Chapter 6: Halder-Phobia

For what seemed like a lifetime, Nikki had heard stories of how pure and beautiful love was supposed to be. How two people were two halves of a whole, destined to be together forever. Nikki had usually dismissed this as hogwash, to put it politely.

But, that was before Jen Masterson came into the picture.

Jen was very special to Nikki. A way that she never thought she could label anyone before, as someone she couldn't even live without.

And to think, all that sugary slop that one would dole out to make their spouse feel like royalty, all the sweet nothings that would be said, standing in her lover's arms, Nikki could only think of one thing to say.

"How long?"

When Jen wore a confused expression, Nikki clarified. "Have you felt for me?"

"Oh, God." Jen said, letting a laugh out. "I'm not sure. A couple of months now, maybe. How long for you?"

"Three months, twelve days and an odd number of hours and fractions of said timeframe." Nikki said. "Not that I'm counting."

"well, I guess we should make up for lost time." Jen smiled. "Wanna grab some lunch?"

"Sure." Nikki said and kissed Jen lightly.

Then, a sharp, loud bark made them both jump and the bottom of Jen's stomach drop out.

"MASTERSON!"

Coach Halder stormed up the nearby escalator. "Masterson, I need you to—WHA-----…"

Halder, a meaty, tall and supposedly fearless "man's man" stood petrified on the spot. After the initial shock wore off, he shouted. "Just what the devil is going on!"

"Coach," Jen came forth. "I can explain…"

"Can it, Masterson!" Halder shrieked. "I saw the whole kit 'n kaboodle! You're lucky I don't fire you on the spot!"

"Hey!" Nikki said, coming up beside Jen. "Just because you're her boss doesn't mean you get executive rights over whom she dates!"

"You stay outta this, missy!" Halder shoved a sausage-shaped finder in Nikki's face. He puffed himself up to full height, but Jen also stood up to him.

"Look," She shouted back. "You wanna fire me? Just show me one of your guys who can do this!"

She ran off to a nearby pole that connected to one of the roof beams that held the glass ceiling up. Being a master jungle gymnast, Jen climbed up the pole without any difficulty.

Now it was time for the bottom of Nikki's stomach to drop out. "Jen!" She called. "Don't do this! Come back down!"

If the determined Jen Masterson heard Nikki, she paid no attention. As soon as she reached the top, she began a hand-over-hand climb over the span of the beam, which reached a thirty foot drop dead center. It was now that the beam gave a telltale creak and bent ever so slightly. A beam of these types is not meant to hold a person's weight, not even the one hundred twenty pounds of Jen.

"Oh, lord…" Halder breathed his jaw dropping so low that in warned to fall off his head.

Right in the dead center of the beam, Jen purposely let her hand slip for dramatic effect. Hearing Halder's squeal, she grinned, letting herself dangle for a minute or two and reached back up. With the new addition of weight, the beam bent at a dangerous angle.

"Uh-oh." Jen muttered to herself.

"Jennifer Masterson, get back down here!" Nikki screamed, her palms beginning to sweat. Jen's life was at stake. Her girlfriend for no more than five minutes, and she was about to lose her forever.

Jen reached the end of the beam and slid deftly down the opposing pole, just as a bolt burst. She ran up to her boss, absolutely beaming.

"Well, Coach," She grinned. "How about that?"

"Well, uh…" Coach Halder, a usually quick-witted and talkative man was at a loss for words. "Good job, Masterson." He leaned into whisper in Jen's ear. "Don't know what we could have done without you. Maybe I was a bit rash…"

"What is you want to ask me?" Jen asked.

"No, no." Halder said. "You just… uh, carry on. I'll handle this one, Masterson."

With that, he hurried away, leaving Jen to face Nikki.

"Don't you EVER pull a stunt like that again!" She hissed, breathless. "Jen, you could have died up there!"

"But I didn't." Jen smiled. "Besides, I thought you were a major risk taker yourself. Besides, you sounded like my mother. Only she calls me Jennifer."

"Well, you had me going." Nikki said. "Now, about that lunch…"

"Lead the way, love." Jen smiled.

…

The rest of the day went along without a hitch. Both Jen and Nikki managed to close up early and went down to the Squeeze to visit Caitlin before everyone else checked in.

"Oh," This time it was Caitlin's turn to sound nervous. "Hey… guys."

Nikki laughed and squeezed Jen's hand. "It's all right, Cait. Jen knows."

"Wait," Jen said. "You told Caitlin too?"

"Well, I just had to tell someone," Nikki said, but then cocked an eyebrow. "Wait, whaddya mean 'too'?"

"I told Caitlin about it too." Jen laughed.

"Well, thanks, Caitlin." Nikki said. "You really kept your word. Thank you."

"Anything for you guys." Caitlin smiled. "I'm glad things are fine for both of you."

"Looks like things are a little more than fine." A masculine voice said behind them.

All three of them turned to see Jonesy flanked by Wyatt and Jude.

"We all saw your little makeout session at lunch." Jonesy sneered.

Jen blinked. "You guys saw that?"

"Every twist of the tongue." Jonesy leered, obviously not impressed.

"Somehow," Nikki said. "I don't think 'Oh, crap' quite cuts it here."

"Oh, rats?" Caitlin suggested in her squeaky little voice.

"Damn it to hell?" Jen supplemented.

"No," Nikki said. "I was thinking more along the lines of 'Oh, shi-'"

"ENOUGH of finding the right cussword!" Jonesy screamed. "We saw what happened and---"

"What?" Nikki challenged, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"I," Jonesy stammered. "I can't think of anything right now!"

After a tense silence, Jude came forward. "Well, just let me be the first to say," He announced, throwing his arms up as if her were making a speech. "That I do not have a problem with this."

"Yeah, me neither." Wyatt grinned. "You both do look kinda cute together."

"You guys know I'm ok with it." Caitlin smiled.

"Jonesy?" Nikki said. "You all right with it?"

"No, I am not all right with it!" Jonesy screamed. "You guys can do whatever the hell you like! I'm outta here. Screw you guys!"

Jonesy Garcia stormed off, leaving his friends behind.

"Dude," Jude said, quietly. "That was, like, totally harsh."

"God, I feel like crap," Caitlin sighed. "Gotta go. See you guys tomorrow."

"Yeah, gotta bounce." Wyatt said before moving off. "Ciao."

"I'm just gonna go drown myself in some milk." Jude said and boarded away, leaving Jen and Nikki alone at the table.

"Oh, God." Jen threw herself into a nearby chair. "This is all my fault. If I'd just kept my stupid mouth shut, we'd still all be friends."

"Jen, it's not your fault." Nikki sat with her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I love you, as well as everyone else. I'm glad you came forward and told me. It was only a matter of time before I told you anyway. Don't worry, things'll be all right."

"How?" Jen asked.

"I'm not sure, but they will." Nikki sighed. "But, you know, it's been years since I last shed a tear,"

"Nikki," Jen said. "What are you saying?"

"Just…" Nikki's eyes grew hot and began to water. "Hold me."

She began to sob and cry on Jen's shoulder, who held her close for a very long time.

End of Chapter.

There we are. A unhealthy dose of angst. How will things turn out? Tune in soon for the conclusion. I'm only planning a couple more chapters, so enjoy it while you can! Don't forget to review now! The better the review, that more prompt the update!