Fourteen

***Ruby***

I never thought it was possible for one to feel so 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 voice kept interrupting that 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 that man was with me before I fell asleep. I wondered if he was still there and that made me open my eyes which landed on the ceiling above.
Before I could turn my face to the side, two peering faces hovered above mine and I wore a scrunch on my lips.

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

"Hmm." I ran my hands through my definitely rough hair as I tried to stifle a loud yawn. "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 a seat just 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 so 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 like I wished to hurt you."

"What if he hurt you?" Jake pushed even further. It was obvious his very protective side was 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 the point home. " 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, her lips looking dome shaped. 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 still clearly 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 towards 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..." Her eyes were already dreamy, I 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 are definitely not smiling and I definitely wasn't going to listen to Abby dissect a man's beautiful feature. Trust me, she can go as far as try to describe this person when he answers to nature's call. "Who is he?"

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

" Oh." The simple word dropped as I recalled the scene right before I fell asleep. He had been unnervingly calm and for a second I was going to scream at him for drugging me- which he didn't. I guess.
Anyway, all I know is, his name hasn't still left my mind.

Adonis. Adonis Klaus.

Such a beautiful name. I could dare say it suited him. Like Abby said, he was gorgeous alright 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 just overdoes things.

So, I faced Jake and said with a smile, "Yes we can. I don't feel tired. 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 as soon, my things were gathered and we were out of the room that reeked of disinfectant and drugs after bading the nurse goodbye.

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

I shrugged and realized I wasn't ready for that conversation. So I just 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?"

" Yeah," I almost absentmindedly replied.

And just barely a second after, Celery's voice interrupted our steps which we were dribbling past the 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 it. It just still surprises me though. Who could have ever thought?"
I sighed and also turned and as I did, my eyes met Bryan Lockwood's which stared as coldly as possible. 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's voice lowly came forward and so did his steps, and they headed for the tall guy 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 said. " You shouldn't make allegations you aren't sure of."

"Allegations?" Abby jumped in next. " Your bodyguard over here posted those stupid pictures that are not even real." At that point, the murmurs around were not avoidable. "Right now... instead of him 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 and Abby was now staring threateningly into Bryan's cold eyes. "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."

A scoff so loud it made my throat itch came from me and this time, I walked towards the guy who just blurted out a lie, my hands slightly motioning 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 promised." He blinked hard. "And how can I forget?" I wore a 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."
He sighed.

"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 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 just stood there not sure what to think or believe. Just as I tried to embark on another thinking cruise, Abby's hand fell on my shoulder and she sido, "Don't believe him Ruby, someone 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 just Abby and I who shrugged and decided to hurry for the next class.