CHAPTER FOUR: Breakup
It was dark and quiet at the homestead. Waverly walked through the empty house and deliberately avoided anything that might remind her of Champ. The day's events looped in her mind. She was desperate to talk about them with someone, but, Wynonna was likely missing in action. There was a time when Waverly might have resented her sister's whimsical tendencies and unpredictability. Ever since Wynonna's return to Purgatory, however, there was a noticeable shift in Wynonna's behavior that earned her some leniency. While she was still undoubtedly self-centered, there was no denying that she had become more attentive to Waverly's needs. After years of strain on their sibling relationship, Waverly took this as a glimmer of hope for their family unity.
She heard a voice coming from Wynonna's old bedroom. Waverly went to investigate, only to discover that Wynonna had left the television on before leaving the house. The light from the old tube TV, tuned to the Oprah Winfrey Network, illuminated the few items in an, otherwise, minimalist room. An empty dinner plate, a family photo taken long ago and Wynonna's Black Badge pin placed on a night stand beside an unmade bed. She found the remote and turned off the television.
"Waves, why are you creeping me?" a voice asked from under the covers.
Waverly jumped in surprise. All this time she had mistakenly thought was home alone. "It's not even nine o'clock yet, Wynonna. Why are you in bed?"
Wynonna sat up with effort. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were squinting from the hallway light. "I'm tired."
Ecstatic to have found her sister at home, Waverly crawled under the covers and sat next to her. "Are you awake enough to talk?" she asked, hardly keeping the urgency out of her tone.
"No." Wynonna rubbed her eyes. "Wait, about what?"
Waverly twirled a strand of hair. "About Champ —"
"Ew. No." Wynonna slumped back down to her pillow and covered her head. "Too tired."
"— and how I broke up with him today," Waverly added. Hearing herself say it out loud was strange.
"Jumping Jesus, Baby Girl!" Wynonna threw the covers back. "That's fantastic news!" She rolled away from Waverly. "I'm still tired though."
"So, you aren't the least bit interested in how he took it, or anything?" Waverly feigned leaving the bed.
"Fine. Spill. But, skip ahead to the juicy bits." Wynonna sat up and leaned against the headboard.
Waverly began, "Well, it was the early afternoon —"
"Skip ahead, I said." Wynonna ordered.
"— and I was at Shorty's," Waverly continued, "looking into a clue that Curtis had left for me. It led me to a note and a skull! I'm talkin' a real effin' skull!"
Wynonna gasped. "Intrigue! What did the note say?"
"It said," Waverly paused, "My dearest Waverly, you are now the keeper of the bones."
"Oh wow." Wynonna said with affect. "I'm so glad I got the bike."
Waverly yanked the pillow from behind and hit Wynonna with it square in the face. They both laughed.
"So, did you dump his ass then and there when you realized you'd be happier dating the skull?" Wynonna asked, flinching when Waverly reached for the pillow again.
Instead, Waverly clutched the pillow in both arms and composed her thoughts. "Not exactly. I just couldn't stand him. There I was, trying to share this incredible relic through the grief of losing the man who pretty much raised us, and Champ just wasn't taking any of it seriously. Any of it. It was so despicably belittling."
Wynonna nodded. "So, what did you say?"
"I flat out told him we were done. He then just sort of hung around, not getting that I had just broken up with him. I had to spell it out three different ways."
"Was his little heart crushed? Did he cry?" Wynonna's eyes sparkled.
"See, now you're just making me feel bad." Waverly accused. "Champ isn't a bad guy. It turns out that we just weren't a right fit for each other."
"So, he did cry!" Wynonna said excitedly.
Waverly slapped Wynonna's leg though the blanket. "He didn't, but, he was upset and probably confused. He initially refused to believe that I'd end it all over some crusty bones. I told him this had all been building up for quite some time, but that we could still be —"
"Oh God, friends?" Wynonna interrupted, "Tell me you didn't drop the F-bomb because that would be enraging."
Waverly pursed her lips.
"Shit. Well, I don't suppose he took that well, now did he?"
Waverly let out a sigh. "Not at all, actually. He had the audacity to ask me if there was someone else. I told him this was about the two of us and he just stormed off."
Wynonna, for once in her life, said nothing. She let the silence linger. "Is there someone else, Waves?"
"Wha... are you kidding me?" Waverly's heart just about stopped.
"Hey! It's not so far-fetched!" Wynonna defended. "'Cause if you aren't already doinking someone else, I can't think of a better way to cleanse yourself of Whutzhisnuts."
Waverly shook her head. "That sounds like the furthest thing from anything cleansing."
"Come on, Waves!" Wynonna exclaimed. "There was once a time before Champ. Don't you remember how great it was to get it laid by someone who wasn't a total jagweed?"
Waverly was embarrassed to admit that she had only ever been with Champ. The idea of anyone else felt so foreign. "I guess I haven't really known any other guy like I've known Champ."
"Oh. My. God. Do you mean 'known' in, like ...a biblical sense?" Wynonna asked dismayed.
Waverly felt defensive. "I just... I don't think I could ever sleep with someone without an emotional connection, unlike you!"
Wynonna smirked. "I know you meant for that to be a burn on me, but, at least I'm gettin' some!" She hung her arm over Waverly's shoulder. "I hate to break it to you, Waves, but, it looks like there's no one left to bang in this here town other than the fine ladies of Purgatory. Stay away from Miss Jones though. She's a heartbreaker."
Waverly laughed uncomfortably while the grip on her pillow tightened.
"Listen, breakups can be a shitstorm," Wynonna opened the drawer of her nightstand, "so, I'd say this calls for a Jack and Coke. Hold the Coke." She pulled out a flask and offered it to Waverly.
"Good Lord, Wynonna. You keep that at your bedside?!" Waverly was only half surprised. "This has to be a new low."
"Everyone's got their vice," Wynonna took a swig. "Turns out yours was Chump," she burped, "Champ, I mean."
Waverly was too concerned with her sister's habitual drinking to deflect any disparaging remarks. "You really shouldn't be drinking in bed."
Wynonna refastened the lid to the flask. "Yeah well, considering I was the one who shot Daddy and now Shorty, that Willa was taken, and that blood sucking demons are an actual thing, you'd probably consider hitting the bottle too." Wynonna's eyes started to tear up. "Face it Waves, we're cursed."
"Oh Wynonna." Waverly embraced her sister as tightly as she could.
Wynonna stayed silent for a moment. "I just miss them like crazy. I miss Daddy and Willa. I miss Shorty. I can't help but wonder where they are now."
"They're looking at us from a better place." Waverly was starting to tear up as well. "You've really got to believe that if there's an actual hell to which you can cast demons, then, there's got to be a heaven that exists too."
Wynonna rested her head on top of her own. Waverly felt a tear hit her cheek that wasn't hers. "We're in this together, Wynonna. We'll fight together and we'll win together."
Wynonna untwisted the cap. "To the Earp sisters and to those we've lost." She drank before passing the flask to Waverly.
"To the Earp sisters and to those we've saved." Waverly took a drink. It burned its way down her throat.
"I am beyond exhausted." Wynonna dried her eyes with her sleeve. "I am going to turn in, but, you can stay if you want."
"Sure. I'll stay for a bit." Waverly got comfortable. She stared at the ceiling for what might have been an hour, the breakup inevitably replaying in her mind. Her sister's breathing was now slow and rhythmic. Waverly carefully rolled out of the bed and tucked Wynonna in.
She walked out into the hallway to turn off the light. By the switch hung an old photo of a younger Curtis and Gus taken at the Calgary Stampede. She wondered what Gus would think when she heard about her breakup. Gus had always been fond of Champ. She considered him family. Waverly could only imagine that Gus and others who knew them as a couple might think she was a fool for ending their relationship. The more she contemplated the lightning speed at which gossip spreads in Purgatory, the more anxious she felt about her feelings for Nicole. Waverly could no longer deny that she was attracted to her. As much as she wanted to allow the magnetic pull to propel her closer, the mere thought of being outed for it was enough to leave her absolutely panicked.
With her stomach in knots, Waverly made her way to her own bedroom. She fulfilled her nightly routine before letting her head hit the pillow. She closed her eyes and tried holding her breath for a couple of seconds in an effort to calm herself down. She took a deep breath. A section of her long hair slid in front of her face as she exhaled. She felt a delicate touch brush the strands back in place behind her ear. She opened her eyes slowly to see that it was Nicole who was placing her hair. Waverly shot up in surprise. "Officer Hau – "
"Waverly," Nicole jumped back, "I didn't mean to startle you," she said in a sort of whisper, as if trying not to wake Wynonna.
"What... what are you doing here? In my room?" Waverly could hardly make sense of what was happening.
Nicole came closer. "I just had to see you."
"You what now?" Waverly was still in shock.
"It's like I can't get you out of my mind." Nicole smiled. Her voice was soft. "I've been drawn to you ever since we met. Tell me you feel the same way." Nicole's eyes fluttered in anticipation of a response.
Waverly could only nod.
Nicole closed the distance between them. Waverly was spellbound to feel the soft contours of Nicole's lips against her own; it was exhilarating. She caressed Nicole's face to entice her closer. Nicole's kiss deepened. Waverly pulled her on top and let Nicole's hands wander her body. She felt them outline her every curve. A tantalizing hand slid under her shirt and the contact was enough to make her gasp. Pulling the tangled sheets out of the way, Waverly inadvertently knocked a mug of water from the bedside table. The echoing sound of the ceramic shattering against the hardwood floor stunned them both.
"Waverly?" Wynonna shouted from across the hall.
"Oh shit!" Waverly sat up with alarm and clasped the sheets.
Wynonna hit the lights and charged into Waverly's bedroom with Peacemaker. "Waves, are you alright? What is it?"
Waverly squinted in the bright light still clutching the sheets. She scanned the bedroom for Nicole who was nowhere to be seen.
"Awwww, my Snoopy mug! ...Waaaaves." Wynonna whined with disappointment as she tucked Peacemaker into the waistband of her pajama bottoms. She crouched to gather the broken pieces of her treasured mug. "Yours is the Charlie Brown mug. This one was mine."
As Wynonna cleaned the mess, Waverly surveyed the bedroom a second time. It was as if Nicole had vanished into thin air.
"I think I got most of the bigger pieces," Wynonna said cupping the broken ceramic. "Wait right there while I get the broom and some paper towels."
"I'm sorry about your Snoopy mug, Wynonna." Waverly was still puzzled. She examined the room one last time. Only then had she realized that Nicole hadn't vanished; she was never actually there.
"It's okay, Baby Girl. My dreams have me do weird things in my sleep too," Wynonna said walking down the hall to fetch the broom.
"Tell me about it," Waverly said under her breath.
