Passion || Ruby Matthew's||

Chapter 27.

Ben woke up late the next day. It was Maeve's mum funeral but he wasn't invited. Maeve never gave him a reason, she had just sent him a text saying she rather that he not be there. Ben couldn't lie. That hurt his feelings a lot.

Ben groaned as he got up out of his bed to get ready for the day in the hell hole called Cavendish. He was sure he'd get stares and mumbles about him by he was past the point of caring.

Ben quickly doing his morning routine and got dressed before dashed out the door. He had a hunch that it would be a long day.

As he got to the school he was followed by Ruby and Sean on either side of him. It felt a little bit like things were normal again but of course things had changed but it was better for them to not speak about it right now.

"So, your criminology classes are paying off. You did like so good in the debate" Sean started off the conversation. "Besides, outing O?" Ben quirked a brow. "Okay, that isn't technically your fault. If you think about it, how could you have properly outed her if you didn't know. It would be a whole other story if you actually knew" Sean tried to reason.

"Well, she was still outed. Whether I knew or not. Doesn't make that big of a difference".

"Hi, Ben!" Of course Amy would make a comeback. "What do you want, you redheaded psycho" Ruby questioned. "I just wanted to say hi to my Ben. Rumour is that you two are broken up so he's single again".

"I wouldn't count still having sex as single, but nice effort. Don't try again" Ben said as he walked away from the redhead.

"You guys are having sex?".

"No!" Both Ben and Ruby said at the same time. "Trust we are not. It was the only way to get rid of Amy now she knows me and Ruby are broken up".

"I fully agree with tactic. It was smart, believable" Ruby nodded. "Hi guys!" I said as she scooted by on her scooter. The three screwed their face up in disgust. "Cant we not just make up a rumor and also take off one of the wheels of her scooter?" Sean asked.

"No. That would make us bullies and we are not that" Ruby responded.

"But weren't the untouchables bullies before" Ben shook his head at Sean.

"The old ones maybe. The new ones, no" Ruby stated. At least she could own it and admit to it.

"So, I was going to do a deep dive on O later, if you want to join" Ruby said towards Ben. "Sean you're free to tag along. Sean shook his head "uh, no. I've got...a family dinner tonight. You two should definitely go ahead with it though" he lied.

"Sure, I mean, Maeve didn't invite me to her mother's funeral so I've got nothing better to do" Ben shrugged. "Cool. I'll see you later then" Ben nodded as Ruby strutted away.

"Well, that's progress".

"Every time I try to talk to her it's like I chicken out at the last second. I miss her, Sean. I know Ruby wouldn't hurt me, I overreacted and I can admit that now but it's like I can't admit it to her. I don't know what to do" Ben frowned.

"Hey, you'll get there. Right now, you're making progress by just talking to her slowly about other things and hanging out later. Just take it one step at a time. You'll know when your ready to talk about it" Sean said putting a hand on his best friends shoulder.

"Right...well I've got criminology now so I better go".

"Go do you man. That's gonna get you places so you best not be late" Ben smiled at Sean before he left to go to his class.

~~~~

It had in fact been a long day with stares and whispers from people in the halls but Ben wasn't bothered to even care. It's not the first time he's been stared and whispered about.