Chapter 5: No Going Back

Today was a Thursday like most other Thursdays. Caitlin frowned at her lemon hat, Wyatt sang for his female customers, Jonesy scored a new job, this time watching the security cameras, and Jude nurtured his newfound love of milk.

None of the gang had any idea of how the bonds of friendship would be shaken to their very foundations, especially for Jonesy Garcia.

…

Jen Masterson had received absolutely no sleep the previous night. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't stop thinking about Nikki. She always seemed to haunt Jen's dreams, tantalizing her with her beauty.

Despite having tried, Jen just couldn't shake these feelings. There was no denying it anymore. Jen was in love with Nikki, and it was killing her inside.

That was why she had decided, that today, without fail, she would tell Nikki. It wasn't going to be pretty, but it was what she had to do.

And what Jen hated the most about today was waiting. She was at work, and intended to tell Nikki at lunch. Why the hell did time have to drag along so slowly? She welcomed any distraction that came along, trying to take her mind off the impending hurt she would have to experience soon. The thought of what awaited her had thrown Jen into a miserable state of depression.

How bad would it be? How would Nikki take it? Would she be shocked, try to understand and be reasonable about it? Not bloody likely! More like she would get unjustifiably angry and tell Jen to leave her the hell alone. And for the time being, Jen preferred not to think about what everyone else would say. Maybe, if she was lucky, Caitlin would still be her friend.

After experiencing the butterflies in her stomach for several eternities, the clock lazily rolled onto 11:45. Jen asked to go for lunch, having her request approved by Halder. She opened the top of her cell phone, and dialed Nikki's number. This was it.

…

Nikki sat, immersed in a magazine behind the counter. She was bored, to say the least. Though one would have thought she was actually reading the magazine, she was merely flipping through it. The only thing on her mind was Jen.

Her cell gave its familiar ring, Nikki snatching it up and said into it "Yeah?"

"Hey… Nikki." It was Jen. Just hearing her voice made Nikki perk up and her heart soar. But Jen, she noticed, seemed a little on edge, almost nervous. "How- How's things?"

"Same old." Nikki said, becoming somewhat concerned for her. "What's up?"

"Listen, I need to talk to you." Jen said. "Can you meet me by the fountain in fifteen?"

"Sure," Nikki said. "I'll be there."

"Great." Jen said. "See you soon."

She hung up, leaving Nikki with a cocked eyebrow. She announced to the Clones that she was going on her lunch break and, since there were no objections, she walked over to the fountain. Jen apparently really needed to talk and something like this could only bring them closer. This brought an interesting thought to Nikki's mind. Should she tell Jen just how she felt? This was when a quote she lived by in many aspects of her life came to her.

"I dunno. I'm making this up as I go."

For the next ten minutes, Nikki counted the seconds on her watch. Then, at six hundred, forty-two seconds, she caught sight of Jen. It just wasn't fair, her looking so hot in that referee's shirt that was her uniform. She waved, Jen catching sight of her and coming over.

"Hey, Nikki." She said, her nervous tone lingering.

"Hey." Nikki said. Damn, now she was beginning to get nervous. Damn you, Jen! She thought. Oh, hell. Sorry, I didn't mean that! "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Come with me." Jen led the way up the nearby escalator, to the second level and along to the back of the mall, near the elevators. They stopped in a small alcove, and Jen turned to face Nikki. She took a deep breath and began.

"Nikki, there's something I really have to tell you." She said, more nervous than ever. This was one side of Jen that Nikki had never seen before. "I know you're probably not going to like it, but I just have to get this off my mind."

"Well, if it's that serious," Nikki said. "Then tell me. You'll feel better if you do."

"Nikki, you've always been a great friend." Jen smiled. "I just have to ask two things."

"What?" Nikki asked.

"That you just keep this to yourself," Jen said. "And try not to hate me too much for this."

"I'll try." Nikki said, a smirk on her face. "No promises."

"OK." Jen said, taking another deep breath. "It's just that... I… well you… oh, screw it all. I love you, Nikki Wong."

Time seemed to stand still right then and there as Nikki's eyes went wide. Jen continued, shoving her hands into her pockets.

"I know that it's wrong for me to feel this way for you, but I just can't help it." Jen whispered. "You're an amazing girl, you always help me whenever I have a problem, and you're kind and sweet, though you don't usually show it to anyone else. So that's what it's been. I'm in love with you, Nikki."

Nikki looked shocked and temporarily disabled on the outside, but if there was any constant in this universe, it was that appearances can be deceptive. Inside, Nikki's heart soared, jumping for joy. She had to tell Jen now, she just had to. Oh, how she felt for the beautiful redhead in front of her. But it was now that Jen got testy.

"Go ahead," She said in a bitter whisper. "I know you want to."

"What?" Nikki asked, coming out of her apparent trace.

"Oh, don't screw with me, Nikki!" Jen raised her voice, tears beginning to form in her fantastically blue eyes. "I know you must hate me for this, and you're just itching to tell everyone. Go one, go up to Ron the Rent-A-Cop to use the PA and tell the entire mall that Jen Masterson is a lesbian! That's what you want, isn't it!"

"Jen…" Nikki said tenderly. She suddenly felt extremely bad. For her, it was always easier for her to say "Nice shot," to Stanley for his accuracy with his nerf gun than to say "I love you" to anyone. She always suspected it would be easier with Jen. Apparently not.

"I just need to know how you feel about this…" Jen said, turning away. "Just tell me and you won't ever have to deal with me again."

"Jen," Nikki whispered. "I… I just can't tell you how I feel about this."

Jen gave an indignant snort, but it came out strangled, as if it were intertwined with a sob. "I figured as much…"

Nikki took Jen's shoulder, turning Jen to face her. "But I can show you…"

"If it's anything short of a slap in the face, I'll be surprised." Jen said, bitterly.

"Then I hope you like surprises." Nikki said, taking Jen by the back of her head and kissing her square on the lips.

Time was a curious thing. In this particular instance, time seemed to encapsulate eternity within a few seconds. Nikki's eyes closed, maneuvering her lips to synchronize with Jen's. Jen seemed surprised at first, but then held Nikki close, kissing back.

When they broke apart, a rogue tear of happiness made its way down Jen's smooth cheek. "I love you…" She whispered to Nikki, a broad smile on her face.

Feeing a sense of déjà vu, Nikki whispered back "I know."

Their lips met again, much more encouraged this time. Neither of them cared for anything else in the world for this moment. For a brief moment, Nikki gave the tear streak on Jen's cheek a small peck, so as to relieve her pain. For several moments, they stood, in each other's arms.

…

In the meantime, Jonesy sat, laughing in the camera control room with Wyatt and Jude. They had just sent Ron on a wild goose chase to investigate a "Code 1138-848/1701" on the sixth floor.

And everyone knew that the Galleria had no sixth floor.

"Dude," Jude laughed, snorting a healthy amount of milk up his nose. "I can't believe he fell for that."

"You should ask if Wayne wants any of these security tapes." Wyatt laughed, before downing a slug of coffee.

"Well, let's see what else the Jonesmiester can come up with." Jonesy said, looking up to the readouts. "We have a Khaki Clone fight underway over a top, no Nikki in sight of course, two kids fighting with golf clubs at the Penalty Box, no Jen either. No wonder Coach Psycho is on a rampage. Oh, hello? We have a heavy make out session near the elevators on the second floor."

Jude gave an exasperated sigh. "Do they have to do that all the time?" In compensation, he tossed the empty two-liter carton of milk he finished over his shoulder and promptly opened another.

"Did you and Starr?" Jonesy asked.

"Hey, not cool, bro." Jude said. "You leave Nebula outta this."

"Well what about you and Serena?" Jonesy asked Wyatt.

"No," Wyatt said. "But I'm completely over her."

"Really?" Jonesy asked.

"Yep." Wyatt said. "If she wants to go out with that loser Chad, fine by me. She just better not come crying to me when she finds out what he's really like."

Jude held up his fist. "Dude!"

"Jude." Wyatt completed the ritual by meeting the fist in midair.

"Hey," Jonesy said, trying to focus his eyes on the couple. "Is that…Nikki?"

The other two leaned in as Jonesy activated the zoom on the camera. Sure enough, Nikki stood, embracing someone else.

"No way…" Jonesy murmured,

"Who's that she's with?" Wyatt asked as the couple turned, revealing the two kissing, rather passionately.

Nikki kissing Jen.

For the longest time, all three stood around the monitor, watching both girls kiss. Jude's hand relaxed, letting his milk fall to splatter on the floor. The only sound in the entire room was Jude's one multipurpose word.

"Duuuude……"

End of Chapter.

Well, there you have it. A sort of twist happy ending. Now what shall become of our teenaged heroes? Tune in soon to find out. And don't forget to review, heimers. Ciao!