Ruby Lucas was never great at making the right decisions. When she was sixteen, she decided to run away from home. Her home life wasn't bad. Her grandmother loved her. She had two of the best friends any person could possibly ask for. She was the popular bad girl…
And she had just come to terms with the fact that she was gay…
She struggled with coming out. She was afraid that everyone would turn against her so she ran. She ran deep into the woods and stayed there for hours. She remembered staring up at the moon, pondering different scenarios and their outcomes.
It wasn't until her best friends, Emma Swan and Belle French, found her that she started to cry. She confided in them what she was feeling. How scared she was. She didn't stop until Belle held her face, told her that everything would be okay, and that they loved her no matter what. And, her Grandmother would feel the same.
To her surprise, Emma confessed her sexuality as well. She shrugged with a smile and said "Now you and I can compete for Belle."
Belle laughed, pushing Emma. "You know very well if I was interested in women, I would totally choose Ruby over you."
Emma's face contorted into a mock hurt look. "That hurts, Belle." She pointed at her heart. "Right here."
Belle rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
The air seemed to lighten and they laughed. Well, Ruby pretended to laugh. It was nice to hear Belle would choose her if she was interested. But, she wasn't and that hurt more than Ruby let on.
She loved Belle.
She had from the first day they played dodge ball in seventh grade. Ruby went out of her way to protect Belle and she had been doing it ever since.
The girls stood. Belle wiped the leaves from her dress and extended her hand to Ruby. She smiled down at her. "Come on. It's getting late and we have school tomorrow."
Ruby gave her a soft smile and accepted her hand. She was pulled to her feet. She looked from Emma to Belle. "Thanks.." she muttered as Emma slapped her back hard. Ruby stumbled forward from the contact and shot her a dirty look. "Really? Was there even a reason for that?"
"Of course there was." Emma responded, pointing at her. "If you ever run off again, I'll hit you harder." She flashed her a grin and started walking ahead of them.
Belle looped her arm through Ruby's. "She uses violence for the wrong reasons sometimes." she joked, receiving a small laugh from Ruby. She nudged her best friend lightly. "Then she wonders why I would choose you."
Ruby furrowed her brow as she glanced down at Belle. Her blue eyes were focused on the path before them, a small smile on her lips. Ruby hid the frown that was fighting to expose itself. She felt Belle's grip tighten around her bicep and she sighed inwardly.
That was the moment she decided to just let it go. Belle was sweet and caring so anything she said was just natural. Her compliments, her supposed choices, all done to make Ruby feel better. She was Belle's best friend…
And that's all she ever would be…
"Ruby Lucas!"
Her name being called, and the round of thunderous applause that followed, snapped her from her daze. She felt a hand on her back, lightly shoving her forward. Her feet finally began to move and she walked across the stage to accept her diploma.
She smiled as she shook the Principal's hand. A photo was taken and her hazel eyes widened trying to shake off the spots forming. As she made her way across the stage, she turned to her right. Belle sat with the other honor graduates, smiling at her. She smiled back, holding up the rolled up paper in her hand.
"I'm so proud of you." Belle mouthed, as she continued applauding for the others as they crossed the stage.
She couldn't stop her smile from widening as she lowered her head and walked down the steps to return to her seat.
"Lumiere, move!" Emma ordered, in a harsh whisper as she motioned her hand at the young man sitting next to Ruby. She made a face. "Don't give me that look, dude. Just move."
The boy muttered something in French and vacated his seat. Emma took it and smiled at her friend. "Can you believe we are out of here?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You do realize they haven't called your name yet?"
Emma waved her hand. "They're still on N. I have time." She gripped Ruby's forearm. "What are we getting into tonight?"
"I, unfortunately, am getting into a suitcase." Ruby stated, clapping randomly as another student crossed the stage. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
Emma gripped her tighter and shook her. "Even more reason to go out tonight!"
Ruby made a face. "What is with you and trying to hurt me?" She pulled Emma's hand off of her arm.
"What's with you and refusing to go out? You never turn down an excuse to party."
Ruby shrugged her shoulder. "Maybe it's time for a change."
Emma's jaw slacked. She shook her head. "No, you can change tomorrow. Tonight, you're going out." She stood, raising her hand to block Ruby's protest. "I don't want to hear it, Lucas. It's our last night together and, damn it, we are going out with a blast." She adjusted the cap on her head. "I'll meet you at the Diner after this bore fest is over."
Ruby sighed, running her hand through the red streaks in her hair. She raised her attention to the stage and locked eyes with Belle. Her friend flashed her a concerned look. Ruby shook her head dismissively and Belle nodded.
It seemed forever, but the graduation started to come to a close. The Principal stepped to the podium. "And, now, a few inspiring words from this years class Valedictorian, Isabelle French."
Ruby smiled at the sight of Belle rolling her eyes at the use of her full name. She applauded as Belle gracefully walked toward the podium, thanking the Principal before taking his spot. She took in a deep breath and began to speak. Ruby was immediately entranced as she always was when Belle spoke.
Even after all these years, she still loved her…
And that was why she needed to get as far away from Storybrooke as she possibly could. She was finally making the right decision and nothing was going to change that…