She

by Franceska Krence

  I looked at the ceiling, knowing I wouldn't be able to get out of this.

  "Right, Ru?" mom asked, burying me 10 feet down with her eyes.

  "Yes, mom," I smiled sarcastically, knowing that in this household, neither I or my dad could disobey mom.

  Dad and Lucy were looking at the two of us, their eyebrows raised. If there was someone more convincing than me, it was certainly my mom.

  "We're leaving in 30 minutes," mom ended the conversation.

  I nodded: "I'll get ready then."

  "You're already beautiful, princess," dad said, but I was already heading out of the door.

  Halfway up the stairs, I once again had to stop, steadying myself against the rails. My surroundings became blurry, my legs nearly giving out.

  "Princess?" dad asked, rushing upstairs as he attempted to support my body.

  I turned my head, barely seeing a thing, smiling, not wanting to worry dad.

  "Yes, dad?" my voice came out weak.

  "What's wrong, Ruby?" his voice was serious. He never called me by my full name. A headache joined in, making me flinch.

  "I'm just tired," I said, "I'll get ready now."

  I turned, doing the impossible by taking a few steps up.

  "Your mom can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but if you're not feeling well, I'll cover up for you, princess," dad offered, sounding genuinely concerned.

  "Thanks, dad," I replied, trying my best to make my way up.

  As soon as I was in the room, I rested my back against the doors, sliding down until I reached the ground. Pulling my phone out of the pocket of my jeans, I dialed the needed number.

  "I knew you'd eventually call again, Ruby," a cheerful woman's voice replied.

  "Listen... I have a problem," I said, my voice far off from the usual.

  "Tell me what you need," her tone changed into a serious one within a split second.

  ✽✽✽

  Someone was knocking the door, waking me up. I had passed out on the floor right after the call.

  "Princess?" dad knocked again.

  I quickly got up, opening the door.

  "You look pale, Ruby," he furrowed his brows.

  "Yeah, I'll have to skip the dinner after all," I smiled weakly, massaging my temples with my fingers.

  "You need something?" he took my arm around his shoulder, helping me to the bed.

  "No, thanks dad," I whispered, my eyes closing as soon as I hit the soft matress.

  "Alright, sleep tight," dad kissed my forehead, leaving the room.

  ✽✽✽

  "Preciosa, wake up, I'm here," Hanna's soft voice woke me up.

  "Sorry, I fell asleep," I tried to get up the best I could, my head against the huge pillow Hanna had placed against my back.

  "Jeez, Ruby, you look like crap," her green eyes searched mine.

  "Yeah, sorry about that too," I laughed, "did you bring it?"

  She put her backpack on my bed, taking needles and empty blood packages out, smiling.

  "Of course I did," she prepared the needle, positioning my arm on a pillow, putting a tight band around my upper arm, "have you talked with anyone about this?"

  I shook my head, squeezing my arm: "I need to be certain first."

  She smiled sarcastically: "I feel like you already are even without the tests. You've researched it inside out."

  She put the needle in my vein, as I saw my blood fill the container. Her fingers found my hand, making me unclench it, so my blood would run faster.

  "Listen, if you need somebody to talk to.." her smile was now gone.

  I laughed: "Hanna, don't give me the talk, I'm sure I can figure out a way around this if it turns out to be that bad."

  She finished taking the blood, placing a piece of cotton wool on my skin, plaster over it, then putting the blood bags away.

  "Now that that's done," she smiled, sitting next to me in the bed, "how's your girl?"

  "I'm not sure if she is mine anymore," I sighed at the mention of it.

  She moved closer, intertwining our fingers: "that's good. You can finally give me a chance."

  I laughed, rolling my eyes: "Hanna.."

  We had known each other ever since we were little, her mom had been a doctor for our family, her following her mom's footsteps. She was only 2 years older than me, yet already had a successful career thanks to her talent and my family. We used to be best friends, but after she had openly admitted she was into me, while I had a boyfriend and left to study in France for a year, we were forced to fall apart. She had returned just a few days ago, and surely I contacted her as soon as she did.

  "I don't get it, how did she manage to turn you from straight to very wavy?" she joked.

  "Well.." I started, but in walked the girl herself.

  I couldn't help but just stare at her. That was something I didn't have a chance to do in the past few days, and I must say I enjoyed every second of it. She looked as stunning as ever. But why were her brows furrowed? Why was she mad?

  I followed her gaze to my arm that was still connected with Hannas. Oh.

  "I came to check on you," she said, "but I see someone's already doing that, so I'll get going."

  It was my turn to furrow my brows. She didn't even ask, she just assumed. It made me angry, but I still got up, following after her.

  I was feeling as dizzy as ever, the loss of blood making it worse.

  "Eden?" I asked but she was already halfway down the stairs.

  She turned around, raising her brow at me.

  I shifted uncomfortably: "is that all you wanted to say?"

  She looked at me: "there are only a few days left of the holidays, we need to do that math project."

  Was she seriously playing that game?

  I clenched my jaw: "right, I can do it on my own, I'll send it to you by tomorrow."

  "I'll come by later," she shrugged me off, walking out of the house.

  It made me smile, knowing she hadn't given up on us yet. Yet I let the weakness get to me, having trouble walking, as I nearly fell when Hanna caught me.

  "You and your stubbornness always gets the best of you Ruby Gold," she helped me back to the bed.

  "Can you get me some meds? Something that would keep the weakness and dizziness away," I asked, too ashamed to look at her.

  "Hun, you have to wait for results-" Hanna started.

  "If I'm like this it's only a matter of time before my parents find out, and I just can't let it happen," I reasoned.

  "Come on, Hanna, please help me out," I pleaded.

  "Fine," she sighed in relief, "only if you promise to go for that scan tomorrow."

  I rolled my eyes, knowing I had to agree.

  "Deal," I nodded.

  Hanna grinned, kissing my cheek: "I'll see you tomorrow then, Ruby."

  NINETEEN

  I gave it the last chance

  you were the one in my dreams

  after all I was just a girl in love

  and I liked to dream

  ✽✽✽

  I stayed up in my room after Hanna had left, deciding I needed to spend the time my eyes were still open productively.

  Reaching for my laptop, I opened it, starting the work. Believing Eden would eventually come around, I had to continue the research about Quietus.

  Weirdly enough in today's society, I had never looked up Eden on any social media and from what I found or more like lack of it, it turns out I never should have bothered to do so. It was as if she didn't exist. I looked up Blake next. Nothing. Same with Luke, Andre, and Angel.

  Of course, it would be reckless for any of them to be out there. Sighing, I knew it meant more work for me. Normally I'd be excited, yet the excitement was replaced with exhaustion.

  The only person I could get something from was Blake, I had already found him on the FBI data base, as well as on the Police reports - there had to be more. Hoping I'd stumble upon something else if I looked deep enough. Turns out I was wrong, there was nothing.

  "Gr
eat, just great," I mumbled to no one, running my hands across my face as I pushed the laptop away.

  "What's great?" Eden asked, leaning against the doorway.

  My head snapped upwards, my mouth opening.

  "I.. Um.. Nothing. Yeah, just a bad movie," I smiled awkwardly, closing the laptop.

  I waited for her to say something, anything, yet she chose to stay quiet.

  "So.." I looked around, "what are you doing here?"

  "Do you want to know the truth or the white lie?" she asked.

  I laughed: "let's start with the truth."

  She ran a hand through her hair: "ourparentstrickedmeintothehouseandlockedthedoorbehindmetellingmetostopbeingapussy."

  I looked at her wide eyed. I had no clue what she had just said, but, damn, she did it without inhaling.

  "Mind repeating that in a slower, more human way?" I raised an eyebrow.

  She looked at me, squinting her eyes: "fine. Promise not to laugh?"

  I bit my lip stopping myself from laughing: "promise."

  "Our parents tricked me into the house and locked the door behind me, telling me to stop being a little bitch," she refused to look at me.

  I laughed quietly: "that sounds like something they would do."

  "Well-"

  "Besides they seem to have a point," I pointed out, smiling.

  She rolled her eyes, a small smile on her lips.

  "And what's supposed to be the white lie?" I asked.

  "That I came here because I wanted to see you," she was looking at me, waiting for me to react.

  "We both know it's the truth, not a white lie," I smiled.

  "There's a huge chance you're right," she smirked, "may I come in?"

  "Well it sounds like we're locked in here, so you might as well do that," I patted on the bed, next to me.

  She came to the bed, sitting across me.

  "How are you?" she questioned, looking at me.

  I hid the arm from which I had just given blood, the bandage covered by the cardigan.

  I smiled: "I'm pretty good. And you?"

  "Better now," she said, making me furrow my brows.

  "Where were you the last few days if you don't feel that great without me?" I asked bluntly. About time I learned from Edens straight-forwardness.

  "I had to take care of some things before I could see you," she replied, not breaking the eye-contact.

  What were these things, Eden? Just let me help you, tell me.

  "I'm here if you ever want to talk about it," I reached over, intertwining our fingers.

  She smiled, squeezing my hand in response: "I missed you."

  "I know, me too, Ed. But we need to talk about some things first.." I let out a sigh.

  She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling loudly: "you were right, okay? I'm scared of this, of us. I've never done relationships before, never felt the way I do for you. I care about you so much that it scares me, it almost drives me insane. The thought of losing you tears me apart."

  "Hey, Ed," I whispered, lifting her chin, "I'm not going anywhere."

  "But what if you do?" she asked, her eyes full of vulnerability.

  "That's silly, I won't," I laughed.

  "Terrifying, isn't it?" she bit her lip, "I think what I feel for you can only be felt once in a lifetime."

  "Guess you've got no choice but to stick with me then," I pulled her in, kissing her, "now put your arms around me and cuddle me."

  "But what about-"

  I rolled my eyes, "trust me, my parents won't say a thing. And if they do, I'll shut them right up by reminding them of the things I've seen."

  "That sounds disturbing," she laughed.

  We both changed into PJ's and hid under the blankets, our limbs a tangled mess.

  ✽✽✽

  My intuition woke me up, just right when dad walked in the room. He looked at both of us, a slight smile grazing his lips.

  "We need to talk, Ruby," he whispered, not wanting to wake Eden up.

  What did I do this time? I nodded, removing her arms from me as I walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

  "Ruby, is there something I should know?" he used his serious, low voice.

  I wrecked my brain, trying to figure out what this was about. He couldn't have found out about... No, Hanna wouldn't tell him.

  "Nothing I can think of," I replied, unconfidently.

  I looked at the ground, praying he didn't find out somehow.

  "You know security sees everything.." he stated, shooting daggers with his eyes.

  He knew.

  "Dad, I'm so sorry, I promise I wanted to tell you," I ran a hand through my hair, not knowing how to get out of this one.

  He raised a brow at me, frowning: "that Hanna is back in the town and has been visiting you?"

  Okay, my intuition might have been wrong.

  I laughed awkwardly: "yeah, sure, about Hanna."

  "Are you alright, dear? You seem pale," he lifted my chin, analyzing my face, his frown deepening, "scratch that, you look.."

  "Tired," I finished, "I've had trouble sleeping lately, just a lack of sleep."

  I hoped he would buy that because I knew for sure if he had any doubts about what I said, he wouldn't stop without getting the truth out of me or someone that knew, in this case, that someone would be Hanna. Yet he looked like he needed more convincing.

  "I just missed Eden.." I lied smoothly. Not that it was a complete lie, because I sincerely did.

  "Alright, princess," he smiled, "just please let me know if something's wrong,

  I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, and smiled: "alright dad. I guess I got the dramatic side from you too."

  He laughed and kissed my forehead, hugging me: "love you, princess."

  "I love you too dad," I tightened my arms around him, breathing in his familiar scent.

  At this moment I felt safe like nothing could get to me. But all moments had to be replaced by others, eventually, we would let go and it would go back to ordinary moments.

  And so we did, he messed up my hair: "now go and cuddle your girlfriend."

  I smiled: "yes, boss."

  I walked back in the room, seeing Eden spread around the bed like a starfish, her mouth slightly open. I lcouldn't help but laugh at the view before my eyes.

  She inhaled loudly, coughing a few times, then returning to the same position, but this time on her stomach.

  I sat in my hammock that was the opposite side of the room, deciding to read a book. Things had returned to how they should be. How I'd always wanted them to be, especially with my family here.

  Good times are great, but they aren't the ones that make you grow. I knew I had a lot of growing in front of me, I also knew I had to savor this moment because I had a feeling that it might not last as long as I'd want it to.

  At least I have a good book in my hands and the girl of my dreams in my bed.

  TWENTY

  the demon saw me and I saw him

  it was never a game, he was destined to win

  ✽✽✽

  I'd never believed that something could bring me down, hurt me any more than losing a family member ever could. I simply never even thought of handing someone that power over me, letting them close enough so they would have the ability to make me want to die.

  There were never any issues for me to stick by what I believed in. That is until I met the Eden Harper herself. Turns out some people are worth being vulnerable for. Some people naturally have that power over you that can even overpower blood.

  "Mom, I'm leaving," I said loud enough for mom to hear from the living room, while I was in the kitchen, grabbing an apple.

  "Where to, Ru?" she came into the kitchen.

  "Hanna's picking me up, she'll help me with chemistry homework," I took a bite out of the apple.

  Mom raised a brow: "so tell me if I'm wrong, but are you telling me you're leaving your girlfriend while she's sleeping in your bed to go do chemistry homework with Hanna, even thought
you have straight A's in every subject and its holidays?"

  I took another bite of the apple, nodding my head. I'd forgotten my mom is far from clueless.

  She squinted her eyes at me: "right. Ru, all secrets come out eventually, so you better not be keeping any."

  "Adios, mom!" I waved, quickly walking out.

  "Morning, Hen. Smile, you'd be amazed how much more handsome it makes you look," I winked at him.

  I saw the corner of his mouth lift, but he still kept his lips in a tight line.

  "Morning miss Gold," he nodded.

  "I'm curious.. do you ever sleep?"

  "Don't we all, miss Gold?" he asked, sarcastically.

  I saw Hanna pull up, her grinning face appearing out of the window, together with her waving hand.

  "Hen, let's play basketball when I come back," I smiled back at Hanna, leaving before he could complain, "see you!"

  I ran to the car, hopping into the passenger seat.

  "Miss me?" Hanna grinned, kissing my cheek.

  "Of course," I laughed.

  She stepped on the gas, her driving as reckless as ever.

  "So..Ready for the scan?" she asked.

  "As ready as I could ever be," I sighed.

  "I'll take that as a no," Hanna smiled.

  I ignored her, not really wanting to discuss this: "did you get the meds?"

  "Sure did, preciosa," she opened the drawer in front of me, dropping a bag of pill packages in my lap, "you owe me one."

  "I owe you far more than one," I sighed, putting the bag in my purse.

  "These are all serious prescription drugs, I left notes attached to all 3 packages, stating what they're for, when and how much to take. If you do more or less than I have recommended, I'll make sure to kill you in case the drugs don't."

  I laughed: "I didn't realize we were playing good doctor, bad doctor."

  She looked at me, her gaze holding silent promise: "I'm not kidding, this is serious stuff," she sighed, "I need to get my act together. Putting my ass on the line because I can't resist a beautiful girl. Mama Jules didn't raise her daughter to be a weak woman, yet here I am.."

  I put my hand on hers, giving a comforting squeeze: "I'm sorry, Han."

  She intertwined our fingers, and I looked down at our hands together. I'm pretty sure she was meant to be my first love. How ironic, the way things turned out. Yet here we still are, us against the world.