8dr Whovian: Thank you! Yup! Elena's anger issues and dealing with them will be a big part of her story, especially considering who she inherited them from. Yes with Cheryl I'm hoping to try and work in some nice character development :) (cos fuck canon lol) Yeah I wasn't a fan of them glossing over that in the show either. Thanks for sticking with the story! :)
"Today may have started out horribly, but at least there's this," Elena commented, a lightness to her tone as she sipped at her raspberry milkshake. Just looking at the swirling mixture of cold, dark pink goodness made the tense knots in Elena's neck unfurl. Though it was proving hard to shake the horrible feeling of not being able to talk to her girlfriend, she had to admit that Nell had had the right idea about getting breakfast together at Pop's. Food and milkshakes didn't fix problems, but they sure did make you feel better.
Nell nodded in agreement as she finished the last of her bacon and eggs, turning to her own milkshake to sip at it. "We're possibly on the verge of giving ourselves diabetes, but a good dose of unhealthy food does wonders for the mood."
"Hear, hear." Elena finished up what remained of her food, before lying back in the booth and crossing her feet. "So about Cheryl's brother..." She began to broach.
"Ass hasn't so much as sent me a text in two days." Elena's brows rose in concern, but Nell dismissed her with a wave of her hand.
"Oh no it's totally in character. He'll ghost me for a few days -it used to be weeks but I threatened to wring his neck if he did it again- then he'll call me out of the blue with some wild story. Eleanoooor! Heeeey!" Nell drawled, putting on a pompous voice that was presumably Patrick's. Elena bit back a laugh, finding the impression oddly heartwarming. Nell's light mocking of her friend seemed to radiate such fondness and love from years of knowing each other. "You won't believe where I've been! Alaska! I went skiing but wiped out when I tried going down backwards, which as the various bodily injuries I've acquired over the years will attest to is totally nothing. Oh and did I tell you about the nightclub on top of the supermarket? Or the underground T.G.I Thursdays?"
"Where the hell does he find all these things?" Elena stared in bewildered amusement. The guy seemed to name drop more than Veronica.
Nell shrugged, wearing a grin full of mirth. "I don't know, he's like a bloodhound. Except instead of tracking animals he finds bizarre shit. For our 21st he took me and my brother to a Star Wars themed bar. In the desert."
"Wild."
"Pat is indeed the wildest. He's a dick sometimes, but he's a good guy and the best friend I've ever had. Though if he ever heard me say that he'd make my life hell." She added as an afterthought.
Elena carefully considered how best to word her next question, before finally ploughing ahead. "So why did he leave exactly?"
"Because of Clifford mostly. He-" Nell blew out a heavy breath. "He roughed him up quite a bit growing up. Tried to make him more responsible, more "Blossom heir material"," she explained, an uncharacteristically hateful sneer creeping on to her face momentarily. "Penelope sat back and let him do it of course, big surprise. But when we were seventeen he ended up reaching his breaking point." Nell swallowed, eyes drifting down in an attempt to hide the tears that had formed in her eyes.
Elena's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as she realised what Nell was getting at. Suddenly she could relate to Patrick Blossom more than anyone in the world. "He... He tried to..." She couldn't force the words out, something in Nell's face stopping her short. Like someone had taken out her heart and ripped it in two.
"You don't have to-"
"He's like your polar opposite." Nell stared out of their booth's window as she spoke, her eyes affixed to a passing train as she let the words pour out. "The guy is as extroverted as they come. He talks more than he thinks, he drags me out to bars and clubs and stores whenever I go visit. He was the last person in the world I thought would be depressed. But he kept it all in." Her words sank into Elena's skin, an uncomfortable kinship between those awful last few months she'd locked away in the back of her mind stretching out to meet the oldest Blossom brother, making her wonder for a second or two what it would be like to talk to him. Elena shook herself out of it, kicking that locked tight box back where it belonged. God her thoughts really did run away from her sometimes. She didn't even know the guy.
"I mean he's okay now, but after everything that had happened he'd had enough of the lot of them. He dropped out of Riverdale High, left me a forwarding address and then he was gone."
"Do you think he'll come back for Cheryl?" Elena wondered, as Nell met her eyes once more. "I mean... Has he said anything about it before? Does he want to?"
Nell heaved out a sigh. "I don't think it's a matter of not wanting to. He loves that girl more than he loves himself, but... It's a matter of bravery, to put it bluntly kiddo. He's afraid. I think you of all people can understand why."
What if they were still angry with you? What if they hated you? What if they turned you away the second they saw your face? "Maybe he'll brave it. If he's as good a friend as you say he is, he'll face the odds and come home." Elena said.
"If this doesn't, I honestly don't know what will." Nell admitted, shaking her head to herself in dismissal of the subject. "On to less depressing things..." Nell placed both her palms on to the counter, a pleased smile making its way on to her face. "You're going over to your mom and sister's place later, right? Looking forward to it?"
Elena nodded, trying her best to manage a smile for Nell. "I am. Only slightly anxious, but mostly excited. Hopefully I'll be able to think of something other than Cheryl."
"Hey." Nell briefly nudged her foot against Elena's underneath the booth. "I won't tell you not to worry, but she will get through this Elena. She has you-"
"Yeah the girl who screamed at her." She snorted dismissively, wringing her hands beneath the booth. An uncomfortable part of her was reluctant to do it, but she knew she had some serious soul bearing to do when she next saw Dr Summers. Though Cheryl had luckily forgiven her for her harshness, her own words continued to haunt her even at that very moment. Why did such a brutal, nasty, ugly part of her rear its head when she got hurt? And what could she do to keep it from returning?
"The girl who went about things the wrong way, apologized and will learn from her mistakes like the non-toxic human being that she is." Nell corrected. "That was a very non-Alice Cooper move from you."
"Wow! High praise. Thanks." Elena smiled, suddenly feeling incredibly sheepish. Nell's unwavering faith in her felt a little too good to be true at times. Like any minute she'd wake up from this wonderful new dream that was her new life, and have it all ripped away from her. Her love and trust was so nice and warm enveloped around her, making her feel as though the two of them were a team. El and Nell, the dynamic duo of tossed away kids who'd somehow stitched together a found family for themselves. "Especially for kicking a much needed foot up my ass last night. And for not abandoning me. It was the right thing to do." And because of it she would still have Cheryl in her life come Monday morning.
Nell merely smiled, as dazzling and upbeat as ever. "The foot says you're welcome."
As Elena stared up at the Pembrooke building outside on the street, she truly had to take a moment and marvel at what her family classed as "downsizing." She'd walked by the building countless times before, but she'd never really taken the time to truly admire it.
It was the grandest building on the block, with intricately designed columns holding up the old but beautiful grey brick walls. Even the door looked expensive, the dark oak it was made out of standing firm and imposing to all those that dared to enter. Above said door were the numbers 330 in gold lettering, and above that on display for all to see in shiny gold letters was the name of the building, The Pembrooke. Elena merely smiled, crossing the street and over towards the building with a laugh bubbling on her lips.
Once she made it up the steps she knocked on the door three times, her foot bouncing as she waited for the doorman to answer it. A second or two later the door opened, revealing a frail but friendly looking elderly man dressed in a doorman's uniform with his nametag baring the name Smithers on it. "You must be the other Miss Lodge." He smiled, opening the door wider for her to walk through. Elena couldn't help but smile back, the gentle nature of the man setting her at ease.
"That is I. Elena I mean." She shook her head in embarrassment, offering the man an awkward wave in greeting. "Hi." Standing as stiff as a board, she lingered by the door as Smithers closed it behind her.
"You're Mr Smithers right?"
"I am." He confirmed, thankfully tipping his hat in greeting rather than offering out his bare hand to her. "Miss Veronica insisted that I showed you up once you arrived, given the size of the building." He explained, as he motioned for her to follow him to the elevator. Elena couldn't resist staring up at the coffered ceiling as she did so, dazzled by the designs on the stained glass up above like a firefly to light. Once they had both filed inside Smithers pressed the button for the top floor (because of course) and they were off.
Elena's fingers dug into the strap of her shoulder bag, as she desperately searched for something to make conversation with as the elevator began its slow climb upwards. She bounced on her heels for a moment or two, before finally settling on one of her regular default questions she reserved for strangers. "So... How are you finding the job?"
"Pretty well so far." He smiled, so unrepentant in his good mood that Elena decided on the spot that she liked him. To be as nice and as open to strangers like that was simultaneously baffling yet really admirable to her. The man seemed to radiate kindness and she knew with the utmost certainty that this was a man she could relax around and feel safe with. If her Mom trusted him enough to look after her and Veronica's every need all while starting over without her father's presence to keep them safe, that had to say something about him. "I've known your family for many years, so I can't say it feels much like work."
"Just wait until Veronica comes back from her first shopping spree, then you might feel differently." Elena quipped, garnering a deep chuckle of amusement from Smithers.
"I'll be sure to prepare myself." He smiled, just as they reached the floor.
Once they stepped out of the elevator, Smithers began to lead her down a small stretch of hallway where they passed multiple apartment doors. Elena fought the urge to let out a laugh, a hand flying to cover her mouth as she realised something. "Hey Smithers, are all of these apartments unoccupied?" She queried, gesturing to the doors as they walked past them.
Smithers confirmed her suspicions with a nod, just as they finally came to a halt by a door. "Your mother deeply values her privacy." He opened up the door for her, signalling for her to head on through. "Good luck Miss Lodge." He tipped his hat to her and held his hand up to bid her goodbye, a cute gesture that made Elena smile as he closed the door behind him. Awww he's so sweet.
"Veronica?" She called, hearing a noise of confirmation come from a room not too far away. As she waited for her sister to emerge, Elena took a moment to take in the apartment. It was the polar opposite of their apartment in the Dakota. That had been their father's domain, everything from the wallpaper to the dining chairs seemed to have been carefully approved and cultivated by his hand. But the apartment she was now stood in seemed to exude gentle femininity, shades of light brown, pink and cream dotted across the walls and furniture. It was quite possibly the most non-threatening home of her family's that she'd ever stepped foot in.
It's the no Hiram effect. She thought involuntarily, shaking her head to herself as her hand came to rest on one of the armchairs seated by the fire.
The room she was stood in was quite the set up. A cosy little seating area by a fireplace, a comfortable looking couch sat just across from it, a dining area with a table long enough to seat six people, a door just off the side of it leading to what Elena assumed was the kitchen, as well some sliding doors that opened up to what was presumably a study. Elena began to make her way down the hall to where she assumed the bedrooms were, spying an open door almost at once, with some distressed noises coming from inside.
"Hey!" Elena greeted, rapping her knuckles against the door in greeting. She took in Veronica's current mess of a room with barely restrained amusement. She was sure it was a nice bedroom underneath the mountain of boxes that littered the floor as well as her bed, though Elena didn't know for certain. Clothes, shoes and other personal items spilled out from them all, begging to be freed and to be put to rights. Elena could feel her urge to sort through the mess begin to prickle at the back of her neck, which she was sure Veronica was counting on.
Veronica sprang up from what looked to be a fort she'd made for herself with her boxes, bounding on over to greet her sister. "ThankGod!" She enveloped Elena in a hug at once, startling her with the sudden action. Elena froze for a few seconds -her brain short circuiting- before finally returning the hug. She felt pretty touched by Veronica's excitement to see her. It was odd to reconcile reality with the idea she'd had for quite some time, that Veronica had grown tired of her company as they'd grown up. To see her so happy and wanting to hug her... It was nice. Really nice in fact. "I'm buried up to my neck in everything!"
"And you knew my inability to deal with a messy room would come in handy." Elena joked, as the two girls pulled apart to survey the mess in front of them.
"It might have crossed my mind." She admitted, a cheeky smile gracing the corners of her lips. "I'm eternally grateful though, Mom left all of the unpacking to me!"
Elena let out a mock gasp. "Good god she's a monster!"
"So glad we're on the same page!"
The two sisters laughed to themselves, setting to work as they began to organise Veronica's things. Elena gathered together all of her coat hangers in a giant pile, hanging all of her various dresses, sweaters and shirts on to one before handing it over for Veronica to hang in her wardrobe. They'd got a good system going, but a few minutes into talking Veronica -appearing all too casual- began to broach something with her.
"So..." She drawled in an all too casual tone, brushing off some lint from one of her dresses as Elena handed it to her. "Been down to the police station recently?"
Elena froze, her eyebrows shooting upwards in surprise along with her head.
Veronica merely smiled. "It seems Kevin couldn't keep a secret if you paid him."
"Son of a-" Elena shook her head. Of course he'd been there to see his father, of all the days she'd been dragged down to the police station! "How much?" She groaned, waving her hand to urge Veronica along. "I'm guessing it's a lot given that you look very judgey right now." Her mouth was pursed in a way that told Elena she was trying not to say what she really felt.
Veronica tossed her dress on to her bed, uncaring as she folded her arms. "I'm judging you because you put your ass on the line all for some girl you've known for a year!" She hissed, crossing the distance between them. "Why would you not go straight to the police about Cheryl faking her brother's death? That's insane! And so not like you!"
Elena felt her face begin to grow hot. "What are you saying?"
"Did she force you to stay quiet for her?" Veronica demanded.
"No!"
"Then I don't get it!" Veronica stared, utterly baffled.
"Look I know what you're thinking, but I'm not some weak-willed doormat who'll do anything to keep a friend." Elena argued, Veronica's face falling in a telling way. "I- I just- I'd seen and heard what the twins went through at home and I thought it was for the greater good. Cheryl could go be with him after graduation and the only people truly affected by it all would be their godawful parents." She shrugged. "Call it stupidity, or..." Elena winced, keeping her eyes squeezed firmly shut. Fuck it. "Ron she's my girlfriend."
"You- Oh!" Elena clasped her hands together, meeting Veronica's deer in the headlights look of surprise. Veronica seemed to have been rendered momentarily speechless. Feeling as though the entire world was suddenly now watching her, the pressure building in her chest made Elena look down. She could do this. She could this. She could do this. Elena inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled out from her mouth, the frantic rhythmn of her heart easing slightly as she fiddled with her hands.
"Yeah." She let out a shaky breath as she eyed Veronica nervously.
Veronica threw up a hand in realisation. "No wonder you kept singing her praises. You're a total lovestruck moron."
Forgetting her nerves for a moment, Elena couldn't help but pull a face. "I am nota lovestruck moron."
"Oh please!" Veronica exclaimed, with a dismissive roll of her eyes. "I should have guessed you were gay, no one talks that much about how great a "friend" someone is." A relieved laugh poured forth from Elena, startling herself a little at the sudden sound. Things were okay. This could really be something great, this new beginning of theirs. She found that a small part of her mind could finally untense at seeing Veronica's casual reaction. The what if of it all had always given her anxiety room for some seriously awful interpretation, painting pictures of disownment or disgust whenever Elena wondered what it would be like to come out of the closet to her family.
The two sisters shared a meaningful look, one in which made Elena begin to tear up slightly.
"You can be a total idiot sometimes." Veronica informed her softly, taking her hand into hers and gripping it tenderly.
"I know." Elena laughed, her breath a little shaky as she wiped at her eyes with her free hand.
"You lead with your heart more than your head, but it's so, blessedly you El. And I love everythingabout you!" Veronica made a point of emphasizing, gentle and soft as she offered her the most loving of smiles. "And I mean everything. You big, gay, redhead obsessed weirdo." Veronica enveloped her into a hug. They pulled apart a moment later, but Veronica took a hold of both of her hands and added: "Though I must say, your taste in women is severely questionable."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence." She rolled her eyes, but her relieved smile remained fixed in place. "And for... Well you know."
"You're welcome." Veronica grinned, handing off her dress for Elena to hang up.
The two of them fell back into their comfortable rhythm, eventually finishing up with Veronica's many, many, clothes and moving on to the rest of the boxes. It was as Elena began putting away some of Veronica's books, that Elena caught sight of their mother in the bedroom's body length mirror. She wore a small smile upon her face, her head tilted as she listened to the two of them discuss where to put all of Veronica's things. Elena in turn smiled at the sight. She must have been there for a while. As she finished up and got back to her feet, Hermione caught her eye through the mirror and knew the jig was up. Elena's shoulders shook as she laughed quietly at her, red-faced from her embarrassment as she finally poked her head through the door. Veronica -still chatting happily to her as she set out framed photographs on her bedside table- only noticed she was there when she spoke. "You two having fun?"
Elena gave a firm nod. "She has a ton of shit."
Hermione's eyes flared wide in alarm. "Elena!" She chastised, her tone simmering with disapproval. Shit. She'd forgotten how different things were with her mom compared to Nell's relaxed attitude with her. In the Lodge household you had to be alert the whole time. Words and actions carried more meaning than they did in other families.
Veronica's accompanying giggle earned a hard eye roll from Hermione.
"Sorry." Elena deflated, smiling apologetically as her eyes drifted to the floor. Sometimes she longed to have an edit button on her life. To go back and just correct the tiny little scewups she always seemed to make in abundance.
"It's fine mija." Hermione's voice was surprisingly soft at that last word, so much so that it made Elena freeze momentarily, even as Hermione moved on and began querying Veronica on how their little operation was going. It was still slightly odd hearing her like that. It was like Nell had somehow clued her in to her internal monologue when they'd spoken.
"So..." Hermione clasped her hands together, turning to Elena with a nervous look upon her face. "I have a question for you."
"What is it?" Elena frowned, mildly curious.
"How would you feel about me applying for a job at Pop's?"
Was that it? "Fine I guess." She laughed a little in an attempt to ease the tension on Hermione's face, but the look remained fixed in place. "No luck on the job hunt I take it?"
"She's handed out like a million resumes all over town." Veronica added, making Hermione's cheeks turn crimson.
"And I'm getting kind of desperate," Hermione explained. "No one wants to employ the wife of a man in prison for fraud and embezzlement, so ah..." She fiddled nervously with her hands. "I just wondered if having your mother there might make things awkward."
"No! No of course not." Elena protested. "Seriously, apply for the job. We need a new waitress and I can show you the ropes and everything!" Elena cheered at the prospect, grinning widely as Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. They would get to spend some more time together! Maybe they'd be able to bond over rude customers, needlessly elaborate orders and a whole host of other things, Elena thought hopefully. Though her nerves still jangled a little around her mom and sister, spending quality time with either of them wasn't something she was going to turn down.
"Okay." Hermione smiled, some slight surprise colouring her tone. "That's great! I'll go by later then."
Hermione spared a glance at the various array of items in Veronica's room still left to organise, before offering Elena a sympathetic look. Elena fought a smile as Hermione patted her on the shoulder gratefully, bidding the two of them goodbye as she left them to their business.
"What?" Veronica queried, noticing the half-smile now on Elena's face.
"Nothing." Elena shook her head, unable to ignore the giddy excitement building within her. Whatever this was between the three of them? It was going to work. She could feel it.
As Nell pulled up to the parking lot of Pop's Diner, her phone began to ring in the pocket of her jeans. She grabbed blindly towards her ass area all while driving one-handed, garnering some odd looks from passerby diners coming to and from the diner.
"Oh I'm good!" She crowed in delight as she pulled up to a spot, phone in hand as she answered Patrick's call.
"Wow, so you do know how to use that thing!" Nell remarked as she killed the engine, pulling her car keys free to twirl them around as she spoke. "I figured your latest accident gave you some kind of fatal hearing damage that doesn't allow you to listen to voicemails."
"I got your message." Patrick merely huffed in response, short and brisk as a whole host of curious noises in the background accompanied him. "Are they charging her with anything?"
"I doubt it, not with the power of the Blossom family lawyers. But-" Nell shoulders sank with guilt as she closed her eyes momentarily. "I haven't been able to get Cheryl's face out of my head all day Patrick. I know it was the right thing in the long term, but God I think I landed that poor girl in a ton of shit at home." She fretted, teeth digging into her bottom lip.
"Well... I'll see what I can do about that." He replied. "Nell don't feel bad, it's them. I bet they pounce on her for wearing her hair up in a way they don't like."
Nell froze, halfway out of her car as his words registered to her. "You mean-"
"I'm at the airport." He confirmed, barely able to get the words out before Nell let of a shriek of delight.
Nell clenched her fists together, punching the air from sheer happiness. This was amazing! "OMG THAT'S GREAT! OH YOU WON'T BE SORRY!" She span around on the spot flapping her hands like a bird, completely uncaring of how she looked. "Cheryl's gonna be so happy to see you!"
"I won't hold my breath." Patrick argued defensively, though she couldn't help but notice the slight amusement in his tone.
"You're gonna make her whole year." Nell countered. "So you're really taking the leap?"
"I am." He confirmed, a nervous laugh pouring from him. "You were right, what you said about her needing someone in her corner. I didn't have anyone like that for the longest time until we met and I don't want that kind of life for her. So..." He paused for a moment, the cacophony of airport noise overwhelming Nell momentarily. "Expect me in the next few days, assuming everything's on time. Can I stay with you?"
Nell was just about to say yes, but then a thought hit her. "I'll have to check in with Elena. It's only ever been the two of us, and I don't wanna just bring in some guy she's never met before." Plus she got the sense Elena wasn't all that comfortable around men. She tended to unconsciously shrink on the rare occasion they were around, or hid behind Nell's shadow so she never got too close to them. There were a couple of exceptions of course: Sweet Pea Mitchell and Fangs Fogarty, two boys who lived on the same floor as them, whom she'd befriended and grew to be comfortable around over time, as well as Jughead Jones, a good friend of hers from school, who was just about the least intimidating boy Nell had ever laid eyes on. Nell didn't think it was an accident that out of all the boys in town she'd chosen to spend time with, two were tough cookies with hearts of gold (and even bigger muscles), and the other was a harmless introvert who liked to write in his spare time.
"Ahhh your newly acquired child huh? Perhaps I can charm her into letting let me stay with the two of you." Patrick mused, "She likes books right? I think this airport has a bookstore, what's a book she'd like? Do you want a book? I'll get you a book. Hold on a sec. Oh yeah, there it is!" Nell tried to interject, but found that he was on a roll, sending her phone into a buzzing frenzy as he forwarded her a bunch of pictures from the airport bookstore. "Take your pick!" Patrick urged.
"Hmph..." Nell scrolled through the pictures, considering her options for a moment. "I'll go for that Patricia Luna book. Ooooo get Elena the one with the girl in the green dress by the door! I know she wants to read that one."
"Your gifts have been acquired." Patrick confirmed, as she heard him make his way to the counter to pay.
"So... Is the Mrs okay with you coming out here?" Nell queried.
"I wouldn't know." He replied. "We had something of a blowout a few days ago," he explained, pausing for a moment to pay and let Nell soak in his words. "She went back to Florida on business, then you called with the news about Cheryl, so I guess it was fate."
"So when she comes home she's going to find an empty flat? Patrick!" Nell exclaimed.
"Nell!" He mimicked, infuriating her to the core.
"You're a child!" She grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"And a hungry one at that too. Ooooo they have a Burger Prince here!" Patrick informed her delightedly, a not so subtle swerve on his part away from their conversation topic.
Nell let out a sigh, her shoulders sinking as she sensed any further words would fly right over his head. "Such refined palette you have. Call me when you land?"
"ELEANOR EVERYTHING'S HALF OFF!"
"Bye Patrick."
"BYE!"
Nell simply shook her head, rubbing at what felt like a headache beginning to form in the middle of it. But despite that she found herself smiling, a burst of optimism sparking through her. Patrick was coming home. In all his childish glory.
She locked her car, giggling all the way as she crossed the distance between the parking lot to Pop's entrance. Earlier that day she'd promised Elena she would go out and get one of Pop's pies to share for after dinner, something Nell suspected the teenager was particularly looking forward to given the string of excited gifs she'd sent her on their WhatsApp chat during her ride over to the diner.
The bell dinged as she walked through the door, signalling Nell's entrance as the blonde hummed happily to herself. Inside the diner was a bustling hive of activity, the booths occupied with people from the after work crowd. Waiters and waitresses rushed back and forth taking and delivering orders, with one waiter nearly taking her out as she tried to make it to the counter.
Nell hurried to the counter where she met a smiling Pop, her boxed order already being placed on top of the counter for her to collect. "Here's the Saturday night usual."
"How did you know?" Nell gaped, as she fished out some cash from her wallet to hand to Pop.
"You don't exactly have the most conspicuous of vehicles Nell." He laughed, taking the money from her.
Nell couldn't help but chuckle alongside him. Her car was a bright pink Volkswagen Beetle, so she was rather hard to miss driving around in the sea of grey, white and blue cars other people in town owned. Nell was pretty attached to it. She'd bought it not long after Elena had came to live with her. Upon seeing it for the first time the teen had erupted into boisterous laughter at the sight of it, joking that she was merely a dreamhouse away from becoming a real life Barbie doll. Nell had found the gentle teasing to be the best thing she'd ever heard, as it was the first time Elena had so much as cracked a smile in weeks. Nell knew she would happily take a million jokes at her expense, so long as she never had to see Elena that depressed ever again.
As she bid Pop goodbye and turned to go, she caught sight of a familiar someone seated in a booth by herself. Much to her surprise, she realised almost at once that it was Hermione. Pouring over what looked to Nell a lot like a job application. Huh.
Her curiosity thoroughly peaked, she headed on over to go say hi to the other woman. "I see you finally found something." Nell remarked, coming to rest against the booth.
Hermione gave her a sheepish smile as she looked up, allowing Nell to see the glasses that she was wearing. She looks so cute. Nell thought, unable to help herself as she smiled at the sight.
"That I did." She sighed, her eyes filling briefly with despair as she glanced down at the application. "Only I don't know the first thing about waitressing."
Nell held up three fingers. "Watch out for trip legs, always carry spare pens in your apron and wear comfortable shoes." She advised, lowering a finger with each thing she listed. "It's hard work on the feet."
"I'll keep all that in mind." She chuckled, the beautiful sound sending a familiar feeling of warmth through Nell's chest. Oh god... She had it bad. Why did she have to be that gorgeous? All Nell wanted to do in that moment was rest her head in her hands and gaze dreamily into the other woman's eyes.
"Did you tell Elena you were applying?"
Hermione confirmed with a nod. "Just before I left. She seemed... Surprisingly okay with it."
Nell grinned knowingly. "She's totally excited."
"Really?" Nell didn't miss the hopeful note in her voice.
"Ten bucks says she's going to excitedly tell me all about it when she gets home." Nell promised, brimming with confidence. "Whatever you're doing with her, it's working. She seems... Lighter."
Those clever eyes that seemed to communicate a million things at once filled with untethered emotion at her words. "You think so?"
Nell nodded. "Having you two back, it means a lot to her. More than you know." She let out a small laugh, as she realised how Elena would probably be preparing for her new co-worker. "You'd better prepare for an extremely giddy guide when you start working here."
The corners of her mouth turned upwards at that, a flash of teeth showing as she let out a small but delighted laugh of her own. Nell softened at the sound, suddenly overcome with a deep longing to capture that laugh between her hands to always be able to listen to it. It was deep and lovely and poised all at once, and so very, very, her.
"You're confident I'll get a shot." Hermione observed.
Nell merely shrugged in response. "So long as you're nice and work hard, Pop isn't really that picky with who he hires. Besides, I bet you look cute in yellow." Nell's brain came to a screeching halt as she realised what had just left her mouth. Did she- Did she just- Oh no!
However there was no need for Nell to scramble for a recovery, as the look on Hermione's face transformed into that of deeply satisfied pleasure. "Is that so?" She queried, head tilted as she smirked at her.
Nell's eyes widened, as she desperately tried to fathom how this conversation had taken the turn that it had. "I-I-I I mean yeah. You ah-" Nell let out a nervous laugh, a hand flying involuntarily to the back of her head. Suddenly Nell could look at anything apart from directly in the other woman's eyes. "You look great in any colour really." Eyes zeroing in on her hand, she pulled it back down to her side so quickly she looked as though she'd been electrocuted. "Like- Hello!" She gestured to the cute blue blouse she was wearing as well as her face, digging herself in deeper. This is why I'm always the one to get asked out.
Nell held out her free arm to finally steady herself, though she was vaguely aware in the back of her mind that she looked like a flight attendent giving a safety demonstration. "You look nice-" She pointed both her forefingers at Hermione. "-I'm shutting up now-" She pointed to herself. "-and end scene." She declared, tossing her hand back down to her side.
A highly amused smile teased the edges of Hermione's lips, like a cat toying with an anxious mouse. "You look nice too."
"Thank you." Nell managed to squeak out.
"Is that dinner?" Hermione nodded towards the boxed up pie she was carrying.
"Dessert actually. Raspberry pie. I'm not eating it all though, me and Elena are gonna share it I swear." She laughed, her heart settling back down to its more natural rhythm. Okay, okay, that's way better.
"Her favourite." Hermione recalled, a slight wistfulness to her tone that Nell noticed always creeped in a little when it came to Elena. She shook herself out of whatever reverie she'd lost herself in, turning to Nell with an appraising eye that made her feel as though she could see right through her. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Nell considered herself an open book ninety-nine percent of the time.
"Why did you show up?" She asked, her gaze fierce and unflinching. "Veronica told me the story, about how you came and found Elena. Why take on a teenager?"
Nell smiled in response at her question, her thoughts travelling to her best friend, who had once risked it all to save her from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. "I have someone who's always shown up for me when I needed it most." She simply shrugged. "I thought she deserved the same in return."
"And you love her." Hermione stated, her thoughts drifting to the pie and their last few interactions. It was as clear as day to her that they weren't just friendly acquaintances who happened to live together. She'd taken her daughter on as though she was her own, seemingly without a hint of regret.
Nell truly baffled Hermione.
"The little shit drinks all my coffee and hogs the bathroom so much at times that I think she does it on purpose, but yeah, I do." The two shared a smile, long enough that the sounds around them seemed to dim to faint whispers.
Hermione was the one to break it, eyes falling downward as she ran a hand through her hair. Nell couldn't quite shake the disappointment at the gesture, no matter how much she refused to acknowledge it. "So ah..." She let out an awkward laugh. "Is it true you marched Elena and the Blossom girl down to the station today?"
"Town gossip already in full swing huh?" Nell's teeth dug into her lip as she considered her words. "Elena was kind of privy to the knowledge that Cheryl helped fake her brother's death prior to his actual death." Hermione's eyes widened in alarm, but Nell held out a hand to stop her short. "She didn't take part or anything, but I overheard them talking about it, so long story short and being the default adult I made them both go down there to cover their asses."
"So she's-"
"Don't worry, she's totally in the clear." Nell assured her.
The slight tension in Hermione's shoulders eased away. "Should I be worried about that friendship?"
Nell shook her head vehemently. "I can vouch for her, she's my best friend's kid sister. She's..." Nell fought back a smile. "One of a kind to say the least. But I like her. She took Elena in under her wing when she first started school-" Nell waved a hand. "-so hence the fierce loyalty." And the fact that she's more in love with that girl than most people are with their spouses. Though Nell kept that particular bit to herself. That was for her friend to tell her mother about when the time was right.
"Well ah-" Nell tapped her order, letting her hand rest there for a moment lest she embarrass herself with it once more. "I should get going. If this gets cold my head will be on the chopping block." She joked, turning to go. "Good luck with the job!"
"I meant it you know."
Nell froze, raising her brows in question.
"You really do look nice Nell." Hermione seemed to linger on her name for a few seconds, as though she was savouring the sound on her tongue.
But instead of responding Nell merely blushed, bidding Hermione farewell with a brief wave, before practically tripping over herself to get out the door.