She sat, shaking slightly, her eyes red and wet. The book in her hands was already soaked from tears, and each times she sniffled the paper would crinkle.
This was not like Ruby Gloom.
Skullboy didn't have to be related to some great observing scientist to know that.
Her lip quivered and she read the last words, hiccuping slightly. Putting the book down, she put her head into her arms, and allowed herself to cry.
Who on earth could make the happiest girl on earth so upset?
Whoever it was, he was going to pay...
But of course, comforting the girl would be a good start to learning who hurt her, and then destroying the beast.
"Ruby, what's wrong? Are you okay?!" Skullboy ran up to his red-headed friend and tried to calm her down.
She looked up at him, her face red and blotchy, tears pouring from her eyes. After a sniffle or two, he pulled her in for a warm hug. She attempted a smile, but tears continued to fall.
"D-didn't deserve it," she finally hiccuped.
"Who? What?" Skullboy asked, and ran his fingers through her messy, crimson hair.
"Old Dan... and Lil' Anne... and poor Billy!" Even the thought made tears spill down her cheeks. "Dumb old mountain lion, what'd they ever do to him?"
Now, more than ever, Skullboy was confused.
"Um... What?" She gave a light chuckle and picked up the book. She looked at the cover and let a tear drop before handing it to him.
He examined the cover, and finally gave up, "Doesn't it have a Newberry award? I mean with as fast as you read it and all, it was a rip off to by the hardback- but why are you so upset by that?"
"Fiction is a powerful thing. Have you read this book at all?"
"A bit, but only to where the girl dog,"
"lil' Anne," Ruby interrupted, absent-mindedly.
"Right, Anne. Saved the boy dog,"
"Ol' Dan."
"Yeah, Dan, from the river." She gave a short chuckle and let a few more tears fall.
"Do you ever want to finish it?"
"Not really. I liked it, but I got distracted..." Skullboy shifted. Ruby gave him a genuine smile, even through her crying. She motioned for him to sit down beside her in the big arm chair. He did and they both blushed, at how noticably close they were.
She flipped open the book and went to the chapter after the one he had described. They read the book together, and four hours later they were holding each other and sobbing.
"You poor girl! How could you ever read that on your own?"
"It's such a good book!"
After a while of their harmonized cries, they calmed each other down.
"Got a bright side?" the Skeleton asked, gingerly.
It took a moment of thinking, but when Ruby turned to the Skeleton's face she instantly knew. "I got to sit with you, and we got to read a wonderful book together." She snuggled a little closer to him in the red armchair, and he absentmindedly put his arm around her and pulled her even closer. They smiled and sat still for a moment.
"I think I have a bright side," Skullboy mumbled.
"What's that?"
"I've still got you." He hugged her, and placed a small kiss on her head, "I've got my happy ending."
just a tiny drabble, I know. But I think it's one of my cutest. Please review!