Sex Education

Christmas Wrapping

December 24th

Mary frowned across at Ruby as she fidgeted in the passenger's seat as she took the well travelled route north back home to Manchester.

"Ruby...it won't be that bad. It's a dinner. One family dinner. If this is about Noel, you don't need to even sit near him. I'll sit beside him." She reassured her.

Ruby didn't respond. Mary was really worried now. She glanced back to her. Ruby was blushing fiercely and looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Ruby... I'm getting really worried now. You've been a bit...off...for weeks now. Jumpy, nervous...not yourself especially in the office. Every time I ask you to get like this. I know this is your first Christmas without your mam, so I get i-"

"I shagged him." Ruby blurted out shakily.

Mary was stunned. Completely stunned. She totally lost focus. So much so that she swerved slightly into the other lane. A loud beep from behind her brought her back to the present. Ruby was crying. Uncontrollably crying.

"You...and...you and Noel?"

Ruby nodded as she shamefully wiped her tears away silently. Ruby exhaled shakily.

"I'm a fucking idiot!"

Mary reached across the handbrake to pat her thigh gently.

"It's OK. I'm not judging you. I get it. You guys have chemistry. It's nothing to get embarassed or worked up over."

Ruby whipped her head to face Mary glaring at her sharply.

"It's exactly something to get worked up and embarassed about! Fucking...ugh... Noel Gallagher?! He's a cunt and I hate him!"

Mary tried to fight the smile on her face unsuccessfully from Ruby's petulant behaviour.

"This isn't funny!" She exclaimed.

"Don't lose the rag with me! I'm on your side. I'm trying to help you. Right, let's look at this logically. If you really hate him then...how did it even happen?"

Ruby hesitated thinking deeply.

"It was that night they got back a few weeks ago. I was in the office alone. I felt sad and he was being...so nice...and he just, he caught me in a weak moment." She admitted shyly.

Mary shrugged.

"Totally understandable. It was a comfort thing. No big deal."

Ruby swallowed thickly as her tears finally stopped flowing.

"I think maybe I'd have made my peace with myself if it'd only been one time..."

Mary gasped and gave a shocked laugh!

"He came back for seconds?! Bold. Very bold Gallagher."

Ruby shook her head shamefully.

"Not him. Me. And not once. Not twice. Not thrice. Four more times... since." She said pathetically as she leant her forehead against the cold glass window.

Mary's eyes widened. She really thought Noel would be the first to break. The one to pursue her...in all their years of friendship, she'd never seen her lose her cool like this over anyone. Her shitty ex-boyfriend had seen to that.

"Failing to see the problem here. He's clearly making you happy enough that you want to see him more or...um do...well, whatever it is, he does that keeps you happy. And I mean, I doubt he'll be complaining about this setup."

Ruby looked out of the window wistfully.

"It feels nice... when I'm with him... too nice. I must seem so desperate it's always me going to him...it's disgusting." She said with a shudder.