"I have a surprise for you."
Ruby rolled her eyes and shut the window leaving Bae standing alone in the street, head hung in defeat. He heaved a sigh and turned on his heel, kicking himself for thinking he had even the slightest chance with Ruby.
Creak.
Bae jumped at the sound and turned to see Ruby shutting the front door behind her.
"It's not my birthday 'til next week," Ruby smirked, hooking her arm around Bae's. She rested her head on his shoulder as they walked and smiled coquettishly, "Now what's this I hear about a surprise?"
"C'mon," Bae grinned, quickening his pace.
The surprise, it turned out, was a candlelit picnic in a clearing just outside the village.
"I've never had champagne before," Ruby giggled as Bae poured her a glass.
"No, nor have I," Bae remarked, setting the bottle down.
Ruby took a tentative sip and smiled appreciatively. She took another sip and looked around, a frown replacing her smile. "But—how does a shop boy afford all of this?"
"I-I'm not a shop boy."
"Mmmm, I heard. I'm sorry. I hope I wasn't…," Ruby took another delicate sip of her champagne. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'm not a shop boy. I was just working in a shop but now…now I'm not," Bae nodded, "Now, I'm free to do as I wish."
Ruby's frown deepened. "This must have been all your savings."
"Doesn't matter," Bae said , sitting back on his heels. "I can make more—that's the beauty of it. It was never my intention to stay in Wall. There's a big world out there and I want to see it…make my fortune."
"You sound like Graham now," Ruby smiled serenely. "He's quite the traveler. Did you know that he's going all the way to Ipswich just to buy me a ring?"
"Ipswich," Bae laughed, "Ruby, I'm talking London or Paris or—wait…a ring? Why would he…."
The grin slid off Bae's face as realization dawned on him.
"Word is he's going to propose to me on my birthday," Ruby beamed, clearly thrilled by the prospect.
"And you're going to say yes?"
"Well, I can't say no," Ruby scoffed. "Especially after he's gone all the way to Ipswich."
"'All the way to Ipswich'?"
Ruby nodded.
"Ruby, for your hand in marriage, I'd cross oceans or continents. I-I-I'd bring you back…your weight in gold a-a-and…and diamonds as big as your fist a-a-and—"
"I'm flattered Bae, I am but…" Ruby sighed and tossed her head, "people like you and people like me, we…we're just not…"
Ruby pursed her lips and shifted her gaze away from the dejected boy. "I should go, it's late."
"Well, hang on—"
Whatever he had been about to say was cut off when Ruby exclaimed in awe, arm outstretched and pointing at the sky. "Bae, look! A shooting star!"
