Fall Into You

14

everything has changed

Nicollette hated to admit it - but she didn't mind the time she spent in the closet with Matthias. She didn't mind that she'd woken up in Matthias' bed, and she didn't mind that he'd walked her home. 

The two walked side by side in silence. Nicollette looked down at her feet as she walked. She was ready to shower, as she was wearing the same clothes she'd been wearing the day before.

"Can I talk to you about something?" Matthias asked after a few moments of silence.

"I guess so," Nicollette murmured, continuing to look down at her feet.

"Why do you hate me?" Matthias asked.

The question caught Nicollette off guard. She looked at him with furrowed eyebrows, "What?" She asked, laughing dryly, "What do you mean?"

"You hate me, and I want to know why," Matthias said.

"Because you hate me," She said honestly, looking ahead again. 

"What?" Matthias asked, stopping in his tracks. He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist, turning her to face him. "Where'd you get that idea from?"

"Uh, you?" She asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"But, Nicollette, I-" He stopped, unsure of what to say. "I don't hate you. I've never hated you."

Nicollette looked at his hand, and how it gripped her wrist gently. She just pulled it away from him, covering her stomach with her arms. "I should get going," She said.

Matthias wanted to protest. He wanted to tell her no, to say and talk to him. he didn't like the thought that she'd thought he hated her. He may have gotten the wrong impression of her, sure, but he'd never truly hated Nicollette.

"Thanks for walking me home, Matthias." Nicollette softly said, and it was only then that the Prince realized they had been stopped in front of her house.

He started to say something but ultimately decided against it. His mind was running with thoughts, specifically the night they shared and the words Malia had told him before. "Anytime, Nicollette." He murmured, sending her a half-smile.

Nicollette nodded before awkwardly walking into her house. It was silent, meaning both of her parents must've been out. She walked up to her bedroom and shut the door, letting out a deep breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Matthias had been acting different. He was being kind, considerate, and only called her Nicollette. He was looking at her with soft eyes and a smile, things he'd never really done before.

Her heart thudded quickly in her chest. She didn't know what changed, but she was terrified. She was so used to the mean Matthias, that the fact that he was different caught her off guard. 

Charles. She needed to see Charles. She'd meant to see him yesterday, but then everything happened with Ryker and getting locked in the closet with Matthias. 

Pushing any thoughts of the Prince from her mind, Nicollette decided to shower and go see Charles at the stables. It was already halfway through the day, and if she weren't quick enough she'd miss him. 

Her shower was long, and she spent time washing her hair and body. She rested in the hot water for a while before getting out, getting a good look at the faint mark on her cheek from Ryker. It was already almost completely gone - thankfully - since he had only slapped her and hadn't hit her too hard. But it was still there, and if someone were to go looking for it they'd notice.