Julia: So, anybody know what's up tomorrow?
Julia asks to the room.
Madison: Lauren's tongue.
Madison answers and giggles.
Julia: Besides that?
Julia asks, rolling her eyes and flopping back on her bed.
Nikki walks into the small bedroom and closes the door behind her. She sits on the edge of the bed and picks up her cell phone. She dials Methos' number and waits for him to answer. When she gets his answering machine she says, "hi, baby. Just me. Just needed to talk to someone who loves me. I'll call you later I guess. Bye." She hangs up and lays back on the bed and stares up at the ceiling.
Madison: I plan on waking up with a hangover in some really hot guy's bed.
Madison says and giggles.
Haley: Ugh This is warm.
Haley says says making a face at her soda and turning to head back to the kitchen.
Nikki decides she doesn't have the concentration to continue reading her book so she gets up off the bed and turns on the TV that is on the dresser across the room. She goes back and sits on the bed and starts channel surfing.
Madison gets off her bed and goes to her locker. She opens it up and checks her make up in the mirror on the back of the locker door.
Madison: So what's the plan, Hale?
Madison asks Haley.
Haley: We wait.
Haley shrugs.
Haley: For now. I'm going to get a new soda.
Haley says turning to head back to the kitchen.
Nikki settles on watching a popular crime drama and lays back against the pillows.
Madison: Wait for what?
Madison asks....wondering why they can't just go now.
Haley: Till she's asleep.
Haley says, going down the stairs.
Emily: Something tells me it's gonna be a long wait.
Emily yawns as she moves on the bed and extends her arm to get the book she was reading on the nightstand.
Madison: I don't see why we have to wait.
Madison says and pouts.
Haley ignores the comments and goes into the kitchen and dumps the remains of her warm soda down the sink, and then goes to the fridge getting a fresh one. Opening it, she leans against the counter taking a drink and thinking.
Lauren looks herself in the mirror and gasps.
Lauren: My hair is ruined.
Lauren grumbles, she then moves to the bathroom to use the hairdryer.
Nikki decides the crime drama isn't holding her attention so she changes the channel that's playing the movie Rio Bravo starring John Wayne.
Julia: No, that's a good look for you!
Julia teases Lauren.
Lauren shrugs as she gets to the hairdryer and turns it on, if she told Julia she looked exactly the same she'd also want to use it now, so she decides to tell her AFTER she's ready.
Haley sighs and starts down the hall, then stops herself.
Madison drops the eyeliner pencil she is using and bends down to pick it up. She stops and listens then stands up and looks at the girls.
Madison: Hey guys....
Madison says quietly.
Madison: Shhhhh...listen.
Madison says and gets down on her knees.
Emily: Yeah, Lauren is using the hairdryer, how exciting.
Emily murmurs still looking at her book.
Julia laughs at Emily's comment.
Julia: What are you listening to Madison?
Julia asks after Madison didn't say anything more.
Madison: I can hear the TV in Miss Flynn's room.
Julia: So?
Julia asks.
Madison says and gets to her feet.
Madison: If I can hear it through the floor then she must have it turned up. She'd never hear us if we left now.
Madison says, hopefully.
Lauren turns off the hairdryer and starts combing her hair in front of the mirror. She smiles happily at her own reflexion in the mirror, she's starting to look presentable again.
Haley takes a deep breath an sets the soda on the counter and walks to the super's room and knocks on the door.
Nikki jumps, startled by the unexpected knock. When it registers, she picks up the TV remote and mutes the volume
Nikki: Yeah?
Nikki calls out, without getting up.
Madison: Where is Haley, anyway?
Madison asks for anyone to answer.
Julia: Dunno.
Julia shrugs.
Haley opens the door and steps inside, and looks at Nikki. Not quite sure how to explain what she needs to say.
Lauren exits the bathroom and sits back on her bed, listening to the conversation.
Madison: You know I was with her when she talked those guys into inviting us to their party. I don't NEED her to be with us. I can get us in the door. So why wait?
Madison asks. She would go without waiting for Haley except she doesn't want to go alone.
Julia: 'Cause she's the one whose got the ride waiting for us?
Julia points out.
Emily: Because she'd kill us if we left without her? You really want to mess with Haley?
Emily points out, she for one thing doesn't want to mess with the oldest girl in the dorm.
Nikki: Yes, Haley?
Nikki says looking up at the girl.
Haley: I thought you'd understand. You're the one who opened Nua Tosu, and brought us here. Yes, we need help. We know it and want it, or we wouldn't BE here, but we also don't want to be treated like babies.
Haley says slowly, careful to keep all emotion from her voice, including anything that could sound accusing.
Nikki sits up and pulls her legs up under her. She pats the bed next to her...inviting Haley to have a seat.
Haley eyes Nikki warily for a long moment, before moving over and perching on the bed.
Nikki: I don't know about the other adults here on the ranch but I had no intention of treating any of you like that. You just didn't give me a chance. You prejudged me....had me all figured out long before I got here. And that wasn't exactly fair on your part....now was it?
Nikki says hoping the girl who she knows is quite intelligent even though she acts otherwise so she can fit in...will hear the logic.
Madison: Damn!
Madison grumbles and kicks the leg of her bed.
Haley: No... but it's the same thing every other adult has done to us. And as we've never dealt with you outside the horses, how are we to know any different?
Haley asks.
Julia: Now what?
Julia asks.
Nikki: Haley.....and you can take what I am about to say to the bank.....I am definitely NOT every other adult.
Nikki says with a mischievous grin and she playfully slugs Haley in the upper arm,
Nikki: I'm Nicayla Flynn. Someone who saw a need and an opportunity to do something helpful......for a change....and ran with it. I'm not looking for any special recognition or acknowledgment because didn't do it for those reasons. But I do feel that I deserve to be respected enough to not be prejudged or stereotyped.
Nikki says a little more seriously.
Nikki: I mean, come on. You ALL have worked with me down at the barn and you have had a chance to know me. Or at least I thought you had. Was all that just a put on to please the teacher and get by?
Haley: You know how many times we've ALL seen people act one way in public and show a different face when it's just us? Who look down on us, for what we've done.. most of us done, just to survive? Even the other adults here. ALL the ones we've interacted with here, have done that. The younger girls say the same, so do the boys. Everything we've ever been shown, says one thing and shows another. So, yeah, we push back. You blame us?
Haley asks after explaining.
Madison: Nothing.
Madison grumbles and plops down on her bed. She kicks her locker door closed. She hates waiting for things.
Nikki: Interesting how you do that.....
Nikki makes a circle in the air....like stirring the air with her finger.
Nikki: ....whatever it is you do.
Lauren: You're making a lot of noise for nothing.
Nikki says with a bit of a smarmy smirk.
Madison: Oh.
Lauren points out before she yawns, she was bored.
Madison says looking up. she bobs her head from side to side as she speaks.
Madison: So it's OK for you to get into a fight and break **** but I can't kick a ****ing locker door?
Lauren: Fine, kick them all, see if I care.
Madison makes a sound of disapproval with her tongue.
Lauren shrugs before she yawns again. If this taking much longer she was considering bed.
Nikki: The way you turn the conversation's focus onto someone else to avoid any question you don't want to answer or acknowledge.
Nikki says to Haley and winks.
Nikki: You'll have to teach that trick to me. I might be able to use it sometime.
Nikki winks again and grins.
Nikki: Hey. What's this? Miss Haley CAN smile.
Nikki teases.
Haley smiles slightly at Nikki.
Haley: Well, it was an answer, in a round about way.
Madison decides she's tired of waiting. She takes her shoes off, grabs her purse (which is basically an over sized bag) and stuffs her shoes into it. She walks to the end of the long room that has become their bedroom and unlocks the window.
Madison: I'm outta here.
Madison says to herself.
Nikki: Round is good.
Nikki says...her eyes still twinkling mischievously.
Nikki: Just not the about way. Gotta get rid of that part.
Nikki says, jokingly.
Madison slowly and carefully slides the window up far enough that she can fit through without any trouble.
Haley shrugs.
Haley: No, we like you, and respect you... in the barn. But... I don't know.
Nikki: Just not enough to not lump me in with all of the other bad adults in your lives....right? I'm tolerable but basically just as bad as they are.
Nikki says and quirks an eyebrow curiously.
Nikki: Oh well. Can't win 'em all....right?
Nikki playfully chucks Haley's upper arm again.
Nikki: Seriously....
Nikki says getting more serious.
Nikki: ....so what do you want from me, Haley? Hmmm?
Nikki asks, sincerely curious.
Haley: I don't know.
Haley says standing up and starting to pace in the confines of the small room.
Madison puts one foot out of the window and, when her foot is planted firmly on the roof of the downstairs service porch, she climbs through the opening.
Haley: How am I supposed to know what I want, when nobody has ever asked me before?
Haley demands, almost more to herself than to Nikki.
Nikki: You must have had a reason for knocking on my door.What was it?
Nikki asks looking at Haley and studying her closely.
Emily: That idiot is going to fall down, and she'll end up in hospital.
Emily sighs shaking her head, no party was worth that.
Haley: I don't know!
Haley cries frustrated.
Madison stands up on the small roof and balances herself. Then she carefully makes her way across the roof to a spot where the large limbs of an old oak tree reach the roof of the building.
Nikki: I know what it was.
Nikki says acting like she suddenly thought of the reason.
Lauren: You think we should say something before anything happens?
Lauren asks a little concerned they'd end up being punished for it.
Nikki: You wanted me to come up and tuck you girls in.
Nikki says and snaps her fingers as if she's got the idea right.
Madison sits down on the roof by one of the particularly large tree limbs and scoots over to it.
Haley stops her pacing and turns to stare at Nikki for a long moment, before managing a small chuckle, then plops back down on the edge of the bed.
Haley: Not exactly.
Haley smiles.
Nikki: Oh....I know....you want me to hear you guys say your prayers.
Nikki says teasingly. Haley's smile lets her know that the girl does have the ability to smile and she has a really cute one, too. So Nikki wants to pull that side of her out....get Haley to tear a hole in her armor so she can be who she really is.
Madison looks over the edge of the roof and sees how far down the ground is...or appears to be....and starts second guessing her bold decision.
Nikki reaches over to the nightstand and slides open the drawer. She takes out a bar of chocolate..breaks it in half...and hands half of it to Haley.
Haley eyes Nikki for a moment, then takes the chocolate, and smiles,
Haley: Thanks.
Nikki unwraps the other half and takes a bite. She closes her eyes and savors the taste of the chocolate melting in her mouth.
Nikki: Mmmmm. You know...
Nikki says and swallows.
Nikki:. ...no matter what is wrong with the world...my world....your world...anyone's world....it all gets better with a little chocolate
Nikki says...her eyes still closed as she remembers the taste of the chocolate
Haley nibbles on her half of the chocolate.
Lauren looks at Emily and Julia, since she doesn't get an answer she shrugs and lays down on her bed.
Nikki opens her eyes and takes another bite of the candy then...as she chews on it...she looks at Haley.
Nikki: Can I ask you a question?
Nikki asks and swallows the bite.
Julia: Wonder what's taking Haley so long. Thought she just went to get a coke.
Julia mutters to the ceiling.
Haley: Yeah. Shoot.
Haley shrugs
Nikki: You said earlier that we....meaning all of us rotten adults....look down on you guys. Now....you don't really HAVE to answer this question out loud...but at least consider what your answer would be. Do YOU look down on you?
Nikki asks, being completely serious and watching Haley's face.
Haley: I...
Haley starts then stops, turning very introspective, thinking.
Nikki watches Haley and can tell that the wheels of her brain are working overtime and, for the first time since she walked into the barracks, she feels she may have gotten through.
Haley: I don't know. Maybe.
Haley finally says and shrugs.
Haley: Probably.
Haley adds with another shrug.
Nikki: Do you know why I asked you that?
Nikki asks...her voice soft and easy.
Madison stares down at the ground...which seems so far away. What if she slips? She isn't, after all, much of a tree climber. In fact she can't remember ever climbing a tree. The only large thing she remembers climbing was the ladder into the attic to hide from her last foster brother.
Haley: Does it matter?
Haley asks with a shrug.
Nikki: I think it does.
Nikki says and smiles.
Nikki: Or at least it does to me.
Nikki adds with a shrug.
Haley: No, I don't know why you asked that.
Haley says with a shrug, and stares at the chocolate in her hand.
Nikki takes another bite of her candy and gets a look of total pleasure on her face as she chews the bite and swallows it.
Nikki: Mmmmm Thank you, God, for inventing chocolate.
Nikki says dreamily.
Nikki: Anyway....where was I? Oh yeah. The reason I asked you that question is because I have read....now remember....I'm just reporting what I read....I'm not an expert or anything. It just made sense to me.
Nikki begins by saying.
Haley: Uh huh...
Haley says cautiously, waiting for Nikki to go on.
Nikki: Have you ever heard the theory that a thief always thinks they're being ripped off? Or a hit man thinks everybody's after him?
Nikki takes another bite of her chocolate bar.
Haley: No, can't say I have.
Haley shrugs, and takes a bite of her chocolate.
Nikki: Well....it is the same with people who look down on themselves. They think everyone is looking down on them. Follow what I mean?
Nikki says, finishing her thought.
Nikki: Just something to think about. Nothing earth shattering.
Nikki adds with a nonchalant shrug.
Haley: I guess, I see what you mean.
Haley says with a shrug.
Nikki: As to what you insinuated earlier....has anyone here....at the ranch...honestly looked down on you or made you feel they thought of you as less than a person? And before you answer that....really think about it. Did they really? Or could you be imagining it because you are feeling bad about your past? And I don't mean any of this in a bad way. I'm just trying to determine what is actually happening and what is imagined...or misunderstood.
Nikki says and takes another bite of her candy bar as she watches Haley's face.
Nikki: As to what you insinuated earlier....has anyone here....at the ranch...honestly looked down on you or made you feel they thought of you as less than a person? And before you answer that....really think about it. Did they really? Or could you be imagining it because you are feeling bad about your past? And I don't mean any of this in a bad way. I'm just trying to determine what is actually happening and what is imagined...or misunderstood. Nikki says and takes another bite of her candy bar as she watches Haley's face. Haley stares down at her hands for a moment, before looking up and looking Nikki in the eyes. Haley: Yes. All our supers have. Jessica Cramer has more than once told us we're all little ****s, and we'd best beg God to forgive our sins, and if we're lucky we'll end up in one of the outer circle's of hell. The others haven't been as blunt, but more or less implied the same thing. Nikki: Cramer said that to you? Nikki asks, incredulously. Haley: Yes. Haley says flatly. Nikki: How long has this been going on? Nikki asks, frowning. Haley shrugs. Haley: As long as I've been here. Nikki: Why is this the first I'm hearing about it? Nikki asks. Her green eyes have lost their twinkle and have turned dark with anger. Haley: What do you mean? Haley asks, a little unsure Nikki: Who have you told about this? Nikki clarifies her question. Haley: Nobody. Was no point in telling our Supers. I thought about telling the boy's super's but... Haley hesitates, not entirely sure Nikki would want to hear the rest. Nikki: But? Nikki prompted.
Haley: But, Kevin told me, that all their Supers joked about "having" us girls. Haley shrugs. Haley: So, I didn't figure they'd be of any help. Madison suddenly starts to feel big drops of water hitting her head and she swears as it begins to rain harder. She carefully makes her way back up to the window and climbs back through it. She stands inside the window, soaking wet. Emily looks in the direction of the window Madison comes back in, when she hears her. Emily: Still here? Emily asks pretending she doesn't hear the rain pouring outside. Nikki can't understand how this could be happening. Each one of the adult supervisors had gone through an extensive screening process. How could they all have conned her and the board of directors so well? Nikki: Haley.....I had no idea this was going on or I would have put a stop to it when it first began. I am so sorry. I honestly didn't know. Nikki says feeling extremely guilty.
Madison ignores Emily and heads for the bathroom and a blow dryer.
Haley shrugs, to indicate she didn't see much difference, but she did hope that Nikki now understood why the girls had trust issues when Nikki had shown up. Nikki: I promise you, Haley. If it's the last thing I do....I will fix this. Somehow. I'm not exactly sure how but I'll find a way. I promise. On my mother's grave I swear it. Nikki says sincerely. Haley: Alright. Haley says with a nod, then looking down at her hands, only then remembering she still had chocolate in her hands, and took a bite. Nikki decides that it's time to lighten the mood so she gets off of the bed and starts to slip on her boots. Nikki: I still need a volunteer to help me with something. Nikki says with her back to Haley as she puts on her boots. Haley: With what? Haley asks.
Nikki: I have some stuff at my place I want to bring here but I need at least one extra pair of hands. Are you game? Nikki asks looking over her shoulder at Haley. Nikki: I can guarantee you you won't regret it. Nikki adds.
Haley shrugs after a moment of thought and stands up.
Haley: Sure, why not? Haley says, heading to the door for her jacket and boots. Nikki gets to her feet and grabs her jacket. Nikki: Great. Let's try and do this without the rest of the girls hearing us. I kinda want it to be a surprise. Nikki says as she walks out of the bedroom and heads for the front door. Haley: Okay. Haley says, following Nikki once she has her jacket and boots on. Nikki quietly opens the front door and steps out onto the front porch. She looks at the now torrential downpour and then at her truck. Taking a deep breath she holds her jacket over her head and sprints for her truck. She gets in and stretches across the seats to open the passenger door for Haley. Haley waits until Nikki is at least half way to her truck and then runs out after her, only heading towards the passenger side door.
Nikki starts her truck and makes a U turn in front of the barracks and drives toward the back road (even though it isn't really a road) to her house.
Lauren frowns when she thinks she hears a car engine start. She jumps to her feet and walks to one of the windows, trying to see something. Lauren: I could swear I heard something. Lauren murmurs to herself then she gasps when she sees some headlights moving towards Nikki's house. Julia: Don't suppose it's Taylor Lautner? Or Robbie Patterson? Julia asks a little sarcastically, hearing Lauren's murmur. Lauren: I think she left. Nikki: By the way.... Nikki says as she dodges jagged rocks in the ground that have been partially uncovered by the downpour. Emily has no idea who Lauren is talking about but grumbles "Who cares?" still looking at her book. Haley braces herself with a hand against the roof of the car. Nikki: I want you to know that I do understand where you guys are coming from. I know exactly what it's like to not know who to trust but needing to trust someone. Nikki says as she swerves to miss a sharp rock and hits a pot hole that causes the truck to bounce hard. Haley eyes Nikki, not saying anything, how could she know? Nikki: Hang on. Nikki warns as they bounce across a small stream of water that has dug two deep crevasses across the road. Haley grabs hold of the dashboard with one hand and her other hand goes to the roof to stop her from hitting her head as the truck bounces over the rough road.
Madison comes out of the bathroom...the curls she had so carefully sculptured are gone and her mascara has run down her face. She grabs her robe, wash cloth and towel and returns to the bathroom to change out of her wet clothes and wash her face.
Nikki stops her truck in front of her house and looks over at Haley. Nikki: Wait here while I unlock the door. Haley: 'Kay. Haley says, more than willing to not have to stand in the rain. Nikki instructs Haley and she gets out of the truck and sprints for her front door. She unlocks it and waves to Haley then opens it and stands aside so Haley can run into the house.
Haley sees Nikki get the door open. Throwing the door to the truck open, Haley hops out, and shoving the door shut, she runs to the house door, doing her best to miss the worst of the puddles. Nikki: OK. There's plastic bags under the kitchen sink. There's ice cream in the freezer, root beer in the fridge and popcorn and chips in the pantry next to the stove. And whatever else you see that looks good. I'll join you in a second. Nikki instructs Haley and hurries to the den where she goes through her library of DVDs and selects 4. Haley: Kay. Haley says, pulling bags and starts digging through the cupboards and the fridge and freezer, a little in shock by what Nikki had told her to do. Nikki joins Haley in the kitchen, setting the DVDs on the bar. She grabs a plastic bag and gets a stack of plastic picnic cups some paper bowls and plastic spoons and puts them into a bag and sets it by the bar. Then she remembers that there's a wood burning stove in the day room of the girls' barracks so she goes over to the pantry and gets a bag of marshmallows, a package of graham crackers and a box of Hershey bars and puts them into one of the bags Haley is filling.
Haley: So... what's this all for? Haley asks, wondering if she dare believe what she's thinking. Nikki: Well.....since everyone's plans got ruined tonight.....I figure we all deserve a break. Nikki says looking over the contents of the bags. Nikki: Looks like we got everything. Nikki says and gathers up two bags, grabs the DVDs and heads for the front door. She holds it open for Haley. Haley: Seriously? You're gonna let us stay up? Eat treats? And watch Movies? Haley asks amazed. Nikki locks the front door behind them and sprints for her truck. She gets in and reaches across the seats to open the passenger door for Haley then she starts up her truck.
Haley tosses the bags into the truck, once Nikki opens the door for her, before jumping in and pulling the door shut behind her. Madison walks out of the bathroom and goes over to her locker. She places her wet clothes in her laundry bag and drapes her towel and wash cloth over the top of her locker door. Then she turns and looks around the room. Madison: Haley hasn't come back upstairs yet? Madison asks no one in particular. Julia: Maybe she got out, while the getting was good. Julia suggests. Nikki: So, Haley? What's your favorite movie? Nikki asks as she speeds back the way they came. Lauren: She's coming back. Madison: No. She wouldn't. She wouldn't leave me behind. Haley: Dunno. Haley says with a shrug. Madison says and plops down on her bed and pouts. Lauren says still looking outside, wondering what this was all about. Haley: I like lots of movies. Haley says. Nikki: Come on. Everyone has a favorite. Mine's Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean. What's yours? Nikki says to prompt Haley.
Haley: Don't know. Haven't seen much lately... except the first Twilight. Haley says. Nikki: Did you like it? Nikki presses. Haley: Yeah, loved it. Haley nods. Nikki picks up the 4 DVDs she had set in the center console and hands them to Haley without saying a word, but she is grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Haley takes the DVDs and flips through them her eyes widening. Haley: You have all of the Twilight series! Breaking Dawn Part One, only JUST came out on DVD! Haley says amazed.
Nikki: I have connections. Nikki says boastfully as she stops the truck in front of the girls' barracks. Nikki: Looks like the rain is letting up for a minute. Nikki announces after looking out the window. She gets out of the truck, grabs a couple bags and runs for the front porch. Once under the porch roof, she opens the door and holds it open for Haley. Haley: Then lets hurry. Haley says grabbing several bags, along with the DVDs she still held and jumped out of the truck, dashing as quickly as she carefully could for door of the dorms. Nikki heads for the kitchen where she helps Haley prepare root beer floats for everyone, make popcorn and setting everything up on the coffee table in the day room. Nikki also takes all of the cushions off of the couch and chairs and tosses them onto the floor. To be continued