Ruby

Layla walks up to me and comforts me as I cry my heart out

“Come on let's get you home”

She offers a hand to get me off my knees and I take it.

“I wish I never came here but how could I miss it? it’s my loving brother’s birthday”

“I can’t believe he brought his rotten self here, he totally ruined the party. I apologize on his behalf”

As I get up, she embraces me

“I'll try to make sure he never comes close to you again, I promise”

“Let's just go home; please take me home, Layla”

Layla helps me on my feet and we exit the restroom, Marcus who stood outside the restroom

 eavesdropping on us, tried to leave as soon as the door opened but Layla stopped him.

“There’s no need to run, we already knew you were outside the door. You’ve been like this since childhood”

“okay okay you caught me, I’m sorry”

There was a brief silence which was broken by the loud music at the party, followed by our laughter.

“come on, I’ll drive you guys home”

“ooh, you’re being such a gentleman today”

“What do you mean? I’ve always been a gentleman”

“yeah right, only when Ruby is involved isn’t it?”

“hey! Don’t talk like that, you know that isn’t true. I’m always nice, regardless of who needs help”

“I see, Mr. Nice guy”

We have another brief laugh. I know that Marcus is trying to hide his rage under a bitter smile and sarcastic remarks. He has always hated when I cry, it breaks his heart to see me crying. Deep down, he might still have a crush on me.

“The actual reason why I offered to drive you guys home is because I know that Layla doesn’t act right when she’s upset”

“Valid point, your offer is humbly accepted then”

We giggle and walk to the parking lot of the park house. Layla gives the key to Marcus and he starts the car.

I still feel weak in the knees, Layla notices this and helps me into the car. Right before the car moves, my brother makes his way to the parking lot.

“Ruby! I saw you guys leaving the party, are you okay?”

I wiped my face to make sure there wasn’t any tears on it before I stuck my head outside the car’s window to give him a reply.

“I’m fine, brother. I’m just feeling a bit under the weather so my friends are taking me home”

He walks closer to the car’s front passenger seat looking for Layla.

“Lay, if it’s not too much to ask, please take care of Ruby till we get home”

Layla smiled at him

“What are you even talking about, Ruby is my best friend, of course I’m going to take care of her”

I noticed them getting all friendly with each other again as they locked eyes for some seconds.

“so….we should probably get going now, I’ll give you a call when I get home”

I interrupted them, clearly they still with each other but the moon goddess already gave them different mates.

“you’re just saying that, I know I’ll be the one to call you”

“oh brother, you know me too well”

I smile at him as the car takes off.

The skies are decorated with dark clouds, rain starts dropping.

The rain eventually gets heavier and I place my head against the car’s window which has been bathed in raindrops.

“Ruby are you still thinking about what happened at the park house?”

“I'm trying not to but the memories just keep coming back; suddenly I am reminded of the first time I got rejected. I’m sure this is the exact same way I felt that day”

“oh Ruby, I was happy when I heard you were returning because I thought you had healed completely, I'm sorry that tonight opened the up old ones for you”

“I'll be fine; I just hope I don't run into him again, I'm sure I'll be fine”

The car zoomed off in the midst of trees as slow music played on the car's radio. For some reason, Marcus has been quiet, unlike his usual talkative self.

“Why are you so quiet, Marcus; are you okay?”

It took a second for him to snap out from his thoughts and give Layla a response

“I’m fine, I’ve just been a bit disoriented”

“what’s wrong? Wanna talk about it?”

“there’s nothing to be said, I can’t explain how I feel or why I feel this way”

“If there’s anything wrong, you know you can talk to us right?”

“I know, I’ll be sure to talk to you guys, or girls rather”

“You know we are women now”

“I’m well aware, you don't have to always remind me”

I sit in the car trying to recollect my thoughts and stop myself from crying as Marcus pulls up at my house.

“Thanks for driving us here, Marcus”

Layla says as we come out of the car, she holds me by the hand as she takes me inside.

“you don’t have to be so formal, I’d do anything for my friends; Ruby especially”

Layla mouths “I hate you” to Marcus and we all start laughing

“Aren’t you coming inside?”

“I think I’d be better off if I wasn’t there for now”

Marcus understands me so much and it always warms my heart, I call out to him

“Marcus! Come by tomorrow?”

“I’ll check my schedule”

“What schedule?”

“I’m kidding, I’ll be here tomorrow”

Layla pushes open the door and takes me inside.

We go straight to my room; where I immediately throw myself on the bed and start crying.

Layla says nothing at all, she just sits and strokes my hair, until she makes a suggestion.

“Ruby, I have an idea. You know we haven’t gone out in 5 years right?”

I whimper and hardly answer her.

“We should go shopping tomorrow, what do you think?”

“I don’t wanna”