Ulysses Paradox (a Will Lenney fanfiction.)

chapter seventeen

The first place they stopped was Alex and George's flat, and everyone pointed out the fact that he was wearing a nice sweater. Will hadn't realized that it was such a big deal to wear something different, but Ruby winked at him one James' shoulder when he said it looked smart.

There were about ten people at the flat, and Will asked Ruby if she wanted to stay here for the night. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

"Yeah, I'd actually really like that. You don't have to stay here with me," She added. "If you want to go to some other parties." Will shook his head and said fuck the other parties, which made her laugh. Will had started trying to cater his jokes to things that would make Ruby laugh, which proved more challenging than anticipated. Her humor was sophisticated, and she laughed at literary references that went over his head.

Sometimes she and James would double over in fits of laughter when discussing different books, and Will would be left behind. When she drank alcohol, though, her laughter was easy to come by, and less cunning than usual. Will liked when she had a few beers or a couple shots, and would laugh at all his jokes, and he didn't even have to try.

When everyone counted down to midnight, Will and Ruby counted together and didn't kiss, even though they could have and no one would've cared. Will wanted to, but when he turned to look at Ruby she was looking at everyone else, and by the time she faced him, the moment was gone and midnight plus one minute felt the same as any other night. Ruby asked him if he smoked, and he said he didn't really, but sometimes took it upon himself if the moment was right.

"That's very enigmatic." She told him, walking toward the back door, that led to a balcony almost identical to Will's. They stood silently outside, watching fireworks crackle on the horizon. Ruby pulled a blunt out of her pocket, and held it loosely between her fingers. Will liked her hands, similar to the rest of her, they were thin and long and her knuckles were sharp. When she spoke, they danced around, vaguely illustrating her words. Will had just started carrying a lighter, and brought it out for her. He didn't feel like smoking tonight.

"Happy new year," Ruby said after some time. "Do you have any resolutions?"

"Nah, not particularly. Mostly work stuff." He had a few different milestones he was hoping to achieve this year with his channel, but he and Ruby didn't talk much about their jobs outside of anything that had been relevant to his merch.

"Hmm. I guess I could say the same." She said. George opened the door and asked if they wanted a drink, someone had just hauled over an entire keg from the pub. They both said yes, and George disappeared.

"Wonder who brought it." Will didn't actually care, but it was something to say.

"I don't know, must've been heavy." Ruby smudged out the end of her blunt. "I broke up with Jake."

George, as if on queue, slid open the door with his elbow and offered them very full mugs of beer.

"Cheers, lads. Happy fucking new year." Will was still processing what Ruby had told him several moments prior, and could barely spit out a thank you. "Right then, I'll leave you to it."

Will had imagined Ruby's break up being more dramatic. She wasn't one for theatrics, but never sported a stiff upper lip. He assumed she would've called him crying, and he would've gone over to her flat and sat with her on the floor while she lamented her decision, but acknowledged that it needed to be done. In Will's imagination, there was more anguish. But now Ruby looked apathetic, more disconnected than usual.

"When?" He asked, doubting it was appropriate but curious anyway— appropriateness seemed a little bit moot at this point.

"Earlier today." She leaned over the balcony railing. "Right before I sent you a text. I called him, I told him all the usual stuff, about how like it wasn't him, and it was me."