Reinvent Love

show me im not disgusting

ah back to his again, building part of a house. All of us were here today luckily. We got the walls up already, and the frame of the loft bed. the living space was in the process, and the accent wall was just started. The pattern was composed of a bunch of lines and dots, and Remi, Jasmine, and I were in charge of it. It was tedious work, but it was coming out well. I was working on the left, Remi in the middle, and Jasmine in the right. The wall was painted light grey, almost a light blue. With a light purple of a similar shade, we created the lines, and the dots were painted a popping red. Every three lines we painted one a mustard yellow. Of course our theme was boho and colorful but we decided to modernize it to some extent so it wouldn't be too colorful. While we were on that, Ryan and Penny worked on making a large window. some of the others were out at target I think buying a tapestry, duvet,sheets, a small floor rug, and curtains. It was coming together nicely so far. I couldn't wait to see the end result. Other teams were working near us. We were all in one large warehouse. The sound of screwdrivers and hammers echoed loudly through my head and the whole building. After an hour of sitting there tediously painting lines and dots I was wishing to be one of the ones who went out. Soon some of the others came back with sheer sheets with an embroidered floral pattern, A tie dyed purple and red tapestry with a mandala on it, a white knotted rug, and sheets and a duvet that were just a light gray that matched the walls. we strung up fairy lights but by then class was over. I walked home in the cold, it was cold but I persisted on. The winter months were never my favorite, they almost made me sad, in a way. No life in anything, just barren and cold. Especially after christmas. Snow becomes a nuisance rather than something you wish for.

I entered my apartment. Carter wasn't home and neither was Addy. I put my stuff down and sat on the couch. I pulled my phone out of my jeans back pocket, and texted Addy.

" so do you know when your lecture will be over?"

I hit send and waited. No response. she must have her phone on silent. I put my phone down right as it binged, but who texted me wasn't who I expected. Instead of a text from Addy, it was from Leo.

" Ruby are you busy right now? i'm home alone and Ollie's not getting back for another hour or so"

I smiled a bit to myself, finding it odd how we just happen to be in the same situation at the same time.

" i'll be there in 3 minutes max. Addy isn't home either and i'm already bored" I hit send and walked out the door,  arching the elevator and going up to 7. I knocked on the right door and there was Leo.

" hey" he said.

" hello" i responded I walked in behind him. We sat on the couch together.

" so what's up?" I asked him.

" ah you know nothing much, kinda just passing time with you as I wait for ollie's return" he answered.

" that sounded oddly poetic" i commented. He chucked. " what about you, anything going on?"

" In one of my classes we have to build a whole life sized room and decorate it" i said. " it's been fun so far but even now i still hear drills in my head"

" oh wow" he responded. " did you have a theme or anything?"

" ours was bohemian but every group had a different one" I said.

" that sounds cool" He said. " I remember when I got to decorate my room it was the best thing ever until I realized 9 year old me's taste was very very different from high school me's taste"

I laughed. " why what was it like?" I asked.

" I don't know why but for some reason I was very interested in caterpillars and worms so my mom helped me paint like a 3 foot long caterpillar on my wall and it's still there." A smile was in his voice as he recalled the memory.

" my old room is still purple with one bright lime green wall, and for some reason my parents never bothered to paint this one small wall that my closet made so it was just purple purple purple green white white." I told him.

" oof" He said. " how old were you when you picked out those colors?"

" i was in i think 2nd grade so 7 or 8?" I answered. " when I was around twelve I really wanted to redo it but i knew my dad wouldn't let me. You'd think with the amount of money you inherit from someone dying you'd buy a 15 dollar paint can, a roller brush and some painters tape and let me at it but nope." I said, I wasn't thinking as the last part slipped out of my mouth and didn't realize how concerning that sounded until I watched Leo's face contort in confusion and shock.

" wait what who died?" He asked with a concerned tone

" oh! wait I never told you about that? oh sorry about that. when I was young my mother passed away" I explained. I was praying I wouldn't have to go into any more detail.

" oh man i'm sorry about that Ruby. I knew you didn't have a mother but I just assumed it was divorce and never really questioned it" He said

" oh it's ok" I said. " so anyways, um, what do you think you'll be doing for valentine's day?" I fiddled with my moon necklace, Addy in my mind.

" Were going to the pizza place where we first became a thing, it's only a 30 minute drive from here" he said with a smile. " that's become our tradition"

" that sounds fun? anything else?" I asked.

Leo stared at me with suggestive eyes.

" dear lord Leo I meant like are you gonna give him something not that" I said in small disgust. He erupted into laughter.

" I really just had this moment of ' is she actually asking me this" He said, still laughing

" you're sick, you know that?" I couldn't help but smile too, his laugh was contagious.

" I got him a blanket that has a picture of his family cat on it. there's this website where you can customize blankets and stuff. It's hard to get him things when christmas, his birthday, and valentine's day are all in a span of like 3 months"

" that sounds good still, I think he'll like it"

" what'd you get for Addy?" He asked.

" I didn't get it because I'm gonna make it. I'm thinking i'm gonna make like friendship bracelets except their rainbow colors and more like relationship bracelets" I said. I hadn't attempted making a friendship bracelet since I was ten, because granted i didn't really have friends. " also i'm gonna make a card"

" oh nice, sounds like something she'd like"

My phone binged again.

" i'll be home in 10" It was a message from Addy.

" oh I have to go soon Addy's almost home" I said.

" Bye Leo!"

" Bye Ruby!"

I headed out the door and down the elevator, unlocking the apartment and going in. Addy came in a little while later and I greeted her with a hug. She's so warm despite the bitter winter months and I love it. Addy so warm and loving, her love shows me i'm not disgusting.

It's been so so long since i've posted but it's not like anyone really cares. hope your doing ok if your reading this.