Waverly's POV
Describe the effect of fire on a forest ecosystem?
I sigh and frown at the question. AP Biology really wasn't my strong suit.
I drag my eyes away from the paper and glance briefly over at Jeremy, who sits across from me on the other side of the schooling shed. I notice in bafflement that he is smiling at his test. Smiling! How can anyone take delight in this torture? Ug.
"You have 45 minutes left." Chrissy announces, doing her duty as exam invigilator.
Besides being responsible for keeping Joy Farm's accounting books up to date and balanced, as well as being a virtual counselor, the younger Nedley is also an accredited exam invigilator.
Nedley started the virtual schooling program at Joy Farm in conjunction with Purgatory High School after Mrs. Nedley passed, as a way to keep her work alive.
Chrissy was the very first student who underwent the program, with Nedley as her invigilator. Once she successfully graduated, Purgatory High agreed to fully fund the program going forward and advertised a position for an invigilator.
Wanting to be part of the program to honor her mom, Chrissy applied and underwent the required examination. She passed with flying colors.
Besides the invigilator job, which entails getting the test papers to and from the farm, coordinating the exam timetables to be in line with those of Purgatory High and overseeing the exams themselves, Chrissy also works with the school to help counsel kids who come from difficult backgrounds.
Using her skills from her online degree in social work, Chrissy holds virtual counselling sessions every week. In these sessions, she helps kids from various backgrounds work through their trauma and graduate to become successful adults despite their circumstances.
Just like her mother and now her father, Chrissy Nedley dedicates her life to helping kids. She had managed to turn her own pain into something that makes a difference. It is nothing short of heroic, and it encourages me to use my own tragedy towards something that can be good.
Chrissy catches my eye and gives me a kind smile. I instantly mirror the action, smiling back at her warmly.
With my stay at Joy Farm I had grown rather fond of the kind hearted blond girl. Perhaps seeing her interact with Nicole had played a role in that, since they reminded me so much of Wynonna and I.
The thought scratches at my ribs, a longing for my sister stinging within my heart.
To counteract the unwanted feelings from breaching the surface, I refocus on the test.
What does fire do in a forest, Waves? Come on, think! I wrack my brain for a hint within the multitude of information crammed into my memory banks from many late-night study sessions.
Instead of my textbook knowledge, my brain brings up the image of Nicole Haught.
The gorgeous girl with the fiery hair had come into my life as a barely there ember. That ember quickly turned into an unignorable blaze which stoked the dead parts of my heart, the unrelenting flames within her spirit managing to burn away all the detritus that marred my soul.
That healing destruction cleansed me and left me ready for something new, for something that could be good.
And Nicole was not even aware of how much she had helped me yet. I had to change that as soon as possible, as soon as she got back from that doctor's visit.
I wonder what the verdict was? Would she be okay? I really miss her, despite it only being a couple of hours without her presence on the farm.
Perhaps I'll go and wait for her in the barn after my test. That way I'll be the first person she sees when she gets back and I will finally get to tell her how much she has helped me and, most importantly, how she makes me feel.
Gripping my pen with renewed determination, I jot down the answer.
Fire removes alien plants that compete with native species for nutrients and space, and removes undergrowth, which allows sunlight to reach the forest floor, thereby supporting the growth of native species.
I smile after lifting my pen again. Nicole Haught was my fire, and just like for a native plant species in a forest, she removed all the bad stuff so I could finally see the sun again.
I was ready for new growth, I just needed to thank my fire first.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Once the exam is done, I gather my things as fast as lightning and make a beeline for the barn.
I am grateful to have the rest of the day off due to it being finals week. The extra time is supposed to be used for studying, but the next test is history and I could pass that subject in my sleep.
Thus, I choose to spend my time off doing a different kind of studying.
As soon as I enter the barn, I am hit with the familiar smell of vanilla dipped donuts and earth. Safe to say, it is my favourite aroma now.
I slowly make my way over to Nicole's bed, running my hand lovingly over the neatly made covers. I notice that she even took the time to fold up our Wombats shirt before she left, placing it on the edge of the bed.
My eyes move upwards from the bed and start roaming over the various books weighing down the handmade shelf above it.
There are books on farming, some on animal husbandry and even a couple of fiction novels. I notice Nicole especially seemed to enjoy Wilbur Smith books.
As my hand runs over the numerous spines housing the various types of literature, my eye catches one book in particular.
I know why the caged bird sings, by Maya Angelou.
I automatically reach out and remove the familiar book from the shelf, opening it at the last position Nicole had bookmarked.
As I do so, I only barely manage to stop two items from falling to the floor. The one is a piece of paper on which a familiar quote has been written carefully in neat cursive, a little heart drawn next to it.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
My heart feels like it could burst with the overwhelming love I feel for Nicole in that moment. She had taken the time to write down the quote from my MatchMe bio, storing it away as if it were an important treasure.
My eyes shift from the paper to the second item that fell out of the book. It is a photograph of a very young Nicole smiling at the camera as she is held in the strong arms of a man I can clearly see was her dad.
Next to them stands another man. He is very handsome, with a strong jaw and kind eyes. He looks stoic as he gazes towards the camera, but on closer inspection you can make out the hints of a smile playing on his lips. He had a silent strength to his posture, everything about him shouted fearless.
Little Nicole looks towards him with awe in her big brown eyes, awe which I know is mirrored in my own as I look at the photo. Who was he? I make a mental note to ask Nicole later.
I gently put the quote and the photo back into the book before returning it to the shelf.
At the other end of the shelf, I spot Nicole's iPod dock, her old iPod Nano nestled snugly inside the slot. Knowing Nicole's taste in music was awesome from the couple of songs I have heard her play and hum, I press play and immediately start playing the last playlist she had been listening to.
I am surprised to find the voice of Julia Michaels coming through the speaker. I was a fan of her music, but had not yet heard this particular song. I hum along to the tune for a bit before turning around to sit down on the bed in anticipation of the redhead's imminent return.
I do not have to wait at all, because as I turn, I am met with a sight so beautiful that even the oxygen exiting my lungs pauses in my throat to observe it.
Nicole Haught's tall frame fills the doorway of the barn. The mid-morning sunlight envelops her, illuminating her in a glow that makes her look like a shimmering Greek goddess. In that moment I knew without a doubt that I was looking at the most beautiful human to ever obscure my vision.
My eyes meet hers and the smoldering emotion in her brown orbs hold me captive, the heat of her gaze mercilessly burning at the remaining underbrush around my heart. The organ beating untamed within my chest speeds up its activity as if to impress her, making a go at the Olympic gold medal.
Her feet start moving in my direction with hasty determination, her body language radiating an urgent need to be as close to me as possible. The revelation and unfiltered hope in her gaze, the boldness and urgency in her gait can mean only one thing.
"It wasn't a dream." She says breathlessly as she takes another step, bringing her within inches of me.
I can practically hear her heart race next to mine, the only race where we were both going to come away as winners. And I was finally ready for it, ready to take that gold. Fear and doubt be damned.
"No, it wasn't."
My words cause a wave of relief to wash over Nicole's face, like she was a soldier who had just heard she was finally going home after years of war and turmoil.
Encouraged by her response, I raise my hand to cup her cheek gently. Her eyes flutter closed and her breath catches at the contact, as if my touch was her revival after years of stasis.
Her eyes open slowly again as she leans into my hand. I am taken aback by the unyielding, raw emotion in her brown orbs.
She takes a gentle step closer to me, bringing our noses within touching distance. Her forehead lowers onto mine.
"Prove it." She whispers, her breath floating over my lips.
In the background I barely register the song on the speaker slowly coming to its end, the words fitting every feeling Nicole Haught brought out in my heart perfectly.
Yeah, little did I know you would be the one that would save me, learn how to change me.
I hold Nicole's gaze as I open every inch of my heart for her.
"I love you."
The truth barely leaves my mouth before she catches my lips in a gentle, yet deeply meaningful kiss.
I experience the depth of every unspoken feeling Nicole Haught felt for me pouring from her mouth, orchestrated through the delicious movement of her lips over mine.
The kiss takes the breath out of my already breathless lungs, my senses overwhelmed by everything encompassing Nicole Haught.
I kiss her back with urgency, wanting to convey to her that I felt the same, that I always had. That she meant everything to me. My hands make their journey into the wild forest of her red hair, getting tangled in the crimson jungle as my mouth continues to be rewarded with an endless bounty.
Our hearts move in one rhythm as our lips dance, putting the most emotive routine to shame.
But, as with even the fittest of dancers, eventually we also need to take a breather from our display of passion.
When Nicole breaks the kiss, she rests her forehead against mine again, our breaths coming out in rapid bursts in the miniscule space between us.
Her lips quirk up into a delighted smile. "Could you pinch me? I need to be sure this is real."
I release a giggle, but decide to humour her anyway. I move my hand to her side and beneath her blue flannel, then I lift her T-shirt up to gain access to her taught, snowy skin.
I run my hand along her ribs, delighting in the sound of Nicole's breath catching and the goosebumps trailing in the wake of my touch.
I reach for the supple skin right above her hip, giving it the slightest pinch. The actions causes the taller woman to release a quiet Ow! before giving me the most gorgeous smile.
My heart rate automatically goes back into race mode at the beautiful site.
"It's real… Waverly Earp really loves me." She says as if in conversation with herself, the smile never leaving her face as she gazes at me with adoration.
"I do." I confirm, smiling at her with abounding happiness filtering out of every pore.
She removes her forehead from mine and I instantly miss the contact. But she quickly makes up for it with her following action.
Without warning, Nicole lifts me up and spins me around as if I weighed less than nothing. I release a surprised shriek which quickly turns into a joyful giggle. Nicole joins in on my display of happiness, our laughter resounding throughout the barn.
I think we may have disturbed a couple of pigeons with our joyful noise, hearing an aggressive fluttering of wings somewhere above us.
"I love you too. So much, Waves." Nicole. says when she finally lowers me again, her words raw as her eyes expose every inch of her soul to me. The blatant honesty of her words takes me aback. How was I ever scared of this?
No one has ever made me feel this way, like I was worth risking everything for. Like I was important enough.
With the overwhelming emotions dwelling in my throat, I cannot mutter the words needed yet to express to her what she manifested in my heart. So instead, I opt to show her.
I place my hands behind her neck and pull her lips towards mine, kissing her softly. I delight in her taste, it feels like coming home. She returns the kiss with that same gentle passion, raising her hands to hold my face tenderly, as if she might break me with a grip too strong.
Once we break the kiss again, my eye catches sight of her wound. I reach up and gently run my finger over her temple.
"How did the Doctor visit go?"
Nicole turns her head and places a kiss against my wrist, before smiling warmly at me.
"It went well. Doc said I only have a very mild concussion." She says lightly.
"Nicole! A concussion is serious. Even a mild one." I huff, looking at her in concern.
She pouts adorably at my scolding. "I know, but I am fine." She takes my hand, gripping it tightly as she looks at me with unabashed love and gratitude.
"Nedley told me how well you took care of me after I was knocked out. That's how I realised that it wasn't a dream."
I look down bashfully, feeling the heat forming on my cheeks. Nicole's fingers gently cup my jaw, lifting my head so I can meet her gorgeous eyes again.
"Thank you, Waves."
I smile unrestricted at her. "Someone had to take care of you." I say, shrugging my shoulders.
"Well, I am the luckiest to have had the best nurse ever. I mean, show me a hospital where the staff would go topless to save my life?" She says with a cheeky grin, and for a moment her dimples distract me from her words. Then I register them and the heat flares back onto my cheeks.
I punch her shoulder gently. "Hey! I didn't have a choice, it was that or see you bleed to death." She feigns rubbing the point of impact before giving me a lopsided smile.
"Well if that is what I get for getting injured, I might just do it more often." Nicole fires back cockily, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"No! Please don't ever get hurt again." I say softly, remembering the panic I had felt when I saw her lie there with blood pouring from her head.
Nicole's expression softens as she gently takes my hand, lifting it towards her mouth. "I promise to do my best to not put myself in harm's way, milady." She says before kissing my hand as if she were Prince Charming bewitching my heart.
"Maybe if you treat me well, one day I could do a reenactment of how I saved your life." I say boldly.
This time it is my turn to delight in the sight of red dusting Nicole's pale cheeks as I smirk at her. Damn, Waves. She kisses you once and all modesty goes out the window? Calm down flaming lady bug!
"I think I would like that very much." She says, her eyes sparkling as her mouth dances with a smile. The smile quickly turns into a frown as she seems to sway slightly on her feet for a second. I automatically grip her arms to steady her.
"Nicole, are you okay?" I ask in concern.
She manages to compose herself again. "Yeah, it's just a wave of dizziness. The doc said it will occur for a day or two after the accident."
"Well then I think it is time for you to lay down." I say in my no-nonsense tone as I pull Nicole towards her bed. She makes no effort to resist and lays down to give her body some much needed rest from being upright all morning.
I quickly clamber onto the bed and lay my head down on her chest, enjoying the feeling of her arms circling my waist as she hugs me close to her.
We lay there for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's presence and the sounds typical to the farm coming from outside.
Nicole breaks the silence first. "What made you change your mind?" She asks, her voice soft and content.
This was it. The moment to tell her exactly how she made me feel. "It was Eos, actually."
I can practically feel the frown in her voice. "Eos?"
I smile against her flannel. "Yeah. When you were out, I had to calm him. The lightning struck and he started freaking out again. But I remembered what you told me, that it was all about trust."
The image of Eos's wild eyes looking at me through the rain flashes before me.
"I spoke to him, told him he was a giant. Just like I heard you tell Rachel the other day. And when the lightning struck, he was much calmer. He finally relaxed and trusted that I would not allow him to come to any harm."
"Nedley told me how you calmed him. I am so proud of you, Waves."
I smile, kissing her cheek.
"In that moment I realized that if he could overcome his fear and be made strong because he had the right support, then I could too. I made the decision to stop being scared of love, because you showed me what it could really be like. You showed me how love makes you a giant, Nicole."
She looks at me with that same raw emotion, like she could not believe I was real. I almost go to pinch her again, but her lips pressing onto mine stops all coherent thought. The kiss is much too brief for my liking.
"Waves, I always saw that giant in you. I am so glad that you can finally see it too. You are one of the strongest and bravest people I have ever met. And the fact that you actually love me? I feel like the luckiest person on the planet. I promise to show you every day how wonderful you are, as long as you want me to be the person who does."
I shift myself so that I am lying on top of Nicole, feeling her breath catch as she stares at me in awe. I quickly lower my mouth to hers, kissing her deeply.
When I raise my head, I forget about the shelf and get a painful bump to the noggin.
After rubbing the tender spot and telling Nicole I was fine, I remember the photo I found in one of the books on the headache inducing shelf. "Waves what are you doing?" Nicole mumbles beneath me when I reach up to the bookshelf.
Instead of answering, I grab the Maya Angelou book and remove the photograph.
"I found this photo when I was looking through your books. I was just wondering who this man is?" I say, pointing at the stoic man with the kind eyes.
Nicole's eyes soften as if remembering something from long ago, her smile wide.
"That was Andro The Bear."
At my questioning gaze she explains. "He was one of Purgatory's greatest boxers, holding 24 GRT titles. My dad used to take me to watch his matches. He fought with finesse, taking on any challenger without fear. Besides my dad, Andro was my greatest role model."
"What made you like him so much?"
"He just had this silent greatness about him. Whether he won or lost, he showed the utmost respect to his opponents. Outside the ring he was one of the most down to earth people you could ever meet. He would often be seen in town helping someone else or leave others with a sense of joy after telling them a silly joke to get them to smile."
"You sure don't get many famous people like him in the world." I breath out in awe.
Nicole shakes her head in agreement.
"Yeah, that's one of the reasons I really admired him so much. He was humble in everything he did, regardless of his achievements. He didn't talk much, no matter how much the Press tried to get him to make a speech after he won. He would just simply smile secretly at the camera, repeating the same few words every time."
"What did he say?"
Nicole smiles at me as if she were about to tell me the biggest secret.
"He said: fear not the giants outside you, because you have a bigger one right here." Nicole makes a show of tapping her chest right above her heart.
I look at her awestruck. "So that is where you got the giant quote from!"
"You got it. He was one of my greatest influencers. Even more so when he left this world. His wife, Steph, adored him and wrote a book about his life after he passed, telling the world about all the struggles Andro had gone through that no one else knew about. He had a difficult childhood and fought many battles in finding himself, but despite that he grew to be a wonderful man whose memory will live on forever to anyone who had the privilege to have known him."
"May we all be like Andro The Bear one day. Brave and fearless and kind."
"Oh, sweetheart. You already are." Nicole says, kissing the top of my head.
With my heart now finally free to experience the unrelenting love that Nicole Haught was willing to give me, I snuggle closer to my vanilla pillow.
Before drifting off, I silently thank Andro The Bear for his wisdom.
