𝑃𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠

Chapter Twenty Four

Ruby stood on the ferry with everyone else, nervously picking at her nails and watching the water.

The anxious flutter of her heart hasn't gone away since she saw the flier, she had a dreadful feeling that something was wrong.

Sage came over and stood beside her, noticing the way her bottom lip was swollen from how much she'd been anxiously biting it all day.

" are you okay..?" Sage asked and Ruby quickly blinked away her tears, " yea of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" She said, giving the most enthusiastic smile she could muster.

" you don't have to lie y'know.." Sage said, " my dad is literally trying to ruin my life.." Ruby said quietly.

" mine too, but uh. What'd your dad do?" Sage asked, " I'm set up for exile in two weeks." Ruby said and looked over at her.

Sage glanced over at JJ then back to Ruby, " does he know?" She asked and Ruby shook her head no, " it would break him.. he's already going through enough.." She said, staring at the floor.

" he deserves to know Rue.." Sage said, " well hopefully we'll get this cross yea? And then J and I can go.." Ruby said and messed with her rings.

" oh you've gotta be kidding me" Sarah groaned and everyone looked over, seeing Topper at one of the tables.

" well.. we need a truck right?" Ruby said and Sarah looked at her in shock, " saddle up cowgirl. Looks like Frosted Flakes can actually be useful for once." She said and gently shoved Sarah toward Topper.

" good one." JJ said with a laugh, hugging Ruby from behind, " JJ I have to tell you something-" Ruby started but got cut off as Sarah and Topper came over.

After a while they ended up at the train station, the entire ride Ruby kept trying to tell JJ she was going to be sent away, but someone always interrupted it.

They all stood on one of the trains, Pope getting the correct number, " J I'm serious I need to tell you something" Ruby tried once more, "baby I'm sorry but we gotta go.. tell me later okay?" JJ said and helped her down.

Sage gave Ruby a sympathetic look before running to catch up with Sarah and Topper as Pope and Cleo went to find the right train.

So that left JJ and Ruby to be the distraction- but something felt off, she didn't know what it was but she couldn't fight the bad vibe off.

She sat in the grass as JJ tried to trip the light, cursing as it wasn't working.

" hey.. breathe.." Ruby said quietly, gently connecting the other jumper cable to the other side of the train tracks.

They both paused for a moment, sharing a sigh of relief as the light turned red.

The two hid his bike and then hid behind the bushes, all they could do now was wait.

" I really need to talk to you.." she said and looked up at him, " what, are you pregnant?" He said with a nervous laugh and she slapped his arm.

" no! But it's more serious than that-" she started but they both froze, watching as the light turned green again.

She sighed and got on the back of his bike, holding onto him.

This wasn't good at all..