It's been 6 days, 12 hours and approximately 32 minutes since that day in the barn. But who is counting? It's just a bunch of numbers indicating time passed, time passed since the hopeful fire in my heart transformed from a blazing inferno to a barely-there collection of embers. Embers so dulled and fragile that a simple gust of wind by a shutting door could extinguish them forever.

I had thought that this time, just maybe this time I had finally found a person just for me. A person that understood me fully and did not reject me despite knowing every ugly part of my story, who could make me smile with a simple giggle from their own beautiful mouth.

Someone who would not be taken away from me suddenly by cancer or by a drug lord's bullet to the spine. Someone who would not allow themselves to feel like they were ever a burden to me, and who would trust me with their heart. And if they had given their heart, I would without a doubt have devoted every part of my own to keep it safe and uplift it to a place of abundant happiness and love.

But now the owner of that heart avoids me like I am a major spoiler to the series of their life's unfortunate events.

The only time I ever see Waverly nowadays is in the early hours of the morning when we milk the cows and sometimes in the evenings, when she comes to take her dinner up to her room.

During the morning milking sessions, she does not say a word to me. Instead, she just silently goes about the now well practiced process of relieving the bovine animals of their milk. She has gotten so good at it that I don't even have any more guidance I can provide as an excuse to talk to her.

She does, however, talk to Rachel during the milking sessions. Waverly has become the younger girl's self-appointed mentor, showing her how to do all the chores. Rachel did not take to the milking process as quick as Waverly, and there were a couple of near miss cow kicks. But she is slowly getting there, if begrudgingly so.

Once the cows are milked, Waverly hurriedly exits the station wordlessly to get cleaned up for school along with Rachel. Which leaves me with the tormenting sight of her departing back. Just like that day in the barn. Just like this morning.

A gentle hand grips my shoulder, causing me to tear my eyes away from my retreating heart.

"Hey Nicole, are you okay?" Jeremy asks, caution and care in his gentle voice.

I look back at the two girls and release a sigh. "Yeah, I am just great."

"Okay that's it. I have had it with your moping around. What is going on between you and Waves?"

I look at him surprised. Was I that easy to read? Figures. Still, I could try and pretend. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Jeremy removes his hand from my shoulder and steps in front of me as I go to exit the milking station. He fixes me with a stern gaze and a raised eyebrow. Ah shit, serious Jeremy. I was not going to get out of this easily.

"You know exactly what I am talking about, Nicole. A week ago, you and Waverly had this friendship sailing. But now she turns into a robot permanently set to silent mode in your presence, and you turn into a depressed ginger puppy around her. I am not the only one who has noticed either. Chrissy is constantly hounding me about it."

Knowing it would not help to resist Jeremy's guilt trip powers, I run my hand through my hair and walk over to sit down on an upturned milk cannister. "Fine. I'll tell you what happened. Sit down."

He gives me a victorious smile before taking a seat on an empty crate across from me and then giving me an expectant look. I take a deep breath before revisiting how this mess started.

"You know how you were always bugging me to try MatchMe?"

"Yeah?" He replies with a confused frown, clearly not having expected that to be my opening line.

"Well, I actually started using it." His eyebrows shoot up, his eyes shimmering with excited glee.

"You did?! That's awesome! Did you meet someone?"

"I did." I smile at him sadly.

"Yes! I told you it works!" He says, jumping up with an excited fist bump. I can't help but smile at his enthusiasm, remembering how baffled I had been when that notification had come through. "Tell me about her, I want to know everything!" Jeremy demands.

My smile drops from my face again.

"Her username was Angelgirl08. Jer, she captivated me right from the start. She was charming, funny and so very kind. We had these long conversations, sometimes we would talk about silly little things and other times we would share bigger, deeper things. I would tell her about my life and she would listen. She would listen and she would make me feel like I was understood. Because she also trusted me with the difficulties of her own past. She made me feel like I was special, amazing even."

"Wow, that's just like how Robin and I started out. Angelgirl sounds like the perfect girl! I hope you asked her on a date?"

I smile sadly at the memories of how hard I had tried. "Oh, I tried to get her to go on a date with me all right. I flirted my Haught butt off. But she would bat me every time, saying she wasn't ready. She said she didn't believe in love."

"What? Who doesn't believe in love? It's the greatest thing in the whole world." Jeremy says in disbelief.

"I know. Which is exactly why I made a deal with her. I bet her that, if I could show her that love was real and good, she had to go on a date with me."

"Oooh smooth, Haught. Did you manage to show her?" Jeremy says with a grin, looking like the Cheshire cat as I pour out the good parts of my heartbreak tale to him. But of course, the next part was where the story goes off the fairy-tale trajectory.

I look at my feet as my hand clenches into a fist to stem the sadness and disappointment suddenly revisiting my memory banks. I grit my teeth and will them away.

"I never got the chance to. Because a week ago I unexpectedly met Angelgirl in person. Or rather re-met."

Excited joy flashes across Jeremy's face, rapidly replaced by confusion. "Wait how did you meet her if it wasn't on a date? What do you mean by re-met?" I watch the wheels turn in his head as he contemplates my words. "Did you know her?" He asks finally.

I nod sadly. "Yes. I don't know how I did not figure out her identity sooner, truth be told. The signs were all there. I mean I got the match the very same day that Nedley brought her to Joy Farm."

I watch as the confused frown on Jeremy's face morphs into slow revelation as his brilliant mind finally connects the dots that I was unable to. "Waverly is Angelgirl?!" He exclaims, completely baffled. Just like I was when I learned my match's identity.

I nod solemnly, affirming Jeremy's revelation. He jumps up again and starts pacing the milking station. "Woah! That is crazy!" He pauses and turns to me. "But wait, how did you figure out it was Waverly then?"

"Actually, I didn't. She did. Between me telling her parts of my story on the app and telling her my life story as Nicole in person, she kind of started picking up the similarities. I think I told her my name in our last MatchMe conversation, which must have been the final piece of the puzzle."

"Okay. So Waverly and you were unknowingly each other's match. You both liked each other while talking on the app, right?" He asks, looking at me dubiously as if the answer was simple and he could not understand why we were finding it so very difficult to get there.

"I thought we liked each other. I knew I did, at least. I liked her a lot. Both as Angelgirl and Waverly. Way before I knew they were the same person. I learned they were the same person when Waverly confronted me a week ago in the barn and revealed herself to be Angelgirl." I release a frustrated sigh at the memory.

"I had thought that it was the most wonderful thing, that perhaps Waverly would give us a try and that we could be great together. But she said she had only used the app to stem the loneliness while she was at Joy Farm. I desperately asked her to dance in a last-ditch effort to show her what it could be like. And it was wonderful, Jer!" The traitorous smile is back on my face as I remember the feeling of her body against mine as we swayed to the music. I had dreamt of it almost every night after.

"There was this perfect moment where we looked at each other and I thought I could see her whole heart. I was so sure she was going to kiss me then, but then the damn barn door slammed and she stiffened into what you have now come to know as Robot Waverly. She said she could not do it and left me standing alone in the barn." I end the retelling of my tragic love story with a slump of my shoulders.

"Just like that?"

I nod at him sadly. "Just like that."

Jeremy looks at me with sympathy. Then he slowly walks over to me and crouches in front of the milk canister. He gives me a small smile and places his hand onto my shoulder in a gesture of brotherly comfort.

"Nicole. From what I gather, Waverly does like you. You just have to give her some time." He releases a heavy breath, seemingly contemplating his next words carefully. "She and I have become good friends over the past couple of weeks. She has told me some things about herself."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise and a bit of jealousy at Jeremy knowing more than myself about the enigma that is Waverly Earp.

"It is not my place to share those things with you. But I want you to know that Waverly carries a lot on her heart. And sometimes when we have a lot of weight on our already broken heart, we are afraid of adding any more to it. Out of fear that it would shatter fully. Sometimes we just need some time and convincing to realize that the very thing we are resisting is exactly what we need, that it can fill the cracks and make us strong enough to resist the downforce of every other heavy thing."

Jeremy's words resonate into my mind, louder than a shotgun fired right next to my ear. As contemplation and revelation grips me, I barely hear Jeremy say he needs to go and get ready for school. I don't even remember hearing him leave.

All I know is that the tiny embers in my heart have suddenly taken flame once again, thanks to a gust of encouragement from my brother. With a set of determination in my jaw, I get up.

I was going to give Waverly all the time and space she needed. But I was also going to complete my bet with her. I was going to show Waverly Earp that love was something worthy of allowing into the cracks of your heart.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

I only see Waverly again later that afternoon. It happens as I am on my way to the kitchen to wash up for dinner.

When I go to turn the handle, the door flings open without warning, nearly striking me in the face. As I stand there still slightly shocked, a blur of athletic brunette exits the back door and moves past me without so much as a "Hi" or "Sorry for almost hitting you with the door".

Despite the disappointment swimming in my veins at her lack of recognition of me, I do register that she wears her running gear. She was clearly on her way to get in a quick exercise session before the sun sets.

She still doesn't seem to have noticed my presence when she takes up a stationary position in front of the porch and starts her stretching routine. I know I should turn around and walk away for the sake of my own sanity, but Waverly Earp's exquisite beauty keeps me locked in place.

She was the sun, and I was a planet stuck moving around her. Not touching, just able to appreciate her light from a distance. A light with which I don't think I could live without now, despite its potential to burn me to the ground if I got too close.

My eyes enjoy an appreciative stroll along her athletic feminine skin, grateful this time that she has not yet caught me in the act.

Dammit! Why did the girl who was afraid to pursue a relationship with me have to be so damn sexy? My thoughts go back to what almost happened in the barn and the way she had looked at me… which makes seeing her looking so attractive that much worse.

I am about to physically force my eyes away from perfection with a will that I did not have, when I notice her bright orange running shoes. On closer inspection, one of the laces have come undone. I start moving forward to warn her, but just as I am within touching distance she decides to start running.

It all happens in slow motion from here. I watch as Waverly takes two steps before the infernal lace tucks itself underneath her foot and she starts falling. I hurriedly reach out and grab her around the waist, interrupting her trip towards a gravel sandwich.

I feel her stiffening in surprise in my arms. She looks up at me with wide hazel eyes.

"Uh, you uhm should always check your laces." I say dumbly. Wow I really am quite the charmer. No wonder Waverly didn't want a relationship.

She just stares at me for what feels like forever instead of a few seconds. There is even a moment where I swear her eyes go to my lips. But when I blink, it's gone and the person looking back at me is Robot Waverly once more.

She quickly removes herself from my arms, muttering a rushed "Uh Yeah. Thanks." before bending down and tying the rogue lace tightly. She gets up again without so much as a second glance in my direction before starting her run.

Once again, I am left with only the sight of Waverly's retreating back. However attractive that back might be. With one last look in her direction and a forlorn sigh, I turn back to the house.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Upon entering the kitchen, I am met with two Nedleys both looking at me with concern. Randy Nedley pretends to read the paper while Chrissy Nedley pretends to be extremely occupied with making pasta.

I can practically feel their eyes burning holes in my back as I go to the guest bathroom to wash my hands and when I re-enter the kitchen to poor myself a glass of water.

Unable to stand it any longer, I swallow down a gulp of water and turn to address them. "All right. Out with it. Why are the two of you staring at me like I am an albino horse?" They both comically avert my gaze and pretend even harder to seem preoccupied with their respective tasks.

I set my glass down on the counter a little louder than necessary and raise my eyebrows at them, causing Nedley to drop the act finally. "We are just worried about you is all." He explains, looking slightly guilty.

"And Waverly." Chrissy adds, giving me a knowing look.

I release a sigh. "Look, Waverly and I just…had a disagreement I guess." I almost laugh at my simple choice of words. What happened between Waverly and I, this thing between us, it's so much more complicated than a simple disagreement.

"We are just still learning about each other and I may have overstepped a boundary. She needs some space and I am giving her that. You should too. She will come around again, just like after she first came here. That's all there is to it, I promise. So, stop worrying. Okay?"

Both Nedleys look at me for a second longer before each giving me a slow nod, silently agreeing to let it go. I release a breath and feel my shoulders relax again.

"What about Rachel? How is she holding up?" Randy asks.

"She is enjoying the morning chores as much as could be expected. Which is not much at all." Nedley smiles and Chrissy giggles at imagining a grumpy Rachel begrudgingly milking a cow at 4am in the morning. It was rather an amusing sight; I could practically see the little thundercloud above her head every morning. But the cloud seems to grow lighter in shade with every day that passes, at least.

"Despite her aversion to the chores, I do think that she is really settling in here. She told me the other day that she enjoys the online classes, especially science. She says it reminds her of her mom." I feel a somberness at remembering the younger girl telling me this. We really had to figure out a way to free her mom.

"Well then, I am glad to hear she is settling in." Nedley says with a warm smile. His expression goes weary again. "Has she heard anything more from those people? Or her mother?"

I shake my head. "No, nothing since the last drop. She says they usually ask for a new batch every three weeks."

Nedley runs his hand through his thinning hair with a frustrated sigh "We gotta go to the cops, Nicole. It can't just go on like this."

"Sir, we promised her we would not." Nedley looks unconvinced so I change tact.

"Look, can you at least give me a chance to try everything else to help and maybe get some sort of clue as to where her mom is? Give me two weeks. If we can't manage to find anything by then, then… then I promise we can go to the cops. Okay?" I watch as my paternal figure contemplates this for a full minute before looking at me sternly. "Two weeks. Then we go to the cops."

I smile at him in relief. "Thanks, sir."

He runs his hand thoughtfully through his grey stubble as he observes me. "What exactly do you plan on doing? You ain't no cop, kid."

"I know, sir. But I think a good start would be if uhm…" I look over at Chrissy, silently requesting her permission to ask the next question. She nods at me encouragingly, which I return with a small smile before addressing Nedley again.

"I think that perhaps we could find something in Mrs. Nedley's research on the Purgatory drug saga."

Nedley's face immediately turns stormy. "No." He says firmly, getting up and depositing his empty coffee cup into the sink. I look at Chrissy, desperately asking her for help.

The blond girl moves over to her dad and places her hand on his shoulder gently. "Dad, please? Mom put all that work in… she might have found something that could help free Rachel's mom. You have to let us at least try. Please? Nicole, won't do anything stupid. Right?" Both Nedleys look at me questioningly.

"Nope, Scout's Honour." I say in confirmation of Chrissy's statement.

Nedley's demeanour softens, unable to resist his daughter or me.

"I need you both to promise me you will only read her notes and immediately send anything you find through to the cops to investigate. You are not to set foot anywhere near any drug dealer or drug base of operations. Do you understand me?" He says, fixing us both with the most serious look I had ever seen on his face.

"Yes, sir!" Chrissy and I say in unison. I just barely manage to stop myself from giving him a salute.

With a sigh he turns around and heads out of the kitchen, in the direction of the stairs. "All right, let me show you where I kept the boxes."

Chrissy and I hurriedly fall into step behind Nedley as he leads us to potential answers.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Having finally retrieved the boxes from the attic, Chrissy and I head to the barn. We are each carrying a box brimming with documents, notes and photographs of all sorts.

The box I carry is so big it obscures my line of sight, which is why I do not see the girl heading my way until it is too late. The box flies from my hands when a very sweaty Waverly bumps into me on her way back to the house after her run. Papers fly everywhere and I am left flat on my ass, staring at a just as surprised Waverly. I briefly register giggles coming from Chrissy's direction.

"Sorry, Waves. I didn't see you there." I mumble out.

The brunette girl quickly recovers her composure and gives me a slight nod as she gets back up, dusting herself off. "It's okay." She says quietly before taking in the mess of papers scattered around us.

She quickly starts gathering them again. I hurriedly get up and join her in the task until everything is neatly back in the box.

"What uh… what are you guys doing with these?" Waverly asks, unable to hide her curiosity. Seeing a non-robotic expression on the brunette's face for the first time in a week releases a wave of endorphins in my bloodstream.

"We are about to do some research, Waves. This here is everything my mom ever found in her research on Purgatory's drug underworld." Chrissy tells her with a smile.

"Research?" Waverly eyes seems to take on an excitement that I had never seen in them prior to today. I find it gives me a rush of delight.

"Yeah Waves. We are going to try and see if we can find anything that might help us figure out who has Rachel's mom and where they might be keeping her." I explain softly, even risking a small smile in her direction.

"Oh, that's sounds really cool." There is a suppressed eagerness in her voice, which makes me finally realize it. The prospect of research somehow intrigues Waverly Earp. Perhaps this could be my way in with her again.

"You know, this is quite a bit of stuff for Chrissy and I to go through alone. We could really use an extra pair of eyes. Would you mind helping us?"

The way Waverly's eyes widen with excitement at my offer serves to magnify the joy and hopefulness that has slowly started creeping back into my heart.

I watch as the brunette girl quickly masks her eagerness, trying her utmost to sound nonchalant when she tells me "Sure, I won't mind giving you a hand." She seems to rethink her choice of words, a pretty blush dusting her cheeks. "Uh with the research. I would not mind giving you both a hand with the research." She splutters out, to my amusement.

"I am just going to go shower quick, then I'll join you in the barn." With that Waverly turns on her heel so fast, I can hear the papers in the box rustle in the wake of her departure.

As I pick up the box again, I catch the knowing look Chrissy gives me. I just roll my eyes playfully at her in return as we make our way into the barn, the hopeful embers in my heart glowing much stronger than it had at the start of this day.