Begin Again

| Chapter Fifteen |

TW: SA. I tried to make the scene quick, but still thought it important to put a warning! From paragraph 8-13. Also, don't hate me for this chapter!

Also, I noticed many people are split between who they support/want for Ruth, but our hearts are never easy to ignore, especially when it comes to their current partner and old! As someone who struggled through similar issues, Ruth's place is not easy to be in. She's human, just as we all are, with very human emotions. Imperfect people are my favorite people to write! And no matter what, I love my girl. Ruth is honestly my favorite character I've ever written, and that's with her flaws!

Anyway, enjoy!

*****

Streams of music and incoherent lyrics pounded through Ruth's ears and radiated throughout her intoxicated body. The strong pump of the bass was so loud, she wore the sound was going to tear right through her chest. Sweaty, exhilarated bodies bumped into her off and on, but the warm shots of Jameson stopped her from caring about that. She smiled and laughed with the group of girls she had come to adore and was stuck in a grinding pit between Peyton and Katrina, or Kat for short. With her curls down her back, and her sparkly white dress that clung to her legs with a hefty slit on the side, she felt on top of the world.

Terry and Jana, coming straight from the bar, each had shots for themselves and the rest of the girls around them. They both passed out shots with clear liquid sitting in shot glasses and with a whooping cheer, they all toasted each other in honor of Jana's wedding.

"I'M GETTING MARRIED BITCHHHEEEES," Jana shouted, her voice hardly heard over the club music, but all the girls screamed anyway. Pushing her curled hair over her shoulders, she snapped her neck back and took the shot in one fell swallow before Ruth followed suit.

The burn of the alcohol wasn't as strong as the other four shots and two drinks she had already swallowed down beforehand, but it still did the job. Her worries muddled and her carefree emotions rose to the surface instead. For another hour, they all danced their night away. With their hands woven together and their bodies feeling the vibe, it was a mystery they were able to ward off any of the random guys itching to get behind one of them. Somehow, they twirled and blocked each other perfectly, and at some point, Cheyenne even pushed a guy who was practically latched onto Ruth's body. She gave the beautiful brown-skin girl a thankful smile and earned a friendly wink in return.

"I got you, girl," Chey had mouthed.

"WE NEED ANOTHER SHOT BEFORE THE GUYS—" Jana was screaming, but Ruth only heard and cared about the shot portion of the sentence.

At some point in the next forty-five minutes, Ruth had wandered off from the dance floor in search of a bathroom to wash the alcohol Kat accidently spilled off her dress. The bar was littered with eager guests as she stumbled and weaved her way through what felt like thousands of bodies pushing against her the closer she got to the bathroom hallway. It was like fighting the powerful pull of an unexpected current, and before she could register what was happening, a shark latched itself onto her arm and spun her around into an unfamiliarly icy embrace. She gasped and her hands fell on a chest belonging to an older guy with a wicked grin as she tried her best to get her vision back. He couldn't have been over 35 from what she saw, but the sight of him touching her made her cringe.

"Hey," he drawled, the stench of alcohol wafting into her nostrils from the proximity. She uncomfortably and very clumsy tried to push his chest away from her, but considering her intoxication, she wasn't doing a very good job. "You're pretty."

"Let go of me," she hissed through her teeth.

He gripped her chin and forced her head to the side where two other men were standing there with beer in hand, watching her. She swallowed thickly, but the fear in her head was fuzzy and distant, wavering with each second the disgusting men stood there.