The women exited the common room, scattering in their various directions. The halls were full of laughter and energy. Nicky might have been the only one to have genuinely appreciated the movie for what it was, but the film itself was never the important part of movie night. It was a chance to feel normal and burn off some of the pent up depression they each suffered from on occasion.
"I need to go check on something in the kitchen," Red said, squeezing Nicky's shoulder. "I'll come see you before lights out." Without waiting for a response, she left the woman's side.
Nicky bit her lip and watched Red's retreating form before she got shoved along by the crowd behind her. Her center warmed at Red's words, and she felt a faint blush streak her cheeks. She wasn't used to this sort of gentle attention-especially not from a maternal figure. Most of the attention Nicky had experienced in her life had either been an attempt to win Marka's favor or because the person wanted something from her. The drug world was not a place to make friends-no matter how many people tried to hide beneath that disguise.
There was no reason for the older woman to come see her, but Red wanted to. She couldn't help, but doubt the validity of Red's possible desire. Did she really want to come see her, or did she know that Nicky wanted her to and felt some obligation to helping her settle in?
Nicky had already been there a month, but still, she noticed that Red went out of her way to make sure she was getting settled. Had she done that with all the girls when they first arrived? As far as time went, Nicky was the baby of the group. She had been there the shortest amount of time and had no reference point for Red's behavior. A part of her hoped that she was different-that Red's actions and attention were just for her.
"Move it, Nichols," Boo said, leading one of the younger women by the hand. "I realize your date tonight was with mommy, but uh some of us have real dates to finish if you know what I mean." She jostled Nicky playfully with her elbow as they stopped to talk.
Nicky tipped her chin at Boo and grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Just having an off night. You wouldn't have a chance in hell if I were your competition," she said with a smirk. "Isn't that right sweetheart?" Nicky said, with a husky voice as she placed a hand on the stranger's waist, and tugged her towards her.
Boo chuckled as she saw the blush sweep across her conquests face. "Let's go," she said, throwing Nicky a playful glare. "Daddy's gonna take real good care of you," she promised the woman, leading her away from Nicky. It wasn't always a competition between them in the sense of going after the same girl. Their flirting styles and personas were as different as night and day. The bigger competition was in comparing numbers. It had become a harmless game between them that served as both a good distraction for Nicky and playful entertainment to break the monotony of their day-to-day lives.
"You may get the straight girls, but when they're ready for an actual woman they'll know who to turn to," Nicky called after them. She laughed in response to Boo flicking her off and yelling bite me over her shoulder. Shoving her hair off her face, Nicky headed towards her dorm. Between the time with Red and the joking around with Boo her mood had lightened. It had turned out to be a good night after all.
Originally Nicky had been a little intimidated by Boo's gruff nature, but ever since Red had asked her to get Nicky out of a bad situation, she'd realized she was more bark than bite-at least that kind of bite. They had evolved into a sibling rivalry sort of dynamic. She'd never had much in the way of family, but Red had dubbed her part of their group, and everyone had welcomed her.
Moving back towards the center of the wave of people, Nicky bumped shoulders with the person next to her.
"Wanna look where you're going?" Gina asked with a snarl. She threw her hands up aggressively, daring Nicky to get near her.
Almost everyone, she thought. "Sorry," Nicky said, too tired to deal with Gina's irrationality. The girl was always on her case about something, and she really didn't have the patience to deal with it. She'd been trying to hold back her own frustration because Red liked her and she had been part of the family longer, but there was only so much she could handle.
Gina huffed out and snarled at her, stepping towards her and navigating them out of the throng of bodies. "Oh I'm sure you are," she said, stepping closer. She shook her head in irritation and narrowed her eyes.
"Dude, what the fuck is your problem with me?" Nicky snapped, not backing up any further. She wasn't going to let this twig of a person bully her back against the wall. "I said I'm sorry; it was a fucking accident man."
Gina pulled her head back and looked at Nicky in disgust. "I don't have a problem with you."
"Clearly you do," Nicky said in disbelief. "You've been on my case since day one. It's ridiculous." She shoved a hand through her hair and put a hand on her hip. She had too many things on her mind to worry about then what the next thing Gina was going to get pissy about.
"Pfft, you don't know what you're talking about, princess," Gina said, clenching her hands into fists. "Why would I waste my time on you?" Under the fluorescent night time lighting, she looked paler and smaller than usual. Nicky couldn't help but picture her as an angry little dog, thinking it was bigger than it really was, having a hissy fit.
Nicky let out a bitter laugh of disbelief. "See that right there. Why is it that I get attitude from you for everything I do?" Dropping her hands to her side, she clenched her fists reminding herself that Red would be pissed if she did anything.
She knew that her cheeks were red. She wasn't afraid of Gina, but they had gathered a small crowd, and the fact that she couldn't do anything bothered her. Nicky could take care of herself, but she couldn't help imagine how she looked right now-cornered by Gina's big mouth and small frame.
Shaking her head, Gina leaned forward and with eyes no more than slits, and scowled. "Maybe because some people had to actually work to get where we are." She never planned on telling Nicky how long it took her to impress Red and be accepted. It had been chores, tasks, and a very lengthy trial period.
Opening her arms up, Nicky turned her palms facing up. "I don't know where it is you think I came from, but I promise you it wasn't that great." Nicky knew that most people would have considered her childhood lucky, but that was all window dressing. Money meant nothing when that was all you had.
"See you just don't get it. I'm not talking about out there," Gina said. She pursed her lips and shook her head, her entire body shaking in anger. For the first time, the pain Gina was feeling was evident in her eyes. Whatever it was that Red saw in Nicky, she didn't have. Norma spent more time with Gina than Red ever had.
"You mean prison?" Nicky wasn't going to let that fleeting moment of emotion steer her away from her own feelings. She had dealt with Marka trying to guilt her enough to be immune to emotional manipulation. "I hate to break it to you kid, but I'm pretty sure we all fucked up to end up in here. You do know that's not a good thing right?"
Her prickly body language was starting to melt into defeat, but her hackles were still raised, and she looked as if she might take a bite out of Nicky if the other woman said the wrong thing. "I mean in the family-with Red," Gina elaborated. She didn't know why she still cared. Gina had become a member of the family, and her place shouldn't have mattered-she had found her home.
"Still don't know what you're talking about," Nicky said exasperatedly. Why the fuck wouldn't Gina just leave her alone? She rubbed the palm of her hand against her forehead and could feel the beginnings of a headache coming on. Not caring how it looked, she leaned back against the wall-trying not to think about what the sticky residue covering everything was-and crossed her arms.
Gina held out a hand in emphasis, flapping it about in an attempt to accentuate her words. "Some of us had to work to get her approval-you walk in all weak and needy, and suddenly you're the golden child who can do no wrong. You know I had to do clean trays and take out the trash for over a month before she would even acknowledge that I had a name?"
Nicky shook her head. "Look, I don't know what happened between you two, but I'm not trying to stir up any trouble here." Despite Gina's obvious pain, a thrill crawled up Nicky's spine. Wanted.
"Yeah?" Gina asked challengingly. "Well, maybe that's because you are the trouble," she snapped, pushing Nicky roughly. It had little effect since Nicky was pressed against the wall already, but the action was still too far.
Nicky held up her hands as she rose from her slump and stood at her full height-which wasn't all that tall, but she was taller than Gina. "Whoa Mighty Mouse. Take it easy there." She didn't know whether to laugh or let her temper loose. This was going too far. "You really want to get pushy with me?"
Gina took another step forward but managed to keep her hands to herself. "Don't tell me what to do," she said, pointing in Nicky's face.
Shoving Gina's hands away, she stepped forward and watched as the other woman tried to subtly back up. "I'm not looking for any trouble, but clearly you are," Nicky said, ready to end this conversation. She started to walk away from the other woman, but Gina quickly moved in front of her.
There was a loud clapping sound in the hall and everyone present silenced and turned to look. A couple of the other woman made noises of excitement, while several others took off. They knew better than to hang around. If the older woman-who was docile by nature-was getting involved Red wouldn't be far behind. Norma stood there, hands on her hips, eyes locked onto Gina.
Walking towards them, she angrily snatched Gina by the arm and tugged on her trying to drag her away from Nicky. Gina's behavior was clearly unacceptable. She shook her head and pressed her other hand around Gina's back and on her shoulder, trying to offer comfort.
Shaking Norma off, Gina faced her. "Oh is this another time where we're supposed to just keep our mouths shut to protect her delicate emotions? One more time that princess doesn't have to deal with the realities of what the rest of us deal with? This is bullshit." Norma raised an eyebrow at the younger woman, and Gina looked down and apologized for raising her voice at her.
She spit the words out with a venom that Nicky couldn't understand. "What is she talking about?" she asked, looking at Norma with genuine concern. She wanted Red's attention, but suddenly Gina made it seem like they were all keeping something from her. Nicky had spent so much of her life trying to blend in that the idea of being the outcast brought out her own insecurities.
"Enough," Red's voice boomed through the hall. If Norma had induced a silence upon the area than what Red had done instilled a deathly chill. The remaining women scattered. "Nicky, go to bed," she said, dismissing her.
"Yeah, but-" Nicky tried to argue, dropping her body to the side as she silently begged to understand.
A single eyebrow raise and Nicky lost her train of thought. She opened her mouth to protest her innocence, but when Red gave her a warning look her head dropped, knowing that by arguing she had disappointed her. Nicky turned on her heels and walked away, scuffing her boots along the floor in frustration. On her way out she could hear Red telling Norma that she would deal with Gina. Nicky heard Norma's nearly silent footsteps shadow her own as she made her way back to the dorms.