The first time Nicky had read for her, it had been a long and tiring day. They were both lying on her bunk, squished together in the small space. Lorna's head was nestled into the crook of Nicky's neck, soft breaths of hot air ghosting over her skin every time she breathed. Nicky was sure that if it was anyone else she would find it annoying and shove them away but she would put up with anything for Lorna. Lorna's eyes were blinking heavily, the book she had been trying to read moments before abandoned in her lap. She had tried. She had tried for several minutes to read the pages but as the tiredness came over her in waves, every time she blinked the words just blurred and mashed together. After a few minutes, she gave up with a disgruntled whine, slapping the book down on her thighs and nuzzling into Nicky's warmth with a pout.
Nicky shifted slightly, looking down at Lorna with an amused smile and raise of the eyebrow before she put down her own book and lifted up Lorna's novel, flicking through the pages absent-mindedly before she began to read. Lorna lifted her head in slight surprise before she settled back down, looking up at Nicky with an adoring smile and allowing her husky voice to lull her into a short-lived nap.
She had done it a few more times, eliciting less and less surprise as time went on. Eventually, it got to the point where they would settle on either one of their beds and Lorna would hand Nicky her book for her to read.
That day they'd had a fight. She couldn't even remember really what it was about, something stupid and non-sensical probably but they had bother ignored each other for the rest of the day. Sulking and angrily snapping at anyone who tried to come near them until Nicky sulkily dragged her feet into Lorna's cube and dropped herself next to her on her bunk. Whatever happened, she wasn't going to break their usual routine before she had to leave for count. She tilted her head to the side and noticed Lorna's jaw was clenched. Still mad then.
Nicky let out a sigh as she turned her head to stare straight above her, not willing to break the silence just yet before she let out a small grunt from Lorna slapping a new book onto her stomach. She still hadn't looked at her yet still wanted her to read.
'If ya' too lazy to read 'em ya' damn self, stop grabbin' books from the library.' Nicky sneered, only half-teasing her.
She tilted her head to the side just to see Lorna's face fall slightly, something unrecognisable shining in her eyes. 'Fine'. She huffed. Her lips were drawn in a straight line and her eyebrows bunched together. She grabbed the book and turned over on her side, her back now to Nicky in a move of defiance. Or maybe just elevated sulking.
Nicky rolled her eyes. So dramatic, this one. Nicky reached around her and grabbed the book again. Lorna stared hard at the wall as Nicky sat up, settling back against the end of the bed, bars digging into her back leaving little indents on her skin. She started reading aloud, Lorna eventually turning on her back, the worry lines in her face evened out some. She stared up at Nicky absently as she flicked through the pages.
'One more chapter.' She pleaded when Nicky was done. She quickly flipped through the pages.
'It's twenty fuckin' pages, Lorn'.' She sighed and Lorna just shrugged. Nicky closed the book.
'Papà used to read me a bedtime story every night.' Lorna's voice was soft, quiet, nostalgic. Nicky heard every word.
'You got some weird fantasies, kid.' Nicky opened up the book again. 'But if that's what ya' into I can read anotha' chapter then give ya' a spankin'.' Nicky smirked, playfully nudging Lorna's shoulder as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
Lorna snorted, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She should have expected that kind of response. She smiled faintly before resting her head back down on Nicky's shoulder as she resumed reading.
Lorna loved the sound of Nicky's voice. That husky deep tone and that recognisable accent that sounds like a cross between a Jewish grandma and Marge Simpson's hard-smoking twin sisters. It was one of her favourite sounds. She could listen to Nicky talk for hours, about anything or everything. Her voice soothed her, calmed her, let her forget everything for a while and just focus on this one constant that made her feel momentarily safe and warm.
Sometimes she felt like she just used the book as an excuse. The words on the page didn't truly matter it was the voice reading them that did.
She missed her Papà and sometimes Nicky reading aloud made her feel closer to him. Now that she was stuck inside and couldn't run to him for comfort anymore. Not that he really gave any comfort out anymore, hadn't really shown that since she was ten. But there were some good moments with him, despite his disability and his impatience. There were a few times when they did just sit and talk, she could ask him advice and he would tell her things she needed to hear. It was nice to just reminisce on those happy moments after a shit day.
It only took three pages for her to fall asleep, her head getting heavier and heavier on Nicky's shoulder. Nicky gently laid it back on the pillow, leaning down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head. She checked the time and they still had an hour until count, so she stretched over and placed the book to the side, dog-earing the page that she got to. She shifted further down the bed so she was laying down beside Lorna.
She couldn't help the soft smile that appeared on her lips as she watched Lorna sleeping peacefully. She leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to the end of her nose before snuggling closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. She didn't mind this. Didn't mind just lying next to Lorna until one of them had to move to get back to their bunk. It was nice. It was times like this where she could imagine the both of them living a different life. Lying in a proper bed in their own apartment, a cat or a dog curled up at the end of their bed.
That would be nice. A girl could dream. Maybe one day it would come true but she didn't want to get her hopes up. She knew how indecisive Morello could be.