At my Lowest

Ruby

My little sister shook me awake and I sent her off so I could get dressed.

I took a quick shower and did my hair and skincare. Putting on some natural makeup, I put on a pink mini-dress.

My white heels made a loud sound against the floor as I walked into the kitchen.

I kissed Maya on the head and she went off to a birthday party.

Maya was six and her best friend's mom was picking her up for a birthday.

The coast was clear so I told Ethan to come out.

"Ruby, when can I stop hiding from your sister?"

"Well, you're not my boyfriend, and I don't want her to get attached to you."

He gave me a quick kiss and sat at the table.

"What?"

He was staring at me with a slight smile on his vague face.

I say vague because it's unreadable and only tells so much.

"Ethan!"

"You're just stunning"

Me?

I was stunning?

Ethan Banks was perfect. His messy dark brown hair was extremely attractive. And his pretty brown eyes spoke so many words without saying any.

I handed him a cup of coffee and sat down next to him.

My head rested on his shoulder.

I lived with my little sister alone in an apartment in New York.

I'm eighteen and my parents are sweethearts but they weren't the best parents.

They tried but they just couldn't be as attentive. So I took Maya, but I visit often and we all love each other.

Last week Ethan came into my life, he was with his friend Liam at some club. They had fake ids like me and my friend which sparked conversation.

He wasn't looking for anything serious and neither was I, so I leaped at the opportunity.

He's attractive, kind, athletic, and I love his taste in music.

He makes me happy, and maybe someday we can be official but right now this is okay.

We're not messing around with other people, so we are just with each other.

I like him, as a person. I like his friends, but his sister seems to not like me.

He called her the other night while he was over and she asked him when he was going to fix things with Dakota.

Who is Dakota? Probably some crazed ex that made an impression on the family.

"Rube?"

I love his name for me. I just love that I'm the only person who he has a special name for.

"Yes?"

"What're you thinking about?"

"You"

I smiled up at him and picked up our cups to run them underwater.

"Ethan, I have a question."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

I propped myself up onto the counter and leaned in closer to him.

"Who is Dakota?"

He tensed up and clenched his jaw.

"How do you know about her?"

"I heard Jen mention her, is she important?"

"Very"

I won't say his words didn't sting. I longed to be important to him.

Yet I was stuck here.

"Ethan, who is she."

"Don't breathe her name, Ruby."

He took his phone and left.

I wiped a tear that I didn't notice was on my face.

More tears followed and I was crying on my kitchen floor.

I leaned against my cupboard door until I heard a door open.

I wiped my tears quickly and washed my face.

"Hi sissy!"

"Hi Maya"

She told me about her day and hugged me before she went off to her room.

Nobody can fathom the pain that one word brought upon me.

I called my friend to come to watch Maya and left my apartment.

I opened my car door and started the engine.

Approaching the large house felt illegal.

It was always my place because Maya is a deep sleeper and I don't live with my parents.

Upon arrival at the Bank's home, I saw a car that belonged to Javon's sister.

I've met Ethan's friends various times which also made me run into Layla a few times. She doesn't seem to like me.

I was really hoping I didn't stumble into Ethan making out with Layla. That would explain her hatred for me.

I knocked on the door.

A tall boy not much younger than me answered the door.

"Who are you?"

"Ruby, you?"

"Griffin. But who ARE you?"

Oh.

"Um, Ethan's uh"

"Holy crap"

He was laughing and I was hoping not at me.

"So Dakota's single? Sweet!"

He opened the door for me and I nodded my thanks.

"Ethan's upstairs. First door to your left"

He walked off somewhere and I hesitantly found myself going up the stairs.

I was outside the door when I heard voices. Leaning my ear to the door I listened in.

"Ethan, if you don't stop this nonsense she'll end up getting back at you in the worst way possible"

"Dakota screwed up. She manipulated me in there and if she wants a break then I could care less how she gets back at me"

"Don't be surprised if you find her with Liam or Griffin. If she wants to make it hurt, Austin."

"She wouldn't"

"I'm her best friend, I know her. So stop worrying about the blonde and worry about the girl you're in love with!"

So that's why Layla hates me. She's friends with the ex. I feel like a rebound.

She knows his friends and his family and from the sound of it, she was close with them.

And he's in love with her? No. No way!

"Coco isn't going to go that far"

"Watch your back. Ethan"

Coco? So my name isn't special.

I hid behind a wall and watched Layla leave.

The girl is not on my side but she's fabulous.

She strutted out with her black knee-high boots and matching black dress. The headband on top of her blonde silky hair made the look even better. I was jealous of her bag too.

Griffin waved to her and she smiled at him.

How much of an impression does this girl have? His parents must hate me compared to the love they probably have for this Dakota girl.

I walked into his room and shut the door behind me.

"WHO IS SHE ETHAN?"

"Ruby?"