The rocks beneath her dug into her rib painfully. The sound of the leaves ringed into her ears as she cracked one eye open afraid of the light attacking her peaceful eyes. She rolled into her back sighing, damn you wolf's time. She remembered running out of the diner yesterday to make sure she didn't hurt anyone at all. Granny knew that her granddaughter will be safe in the woods away from everyone else, it was the way things have always been.
Its a little after sunrise, the air was still heavy and cold. Ruby finally mastered up her courage to get off the ground and on her feet again, human feet that is. She dusted her knees then her shoulders before finally finding her way out of that forest.
It often bothered her how she always woke up in the forest alone, with no one to hold her or anyone to tell her that it was going to be okay to be who she was, a wolf. Her grandmother always made her wear her cloak which was something that she was sick and tired of; she wanted to feel the air tickling her fur as she ran in the wild, feel the leaves crushing under her paws, she wanted to feel alive. Ruby dug into her pockets and pulled the diner's keys, its time to go back to her normal life again, the boring one.
The diner's door ringed before Ruby finally made her appearance known with an innocent smile her heels clicked a few times before she registered her Granny's figure , maybe if she smiled wide enough Granny will forgive her? Nope.
"What took you so long?" yeah Granny wasn't amused, not at all, Ruby could tell right away.
"I um overslept?" Ruby shoved her hands into her pockets and pouted her lips in attempt to look all cute and adorable. Granny narrowed her eyes at her and let her off with a warning this time, she was just too adorable to be scolded this time.
She tied up her apron, pulled up her hair into a ponytail and finally got to work. The day was long and hectic, many people came in crowding the place, it was only noon for god's sake. Ruby was on her own that day since the other girl who used to help her out called in sick. With more than ten tables to serve the brunette might have messed up a few things along the way, like that guy that sat by the window? Ruby accidently poured salt into his coffee rather than sugar, poor guy. The brunette covered her face and sighed into her hands, this was getting way out of control. Maybe she should just turn into a wolf, it was wolf's time anyway plus she could scare them all off and get them all to leave at the same time. She shook her head trying to get those silly ideas out. Two hours later and everyone left save for a brunette who was sitting in the last booth. Ruby tilted her head like a puppy at her, that girl looked clueless.
"Can I help you?" Ruby did a double take on the girl, she had gorgeous eyes that's for sure and she was far too lost even with the menu in her hand.
"Um what-is this-eh" her eyes scanned the menu mouthing the names like it was her first time reading them.
"Should I help you pick?" Ruby's sweet voice was met back with an enthusiastic nod.
"Do you want something to drink first?" Another nod, this time with a smile.
"How about an iced tea?" The taller brunette clicked her pen ready to scribble down the order.
"Wait is that like a cold tea?" Those furrowed eyebrows explained that this brunette never had one of those before.
"Kind of, Im sure you will like it! so should I get you one?"
"Yes please" the brunette placed both of her little hands on the table and nodded her head again approving Ruby's choice.
It took less than a minute to prepare the drink and another good ten seconds for that brunette to empty that cup.
A drink after the other and a little conversation gave Ruby some more information about that girl. The girl kept looking at her glasses and then fidgeted at the hem of her dress. Ruby noticed the little movements the girl was making, she looked nervous.
"Are you okay? You look worried" a soft touch on the shoulder was all that the girl needed to spill it out.
"I- I don't have any money to pay for this, I can wash the dishes or wipe the floor or you know I can-" Ruby shined one of her signature smile that made the girl pause for a second to listen to what the brunette was about to say.
"This one- I mean all of them are one the house! Don't worry ok? And also we have many rooms available so Im sure we can find you one ok?"
"Thank you, it really means a lot" the brunette looked grateful and somehow making her smile made Ruby's heart skip a beat.
Later that night when Ruby tidied the room next to her's and made sure the brunette had everything she needed including a little minted chocolate chip piece on her pillow.
"Belle" she whispered as she laid her head on the pillow. She repeated it once, then twice letting it roll off her tongue a few more times, she liked it. Somehow she felt she will be repeating that name all over again the next morning, Ruby closed her eyes slowly, she dozed off with nothing but that Belle on her mind.