"Nah, not tonight Snow," Ruby said into her phone, listening to a whiny response from her friend; she sighed, "Cause I said so. I'm not in the mood, okay?"

With that, she hung up. She closed the fridge without getting anything out.

"You're staying in tonight?"

She turned around to see her Granny behind her, "Uh-huh, you eavesdropping?"

Granny sighed, "This is my house too, you know."

"Yeah, yeah," Ruby muttered as she made to move past her.

"And you're not hungry?" Granny noted.

"You writing up a report or something?" Ruby growled.

Granny crossed her arms, "No, it's just you usually grab something to eat and head out and I don't see you until the next day…or two."

Ruby shrugged, "So what? You want me to go out?"

"No, of course not," Granny shook her head, "Ruby…all I'm trying to say is, well, are you okay?"

Ruby laughed bitterly, "I'm just fucking peachy, Granny, as if you'd care."

She pushed past Granny and stormed to her bedroom.

Granny sighed; she didn't know what else to do with her granddaughter. Ever since Ruby had found out more about her mother's past, Granny's daughter, she had gone off the rails. Staying out all night and never letting Granny know what was going on in her life. If she'd thought this was what the truth would do to her granddaughter… but no, Ruby deserved the truth. They'd always been honest with one another.

Ruby lay on her bed, turning her stereo up before placing her hands behind her head. Damn, she thought, maybe she should've gone out with Snow. But no, Snow could be damn annoying sometimes. She was too needy. It wasn't like they were actually together, but Ruby had to keep reminding Snow of that. She should probably cast her off, she thought with a heavy sigh, before things got too messy. She'd complicated a once easy friendship and it wasn't fair to Snow.

Twenty minutes alone with her own thoughts was enough. She looked at the clock and huffed. It was probably still early enough to use the front door, not that Granny could control her, but she used the window anyway.

Kicking a stone along the footpath as she walked, she looked around. She used to love this town, she thought bitterly. It was a pretty tight community; Granny's at the centre of it. The kind of place people could come in and just say 'the usual'. It always seemed a nice concept to Ruby to have something so familiar, somewhere she belonged. Then things had changed.

Ruby shoved her hands deep in her pockets, bracing herself against the chill. She may as well head to the rabbit hole; she knew she'd end up there sooner or later. Plus it was bound to be warmer than the streets.

"Can I check your id?"

Ruby looked up to see Ashley grinning at her.

She laughed, "Scotch, straight. And I know why you want my id," she commented.

Ashley squinted at her curiously, "Yeah, why's that?"

"You've forgotten my name and that's bad customer service," Ruby smiled, "You just wanna look good to the boss."

"You lose," Ashley smiled, "Ruby, right?"

Ruby smiled widely, "Ah, good memory."

Ashley set her drink before her, "You're more memorable than most."

Ruby grinned, "Oh yeah? You get a lot of trash in here, huh?"

Ashley nodded, "Sure do," she began to wipe down the counter before settling in front of Ruby once again, "Makes me wonder what a nice high school girl is doing in here?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"Who says I'm nice?" Ruby winked.

Ashley laughed, "You're nice," she repeated, "You like to pretend you're not, but when it comes to it, you're nice."

Ruby frowned, "Is that a challenge?"

"More of an observation," Ashley offered, "Anyway, where's the girlfriend tonight?"

Ruby scowled, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"That chick you were with the other night? The real uh, perky one?"

Ruby rolled her eyes, "Just a…friend," she shrugged, "It's nothing."

Ashley nodded, "Nice. But a player. I got you pegged."

Ruby scoffed, "When do you knock off?"

"Uh," Ashley looked at her watch, "twenty minutes… why?"

"Well, why don't I meet you around back in thirty and I'll show you how…nice I can be," Ruby bounced her eyebrows, a grin playing on her lips.

Ashley's mouth opened in surprise before she mustered a reply, "You're very forward, you know."

Ruby shrugged, "So I've been told."

Ashley surveyed the girl in front of her, "Twenty minutes."

"Whoa, whoa," Ashley was enjoying herself but there was only so far she was going to go in a dark alley.

Ruby huffed as she pulled her face from Ashley's neck, "What's up?"

Ashley pushed Ruby's hand from her waist, "I'm not going to do it…here," she gestured to their surroundings.

Ruby grinned before attaching her lips to Ashley's collar bone, "I thought I was the nice one."

Ashley pushed her away, "Hey, stop. I'm not going to have sex with you in this shitty alley."

Ruby stopped, running a hand through her long hair, "Alright, where's your place?"

Ashley shrugged, "I can't…my room-mates are idiots. What about yours?"

Ruby crossed her arms in annoyance, "Can't."

"Yeah, guess you're living with your folks hey?"

Ruby blinked rapidly, "Yeah…something like that," she muttered.

"Ruby?"

Ruby looked up from her feet where she'd been kicking another stone around, "Yeah?"

"Are you pissed off?" Ashley asked.

Ruby shook her head, "Nah, 'sall good."

"Good. Cause I'm not apologising for not wanting to do it in some shitty alleyway that smells of stale beer and piss," Ashley said firmly.

Ruby looked at her, made eye contact for the first time since they left the bar, she nodded, "Yeah, it's cool. I get it."

Ashley nodded, "Alright. Well hey, my roomies are going away on the weekend, why don't you come over?"

Ruby grinned, "Yeah?"

Ashley nodded, "Sure. Hey, I can pick you up from school if you want, go to somewhere nicer than the rabit hole maybe?"

Ruby nodded, "Yeah, cool. Sounds good."

"Good," Ashley smiled, placing a hand on Ruby's cheek before kissing her on the lips, "You need a lift home?"

"Nah, it's not far," Ruby shrugged, "I'll walk. I'll just see you Friday."

"Shit," Ruby muttered as she tried to open her window. It was locked.

She huffed and climbed back down the tree, heading to the front door. Locked. She didn't have a key. She never took a key. It was late, Granny would be in bed. Still, Ruby thought, it was her own stupid fault for locking her out. Ruby stood on the front step, thinking a minute. Granny wanted her to come through the front door, so she could yell at her. She knew that.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"Ruby?" a tired Snow answered.

"Yo, you still wanna hang out?" Ruby asked more enthusiastically than she felt.

Snow yawned, "Now?" she looked at her clock, "It's past midnight. Don't you have school tomorrow?"

"Alright, alright, I'll just see you tomorrow," Ruby muttered; she didn't need another lecture.

"No, wait," Snow said quickly, "Can you come over here? Do you need me to pick you up?"

Ruby sighed in relief, "Nah, it's cool, I can get there. Just give me like half hour, alright?"

Snow smiled, "Alright, see you soon Rubes."

Ruby hung up and put her phone in her pocket. She took one last spiteful look at her house before she started walking. The streets were dead quiet at this time of night; it was kind of peaceful. Except for the occasional drunk stumbling out of the rabbit hole, the only establishment open at this time of night.

It had been over an hour since she called Snow; it was a long walk and she wasn't exactly in a rush to get there. She pulled out her phone and let Snow she was out the front. Then the two snuck quietly through the flat to Snow's room.

"You took forever, did you walk?" Snow asked as she closed the door.

"Yeah," Ruby answered.

"I would have picked you up," Snow replied.

"I like walking," Ruby shrugged, pulling her gloves off, "It's damn freezing though. I reckon it's gonna snow soon."

Snow nodded and took Ruby's hands, "You're freezing," she pulled her over to the bed.

Ruby took her usual place in it, welcoming the warmth.

"Are you going to sleep?"

Ruby hadn't even realised she'd closed her eyes until she opened them, "Shit, sorry."

"It's fine," Snow looked confused, "It's just you don't usually come over just to sleep."

Ruby blinked; it was true, "Yeah, sorry babe, I'm just…exhausted."

She sat up a little and drew Snow closer before she began nibbling on her neck. She wondered if Granny was still awake. She wondered if Ashley was still awake. She wondered what it would be like to live on her own, or even better, to leave Storybrooke behind completely. She'd thought about it; about just jumping on a bus and catching it to where-ever. Anywhere but here. She didn't know why she hadn't; not really. Maybe she still had some hope for this shit hole town.

"Ruby," Snow pushed the hand that was inching up her leg away.

Ruby came back to her senses, "Sorry," she apologised, "I know, not until you're married."

Snow smiled, "Ruby…"

"Mm?" Ruby asked as she slipped Snow's top off and began tracing her lips down her stomach.

"Are we… I mean, you call me and we do this all the time…"

Ruby groaned internally, "Snow, I don't do relationships."

"But why not?" Snow asked, "I mean, I like you. Clearly you like me. Why – "

Ruby pulled away, "I just don't. You know that."

Snow frowned, "But then, what is…this? Why did you call me tonight?"

Ruby shrugged, "It's just…sex. Well, not sex exactly cause you can't do that… but it's just…"

"But you came here and you just wanted to sleep… doesn't that mean something?"

Ruby was growling now, "It doesn't mean anything."

"But all this…you wouldn't do this if you didn't like me or care about me – "

Ruby sat on the edge of the bed now when she snapped, "Fuck, Snow. I don't like you. Sometimes I can't stand you if you wanna know the truth. I came here tonight cause my Granny locked me out and I wanted her to wake up and realise I'm not there. That I didn't ring that damn doorbell and get her help. That I can survive on my own."

Snow looked hurt, "Ruby – "

"Nah, just fuck off," Ruby stood up and pulled her shoes on, "I didn't even wanna neck you tonight. I only did it cause you wanted it."

"But I didn't," Snow claimed, "I would be happy to just lay with you but you always want to… I mean, I know why but – "

Ruby stopped and stood up, "You know why?" she asked incredulously, "Go on then, Snow. What's your theory? Some bullshit you learn in that psychology class? You go to college now and you know everything?"

"Ruby, stop shouting!" Snow stood up and put a hand on the other woman's, trying to calm her down but failing, "I don't know why exactly. I think you're just trying to please people and you think your sexuality is all you have."

Ruby glared at her, "Screw you."

Snow looked after her hopelessly as she slammed the front door after her. She picked up her phone but Ruby refused to answer.

Ruby awoke with the sun. God knows how she survived the night in that weather. At least everything felt numb. She ran a hand through her hair and tried not to shiver. What a night, she thought. Her eyelids felt as though they were lined with bricks. She'd barely had two hours sleep. The sand on the beach had turned out to be more comfortable than the bench. She looked at her clock; damn, it was still early. She lay back down and held herself tightly, trying to stop her shivering body.

"Ruby…Ruby…wake up."

Ruby squinted and turned onto her back, holding a hand up to shield her eyes from the fully risen sun.

"Oh, for fucks sake," she mumbled.

"Good morning to you too," Belle bent down next to the young woman, concerned, "Did you sleep here, Ruby?"

Ruby shrugged, "Yeah, a while. Bench wasn't so comfortable, the movies lie," she tried to smile.

Belle frowned, "Ruby, why would you sleep out here? It's freezing. Do your parents know where you are?"

Ruby's eyes flashed, "No and they don't give a shit. I wish people would stop asking me about my goddamn parents."

Belle could have kicked herself; she knew the girl lived with her Granny, "I'm sorry," she said gently, "Does your Granny know where you are?"

Ruby shrugged, "She doesn't care either."

Belle bit her lip as she sat beside Ruby, "Honey… what happened last night?"

Ruby felt the tears prick her eyes but swallowed them, "Nothing. Why are you at the beach so damn early anyway?"

"Oh, jogging," Belle smiled.

Ruby looked at her in her leggings and singlet, "Oh," she smiled, "Yeah, you look good."

Belle quirked an eyebrow, "Oh? That's all you've got this morning? You look good. Lacking the usual charm I've come to expect of you."

Ruby smiled half-heartedly, "Sorry. I'll step up my game later. I don't have English until after lunch so I'm sure I'll think of something better by then."

Belle shook her head, "Come on, I better get you to Granny's. I don't think you need to come to school today, Ruby. Just warm up and get some rest."

Ruby looked at the genuine concern in her teachers eyes, "I don't wanna go to Granny's," she muttered.

"I know," Belle said sympathetically, "But I'm sure she's worried about you."

Ruby shrugged but allowed her teacher to pull her up by the arm.

"Miss French?" Ruby stopped before they entered Granny's.

Belle stopped and looked at her, "What is it?"

Ruby diverted her eyes, "I'm really sorry about being an idiot yesterday. I was well out of line. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable or anything," she hung her head.

Belle's eyes softened; she'd never seen the girl, usually so suave and tough-acting so dejected, "Ruby, it's okay. We'll talk about it another time."

Ruby nodded meekly but refused to move.

Belle looked back at her and walked to her side, "Honey, I know your Granny. She might be a little mad, but mostly she'll be worried about you."

Ruby shrugged and followed her in, spotting her Granny straight away serving a customer. She looked up to spot them and rushed over.

"Ruby, where have you been? You look awful," she looked to Belle, wondering why she was there.

Belle stepped in, "I'm not exactly sure what happened last night, but I just came across Ruby sleeping at the beach…"

"The beach!?" Granny exclaimed, looking to her granddaughter, "Why…oh, Ruby," she pulled the younger woman into her arms, "This is not what I wanted, Ruby."

"You locked me out," Ruby finally spoke.

"I wanted you to wake me up when you got home," Granny replied.

Ruby nodded, "So you could yell at me."

"No, Ruby," Granny sighed, "So we could have a proper talk about what's going on with you. I'm worried about you and I never see you because you use your window instead of the front door."

"I'm fine," Ruby muttered.

Granny and Belle exchanged a glance.

"I'll leave you to it," Belle said quietly, "If there's anything I can do…"

Granny smiled, "Thank you for bringing her back."

Ruby only needed to look at Belle with those wide eyes to say her thanks.

"Come on, let's get you upstairs and into a hot bath, you're freezing," Granny put an arm around her granddaughters shoulder as she led them upstairs, "We can talk later."

Ruby was overcome with exhaustion the moment she closed her door. She sat on the edge of her bed, heads in her hands. She tried to fight it but the moment her head hit the pillow she couldn't deny sleep.