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RUBY VALENTINE laid in her bed The room hung heavy with the scent of cherries and the sugary residue of midnight snacks, as Ruby lay ensconced in her bed. Her fingers danced with a wiry stick, a ritual that accompanied the sweet taste that melted on her tongue. The blue glow of the TV painted the room, its eerie light flickering over chip wrappers scattered like confetti on the floor.
The soundtrack of gore and yelling from the movie filled the empty, dim-lit room. Chip bags crinkled in response to the early credits, but Ruby, unmoved, kept her gaze fixed on the screen. Her body sank into the cocoon of her bed, the sensation beneath her transporting her to a heavenly realm.
From the corner of her eye, a familiar figure materialized outside her window. Her lips curled into a subtle smile as she watched him. With a grace that belied her indifference, she pulled herself out of bed, fingers gently drawing up the window. In he climbed, a shadow merging with the darkness.
Billy Loomis, her newfound friend from Woodsboro High, had become a regular visitor. Two weeks of camaraderie with him, Sidney, Tatum, Randy, Stu, and the rest of their friend group had woven an unexpected bond. But tonight, Billy's appearance at a quarter past midnight held an eerie undertone.
The question lingered in the air — who would be audacious enough to seek her out, especially with her father in the nearby room? As Ruby navigated the delicate dance between friendship and the mysteries that veiled their lives, the stage was set for a night that would carve its place in the unfolding drama of Woodsboro.
"Go bother Sidney," she playfully mocked, but deep down, she thought the opposite. He smiled again. "That didn't sound right," he admitted.
"Why are you out this hour?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "It's quarter past midnight. Who knows what's out there?" She flopped next to him, and he replied, "Sidney kicked me out."
"Oh, she did?" she inquired, her heart simmering with anger. If she were his girlfriend, she'd never kick him out, even if it meant getting in trouble—well, maybe she did. "Why are you up?"
He looked at her. "Because I was bored, that's all," she claimed, but he wasn't buying it. "Yeah, I was," she defended, pointing at the fallen chip bags on the floor. "Well, what were you watching?" he asked.
"I was watching a horror movie, pretty boy," she smiled, and he retorted, "Well, you could've called me to ask." She replied, "I couldn't because I figured you'd be busy. I ran errands today, and my dad is home, which I suggest you leave."
"Aw, you too?" he pouted. "Unfortunately, if my dad caught you, he will kill you, then me. Well, not if I get to him first," he added, smiling. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. C'mon," she guided him to the window, and he walked reluctantly. "How about tomorrow night? My dad is going on a trip, so he won't be here, okay?" he suggested. He leaned in for her lips, but she backed away, shaking her head. He chuckled, hopped from the window, and vanished into the night.
