devil inside.

“Who knows” Lily shrugged, “I’m sure we will find out soon enough as to what is really going on. Money doesn’t always solve things, I doubt my parents would bail me out over something like that”

“I’ve met him a few times, we talk. Always been pleasant and he’s been a good friend to my best friend for years”

“Even if it means covering up their reputation?” Ruby challenged. 

It was a rather normal day. Melody and Ruby were relaxing in Melody’s dorm, both of them absentmindedly watching a series on Netflix. Though it was something Ruby usually did by herself, when Melody called and invited Ruby over, she walked out of her room in a heartbeat. Melody’s company was probably one of Ruby’s favorite thing in the whole world, but she’d never make the effort to satisfy that need by herself. And, truth be spoken, she felt that if she did give into it, she’d find herself learning something about those feelings she was harboring for her best friend. Ruby questioned if they were real or made up with the idea of having Melody as a lover. Someone who took care of Ruby, who made her feel special, welcome and loved. Could it all be in her mind? Did she really feel this?

“What are you thinking about?” Melody interrupted Ruby’s train of thought, and she noticed the episode had ended, and was counting down to the next episode. It felt like a ticking time bomb inside of Ruby. 

“Nothing. Just how horrible this A person is. Obsessed with these girls and they just wanna live their life, ugh.” 

“Wow, you scrambled hard for that complaint, huh?” Melody teased Ruby. 

Ruby chuckled and shrugged, but when Melody reached over to skip the waiting time and then came back to snuggle against Ruby, she went a little tense and her heart raced. She hoped Melody didn’t feel it…

“I just want to know who is A, honestly.” 

“Mhm…” 

A few minutes passed and Ruby couldn’t hold it in anymore. She had to know. Had to find out if these feelings were real. If whatever she was keeping in inside, could maybe, hopefully, spark something between them and offer Ruby at least an ounce of happiness - not that she thought she deserved any. 

“Melody?” Ruby called Melody’s attention.

“Hm?”

And so, turning her head, Ruby reached down and pressed her lips to Melody’s. Everything came to life around her. Her stomach fluttered and something was bursting from how amazing and right it felt. If only she could get her hand to move… But, before Melody or Ruby could do anything at all, Melody’s dorm room door opened, her roommate walking into the room. 

Ruby removed herself from Melody, not even giving the girl a chance to do or say anything. She grabbed her things and fled from the room. 

“You’re supposed to be out here having fun, not sulking around like a lost puppy,” Ruby whispered as she walked up to where Anni was standing, drink in hand. “Didn’t think you were the need-hand-to-be-held type.”

Anni looked at Ruby with an expression not easy to read, especially under Ruby’s drunken state.

“It’s not very fun when people don’t exactly don’t talk to me. Plus, it’s not like I’m some social butterfly like others here.”

“I hope you don’t mean me because if you are... You’re blind.”

“Well if you’re not social enough, at least you’ve got some appeal to get people to talk to you. For instance that guy over there,” Anni pointed out, her head nodding towards behind Ruby. She turned to look at the guy, and Ruby couldn’t help but snort.

“If that guy thinks he has the slightest chance with me, he’s insane. Or he doesn’t know me.”

Anni laughed, shaking her head at Ruby. The attitude the girl wore was so uninviting but every once in a while she could notice how people seemed to be intrigued by the girl. It was a weird thing, really.

Ruby kept her glance at the guy for a second more than what she liked and when he hit one of his friends, to let him know Ruby was staring back, Ruby decided to take it upon herself to let this asshole know she wasn’t interested, or even remotely available for him.

Grabbing Anni by her neck in a swift but delicate manner, she pressed her lips against the other girls’, kissing her deeply, their bodies pressing together against the wall behind Anni.

Ruby couldn’t remember the last time she had kissed someone this impulsively, and she hoped she at least be able to make it look believable. What she wasn’t expecting, was for Anni’s hand to reach and grab Ruby’s hips, bringing the girl closer to her, their bodies leaving no space between each other.

It happened quick, but for a second Ruby’s tongue tried Anni’s lips, and their lips parted open, allowing the kiss to deepen. Ruby was already breathing a little heavy and Anni seemed to be doing the same. But, before she could get too caught up in giving a show to the whole crowd, Ruby removed her lips from Anni yet their bodies remained together. “Thanks pal.”

“For what?” Anni asked a little out of breath.

“You learn to become more cunning than you look when living in New York.”

Lily wasn’t surprised by Ruby’s comment, through hearsay she had herd a few others speak ill of Hector and how he could be at times. She shrugged, trying not to indulge into the conversation too much. 

“I think we’re all guilty of treating people in ways they shouldn’t be treated, I mean I have but doesn’t mean I’d go and murder or harm someone. I guess we will just have to see what comes of it.”

“He’ll probably only get off with a slap on the wrist, a big ol’ dollar sign along with it.” Sometimes it baffled Ruby the power money had on the world and on people. If someone like her was even rumoured to have committed a crime like what happened to that girl, she wouldn’t even have to reach a court for everyone to label her a crazy psycho murderer. 

“How do you know him?” Ruby was interested on how Lily knew Hector and how well they knew each other. 

“Most people are the worse” she corrected, though her lips twitched at her friends obvious anger on her behalf. It felt nice, to have some feel protective over her, when usually it was the other way around. What had happened at summer camp had been an awful experience that she never wanted to repeat, even if those involved had been punished. She let go of Ruby’s hand to wrap her arm around her waist and give her an awkward, side hug squeeze. “Thank you Ruby” she smiled, “It’s always nice to know that someone had my back, especially when that someone is you. I don’t think anyone will mess with me”.

“Fresh start, new beginnings, all that crap” she laughed. “Come on, coffee, I am in desperate need now. I swear my eyelids just drooped” she said, dramatically. “Want something? I’m buying”.

Ruby could have digressed - seeing as she herself wasn’t even an A+ person to begin with. How was it that someone like Melody even considered being her friend was still a mystery to Ruby. It was easy to cling to someone who can offer you something you don’t have, Ruby thought. It was a two way street though. Maybe they both found in each other something the other didn’t have. Melody was the company Ruby often sought after, but wasn’t willing to admit she needed, and Melody found protection and comfort in Ruby, something which the girl wasn’t often offered. 

Hugging back her friend, though horrible at it thanks to her lack of people skills and affection, Ruby returned the small embrace with a little warmth. “No problem, Melody, really,” she countered. Saying ‘you’re welcome’ for something that came so natural to Ruby just didn’t make sense, but she appreciated it anyways. 

“Oh, uh, you don’t have to,” Ruby argued, not liking it when people offered to buy her shit. “I’m not even hungry or anything.” They arrived to the coffee place and Ruby tried looking into Melody’s eyes to try and talk her out of it, “Really.”

The look on Ruby’s face, while an almost imperceptible change, betrayed her annoyance followed quickly by the sigh and a mutter of exasperation.  Peter thought he had won this game, he thought he had conquered her attitude and he sat back in his seat in triumph.  That was until a huge, exaggerated smile broke out across her face, and a twinge of dread filled the pit of his stomach.  

When the first onion hit his lap, he wasn’t sure what filled him.  It didn’t quite feel like anger, though he had the urge to grab her by the wrist and force her own hand to throw the onions back in her face.  It was a power move, and Peter couldn’t help but respect her for it.  He also didn’t want to have to deal with the onions now seeping onion juice on his favorite pair of jeans.  When she was finished, he stared at her for a beat, his face expressionless.  He cleared his throat and pulled the plate closer to him, taking a bite and maintaining eye contact with her.  

“I’d like to speak to your manager.”  

Ruby was aware that her little stunt could earn her a speech from her manager, but she thought the guy was better at playing the game, rather than resorting to complain to her manager. Guess she just misread him. A small twinge of disappointment ran over her - she thought the challenge between them might actually be worthy of her time. But then again, she was beginning to expect too much out of someone in this town. Everyone was the same, regardless. 

Smoothing out her apron once again, Ruby gave a quick glance back, grateful no one was behind the counter, meaning her manager was probably wandering around far away from the diner. Not like she would tell the boy in front of her about the manager anyways. 

“Sorry, they’re not around,” she simply said.

In another life, Ruby would have sucked up to the client, batted her eyelashes, popped out her hip... Sort of like she saw other girls doing. But Ruby wasn’t like that. She didn’t believe her personality, let alone looks could get her anywhere. She was aware of her sour persona; her dislikable and immature attitude. 

“So if you want to leave a comment about your service today, I can find you a piece of paper and I’ll make sure to drop it in the suggestion box for you.” 

“Apple should maybe make chargers that don’t break so fucking often.” Stella rolled her eyes, “I bet its not even a real threat. Some people are just overreacting to some hunters in town. Its fucking Vermont, what do they expect?”

“Can’t relate,” Ruby commented with a shrug. “Well, we could always just go and find out?” She incited the girl, hoping she’d agree and they could both leave the room.

“Can’t fucking read when your phone is dead. All I can hear is people shouting lockdown and next thing you know I’m in here. If its a psycho killer he’s doing a shit job. I haven’t heard a gun shot yet.”

“Not a very efficient millennial, are you?” Ruby was sitting down near the door, hoping to hear anything else. Things were quiet outside. “I bet I could do a better job than them.”