#ruby bennett

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Rue Bennett was a name that you didn't think of often. A part of your long and complicated past that you would reminisce on when you sat in your bath at night or waited at the train station for your train to arrive. Even then, it was fleeting.

You and her had been good friends in highschool - the kind that share an occasional kiss when someone's high or drunk, a kiss that will undoubtedly end up unaddressed. You had tried your hardest to be a good friend and stick by her whenever she would spiral - whether that was from withdrawals from trying to get clean, relapses, or her getting high constantly with no intent to even get clean.

The kindness you consistently showed her led to her relying on you heavily, much too heavy for a high schooler like yourself to deal with. So, you fell out. You had found her suitcase from Laurie when having a sleepover at her house, and told her mom. She said cruel things, things far too harsh for you to forget. And so you stopped speaking to her, and she stopped speaking to you, and that was that. Until today.

You woke up in the early morning, with a day off work. You had gotten into the college you dreamed of and gotten your dream job too. By the looks of it, you were much better off than many of your old highschool peers.

A catch-up with Maddy the day before meant you knew it all. Rue was, apparently, feeling okay. She was sober too, as far as Maddy was aware. Maybe that's what prompted you to message her.

"Hey."

It was simple, maybe too simple? You stared at the screen for a few seconds, wondering if you should elaborate. Ask how she is, maybe, or what she's been up to the past few years.

A part of you was worried she'd still hate you or something. Surely she can't, right? I mean, it was highschool. But what if she thinks you're weird for messaging her so out of the blue? Before you can dwell on why you even cared what she thought of you after all these years, your phone pings.

"Hi, (y/n). Been a while."

Huh.

You stared at your screen blankly again, trying to come up with a response. You decide to go with mostly-honesty.

"I caught up with Maddy yesterday, we talked about highschool. It made me wonder how everyone else had been so I thought I'd message."

A small, white lie. In all honesty, you hadn't really wondered about anyone but Rue.

"I've been good." She sends, then after a moment: "Sober." She doesn't know why she told you that. Maybe deep-down she wanted to prove you wrong, to let you to know that she actually could get better. You had believed in her more than anyone before the suitcase situation, but you made it clear during your big fight that you didn't.

"That's good." You send. You wince at how dry it sounds, so you add on. "Congratulations. I'm happy for you."

It takes a few minutes for her to respond.

"I'm actually in the area right now. Maybe we could catch up too?"

It feels like a bad idea, but you tell yourself you're just being silly. Sure, you guys had your issues in highschool, but surely everyone's matured now. She's clean too, so she must be doing better. Hopefully.

"Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yeah."

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a/n: okay i know this was very short but i wanted to try and set up the story and character that you will be. i'll most likely write a part two, but only if people actually think it's good so far ToT

please let me know any feedback or any ideas/requests for where the story good go!

also any requests/asks in general i LOVE so yay send them all!!

love youuu, thank you for reading!! mwah