Honeypot (WAYHAUGHT)

Champ was outside the building on his phone to Robin. "Waverly dumped me."

"Man, sorry about that. I liked her."

"You won't after I tell you what she's done."

Champ relayed the newly acquired information to Robin. There was silence. Robin had no idea how to respond. His brain eventually processed everything he had been told. He could only think of one word in response.

"Fuck."

"I need to find out what game she's playing. Can you tell the others?"

Champ stormed back into the office. Waverly pretended not to notice. Extremely hard, given he was standing over her, hands on hips, glaring. She looked up, wincing in anticipation of what was about to be launched in her direction. Champ attempted to keep his voice low. They were alone in a side office, as IT staff tend to be, but raised voices would be heard.

"Why? Why didn't you talk to me first? About Bobo."

"I did. I tried. You seemed OK with what we were doing. I wasn't. You knew I wasn't."

"OK. OK, I admit I got a buzz from the missions. And, OK, I accept I wanted you in the gang more than you wanted to be in it. But, you shouldn't have gone to the police."

Waverly sat pondering Champ's words. She understood what he was saying. Bringing Bobo to justice exposed everyone in the gang. It was black and white thinking, in a situation where grey was the predominant colour. Do right by doing wrong.

"Champ, I know what I did was wrong for the gang. I know that. I know I betrayed everyone. Don't you think I struggled with the decision? Knowing what I did would impact everyone. But, I couldn't sit back and let him carry on. If I walked away, he would have carried on. What if someone got hurt? Or, worse. Did you ever think about that?"

It was Champ's turn to ponder Waverly's words. He knew the missions had tipped over into dangerous territory. He only ever wanted the hacks to be annoying. He realised he had lost himself to the Dark Web and in the process dragged his girlfriend into something with which she wasn't happy. He was no longer surprised she dumped him. He was surprised she was dating a woman.

"Waverly, I'm sorry. I get it. I wish you hadn't dropped Bobo in it. But, I get it. Not sure I get you with another woman. That's going to take some time to get my head round."

"Me too."

"Look. Can we have lunch? I don't want to lose you as a friend. I'm beginning to realise you're the person who did the right thing. Even though you cheated on me. With a woman. And, completely fucked the gang. But, other than that, you did OK."

Waverly wanted to laugh. She thought it best not to, under the circumstances. She was glad they had begun to speak about what had happened. It would have been an impossible situation working together, on opposite sides of the desk otherwise. His summing up of her actions was how her life felt at this moment. Doing right, doing wrong. A question of perspective.

"OK. My treat. Can you tell Robin and the gang I'm sorry. I know. Too little, too late, but I am genuinely sorry."

Robin called the others. They were surprised at Waverly. They didn't think she was that type. He finally got through to Chrissy. She listened to Robin's summary. She no longer regretted revealing Waverly's identity. It felt good getting the last laugh. She wasn't surprised Waverly was dating a woman. She had felt a vibe between them.

"I wouldn't worry. Her name is already out there on the Web. Think of it as my little gift to her for screwing us over."

Robin's head was spinning. "Can everyone stop dropping fucking truth bombs."

"I'm glad I did it. Serves her right."

"Whatever. I've told the others not to meet for a few weeks. I'll let you know if I hear anything about Bobo, or from Champ."

Waverly exited Notting Hill Gate station. It was a ten minute walk to Nicole's place along Kensington Church Street. The roads were busy. Commuters heading home. Some already in trendy bars and pubs in the area. It was still light. Early evening. Nicole had rung to ask what she wanted to eat. To check she was OK. She had told her about going for lunch with Champ. She explained how they had talked things through.

Nicole acknowledged this was probably the best outcome they could have expected. Especially, as Waverly and Champ would be working together. She recognised her departure from Shae could have been handled better. She wished she had talked through with Shae why she had chosen another. What made Shae stop loving her. At the time, she didn't want to hear. Didn't want to know. They say truth hurts. It does. Not knowing the truth hurts even more. She knew she would need to make peace with Shae, as Waverly appeared to be doing with Champ. She wasn't as brave.

In time, perhaps.

Waverly sat at the kitchen table watching Nicole prepare the evening meal. It all felt so normal. As if they had been doing this for months instead of only a few dates. Nicole seemed happier. Lighter. More at ease with the world. Dolls had picked up on it. He noticed she wasn't spending as many late evenings at work. He guessed she had someone new in her life. Nicole hadn't mentioned who she was seeing. She didn't want it broadcast around the office she was dating a hacktivist.

Waverly was essentially under the radar, as were the other members of the gang. Too small to be of concern to GCHQ. They were more interested in Bobo, even more so the Serpent. Catching a big fish sends a powerful message to others wanting to build empires in the darker realms of the Internet. They will be caught. Their activities closed down. Their assets seized. Their life reduced to a small concrete cell for the rest of their lives.

Nicole strained the pasta, adding it to the tomato sauce she made from scratch. She loved cooking. Loved cooking for someone. She had already started looking up vegan recipes to try out on Waverly.

"I'll get another key cut for this place. If that's OK."

Waverly was taken aback. "Wow. Thank you. Are you sure? I mean we've only started seeing each other. I don't mind waiting."

"It's more a case of knowing you can get in if I'm ever delayed at work. Sometimes I can't get away. I don't want you hanging around."

"Nicole. How could I have been so lucky? It's a complete accident us being here now. It sometimes feels unreal."

"Kismet."

"Kiss what?"

Nicole laughed. "I could get used to you, Waverly Earp. Kismet. Fate. Destiny. Written in the stars."

She placed two bowls of pasta on the table, along with a large bowl of salad. She looked at Waverly, realising whatever had brought them together, destiny, fate, kismet, she was truly thankful.

"Eat. It'll get cold."

Waverly helped herself to salad. "Tell me about New York. I've always wanted to go. Is it like London?"

"Yes and no. Exhilarating, expensive, energetic. Noisy. Very noisy. I thought I would never leave. It's a hard city to live in. If you survive, you never want to live anywhere else. At least, that's what I thought until I came to London. I like it here. I like the people. One in particular."

"And, who's that?"

"Oh, I don't know. A certain cheeky brunette. Eat. I have something to show you upstairs after."

"Nicole!"

"What? No, I meant...OK, that too."

They both laughed. She really liked what London had to offer.