protecting her | ashtray

one;

rue's narration: italics

nya and i hadn't seen each other in four years. when i was thirteen and she was eleven.

i don't know if she knows about me going to rehab or not but, either way i knew gia and i wanted to see her.

so when mom told us she was coming to stay with us for a couple months, i was so pumped. i hadn't seen her in forever and was so excited.

yes you can argue that i haven't seen her in four years and i shouldn't be surprised but, she was different. she was closed off. she had a guard up. and i didn't like that.

nya pov

pulling up to my aunt leslie's house, i open my door and pay the uber driver. i grab my back pack and step out.

gia comes running out and throws her arms around me, catching me off guard.

i lose my footing and almost fall, and she laughs.

"oh my god nya it's been so long! how are you?" she exclaims as she pulls away from the hug.

"i-uh i've been good." i reply, glancing around the area.

"how bout you?" i ask, finally looking at her.

gia's eyebrows furrow, and she tilts her head at me.

"good, um..." she plays with her hair, while looking at me, as if she's tryna read me.

the front door burst open and rue comes sprinting out, tripping over literally nothing and face planting.

i laugh a little. rue was always clumsy.

quickly standing up, she dusts off her pants and jogs over, embracing me like his did.

"omg nya! how are you? oh my god i missed you so much. there's so much to tell you! oh my word i can't wait to introduce you to jules and elliot and-" gia cuts her off.

"okay okay rue! she just got here give her some breathing room." she chuckles, pulling rue back. i smile, and shake my head.

"how've you been rue?" i ask, picking up my backpack and walking towards the house.

"great actually, me and my girlfriend jules are doing really good. and elliot is literally my best friend he's the best." she says walking next to me, gia following.

"that's cool, can't wait to meet her."

walking into the house, i'm greeted by leslie with a hug.

so many hugs, jesus.

pulling away from the hug, she asks me how i've been and i give her the same answer i have rue and gia.

she shows me and extra room that i'll be staying in, so i put my bag down and sit on the bed.

"is that your only bag?" leslie asks.

"yeah," i reply, looking over at it.

"oh, well you can share clothes with the girls for now until we can get out to the mall." she says, looking surprised but quickly masking it with a smile.

gia and rue exchange looks.

"oh no it's okay, i was gonna head out some time this week to get some stuff so, it's fine." i reply.

"alright well i'll let you get settled in. make yourself at home sweetie." she smiles and walks off into the house, gia following.

rue walks over to the bed, sitting down next to me.

"hey uh, i'm bout to go down to my friends store if you wanna come, i gotta pick up a few things and it be good for you to meet at least one other person from round here." rue suggests quietly.

i shrug and nod.

"why not?" i grab my wallet from my backpack and follow rue outta "my" room.

"hey mom! can nya and i head down to the gas station to get snacks for a movie night tonight?" rue yells.

"yeah! be safe!"

i shut the door behind us, following rue.

"we're walking?" i ask.

"hell yeah. do i look like the type of person to have a license?" she scoffs.

i laugh and shake my head.

"nah,"

"exactly. so uh, just don't tell my mom what i'm bout to buy here." she says, looking down.

"why?"

"you'll see."

a/n

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love y'all

651 words

nya xx