She couldn't help but feel on top of the world that particular morning, and although she knew that a strenuous day at work lay ahead of her, she found it hard to suppress the enormous smile radiating from her delicate features as she strolled through the gates of the university, en route to The Lyell Centre.
For weeks now, Nikki realised, she had been focusing on the ever evolving dynamic of her relationship with Harry, and why he was acting so upbeat and carefree when she suspected him of feeling nothing of the sort. She should have been focusing on the times they spent together which made her feel so... so... well, like this!
She wondered why she so strongly wished for Harry to exhibit the extent of his grief and pain caused by the trip to Hungary that had become something of a taboo subject, but could only rationalise that she needed to in order for them to move on. However, if dinner last night had shown her anything, Harry was focusing on returning to his usual self and therefore, she thought, so should she.
She couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening to illustrate what an amazing friend she had in Harry, a friend she treasured with all her heart, and she couldn't escape the feeling of nervous butterflies in her stomach as she sat down at her desk to begin her day.
"Leo, have you seen Harry this morning?" Nikki asked the professor as he returned to his office from the lab.
She'd been putting off asking as she didn't want to draw Leo's attention to Harry's tardiness, but it was now quarter past ten and Harry was over 2 hours late.
"Yes, he's down in the cutting room Nikki, been down there since this morning. I'm surprised you've not joined him, he said he'd be up to fill you in on a few things, might be a bit of facial reconstruction he could use you for. He must have got too involved the PM. P'raps you ought to pop down and see what's what?" Leo suggested.
"Ok Leo, thanks. I'll go see if he's alright." Replied Nikki, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
It was unlike Harry not to say hello first thing in the morning, even he was already engrossed in a case. He always had time for a catch up and a coffee, or occasionally on those really hectic days, just a few small courtesy greetings. She wondered if he was avoiding her.
Thoughts of the previous night raced through Nikki's mind on her way down to the cutting room. Had she annoyed or upset Harry in some way? She'd left the restaurant feeling happier than she had in a long time, and she thought Harry had too. So why had he spent the last 2 and a bit hours hiding away down here? It was a question Nikki wished she'd never asked.
Harry was sitting at the computer on the far side of the lab, a PM report glaring out of the screen, but his attention could not have been further from the report. For sitting next to Harry was a young and exceedingly attractive brunette who appeared to be engaged in a rather childlike, but amusing it seemed, game of 'thumb wars' with Nikki's colleague. Nikki felt the butterflies return, but this time they signalled a rather more sinister emotion.
"Er, Harry?" Nikki enquired, "Leo said you wanted to talk to me about a facial reconstruction or something?"
Harry, mid chuckle, turned to face Nikki.
"Ah yes. Well the PM's just about done so..."
"Yes, I can see that." Nikki retorted, before fearing she may have exposed rather more of her jealous nature than she'd have liked at that particular moment. Who was this girl sat with her hand on Harry's knee?
"Oh, right well, yes." Harry seemed a little hesitant, "Nix, have you met Bella? She's the new lab technician. Taking over from Zak while he's in Aus for the next few months. Bella Jones, this is Doctor Nikki Alexander. She likes to think she knows what she's talking about, but we keep a close eye on her. I'm the real brains in the lab." Harry teased, as he winked in Nikki's direction.
"Ooh, brains and he's handy with a scalpel. Is there anything this man can't do?" Piped up the young brunette.
Unsure how to interpret Harry's teasing in the presence of such unashamed flirting between himself and his new plaything, Nikki settled for a rather nonchalant, "It would appear not", in reply to the young woman's question, before returning her attention to Harry.
"So, the facial reconstruction. Is it something I can get on with now, or should I come back in a few hours?" She asked, trying her best not to sound to agitated, distressed or uncomfortable at the situation she now found herself in.
"Well, it's all ready for you to have a stab at really. Male, found in the river last night. Been there sometime. Very little to work with facially due to decomposition and decay, but anything you can do to help establish this guys identity would be a great help Nix." Harry replied in an almost clinical fashion.
"Right. Well I've got a few more bits to sort out on one of my reports from yesterday but I'll be down in a while to make a start."
Nikki turned and began to retreat as quickly as possible, not wanting to think about the scene she had just unwillingly wandered into. It was hard enough these days to hear about Harry's latest conquests and bachelor lifestyle, but having to view it first hand was another thing entirely. And the thought that she would have to experience the awkwardness of today repeatedly if this Bella girl was to be working here for the next few months... She needed to get out of that lab. Fast.
"Nix, wait a minute." Shouted Harry, grabbing hold of her arms as she fled into the corridor. "Are you alright? You seem a little 'off' today. Feeling a bit hungover after last night are we?" Asked Harry, the usual twinkle in his eye.
Under normal circumstances, that twinkle would have sent shivers through Nikki and the butterflies in her stomach fluttering round the rest of her body, but right now it only made her angrier.
"I'M FINE!" Nikki shouted, yanking her arm free of Harry's strong grip, "Absolutely fine. Not hungover, not unwell, just fine thank you very much." She lied.
"Really? Because I felt like death this morning, and I do believe it's your fault Doctor Alexander, for letting me drink so much bloody wine last night!" Harry laughed. "Anyway, don't worry about getting started on my reconstruction straight away. Come to the pub for some lunch after you've tied up all the loose ends in that report."
Nikki considered his offer. Perhaps Harry realised how inappropriate he was being, flirting with a new colleague like that? Perhaps he wanted to make it up to Nikki? Perhaps he wanted to start up where last night had left off?
Harry continued, "I mean, I'm taking Bella out for a 'welcome to the team' drink, so you're more than welcome to come along and meet her properly."He offered.
Nikki couldn't believe it. It was like last night meant nothing to Harry. To him, she would always be just a source of good company which he could pick up and drop again in between all of his illustrious affairs with various adolescent women.
"I'm afraid I'm already meeting a friend for lunch Harry." Nikki lied, "Thanks anyway. I'll get round to doing that face when I get a chance. You'd better get back to showing the new girl around, I'm sure you're doing a grand job."
And with that, Nikki firmly turned her back, on Harry, and the glimmer of hope for the two of them she'd been carrying around for so long. As she exited the corridor she heard her colleague return to the cutting room;
"Now, now miss Jones, there is much I have yet to teach you about thumbs and the art of 'thumb wars', I hope you're sitting comfortably..."