**

In Nikki’s bedroom, the clock reads 1.30 a.m.
Nikki lies in bed, eyes wide open, surrounded by a large collection of antiques and stuffed animals.
She silently gets up and dresses in sweats.
She exits the building and steps into a waiting taxi, directed to Shane’s house.

**

Nikki is laying on Shane’s bed, finishing a letter while Shane fiddles with a camera.
“Finished!”, Nikki exclaims happily, handing the paper page to Shane.
“Excellent”, she half-smiles.
“Do you think she’ll like it?”, Nikki asks, worried.
Shane’s grin widens.
“She’ll love it”.
She points the camera at Nikki and snaps a photo.
“What are you doing?”, Nikki murmurs, frowning.
“Just taking your photo”.
Nikki runs her fingers through her hair.
“I look terrible”.
Shane tilts her head.
“Mmm, you’re right. Those clothes don’t do you justice. Why don’t you take them off?”, she asks, casually.
Nikki gasps.
“I’m getting out of here”.
She gets up, but Shane blocks her path.
“I am sorry. That was out of line”, she murmurs.
“I want to go home!”, Nikki replies, a bit scared.
Shane smirks.
“Hey… I was just kidding!”.
Nikki’s eyes start to water.
“I want to go home”, she moans.
Shane sighs, motioning towards the phone.
“Okay, okay. I’ll just call your mom and have her come pick you up”.
Nikki jolts.
“My mom?! No, don’t call my mom!”.
Shane narrows her eyes, amused.
“Why not? …Oh wow, she’s doesn’t know you’re here. In fact, you’re grounded. Jesus, you could get in a shitload of trouble for this! But I think I should call her anyway”.
Nikki runs over to her, sobbing, and wraps her arms around her legs.
“Please please please. I’ll do anything. Just don’t call my mom!”.
Shane looks at her from above.
“Nikki, all I want to do is give you a kiss”.
Nikki’s eyes look hopeful.
“And then I can go home?”.
“Of course”, Shane smiles, “I’m not a monster”.
Nikki breathes a sigh of relief, and Shane pulls her up to her feet.
“Just a kiss, right?”, Nikki asks quietly.
Shane puts her hand on her heart.
“I swear”.
Nikki closes her eyes, puckering up. Shane takes the string holding up her sweats and pulls it open.
The younger girl bolts up.
“What are you doing?”.
“You promised to let me kiss you”.
“But –“.
Shane points at her lips.
“I don’t want to kiss you here. I want to kiss you…”, she says, pointing to Nikki’s crotch, “…there”.
Nikki moves her hands to her sweats and looks up at Shane. She just shrugs.
Nikki then pulls the string to her sweats and they fall to the floor.