The Hidden Pocket {ruel van dijk}

chapter six.

Ruel sits next to me on Jude's couch. My legs are crossed and I hold a hot cup of tea in my hands. I'm careful to keep my knee from touching his leg; even though I wish it would. It's been a month since I first met him and he is still the only person I want to be near.

Jude has tea as well, though she's seated on the floor across from us, next to Scarlett.

I met Scarlett two weeks ago through Jude. When I first met her she was wearing an all-black outfit and seemed very angry; which was understandable at the time because she had just broken her violin. It is nice to be around a violinist, we understand each others' art. We haven't talked much, I'm far too intimidated by her to try to talk. She always wears a bold shade of red lipstick, which is fitting of course yet only makes her that much more intimidating. So instead I keep quiet, keep to myself.

Two of The Models sit on the floor as well. One is named Parker and the other is named James, though I'm not quite sure which is which. I think Parker is the one with the red hair; or maybe he's the one with the black hair and tan skin. Either way, I make no effort to memorize names, The Models aren't the type I typically associate with. Though I will admit they are easy on the eyes.

I shrug and take a sip of my tea.

"Let's play Never Have I Ever." Scarlett says, her eyes going wide as she gasps. This is the first time I've seen her this excited. Apparently uncovering her friends' secrets is her thing.

I hear Ruel snicker besides me.

"Ok." Jude says, seeming completely aloof. She laughs at something on her phone. She hasn't looked away from it since I got here two hours ago.

Parker and James agree too. Then everyone looks at Ruel.

"You guys are so childish." He says and chuckles, not a happy chuckle.

He keeps his gaze down and I see him fiddling his thumbs in his lap. He does this a lot. Whenever we're all together, he typically seems spaced out. I always find him on his phone or completely checked out of conversation. I wonder why, though. He's with his friends, shouldn't he be interested and engaged? Or at least happy? Most of the time, I can't even tell if he even realizes where he is.

Ruel has always been more down-to-Earth than the others, but in the past two weeks, he's been more disconnected than ever. I think I'm the only one who notices. Jude doesn't seem to, she's always braiding Scarlett's hair or running lines for her next show; lately it's her phone that is taking up all of her attention. I think Ruel has become recently aware of her tendency to not care. She's oblivious.

I watch as Ruel keeps his head down, now playing with the string on the waistline of his sweatpants.

My attention is drawn away from him when I notice Jude calling my name.

"You in?" She asks cheekily.

I nod.

"I'll start," Scarlett says excitedly. "Never have I ever shoplifted."

Parker, or maybe James, puts a finger down. He's the only one to do so. I think I hear him call us pussies under his breath.

"I'll go next." Jude says. "Never have I ever wagged school." She sits up straight, seemingly proud of herself for having never skipped class.

Ruel and I each put down a finger, so does Scarlett. Then she begins to tell the story of the first time she ever cut class. Her red hair bounces as she talks expressively. I eventually look away and find myself watching Ruel's hands again. He doesn't pay attention to Scarlett either.