Chapter 14: Red lips & rosy cheeks

"I'm going to the hairdresser and you come with me" Prudence said suddenly. Sabrina who was lying on her bed looking through a magazine looked at her strangely.

"Thanks for asking" she said sarcastically.

"Come on, Sabrina" she insisted "You'll like it"

"Being waiting for hours for someone to make you the-devil-knows-what in that hair of yours is your idea of fun?"

"You could use the opportunity too" she evaded Sabrina's question.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on!" she exclaimed "The red lipstick I gave you suits you, but that hair... you could improve it"

"And have a style like yours? Thanks but no thanks"

Prudence rolled her eyes.

"Join me, talk to the stylist and see what happens"

"I don't think that's a good idea " she said, but she didn't know if she said it honestly or only to contradict Prudence.

"Fine," Prudence said with a shrug. "It's your business if you want to spend hours watching how they work on me or if you decide to do something with your hair. And believe me, the poor need it"

This time it was Sabrina who rolled her eyes. Much to her regret, part of her thought Prudence was a bit right, she had been thinking about do something in her hair but wasn't sure if she should and the fact that Prudence insisted so much in having her company was something she really never expected to see when she first met her. she couldn't say they were friends yet but their relationship was better than it was in the beginning.

"Are you coming with me or are you coming with me?"

"You're desperate for my company, aren't you?"

"Don't think yourself so important"

"Admit it, Prudence"

Prudence closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

"Fine, I want you to accompany me, happy?"

Sabrina jumped out of bed.

"Yep. Let me take my bag"

"You are so strange, Sabrina"

"So you are, Pru" she replied as she took her bag and put on her coat.

"Pru?" she asked confused. So few people called her that.

"It's suit you" Prudence rolled her eyes again.

"Whatever" her roommate told her when they were leaving the room "And I insist, you should do something to your hair"

"I'm not doing anything"

Prudence shook her head.

"You're different, Sabrina. Maybe you don't even notice it yet, but you are" her roommate insisted with a serious tone "Why not let that internal change be reflected outside?"

All the way to the hairdresser, Sabrina thought about Prudence's words. She was different? She didn't really know, sometimes she felt that she was still the same old Sabrina Spellman that left Greendale some months ago and others she felt almost like another person.

She knew something had changed but wasn't sure what it was.

Or if it was good.

"You should put that good girl attitude aside," her roommate insisted before they entered the hair salon "You and I know you're more daring than that"

And maybe Prudence was right about it.

But she didn't want to make her think that she had got away with it.

"Loosen up, Sabrina" Prudence looked into her eyes "What are you so scared of?"

Scared? She? She wasn't scared and she told her so.

"I'm not scared, Prudence"

"Yes, you are. What happens? You'll be punished if you don't arrive as the same good girl who left her hometown? You're an adult, Sabrina. Start acting like one"

"You are despicable you know?" Prudence smiled proudly "And a terrible bad influence..."

"What do I hear? Are you convincing yourself?"

"I could try something new," Sabrina said. "But not because you tell me, but because I want to"

"Whatever it let you sleep at night, Sabrina" she commented before entering. Sabrina followed her inside.

Of course Prudence was known in there, she seemed to know everyone everywhere. She greeted everyone with a kindness Sabrina thought she was incapable of, but her frown got a little frightened when one of the hairdresser asked her about Dorcas and Agatha, Sabrina now knew they hadn't talked yet and whatever that had happened continue been an issue between them. Prudence had been a good roommate this past week, she could think they were almost friends but she couldn't help asking herself if Prudence with all her rough-girl attitude still felt lonely without her sisters.

"And who do we have here" said the hairdresser looking at Sabrina for the first time "New friend?" he asked Prudence.

She nodded to Sabrina's surprise.

"My roommate from College"

"I see," he replied "What's your name, pretty?" Prudence rolled her eyes at the compliment he gave to Sabrina.

"Sabrina"

"Well, Sabrina. Are you coming to accompany Prudence or will you have fun today?"

Life was all about taking risks. Try different things, Sabrina thought. And the hair always grew back, so why not? Why not try something different?

"I could try a makeover"

Both the hairdresser and Prudence smiled pleased.

"Let's see what we can do" he said "I think I have just the perfect idea for you"

A part of her didn't know what the Hell she had gotten in to. But another, the bigger one, was pleased with the idea of a change. As much as it would bother her to admit it, Prudence was right. She was different even if she still didn't fully realize the small changes that had been happening to her. The changes that were to come.

She and Prudence were sitting side by side while they worked in their respective hair.

"What are you going to do to your hair?" Prudence asked after seeing her whispering to the hairdresser and signaling the color chart.

"Wait and see" she answered.

"Oh, how mysterious" Prudence replied sarcastic and Sabrina made a face to her.

They stayed in silent for some moments but Prudence couldn't stay in silence if she got the opportunity of teasing Sabrina when she had no chance of escape.

"So..."

"So what?" Sabrina asked in turn.

"You and Scratch, huh?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, c'mon, one can see from miles away that he likes you"

"That's not true!" Sabrina replied indignantly. She didn't want to talk about Nick with Prudence. Not after what she did in the cafe the other day.

"He likes you" her roommate insisted.

"Me and half the College" Sabrina said scathing.

"Wait, is jealousy what I'm hearing?" Prudence couldn't help but ask "Oh, gosh, you like him too"

"What? I'm not into him if that what you're trying to say. And I'm not jealous either. Why would I be?

"Sabrina, don't fool ourselves. You like him, and it's not bad at all. A bit risky, yes, but not a bad thing" Prudence turned to saw her in the eye, what won her an annoyed look from her hairdresser that she decided to ignore "Go for it, girl. You certainly could use some fun. And he seems really fun"

She felt her cheeks redden. She knew exactly what kind of fun Prudence was talking about. Her roommate smiled at her satisficed and turned back to her original position.

"I don't…" Sabrina stopped in the middle of the sentence. How long was she keep lying to herself? She couldn't keep denying what she felt even if she didn't fully understand what it was, there was something there but she couldn't let Prudence know. She sighed "In the hypothetical, and I want you to keep that word in mind, Pru" she said with an ironic voice "In the hypothetical case I do like him, nothing would happen anyway. I have a boyfriend"

"Who is thousands of miles away in... where was him again?"

"Distance doesn't matter when you love someone"

"Keep fooling yourself" Prudence looked sideways at her again "If there is anything I know about it's of desire. He wants you... and even if you try to lie to yourself, you want him too. Don't forget that I saw you two, you had great chemistry together, image what it would be if…"

"Remember me" Sabrina interrupted her "Remember me why did I agree to come with you? You are so annoying"

Prudence dedicated an ironic laugh to her.

"Sometimes it's necessary to hear the truth from someone else mouth, Sabrina, even if it hurts. Pay attention to me and think about what I am telling you"

"I don't need to think about what you're saying." Sabrina snapped at her" Nothing is going to happen between Nick and me. We're just friends."

"Keep lying to yourself, Sabrina" Prudence insisted "I just hope to be there to see how the lie explodes in your face."

"You are detestable"

"But you still like me"

Did she like her? She wasn't sure. Sometimes she thought they could be friends and other she wanted to kill her.

"You wish I do"

Now that she knew her better, Sabrina knew Prudence could be mean, even evil sometimes, but she was sure she wasn't a liar. It wasn't her style. She was more of the extremely honest kind of person. Even ruthless sometimes, so if she saw that was something going on between she and Nick, if Ambrose saw it too and even Elspeth suspected it… Why she kept denying it? What scared her so much?

Harvey, she thought, she couldn't do anything that would harm him. She cared for him. She loved him. Whatever she felt for Nick was something fleeting or that she said so.

She watched on the mirror how the hairdresser worked on her hair. If she was daring to do something as radical as a complete change of image… What else could she dare to do? She was brave, she wasn't the kind of person who cowed in face of a challenge, so why was she acting so cowardly lately?

Harvey, her mind insisted. It was for him. She didn't want to see him hurt.

In the last days she had found herself wondering more often than not about what her aunties would think of her current dilemma. Of course aunt Hilda would think she was doing the right thing, she was Harvey's number one fan, she always had been. But she also had told her, more subtly than aunt Zelda had, that she should also give it a chance to new things and new persons in her life.

In other hand, auntie Zee would be pleased to know what was happening to her. She would encourage her to jump to the unknown, to follow what her instincts told her to do. To prove everything that, as she had already said to her, College's life had to offer her. Sabrina knew she would be glad if she broke up with Harvey and her aunt hadn't been subtle enough about her good first impression of Nick.

No, thinking about what her aunts would said wasn't helping her so much.

"And, we're done" the hairdresser said taking her out of her contemplative state "What do you think, pretty? Do you like it?"

Next to her Prudence gave her an approving nod. Sabrina looked herself in the mirror. Her hair once dark blonde was now platinum and had a shoulder length bob style. She smiled at the mirror. She liked how she looked, she seemed more… adult. Different, but in a good way.

She liked the contrast between her fair skin, her now light hair and the intense red of her lipstick. When the hairdresser took off her the cape that protected her clothes she realized that perhaps her little change of image should be a little bit more radical. After all, if she was already willing to do something, she had to do it right.

"What do you have to do now, Prudence?" she asked when they were out of the salon.

"Nothing, why?"

"Why don't you come with me to the mall?" Prudence looked at her confused "I think I need some new clothes"

"Oh my… I thought I wouldn't ever see the day" Sabrina narrowed her eyes at her "You're for the total change I see. Did you change your mind about something else?"

"Don't push your luck" Sabrina told her "So, what do you say? Are you coming with me or no?"

"Why not? I have nothing better to do"


Sabrina stayed some minutes in front of his door and took a deep breath before knocking, she felt a bit nervous but she didn't have time to think so much about it because Nick opened the door.

"Hi" she said.

Nick just looked at her but said nothing.

"Nick?" she had a frown, confused.

He blinked rapidly and smiled at her.

"You look stunning, Spellman" he finally spoke. And she smiled "I mean, seriously, I'm stunned"

She looked different. And he couldn't help but like the change. Her hair was platinum blonde, she had started to use the red lipstick since her birthday but now, combined with the new hair she looked hotter. Her clothes were different too, with darker colors than she usually wore. Black suited her.

He really liked the change.

"Thank you, I guess" she felt her cheeks redden slightly at his compliment "It's not a big deal, really… By the way, are you going to let me in or you'll have me all the afternoon in the door?" she said in a funny tone.

"Oh, sorry, come in" he said stepping aside.

Once she was inside, Nick closed the door. He leaned against it.

"Can I ask why the change? Don't get me wrong… I really like it" she had no idea how much he liked the change.

Sabrina shrugged.

"I went with Prudence to the hairstylist and…" she shrugged again "I thought it was time for a change. To try new things…"

Nick nodded.

"I see… well, Spellman, let me tell you that I really like it" he told her again "The new hair is hot"

"Nick…" she told him with a reproachfully tone. But she was secretly pleased with his admiration.

"I'm simply pointing to the obvious"

"Nonsense"

"It hurts me you think I'm saying nonsense, Spellman. I'm sincere"

"I know you're sincere, Nick" he smiled pleased "But I also think you said nonsenses all the time. And that you're an incorrigible and hopeless flirt"

He shook his head and walked away from the door.

"Do you want something to drink before we start? I got some tea or College already made you a coffee addict?" she grimaced at the mention of coffee, it certainly wasn't her thing "Of course not"

"A tea would be fine" she replied "I have no idea you liked tea too" she asked but she saw the answer on his face "You don't. Did you buy tea just… for me?"

Nick shrugged and looked away from her, entertained in finding the mugs in the kitchen counter.

"Nick…" she said his name in a tone between reproach and gratitude "You shouldn't have"

"I wanted you to feel comfortable" he explained.

"Thank you…" she said honestly "That was really thoughtful of you"

He shrugged again, downplaying what he had done. While he prepared the tea, she took out of her bag her notebook and pencils. She couldn't help but letting her gaze wander around the small apartment. She was still surprised at how tidy everything was.

She had lived with Ambrose. His room had always been a mess, and she knew that his apartment remained clean only because he had a cleaning lady who went three times a week to fix his mess. She had always thought men were as messy as her cousin was but she was wrong.

"It's small, I know" he suddenly said.

"Ah?" she asked distracted.

"The apartment" he explained.

"Ehh… yes, I guess so, but I bet is better than a dorm at the campus" he nodded "You are extremely tidy, it's surprising"

"Why?"

"You're a man" she said with a shrug "I lived twelve years with Ambrose and his room was always a mess"

"Sometimes you're quite prejudiced, Spellman" he said, there was no reproach in his voice but rather fun.

He walked from the corner where the kitchen was to where she was sitting, he offered her one of the mugs.

"Tea for you" he told her "Coffee for me"

"Thank you" she said smelling the scent of the tea.

"You are welcome" he told her "You really like tea"

"I do. Aunt Hilda love tea, I guess it's because she lived some time in England" she told him "She even makes her own mixes with some of our garden herbs" Nick nodded before sitting down beside her.

"How it was?" he asked after drinking some of his coffee, she looked at him questioningly "Growing-up with your aunts" he explained.

"It was great. They're the most wonderful aunts in the entire world, even when they are so different" this time he looked at her questioningly "Aunt Hilda and aunt Zelda are like the day and night, you saw it for yourself" he nodded "Aunt Hilda was the one who always sneaked me cookies while aunt Zelda wasn't watching and gave the best hugs in the world, while auntie Zee was the severe one" Sabrina smiled at the memory "She used to tell me horror stories as bedtime stories, I guess that why I love horror movies so much"

He smiled at her

"I think you had a lovely childhood" he didn't ask. He knew it by the way she talked. Nick couldn't help but felt a little pang in his chest. Sabrina was so different from himself.

They came from completely different worlds.

"How was yours?" Sabrina asked.

"Not as good as yours" he answered but not truly answered her question "So… Calculus' final exam. How do you feel? Nervous?" he changed the topic and she acted as if she didn't notice he evaded her question on purpose.

She shook her head.

"I'm not nervous. I have a good teacher" she replied with a smile "And of course I'm not talking about Blackwood"

"Of course not" he replied in turn "And do I know this wonderful teacher?" he teased her.

"I just said good, don't overdo it" Sabrina told him. She punched him in the arm playfully.

He smiled at her with what she had beginning to considered her smile, she couldn't help thinking that she really liked when he smiled at her. Nick's gaze was fixed on her face and for a moment she couldn't look away from his dark eyes.

Could be so bad? a voice inside of her asked. She felt her lips dry.

"We'd better get started," he said looking away from her.

Sabrina nodded.

"Yes, sure"

"We're going to go over everything Blackwood could ask on the exam" he told "And knowing him, that will be a lot"

Sabrina nodded again.

"You're really good at this, Spellman" he said some time later "Are you going to take calculus II next semester?"

She hesitated before answering.

"I'm not sure yet" she confessed.

"Still undecided?" she nodded "Take it easy, Spellman. Take this year to experience what you think you might like and then decide. There is no pressure"

"That's easy for you to say, you've already been through this and now you are in...?"

"You're really dying to know, right?"

"You have kept the mystery almost all semester"

"It's not a big deal, really, I'm doing an MBA" he said.

"That's all?" Nick looked at her questioningly.

"What did you expect?"

"Something more mysterious"

He laughed. She liked his laugh too.

"Now you see why I didn't tell you" he added "It's boring"

She smiled at him but denied with her head.

"So, you're going to be a business's man..."

Nick shrugged.

"What is your plan then?"

He looked at her confused.

"Plan?"

"Yes, you know, you pretend to be the youngest billionaire of the decade or something like that?"

"Why don't we leave that as a secret" he said "Maybe I'll told you next semester"

"You're terrible," she exclaimed. "You're not going to tell me."

"Better concentrate on your studies, that's what you're paying me for"

"Fine" she said resignedly "But I'm going to find out what you want to do with your life, Nicholas Scratch"

"Good luck with it," he said with a shrug. Even he wasn't completely sure what he was looking for. He only knew he wanted to be more than he already was. He wanted to succeeded in life. But he also wanted a meaningful life.

They were studying for hours, but Sabrina wasn't very focused on what he was saying anymore. She was more focused on the way his lips moved to form the words he kept saying to her. She couldn't help licking her own lips, she felt them dry and it was just at that moment when he also looked at her.

"Spellman?" he asked he couldn't take his sight away from her parted lips.

She looked up at him. All the doubts of the weekend, of the previous weeks and months, all were accumulated in her mind. What did she really feel for him? And if she found it out… Would she dare to do something about it? She wasn't sure. She didn't know what she really wanted.

"Sabrina?" Nick insisted upon seeing that she was not responding and just looking at him with veiled eyes "Is something wrong?"

And it was the tone of concern in his voice what unleashed something inside her.

"Nick..." she said softly.

He got a bit closer to her and she took her opportunity.

She kissed him.

For a second Nick's lips froze under hers, he couldn't believe what was happening. But she didn't even notice his brief indecision because he immediately started kissing her back.

Their kiss wasn't tender or soft. It was passionate and desperate. And needy.

So needy.

Sabrina could feel his hands grasping her firmly by the waist and she put hers on his shoulders and in his nape, trying to be even closer to him. She needed him as close as humanly possible.

His lips were insistent as hers, neither of them could have enough of the other.

Not now, maybe not never.

She let him deepen the kiss gladly.

His hands, his lips, his intoxicating scent made her feel lost.

She was lost.

But she already knew that. She had known it since a long time but she tried to deny what was visible to everyone except her. She had fought for months the attraction she felt for him and suddenly everything had exploded in her face.

Sabrina felt Nick's lips descending from hers to her jaw and down to her neck. She let out a moan that surprised even her when he kissed a particularly sensible spot in the base of her neck. And when he unbuttoned the first two buttons of her blouse, she let him. She was so lost in the sensations he was making her feel.

His lips left a damp path over her collarbone and she moaned again.

He made her felt different. So different of what she believed she was.

More free, bolder… Fearless.

And she liked the feeling.

She grabbed him by the collar of his sweater and pulled him towards her. She leaned her back on the couch with him above her. they looked into each other eyes, they were both breathing fast, she buried her fingers in his hair before reclaiming his lips again. Her legs parted and she heard him groan when she received him between them. She smiled in the kiss when she felt the evidence of his desire for her.

She felt powerful. She was feverish and hungry.

She had been starving for this her entire life.