Bam had a very specific idea in mind when it came to Ruby and Ville.
When the video wasn't focused on shots of the band playing the actual song, it was shots of them. Ruby was like a suicidal widow, constantly haunted by the ghost of her dead love that was Ville.
Every time they worked together, their hormones and emotions would go haywire. Each one was so confused about the others feelings after this past year that they were constantly sending mixed signals to each other. To Ville, one moment Ruby's eyes were full of desire and longing, and then next they would be cold and uncertain.
He would watch as Ruby roamed the gardens of the mansion, surrounded by red roses that shied away from her beauty. She was a fiery symbol of love among their petaled faces, and it almost hurt to look at her.
Bam, Jasper, and the rest of the team were constantly at the edge of their seats, ready and waiting to see how they would react around each other next. It was almost amusing, like knowing your two friends desperately wanted each other but both were too afraid to admit it.
Bam would direct scenes where they had to be right up on each other, just for the sheer tension of it. It made for some interesting footage.
"So.. how have things been?" Ruby asked as they danced in circles in the ornate ballroom.
"Well uh-" Ville began, before Bam yelled "QUIET ON SET. VILLE. HOLD HER CLOSE, DAMMIT."
Jasper and Janiel were spotted holding their hands over their giggling mouths, their faces turning red.
Ruby tried to catch their attention, sending a smoldering death stare across the distance, but let out a little yelp as Ville yanked her forward, pressing their bodies together as they continued to glide in dizzying circles.
Ruby slowly raised her eyes to Ville's face. He was looking down at her, his forest eyes trapping her in an emerald prison. Her heart started to race. The high, lace collar of her dress started to feel itchy and restraining, and the corset around her waist felt like it was shrinking around her rib cage.
(THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT she could hear Bam yelling, echoing in the distance although he was only about 30 feet away)
Ville tilted his head. Slowly, he lowered his mouth to her ear. She heard a delicate sound as his lips parted. He opened his mouth to say something, and his sweet, hot breathe came in contact with the delicate skin on her neck, sending her nerve endings reeling.
The vibrations from his throat echoed into her subconscious, but nothing was registered as sparkling lights flooded her vision, and she went limp in his arms.
(What the hell just happened)
(Get her out of that dress)
(Is she breathing)
(Ruby)
(Should we call an ambulance)
(Just wait a moment)
"You are..."
(Did she just say something)
"...My sunshine..."
(Ruby)
"My only... sunshine.. "
(Ruby)
Ruby slowly opened her eyes. She felt cold, except for the side of her face, that felt like it was on fire. She looked down at her torso that was laid out on the marble ballroom floor, and saw that she was out of her dress, and just in the black slip she wore underneath. She realized that Ville's hand was at the side of her face, and that's where the heat was radiating from. Her hand found it's way to his, but she felt numb, like a ghost under water.
"Are you alright darling?"
Ruby's lips moved, but her voice felt just as transparent as her hand that held onto Ville.
Ville lowered his ear to her mouth.
He chuckled.
"She wants to know if you got your shot, Bam-bam."
"Sure fuckin' did."
Ruby closed her eyes, a small smile on her face.
It was the last day of filming, and Bam was working with the team to get some wrap up shots in the garden.
Robert had already gone home for the day, and Jasper and Janiel were sitting outside in the cool autumn air. The sun was starting to get low on the horizon, and it cast a deep orange glow around everything.
Ville hadn't seen Ruby for a while now, but he had a suspicion as to where she was.
He entered the house, and sure enough, he could hear her guitar's music floating down from the second story.
Quietly, he went to the second floor and crept down the hallway towards the music. As on the first day that he had arrived, it had suddenly stopped when he drew near.
He looked around the doorway, and there she was.
Ruby was still in her costume dress. She was sitting in the same chair from the first day, and her guitar was resting in her lap.
She was gazing out the window, and that's when Ville noticed that she was crying. Silent tears streamed down her face and neck, staining the collar of the dress.
When she suddenly moved, Ville lurched back out of view, his heart pounding.
He heard Ruby pluck at a couple of strings. And then she started to play.
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me and love another
You'll regret it all some day
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me and love another
You have shattered all of my dreams
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I awake my poor heart pains
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
As the guitar's sound died down, Ville could hear Ruby start to sob.
Every day. She thought, every damn day she has been playing this song, and she had nothing to show for it. Every damn day for over a year, she played this song when the sun set. And here she was. Some nights she wanted to smash her guitar against the wall. Other nights she had plans to fly out to Finland and apologize to Ville for not playing the correct song, because she had been scared.
Ruby suddenly stood, and started to bolt towards the door. Ville panicked, not wanting her to know that he had been eavesdropping, and stumbled into a different room.
Ruby stomped down the hallway, tears stinging her eyes. She dragged her guitar by the neck behind her.
As she went to descend the stairs, her shoes caught on the hem of her dress.
She tried to reach out and catch the banister, but her fingers slipped, and her other hand was still holding her instrument.
As Ruby watched herself fall in slow motion, Ville's face was the only thing that was in her mind.
The weight of her body carried her over the stair railing, and the last thing she saw was the curling veins in the first floor marble tile before everything went black.
She hadn't even screamed on her way down, only sucking in a sharp breathe as she braced herself for the impending impact.
Ville, who was still hiding in another room, his heart pounding, heard a horrendous medley of crushing and cracking.
He raced out of the room, and it wasn't until he was at the bottom of the stairs that he saw her - guitar neck snapped, her arm twisted at an unnatural angle, and a pool of blood forming underneath her head.
As Ruby slowly faded out of consciousness, Ville's scent and presence swirled around her, enveloping her soul in a warm and welcome protection.
