"So what do you think", Ruby said and reached for the potato chips bag, lying on the floor next to Chases bed. She then rolled over on her stomach, took as much potato chips as she could fit in her left hand, and rolled back on her back still holding the phone in a tight grip with her right hand.

"I think your mom's a stupid bitch, and she doesn't deserve you"

"Samy!!"

"I'm just trying to make you feel better"

"Well don't, I NEED honesty" Ruby could hear her best friend sigh on the other end.

"Well….do you know how expensive this phone call is"

"Don't change the subject"

"Like….your dad's gonna be mad….like really mad", Ruby froze when she heard those words. Sam just called Robert her DAD. She knew it was true but….she still didn't really see him as her "daddy". But obviously Sam did.

"Rubes…Ruby?!", Sam shouted loudly in her ear.

"Auuuu…what?"

"You got so quiet….I was worried"

"Oh well never mind, hey how are things there?"

"Aum….there…."

"Has Todd said anything about me? Does he miss me?", Ruby sat up.

"Ruby…."

"What?"

"Todd….he took Emily to the dance….and they were seen….kissing, although that's just a rumor, they probably just went a…."

"As friends?"

"Yeah probably"

"I doubt it….I should hang up now"

"Ok….well….bye, I miss you"

"I miss you too….bye" Ruby hang up and stared into the wall for a few seconds, before pulling her feet up onto the bed, and crying loudly and long.

"Some friend you are Em" she whispered silently and lay her head down on Chases pillow with tears streaming down her face, for hours on end.

"Hey Rubes", Chase said insecurely when Ruby slowly walked into the kitchen. She could feel yesterdays words hanging in the air. Chase was still wondering about the meaning of them. But Ruby had no idea what she meant. She was just trying to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"Hey", Ruby mumbled, staring at her shoes.

"And how are you today?", Chase asked in an attempt to be polite.

"I'm okay", she said, giving him a vague smile and stroking a lock of hair from her face. Chase responded the smile, but it quickly went away when he got a close look at her face.

"Have you been crying?"

"No….I just….I have a cold", she said, trying to give him a meaningless smile, to insure him that everything was ok.

"O….k" Chase was silent for a while "What do you want for dinner today?"

"Nothing…."

"Nothing?"

"….in particular" Ruby gave him the first sincere smile of the day "I usually like whatever you come up with"

"Thanks….I guess"

"I'm gonna go out"

"Ok….where?"

"Just out…see what's happening…."

"Usually not a lot but….have fun"

"I will", Ruby grabbed her jacket from a hanger by the front door, then slammed the door behind her and leaned against it. She let out a sigh of relief and tried her hardest not to cry again. At that moment, she wished she would have somewhere to be and someone to talk to. Her mom was so tired all the time and she couldn't tell Chase about Todd. That would just be….embarrassing. He didn't even know she had a boyfriend. There was always Sam of course. But she was in Australia. So who could she talk to….

"Hi doctor House"

"Hello girl who's name I don't remember"

"Ruby"

"Hi Rachel, what can I do for you?"

"Right…well…I was wondering….can we talk?"

"I thought we were"

"It's about my boyfriend….", She said quickly. House looked up with an insinuation to interest showing in his eyes.

"Go on"

"Hetookoneofmybestfriendstodanceandsomepeoplesawthemkissing"

"Can you repeat that"

"He….Todd took my best friend to our annual school dance….and some people said….that they saw them….kissing"

"Ok….well do you trust this….Todd….person?"

"….I should say yes…."

"but….you're not going to"

"He's popular….and I like him…and he likes me….I thought he did", Ruby sat down instantly, when she felt the tears coming again. Houses brain was going on overdrive just trying to come up with something comforting to say.

"Maybe….maybe this is for the best"

"How?", Ruby looked up.

"Maybe…and just maybe….this guy's a douche"

"Yeah probably….but I like him, I think I'm in love with him", Ruby said. House shook his head.

"I don't think you are"

"What does love feel like?"

"….It's a pointless feeling….a lot of people seem to like it though….and whatever you feel for Tom…."

"Todd….and It doesn't matter, I don't even like him anymore"

"You don't….?", House turned to look at her.

"He's a douche"

"Yeah….he is….but then again maybe he and that girl…."

"I think they've been seeing each other for a while now", she pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees.

"I see", House said after a moment of silence.

"I should go"

"You don't have to…General hospitals on in a few minutes"

"What's that"

"You never watched General hospital?" House looked stunned.

"No…."

"Well….", House gestured towards his TV. Ruby thought for a while but then shook her head.

"I should go", she got up.

"Ruth…."

"It's Ruby"

"Whatever"

"I'm gonna go"

"Call me when your 18"

"What's that supposed to mean"

"What do you think it means?"

"That I should call you when I'm 18"

"That's what it means"

"….So I'm going now"

"I'm not stopping you"

"But I'll be back"

"So your stalking ME now"

"Obviously"

"Why?"

"Because….because I want to"

"Hmm"

"….and it's less creepy when I do it", Ruby closed the door. House smiled.