Hey guys! Thanks for your reviews for the last chapter. I really appreciate them. As for this chapter...I have a question (Which I know I've asked quite a few times already but I just want to makes sure). It's a yay for Rummer, yeah? Most of you voted yes the last time I asked but I just wanted to make sure because I've never actually shown their relationship/feelings outwardly more like...Just hinted at it (Whereas in this chapter it's suggested way more strongly). Kind of. I would appreciate it if you guys let me know because I really don't want to write something you don't want to read. Thanks in advance...and Thanks for reading!
Chapter 78
"Joey?" Ruby questioned as she chewed thoughtfully on the slice of toast in her hand "What was your first time like?"
Charlie promptly choked on her orange juice and Joey froze in place.
"Jesus" Charlie coughed and lifted a hand to her stinging throat "Warn me the next time you decide to do that Rubz" she paused as something occurred to her "Wait...Why are you asking that? Y-You don't even have a boyfriend"
"Uh..." Ruby blushed and slid down in her chair slightly "I just...I was just wondering. I don't really mean first time as in 'first time'...more like the first time you were with someone you were in love with"
"Um..." Joey sat down next to Charlie and reached for her hand "To be honest Ruby...My first time was nothing special. I mean...It wasn't what it should have been because it didn't really mean much"
"Oh" Ruby bit her lip contemplatively "But what about after that? The first time you were with somebody you loved?"
"That was...different" Joey smiled softly "It was better. So...Why are you asking anyway? Do you like somebody or..."
"No!" Ruby shook her head quickly "There's just um...This person I happen to know and they're kind of confused about how they feel about...Someone"
"A person you happen to know?" Charlie asked sceptically.
"Uh-huh" Ruby nodded "They know they love this person as a friend but they're not sure if they're in love with them. Um...Or maybe they're in really deep 'Like' with the person"
Charlie and Joey exchanged equally confused looks.
"So maybe they like the person as more than a friend?" Ruby suggested vaguely "But they don't really know how to deal with these more than platonic feelings because they're completely knew"
"I'm sorry Rubz" Joey apologised "We're kind of lost"
Ruby sighed heavily "Okay. I'll give you some examples and you can tell me if they suggest more than friendly feelings, okay?" she waited for two nods before she continued "Um...A constant desire to remain in physical contact" as she spoke her gaze fell to Joey and Charlie's entwined hands "For instance holding hands or casual touching"
"Right" Charlie nodded for her to go on.
"The feeling that you want to know everything about them" Ruby continued to list quietly, her tone slightly sad "The feeling that you never want to see them hurt and...The feeling you'll fall apart if they leave"
"And?" Joey prompted.
"Erm..." Ruby blushed slightly and averted her eyes "Maybe the occasional urge to kiss them? Though um...The person I'm talking about isn't really sure about the physical stuff. At all"
"This person..." Charlie leaned forward and gazed closely at her daughter "Are they male or female?"
"Female"
"And the other person is...?"
"That's why it's so complicated for her!" Ruby exclaimed "She isn't sure how she's feeling because the other person is a girl and she's never had feelings for girls before...This is all insane to her. And that's kind of why she asked me for help. I mean..."
"Oh I get it" Joey said in realisation "She thinks because we..." she motioned between herself and Charlie "Are together that Ruby would have some kind of insight"
"Yeah" Ruby nodded quickly "That's it"
Charlie narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Ruby's instantaneous answer "Ruby I know what you just said and all but...Is this about Summer?"
"Summer?" Ruby's eyes widened in alarm "W-What do you mean?"
"I mean is she the person you're talking about" Charlie answered softly "Is she confused about things?"
"Oh" Ruby laughed nervously in relief "No...No, it's not Summer"
Joey tilted her head in silent contemplation of the teenager.
"Did I hear my name?" Summer yawned tiredly as she walked through the door in her PJ's.
"We were talking about the weather" Ruby offered a small smile as Summer sank down onto the seat next to her "Y'know...Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter..."
"Right" Summer laughed.
"So what are you doing today?" Charlie asked suddenly "Anything interesting?"
"Packing" Summer answered miserably "I leave tomorrow so it's probably a good idea to get it out of the way before then"
"And that's where I'll be" Ruby frowned.
"You know you don't have to..."
"But I want to" Ruby held up a hand to stop Summer's protests "I mean it"
Charlie and Joey exchanged a questioning look before the latter stood up from her chair.
"I'm going for a walk" she said as she stretched slightly "Are you coming Charlie?" she glanced at Charlie when there was no response and smirked when she realised the older girl's gaze was fixed firmly on her midriff "Charlie?"
"Huh?" Charlie looked up sharply from Joey's tone stomach and blushed when she realised she'd been caught staring "Oh yeah...I'm coming" she stood up from her seat and slipped her hand into Joey's "We'll be back soon, okay?"
Ruby and Summer chuckled to themselves as Joey pulled Charlie out of the room.
"Ready to start packing?" Ruby questioned sadly.
"No" Summer winced slightly "But I have to anyway"
---
"You're thinking about something" Joey observed as she turned on her side on the sand to look down at Charlie "What is it?" she lightly trailed a finger down Charlie's cheek earning herself a bright smile.
"I don't know" Charlie shrugged "I'm just thinking about Ruby...How Summer leaving is going to affect her"
"Should we be worried?" Joey asked in concern "I mean I know that Ruby and Summer are close but...It's not like she's leaving for good, right? She'll be back"
"Close is an understatement...Apparently Summer doesn't know if she'll be back" Charlie frowned "But she doesn't think so"
"That's not good" Joey mumbled worriedly "What should we do?"
"There's nothing we can do" Charlie said sadly "We just have to wait until Ruby needs us. Because if I know my daughter she is not going to deal with this well"
"What do you mean?" Joey questioned "Because she thinks of Summer leaving her as being abandoned again?"
"Yeah" Charlie nodded in response, sadness shining in her eyes. She rolled onto her side and looked at Joey closely "I guess her issues with abandonment are partly my fault. I mean...I did leave her, after all. Not just once. Going after Grant was definitely a bad idea"
"You can't think like that" Joey said quietly "Ruby understand why you had to do what you did. When she was born and with Grant. She doesn't resent you for it"
"I know. I know that" Charlie whispered gloomily "But it builds up...Me, Mum, Dad and now Summer. It's going to be tough for her"
"We'll be there" Joey shuffled closer and kissed Charlie lightly "We'll help her through it"
"Do you?" Charlie asked suddenly, her voice still low "Resent me for going after Grant I mean"
"Not now" Joey shook her head honestly "I understand why you did it now...Sort of"
"I am sorry" Charlie said for the hundredth time "I really didn't mean to"
Joey cut her off with a soft kiss "Stop apologising"
"Do you...Do you think Ruby was really affected by what happened?" Charlie asked nervously "I mean in the operating room"
"I don't know" Joey responded quietly as she laid her hand on Charlie's side "Maybe. But there's no use in thinking about that right now, okay? We just have to be here for her when she needs us"
"Right" Charlie took a deep breath and closed her eyes before looking back at Joey with a slight smile on her face "You know I love you, right?"
"I know" Joey smiled softly "I love you too"
"Good" Charlie leaned forward and pressed their lips together gently before rolling onto her back playfully pulling Joey on top of her without breaking the kiss.
---
"I think that's about it from here" Summer said as she glanced at the bags on the floor. The day had passed quickly and they had only just finished packing her stuff up "I have a few more things at your place but other than that...I'm all set to go"
"Right" Ruby nodded slowly from her position on the bed "I guess you're really going than"
"I'll come back sometime" Summer said reassuringly as she sank onto the bed and gripped Ruby's hand lightly "When I can. I promise"
"And if you can't?" Ruby averted her eyes to the ground "What happens then?"
"We'll work something out" Summer said strongly "We'll call or IM or...Something!" she ducked her head slightly to meet Ruby's downcast eyes "Ruby? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine" Ruby smiled sadly "I'm just...Kind of...Trying not to cry right now. I've done enough of that for a lifetime in the past few days"
"You'll be okay" Summer wrapped an arm around Ruby's shoulders and pulled her close "You still have Charlie and Joey, right? They'll get you through this. In fact I bet you don't even notice I'm gone. It'll be just like it is now except I won't be her physically. That's all"
"I think it's safe to say I'll notice you're gone" Ruby chuckled at Summer's statement "You're noisy enough"
"Hey!" Summer laughed and nudged the other girl lightly "I'm not loud" they fell into an awkward silence for a couple of minutes before she spoke up "This is kind of ridiculous"
"What is?" Ruby asked in confusion.
"The tension" Summer said as she jumped up from the bed "We're never this on edge with each other"
"I guess it's because I know time is running out" Ruby shrugged sadly "It's not exactly a happy notion"
"Let's just...Pretend it's not happening!" Summer suggested "We can go back to normal for tonight and not think about what's going to happen tomorrow" she grinned and held out a hand to Ruby "Are you in?"
"I'm in" Ruby took Summer's hand and let herself be pulled gently off the bed "How does my place and a ridiculously scary movie sound?"
"Heavenly" Summer laughed as she slung an arm across Ruby's shoulder and they walked towards the bedroom door together.
TBC
