Drop Dead Gorgeous - a Ruby Rose novel [GxG] ♡

I'll Take Care of You

The telephone wouldn't stop ringing that morning and Vienna was really curious why. A lot of her dad's clients and co- workers called to ask where her father was and if he was coming to work but Vienna remembered watching her dad walk out the door wearing his grey suit and briefcase in his hand. It was always like that when he went to work. Her mom was somewhere out, but she said she'd be back soon. 

-Maybe she knows where dad is. Maybe he's stuck in traffic, maybe he stopped by at a cafe and bumped into an old friend, maybe he just locked himself into his office and doesn't want to talk to anybody. - a lot of things could've happened. 

But she never expected this. 

The phone rang once again and Vienna rolled her eyes and tiredly walked over to the kitchen island where she left it. 

-What? - her annoyance was pretty obvious and she wasn't trying to hide it at all. 

-Mrs. Costello?

-This is Miss Costello, who is that?

-I'm calling from the hospital. 

-The h-hospital? - her voice trembled. - Why? What happened?

-I'm sorry but I have to inform you that your father got into a car accident. 

-No, no, no, no, no. 

-How? What? When? Why? - she was out of her mind. 

-Miss Costello, accept my condolences, your father died. 

She dropped her phone from her hand and fell to the ground, on her knees. The whole world was spinning and it was like a replay from two years ago when she found out about Abel. The only words that were ringing in her head were: dad, condolences, car accident, died. 

-Dad's dead. Dad died. He's dead. He died in a car accident. Abel died in a car accident. Abel.. Dad... - she heard her mother quickly running inside the kitchen when she saw her kneeling on the floor. She heard her calling her name but then she passed out on the floor and was taken to the hospital soon. 

***

There were many people on the funeral. Family, friends, acquaintances, co- workers, neighbours. Everybody wanted to say their last farewell to Anthony Mark Costello, a loving father, husband, friend and a noble person. Vienna didn't shed a tear. It's not like she wasn't in pain, nonetheless, she was in such a big pain that it blocked her from feeling or living normal. She didn't eat for the past few days, she didn't sleep, she didn't go out. She wasn't living at all. She was a walking corpse, pale and broken, somehow breathing and managing not to break down. She already lost a person she loved the most, a person that meant the world to her. Then the man who carried her on his back when she was a little girl, the man who bought her sweets and tucked her in her bed was gone, in one second. She wanted to cry so bad, she wanted to sob, to scream, to yell, to break things, to run away but she couldn't. No tears came out when she tried to cry and no sound came out when she tried to scream. Through the whole funeral she was staring at the casket until at the very end, she raised her head and Ruby was standing opposite of her, in a black suit, a tie and hands in her pockets. They exchanged looks and Ruby mouthed a "I'm so sorry" , then Vienna nodded in reply. 

The whole memorial service was already done for quite a while and people were starting to leave, but she was still standing by her father's and brother's graves, which were right next to each other. She really wanted to be left alone, to grieve, to suffer. To really feel the pain. To let it sink in.

-How are you holding? - Ruby found herself next to her. 

-I'm really fucked up. 

-Vienna, I'm so sorry. If there's anything I can do for you-

-Can you bring them back? - she interrupted the older girl. 

-No. Unfortunately neither of us can. 

-I feel like I lost a part of myself, like half of me just died with them. 

-Come on, let's grab some coffee and talk about it. I'm willing to listen. 

-I don't want coffee. I want my family back. - Vienna pouted. 

-Vienna, not drinking or eating or no sleeping isn't going to help you at all. You're just exhausting yourself.  I know it's hard but you need to cry a river, build a bridge and somehow get over it, no matter how harsh this sounds. You're worrying me.

-Ruby, my father just died and you're telling me to get over it! Are you crazy?! - Vienna burst out and started yelling at Ruby, but finally pulled herself together when she realized where they were. - I'm sorry. 

-No, I'm sorry. You're right, I'm being unreasonable and rude.

-Ruby?

-Yes?

-I really want that coffee.

-Come on, let's go. I'll make you the best coffee in the world. 

***

-Take off your clothes. - Ruby's words scared Vienna a little bit and the other one noticed it. - Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you. 

Vienna was sitting on Ruby's bed, she had no idea how and when she even got there, even though she was fully awake the whole time. She listened to Ruby and the black dress she was wearing slipped down her body to the floor. She was wearing undergarments, but still couldn't help but feel naked. She felt Ruby's gaze on her and it made her blush but she didn't move until Ruby took her hand and led her to one side of the bed. She pulled the blanket off and made space for the girl to lay down.

-Ruby, what are you doing?

-Just lay down. 

-But Ruby-

-Please. It's okay. 

Hesitantly, Vienna laid her head on the soft pillow while Ruby put a blanket over her half- naked body. Then after a few minutes, Ruby laid down next to her, too, spooning her from behind. 

-I never really examined the tattoos on your hands. - Ruby admitted, then took her hand in hers.- What do they all mean?

-This one means "courage and strength" in Arabian. This one is "love" in Chinese. This skull right here is a matching tattoo a friend and I made. I have roses all over my shoulders, they have no specific meaning. They're just... Flowers. 

-They're beautiful. - Ruby looked her in the eyes. - You're beautiful. 

-Ruby, stop...

-No. You're breathtaking. Mesmerizing. Stunning. You look like an angel in disguise. 

-And you're drop dead gorgeous, Ruby. 

Ruby hugged her once again and the girl felt some comfort and safety under her touch. She was thankful Ruby didn't take the opportunity to do something to her while she was vulnerable. 

-Why are you doing this, Ruby?

-You need somebody to take care of you.

The other girl smiled, then turned to her side and fell asleep peacefully. For the first time in two years, she had no nightmares. She slept like a baby and nothing could ruin that moment for her. Ruby wanted to return the favor to Vienna for staying with her when she broke up with Phoebe. She knew she was going through pain and she didn't want her to go through it alone. She couldn't. She was catching feelings for this tattooed beauty sleeping in her bed and she didn't want to deny it any longer.