Chapter 4: Caitlin, Keeper of Secrets

The year dragged on and a month waned on, time not being too terribly kind to Nikki. The feelings bottled up inside her had made her somewhat cynical, sarcastic and sometimes all-out mean. Well, more than usual that was.

Jen experienced the same thing, prone to bouts of depression that lasted for days. The only thing that brought her around was to carry on a conversation with Nikki, but it also left her with a feeling of futility.

And if it hadn't been for that perfect pink halter top, or the cutest little pair of running shoes, it would have stayed that way.

…

Caitlin Cooke somehow managed to get away with walking about in these god-awfully OLD and ugly shoes. Her last pair had been eaten up by the local dog, and these were the only pair she had that still fit. But today, that was going to change. And she would also stop by the Barn, see if that cute little halter tops was still up for grabs.

This was the only thing on her mind as Caitlin popped the lemon off her head and shut the Big Squeeze down for the day. Fortune smiled on her this day, for she managed to sneak around without anyone noticing her shoes. Seeing as the Khaki Barn was the closest, she stopped in to get that wonderful little top.

Nikki stood at the counter, playing with a strand of thread, quite possibly plucked off one of the local shirts. But she looked different. Granted, Nikki found the job boring and pointless as hell, but this time she actually seemed sad. Caitlin's brow furrowed in worry, but priorities first. She scooped up her halter top and walked up to the counter, with a dismal gaze at her feet.

"Hi, Nikki!" She greeted, happily.

Nikki looked up, with a blank gaze and tone to match. "Oh, hey." she murmured.

Caitlin's worry only increased. "Something wrong, Nikki?" She asked.

Nikki gave a hollow chuckle. "Nothing that you need to be concerned about." She said.

"Come on, Nikki." Caitlin said. "We're friends. Friends help each other, and it looks like you need a friend more than ever. You'll feel better if you talk about it."

Caitlin prepared for an onslaught of sarcasm and yelling, but these pearls of wisdom seemed to penetrate Nikki's headstrong front. She vaulted over the counter, grabbed Caitlin by the arm and dragged her into the change rooms.

"Nikki," Caitlin protested as she was shoved into a stall. "What is this all about?"

"Caitlin, you have to promise me something." Nikki said, her melancholy demeanor replaced by one of urgency. Her voice dropped down to a whisper, to deter any eavesdroppers. "I mean on your heart and grandmother's grave."

"What?" Caitlin whispered.

"I need you to keep this a complete secret." Nikki said. "Please, Caitlin. I'm counting on you. Not even your boyfriend can know."

"OK, I promise." Caitlin said. "Now, what's on your mind?"

"Well," Nikki shoved her hands in her pockets. "I… I think I'm in love."

Caitlin let out a high-pitched squeal, which Nikki quickly muffled by putting her hand over her mouth. Caitlin recovered herself and began rattling off questions at top speed. "Omigod! Is he cute? Who is he? Do I know him? How long have you liked him? When are you going out? Huh? Huh? Tell me!"

"Well," Nikki shifted uncomfortably. "It's…well, it not a guy I like."

Caitlin blinked. "Nikki, I'm not quite sure I understand…"

"Well, it's someone in the gang if that clarifies it," Nikki said.

"Jonesy?" Caitlin guessed.

"Jonesy and I broke up, remember?" Nikki said, cocking her eyebrow. "We're strictly platonic now."

"Jude?" Caitlin asked, hopefully.

"Eww." Nikki said. "No. I like Jude, but not that way."

"Wyatt?" Caitlin fired off.

"You're just going through a process of elimination, aren't you?" Nikki said.

Caitlin nodded, smiling proudly. It wasn't everyday she thought up to do something this ingenious.

Nikki let out an exasperated sigh. "OK then. It's well…Jen. I'm in love with Jen."

Caitlin's jaw dropped for a moment. Then, she thought for a moment. "Yah, I kinda thought the two of you were acting kinda strange. Do you think she knows?"

Nikki shrugged.

"Well," Caitlin said brightly as she moved for the door. "We should tell her!"

Nikki's bark was like a thunderclap in a closet. "NO!" She grabbed Caitlin's arm and began to speak hushed. "If Jen ever found out, she'd hate me forever. I couldn't bear that. It's just better this way."

"But I thought you were the one who didn't care about what other people thought about you." Caitlin said, confused.

"You guys are different." Nikki said. "You're like my family, only closer that even that. I don't know what I'd do if any of you were to stop talking to me for whatever reason. Please, Caitlin. I took a huge risk by telling you."

"It's in the vault." Caitlin promised. "Under lock and a key I think I lost."

"Cait, you're the best." Nikki smiled. "You're right. I just needed to talk. Thank you for listening."

"Anything for a friend." Caitlin said. "Now, can I please buy my top?"

For the first time in a long time, Nikki let out a laugh. "Sure. And you get a ten-percent discount for listening to me."

"Sweet." Caitlin smiled.

After she left the Khaki Barn, a horrible thought dawned over Caitlin's mind. Her next stop.

The Penalty Box.

Jen's Penalty Box, on Jen's shift.

This was going to be interesting…

Jen stood at the till, looking even more distraught than Nikki had been. Caitlin began to worry. did she know about Nikki?

"Hey, Jen." She tried to cheer her best friend up.

"Hey, Cait." Jen sighed. "What's up?"

"I was just looking for those cute little shoes you had here." Caitlin said. "But it looks like you're worse off than I am."

Jen grunted. "It's just… hard, keeping a secret from someone you really care about."

"Tell me about it," Caitlin sympathized. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Sure." Jen said," But in private." She took Caitlin to the storage room in the back, who was getting pretty darn tired of this. She was just Caitlin, not some ultra-high-tech secret keeping superspy… was she?

"Caitlin," Jen said. "You're my friend. I never wanted to impose anything on you, but I need you to keep what I'm about to tell you a secret."

"All, right." Caitlin said. "Even from the entire gang?"

"Especially from the entire gang." Jen spluttered. "Please, Caitlin. If I tell you, we'll be the only two human beings in the entire world who know, and I really need it to stay that way."

"OK, Jen." Caitlin said. "What is it?"

"Well, I'm… oh, hell. I'm in love, Caitlin." Jen said, throwing her arms into the air.

Caitlin's eyes went wide. "Who is it?" She asked.

"Nikki." Jen whispered. "I know, it's not normal for me to have these kinds of feelings for a girl, but I just do. I love her. She's hate me forever, I know she would, if she ever found out."

"You can count on me, Jen." Caitlin promised.

"Oh, thank you, Caitlin." Jen threw her arms around Caitlin in gratitude.

Caitlin's mind went on the fritz for the next little while. She never remembered buying her shoes, but there they were on her feet, the receipt in her hand. An idea occurred to her, to tell Jen about how Nikki felt about her. She'd be doing them both a favor.

But Nikki would know she told, and Caitlin would have broken her promise. And Caitlin always tried her damndest to keep her promises.

Well, to be honest, Nikki and Jen did look kind of cute together. Caitlin had no problem with it, seeing as how pretty both of them were. And they had known each other since kindergarten.

Caitlin sighed and dropped into a nearby chair, holding her head. "Oh, dear." She moaned.

End of chapter.

Oh, poor Caitlin. Review nicely and there may be a happy ending in it for you… in a couple of chapters, that is. (Hint Hint.)