FIRE & ICE, james beaufort

viii. too hot to handle

EIGHT

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"i knew from the first time, i'd stay for a long time."

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RUBY HAD STILL not spoken to Nia about anything that did not have to do with the gala. It had only been a day since the committee had voted for James's idea and Ruby was rushing, making sure that everything they needed for the gala, arrived on time.

Nia had offered to lend a hand with the dress they needed for the poster but Ruby had dismissed her. She had contemplated walking over to the Bells' house last night because she had noticed that Ruby's room lights had been on, but she knew it would be to no avail. She'd probably wouldn't have been welcomed.

As Nia stretched, her phone pinged from her bedside table. She picked it up, her eyes scanning the pile of messages, the most recent one being from her father.

DAD
Jesenia, I'll be out of town for a couple of days. Stanford should be your only focus, so make sure to get that letter.

Enrique S.

Nia felt her eyes prick with tears as she tossed her phone aside and pulled her duvet up to her chin. He couldn't even sign off as dad. He was Enrique Salazar first, and her father second. It had always been in that order.

And to prove it, he had left without a word, only bothering to communicate with her through a text message. It would've been better if he hadn't texted her at all. That way it would hurt less. His silent treatment was better than his dismissal.

Shaking her head, she rolled out of bed and began getting ready for the day.

Just as she finished doing her skin routine, her phone vibrated again. She reached for it and noticed a missed call from Ruby. A moment later, a new message from her popped up.

RUBY

Come over, ASAP. I need your help.

Nia's heart lurched as she considered what Ruby could possibly mean. Was her dad okay? Did something bad something? She quickly grabbed the first sweater she saw before making her way downstairs and out the front door.

The walk to the Bells' home was short but it felt like forever as Nia approached the front door. She felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she wanted to make amends once and for all with Ruby, and she hoped that with Ruby asking her for help, that Ruby would too. But on the other hand, she was worried that Ruby wasn't looking to make amends anytime soon. Still, she hoped.

With one last exhale, she knocked on the door which was immediately yanked opened with Ruby staring at her with a deflated expression.

"Hey, I got here as fast as I could. I-"

Ruby turned around and went back inside the house, leaving Nia standing outside. Nia followed after her and closed the door as Ruby fiddled with her bracelet.

"I burned the dress."

"What?"

"I left the iron on and got momentarily distracted and it burned a hole on the dress. We don't have a dress anymore or at least we won't have one by tomorrow for the poster and I don't know what we're-"