FIRE & ICE, james beaufort

iii. old habits die hard

THREE

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"i wonder what it's liked to be loved by you."

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SHE HAD NOT seen this coming. It had happened so fast and so out of the blue. But then again, that was how they dealt with things, so she wasn't surprised. Perhaps if she had gone a different route, she wouldn't have been stuck in the predicament she currently found herself in.

After her last class before lunch, Nia had made her way down the main stairs of Maxton Hall and headed towards the dinning hall to grab something to eat.

However, just as she was about to turn the corner, someone had pulled her back and into a dim lit room.

"Hey! What do you think you're—" She stopped short when she met familiar blue eyes.

Lydia Beaufort stared down at Nia. Lydia's usual confident demeanor was replaced with something more anxious, her eyes darting around the empty room as if to make sure no one else was in the room.

"Nia," Lydia began, her voice low but urgent. "We need to talk."

Nia raised an eyebrow, puzzled. She and Lydia rarely interacted beyond the occasional group project or class discussions. Scratch that, they didn't interact at all. Especially since then. So she found herself slightly uneasy about being here with the Beaufort girl. "About what?"

Lydia took a deep breath, irritation etching her face. "I need to know you're not going to say anything."

Nia arched her eyebrow. "I'm sorry, what do you mean?"

Lydia rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb with me, Nia. I know Ruby told you."

Nia blinked, utterly confused. "Told me what? I don't know what you're talking about."

Lydia's eyes narrowed. "Cut the bull, Salazar. I know that you know." She stepped closer, prompting for Nia to step back. "So tell me, what did that twat say to you?"

Nia frowned at the insult directed at her friend and held her chin up. "Insult my friend again and you'll regret it."

At that, Lydia's bravado crumbled, and she seemed almost desperate. Scared, even. "I'm sorry, I just- it's just that she saw me and Sutton together and—" Lydia's complexion paled as she realized what she just said. "Wait, I mean—"

"I'm sorry, you and Sutton?"

Nia remained silent taking all this in. So this must've been why Ruby had been acting weird. She had witnessed whatever had gone on between Lydia and Sutton. Nia felt at a loss until things began to click and soon, the truth dawned on her

"Sutton's tumblr guy?"

Lydia closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "We only got together over the summer. I didn't know he was a professor here until recently." She grabbed Nia's hand, pleadingly. "But if this gets out, it could ruin everything. My future, his career... everything."

Nia was at loss for words. This was something big. Not only big but scandalous. And it could ruin everything for the all the parties involved; Lydia, Sutton and Ruby. And now her. And having gone through it once, Nia was as sure as heck not going to get involved with the Beauforts again. With this in mind, Nia took a step back from Lydia and withdrew her hand.