Hers 2 (Ruby Rose)

6| Guilt

THE UNSETTLING FEELING inside of me vanished once I saw the crowd of people, of all ages, dancing to music in the middle of the street, each with the widest smiles you will have ever seen. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the elderly woman with snow-white hair hopping about while people cheered her on. The atmosphere was good here. Something I had yet to experience.

"Should we eat first?" Matthew asked, grabbing my attention.

"Sure," I smiled, following him through the crowd.

At one point, when the crowd became too much for us to not lose each other, he grabbed my hand firmly and continued to lead me towards a vendor selling tacos.

The feeling of guilt kept trying to creep up on me, but I had to remind myself that I asked Ruby to come, twice, but every time she tensely said she was 'working'.

Two weeks had passed since we properly talked, since I left her behind at the beach. I was sick of that place. It was too nice. I hated not being able to do things myself, such as cook or clean, because there was always someone else there to do it. What was the point in having a kitchen if you couldn't use it? Before I could try, there was already food waiting for us once we walked into our room, and I could not let it go to waste.

I bit into the hard shell, letting out a sound in delight. "What is that? It's amazing." I said with a mouthful. I probably looked unattractive, with no makeup and hair in a knotty bun, but who was I trying to impress?

Matthew chuckled at me, preparing to bite into his own taco by holding it sideways. "I honestly have no idea." I could still here the crunch of the shell over the music.

We drank fresh lemonade that had actual lemon wedges in it, and sat down on the street curb, just talking about New York. We both missed it. I never realized I could talk about that place so much, as I never really did with anyone else.

"So, you have a partner?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, a fiancé. She's back in New York. We're having a break at the moment."

"A break," that reminded me of Ruby and I.

"But in the end, we always love each other. Despite the circumstances."

Despite the circumstance, I will always love Ruby.

Matthew and I remained silent for a while, both lost in our own thoughts.

"THANK YOU SO much for today, I really had a good time." I said as we walked towards my room door with Matthew.

"No worries at all. I hope it cheered you up, I know you've been going through something lately..."

"It really did." I turned around to face him. "I'll see you around?"

"Of course, and remember, if you ever need anything my room number-"

"32." I said, gaining a toothy smile from him.

I entered the room expecting it to just be me, as Ruby was always out late. She just didn't care anymore. She never thought, maybe I wouldn't like falling asleep on my own every night. Or maybe she just didn't care.

I dropped my bag onto the ground next to the door and walked towards the bedroom, my legs sore from walking around all day. I pulled off my sandals and tossed them to the side, ready to fall into bed. The bed that Ruby was sitting on, watching me with narrow eyes.

I let out a little yelp when I saw her, completely startled.

"Ruby, wha-"

"Who was that, Ellis?" She asked, her tone of voice sending shivers down my spine.