𝑃𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠

Chapter Twenty Six

*Ten Years Ago*

There was a hurricane coming through, currently JJ was walking Ruby home after they spent the day together.

" wait- wait hold on.." JJ said, his hand going up to his neck, his shark tooth wasn't on anymore, " what is it..? What's wrong?" Ruby asked, blinking rain out of her eyes.

" m-my necklace.. it's not o-on.." JJ choked out, starting to panic, Ruby immediately started looking for it, catching the reflection of it just as it went down into the storm drain.

Ruby took off her (his) jacket and immediately climbed down into the storm drain, gasping as she was met with cold water.

"Ruby! What are you doing!" JJ yelled, running over and kneeling in front of the drain, " getting your necklace back!" Ruby said and searched the water.

She heard the water rushing in and took an anxious breath, " Rubes c'mon I can just get another one! Get out of there!" JJ said in concern, " no! It's the last thing you have from your mom!" Ruby shouted and dived into the water.

She came up after a moment, coughing and wiped water out of her eyes, grinning as the necklace was now in her hand.

" I found it!" She cheered and clasped it around her neck, " c'mon Rue get out!" He said, watching the rain pour down harder.

Ruby swallowed hard and looked at the entrance of the drain, the water was rushing in so fast that it looked like a waterfall at this point.

" JJ I don't know if I can!" She yelled, anxiety was starting to get the best of her, " can you see my hand?" He asked and she squinted, trying to see, " no! I can't!" She shouted.

JJ cursed and ran up onto the sidewalk, trying to pop off the lid to the drain, he could see Ruby's fingers looped through the holes.

" Rue I can't get it open!" He yelled, his heart was thrumming in his chest, " JJ! The water!" She shrieked, feeling it climb up her neck.

" Ruby!" He yelled, banging on the lid as tears streamed down his face, watching her fingers lose grip.

JJ sniffled and laid his head against the lid, sobbing as he pawed at it, wishing it would just open somehow.

He looked up and saw the police cruiser, quickly wiping away his tears, " I gotta go okay..? I gotta get you help.." he said quietly, hesitantly letting go of the lid and standing up.

He ran- JJ didn't think he'd ever run so fast in his life, shouting after the police cruiser, praying that this would work. He couldn't lose her.

Suddenly the police cruiser stopped and JJ sobbed in relief, running over.

" P-Peterkin I need h-help" JJ choked out, running back to the storm drain, " shit what did you two do?" Peterkin asked, radioing for backup.

" she went down there because I lost my necklace.." he sniffled, watching the lid be opened.

JJ froze, feeling bile climb up his throat as he saw Ruby floating in the water, motionless with her hair swimming around her.

Peterkin pulled her out of the drain, laying her on the sidewalk and trying to make her cough up the water.

Eventually it worked, Ruby started to cough up the water and JJ had never been more relieved to see hazel eyes again in his life.

He automatically took her into his arms, pulling her onto his lap and rubbing the back of her head as she shivered and coughed in his arms.

" don't do something like that again.." JJ murmured, kissing her temple, " it was something important to you.." Ruby said quietly.

JJ shook his head and held her tighter, " and so are you.. nothing is worth your life Rubes.." he said and she looked up at him, nodding in understanding and curling closer to him.

That was the first time they'd almost lost each other.