Let Me Love You

•22•

She tugs at her shirt and raises it up slightly. There's a little tattoo of a dove with a leaf or flower in it's mouth. It's just above her waist.

She pulls her shirt down.

"The other one is on my back,right below my shoulder"

I nod as I continue driving.

"Nice tattoo" I tell her and she smiles.

"Turn right" she says and I continue to drive.

****
An hour later,we arrive and I groan as I get down from the car

"You didn't tell me we were heading on a road trip" I say and she makes a funny looking face making me roll my eyes.

There's a house in front of us. Simple with flowers in front of it. It's pale yellow.

Ruby walks ahead of me and rings the doorbell.

A woman opens up the door. Ruby hugs her and I smile.

The woman is of average height with clear strands of white hair on her head.

"Hi,I'm Jason" I say to her.

She nods and lets us both in.

"I'm Ruby's aunt,nice to meet you"

"My pleasure"

"He's your friend right, Ruby?" She asks as I sit on a chair.

Ruby nods and I notice the woman's eyes become glossy.

A smile forms on her lips.

"Finally," she whispers. "I never thought this day would come"

"Oh come on, you're just tagging me antisocial now" Ruby mocks as she grabs a bottle of water and tosses it at me.

I catch and wink at her.

"Where's Gracie? Jason wants to meet her" Ruby asks .

"Ruby,you know-" the woman starts sadly.

"Don't start with that bullshit, Aunt Martha. Gracie has to make friends eventually"

The woman sighs and smiles at me.

"She's in the living room upstairs" the woman tells us. I smile at her and she smiles back.

When we get to the door,Ruby pokes her head in.

"Guess who's here?," Ruby giggles and fully walks in.

I can hear a younger voice laugh from in there.

She's so different when she's with her sister.

I don't think Ruby has ever giggled before.

"I brought a friend," she says in a cheerful voice. She walks to me and brings me into the living room

Gracie smiles at me and I grin back.

She's slim, almost slimmer than Ruby. Her hair is pitch black,  and she's also wearing glasses.

She has a notebook in her hand,and drops it,wheeling to Ruby and I.

"Hi," I bend down to wave to her. "I'm Jason"

"I'm Gracie" she replies and stretches out her lean hand to me.

I shake it and she giggles.

"My teacher just left" she tells Ruby who nods.

Ruby tells me to sit and she walks downstairs

"Ruby barely brings friends here," she adjusts her glasses. "Except for that gothic one who she's staying with" she continues to speak and I laugh at her choice of words.