Chapter 1 - I Love You. ... Really?
Those three words replayed in her head. The way he said them. She couldn't-not say it, back. She wanted to. But...
Love?
Is that really what he had said? She was shocked. Not knowing what to do, she was still frozen. Her palms got clammy and her breathing got funky.
"I-I. L-Love. You. T-Too." Her voice was shaky, but sincere. He knew she meant every word. He closed the gap between them, pressing his lips to hers. It wasn't like all the times they've kissed before. This was slow, and meaningful. Her hand played with his hair, whilst the other lay around his neck. His hands lay at her waist. This moment was perfect, nothing could've changed it. Not even the fact that they've only been dating for one month. Nothing.
She played with her fingers as she thought about the situation. It's been a week since their encounter, since the 'I Love You's' were exchanged. They haven't seen each other since then. She didn't know if it was her fault, or what even happened. What went wrong?
Voices filled her head. She had done something wrong. All of this was her fault. Somehow. Someway. This was her doings. He was the one to say it first... It wasn't like she said it without heads up. The voices gave her a headache, going back and forth yelling at the things she did wrong.
That one week turned into two. Those two turned into three, which soon turned to four. Weeks passed by, even months. She hadn't heard from him, but she's heard people talk. When she hears the things others talk about, her heart stops a little. Her breathing becomes faster. It's almost as if she'll turn into a wolf right then and there. Ruby doesn't do well with... What would you describe it? Jealousy? Pain? What ever you call it, don't be near when she walks around.
"Did you hear?"
Not again, she thought. More gossip passing through Storybrooke. She does have feelings. Or don't people realize that? Her head was about to explode, and she couldn't deal with another story about Whale.
"He almost tried to drown himself."
"I don't know what stopped him. After what he did to that poor girl, I would've done the same thing."
"He remembered the first time he tried to do that. She was there to save him."
"But he's got someone else, now."
"They're seriously in love, too."
"I feel bad for the poor girl."
It was all too much to take in at once. He tried to jump, again? How did she not know? She was always able to detect when someone she cared about was in trouble. Did she not care about him anymore? What was this whole thing about someone else? So many questions were running through her head. This would usually be the time to go run and hunt Whale down. But now...
Everything has changed.