"Trauma is hell on earth. Trauma resolved is a gift from the gods."
― Peter A. Levine
Chapter 4-
As Blake realised what was going she started making her way to the toilets with Neo following close behind her.
As they got to the female toilets all they heard was silence but Blake noticed the blood on the floor underneath one of the stalls.
"Neo, go to the bar and ask for Summer, tell her it's Ruby and bring the first aid kit." Blake ordered quickly.
Neo nodded and rushed out of the room to the bar, asking immediately for Summer who turned out to be a tall pale woman that looked like a much older Ruby with longer hair.
Hearing Neo's message she reacted quickly, grabbing a green first aid kit and going towards the toilets, Neo close on her tail as they both entered the toilets.
They found Blake on the floor with Ruby in her arms where there was evidences of vomit on her face and a little in her hair where it was caught.
Ruby's eyes were red from crying with tears still falling down her face, and vomit in the strands of her hair. Summer immediately made her way to Ruby's side as she opened the first aid kit to use some cloth to clean Ruby up.
Not sure what she could do, Neo just stood there looking at Ruby the girl she was laughing and smiling, but now she saw Ruby with just a defeated look in her eyes.
"Alright I've cleaned her up best I can, could you two take her home for me please? I won't be long." Summer asked the two girls.
"Of course, I'll make sure she gets home safe." Blake said before turning to Neo, "Neo, could you give me a hand please?"
Moving forward Neo helped Blake pick up the unconscious girl and carry her out of the toilet, Summer calling out, "Thank you girls, I'll be around shortly." She said as she started cleaning up the mess.
"Where does she live?" Neo asked as they got her outside.
"In the flats just over there." Blake said, motioning with her head towards a series of flats right next to the restaurant.
It took the two women almost ten minutes to carry the light woman up towards her flat, luckily the building had an elevator making it easy to carry Ruby to her top floor flat.
It didn't take them long to reach Ruby's flat, using Ruby's keys to open up the door the pair of them were able to move Ruby into the flat and lay her onto her own bed.
"Would you mind waiting here for Summer? I need to go back to help Yang get home." Blake asked the girl.
"Oh uh, sure." Neo said, surprised at being put on the spot like this.
"Thank you, don't worry about Ruby she'll be fine in the morning." Blake said, giving Neo a comforting smile.
Neo stood awkwardly in Ruby's room, unsure what to do. She looked around the room to see the room was almost bare and had a few pictures up on the wall.
The first picture she saw was of a younger Ruby with what seemed to be Summer, both of them had wide smiles while holding up surf boards.
The next picture was an older Ruby who was lifted up on Yang's shoulders holding a trophy in her hands while another girl with long white hair laughed at the two of them, 'Maybe it's the first one she won.' Neo thought to herself.
The final picture was Ruby and the girl with long white hair again, hugging tightly wearing bikinis on a beach with Ruby kissing the girl on the lips.
Blushing at the picture she turned away to find Summer already in the room looking at Neo with a slight smile.
"Thank you for helping Ruby get back tonight, she's not normally this bad." Summer explained as she sat on the edge of Ruby's bed, stroking her hair.
"You're her mother aren't you?" Neo blurted out, covering her mouth as she realised what she had said.
"That I am, Summer Rose. It's a pleasure to meet you." Summer said, holding out her hand to Neo.
Neo nodded mutely as she took the hand, Summer looked like an older version of Ruby. Her hair was much long then Ruby's and a darker shade of red. She wore black trousers with a black shirt with the restaurant's name sown onto her breast.
"I see you noticed the pictures, they're the only ones Ruby would put up." Summer pointed out.
"Really? She looks so happy and carefree in them." Neo stated.
"That's because she was, I brought her up with surfing and she absolutely loved it. It was hard to get her off the board at times." Summer said, a smile spreading across her face as her eyes lit up at the memory.
"I can tell, she was helping me out earlier." Neo stated.
"Really?" Summer asked, surprised at the news.
"Um yeah she did, is it rare?" Neo asked, unsure at the change in Summer's attitude.
"She hasn't done it for about four years, since meeting Weiss." Summer informed her.
"Could you tell me about that?" Neo asked, wanting to know more.
"Of course, why don't we let Ruby sleep while we talk in the living room?" Summer gently suggested as both women moved into the living room.
Summer made the pair tea while sitting down as she started saying, "It's quite funny looking back on it now, and Weiss was quite stubborn. She wanted to learn how to surf without help and it was lucky Ruby was back from Portugal on a short break from chasing big waves." Summer started to explain.
"Big waves?" Neo asked, confused.
"Sorry. Ruby had a thrill doing competitions but she wanted something to get her blood running faster, so her uncle suggested surfing large waves. She trained for ages for it under her uncle to get to the level needed and she did and started surfing them. After she started dating Weiss she stopped it but I fear she's going back to do it." Summer said, concern dominant in her voice.
"Is it dangerous?" Neo asked, not knowing much about surfing especially the large waves.
"Extremely, if you make one mistake and aren't prepared or properly trained for it you could die, people have died. She's had a few close escapes early on and I only found out because my brother Qrow told me." Summer said.
"Anyway, Weiss had some trouble learning to surf and Ruby was out in the water relaxing when she saw her in trouble. So she went over to offer some advice and help her but she flatly refused her. Ruby didn't give up though and eventually Weiss agreed and over the course of a few months of being friends they became an item." Summer said smiling warmly at the memory.
"They were always together and going to secluded surf spots to be alone together so Ruby couldn't really help people. They were at a competition for Ruby at Hawaii a year ago. I don't know about the incident but I saw the aftermath and heard second hand about it." Summer explained.
"They were at a secluded spot where a shark attacked Weiss, I later learnt that she was almost dead but that didn't stop Ruby from driving her to the nearest hospital in record time. Sadly it wasn't enough but she held on for a few days." Summer explained sadly.
"That's horrible." Neo said, unsure what to really say.
"It was, Ruby dropped out of the competition immediately and moved back here, that was a year ago." Summer said.
"How is Ruby? She seemed fine except for the meal." Neo said.
"She normally hides it but I guess it's just the day. But as I said she hasn't helped someone surf for a long time, maybe this will be good for her." Summer informed her.
"Anyway you can stay the night if you wish, unless you have to get back." Summer offered.
"Um I'm only just in the hotel over there." Neo said, pointing in the general direction of the hotel.
"Ah I see, well I'll walk you back. Ruby will be fine." Summer said happily.
Neo didn't want to refuse as it seemed the woman still wanted to say something or do something but the entire trip back Summer didn't say another word, until they got to the entrance of the hotel.
"Here, this is Ruby's number. Once she's slept off her hangover she might want to talk to you again, or maybe you want to talk to her. Give it some thought." Summer said with a knowing smile as she left Neo in the entrance of the hotel.
The next morning it seemed the Heavens opened with the odd clap of thunder as well, it seemed surfing was completely out of the question.
She debated calling Ruby but in the end she settled with a text as she was eating breakfast. 'It's Neo, your mom gave me your number. Are you ok?' Neo asked.
The reply was almost instant, which surprised Neo as she expected Rub to be sleeping until late. 'I'm sorry about last night. I'm fine, how are you? What are your plans for today?' Came the quick reply.
'I don't know. Originally surfing but with the thunder and lightning around I won't be able to get in.' Neo replied back.
'I need to head into Barnstable to get some things, would you like to come with?' Ruby asked.
Neo thought to herself, and once she checked with her parents who were going out to a small harbour town to explore today she was able to go so she texted back, 'I can. What time?'
'Now if you're ready.' Ruby texted back quickly.
'I am, where should I meet you?'
'In the lobby, I'll be there in a minute.'
Neo quickly got her grey boots on and went downstairs to the lobby, waiting for Ruby as she double checked her outfit. Which consisted of brown trousers, black t-shirt and a short white jacket on top of that.
She heard a horn coming from outside and she spotted Ruby waving to her inside a large land rover. Climbing inside Neo couldn't help but comment, "Big car." Offhandedly.
"It's my mothers, I ride a bike but I can't really ride it in this weather." Ruby informed her as she pulled away from the hotel and started heading up the cliff.
"That sounds more like you. So what do you need in the town?" Neo asked.
"Nothing really, just wanted to get away for a little bit." Ruby said.
"What about your friends?" Neo asked.
"We're all meeting up later, hoping the weather clears a bit so we can get in the water. Most are leaving at the end of the week." Ruby informed her.
"What do they do?" Neo asked, interested to see what they do.
"We're all trained lifeguards and do part time work with them, I even do some for the RNLI as well when I can. The band you saw travel with the surf competitions and play there but in the off season they have full time work at a few places. Yang and the others all train in the off season but Yang works in a gym while Coco works in the fashion industry and Blake writes books. Oh and Velvet works with Coco as well." Ruby explained, telling her briefly of each job.
"What books does Blake write? I might know them." Neo inquired.
"Ah it's unlikely you know what she writes, she uses a fake name to publish them as well." Ruby said, avoiding the topic.
"Maybe I want to have a read of them." Neo said.
"The series is called Ninja's of Love." Ruby informed her, blushing lightly.
"I know that series, it's one of my favourites. You say Blake writes them?" Neo asked excitedly.
"Yeah she does, if she's not surfing she's writing, if she's not writing she's reading." Ruby said happily, telling her about her friend.
"Wow, but that series is so good. I love the two main characters." Neo said happily.
"Um you do know the type of books they are right? That doesn't make you uncomfortable?" Ruby asked carefully.
"Nope. I'm not uncomfortable about my own sexuality. I'm happily gay." Neo said proudly causing Ruby to laugh.
"Well then I guess that's good then." Ruby replied back, laughing slightly at Neo's antics.
"So what do you do Ruby? You said you work part time for the lifeguard and RNLI but you don't do that all year." Neo asked.
"I do in the winter, it's a little busier in the winter but otherwise I don't really do much. I used to pro-surf but I don't anymore. I'm likely to go back to hunting larger waves with my uncle, I've got enough prize money to sustain me for quite a few years before I need to get a job full time." Ruby informed her, growing quieter as she spoke almost seemingly a practised speech.
"But isn't that dangerous?" Neo asked, noticing how Ruby grew quieter as she spoke about herself.
"It is, but it's also very rewarding and fun." Ruby said, getting back to her normal self.
"But can't you die?" Neo asked.
"You can, but we all die in the end so what does it matter a few years early?" Ruby said casually as she started pulling into the car park.
Neo was shocked at how casual Ruby was being about this and almost shouted at her, "What! Ruby you shouldn't be so casual about it. You could die and you don't care?" Neo said.
Ruby just shrugged at her concern, "So? We all die, I could die tomorrow from seemingly nothing." Ruby replied.
"Yes but you should want to extend your life, not bloody end it early." Neo exclaimed.
Ruby looked towards Neo harshly as she said, "So what? It's my life not yours, why the fuck do you care?" Ruby spat out.
"I like you, I don't want you to die. And I bet your friends wouldn't want you to either." Neo replied back just as harshly.
"What would you know? You've only known me for barely a day." Ruby spat back.
"I know a lot. You should have seen yourself last night. You had thrown up everywhere and looked like death itself." Neo returned back, her voice slightly breaking.
Ruby looked at Neo, seeing unshed tears in her eyes. Sighing out Ruby just said, "Have you eaten?" She asked, seeing a no she said, "Let's get some breakfast then." Ruby said.
They didn't speak on the matter more as Ruby led her over to a small breakfast café as the pair sat down to have breakfast.
They spoke about all sorts of things during breakfast, Neo told Ruby about her time in school and what she was studying alongside what she wanted to do in life, although she was unsure about where to go.
"Did you always know what you wanted to do?" Neo asked.
"Not really, originally I was training up for some engineering position. I completed my training however I fell into competitive surfing. I always competed at a young age but wanted a backup in case it went wrong, until I started to get really good at it and followed it full time." Ruby explained.
"You're trained as an engineer? What sort?" Neo asked, surprised that Ruby had trained as one.
"Would it sound strange if I said it was in weapon technology?" Ruby asked teasingly.
"Really? I wouldn't think someone like you would be into that." Neo replied.
Ruby just shrugged her shoulders in response, "I was always interested in it but it was only as a backup, at the time I was scouted by a few companies but when I followed surfing I had to turn them down, although I did get quite a few sponsorships when I started winning." Ruby informed her.
"So in the end you had that as your full time career." Neo stated.
"Yep, it's really enjoyable." Ruby replied honestly as she finished her food.
"But isn't it hard? Being competitive all the time?" Neo asked.
"Not really, I'm not competitive. I just find them all fun, I get to be out in the water and surf while getting paid for it. I surf pretty much all year round because I enjoy it, and because I'm good at it I win." Ruby replied.
"But what about the others?" Neo asked.
"Some take it too seriously and they loss the fun and carefree nature some people get with surfing, it's why I come home when I can in order to get that nature back." Ruby answered, paying for their meal as Neo finished.
"Come on, there's a food market on today." Ruby informed her, getting the woman to follow her through the town to a large open market hall.
Inside were different stools step up by different people selling all sorts of foods ranging from fruit and vegetables to brownies and other cakes.
Ruby moved easily through the throngs of people around all the different stools as Neo struggled to follow behind her as she tried not to get lost in the crowd.
Finally they reached a stool at the back where a woman with long pink hair was standing behind a stool full of different types of cakes and deserts, laid out on a plate were a load of chocolate chip cookies.
As soon as the woman saw Ruby and Neo her face brightened up as she said, "Ruby! It's so great to see you. Who's this cute girl with you?" The woman asked, causing Neo to blush brightly.
"Hello Skye, this is Neo. She's from American and visiting our part of the country for a little bit." Ruby informed the woman, hugging her over the table.
"Ah I see. How are you enjoying it here?" The woman, Skye asked.
"Um it's fun here, great people although it's really different than the US." Neo replied, awkward at being put on the spot.
"Well I'm glad you're enjoying it. So what can I get you?" Skye asked.
They chose some cakes and Ruby paid for them, over Neo's protests. After that they bid goodbye to Skye and carried on around the town for a little bit longer before heading back to the sea side town.
On the drive back the skies had cleared although the beach wasn't as busy as it would normally be during the Summer which meant the pair could easily get into the water.
"You can drop your stuff off and bring a change of clothes over to my apartment. I'll set you up with some gear as well." Ruby said, pulling up outside Neo's hotel.
"Sure, I won't be long." Neo said and quickly rushed inside. Grabbing her swimming outfit, or rather her bikini that she wore underneath the wetsuit.
A/N
Do you ever just have that feeling of tightness in your chest when you're going to speak to someone? Especially someone you don't know but want to speak to, even if it's online but you don't because you feel you might say something wrong or might just annoy them? Does this feeling ever happen to you?
Sorry, random thought from last night. Not too much to talk about, I think either Wednesday's or Tuesdays will be the day I'll update, not sure yet.
Progress has been rather slow on things as I'm constantly changing things. I'll have a Legends Christmas story and a special thing for star wars for when that releases.
Other than that not too much to talk about. I had a guest reviewer on my Without a Reason story, thank you so much for that but I just wished you weren't a guest so I could thank you through PM but never mind.
That's pretty much it, ironically talking about death in this had a near death experience today, or rather my boss/brother in law did and in a way I almost did.
Oh and Barnstable is a real place and this brilliant closedish market as well and if anyone knows the harbour town than internet cookie to you.
Until next time. ^_^
(Disclaimer if at all in this chapter, previous or future chapters if I refer to Mavericks I mean Big waves and I just fucked up but I think I caught all of them)