|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 5, 2016 1:24:43 GMT -5
It was so like Nicolas to have a handkerchief, and even more like him to valiantly offer it to the distressed damsel. Lyra took it graciously and wiped her eyes.
"It makes me nervous when you're nice to me," she said with a weak smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 5, 2016 2:11:03 GMT -5
"Which is why I rarely am." he teased in return then turned serious, "Look, I know you and I got off to a bad start, then I was amazingly charming and you thought I was trying to buy your forgiveness, and we've been bickering since, but believe it or not I do care about you Lyra. And not just for Sam or Julian's sake. Suffice to say I believe all this bickering has gotten under my skin, and you're not the worst person to be around."
It was his way of reaching out, he wanted her to know that he wasn't out to get her by any means, that when he said what he was saying, it was for her benefit too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 5, 2016 2:24:26 GMT -5
"You were trying to buy my forgiveness," she corrected. She didn't just think it, it had been somewhat true. He'd more than atoned for his assholish behavior by treating her to a spa day and a trip to Milan, one that made Samantha jealous even. But Lyra still didn't like him.
No, that wasn't right. She didn't want to like him. He had said something earlier to her, when she was not capable of hearing anything he told her. Lyra wanted Nicolas to be wrong about her and Julian, just like he was wrong about Lyra's intentions with his friends. If Nicolas was wrong it meant she could carry on with Julian pretending everything was perfect. But it would have been pretending. She would have figured it out sooner or later. Nik just expedited the process in order to save his mate.
She sighed heavily as she wiped her face again with the handkerchief. "I guess you're not completely insufferable all of the time," she said with plenty of eye rolling and elongated syllables that demonstrated how hard it was for her to admit this fact to him. She didn't want to like him, but she sort of did. Just a little.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 5, 2016 2:53:16 GMT -5
Nik didn't bother correcting her about buying her forgiveness. In line with his current statement, he liked her. But he didn't care if she liked him in return. He also didn't care if she forgave him for his assholish behavior or not, though he would argue his case and explain his actions.
He wouldn't bend for anyone, well perhaps Samantha, but she was a weakness of his. He was who he was, and he liked who he was. But that didn't mean that he didn't wish to make things up to the girl. He was a complicated man.
"That seemed like it really hurt." he said with a laugh as she confessed to tolerating his company.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 5, 2016 2:59:46 GMT -5
"That's why you won't be hearing it again," she replied dryly. Only a few tears were left now and she dabbed her eyes to dry her face.
"I don't want to hurt him, Nicolas. Just tell me what to do." Ordering his support was the closest Lyra could come to asking for help, but Julian was worth the discomfort she felt in seeking assistance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 5, 2016 3:11:11 GMT -5
"The best thing you can do for Julian, is take care of the woman he loves." Nik replied meaningfully.
"Julian will come around. He hasn't had a reason to process his grief or emotions since Belle died until you. But he does need that time to process those emotions without worrying that you're going to be hurt in the mean time."
He sighed, "I know it sounds like I'm telling you to sit and wait, but I'm not. I'm telling you to fix your problems before you take on his."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 5, 2016 3:21:11 GMT -5
Julian's problems seemed so much easier to fix. A broken heart, that was simple. A girl who was terrified she would die yet at the same time wished for her end to come, now that was a pickle. Lyra chewed on her lower lip.
"I don't know what to do, though. I'm not great at taking care of myself. Obviously," she added with an eye roll and laugh that stuck in her throat. She frowned and looked at her hands.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 6, 2016 1:12:23 GMT -5
Nik gave her a look that said her admission won the understatement of the year award, but he didn't tease her.
"You're no good to anyone unless you're good to yourself first. It all starts with you Lyra. You set the standard of who you are and what you deserve."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 6, 2016 1:27:36 GMT -5
Lyra felt wretched and while she continued to maintain an air about her that she seemed to think she deserved most everything, she actually felt she deserved quite little. If anything at all. Certainly her parents didn't find her deserving. Although she knew Julian loved her, a part of her was still angry at him for abandoning her which made her feel as though he too thought she was undeserving. If Lyra was the one to set the bar, it was currently on the floor.
Lyra buried her head in her hands and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to figure out how she could possibly do what Nicolas was telling her had to be done. After a minute she lifted her head just enough to catch Nik's eyes.
"What do I even tell Julian? I can't pretend I don't want to be with him just so I can...I don't know, do whatever it is I'm supposed to do to miraculously fix myself."
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 6, 2016 1:35:04 GMT -5
"Tell him the truth love. It's not as though he's going anywhere, you don't have to worry that he's going to run off with someone while you're trying to figure out your issues." he said sympathetically.
"Tell him that you need some time to yourself, and that he needs time to himself to sort his own crap out."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 6, 2016 3:10:09 GMT -5
She wasn't worried that Julian would fall for someone else. She was worried that he would hide in his home and she'd never see him again. Her eyes began to water again. Thank Merlin Nicolas continued speaking.
She wasn't one for formalities, of which Nicolas seemed to emanate in spades. Normally he used words too big to fit in one's mouth properly and spewed an arrogant sort of sophistication with his language. It was one of the things that annoyed her most about Nik. So when he referred to Julian's heartbreak and sorrow as "crap" Lyra couldn't help but smile, she nearly almost laughed.
She looked to the door. Tea didn't take this long. Samantha was giving Lyra extra time on purpose. She couldn't blame her friend. Lyra's hysterics were shocking even to herself. Lyra would have left the room too, if she could have managed to somehow separate her body from her mind. Samantha was a doll, but she didn't exactly handle emotions like most people. Lyra didn't either apparently, but the girls were on opposite sides of the spectrum. Nik was the closest they had to a middle ground.
"You can tell Sam she can come back now. Tell her I won't cry on her." She gave Nik a sideways look. "I can't promise the same for you, unfortunately," she said with a teasing tone.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 6, 2016 19:55:21 GMT -5
Nik laughed.
Samantha was a strange creature. She had been the cause of so much heartbreak, mostly at her mother's behest, but she was no stranger to tears. Nor was she a stranger to feigning indifference when another cried. But Lyra was Sam's friend and as such seeing Lyra cry set something off in Sam. She couldn't save herself from heartache, but if she could save those she cared about she would bend heaven and earth to do so. She had already proved as much when she brought Julian into Lyra's life, and when she brought Lyra into society.
"I'm pretty sure she's going to grill me later over what happened, then she is going to do whatever she can to fix it, but assuming you want Julian to continue living I'd suggest talking rather than crying."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 6, 2016 21:04:26 GMT -5
Lyra's mouth pursed to one side as she looked back at her hands. Neither Nik or Julian had done anything wrong, per se. Lyra was as much an instigator in today's drama as Nicolas. They both enjoyed a good row, but the subject matter cut too raw for Lyra and her fear got the better of her. It certainly wasn't Nik's fault that she was a basket case. And as for Julian, well Sam just needed to leave him be. Lyra had ruined him enough already, he didn't need anyone else making matters worse.
"She'd think I'm mental if I defended you, seeing as how unbearable I find you. But I do need to explain. She's done so much for me. I'm a horrible friend for confiding in you over her. I mean... it's you!" Lyra rolled her eyes in a quasi-mock disgust. Lyra had kept a few things from Samantha lately but she would not be divulging her secret coping mechanism. She knew Sam would go ballistic if she found out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 6, 2016 21:24:06 GMT -5
"Sam is well aware of my ...calming nature." he said though it was clear he was having a difficult time keeping a straight face.
Lyra didn't necessarily confide in Nik, he just happened to push her to her breaking point and was around when she fell apart.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 6, 2016 21:38:43 GMT -5
Lyra smiled weakly before leaning her head back on the vanity behind her and looking up at the ceiling. She wasn't sure what else to say to Nicolas and her embarrassment was catching up with her. She waited for Sam's return as she thought about what she was going to say to Julian.
|
|
Samantha Montgomery
 
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
|
Post by Samantha Montgomery on Dec 7, 2016 0:08:08 GMT -5
As if on cue Sam entered the room followed by a tea cart.
Nik had already stood and smoothed out his clothes as well as his expression and gave her a fond smile as she entered the room.
She returned it with no indication of anything being amiss. Finally she turned toward Lyra, "I noticed the macaroons had fallen and took the liberty of adding some finger sandwiches and desserts."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 7, 2016 0:33:46 GMT -5
Lyra smiled weakly at Sam, she wasn't hungry in the slightest. She chewed on her lip as she got to her feet, then picked up the fallen cookies and put them back in the pink box. What a waste, she thought, though she might not have been thinking about the macaroons at that moment.
Her dress had become wrinkled and Lyra attempted to smooth it out to avoid making eye contact, but it continued to look rumpled despite her rather half-assed efforts. She gave up and instead moved to twisting her hands in her lap as she sat on the edge of Sam's bed.
"Sam, I-" She should have spent her few moments of silence thinking of what to say to Samantha instead of what she needed to tell Julian. Lyra left her sentence unfinished, hanging in the air before her.
|
|
Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
|
Post by Samantha Montgomery on Dec 7, 2016 0:45:09 GMT -5
Samantha interrupted Lyra's words by impulsively hugging her friend. She held the other girl tightly as though she could consume Lyra's pain by taking it herself, though she knew she couldn't.
She had spent the time ordering the tea trying to figure out what could be wrong with Lyra that would result in the scene she had walked in on, but nothing came to mind. She knew it had to be dire indeed for Lyra to go to Nicolas. And while she may have felt a twinge of jealousy, she was happy Lyra had found the comfort she obviously needed. She spent the rest of the time figuring out how to fix it. It was very difficult for Sam to admit to herself that she couldn't fix it, whatever it was.
When she finally returned she knew the only thing left was to help Lyra save face, and in this area Samantha was a pro. She didn't wait or expect an explanation, she offered acceptance and love without any strings attached, and in doing so surprised both Nik and herself. It didn't matter what benefits Lyra received in being Sam's friend, because Sam was discovering her humanity once again in her friendship with Lyra.
It wasn't until that moment that Nik finally understood, and his depth of gratitude for Lyra expanded tenfold. Somehow this broken girl had come into Sam's life and was slowly but surely returning the soul that Marrion had stripped away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 7, 2016 1:21:10 GMT -5
Lyra was caught off guard by the sudden embrace and the closeness started the tears again. Lyra wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed her tightly. She smiled through her tears.
"Thank you," she said into Samantha's shoulder. Sam always knew what Lyra needed. She was amazingly empathetic for a girl with such a dark past. It only made her light shine brighter, especially in moments like these.
Lyra pulled back and met Sam's gaze. "I haven't been doing well. I needed that." Her eyes sparkled with tears as she smiled.
|
|
Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
|
Post by Samantha Montgomery on Dec 7, 2016 1:39:29 GMT -5
"We'll fix it." Sam said holding Lyra's hands in hers. She gave a confident nod.
Whatever it was they would fix it. Sam would use every resource at her disposal, and indeed bend heaven and earth to make it better.
|
|
