to her, and then said, "Well then, Its a good thing I came over."
"Why?" asked Nicole.
"Because I happen to be a good clothes matcher for people," Crystal declared, though Nicole she was just playing with her.
"Oh really?" asked Nicole. "Then what ideas do you have, oh great clothes matcher?"
Crystal laughed and then said, "Lets see what you got." The two girls then started to figure out what Nicole should wear.
Back downstairs, Starr was cleaning up as she had the day off from her job. Cole had to go in as he had a practice session with the football team. Just then she heard another knock at the door.
"Hey Langston. Hey Laura," said Starr.
"Hey, just thought we would stop by. I wanted to see if you want to hang out around here," said Langston.
"You know that would be good. Patrick is in his room, and Nicole is in her room as well with Crystal," Starr explained. "She's got a date with Jake tonight."
"Oh, lets me guess," said Langston, as she sat down with Starr. Laura headed upstairs with them knowing. "She's having trouble figuring out what to wear, right?"
"It could be," said Starr, looking over at the stairs. "I just can't believe that my daughter is already at this age."
"Yeah, It seems like yesterday you and Cole were just changing her diaper," said Langston.
"Well, I just hope that she doesn't go through what I did when I had her," said Starr.
"Hey, she is her own person, Starr," Langston reminded her. "And you taught her the best you can. Now you got to see if she uses that knowledge. But in my opinion, I don't think that Nicole would do something like that."
"Lets hope so," said Starr.
Back in her room, Crystal and Nicole had finally narrowed down to four pieces of clothing, two skirts; one dark pink and one black, and two tops; a striped pink shirt, and a light blue shirt.
"So, what do you think we should narrow it down to," asked Crystal. Nicole looked at them with her hand to her head, and then took the pink skirt and top and set them aside on the floor. "This combo will do," she said, lining up the black skirt and light blue shirt.
"Okay, so how long until Jake picks you up?" Crystal asked again. Nicole checked her watch and then said, "In two hours."
"Plenty of time," said Crystal. "Put those clothes on, and meet me over by your mirror. I'm going to help you be great for your guys' date tonight."
"Thanks, Crystal," she said, hugging her best friend. "Just one question. Is this going to be awkward for you, Jake and I being on a date?"
Crystal looked away for a little bit, and then said, "It is a little, I will admit. But you two are my friends, and if I didn't support you two with it, what kind of friend would I be?" Nicole smiled, and then went to go get changed.
Two hours went by over at the Thornharts place. Cole had returned with Markko and the four grownups were watching a movie in that time period, though they had to pause it while Langston and Cole went to get Laura and bring her downstairs, as she was annoying Patrick so much.
Just then Crystal came down, and got everyone's attention.
"Hey, I just help finished getting Nicole ready, and thought you would like to see her," said Crystal.
"Well, where is she?" asked Starr.
Crystal moved out of the way and Nicole came into view.
"Oh sweetie, Jake is going to love you," said Starr. Nicole was wearing the light blue shirt with the black skirt, and she had some of hair in a ponytail, and she had a little makeup added as well. She was also wearing flip-flops, as she didn't want to walk the whole night in heels.
"You think I look good, Dad?" Nicole asked.
"Yeah, I do," said Cole. He then gave his daughter a hug, which Nicole returned without hesitation.
The doorbell rang, and Cole let go of his daughter to see who it was. It was Jake.
"Hello, Mr. Thornhart," said Jake. "Wow, Nicole you look great," he added, seeing her right next to her dad.
"Thanks, Jake," she said.
"Hey, let me get a picture of you two," said Crystal. She pulled out a camera, and had Nicole and Jake stand together. She took the picture, and then she said, "Perfect."
"Well, we better go before we waste any time," said Jake.
"All right," said Nicole. "Later, Mom. Dad. Everyone."
"Hey, Jake, Have her home no later then ten, okay?" said Cole.
"I'll certainly will, Mr. Thornhart," said Jake, and he and Nicole headed out.
"Well, I better get home as well," said Crystal. "Later."
"See you, Crystal," said Starr. Crystal then headed out the door as well.
"Those three have definitely grown," said Langston.
"Yeah, they have," said Cole.
"MOM!" Patrick yelled from his room.
All four of them looked at the stairs, and then saw that Laura was missing.
"I'm going to have a talk with that daughter of mine," said Langston, as all four of them went to retrieve Laura from annoying Patrick.
Over in Statesville, a guard was checking prisoners and telling them to turn the lights out, as it was time for sleep. When he got to Todd's cell, and told him to turn the lights off, nothing happened.
"Lights off, Manning," said the guard again with a little more force. Again, there was no response, from the lights or Todd. The guard thought something was fishy, and decided to look in there and see what was up. When he went in, he noticed that the cell was empty. The guard then went on high alert, and started searching through his cell. He then noticed that the bed looked a little off center. He pulled it away from the wall, and saw the tunnel hole.
"Lockdown, now! Lockdown, now! We have a prisoner missing. Todd Manning is his name," he ordered on his radio. At once, the alarm went off, as guards went and got their guns, looking around for Todd. Once he got back up, the guard and another one went through the tunnel to try to see if Todd was still in there. After thirty minutes of climbing through, it seemed that the tunnel lead through the to the outside wall.
"Get the word out that Manning has escaped," he called out on his radio.
Todd found a way out, and Jake and Nicole are finally out on their first date. Stay tuned for the next chapter, as it will describe Nicole and Jake's date.
