Nikki knows this is a bad idea - it's a complete invasion of privacy - but she's somehow convinced herself that it's justified.
With Brie out filming for Total Bellas, Nikki had let herself into her house. At first, her intentions were innocent; she simply wanted another pudding cup. But when she walked in, Brianna's phone was just there, on the coffee table. Her password is agonisingly easy to guess - Birdie's birthday. She managed to resist picking it up while she ate the pudding, but when there was none left, the phone seemed to fall into her hands?
Before she'd even realised, Nikki was routing through Brie's texts messages, with only one contact being the reason she felt such a burning curiosity in the first place: Stephanie McMahon.
Typically, Nikki would have no desire to read her sister's texts. After all, she'd be fuming if Brie did the same to her. But these weren't just 'how are you' texts to their brother or 'I love you' texts to Bran; These were texts to Stephanie, and she couldn't keep here eyes away from the screen.
Of course, this is a really dumb thing to do - Heaven Forbid, she gets caught and has to explain herself. But Nicole's thought process was, she doesn't trust Stephanie; she finds it almost impossible to even entertain the idea of Steph being a good person. Nikki wanted to see for herself that Stephanie was being kind to her sister, or she'd personally rack attack her in the middle of the street.
'Thank you for being there for me. Not sure what I would've done without you xx' - Stephanie.
Nikki's face scrunches up. What could have happened to make Stephanie turn to Brie in such an impactful way..? As she continues to scroll through, the screen was flooded with messages of a similar kind. Slowly, Nikki was beginning to realise that Brie and Stephanie weren't just new friends - they were extremely close. Both women were seemingly pouring their hearts out to one another, and in such an emotionally honest way.
Going through these messages at all made Nicole feel guilty, but this almost feels as though she's reading their personal diaries; some of the things Brie was telling Steph, ever so casually, were things Nikki's barely heard herself..
'Sometimes I just feel like I'm trapped by the idea that I'm somehow past my prime. I've had my career, I've had a comeback, now it's just time for me to be a wife and a mom, when there are other things I'm good for, you know? Why can't I still want to wrestle just because I've had a daughter?' - Brie.
After reading that short paragraph which her sister had sent, Nikki puts the phone down and abruptly stands up, taking a deep sigh; this was becoming too much. Brie had clearly sent those texts to Stephanie in confidence, and Nikki's the one who broke that circle of trust. At the moment, Nicole is no better than the criminalised version of Stephanie she has in her head. Never before has Brie told her twin that she feels 'trapped', but now she knows anyway.
Instantly, Nikki regret for doing this. Although, it does make her extremely worried for Brianna's mental health. Not only does she feel this way, but she's bottling it away from her family, and turning to a woman who's name is basically spat on in their houses. By the looks of things, Stephanie seems to have somewhat similar troubles in her own life - something Nikki had never considered a possibility, given Steph's apparent confidence and almost 'bitchy' persona. But still, she shouldn't know this - she shouldn't know any of it.
In theory, Nicole should be entirely oblivious to her sister's sadness, unless Brie was to say something herself of course. But as her twin, Nikki feels a sense of duty to Brie, like she needs to protect her; she can't do that if doesn't know there's a problem. Granted, it can't justify going through her private messages, but at least she knows to keep an extra eye on Brie, just in case her situation gets any worse.
Looking on the brighter side, if any good has come out of Nikki's snooping - at least she's finally come to realise that Stephanie's isn't this backstabbing monster she's been fearful of. Clearly, her and Brie had found something comforting in each other. Even though it breaks her heart that Brie can't come to her about it, knowing she has someone gives her a great peace of mind. She was obviously wrong about Steph.. it's something Nicole never believed she would think.. but Stephanie might actually be the sensitive and kind woman Brianna has been depicting her as.
Snapping her out of thought, Brie walks in alone, with a shopping bag in her hand. Nikki's chest tightened up, hoping she'd be able to get through this conversation without accidentally letting slip that she's been snooping.
"Heya Brizee.." She smiles.
"Nikki.. I..Is Bryan here..?" Brie asks, her eyes red and puffy.
"No, he took Birdie to the park... are you alright?"
Brianna takes a deep breath and walks over to her sister, they sit down opposite one another; Nikki can easily sense the confusion and somewhat sadness in Brie's demeanour. Recently, she's not been herself, and her twin was of course the first one to notice.. but it just seems more prevalent tonight? It's almost like Brie's.. lost? And the messages Nikki had read only confirms her worries.
Despite Nicole's concerns, before allowing Brie to talk, there's something which she needs to get off her own chest; something she should've said a long time ago.
"Before you say anything.. you're still in contact with Stephanie, right?" Nikki fakes innocence, perfectly aware of how much contact they share.
Brie nods in response. "We talk most days.."
"I know it might not account for much.. but I want you to know I trust her. I gave her such a hard time, I said some awful things about her when - let's face it - I'm not exactly an angel.."
Eyes widening with surprise, Brie contemplates what she just heard. Of course, she was happy to hear it - even if it's slightly out of no where. She has no idea what's prompted the change of heart.. but she's too exhausted to think about it too much; there are bigger things in her life to stress over, especially now.
"You have no idea how happy she'll be when I tell her that.. if she believes me, that is." Brie forces a chuckle.
"Do me a favour..? Tell her I'm sorry..?"
The guilt was eating Nikki alive by this point. Besides the obvious of snooping through someone else's private messages, she's also dealing with the guilt of how she's treated Steph for so long. Stephanie just isn't the type of person you'd expect to have struggles - of course, she's a human being, and everyone has their hardships.. but even though Nikki shouldn't know about Steph's demons, she can't help but feel bad for her.
"Nicole.. I need to tell-" Brianna begins, before falling apart completely and breaking down in tears.
Instantly, Nikki protectively wraps her arms around her twin - she had no idea why she Brie was weeping so much. Normally, she wasn't even that emotional.. Brianna was the type to keep to herself, and only show vulnerability when she's mentally exhausted.
"I'm sorry.." Brie sobs.
"Don't say sorry, are you okay? What's going on?"
Still crying, Brie takes something out of her purse, then hands it to Nikki. Almost immediately, the older twin's jaw drops to the floor.
Brianna was.. well she was-
"I'm pregnant.." She reveals tearily, while Nicole stares down at the positive test.