𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐲 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 ✩ 𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐝𝗼𝐧

🆃🆆🅾︎

𝐬𝗼𝐧𝐠: 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬

✩✩✩

Ruby was staring into space when the door of her geography class opened, and in walked the principal.

He looked directly at her with a steely glare, and indicated for her to come with him.

Although Ruby hadn't done anything, she couldn't help but feel like she had.

A strange feeling stirred in her stomach as she followed him along the locker lines corridors to his office.

As she walked in, the principal took a seat behind his desk.

In front of her sat a boy she didn't recognise, and presumably his mum.

"Sit down, please, Miss Donovan." The man said, his expression not softening.

Ruby sat down awkwardly next to the boy, glancing sideways at him.

She confirmed she did not know him, and had not beat him up as a dare.

"Ruby, this is Gabe and his mother. Gabe is a transfer, like you were. We were hoping you could take care of him on account of your understanding of neurodivergent people and their needs."

Ruby's mind felt like it was buffering. "What?"

The principal smiled for the first time. "You know Layla? She has autism, but you managed to work around it and include her in your friend group."

It clicked in her mind, at last.

"Oh, yeah?" Ruby said. "Apparently I'm just empathetic, though, sir, I wouldn't say I'm like qualified to help this guy-?"

He cut her off. "Don't worry, Gabe isn't too much work- I'm sure he or his mother will be able to tell you his needs,"

✩✩✩

"I'm sorry about that, you probably think I'm going to be a burden." Gabe spoke.

Ruby smiled. "It's fine, dude."

They were sat facing each other in an empty classroom, Gabe's mum had gone to fill out some form or other.

"So are loud noises an issue?"

He nodded.

"Well, that's easily fixed- do you like music?"

He nodded again.

"Right- how about in class, I'll give you my headphones, you can listen to whatever you like and block out all sound. When the teachers explained the task, I'll write down what you have to do and you can do it; if you have any issues we can just write to each other about it."

Gabe smiled and nodded this time.

"Awesome, is there anything else you're able to tell me?" Ruby asked.

"I'm fine one-to-one, like this. I was homeschooled, but now I want to go see what it's like here. And I really don't like physical touch, like, at all." He explained, and Ruby noticed he was far more well-spoken than any of her friends.

"You won't have to worry about that, the teachers will hopefully have be informed." She said.

"You don't have to take care of me at lunch break, if you don't want to, I'll just go to the base."

"What's that?" Ruby had never heard of it.

"A room in the school with lots of sofas and calming stuff, and a bunch of ladies who offer you water and biscuits..." Gabe replied, running a hand through his fluffy golden hair.

"That sounds cool. If you're fine going there, of course- but maybe biscuits and ladies aren't your thing?"

"No, it's fine. You're welcome to come with me, but I'm sure you'll want to hang out with your friends." He said.

Ruby clasped her hands together and nodded thoughtfully. "I'll come with you on Thursdays and Fridays, alright?"

He smiled. "Ok."

✩✩✩

"Why'd you leave class Rubes, what'd you do?" Kaleb asked.

He had dark hair in tanned skin, and the ring leader of Ruby's group.

They were an on and off duo, usually Kaleb would be distanced from the group after Ruby rejected him for the umpteenth time.

"I've been chosen to take care of some new guy..." Ruby shrugged, shoving books in her locker.

"Oh, neat, why though?" He asked as a few others joined him.

"He's got, uh, special needs. He's cool." She shut her locker and leant against it, Kaleb moving in front of her and placing a hand against it too, leaning in closer to her.

"Is he hot?" He asked.

"Why would you ask that- you jealous?" Ruby smirked.

He tilted his head to the side, pondering his answer. "Maybe a bit... is he though?"

"Kind of, but you don't need to worry," Ruby patted his shoulder gently. "Neither of you are going to date me."

His soft smile curved into an 'o'. "C'mon! You're so tricky, Rubes."

"I know, I like being that way. You going to Milo's party tonight?"

"Yeah, he said it was a 'sophomore' thing, so only people from our year will be there. You should invite the new kid." Kaleb said.

"No, he won't like it. Kaleb, do me a favour, keep away from him? He's never been to a public school and it's a big ass step."

"For a kiss I will,"

"Fuck off, Kaleb." Ruby said, before adding out of good will, "if you're lucky, maybe you'll get one at Milo's."

He grinned and stood back. "Neat."

✩✩✩