Ethereal ✾ ||C.S||

XI. Puddles

✾Ruby's pov

He leaned closer when suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Might be my mum.", I said, breaking our intertwined bodies apart.

I left him looking like a little boy who asked to play games on someone's phone but couldn't because they didn't have any. I ran downstairs tying my hair up. I opened the door only to see a guy that looked exactly like Cole, the only difference was that he had slightly longer and more lighter hair. He also had less beauty spots than him. I just stood there with my jaw hanging. His eyes were red like he had been crying and his hair was a mess.

"Is Cole here?", He asked.

"Umm, yeah and you are?"

Before he could answer, Cole came running down behind me and opened the door more so he could see.

"What are you doing here, Dylan?"

"It's Margot, she went into labor two hours ago."

"What? She wasn't due till next week.", Cole said.

"Yeah and the baby...", He trailed off.

"Did the baby make it?", Cole's eyes widening.

"She did but... she's not mine. The baby isn't mine.", His voice cracked.

"Dylan, what the actual fuck is happening? What are you even saying?"

"Uh, I'll leave you guys to talk in private.", I said and left the room.

-

"Text me if you need anything.", Cole said.

"Yeah I will. Just take care of Dylan."

Cole gave me a quick hug and walked over to his car in which Dylan was waiting for him.

That was rough.

Dylan was Cole's twin brother.
What had happened was that, Dylan's fiancee was pregnant and she had just had her baby. And when the doctors ran some tests on her newly born baby's blood it turned out that Dylan wasn't the father. He was devastated because Margot and him had been together for 5 years now and he didn't expect her to do something that was this low.

-

It was raining pretty hard outside. Each drop shot downward, sliced through the air, and shattered onto the pavement outside. The parted dews of the drops oozed into the cracks, spilling through them to run in rivets underneath. I decided to bake some cookies to take my mind off of everything. So, I googled a recipe and gathered my ingredients. I didn't really measure the ratio of the ingredients so when I was finished I ended up with almost two dozen chocolate chip cookies.

I can take some to Cole's.

I text him to see if he was home.

Me: r u home?

I waited for a text back by putting away the flour and the sugar pot. I was about to put the dirty dishes away when my phone buzzed.

C: yeah. y?

Me: can i come over?

C: it's raining outside, how r u going 2 get here?

Me: i have an umbrella.

C: uh, okay i guess.

Me: see u soon. xx

I grabbed my yellow raincoat and umbrella. I placed the cookies in a pastel blue lunchbox and walked out of the house. I didn't bother avoiding stepping into the puddles on my way there, in fact I loved the muddy water. It reminded me of my childhood and how I used to make tiny paper boats and watch them float in dirty puddles.

I hummed down the street with the little lunchbox in my bag.

Strange boy I'll talk you up.
I'll drink the kool aid from your cup.

I finally made my way over to his place. I took off my raincoat and brushed my slightly damp hair with my fingers. Ringing the bell, I waited and wondered if Cole will like the cookies. Just then, I heard someone run down the stairs and twist the handle.

"There she is.", Cole smiled.

"Here I am.", I said.

"Come on in.", He gestured me into the hallway.

As I walked into the living room I saw Dylan sitting on the floor next to the fireplace.

"Is he okay with me being here?", I asked Cole.

"He's more than okay. He likes you.", He smiled.

"You guys live alone?", I said while handing him my soaking wet raincoat.

"Yeah, just the two of us."

"What about your parents?"

He was silent for a moment or two and then he said,

"They passed away in a car accident when we were six."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It is what it is.", He sighed.

"Should I go talk to him?"

"Yeah, go on. He won't bite.", He said to ease the slight sad tension.

I went over to Dylan and stood beside him.

"Can I sit with you?"

"Sure sure.", He moved over so there would be space for me.

"Here.", I handed him the lunchbox.

He opened it and took out a cookie. He was still sad but he ate it so I wouldn't feel bad.

"Pretty and can cook.", He smiled.

I giggled and said,

"Yeah, umm listen it's none of my business, but are you okay?"

He played with his shoelaces, his mouth still full with cookie crumbs, his eyes all puffy and watery,

"I don't know what to feel. I'm numb.", He said.

I rubbed his back lightly and said,

"I'm not going to tell you it's okay because it's not, but it will get better.", I gave him a weak smile and he nodded.

Just then, Cole entered the room with a tray that had three huge mugs on it.

"This weather calls for hot chocolate.", He sat down next to us.

"Here, Ruby. I know you love marshmallows so I filled your cup right to the top with them.", He handed me the light pink marble mug.

"Dylan, you like yours plain and simple. Here, drink up, bro.", Dylan took his mug from him and Cole set aside the tray with his mug in his hands.

"Where did all these cookies come from?", Cole asked picking up the box that was placed between us.

"Ruby made these.", Dylan said, staring into his half empty mug.

Cole took one out of the box and bit into it. His facial expressions told me he liked them. And there we sat, the three of us, drinking hot chocolate and eating homemade cookies as the clouds poured outside.

It was all so sad and blue, but still peaceful.

✾✾✾
i'm sad. :(