Aaand we're back on track again! I'll be updating this fic on Thursdays and Sundays from now on, as it fits my schedule perfectly.
A warm welcome to the story's new readers, and a million thanks for your interest in this story, along with your kind words. Your reviews made me laugh so hard my boyfriend must've thought I was going crazy. Keep 'em coming!
Giving Ruby some love and a share of the limelight in this chapter, I really like her character on the show, but I feel she's been neglected as of lately.
"Can I crash with you for a couple of days?"
Instead of just showing up outside of Ruby's door, I decided to be safe rather than sorry and sent her a text. I figured she was alone and bored as her reply arrived immediately.
"Why of course, what's happened?"
"Was going to take a bath. Apartment flooded. Unusable until sometime next week."
And that's the best case scenario, I thought to myself.
"Ouch! Text me when you're outside and I'll throw down the keys for you."
"Thanks, you're an angel Ruby. See you soon!"
I started packing what was necessary right away. Lit candles that spread a scent of vanilla guided me through the darkness of my apartment. It would've been quite cozy if it wasn't for the fact that I was wading through inches of water, ruining my genuine leather boots while at it.
I needed clothes for a at least five days, wallet, phone, keys… I packed my laptop, too, even though the water had remorselessly destroyed the computer's charger. I had been lucky, although it was difficult to view it that way in the moment. Considering the mess that was my apartment, and all the items I kept stored more or less in piles on the floor, it was a miracle I hadn't gotten electrocuted before I found the time to turn the power off.
Ruby lived ten minutes away by car from my place. Fairly close, but not exactly on a walking distance. Absolutely not on a walking distance as a lonely girl on a Friday night. I wouldn't walk the dark streets alone even if I'd gotten paid to do it, unless there was alcohol clouding my judgment. I had many reasons to hate alcohol, yet I didn't.
With my handbag strapped over my shoulder, an overstuffed Louis Vuitton duffle bag I'd given myself as a birthday present in one hand, and the car keys in the other, I descended the few steps down to the pavement. It took me a couple of seconds before I realized I had left my beetle where I'd parked it previously that day; downtown.
Why, of course. Had anything gone my way that day? First that disastrous 'date' with Jefferson, then Killian acting all strange - for being a guy at least, then the water accident, and now this. It felt like the universe was doing its very best to fuck with me; it felt like someone or something wanted me to suffer. Was my Karma really that bad?
I had done a few things I somewhat regretted in my life, even illegal things. Nothing that had physically hurt other people, but illegal enough to put me in jail. I could be a bitch toward people, but not unless they'd done something to deserve it… Perhaps that wasn't entirely true, I could be a bitch toward people who'd done nothing to deserve it, too. But overall, I wasn't what I would call a bad person. I was reserved toward strangers, and I had my reasons to be. But when and if letting them in, they would find a loyal friend in me; a friend who would do anything for them, even if it meant putting my own needs aside. I didn't ask for much in return. Instead, I was independent and wanted to solve even the unsolvable problems on my own. If I couldn't help myself, why would someone else be able to do so?
I closed my eyes, as though my car would materialize itself in front of me once I reopened my eyelids. It obviously didn't. I sighed heavily, threw my overpriced bag on the damp asphalt and called a cab.
"I was going to ask if I could stay with Mary Margaret as she's got a spare bedroom, but you know… David and all that stuff. Don't want to disturb the happy couple," I said as Ruby transformed her sofa into a bed; a bed we would be sharing.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, hun. You will have more fun with me anyway. Did anyone say single girl's movie night, the eat all you want edition, 'cause that's exactly what I heard," she said with a laugh.
"What's on the menu?" I asked with a smile as I removed my boots and made myself comfortable in my provisional bed. It wasn't as big or soft as my own, but as long as I would be able to sleep in it, I was happy.
"Why, Ben & Jerry's, of course. You pick the movie," she made a pointing gesture toward her movie collection, the movies pedantically sorted first after genre, then title. "Anything but Twilight, pretty please. I'm still mad that Bella chose that creepy, pale, old vampire over the steaming hot werewolf dude."
"I wouldn't watch Twilight unless I had a gun pressed against my temple," I reassured her as I directed my eyes toward the romantic comedy section of her shelf.
This was how I always had imagined teenage girls' sleepover parties. However, I had never attended one myself, so I couldn't know for sure. I didn't have any friends when I was a teenager; the constant moving from family to family, town to town, made sure to that. As soon as I had made any progress on the friend topic, it was time for me to pack my few belongings and leave.
When I had turned eighteen, my only goal in life had been to find that place I could proudly call my very own home. A place where I would feel safe and comfortable; a place where I would experience shelter and joy. If I would've thought my flooded apartment was that home, I would've been devastated to see it ruined. Since I wasn't, I assumed the apartment wasn't 'the one' for me.
"What about this one?" I asked as I pulled Pretty Woman out of the shelf.
I'd watched it enough times to know some of its dialogue by heart, which meant conversing during the movie wouldn't annoy me the slightest. Julia Roberts's character also reminded me a bit about myself. Vivian started out as a lost and broken person, with literally nothing in her life, just to end up healed and with more than she could ever have dreamt of, including her soul mate. I was somewhere in the middle of my own Vivian Ward-journey; I'd gone from nothing to something.
"So, you've broken things up with Victor for good this time?" I asked Ruby as the titles were running.
"Yeah, I believe so. I'm still young, I want to enjoy life a little before settling down. Get to know myself better, you know. What I want, what I don't want, and what I need," she paused to think her answer through. "Maybe there's room for Victor to reenter my life once I've figured those things out, or maybe we just weren't supposed to be together," Ruby responded.
I admired how she always managed to be so honest with everyone, including herself.
"You seem awfully cool with it," I stated.
"I've had some time to prepare myself mentally. I started to think about breaking things up several months ago. Besides, it was a clean break, no hard feelings. Perhaps we'll even try the friend thing within a close future."
Being friends with exes was a topic I knew nothing about. The relationships I'd had that lasted longer than one night usually ended pretty damn ugly, for various reasons.
"How's it going for you, by the way? It feels like we haven't talked, just you and I, for ages," she said as she scooped a spoonful of hazelnut flavored ice cream into her mouth.
She was referring to the ongoing battle I had against my own destructive behavior.
"Okay, I guess," I said, giving her an unconvincing smile.
"And now try responding the question one more time, with honesty, Emma." She gave me a serious look through mascara-heavy lashes.
"Ever since I met this guy-"
"Killian?" She interrupted me.
I confirmed her assumptions with a nod before continuing.
"It's like… just a couple of weeks ago, I'd literally spend my weekends hunting down suitable prey. Now, it feels like I wouldn't do anything stupid unless stupid found me first."
I tasted the ice cream. If mouth orgasms were a thing, this would be it. Heaven in a container, no doubt about it.
"You're not actively searching for stupid anymore, that must be considered progress?" She asked, well aware that's how my therapist would put it.
I laughed.
If Mary Margaret was the calm, stable and protective friend, Ruby was the energetic and funny one. In moments like these, funny was a nice trait. At the club, funny was the little devil sitting on your left shoulder telling you another few shots never killed anyone, making the angel to its right cry rivers out of despair.
But I loved them both oh so much. They were the closest thing to a family I had ever had. They were my sisters - partners in crime, if you will. This was a three-way relationship I hoped would last forever. I could do without my prince charming, as long as I had Ruby and Mary Margaret by my side.
I woke up way too early that Saturday morning. At least if you take into consideration we stayed up talking until sunrise.
Ruby was rustling with pots and pans by her kitchenette. Her tiny studio didn't allow for anything larger. It wasn't needed though; the kitchenette along with the rest of the studio was top modern and of highest standards. She'd bought it during its construction phase, absolutely certain she'd spend several years living under its roof.
"Hey, you're awake," she threw me a glance while keeping her focus on the stove.
"The question is, why are you?" I covered my face with my pillow.
I wasn't used to living with someone else, and the only thing that ever got to wake me, if not waking by myself, was the annoying sound of my alarm.
"I'm determined to serve you the best breakfast you've ever had."
"That's not too hard to accomplish, you know. I usually just grab a coffee on my way to work," I responded.
"And that's the other reason I'm doing this. I shall convert you into a breakfast person during your stay with me," she faked an evil laugh.
"Need any help?"
"Nope. You just stay where you are. Breakfast in bed tastes better."
If my eyes had been open, they'd been rolling.
Twenty minutes later, Ruby placed an antique looking silver tray on top of the cubical coffee table next to where I was lying. The tray held pancakes, syrup, bacon, sausages, orange juice and three kinds of eggs; boiled, scrambled and fried. In a pot that did not fit on the tray was some kind of tea that smelled of ginger, cardamom and cinnamon.
She poured herself a cup of the mysterious beverage.
I sat up and eyed it suspiciously. "That isn't coffee."
"Don't be such a junkie, Emma! It's a chai latte. Taste it before you judge it," she giggled and took a seating right next to me in the sofa bed.
She handed me my cup. I took one tiny and careful sip.
"It tastes like you brewed Christmas along with Santa himself," I joked. "Didn't know he tasted this good, though."
"See, the world doesn't spin around coffee."
"It will take more than one cup of chai latte to convince me tea isn't just a waste of perfectly fine water," I answered.
"Here," she handed me a plate. "You enjoy your breakfast. I want you to tell me exactly how much you loved it once I get back."
Ruby rose and grabbed a slice of fried bacon between her thumb and her index finger.
"You're going somewhere?"
"Some people work during weekends, you know," she said while chewing on the bacon. "The food at the restaurant won't cook itself."
For a second, I had forgotten all about her career swap. She'd given up a well paid job as an estate agent in favor of doing what she loved the most; cooking. Her new job didn't pay half as much as her old one, but overall, she seemed happy about her decision.
Ruby finished her chai latte in a matter of seconds before leaving me alone with the words "mi casa es tu casa."
"You cannot guess who visited the restaurant this afternoon!" Ruby exclaimed without closing the door behind her.
She'd been working a twelve hour shift while I had been doing absolutely nothing constructive, unless playing Mario Cart on Playstation counts. It had been fun for about thirty minutes, and I was now bored to death.
"Victor?" I responded rhetorically.
"No, silly. Killian! And oh, he likes seafood, if you ever plan on surprising him with dinner," she said as she closed the door and removed her coat.
All out of sudden, a hundred fluttering butterflies came to life inside my stomach, all at once.
"I've also got some good news. He was on a date," she added.
Killian on a date? The butterflies died just as quick as they'd arrived, all crushed by the big, fat rock now pressing against my ribcage.
"Dearest Ruby. Explain to me just why Killian being on a date is good news, pretty please." I sounded just as disappointed as I felt.
"Well, first of all, who goes on a date at three in the afternoon if they actually wanted for something more to happen?" She grabbed a round, red pillow from the sofa and joined me on the floor in front of the television.
"That doesn't mean-"
"Hear me out, will you," she interrupted me. "I noticed absolutely nothing in his eyes when he looked at her. He didn't smile at her even once from what I could tell. And they didn't leave together; he turned left while she turned right. No goodbye kiss, just a hug."
Just a hug. That's exactly what he'd given me the previous night, too.
"Was she pretty?" I asked, even though I didn't really want to know.
"Of course she was, but that doesn't mean a thing other than that he's got good taste in women. But that we already knew," she said, trying her best to cheer me up.
Oh Ruby. So annoyingly optimistic all the time. I myself wanted to break something. Preferably something valuable too, and I would've done so if I had been in my own apartment.
"I didn't mean to upset you, Emma," she placed her arm around my shoulders.
"I'm fine, and I'm glad you told me," I lied.
Truth was, I was anything but fine. Even if he'd been on a disastrous date, he had still been on a date, while he didn't even bother to ask me out. Hell to the no I'd ever surprise him with any seafood dinner.
Fucking hell, pull yourself together Emma! He's just a guy. You've managed without him your entire life, you'll manage the rest as well, I shouted to myself inside of my head. I felt pathetic. This wasn't me at all.
"Wanna go grab a drink?" I suddenly asked Ruby.
"If a drink is what you need, then a drink you shall receive," she said, friendlily stroking my arm. "You gotta make me one promise, though. You're going home with no one but me tonight. Deal?"
"Deal," I responded, in no way planning to keep that promise. "Hit the shower, you smell like frying oil."
"Hey!" She bumped her shoulder into mine.
"Just being honest," I smiled innocently. "I'll give Mary Margaret a call."
Oh no… Don't do anything stupid now, Emma!
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