Nina and Ian: Reclaiming

Chapter 5: Lights and a Ladder

Nina had just finished writing up her Christmas list when her phone began to ring. Her eyes were glistening with exhaustion; she had been up for hours preparing for the holidays. It was never easy to go shopping, especially near Christmas. Tiredly, Nina got up from her couch at her house and walked over to her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Nina, it's Candice!" Replied a familiar joyful voice.

"Hey Candice." Nina greeted softly.

"Sorry to be calling so late, but I was wondering if you were coming to my Christmas get together next week," Candice explained.

"Yeah, yeah of course," Nina tapped her fingers on the side table next to her.

"Great! By the way, do you think Paul will like the cat shirt I got him?"

Candice always worried about if she was giving people the right things.

Nina giggled.

"Oh my God, Candice, for the last time it's perfect!" Nina jokingly exclaimed.

"Okay, okay. Just making sure. And Ian likes that special cologne, right?" Candice asked.

Nina froze for a couple seconds. Ian and her hadn't really talked to each other lately. It wasn't like they weren't on amicable terms or anything, they just stopped talking. Nina felt her stomach twist with, butterflies?

"Um, yeah. He loves that stuff."

Nina answered dryly.

Nina and Candice continued to talk on the phone until Nina looked over at her alarm clock and saw it was a quarter till eleven.

After saying their good nights, Nina hung up. Sighing, Nina set her phone down and went to her bedroom. Secretly, Nina had kept a small journal to herself. She wrote everything down, especially after what had happened a couple weeks before.

Nina still smiled at the recognition of that day.

*flashback*

"Can you please just pass me the Christmas lights?" Nina teasingly pleaded.

She was helping set up the Christmas decorations for the TVD set. She was balancing on a ladder attaching lights onto the ceiling banner that read, "Merry Christmas 'TVD' Cast!"

Ian was helping her with the lights. He was dressed in a navy blue sweater with dark jeans. His raven black hair was tossed lazily, but it still looked cute.

"You sure you're not gonna fall up there?" Ian asked.

"I take yoga. I can balance myself on a six foot tall ladder," Nina replied. Ian sighed, and reached up to give her the lights.

"Cause, you know, I can just as easily get those lights onto the banner,"

"What? Are you questioning my abilities?" Nina slyly remarked.

"Ha, no ma'am, but don't blame me if you fall and I start to laugh." That shut Nina up. She rolled her eyes with a small smile on her face. Luckily she was facing away from Ian's view.

After placing the final set of lights onto the banner, Nina began to descend down the ladder. She was a couple steps down when her foot slipped off the edge.

Nina gasped and prepared for the impact of the hard floor, but instead felt strong arms catch her.

Nina didn't even realize that she had clenched her eyes shut until she slowly opened them. Of course, Ian's blue eyes stared back at her.

"You okay?" Ian asked. His eyebrows raised slightly in concern.

"Yeah, fine. I just slipped," Nina lowered herself from Ian's arms and tested out her ankle that had twisted. It felt okay. Nina heard Ian sigh in relief.

"Told you you might fall." Ian joked. Nina turned toward Ian now red with annoyance.

"I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, your tumble off the ladder just proved that." Ian teased.

Nina was tempted to punch Ian in the arm, but knew otherwise. She wasn't trying to flirt with him. She wanted to be friendly.

"Well, thank you anyway. Even though I didn't need your help." Nina turned away and began to walk back to her room on set when Ian grabbed her hand.

Shocked, Nina pulled away.

"What are you-"

"Are you angry with me?" Ian asked. All signs of his previous snarky side was gone. He looked at Nina with legitimate confusion.

"No, no. It's just, I'm tired that's all." Nina lied. She was very awake, in fact she felt like she could burst with energy, but she couldn't let that happen. Ian's hand touching hers had definitely woken her up.

Nina did her best not meet Ian's eyes and act tired, which luckily was easy, being an actress and all.

"Oh, okay. It's just, I thought you were mad at me. You seemed," Ian paused for a second. "-snappy."

"Snappy?" Nina thought.

"Well maybe I'm tired and not up for your snarky comments." Nina replied. Ian just smiled.

"You know I like when you're angry," Ian stated. "I mean, it's.." Ian seemed lost for words. It was awkward for a couple seconds, but Nina cleared the air.

"Well, thank you again, for catching me and all. Goodnight." Nina softly said.

"Yeah, goodnight to you too."

With that, Ian and Nina both separated back to their rooms, both wishing they could say things they both knew they couldn't.

*end of flashback*