Read to Me - Chapter 7


Sometime during the night, Blake can't tell when nor does she care, the sounds of Ruby whimpering rips her from her exhausted slumber. She can hear Ruby's breathing becoming labored, as it picks up speed and loses depth, until Ruby's breathing is nothing but short and shallow gasps approaching hyperventilation.

Not knowing what to do to help Ruby from falling into full blown hysteria, Blake lets her instincts take over. They always seem to know what to do to help Ruby. Blake feels herself crawl into the bed behind Ruby and wrapping her arms around the younger girl. In an instant Ruby's hitches before settling into a more normal rhythm.

Blake wasn't sure if Ruby was awake or was just suffering from a nightmare, but when soft whisper, raw from sobbing the day before, cut through the darkness Blake had her answer.

"I thought- … I thought you left. I woke up and thought you were gone too. I thought I lost M- … Mom, and then … you." Blake responded by squeezing her tighter. Ruby continued talking in hushed tones.

"I thought that maybe you would be gone … you know, since your obligation to Mom is gone?" Blake let the younger girl's question hang in the air for a few moments, she knew Ruby didn't mean it the way it sounded. Blake wanted to wait to confess, but the flow of this conversation seemed like it would force her to.

"I am under no obligation to be here. I am here because I want to be. I am never leaving you. Ever. I would sooner cut out my heart than leave you alone through this." Blake couldn't keep the blush off her face when she finished, she silently thanked the dim lighting that hid her embarrassed face.

Ruby spun around in Blake's hold until they were face to face in each other's arms. Blake hoped that Ruby wouldn't see her blushing, but she soon realized that Ruby was blushing too.

The younger girl's voice regained some of its strength, no longer was is a hushed whisper, just hushed tones.

"And after?" Blake first response was to furrow her brow in confusion.

After what?

"After what?" Ruby's face grew an even darker shade of red, and her eyes misted over.

"After all of this? After I say goodbye to Mom, after the funeral, after she's laid to rest … will you stick around?" The vulnerable look in the younger girl's eye sparked something in Blake, prompting her to pull Ruby into a fierce hug.

"Of course I'm going to stay. I … I really like you Ruby." The younger girl pulled back to look Blake in the eye. Her pupils dilated in shock, and a glimmer of hope shinning deep within pools of silver.

Blake couldn't help the flickering thought of inadequacy:

I wish I was brave enough to confess when I didn't know she already liked me.

But she quickly shook off the thought, all that mattered now was Ruby.

"I like you Ruby, a lot. I like you more than a friend. I think … I think I love you."

Ruby's only response was to blush even harder and avert her eyes. Blake didn't need an answer, she already had Ruby's response from the library. Mustering all of her courage Blake began leaning towards Ruby, closing the small distance between their lips. Blake made sure to give Ruby ample time to avoid the contact.

Instead of pulling away or diverting from their collision course, Ruby met Blake halfway.

The kiss was short and chaste, but filled with as much love and compassion as possible. Blake wanted to continue, and so did Ruby, but both of them were still coming to grips with Summer's passing.

They both needed time, but they would have each other through this difficult time. Blake settled herself back down onto the bed and pulled Ruby's head to the crook of her neck. They were both exhausted and needed sleep, especially for the coming day.

Ruby was the first to drift off to sleep, the emotional toll from yesterday and tonight sapping the last of her energy reserves. But with Blake watching over her she was able to fall into a peaceful sleep this time.

Just before succumbing to sleep, Blake reiterated her confession.

"I am not going anywhere. I love you, Ruby."

A sleeping Ruby responded with a content hum and snuggled closer to the older girl.


End of Read to Me