"My Nana used to have a saying: If you’re not careful, your face might freeze like that,’" a silky purr shook Lily from her daze. She looked up from her feet to see Nicole standing by the car, leaning casually against it, smirking from behind her sunglasses. Lily dropped her book bag in shock.

"Am I dreaming?" she whispered. One pale brow rose from behind the glasses as Nicole’s smirk became a full-blown smile.

"Ooo, if you are, I hope it’s an erotic one," she teased. She unfolded her arms and walked a few feet closer to Lily.

"Niki?" Lily asked, still not quite believing her eyes. Nicole removed her glasses and stared directly into Lily’s eyes.

"It’s really me, Lil. And I am VERY real," she promised, wrapping her arms around Lily’s neck and pulling her in for a scorching but loving kiss. Lily melted into her and after a few moments, Nicole could feel Lily’s hot tears staining her own cheeks.

"Don’t cry, baby," she soothed as she gathered Lily close and rubbed her back. Lily quietly cried into her chest.

"I’ve missed you, Lily. Missed holding you, being near you," Nicole whispered as she nuzzled Lily’s hair.

"Missed you too," Lily sobbed softly.

"Please don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart," Nicole choked out. Lily pulled away and saw the telltale tear tracks on Nicole’s face and reached up to wipe them away.

"You’re crying too," she pointed out lovingly. Nicole sniffled.

"Good Lord, don’t tell anyone," she joked. "I’ll deny it if you do. Allergies. I suffer from allergies." Lily laughed.

"Sure, good one. I believe you," she hugged Nicole again. "So when did you get home? HOW did you get home? I mean…I’m confused."

"Mary Cherry in the dining room with the candlestick," Nicole said cryptically. Lily stared at her blankly.

"Mary Cherry called the boarding school and pretended to be a relative or something. Don’t ask, I have NO idea how she hid that accent. Anyway, she fed them this whole line of BS about my Mom being sick and in the hospital and how I was needed at home. She even got a lawyer friend of her mother’s to fax some phony paperwork over. I mean, I asked her for help but girlfriend went all out. I think she’s missing her calling as a spy or something," Nicole explained.