RUBY |Completed|

|Chapter Eighteen|

Ruby

     Yesterday was one of the coolest days of my life. The bus trip with Ethan was interesting. I really got to know him. He could be funny and serious in nanosecond. I was pleased that a young guy with those looks to die for knows about Christ and is familiar with the Church and all. As I made to rise from my bed and get ready for work, a message came in and I picked up my phone to check. It is from Ethan. It said,

"Hello Beautiful. How was your night? Hope you slept well? Have a great day and week."

I lay back on my bed as I read the message a second time. I decided to reply but my subconscious stopped me. Why am I going down this lane? What's so important about this guy? He could be all out just to hurt me or even leave me with a greater pain and experience than my past.

I need to keep him at arm's length. I concluded though I wasn't too happy with that decision but my life is at stake here. I stood up and went to shower.

As the days go by, I tried as much as I could to put up a front for Ethan but it was difficult with him not giving up easily. I didn't know what to do anymore. Over the next weeks, he visited me once because Julie slipped. It's been eight months since I started work at L.A and Ethan has been pestering me to let him visit me. I finally agreed two days ago and he said he will swing by today. I was nervous and Julie was nowhere to calm me down. I decided to start cooking. I was slicing the vegetables when I heard the door. I dropped the knife and went to open the door. There he stood looking all gallant in his black jean that fit his body snugly and red and white stripped shirt. I collected the wime he presented me and he asked,

"Don't I get a hug?" I stepped back to allow him in then I let him hug me as his cologne danced round my nose before pulling back and I said,

"You can have your seat here and watch TV or come sit at the kitchen table. I am cooking."

"Kitchen definitely. What can I help you with?" He asked as we walked into the kitchen.

"Do you know your way around a kitchen?"

"What! I am a good chef. I will have you biting your fingers in no time if I cook. It's one of my hobbies."

"Oh great chef! Slice the vegetables." I said giggling and I pulled out potatoes from my cabinet. We talked about our week and then fall into companionable silence. I was so worked up due to the electricity sparkling between us and my thoughts about him and the cooking that I didn't notice that Ethan was closer.

I was only brought back to present when I felt his hand on my neck just near my chest. I panicked and grabbed the closest thing to me, a glass of the wine he had brought which we opened while talking and I just poured it all over his face.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Ethan

     We've been busy together in the kitchen for a while before I let my eyes roam in my right direction where Ruby stood. She had a potato skin on hee neck and I just acted on impulse, got closer and made to brush it away when she suddenly turned to me and drenched me with red wine. What the fudge! My eyes widened as Julie came into view.

I just dropped the knife, picked up my phone and I left. I was too peeved to talk. I should have stayed away from this girl a long time ago. She just keeps aggravating the situation but I kept having the feeling that I should 'give it time'. Why do girls have to be so difficult? When you meet a beautiful girl with killer body, her brain is empty. When you meet a classy one with little something up in her brain, she goes after material things. When you meet the one you love, the one you see as perfect, she pours red wine that stings the eye on your face because of reasons best known to her. Ugh! I am done.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Julie

     "I can't believe you just did that!" I exclaimed. I had come in earlier to borrow Ruby's Laptop and I had seen the two of them, they look so good together and if onlys flooded my mind. I was about coming to break their calm bubble when Ruby poured her drink on Ethan's face. Were they kidding around or what? I asked myself only to see Ethan pick up his phone and leave. Oh! This girl spoilt it again. I groan inwardly as she came over to the kitchen table to sit,

"I...I thought he was going to touch me. I didn't know he just wanted to flick something off my chest. I am sorry." Ruby said and I had to go sit with her and drape an arm around her shoulder because she looked so sad,

"You are apologizing to the wrong person but it's okay."

"I...I didn't know. I don't like it when guys touch me unawares. It reminds me of my past. I was scared."

Finally! I always knew Ruby had issues with guys but this is a confirmation. She has being abused before? Okay, let me go soft.

"It's okay honey, there is no need to feel bad. You just acted on instinct. It's all right." She nodded. After some minutes, I asked,

"Will you call him?"

She shook her head then said, " He won't want to talk to me." I nodded in understanding, everyone had their limits, Ethan was the last guy I would expect to be chasing a girl because he had everything a woman can ever wish for. I forced her to go lie down while I finish her cooking.