Fourteen

Ruby

I never thought it was possible for one to feel greatly at peace after sleeping. And I don't know if it is sensible to say that the sleep I just had was too sweet. My eyes were still shut because I wanted to go back into that slumber world and just dream away.

But Abby's and Jake's voices kept interrupting my attempt, so I gave up. But my eyes stayed closed.

"I know you are awake, Ruby. I saw your hand move." Abby's stern voice made me smile inwardly.

Then, I recalled the man that was with me before I fell asleep. Desperate to check if he was still in the room, I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the ceiling.

Before I could turn my face to the side, two peering faces hovered over me and I wore a pout on my lips in reaction.

"Good to see you looking like yourself, Ruby," Abby commented while Jake helped me sit up.

"Hmm." I ran my hands through my hair as I tried to stifle a loud yawn. "For how long was I asleep?"

"Dude, I have no idea. I am just glad you have got your colour back."

" Her colour?" Jake faced Abby with a question etched in the little furrow of his forehead, his eyes looking somewhat innocent.

"Oh my." Abby found her seat beside me. "You should have seen her this morning, she looked like death."

" No, I did not," I retorted, throwing her a glare. "I have missed a lot of classes, right?" I asked Jake who gave my response a short nod.

I was about to ask him why his eyes looked full of mixed reactions when he suddenly dropped, "Why didn't you tell us about Bryan?"

Not that again!

"I wanted to. But-"

"We were with you on Friday, what stopped you from telling us?"

"Will you guys stop putting me on the spot?" I fully sat up. " I just couldn't say anything, okay? I wish I did, but can you guys stop acting as if I wished to hurt you."

"What if Bryan had hurt you?" Jake pushed further. It was obvious that his very protective side had been unleashed and trust me, that side of his is way crazier than Abby's nagging. "What would we have told your parents? You know what, I am just glad nothing happened to you. If not...I would have ripped that Lockwood guy apart already."

"Nothing has happened to me, Jake," I cautiously said to drive home the point. " Besides the nudes are not mine. So..." My shoulders lifted slightly.

" Nudes though.." He shook his head as his arms crossed. "Such a non-original idea."

" I know right?" Abby supported him while her lips still wore a sad look. Soon, she was back to studying my face. "Anyway Ruby, Mr. Klaus was here to see you."

"Santa Claus?" I frowned. That must have been what she meant right?

"Did you hit your head?" I swerved to the right to escape the back of her hand which I believed wanted to check if I had some kind of malady. "Are you beginning to feel the effects of not sleeping for a long time?" she questioned further, her hand still approaching even though I kept evading her touch.

"Who on earth is Claus?"

"Klaus." Abby gave up on checking my temperature. "It starts with a k and sounds very different from the name of the white-bearded make-believe old man."

"I have a feeling you'll ruin Christmas for your kids," I bluntly told her and she smiled. " So who is this... Klaus?" I finally asked.

With disbelief in her eyes, Abby looked toward Jake who was now looking like he didn't give a care about the world.

"How do you not know the name of that gorgeous man? That..." Abby's eyes were dreamy, it scared me a bit. "That man is such a beauty with his gorgeous, mystical eyes and perfect lips and his ass..." She drew a long breath and clasped her hands over her chest. "... such a piece of art."

My lips were not smiling and I definitely wasn't going to listen to Abby dissect a man's beautiful features.

So I asked, "Who is this person?"

"For goodness sake Ruby! How do you not know the name of your English teacher?"

" Oh." The simple word dropped as I recalled the things that happened before I fell asleep.

Adonis. Adonis Klaus.

That name refused to leave my mind.

It is a beautiful name and I dare say it suited him. As Abby said, he was gorgeous in an intriguing way.

"It's the last period already. Should we skip class or not?" Jake asked.

" Ruby... How do you know Mr. Klaus?" Abby overpowered Jake's unanswered question and I shook my head at her. Sometimes she overdoes things.

So, I faced Jake and answered with a smile, "We don't have to skip class. And for your question Abby..." I faced the girl in front of me. "Mr. Klaus is my teacher. I don't know him from anywhere."

"If you say so. So, are we leaving now?"

I nodded and soon, my things were gathered and we were out of the room that reeked of disinfectant and drugs.

"Do you think the police will be able to trace Bryan Lockwood?" Abby asked after a few seconds of silence. " He would have been smart about it. I mean, the guy made up your nudes."

I shrugged and realised I wasn't ready for that conversation. So I said nothing.

"If the cops are not able to find anything, we'll do things our way." Jake butted in. " I know a tech guy that can help us."

"That would be so great. It would be adventurous too. Don't you think, Ruby?" Abby asked.

" Yeah," I replied almost absentmindedly.

And just barely a second after, Celery's voice interrupted our steps which we were dribbling past other students whose stares we successfully ignored.

"There she is. The number one slut."

"What did you call her?" Abby was the first to turn, her blood already hot.

"You heard me. I won't repeat myself. It still surprises me though. Who could have ever thought?"

I sighed and also turned and as I did, my eyes met Bryan Lockwood's. At that moment, Abby's hot blood would never be able to compete with mine. The rage filled me, it fueled me, so it was surprising that I was yet to lunge at him.

"This is all your doing..." Jake said and his steps headed for Bryan Lockwood, whose glares and breaths I was yet to forget. "Because of you... Ruby is being ridiculed."

"Jake Glacier. I think you should be careful," Celery swiftly warned. " You shouldn't make allegations you aren't sure of."

"Allegations?" Abby jumped in. " Your bodyguard over here posted those stupid fake pictures." At that point, the murmurs that surrounded us were not avoidable.  "Right now... instead of looking like he is the most innocent person in this room, he should be apologizing to her."

Celery scoffed. " Why would he apologize for something he didn't do?"

"Oh, really... Jake, excuse me." Jake took a step back so that Abby could threaten Bryan with her stare. "Is it true, Lockwood? You didn't threaten Ruby? You didn't say you would punish her?"

Bryan's eyes fell onto Abby, his hair danced in the air and he said, "No."

I scoffed so loud that my throat itched. Then I walked toward the guy who had just blurted a lie and my hand gently motioned Abby to the side.

"Really, Bryan? You didn't get angry at me for telling the cops what I saw?"

His jaws clenched hard and my fists tightened. Heavens knows I might punch someone at some point.

"You didn't pin me to the wall and tell me you would make sure you punish me? Don't tell me you have forgotten that you made a promise." He blinked hard. "And how can I forget?" I wore a devious smile. "You told me that you killed her. Isn't that right, Bryan Lockwood?"

The murmurs increased but my mind focused on getting a confession from the tall guy who was now scratching the back of his head with his right hand. After rubbing through the skin of his neck while creating an annoying silence, he finally said, "I know what you are trying to do, Ruby."

"I need you to confess." My shoulders squared.

"I didn't do anything that I'd have to confess," he gruffly replied. " True, I told you I would deal with you for trying to mess up my attempt at a new life, but I haven't worked on that statement." His eyes bored further into mine. "I did not upload those pictures."

"How on earth are we supposed to believe you?" Abby asked and got nothing but silence as a response.

His eyes still drilled into mine, he continued, "Search me all you want, Powers. You won't find me connected to this nude thing going on. So..." His lips wore a tight smile. " Look somewhere else and don't bother me."

Before I could blink twice, he was already walking away and I stood there not sure what to think or believe. I was about to further my thoughts when Abby's hands rested on my shoulder.

Then, she said, "Don't believe him, Ruby. A person who manipulates is definitely a liar."

"Pathetic." Celery threw that word at us before she walked away, her heel clicking.

"Bitch," Abby said to her back before facing me. "Don't worry, Ruby, we'll find whoever is responsible for this. We promise you. Right, Jake?" She looked up at our friend who was wearing a frown, his hands on his waist.

"Yeah," came his unclear response before he walked away, leaving Abby and me, who shared a shrug before deciding to hurry for the next class.