"Oh! Oh! Oh! Take that, you little bitch!"
"What the hell Emma?! You knocked me off Rainbow Road!"
"Yeah, I know. Have fun in last place, bitch."
August scowled as he took off again. "You are not fun to play games with."
"I just don't like amateurs," Emma said, so concentrated she was practically bent over as she steered the pretend wheel.
"It's Mario Kart," August rolled his eyes.
"Hey! Emma!" Ashley's voice was getting closer and closer. Ashley? What the hell was up with her lately?
"What?!" Emma shouted out of the corner of her mouth.
"Have you seen Ruby?" She ran up with her hair wet, clad in tight pajamas.
"Hold on. ... Hold on. ... Hold..."
"Emma, for the love of - "
"Yes!" She shouted as she crossed the finish line, turning to the cheerleader at last. "What's up?"
"Have you seen Ruby? I think she was trying to get into our room, but I was in the shower."
"No, I haven't. She left like," Emma thought for a moment, "two races ago."
"Ha!" August yelled randomly as he finally crossed the finish line.
"Congratulations," Emma rolled her eyes. "Seventh place. Nice."
"Kiss my ass, Emma," he shoved her lightly and left to find Graham.
Emma turned back to Ashley, choosing to ignore the meaningless gesture.
"I don't know where she is, but I'm sure she's fine. She was talking to someone on the phone. Maybe it was her granny."
"All right," Ashley shrugged, evacuating the scene as quickly as she could, no desire to be in Emma's presence any longer. Ruby was one thing, but her friends had not yet adjusted to the idea of having Ashley around. She had figured that would happen.
With a sigh, Ashley laid down on her bed, leaving the door unlocked for Ruby this time, trying to ignore the sounds of people celebrating right outside. It took quite some time before she could shut out the occasional outbursts and close her eyes, but she somehow managed to fall asleep.
"Do you have everything?"
"Yes, Granny. For the last time, I am completely packed."
"Okay, I'm sorry. Forgive me for being a bit worried."
"You don't have to be worried. I'll be fine."
"That's what you say now, Ruby, but college is not high school. It's the last chance you have before your future starts."
"Oh please spare me the lecture."
"Ruby, I trust you. I just want to make sure you understand what you're doing. You're the first person in our family to go to college."
"Exactly. So what would you know about it?"
"Just be careful, Ruby. Please."
"Whatever. I'll see you at Christmas."
It was so cold. Ruby had stopped running a long time ago, or maybe it wasn't so long. She couldn't really understand time at the moment. She had no idea where she was, no idea what she was doing, no idea how to get back. The only thing she knew was that her granny was dead, and the last thing she had said to her was a spiteful, immature goodbye.
She was supposed to see her tomorrow, to spend the whole break trapped under her roof. All this time, she had been longing to spend these few weeks with Belle, but now she would give anything to spend one more day with her granny.
Ruby had reached the end of her straight line, staring at rusty train tracks vibrating under the roar of the train that flew across them. She fought to breathe, her head spinning, her fingers shoved in the pockets of her jeans.
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to Peter's, Granny."
"Not dressed like that, you're not. You'll freeze to death."
"It's not even cold outside."
"I don't care, Ruby. Just throw a jacket on. That's all you have to do. Do we really have to have an argument about everything?"
"That's what it seems like."
Ruby's head hung low, her shoulders shaking, the self-hatred and regret piling on with every passing second. She was an idiot, an unappreciative pile of shit. Granny had been the only family she had after her mother left. She had raised her, given up everything for her, made every decision with Ruby's well-being in mind. If it hadn't been for Granny, Ruby would have lived every day of her life making the wrong choices, involved in things she shouldn't know of, bumbling around like a conceited idiot with no concern for herself. If it hadn't been for Granny, Ruby would have spent every day of her life alone.
"How did it go?"
"It went fine, I guess."
"Just fine?"
"Mm hm."
"Ruby, tell me the truth..."
"He tried to … you know … but I said no so … you know."
"Oh Ruby … Ruby, it's gonna be okay. That boy is not worth your time."
"I thought he loved me. That's what he told me."
"Now you listen to me, girl. Viktor Whale is a filthy scumbag, and if it were up to me, guys like him would be dead and buried. You are a beautiful, strong woman, and he does not deserve to breathe the same air that you do. Do you understand me? … Do you understand? … Good. Now stop your crying and go get changed. I'll make you a grilled cheese."
"Thanks, Granny."
"You're welcome."
It was three a.m. when Ashley's alarm went off, unwanted and unexpected. She sat up like a rocket, glancing around in surprise before turning her phone off. She looked over to make sure Ruby hadn't woken up too, knowing that was the last thing she wanted – a tired Ruby on her ass.
But the bed was empty, nothing but a pile of ruffled sheets Ruby had thrown off this morning.
Ashley knew she shouldn't worry. Ruby was probably with Belle; it was the last night before Christmas break after all. Still, like she had been recently, Ashley slid out of bed and went to make sure her roommate was not standing outside waiting to be let in.
Her feet were freezing as soon as they hit the floor, and she grabbed a hoodie from her chair to cover her almost bare shoulders. Wary from all the horror movies she had ever watched, Ashley ran as quickly as she could down the hall and to the door, opening it and finding Ruby was not there. Her body immediately protested the cold, goosebumps riddling every inch of her. But she couldn't go back to bed just yet. There was a phone on the ground, and though her feet ached at touching the icy pavement, she took a step forward anyway, bending down to pick up what she knew to be Ruby's.
The now-cracked screen still displayed 'Call Ended', and though she knew she shouldn't, Ashley hit 'Call'.
"Hello?" A voice on the other end replied after the first tone.
"Yes, this is Ashley Boyd. I'm a friend of Ruby Lucas'. I – "
"Yes ... Ashley? Your friend received a call from us about five hours ago, and she abruptly ended it. I'm afraid she didn't take to our news very well."
"And who are you exactly? What the hell are you calling Ruby for?"
"My name is Howard. Officer Howard." Ashley's heart was racing. "Ruby's grandmother died a few hours ago."
Ashley hung up the phone then, unable to hear any more. "Oh shit..." she mumbled, already running back inside and racing to Emma and Mary Margaret's door.
She didn't care that it was way too early in the morning or that Emma would tear her throat out if she was overreacting. She was banging on the door, bouncing up and down. "Come on," she muttered under her breath. "Come on."
Just as she suspected, it was Mary Margaret who answered the door, her hair sticking up in several places, a general look of annoyance on her face. "What on Earth do you want?" she yawned.
"It's Ruby," Ashley said blatantly. "She's not back yet, and I just found out from apolice officer that her grandma died." For one second, Mary Margaret looked like she didn't believe her, then slowly her eyes grew wet.
"You're lying," she whispered.
"Nope," Ashley shook her head slowly. "Look, I don't know where Ruby is. She could be anywhere, but this is not the time to leave her alone."
Several tears trickled down Mary Margaret's cheeks, and somewhere in her mind, Ashley realized that surely the girl would have known Ruby's granny as well. "I'm sorry," she offered, still too worried about her new friend to give true comfort at the moment.
Mary Margaret nodded and wiped under her eyes, moving back from the door and flicking on the light.
Emma turned her head, and the look on her face was half-stunned and half-angry. "Whazzgoinon?" she mumbled. "Mry Mrgret, tellhertogtoutohere." She buried her face in her pillow.
But Mary Margaret was throwing on her jacket and boots and grabbing her car keys and cell phone. "Ruby's missing," she said.
"What?" Emma asked, still a little dazed.
"Ruby is missing," Mary Margaret repeated. "Her granny just died, and now she's gone."
Emma was on her feet faster than Ashley had ever known her to be, stuffing her feet into her shoes and throwing on her red leather jacket. "Are we sure she's not just taking some time alone?" Emma asked, though she did not slow down.
Ashley hesitated. She didn't know Ruby well enough to answer that question, and for a moment she felt embarrassed for charging in here the way she had. But then Mary Margaret shook her head and said, her voice heavy with concern and sadness, "No. Ruby's been through this before. She's not going to be easy to find."
"What do you mean 'Ruby's been through this before?'" Emma questioned as they headed out the door.
"She lost her boyfriend sophomore year of high school in a car accident. He took her out in his dad's car without his license, and it was fine. Until he told her she could drive. She crashed the car." Mary Margaret's voice was hollow, and Ashley knew she was reliving it. "Ruby panicked. She ran away. It took a day to find her, and she would have gotten in so much trouble if I hadn't convinced my dad to call the police off."
"Walk faster," was all Emma said.
"Hold on," Ashley stopped them. "We should get more people. Regina, and Graham, and August, and – you know."
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Mary Margaret nodded, turning to Emma, who tilted her head with a disgruntled sigh. "I'll find Graham and August."
"I'll call Regina," Emma opened her phone and started dialing away.
"I'm gonna go find someone else," Ashley said, itching the back of her neck.
"Who?" They asked at once.
"Just … someone. I'll drive down the main road and see what I can come up with. Keep in touch?"
They nodded, each taking off to their determined tasks, phones held up to their ears, and Ashley went to the parking lot, keys in hand, trying to figure out where in the hell Belle would live.
Belle's eyes peeked open slowly, her ears recognizing the sound of her phone vibrating against the bedside table. She groaned heavily, her body exhausted and longing to go back to sleep until she saw Ruby's name. Rubbing her eyes, she reached over and picked it up. "Hey," she said, her voice laced thick with sleep. "You know it's 3:15 right? And that I'm leaving to visit my father at six?"
"It's not Ruby," came the voice on the other end.
Belle's eyes opened farther, and she sat up against her pillows, turning the lamp beside her on.
"Then who are you, and why in the hell are you calling me from Ruby's phone?"
"My name's Ashley. I'm Ruby's roommate."
Belle grit her teeth. "I know who you are. Let me guess. You need something, and I'm supposed to do it because if I don't, you'll ruin our lives."
There was a moment of silence. "Look, I don't have time for this. I know I'm a bitch, but right now, you've got to help me."
"I don't - "
"Ruby's missing. I thought you might want to know."
That did it; Belle was on her feet now. "Missing? Missing how?"
"Missing, as in gone, unfound."
"Well why is she missing? Did something happen? Is she all right?"
"Her granny died. The last time someone saw her, she was receiving the call. That was five hours ago."
Belle's heart ached in her chest as she tried to imagine the pain Ruby must be feeling. "Are you the only one who knows she's gone?"
"No, I told Mary Margaret and Emma, and they're getting Graham, August, and Regina to help look."
"And where are you?" Belle asked.
"Well, I was going to come pick you up, but I have no idea where you live."
"2342 Linus St," fell from her mouth before she could even consider it. "It's just past the grocery store."
"Okay, I'll be there in two minutes."
She hung up before Belle got the chance, and the professor gradually pulled the phone away from her cheek. She had to take a moment before the panic became too great. Then she threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, grabbed her jacket and keys, and ran down the stairs to wait outside her door.
"Hey, Ashley," Emma picked up her phone and tossed it to Regina in the passenger's seat.
"What the hell, Emma?" Regina protested.
"I'm driving," she replied as her eyes searched every inch they passed.
"What's going on, Ashley?" Regina asked, rolling her eyes heavily. There was some jibberish on the other end Emma couldn't decipher. "You picked up who? … Why – ? Emma, she wants to talk to you."
"Tell her I'm driving."
"She's driving. … She doesn't care," Regina said, handing the phone to her. "For God sakes, Emma, I know you are not one of those people who obeys the law. Just take the damn thing."
Emma smiled to herself and put her phone to her ear. "What's going on, Ashley?"
"Emma? This is Belle."
"Belle? Who..." Her eyes popped as it hit her. "Professor French?! What the hell are you – I mean, why did Ashley...?"
"Ruby and I have grown quite close, Emma."
"Yeah, cause you're her tutor."
"No … not quite." Belle sighed on the other end. "Emma, I know she wanted to tell you, but I think she was too afraid. … We're … um … we're seeing each other."
Emma's mind froze completely. She thought back to all those nights Ruby had been gone, all the times she had been "studying". "Oh my God..." she said.
"I know. I know it's a lot to process."
"So how many months has this been going on? It's at least since October..."
"Yes, Emma, it's been a long time, but just shut up for a second."
Regina smiled from the passenger seat.
"I love her, okay? I am in love with Ruby, and I have been for some time. You call me when you find her."
"Okay."
"Thank you."
Belle hung up then, and Emma knew she had been on the verge of tears. Her voice was quivering even through the phone.
Emma didn't know whether or not to tell Regina. Sure, she trusted her, but Ruby … not so much.
But Regina was looking at her with those eyes she couldn't resist. "What was that about?"
"It was – um – it was Professor French. She wants us to call if we find Ruby. Apparently, they've gotten pretty close."
"You mean they're sleeping together," Regina said.
"Regina, you can't tell anyone," Emma spat out immediately.
"Oh please," her girlfriend rolled her eyes. "Who am I going to tell? Besides, anyone with vision can see there's something going on."
"You're saying you knew..." Emma turned to her girlfriend skeptically. "What are you … omniscient now?"
Regina took a moment to smile proudly at Emma for using the word she had taught her. "No, it's the little things. The extra five minutes at tutoring sessions, the one-second finger brushing, the second glances."
"And you've seen them do all this?"
She shrugged casually. "Most of it. I don't know. Maybe I'm just observant."
"Well then maybe you can observe us a way to Ruby." Despite their casual conversation, Emma had only one thing in mind. She needed to get to Ruby, and she needed to get to her fast. These jokes were just a way to keep her from going insane, still unable to fully process what her professor had just told her.
"Are you mocking me?" Emma laughed at the playful tone in her voice.
"No, I'm not. Really. I'm not." She bit her lip before muttering, "You're a romantic. It's cute."
"I am not," she protested. "I just – " Regina cut off so abruptly, her eyes wide as she stared where Emma was not looking. "Emma..." she whispered.
"What?" She turned and saw the train tracks she hadn't known were there, the edge of town she had never seen. She turned and saw the bench, standing alone amidst a world of stillness. She turned and saw her best friend on her knees, face buried in her hands, limbs shaking, world crashing down. She turned and felt the tears in her eyes so quickly they might have been waiting to break through her whole life, waiting for this moment. She turned the keys in the car, slamming on the brakes. She undid her seatbelt, threw open her door, and sprinted faster than she ever had in her life. She slid into the dirt, brown sand staining her jeans, rocks ripping through the fabric. She didn't care.
"Ruby," she said softly, wrapping her arms around her friend as Ruby looked up. Her mascara was everywhere – hands, cheeks, streaming from her eyes. She looked faded. That happy glow that surrounded Ruby was gone. She was gone. "Ruby, I'm so sorry." Emma reached for her hands but she felt only ice. She slid her jacket off her shoulders and wrapped it tightly around her friend, who had not taken one moment to stop her sobbing.
Regina ran up now, her own jacket in her arms and over Ruby's in seconds.
"Ruby, come on. We're gonna take you home, okay?" Emma whispered, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I don't wanna go home," she whispered.
"Where do you want to go?" Regina asked, her eyes blurry as she knelt beside her girlfriend.
"Nowhere..." Ruby took a deep shuddering breath. "The only place I want to go isn't..." She broke again, falling forward into Emma's arms.
Emma started crying harder too. Because she knew. She knew what it was like to have nowhere to go, no hope to look for where your heart belonged. She had been alone her whole life, so yes, she knew. And she would not wish it on anyone. But here she was – helpless to protect her own friends from it.
"It's okay, Ruby," she whispered. "It's gonna be okay."
Emma buried her face in Ruby's hair. She could not bear to look at Regina. Regina was not supposed to know about her past. She was not supposed to see Emma this way. But there was a hand on her back, fingers cautious and comforting, fingers that meant Regina understood, no matter what Emma tried to hide from her.
"Regina?" She turned slowly towards her, and her girlfriend's face softened. "You have to call Belle," she said. "I don't know that there's anything I can do, but she might be able to..."
Regina nodded, slipping her hand into the pocket of Emma's coat and pulling out her phone. She almost turned away before running the back of her hand along Emma's cheeks and planting a firm kiss on her forehead. "I'll be right back," she whispered. "Will you be okay?"
Emma nodded. "I've got her," she replied softly.
Regina smiled, and it saved her. She started to breathe again, and now she could focus on Ruby. She tried to ignore the words that kept falling out of her mouth in between tears. "It wasn't supposed to be like this." But how could she just sit here and ignore it? To do so would be inhuman, but she couldn't sit here and listen to it because it was breaking her own heart.
Her hand moved slowly through Ruby's hair as she tried to keep her warm. She was losing it. Ruby's sobs were echoing through the empty air, reminding her of orphanages at night, of hiding under beds. She closed her eyes and grit her teeth and forced herself to shut it out.
Somewhere far away, she heard tires screeching in the dust, and two doors slammed. She looked up and saw her professor in her pajamas, hair unbrushed, tears running down her cheeks, looking so unprofessional that in any other circumstance it would have been humorous.
"Ruby..." Emma whispered. "Somebody's here for you."
Ruby dragged herself from her friend's arms and saw Belle, and there was a moment that passed between them that Emma did not have words for. Professor French was already on her knees, Ruby's face in her hands. "Don't you ever do that again," she said sternly, her voice cracking.
Ruby stared back at her, her eyes blank.
"Ruby Lucas, you promise me you will never ever do anything like this again. You need to run, you run to me. Do you understand?"
Ruby bit her lip and nodded, and Belle kissed her gently and wrapped her arms around her as if she would never get to do so again. "I love you," she whispered.
"I wanted her to meet you…" Ruby mumbled, and Belle kissed her hair lightly.
"I know."
"She didn't even know you existed, and now she'll never know. … And she'll never know that I'm sorry I yelled at her. … And she'll never make me a grilled cheese…" Belle's eyes were brimming with tears as she held Ruby closer. "And she'll never sit at that kitchen chair again. … And she's just gone. … And I don't understand why."
"Ssh…" Belle whispered, continuing to stroke Ruby's hair. She was at a loss for words, unable to find anything to say that would make the pain go away.
Emma turned to Regina, whose hand had found her shoulder. She stood up and allowed Regina to pull her behind her car. "Emma..." she started hesitantly, "you know you can tell me anything. I don't care if you killed someone in the past. I don't care if you spent eight years in jail. I don't care. I love you, and nothing will change that."
Emma nodded, shoving her hands in her pockets, staring determinedly at the sky. "I just don't want her to have to feel that."
"Feel what?" Regina muttered, almost as if she were afraid of the answer.
"Nothing."
"Emma, just tell me – "
"No, I mean nothing. I've felt it, Regina, and it sucks," she said quietly. "I don't want her to have to feel empty."
"I think she'll be okay," Regina said softly, taking a step closer. Fingers found their way into Emma's blonde curls. "It's you I worry about."
"I'm okay too," Emma shrugged.
Regina raised her eyebrows.
"Really. I am. I just – " She took a deep breath. "I have you now."
Regina wound her hands around Emma's waist and hugged her tightly. "You have me forever," she smiled before pressing her lips lightly to Emma's.
They stood there for a moment, Ashley still hovering by her car trying not to interfere. She was texting rapidly – Mary Margaret, no doubt.
From off in the distance, Emma saw headlights approaching, speeding down the road. She covered her eyes until they were off, and Mary Margaret and David stepped out of his truck. Seconds later, August rode up on his motorcycle, and finally, Graham pulled up behind them in his dad's car.
Mary Margaret was running forward, but before she could see Belle, Emma stepped in front of her and shook her head.
"But – "
David put a cautious hand on her shoulder. Mary Margaret threw him a look, and he dropped his grip, his fingers brushing against hers before he shoved them in his jacket pockets.
"Mary Margaret, I think we should leave her for now. Just trust me. You should all go home. Regina and I will make sure she gets back."
"Why should you get to stay?" Mary Margaret whispered, anger and exhaustion seeping through her words. "You've known Ruby for three months. She has been my best friend since first grade. You think you care more about her than I do?! Do you think you'll be able to help her?! You've never even met her granny!"
Emma sighed heavily. "Okay, I'm sorry. You can stay. But the rest of you need to go."
"Absolutely not," Graham roared. "If Regina's allowed to stay, then I'm staying."
"I'm not going anywhere either," Ashley protested, stepping next to Graham with her arms crossed. August joined them a second later, holding his bike helmet to his hip.
"I can leave if you want," David said. "I know I don't know Ruby well enough to be here. I just want to be sure she's all right." His eyes wandered onto the back of Mary Margaret's head, and Emma rolled her eyes and looked at Regina, who shrugged.
"You guys do know it's four in the morning, right?" Emma was on her last chance, desperately trying to keep Ruby's secret.
"Emma, we're not going anywhere," Graham said. "So you can stop."
"This is ridiculous," Mary Margaret huffed, pushing her way past Emma. "I'm not leaving her on her own."
She stopped as soon as she was past the car. Her hand slowly moved to cover her mouth, and she looked back at Emma, her eyes wide in shock. The blonde walked around her roommate and hurriedly crouched beside her English professor.
"You might want to go before anyone else finds out," she whispered.
"No," Belle replied firmly, her eyes resolute. "I am not leaving her. Not like this. Not ever."
"No..." Ruby mumbled, sitting up slowly as if from a trance and locking eyes with Belle. She appeared to have only heard one word. "Please. Don't go. … Don't leave me."
Belle's fingers slid gently into Ruby's hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Ruby. I promise." She smiled and gripped her hand. "But I think," she paused delicately, "I think we should get you somewhere warm." She ran her hand slowly along Ruby's cheek.
"Warm?" Ruby echoed.
The smallest of smiles worked its way onto Belle's lips again. "Can you stand?"
Emma watched as Belle cautiously tried to get Ruby to her feet. She reached for Ruby's hand, and her friend looked up at her while she pulled.
For one second, Ruby was standing in front of Emma biting her lip. And then she wrapped her arms around Emma, and Emma wrapped her arms around Ruby. It was short, but that didn't matter. Emma understood.
Ruby pulled back and put her hand in Belle's, and the teacher kissed her temple firmly, not caring that everyone was now looking.
Ruby seemed to have calmed down, but she still looked as though she was holding something back. It took a moment for Emma to realize Mary Margaret was standing beside her, her eyes moving slowly between Ruby and Belle.
Ruby looked at her best friend and shrugged lightly, leaning into her love's side.
"I – uh – " Ruby started, but she didn't know how to finish.
"Are you okay?" Mary Margaret cut her off.
Belle gripped her hand tighter. "No," Ruby replied. "But I'll be fine. Sooner or later."
"I'm guessing you're going home with...?"
Ruby looked at Belle with a questioning stare, and Belle turned to Mary Margaret. "Yes, she is." They were still eyeing each other up. "You can call me Belle, by the way. As long as I'm not in class." She put on a kind face, trying to make an effort for her girlfriend. "I've heard a lot about you."
"R – really?"
"Of course. Your professors are very impressed by you. And Ruby talks about you a lot."
Mary Margaret looked completely out of her element, and it was only when a gust of wind blew them all into ice that Belle led Ruby to Ashley's car. Before Ruby got in, she slid off Emma and Regina's coats as Graham wrapped his around Ashley's shoulders.
"Really, Graham. I'm driving them home in two minutes. I'll be all right."
"Just take it, Ashley. I mean, you're rooming for two now, so..."
Belle shifted her focus back to Emma and Regina, who had come up to her girlfriend's side. She made sure Ruby was buckled in the car before shutting the door lightly and whispering, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Emma nodded. "Just … make sure Ruby knows that I'm not mad she didn't tell me." Her eyes moved slowly to Regina before jerking back to Belle. "I get it."
"I'll tell her," Belle promised. Emma took a deep breath as Regina brushed her fingers lightly against hers. She grabbed the door handle but didn't open it, turning back to Emma. "She was never angry with you either. She was frustrated about our situation, but she was never angry at you. Mary Margaret may have been her friend the longest, but she's told me I don't even know how many times that you're her closest."
And with that, Belle opened the door, slid in beside Ruby, and leaned her love's head on her shoulder.
Ruby closed her eyes, knowing she was finally going to be all right. Maybe not for a long time, but as long as Belle was by her side, she would be all right.
Outside the car, Emma was herding everyone from the scene, trying to calm them all down as they overreacted, and Ashley climbed into the front seat of her car, the first to drive away.
It took ten minutes to get them all to leave, and finally, a yellow bug pulled from the train tracks, leaving them as far behind as possible.
Belle opened her eyes, feeling a brief moment of panic as she remembered the events that took place only a few hours ago. She released a breath, relaxing instantly at the sight of Ruby sleeping next to her. Her body was pressed against Belle's, her arm lay limp over the professors waist. Her breathing had calmed. She was no longer twitching violently in her sleep, calling out for her grandmother.
Belle brushed her fingers across Ruby's cheek. She smiled when the younger girl twitched at the touch. Her fingers moved slowly, tucking Ruby's dark hair behind her ear. She watched her for a moment. Sleeping so soundly. Finally at peace. At least for a little while.
She frowned at the thought of what Ruby would have to face soon. Going back home to an empty house. Going through paperwork. Dealing with funeral arrangements. It was too much for someone to handle alone. She continued to stroke Ruby's hair as her mind raced with an internal battle. She didn't care about the consequences any longer. Hell, all of Ruby's friends already knew about them. Why try and hide it now? She wanted to be there for her girlfriend. She refused to let her do this alone.
Her head turned at the sound of her phone vibrating on her dresser. She noticed the time and clenched her teeth. She knew who was calling before she even picked up the phone. She slowly moved Ruby's arm from her waist, picked up the phone, and stood from the bed. She slid her finger across the screen and brought the phone to her ear.
"Hey, dad," she greeted, her voice low as to not wake up Ruby. She wrapped her arm around her midsection as she listened to the man on the other line. "Yes, I know." She paused as he continued to speak, rolling her eyes slightly as she stared up at the ceiling. "Dad, I'm sorry I didn't call, but something happened and I couldn't leave." She looked down at her feet, shuffling them back and forth. "Listen, there's some things I need to take care of, but I promise I'll be home by Christmas."
Her father continued to speak and Belle listened without bothering to interrupt him. She jumped slightly when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. She smiled when Ruby pressed her lips to her shoulder, squeezing her tight. Her eyes closed when Ruby's lips trailed up her neck stopping just underneath her ear. She turned in her love's arms. Ruby looked exhausted, her eyes puffy from crying, but she was still beautiful. Belle smiled, touching her cheek.
"Who is it?" Ruby mouthed curiously.
"My father," Belle returned. Her attention turned away from Ruby for a brief moment indicating her father had stopped talking. "Dad, I have to go, but I will be home by Christmas." She locked eyes with Ruby, the small smile growing slightly. "And I'm bringing someone with me."
Ruby squinted, confused for a moment before smiling back. She pointed at herself and Belle nodded.
"Okay, okay. I love you too. I'll call you as soon as I'm on my way to you. Bye." She hung up the phone, wrapping her arms around Ruby's neck. "Are you okay?"
Ruby nodded. "As okay as I can be." She laced her fingers together behind Belle's back. "You know I have to go home before I go anywhere else."
"I know." Belle shifted her hands, resting them on Ruby's shoulders. "I'm going with you."
The surprise registered on Ruby's face immediately. "Really?"
"Really." She touched her face. "There is no way in hell I'm letting you do this alone." She kissed her lightly. "I will be with you every step of the way."
Ruby pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you so much."
Belle lightly ran her fingers up and down the back of Ruby's neck. "I love you too."
Ruby closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her touch. "I'm sorry about last night." She leaned back to look into Belle's eyes. "I just—" She sighed. "I just still can't believe she's gone."
"I know, sweetheart."
Ruby felt as if she was going to cry once again. She leaned into Belle's touch. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Belle smiled. "Well, you'll never have to find out." Her thumb caressed her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere." She chuckled lightly. "All your friends know so you're pretty much stuck with me now." She hoped her comment would lighten the mood, but she saw the change in Ruby's expression. She went from sadness to worry within seconds.
"They won't say anything, Belle," she promised, the panic lacing her voice. Even though Belle said she wasn't going anywhere, Ruby couldn't help but fear she would. Especially now that everything was out in the open. "I'll call them and make sure, but—"
Belle placed her finger over Ruby's lips silencing her. "It's okay, Ruby," she assured her. "I know your friends are loyal to you. I'm not worried about them saying anything." She moved her finger away, brushing her fingers against her chin. "All I'm concerned with is you and what you are about to deal with. That's all that matters." She rested hands on Ruby's cheeks, looking into her tired eyes. "You should rest a bit more. We'll leave when you're ready."
Ruby flashed her puppy dog look. "Will you lay down with me?"
Belle smiled. "Of course."
They walked back to the bed and laid down. Ruby immediately wrapped Belle in her arms, snuggling impossibly close. Her lips brushed against her neck, placing a small kiss on her pulse point. Belle held her close, her hand stroking her hair to comfort her. Ruby remained still, her eyes closed, and her breathing steady. She had fallen back asleep quickly, her grip on Belle tight refusing to let her move.
Belle place a small kiss to her head as she continued to stroke her hair. She stared up at the ceiling, her mind starting to race once again. She had a month to figure out what her next step would be. She knew in her heart that Ruby's friends would remain quiet. She wasn't worried about them. Eventually, someone would find out. Someone who wouldn't remain quiet and that's when Belle would have to make her final decision. She turned her head slightly to look at Ruby again and smiled. Regardless of what would happen to her career, to her life, she would stay with Ruby forever.