Ruby 💙

15

Evelyn pulled on leggings and a sweater from her suitcase with some socks. She braided her wet hair behind her head before walking out of Chris's room. She grunted as Stella came up to her, hugging her. She laughed, kneeling down in front of her, "well good morning to you too sweet girl."

Stella smiled, "good morning Evie!"

Chris laughed, handing her a cup of coffee as he helped her to her feet. He held her hand as she gripped it firmly. "Calm down." He kissed her on the head as he walked her to the dining room where they had breakfast set up already.

Evelyn sat down where Chris motioned for her to, finding a plate of eggs and fruit and a bagel waiting for her already. "Thank you."

"Evelyn, I'm sorry for last night. We shouldn't have judged you without giving you a chance."

She sighed, looking up at Lisa. "It's fine. Yes, I was a.." She looked around at the kids watching her, "a dancer. And yes, that is how Chris and I technically met." She saw him smile as he sat next to her, Stella crawling into his lap as he did. "I started to pay bills, mainly school. I put myself through nursing school doing that and waitressing." She shrugged, "I made more money dancing so I've been doing both. For the record, Chris is the only person from the club I have ever gone out with."

"And that took a lot of work for her to even agree to go out with me. We spent the first month FaceTiming and texting while I was gone before we even went out on a date." He smiled, kissing her on the cheek as she blushed.

"So Chris said you work as a private nurse?"

She nodded at Scott, thankful he changed the subject as he smiled, "that's right. I go to people's houses and help them. Usually hired by kids who can't get time off work during the day to check on their sick parents. So I go and help them, make sure they have everything they need, medication, food. Anything really. Most only need someone a few times a week, some I went to everyday like my mother."

Chris watched her put her head down, taking a bite of her eggs as he squeezed her thigh. "It's okay." He cleared his throat, "Evelyn lost her mother a few months ago."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

"It's fine." She shrugged, looking up at Lisa, "we didn't have the best relationship. But she was the only family I have. Had. I don't have one anymore."

"You have me."

She grinned at Chris as he smiled at her, "I know."

"So you're a dancer? Can you do the splits?"

She laughed, looking at Stella, "I can. And I can do a handstand. I can do lost of stuff."

"Can I see?"

"Stella."

Evelyn looked at Carly, "it's fine. I don't mind." She stood up, pushing in her chair before tucking her sweater into her leggings. She went to the entrance of the dining room, doing a handstand before walking a few feet on her hands as she heard Stella laugh.

"That's so cool! Can you show me?"

Evelyn laughed, "sure I can show you sometime."

Once they finished eating breakfast and everyone left, she felt Chris grab her hand, leading her into the sitting room, "what?"

"I want to sing to you, now that everyone is gone."

Evelyn blushed as he held her hand, leading her to his piano, motioning her to sit next to him as he started to play.

When she was younger, she would pretend
That her bedroom was a castle, she was fairest in the land
And she got older, and it all changed
There was no time for make believe
And all the magic slipped away
Until the light and in her eyes, it was all but gone
'Cause all the dreams that she had, turned out to be wrong
So keep your head up, princess, before your crown falls
Know these voices in your head will be your downfall
I know it gets so hard but you don't got far to go
Yeah, keep your head up, princess, it's a long road
And the path leads right to where they won't go
I know it hurts right now but I know you'll make it home
So keep your head up
Yeah, keep your head up
And now she's grown up, works at a bar
She traded makeshift gowns
For serving rounds from sunrise 'til it's dark
And all her friends got someone to hold
But she's got no one there, still not prepared to make it on her own
And now the light and in her eyes, it's now all but gone
'Cause all the dreams that she had, turned out to be wrong
So keep your head up, princess, before your crown falls
Know these voices in your head will be your downfall
I know it gets so hard but you don't got far to go
Yeah, keep your head up, princess, it's a long road
And the path leads right to where they won't go
I know it hurts right now but I know you'll make it home
So keep your head up
Yeah, keep your head up
One day you'll find your way back to the start
One day you'll live in your dreams
One day you'll wake up and girl, you'll be a queen
So keep your head up, princess, before your crown falls
Know these voices in your head will be your downfall
I know it gets so hard but you don't got far to go
Yeah, keep your head up, princess, it's a long road
And the path leads right to where they won't go
I know it hurts right now but I know you'll make it home
So keep your head up
Yeah, keep your head up

Evelyn listened to him with her head on his shoulder, looking up at him as he stopped. "I love you."

He grinned, "I love you, princess. Can I interest you in going back to bed?"

She laughed, standing up as she grabbed his hand, "oh yes."