CHAPTER 9 - LITTLE ROMANCE

Sapphire glared very, very angrily at the boy with the goggles. Then back at Ruby. Then nowhere, because she did not know what in God's name was going on.

"You're lying out of your ass," Gold half-snickered with an eyebrow raise usually attributed to skeptical people. "Last I checked, Mr. Fancy Boy, you weren't so keen on dating right now, huh?" The two boys exchanged equally passive-aggressive smirks in their war of "I'll tell you if you tell me", which Sapphire did not understand in the slightest.

"Would you like to test me?" Ruby retorted, raising his head high in arrogance. He scoffed to the side, and grabbed Sapphire's arm proudly. "I've known her for as long as I can remember, plus we're next-door neighbors. Who's to say we aren't dating, hmmm?" He winked toward his childhood friend, whose face in turn glowed a soft crimson, mumbling little undecipherable things to herself.

Gold scoffed. "I don't know if you're being a dumbass thinking you can trick me, or if you're being sincere but just really cocky about it," he spat out, spit quite literally flying over and landing on Sapphire's shoulder. "Whatever you say, fancy boy. It's not my deal. She's taken, blah blah blah." He sighed dramatically as if a true tragedy had occurred in that five minutes, put his hands in his pockets, and walked away whistling a tune.

After the boy with explosive hair turned the corner, Ruby breathed out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god," he finally said. "My bluff worked. To my benefit or not is what he does with it. But you know, when he was hitting on you, I couldn't help but step in, you know?"

"Ya didn't have to," Sapphire grumbled. "I don't really know wazzup with ya and pickin' fights ya really don't need to fight, but if arguin' makes ya happy, I don't care."

Ruby scoffed with a smile, and adjusted his hat. "Heartless, aren't you? Well, many children who didn't grow up in civilization tend to be that way." he replied smugly, inciting a disgusted anger from the brunette beside him. "It's not like arguing makes me happy or whatever. I just like being right, objectively."

Objectively? That's the most conceited thing he's said all week, and it was only Thursday morning. Which, to be fair, was not very far into the week at all, probably.

"I- You-! Well, yer the biggest asshole I know, but at this point I honestly I can't even care less," the brunette muttered, narrowed eyes and raised eyebrow betraying her not believing a single word he said. "Nothin' I can do 'bout it, and I've rolled with it for a long while now.. If ya get in trouble, it ain't MY problem."

"Oh, whatever. You cared enough to respond," Ruby shot back, walking away with a shrug. "What ticked you off, love? Was it my confidence, the bluff that I made, or both? Well now, aren't you a romantic little girl! How cute." His words seethed with condescension and teasing, and yet he flashed a charming smile.

Oh, how she hated him!

Was what she would say, but also not really.

The blue of Sapphire's eyes glared brightly, and she bared her fangs–literally. "What'd ya say? Call me 'love' one more time," she hissed, slowly approaching into his personal space. "Do it. Ya prolly will. Do it."

Ruby shivered, a nervous grin crawling up his face, and raised his hand in surrender. "Um, calm down, Sapph. Jeez, it's not that deep, and it never has been," he said, chuckling quietly. "Unless you want it to?"

"Sometimes I don't understand how I've managed ta put up with ya for so long."

"Right back at you, hun."

The dismissive, teasing tone! The way he just shrugs off anything that comes by him like it's no big deal! His main character syndrome! One day, she knew that with his whole package, it would be over for him. Not even the prettiest of faces he put on could save the wretchedness found in his smirk. And his demeanor, and his everything.

It was very likely her anger piping up and thinking for her, but at this moment in time, she was just so fed up with him. How, she didn't exactly know, but she sure knew it.

Not gonna lie though, pretty good bluff on his part. The only thing that remained now was…

"Do ya understand what yer askin' for?" she asked, genuinely curious. "Gold's a whole chatterbox and a half. For someone like you who cares so much about his reputation—why, I dunno—don'tcha think y'should think before ya talk?"

"And what if he does?"

"I'm… I'm not even gonna fight this anymore."

She declined to tell—or remind—him of the devastating consequences this would make in his fan club comprised of only sophomores.

"Say, what're yer classes this sem?" Sapphire inquired, changing the subject hastily. "Aside second period."

"Nothing that's remotely interesting. Science first period, history with you. Drama third, English fourth. Miracle my pleading for time slots worked out."

"Ya pleaded with guidance for yer timeslots? Couldn't ya have, like… just rolled with the hand ya got dealt?"

"I did not feel like having math and science in the same sem."

"God, same. I wouldn't either. Understandable."

"And what of you, my dear?"

Sapphire flinched for a second, but kept what composure she had. "Great of ya ta ask!" she mustered, but her memory soon failed her as she racked her brain for her schedule. "Uhh… well, aside second period, uh… I've got math last period, and PE third, and Civics first, I think."

"The hell is Civics- No! More importantly! You have PE right before math?" he shouted in surprise. "Please tell me you freshen up right before."

"Uh, never really bothered to."

"Oh my god."

Ruby slumped his face into his palms and let out an agonizing groan, and several deep sighs. Not a word came out of his usually witty and insulting mouth—which was concerning, frankly. Did she say something? Sapphire didn't think it was entirely bad she didn't wash up after PE. She regularly went outside and didn't see the need to unless she got herself into a freak accident involving mud, water, or both. PE did not include either of those things.

"I sincerely hope you reconsider your actions," the drama king finally breathed out. "I hope you know you will smell more than a little funny in fourth period."

"Literally what does it matter?"

"Fair enough. It doesn't matter to someone like you."

"What are ya even talking about at this point?"

"Are you joking?"

Sapphire still did not understand where he was going with this, but figured that it still didn't matter. Ruby was nitpicky with more than a few things—if this was one of them, she wouldn't bother to listen. It would be a long-winded tirade on something that didn't apply to her, anyway.

Ruby adjusted the fleece hat that lay snug upon his head, not a strand of hair falling out of its grip—he looked fine without it, not sure why he still kept it on—and stretched. "I'm so bored!" he complained rather audibly, garnering the concerned glances of what little passerby there were at the back of the school. "I've done all there needs to be done until we properly start up auditions. Blue's little… commission has been settled—fine work, may I add. I need something to happen! I'm tired of waiting!"

"You better be careful what ya wish for," Sapphire advised him. "Besides, ya got something ta do, right? Weren't ya sewin' up something not even a day ago?"

"I did not sleep to finish that, I'll have you know," he countered. "See, I was going to use you as a model for it, given your build, but I wasn't exactly sure if someone like you would… treat it well."

It was an unfortunate trait of Ruby's that he resolved to finish everything he started. Being stubborn can be a great thing—actually, in some respects, it could be called his greatest asset—but when it came to him, when that resolve was fixated on even the smallest things, it could get inconv—

Wait, back up. He what?

"You were going to what?" Sapphire repeated, the words slowly processing in her brain. "I'm sorry? What makes ya think I—"

"I thought so. I am so good at reading you." Her childhood friend snickered to himself.

"No, no! I mean the exact opposite! What makes ya think I can't do it?" Sapphire finished, piquing the surprise and interest in the boy's expression. "It's not like I'm totally against this cutesy stuff… I can be girly if I wanted to! It's just that dresses and stuff aren't easy to move around in…?"

Uh oh. Here comes the gleam in his eyes.

"Excellent," he squealed—Sapphire has never heard his voice go that high in a long time—and he jumped up. "Lovely, lovely, beautiful, even! I have some major qualms on your 'hard to move in' comment, because you are so graciously proving my point, but I'm sure it's nothing."

"I'm proving your point?"

"See, modeling requires a bit of delicacy. No strong movements or you tear the fabric, but you still must have some style, right? Let's make it a date. You come and visit the theater club room tomorrow at lunch sharp, and…"

"Fuuuull stop!" Sapphire shouted, having enough of the boy's ramble on fashion and modeling and everything she should make note of, but there was a more pressing matter. "What exactly are ya making me wear!? Better not be somethin' over-decorated."

"Simplicity is the law in modern design, but that's besides the point," Ruby corrected her with a smile. "It's the dress I designed for whoever will play Princess Cornelia in our club's production. Of course, I'll tailor it to the measurements of, you know, whoever gets the role, but I need to see to it that my design doesn't look like complete trash." He chuckled to himself, that prideful demeanor slowly resurfacing to the corners of his mouth.

Sapphire could not help but stay quiet. Not that she had nothing to say—in fact, she had several questions and a half! A princess' dress? Really? And- how was he going to tailor it if it had already been made? And how would she know if it would fit her? And—let's say she followed his plan, lunch right after third period—how long would it take? Oh, if this weren't Ruby, she would—!

The pretty boy's smile grew upon his lips, as he was swallowed up in a world only he understood, and Sapphire had been swept up by whatever whim ruled his mind.

Oh, stars, what did she get herself into!?