18 - Like A Sizzle To A Flame

Cinder stared at her phone trying to find the words to say. She had been wanting to ask the question for a while and could never find the right time or words to do so, but when she woke up in the morning she found the resolve to finally do it. Outside her room the shuffling of other residents coming and going was enough to be the right level of distracting to cause Cinder to be frustrated, losing her concentration. With a growl, she rolled over and hit play on the small CD player on the nightstand next to her bed and rolled back with a dramatic flop.

"What if she thinks we already are and me asking is weird and makes her think I wasn't interested in her before? Ugghhh…" Cinder's voice was raspy but lately talking didn't make her cough as much. She closed her eyes and spread her arms out to hang her right arm off the side of her bed. "Or what if she thinks we're just friends and I ruin that by asking her?" The internal debate had started to spill over from her mind and form into words. With a huff she sat up and grabbed her phone from the bed next to her and started trying to type out the message again. The entire morning she tried to pick the right way to ask but kept stumbling over herself.

'Hey Ruby, I was wondering if you would like to go out with me? We should go on a date to a restaurant this Thursday.'

Too wordy. It sounded wrong. Cinder deleted the message to start over.

'Will you go on a date with me Thursday?'

Still not right. She sighed and deleted it all again.

'Would you like to go out to dinner on Thursday?'

Cinder's finger hovered over the send button as she debated if this was the best way to ask it when a muscle twitch made her tap the screen, sending it anyway. Panic rose up in her stomach and tightened. She tossed her phone to the end of her bed and rolled over to hide her face in her pillow while she lamented that she couldn't delete the message. It wasn't long before a buzz sounded out alerting her to a new message. She pushed herself up and scooted across her bed to grab her phone. Deep breath. She unlocked it and checked the message.

'Like a real date? Should I dress up? What time is it and where are we going? Oh! What are you going to wear? Should we go shopping for dresses first? It's going to be inside with air conditioning, right? That was really scary when you got heat sick.'

A huge wave of relief washed over Cinder and she fell backward on her bed, phone in hand. 'I'm assuming that's a yes? We can go on a real date and dress up and everything.' She stared at her phone and smiled.

'Does that mean you're my girlfriend?'

Cinder blushed when she read the message, her smile growing larger. 'I guess it does. Are you okay with that, Red?'

'YES'

Cinder could only laugh.

Ruby rushed to her feet, leaned over grabbing her crutches, and moved as quickly as she could manage through the house in search of Yang, phone in hand. She hadn't bothered getting dressed yet, still in her sleep pants and a tank top with her hair a mess.

With a knock on Yang's bedroom door with her crutch, the door swung open. Not in her room. Ruby continued down and emerged from the hall to the living room and didn't see her sister in there or the dining area either. It only took a quick glance to see she wasn't in the kitchen either meaning she had to be in the garage. A quick trip back around from the kitchen and through the living room to the garage alerted her to the sound of metal grinding starting up. Of course, Yang had to be messing around in the garage on one of her projects again. Ruby approached, careful of the sparks flying off of the metal grinder and waved a crutch in her peripheral vision to catch her sister's attention.

The grinder turned off. "Huh? What is it?" Yang asked when Ruby finally caught her attention. She set the metal grinder aside and lifted her goggles. "I'm almost done restoring the motorcycle frame," she grinned.

Ruby tapped out a message for Yang. 'Cinder asked me out! On an actual date!'

With a laugh, Yang pulled her gloves off and reached over to muss up Ruby's hair. "It's about time one of you did it. I told you she was interested, didn't I?"

Ruby huffed and scrunched her nose, reaching up to try and smooth her hair down again. 'We have a date Thursday and idk what to do or wear or bring or anything.'

Yang couldn't help but grin. "Alright, well, where are you two going?"

'I don't know'

"Might want to find out first and then we can work from there. And we can always go get you something after physical therapy tomorrow, too." Yang finished taking her goggles off and wiped her brow on the back of her hand. "Besides, it's always good to have a nice dress on hand if you need it."

Ruby slowly nodded and turned back to head inside. 'I'll find out where and what time.' She held the message up for Yang and went inside shutting the door behind her, and flopped onto the couch to message Cinder back. 'Where are we going and what should I wear?'

'I… didn't think this far ahead.'

'lol, but really, where should we go?'

'Well, was there anywhere that you wanted to go?'

Ruby rested her head back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling while she tried to think of where the two of them should go. It was only a few seconds after when Ruby's phone buzzed again with a message.

'We're going to the Plum Tree Grille at 7.'

'Is that the one across from that music instrument store?'

'Yes! Is that alright?'

'I've never been there. We get to dress up though, right?' Ruby had only heard of the restaurant before and had a rough idea of where it was. That area of town wasn't somewhere she went often since it always seemed like one of the richer areas of the city.

'Of course! I also have some good news but I want to wait until then to tell you. And before you ask, I'm not going to share it tomorrow at therapy, either. It'll be on our date.'

Ruby frowned. She was impatient and wanted to know but knew better than to pester Cinder about it. 'Alriiiiight.' She pulled herself up and grabbed her crutches to head back out to talk to Yang again.

Time seemed to drag on as both Ruby and Cinder waited for the time for their date to arrive. They messaged back and forth the whole rest of the day before therapy talking about what they were thinking of ordering as they looked over the menu together, sending pictures they found online of the restaurant to determine what all was around the area, whether they wanted to eat inside or on the patio. Despite Ruby's insistence otherwise, Cinder said they should keep what they were going to wear a secret until the actual date. Both of them had a difficult time sleeping that night from the excitement.

The next day wasn't much better in quelling the anticipation they felt for the following night. Therapy flew by in a blur and the two kept sharing knowing glances and smiles which Woolsey shrugged and smiled at. He could tell from the start of Cinder's session that something had happened and that Ruby was going to be just as unfocused. While the exercises and therapy were important, he also knew that keeping their spirits up was just as important and let it slide. Both girls more or less finished their exercises and he was willing to call it good and let them do their own thing a bit early.

Both girls got picked up, Cinder going in the shuttle seemingly heading back home, and Ruby with Yang to the shops to pick out an outfit to wear. Their messaging stayed consistent, neither letting the other in on what they were really doing, both unable to contain their excitement.

The night of the date, both girls went quiet hours before it as they got ready, neither wanting to mess anything up.

Cinder watched Ruby climb out of Yang's truck and approach her, almost speechless with what she wore. Black straps went over her shoulders leaving her arms exposed, swooping into a v-neck to let just a bit more skin show. The contrast between the color of her skin and the color of the neck and shoulders of the dress caused Ruby's features to stand out. Her eyes shined brightly with the lowering sun. Soft pink fabric ran from bust line to knees on her, adorned with patches of pink and black roses that held a very retro look that made her look that much cuter. A black waistband held it tight to her frame making the a-line style give Ruby an added mature look that caused Cinder to blush when she approached. "You look beautiful," she managed to get out and stepped closer to her, careful to not step on what looked to be a new shoe; a round-toe black flat.

Ruby smiled with a soft blush when she heard Cinder's words. Cinder's own dress held much of the same framing effect, pulled tighter with a high waist to make an a-line shape, and accentuating her curves despite the compression wraps beneath. Cinder felt lucky to have found something with lace sleeves long enough to cover her left arm that fits over the wraps. The three quarter cut on the sleeves wasn't easy to find as most of what she found was strapless or sleeveless with no arms. The dress was a more conservative cut around the neck and extended to just below the knee. She couldn't help but compare what she had picked out to Ruby's dress and felt embarrassed.

"Be safe you two. Message me and let me know when you need a ride." Yang waved to Cinder and Ruby and took off leaving the two girls in front of the restaurant.

"Our reservation should be ready," Cinder whispered and smiled again to Ruby who grinned in return. "It's a bit warm out so I picked inside for us if that's okay."

Ruby nodded, remembering the incident.

A visible look of relief spread on Cinder's face. "Alright, then, shall we?" She walked to the door and opened it for Ruby to enter before following her inside. A blast of air-conditioned air hit them when they passed through the door and they both felt relieved to be out of the lingering daytime heat. A hostess stood at a podium just inside and she smiled at the two. "It should be under 'Fall' for two at seven?"

"Fall, Fall, Fall… Yes, right here." The woman turned to look out over the tables in the dining area and turned back. "A little early, but… Looks like they just cleared the table you requested. If you'll follow me?"

As the two were led to their table, they passed through the main dining floor, a dozen tables spread out with various patrons enjoying their meals. Light filtered in from overhead through different stained glass skylights that left the dining area in an almost magical state when combined with the bright mosaic patterns of the floor tiling. Ruby and Cinder tried to take in as much as they could before they were led to a set of three stairs leading up to a raised section containing the booth seating. Each booth had a window that would have looked out onto the patio seating, but the view was obscured with a stained glass pattern of flowers. Soft light illuminated the table from an overhead inset light fixture.

Cinder helped Ruby slide into the seat back against the wall and set her crutches aside to lean against the wall behind them. She followed suit and sat across from Ruby and they both turned to look up at the hostess.

"Here's our menus, our drink menu, and a list of the specials we have this evening. Please, take your time, enjoy, and someone will be by to take your drink order."

The girls nodded in thanks and turned to each other when the hostess left to shyly smile at one another. They dug through their handbags to take their phones out and started talking.

'You look so pretty! That dress is amazing!' Ruby typed as fast as she could and grinned at Cinder who could only blush.

'Thanks. I think I look a little silly in it, but I'm happy you like it. Yours is beautiful. You look so good in it.'

It was Ruby's turn to blush. They sat for a moment and smiled at each other, the small changes in their expressions, the movements of their eyes, or their nose, or small winks carrying the conversation more than words could. Each understood the playful meaning with each change of expression, having developed a non-verbal method of communication between just the two of them over the time they'd known each other.

Finally, Ruby had to ask, though. 'What's the news you wanted to tell me?'

Cinder gazed at Ruby and despite all the times she practiced wording how she wanted to say the thing she still drew a blank on it. She opted to just say it plainly instead. 'The insurance payments for my grandma's house insurance and life insurance went through.'

Ruby lifted her head and raised her brows, tilting her chin slightly, and was met with a nod from Cinder.

'I can finally move out of the home soon.'

Ruby bounced on her seat and grinned. 'Yay! That's exciting! Do you know where you want to look? Or have you started looking yet? Oh! If you moved closer, we can spend more time together! Or I can take a bus or something and see you! Are you going to get a house?'

Cinder smiled at Ruby's excitement but the weight of what it took for that money to come through still hit her. 'It is exciting, but the house insurance money is for rebuilding the house.'

'So you already have a house!'

'Sort of. It's not much of a house right now, I'm told. It needs to be torn down and rebuilt after the fire. But, I will have one. Eventually.' Cinder's attention was pulled away to the man approaching the table.

"Hello, my name is Ezra and I'll be your server this evening. Can I start you two off with any drinks?"

'Strawberry lemonade' Ruby held her phone up for Ezra to read and nodded with a smile.

"Orange iced tea, please."

"Of course. I'll have those for you in just a moment."

Ruby and Cinder smiled at each other while their drink order was being filled.

Cinder smiled as she watched Ruby finish her meal. With the sun dipping below the horizon, the strings of lights around the outdoor patio ensured the stained glass glowed soft color in. They remained mostly silent while they ate, sharing glances and expressions only the two of them understood. They both picked out the same dish; the citrus-marinated grilled chicken which came with garlic green beans and rice pilaf. They had pored over the menu and picked out a half dozen dishes they wanted to try and made a list for future trips, but wanted to start with the grilled chicken because the balsamic raspberry drizzle that was served over it sounded too good to not have.

Ezra walked to the table and motioned to their half-empty drinks and asked if they needed a refill or wanted to see the dessert menu to which both girls shook their heads. He smiled and left them, moving to the next table.

"I don't even have room for dessert," Cinder spoke softly and leaned her head back against the seat with a laugh. Ruby looked to her and smiled. "I know, you always have room for dessert, but I thought we could maybe go to the coffee place not far from here after this. If you're up for it. It should be a lot cooler out now."

Ruby finished the last couple of bites of her meal and let out a content sigh and nodded to Cinder. She reached for her phone and messaged her. 'Well, since you insisted on paying for dinner, I'll get us coffee. Yang put a little of my settlement stuff in my checking to play with yesterday.'

"Is that what you got your dress with?"

Ruby frowned and shook her head. 'No, she insisted on paying for it.'

"That was sweet of her, though."

'It was, but she's also been saving up to restore a motorcycle she's always wanted and I know the money for the dress came out of the money for her motorcycle.'

Cinder was quiet and wasn't sure what to say to that. She knew that awkward feeling of being put first before others and the sense of guilt that came with it. It was the same thing her grandmother did, but she only started to notice it as she got older.

'I didn't mean to bring us down.'

"Oh, no, you're fine. I was just- My grandma would do the same thing with me. Maybe we can think of something to do for Yang later, though." Cinder smiled.

The two girls looked up as Ezra approached the table again and set a black bill presenter on the table. "For whenever you're ready," he said. Cinder turned to grab her bag and pulled out her wallet, slipping her bank card into the holder and handed it to Ezra before he could leave. "I'll be right back with this."

'Do you think the coffee place will have cookies?'

Cinder read the message and tried to hold in her laugh but only snorted before laughing out loud. "If they don't, we'll find you some."

Ruby sat contented with her overly caffeinated hot chocolate and giant cookie at a metal table outside the coffee shop. Both she and Cinder were happy to find the coffee shop was also a small bakery with an assortment of pastries and sweets they offered alongside coffee, making note of the place to return sometime later together.

"Hey, um, Ruby?" Cinder asked, trying to get her attention as she sat in a chair right next to her so they could idly watch the various cars go by.

Ruby looked to her with crumbs on her face which made Cinder smile.

"Thank you for doing this with me. Going out with me. Err-" She stumbled over her words, trying to find the right way to say it. "I know people are put off by how I look. My legs and side and arm, or what's left of my arm anyway, and part of my face are always going to be scarred and it's hard."

Ruby tucked the rest of her cookie into the paper bag it came in and grabbed one of the paper napkins from inside to wipe her face and hands-free of crumbs. She reached for her phone.

"I know people are always going to stare. But you know about that, too. Sorry. I'm not saying this right. I mean, tonight, dressing up like this, it- It means a lot. Tonight made me feel a lot better. So, um… Thank you." Cinder sighed, giving up on trying to explain since she couldn't get the words out in a non-messy way.

'Don't be sorry! I know what you meant.'

Cinder smiled at Ruby and she set her coffee on the table, no longer needing the extra sensation to focus on while she babbled out words. Ruby had a look on her face that Cinder couldn't quite interpret. Before she could ask, Ruby typed out a message.

'Can I kiss you?'

The four words brought an instant flush to Cinder's cheeks and she had to read them three times over to make sure she read it right. Not saying a word, she nodded and nervously leaned in. Ruby set her phone on the table and did the same, closing her eyes as her face neared Cinder's own. Warm breath brushed against her lips the closer she got, and the heat coming from Cinder's face caused Ruby's cheeks to flush.

For Cinder, the buildup to the kiss felt like an eternity. No thoughts went through her head the closer her face was to Ruby. The faint scent of chocolate and fruity perfume was enough to make her breath hitch in her throat. Their lips finally touched, warm and soft, and Cinder's heart raced. She knew Ruby's was, too, from the way she reached a hand out to hold Cinder's hand.

And the kiss was over in an instant. The two girls leaned back, still holding hands, and were quiet as they looked at each other with nervous smiles. Neither one wanted to say anything right away because they both knew that whatever was said would be more awkward than anything else they had ever said to each other before. Instead, Cinder scooted her chair closer to Ruby and leaned over to rest her head on her shoulder while they both enjoyed the moment.