TRIAL AND ERROR | short stories + snippets

Another little scene about the characters from Nikki & Joe, Casually

*

Leaning against the headboard with his knees bent, Nikki smiles at his phone. "I miss you."

Joe's eyebrows twitch on the video call. "Nicolás, you saw me nine hours ago."

"And?"

His freshly washed locs are kept out of his face with a floral headband. One corner of an ancient Aliyah poster is visible behind Joe where she sits in her childhood bedroom.

Caleb, in a very rare gesture of respecting his privacy, knocks before entering. Having just showered, he has left his prosthesis somewhere else and uses his crutches to get over to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he rummages in his bag for a tub of body lotion and holds it out.

"Can you do my back?"

Humming, Nikki hands Caleb the phone in exchange for the tub. Caleb waves at Joe, holding the phone so that Nikki is visible behind him as he lathers moisturiser on his shoulders.

"Thanks for coming over, Caleb," Joe says.

She will be in London all weekend which can mean only one thing: Best Friend Sleepover!

"I was scared to leave him alone. He'd just cry by the door."

"Don't get nowt twisted now, he did cry."

"I didn't cry," Nikki protests. "I had tears in my eyes. They didn't fall. That don't count as crying."

"...Sure thing, babygirl."

Nikki focuses on moisturising Caleb's back as his face burns.

"Anyway, I'm happy to be here. What Eilidh said was, 'thank you, I can have some peace and quiet'." Caleb stares at the phone with his mouth as open as it will get. "When the fuck have I ever got in the way of anyone's fucking peace and fucking quiet, ever?"

Joe locks eyes with Nikki as they both struggle to keep their expressions neutral. "Never," she answers after an extended pause.

"Right. That's what I said, never. Hope she enjoys her peace–" His hyperbolics cut off as Nikki screws the lotion tub shut and hands it back. Caleb thanks him softly, slotting it back into his bag.

"So what have you got planned?" Joe asks.

Jolting with excitement, Caleb flips to the back camera to show the contents he displays on the bed. "We got facemasks and scalp oil and I got all my nail varnishes and makeup. And I brought all my illegally downloaded Sailor Moon episodes and a bunch of Barbie movies so we're all set."

"And tomorrow," Nikki continues, "we're going to the botanical garden, then I got a reservation to that new vegan place for a late lunch, and then we'll go to the aquarium in the afternoon."

"Sounds perfect. Send me pictures."

They all already know Nikki will send her a minimum of one hundred pictures.

"Can I have the phone back now?"

Caleb dodges his outstretched hand. "Get your own girlfriend."

Silence.

"Jesus, I'm kidding." He hands the phone back. "It's like you've got attachment issues or summat."

While Nikki finishes his call with Joe, Caleb lathers his arms and legs with lotion, then balances in a T pose to keep any skin from touching other skin while the lotion is absorbed. Then he pulls on a hoodie and pyjama trousers and jumps onto the bed, snaring Nikki into a full-body hug that threatens to break his spine.

"Thanks for inviting me," he says, craning his neck so their eyes can meet.

"Thanks for coming."

It's been a while since they hung out just the two of them. They're long overdue for a best friend weekend.