then ~ RUEL FANFIC~

Ruel's POV

She seems to be struggling to find a reply so maybe it's lucky that that's when her phone rings.

"It's dad." She murmurs, picking it up. "Hello?"

There's a few minutes of conversation that I tune out of and then she puts her phone down silently.

"Everything ok?" I ask.

"In a way, yeah."

"Well, what's Happening?"

"It's about Xena."

"Xena? I forgot she... existed."

"I like to forget sometimes. Well, her and Dad are getting married. Again. A more official ceremony this time. In Sydney."

"Shit. Where did Xena go after the fires?"

"She did some teaching course in Thailand. He called her all the time. And I guess she came back."

"When are they getting married?"

"In a few months."

"How do you feel?"

"Shitty."

I fall silent, but then ask something I know I shouldn't. "Is it because of your mum?"

"Of course it is. I didn't realise he'd move on so fast."

"He hasn't moved on, Alira, he's just... filling in a hole."

"I didn't realise she was so replaceable."

"She wasn't. Xena won't ever be like her."

"You never got to meet my mum, did you?"

"I- no. I didn't."

"She would've loved you."

I smile. "So... are you going to go to the wedding?"

"If you do I will."

"Sure."

The conversation is dying and I feel it steering back towards last night.

"I'm sorry, I didn't answer your question"

"Don't answer it."

"Why'd you ask it if you don't want an answer?"

"Admit it, you don't have an answer either."

"No." She pauses. "Kiss me."

"Why?"

"I want to see how it feels. Then I'll know."

"You're being weird, go back to sleep."

"Ruel." She looks at me, holding fierce eye contact, but before she can finish I interrupt.

"You kissed someone else like 12 hours ago. It's weird. Don't."

Maybe she sees my reasoning because she looks away and lies back. "I had to try."

"I know."

"So? What are we?"

"I asked you first."

"We're more than friends. We can't keep lying to ourselves about that."

"I know. It feels weird discussing this in a formal way. It is what it is, it doesn't need a name or a label."

"But we need to come to a mutual agreement about it or more shit like last night will happen."

"I can't make a decision for you."