off limits ( m.s. )

NINETEEN

XIX.
SOTC: juliet - cavetown

- irl -

irl

    by the time her melt down is finally over, it's late. they've been watching spongebob on the tv, passing around a carton of ice cream and trying to keep ruby distracted. to everyone's relief, its working.

    it had already been decided that she'd stay the night, and that matt would take her to work in the morning since she doesn't have her car. being chauffeured for the day isn't entirely unappealing.

she had once again changed into his clothes, which is a habit she selfishly wants to get used to. she also knows that she'll have to wear them to set, which isn't professional, but she doesn't really care right now.

ruby yawns, trying to stifle it with her fist. she was already tired, and crying her eyes out has drained her of any and all energy she had left.

"do you want to call it a night?" matt asks next to her.

he hasn't left her side since he came and picked her up. she knew it would worry him, and a part of her hates that he saw her like that. but the other, larger part of her is so grateful to have someone to rely on.

    "yeah, i'm beat." ruby admits.

"let's go upstairs then. you're with me tonight, no arguing." he says with a smile.

    she doesn't object. after everything that's happened today, she needs a good rest, and that only seems to happen when matt's with her. plus, being held doesn't sound too bad.

"alright, we're turning in." he addresses the group a moment later, pushing himself off of the sofa.

they each nod, and none of them even give ruby a questioning glance. josie looks at her with a small smile, like she already understands.

"sleep well, webbkins." nick says as she shuffles by.

she pulls him in for a hug, then moves to chris, and finally to her best friend. each of them were so caring, even though they didn't need to be, and it means the world.

"we'll hang again soon under better circumstances. thank you, for everything."

"we've got your back." chris puts his knuckle out, and she gives him a fist bump.

"i love you ru." josephine calls after her.

"love you more, jo."

ruby ascends the stairs, matt trailing behind her as she makes her way to his room. she's been inside of it hundreds of times, but this feels different. it's just the two of them, which has never happened in his space before.

she stares at his bed, contemplating how she should make the first move here.

"make yourself at home." he insists, closing the door behind him.

    ruby is silent, unmoving. she never knows what to do when people use that phrase. it's almost impossible to discern what's appropriate.

    she feels him come up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and propelling them both forward onto the mattress.

    "matt!" she giggles, face pressed against the duvet as he lays on top of her.

    "you were taking too long." he mumbles back.

    they stay like that for a second until he crawls off, readjusting himself so that he's laying normally. he's got a silly grin on his face, and she loves it.