She had goosebumps on hers. Her face felt warm, still tinged pink from her earlier blushes...and yet she was shaking - not quite shivering. And that lurching feeling still hung heavily in her stomach. She was all mixed up inside - and the more she thought about it (and boy, it was amazing how quick the thoughts were whizzing round in her mind) the worse it seemed to get. Now she was playing out possible future scenarios. They didn't end particularly nicely.

"I should," Nia said with a nod, her fingers tugging at his shirt once more as they gripped into it. "It is my fault." She'd made the first move, if nothing else. But there was all the build up too. "I don't know how...it wasn't meant to...I-I-..." She couldn't get it out. She didn't understand it herself. Yes, she knew she liked him. As a good friend. One of the best someone could ever ask for. But she hadn't realised she was falling for him. It might have been there subconsciously, but...she'd always ever known there was someone he already had. Since she'd met him at the last ball. She knew not to go there, and wouldn't dare to even think about it. She thought she was a better friend than that. "There shouldn't have been anything to make go away..."

She crossed her arms, gently rubbing her hands up and down to try and get rid of the shakes she had. His hand moved from her face, and she watched as it went to her arm. It was comforting in a way. Almost reassuring. What about, she wasn't sure.

And then he leant in, and for a scary moment she wasn't quite sure how to react. Their cheeks brushed, and she was aware of how much heat there probably was radiating from her own. He was only doing it to whisper in her ear though. She relaxed by the teeniest of amounts.

"Please...don't do anything you'll regret..." She looked up at him with wide eyes, but there was a sincerity in the way they shined. Nia knew they'd already done too much. That the damage she'd done might already be irrepairable. And if it was, she'd never live with herself. The guilt would be unbearable.

As for past this evening? "I wouldn't expect you to...nor, and more importantly, would I want you to." He'd already risked too much. Or, she'd risked it for him. "Just the rest of tonight is more than I deserve. Or I could ever ask for. Thank you." Her voice wobbled slightly, but only because she was speaking the truth. Despite being confused and emotionally unsure of quite what had just unfolded between them, she was very grateful that he seemed to understand.

His comment put a small smile on her face. "Usually I'd be up for the challenge. But, I'll just take you word for it, this time." The corner of her lip curled up slightly, and her eyelid might have twitched as if she was trying to wink.