I wanted to publish this chapter a few days ago but I was too tired to finish it, then I had to work. I'll try to publish more once in a week.
But now here it is! Hope you'll like it! 3

Ruby has a new "date" with Fernando. Things didn't go as planned, but in the end, they are both happy.

Flashback

Ruby was full of with feelings when she got home but she just couldn't think about what to do. Fernando kissed her and she kissed back. Ruby still felt the taste of his lips. They definitely tasted like passion. She gently brushed her lips with her fingertips. It's really happening. They only met yesterday and today they were kissing like a real couple.

Ruby dropped her clothes to the other side of her room and put her nightgown on. She just jumped into her bed, already feeling tired but the thoughts didn't let her sleep. Another sleepless night. She knew what she wanted and maybe Fernando can give her that. But it's too soon to say anything about the strange feeling called love. Sure, she wanted to share those feelings with the young soldier but why now? Why everything's so complicated? The young blonde just sighed, turned around and closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to come and take her far away.

Next Morning

"Ruby! Breakfast is ready!" Said Maria, the family's maid with a few loud knocks on the door.

"Uhg..." Ruby let out a grunt as she opened her eyes, still feeling tired. "I'm coming, Maria." She didn't move, secretly waiting for the older woman to disappear from her door.

"I know you don't want to wake up, but you father's waiting for you." Her father. The only person who could make her scared. Benjamin is a very tough man, however, Ruby loved him. He would do anything for his child and his daughter really appreciated it. He was her supporter when all the singing stuff started and her mother died. He missed a few meeting because of her first tours, just to make her happier.

"Tell him I'll be down in a few minutes. Just let me put something on."

Later in the dining room

"Morning." Ruby welcomed her family as she entered the big dining room.

"Good morning. Enjoyed your sleep?" Asked Lucia happily. Ruby just nodded, taking a seat next to her father who just poured a cup of tea for her.

"Thank you." Ruby grabbed the cup, taking a little sip before starting to eat her food.

"You're welcome. I saw you rushing to your bedroom yesterday night. What happened?" The blonde girl coughed, feeling surprised.

She swallowed. "I was in the town when a song popped in my head. I ran home to write it down." She lied to her own father. Ruby didn't want to tell anyone about Fernando until things get very serious.

"Oh, I understand. Can I see it?" Her heart started beating faster and faster. God! If he finds out I'm dead!

"No! I mean...It's not finished. I was too tired to continue."

"It's okay, but I want to see it when it's ready. Now eat, little girl, you need more energy tonight in the stage." No, no, no, no, NO! I have a date with Fernando! Oh shit! What should I do? I can't miss the concert but I want to talk to Fernando about what happened yesterday! I can't believe it's really happening! I need to do something! Maybe I should end the concert earlier and meet with him a little bit later. I just hope he can wait a bit if I'm important to him. "Ruby, are you alright? Your face is white as a wall."

"Yes, I'm okay, I just need to lay down a bit and focus on the concert." How could I forget my tour? Fernando, what you did to me?

"I hope you're not getting sick today on your big show, Ruby. You need to concentrate on your future."

Flashback end

"My father always said that boys are not as important as my future and I believed him. But when I met Fernando, something changed inside me. I got more interested in the opposite sex, especially in your grandfather and I don't know, I just wanted to be happy without all the touring stuff."

"Grandma, you were in love, it's normal. But you know..." Sophia smiled and started singing. "A grown-up woman should never fall so easily."

Ruby chuckled at her granddaughter. "I feel a kind of fear when I don't have you near. Unsatisfied, I skip my pride, I beg you, dear." They both laughed happily. "Okay, okay. Enough singing, for now, we have a story that needs to be told."

Flashback

After the concert

"Ruby! What the hell are you doing? You can't end the concert just like that!" Jessica shouted after her.

"I'm sorry, I needed to. You have to understand."

"Understand what?"

"I can't tell you, I'm so sorry."

"Ruby!"

The young girl rushed out straight to her white Cadillac. She got in and drove away, maybe a little too fast but no one noticed. God, I'm late! Fernando, I'm coming! She turned on the radio, listening to her own song.

The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

She turned it off quickly before it made her too uncomfortable. Fortunately, she reached her destination real quick. She found a place, she parked her car and closed the door. The harbour is a few minutes of walk from here, but she was almost running, although her high heels made it a little bit harder. Ruby heard a whistle and she stopped, hoping it's Fernando. She looked around and found a tall guy, dressed in military uniform.

"Are you alone, señora?" His voice is almost as deep as Fernando's.

"Who are you?" She asked, feeling a kind of fear.

"My name is Pablo. Yours?" He stepped closer to her, making Ruby even more anxious.

"Ruby. Can I...help you with something?" She tried to be polite to the guy. For now.

"Oh yes, you can. I saw you and I thought you might be interested in some...adventure." Hell no!

"Sorry, I'm not looking for that kind of joy."

"You're lying, all the girls are looking for that in your age."

"You're disgusting." She turned around, trying to run away from Pablo.

"Mmm...You won't say it after I got between your legs." He grabbed her wrist, holding her back. He was holding her too tight, it hurt her.

"Let me go, I'm not interested in your sick habits!" She was too afraid to say anything, but one word escaped her lips. "Fernando!" She shouted his name. Stupid girl, he can't hear you from here.

"Ohh...You have a boy toy. Well, we can have a threesome."

"Fuck you, you perv pig!" Pablo let her go and started singing.

Pablo:

"If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test if you let me try
Take a chance on me
Take a chance on me."

Ruby started walking away, but Pablo followed her.

Pablo:

"We can go dancing."

Ruby:

"We can go walking."

Pablo:

"As long as we're together
Listen to some music."

Ruby:

"Maybe just talking."

Pablo:

"Get to know me better
'Cause you know I've got
So much that I wanna do
When I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there
Afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go."

"Ruby!" She heard his deep voice from a few meters. Her hearth started calming down when she saw that it's Fernando. "Let her go!"

"The boy toy arrived. What a shame, I was about to make her mine. I don't like sharing my things."

"I won't say it again, Pablo." He knows him? "Be a real man, let her go. I'm here if you want to have some action." He stepped closer, grabbing Ruby's other wrist gently.

"Come on, let me enjoy my new pet."

"You asshole!" Fernando said and slapped Pablo's face. They both let go of Ruby's wrists.

"How dare you?" He slapped Pablo again and pushed him to the wall near them.

"Don't touch my girlfriend again!" He punched him right in the stomach, again and again, making the guy grunt in pain. He started hitting his face, then he heard Ruby's voice.

"Fernando, please stop! He's already sick." Fernando stopped, left Pablo and turned around to face Ruby.

"You're right, I'm sorry, mi Amor." Ruby started blushing. "Let's go." They started walking away when Pablo shouted after them.

"I'll deal with you tomorrow, Fernando Cienfuegos!" Ruby heard his full name for the first time.

"Tell me, how did you get there?" She asked, feeling surprised.

"Well, you were late and I thought I might start looking for you. Then I heard you screaming my name and I knew you're in trouble."

"You are saving me again and again. I don't even know how to thank you."

"It's nothing, you would do the same." They both stayed in silence for a few moments, then Ruby spoke to him.

"Fernando?"

"Yes, Ruby?"

"You called me your girlfriend and mi Amor."

"Oh!" He coughed. "I um...didn't mean it. I mean I couldn't be happier if you'd like to be my girlfriend, but I just wanted..."

"Fernando..." She stopped and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I know what you're trying to say."

"He just tried to get between your legs. I would never do anything like that with you. I mean...of course I would do something, but not like him. I'm tired of one night stands and adventures. I want something special, something that lasts longer." He wanted to share the love hidden inside him, just like Ruby.

"I want the same." She swallowed and looked deep into his eyes.

He touched her hands gently. "You think we can make a good couple? Will it worth a try?" Ruby nodded. "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

She just smiled, feeling happy. "But I don't know much about you, Señor Cienfuegos."

"We're still young, you have enough time to get to know me better. So it's a yes?"

"Of course it is!" She jumped into his arms, kissing his lips passionately. He gently pushed her to a wall, kissing her back. Her hands roamed up and down his back, caressing his strong muscles. He kept her body close to his, enjoying her small weight, but he ended the kiss, probably too soon.

"I'm sorry, we need to stop. I don't want to do anything you might regret."

"You're right, sorry. I'm just too excited. I only had one little love affair before, it didn't end well. But it stays in the past. Now all that matters is you and I." Fernando smiled and put her down. "I still have some time, do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"A movie would be nice, but I still owe you a dinner."

Ruby chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Come on, my car isn't far from here."

"You have a car?" He asked surprised. Can she drive?

"Yes, I got it from my father on my 16th birthday."

He looked down to the ground. "You must be very rich."

"We have everything we need. Maybe more than that."

"I'm...far from rich. But I'm not complaining." My family has everything we need. House, food and some spare money. He thought.

"Fernando, it's not a problem. Let's go."

Later in the middle of the film

"But I love you!"

"I love you too, but my family is all that matters."

"Please, don't leave me!"

"I'm sorry, mi Amor."

Fernando watched the two main characters, feeling a bit bored but also excited. He looked at Ruby who's watching the film with the biggest concentration he had ever seen. He let out a yawn and brought his hand up to his mouth, covering it. When he put his hand down, he accidentally touched Ruby's thigh, but she didn't notice his touch or she just didn't want to start a drama.

"Sorry." He brought his hand back, putting it next to Ruby's. None of them noticed the closeness at first, but Fernando moved his fingers, just barely touching hers. She looked at him and smiled, gently putting her hand on his. They watched the whole movie like this.

After the film, outside

"Well, that was great. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I have training and I'm only free from Friday afternoon."

"Then I'll visit you in the camp. I have access thanks to my father."

"I'm not sure about this. You may not want to be around a lot of stinky soldiers." Ruby chuckled. She's been there a few times and everyone knows who she is. They would never do anything with her.

"I don't care about them. I'll be there only for you, not them." Fernando smiled and gave her a little kiss.

"Alpha camp, East wing. I have training in the morning and sometimes a few missions after launch. You should come here in the afternoon. Do you want me to take you home, mi Amor?"

"I have a car, Señor."

"Right, you have a car, I forgot. Well, we'll talk later, okay?"

"Okay." She smiled and gave him one last kiss.

Flashback end

"You wanted to take things slow, but you agreed to be his girlfriend on the 3rd day?" Sophia asked Ruby.

"Hey, I was too happy to say no."

"Okay, let's talk to Señor Cienfuegos. I want to hear the rest from both of you." Sophia stood up, grabbing Ruby's hand.

"I'm not sure about this, Soph."

"Ohh come on, he needs to know that he has a family."

"You're right, Sophia. You're right."