To The Shock of Miss Louise (Carousel Series #1)

Chapter 6: Los Angeles, California | 1983

The Lost Boy and Ruby walked side by side quietly down the street to the 24-hour 7-11 store on the corner. Ruby felt people, generally girls, staring at Dwayne. He was cute, she would testify. But she wasn't used to being stared at. Most of the girls gave her envious looks and would sigh as Dwayne passed by. He seemed totally oblivious to it all. Ruby thought that maybe he was used to stares.

They slipped inside the 7-11; the familiar ding of the infrared beam that notified people had come inside the store. Dwayne disappeared down the aisle towards the cooler case. Ruby looked around, feeling rather out of place with her clothes. Some punks in Misfits shirts eyed her coolly, then went back to their comic books.

Ruby side stepped away, going down the aisle that was stocked with crackers and chips, candy bars and gum. She wasn't hungry - she'd learned to get by on little food when money was tight and rent was due - so she just eyed the food. Suddenly she felt something cold on her arm, yelped and turned around.

Dwayne raised a brow, and Ruby realized the cold brown glass bottles of beer had touched her skin. And then she began to wonder why she was so jumpy.

"Chill girl. It's only me." Dwayne said then grinned. "You want anything?"

"Not really..." Ruby looked towards the doors, shoving the blush that was rising to her cheeks back down.

"'Kay. Well we can go then." Dwayne headed off to pay for the beer, leaving Ruby in the aisle. The door sounded again and laughing, chattering voices echoed off the store walls. A local gang entered, each with the trademark blue bandana, which was the symbol of their allegiance. Ruby had seen them many times and each time she'd gone out of her way to get around them.

"Hey, it's a sexy gypsy chica!" One called, pointing at Ruby. Nasty whispered comments went through the gang, ending with rough laughter.

"And you all thought we wouldn't find any fun tonight!" The one who seemed to be the leader called. The gang laughed again and advanced on Ruby.

"Ella sucede ser mi novia, muchachos. Retroceda." Dwayne came out of nowhere, standing behind Ruby and wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. The gang all looked at Ruby, then at Dwayne again and laughed.

"Sure man. We just wanted a little fun. Maybe you'd share the chica for an hour?" the leader laughed.

"Retroceda!" Dwayne growled, his eyes glowing red for a moment. He bared his teeth, and Ruby was surprised his fangs didn't show. She knew they would if the gang moved any closer though.

"Chill, it's all good. She's yours, man! We get that!" the leader held up his hands and the gang backed up as one and headed outside. Dwayne let Ruby go and headed out the other entrance. Ruby blinked, then followed.

"What did you say to them?" She finally asked, when they were safely on the way back to her apartment.

"I told you them you were my fiancé and to back off." Dwayne shrugged.

"Fiancé?"

"It was better then saying you were my girlfriend. Being engaged holds more weight." Dwayne replied. "And in an ironic way, you're kind of like a fiancé. You're being brought into the family. Just not marrying one of us." He waited for Ruby to unlock the door, then headed in and dropped down on the couch.

"You speak Spanish." Ruby locked the multiple bolts on the door.

"I'm part Mexican, part Sioux." Dwayne answered, beating the small black and white TV with his fist, trying to get it to work.

"Cool..." Ruby was staring at him. It explained the long black hair entirely. And the smooth skin, his build, the raw sexuality...

"I can see it shows in my looks." He smirked, catching her staring.