Fall Into You

16

i just can't get you out of my head

"Miss Nicollette, Prince Tobias is downstairs to see you," Malia said as she stood in the doorway of Nicollette's room.

The blonde inhaled slowly, shutting her book. Of course he was, she thought. "Thank you, Malia. I'll be down as soon as I can."

Malia bowed a soft bow before turning and exiting the bedroom. Nicollette sat in her window nook for a second, her eyes drifting outside. She saw Charles in the stables, a sharp pain stabbing her in the chest.

She hadn't spoken to him since the day he kissed her. It was a side of Charles she'd never seen before, one she'd never thought she'd see. She hated it, and as much as she missed being his friend, she also didn't like the way he'd treated her. Matthias had told her that even though to Charles it may have seemed like she led him on, anyone could see that she hadn't. And so she took that piece of advice and ran with it, needing it to get her through the days to not fold and apologize over and over again to him.

After a long moment of hesitation, Nicollette was finally prepared to go greet Tobias. She slowly left her bedroom and made her way downstairs, where he was chatting with her father.

It was rare to see Merlin Terilow at his house. He was mostly there to eat, sleep, and shower. Sometimes he'd have an off day thanks to the King, but most days he still spent at the palace just spending him with him.

Another dull ache hit her chest. She didn't have time to sit on thoughts of Charles and her parents, and she knew this. Nicollette barely got alone time as is with being forced to attend more of the fancy events due to the Season approaching, and so the last thing she needed and wanted was to spend it worrying about everything she'd done wrong in her life.

Nicollette stopped on the bottom step, catching her father's attention. The older man smiled as he saw his only child, stepping away from Tobias and toward the girl. "Nicollette, it's nice of you to join us." He softly said, bowing slightly.

The girl just pressed her lips together and nodded, fidgeting with the railing of the staircase. Her eyes moved from her father to Tobias, "Hey." She said, "What are you doing here?"

Merlin took this as his sign to leave, and cleared his throat before sending Tobias one last bow. He then migrated to a different area of the house, out of sight. Nicollette glanced from where her father had gone to Tobias, noticing he was dressed as he usually was.

Prim. Proper. Put together. Basically everything that Nicollette wasn't. 

Tobias took in her outfit. It was a simple t-shirt and pajama shorts, as she hadn't intended on going anywhere or having anyone come over. She noticed a flash of what seemed to be judgment but pushed it aside, knowing she was probably just assuming the worst. If he did judge her, he didn't comment on it. "I've come to see you. I know that the ball is approaching soon, and I wanted to gift you for agreeing to come with me." He said, pulling a box out from the inside pocket of his jacket. 

"A gift?" Nicollette asked, her nose scrunching up. "I don't need any gifts."

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to show appreciation if we're going to be courting." He smiled sheepishly, holding the velvet box out.

Nicollette felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Sure, she hadn't said no to being courted - but she hadn't said yes either. She agreed to go to one ball with him, not marry him. She didn't like the idea of being so prim and proper all the time, of having unannounced visits from Tobias like this. If he was like this simply after they'd just met, what would it be like if they were to actually court?