Fifty One

***Ruby***

As if it wasn't enough that my morning was crappy, I had to walk into a class discussing loudly, Mrs. Cook's affair with someone

With no intention to know what it was all about, I had my seat and took out my phone, my fingers circling over Adonis's number like they have been doing all night.

"Hey," Jake's voice snapped me out of my deepening thoughts.

"Oh, hi." I sighed. "You are here."

His eyes darted in a comical way, I had to laugh especially when he narrowed eyes. "Of course I am. What's wrong?" he asked as his eyes landed on my phone.

"Nothing. How have you been?" It had been a while since I've seen him ever since he told me he liked me. In fact, it has been a while since the three of us hanged out and that sucks. I could really use some movie night time with them even if we don't watch the movie.

"I've been okay." He finally realized the chaos in the class and with a small frown on his face as he looked around, he asked, "What's the commotion about?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Something about Mrs. Cook having a lover."

He scoffed. "Isn't that interesting? I-"

"Ruby." Abby's voice cut him short as she rushed towards me, her action actually startling me.

"Hey Abby, what's good?"

"Don't tell me you are yet to know about it." She ignored Jake as she squatted in front of me, her eyes wearing concern.

"Know about what?"

"The news about Mrs. Cook. She-"

"Oh, the news that she has a lover. The whole class is basically discussing it and I wonder if they just have nothing else to do with their lives." My lips scrunched in contempt as I noticed that the class wasn't willing to stop their loud discussions.

"Ruby..." The manner with which she reached for my hand was really suspicious, I could tell she was about to drop some crazy news.
"That lover is Mr. Klaus."

"What?" Jake exclaimed.

It felt like my head had been hit with some heavy stone. "What are you talking about?"

"It is all over the school's online community. The gossip one. There is even a picture of the two of them in a really... intimate position. But I don't think it is true because Mr. Klaus looked like he was asleep, like he was really deep into the sleep business, so it is less likely for it to be true."

"That's..." I scoffed. I really had no idea how to react.

Okay, it might not be true. But in every rumour, there is always an element of truth.

"Listen Ruby..." Jake butted in, his body leaning onto Abby's back slightly, a move that seemed to affect Abby a little bit.
"Don't think too much about this. This is probably another fabricated image, just that the objective is unknown."

"I don't know. The image seemed pretty real," Abby butted in, her shoulder nudging Jake's impact on her back away.

"Remind when the images of Ruby were being circulated? Those images also seemed real. Don't jump into conclusions yet."

"Jump into conclusions? I am trying to make Ruby feel better right here and you are accusing me of jumping into conclusions?" She stood upright all of a sudden, her eyes glaring at Jake.

"Why would-"

"Guys." I ruined their attempt to tear each other apart at that moment. "I am really not bothered by it."

"You have not seen it, have you?" Abby asked.

"I have not. I don't have time for such things."

"Good, don't look at it." I nodded. "Is that why this class is so noisy? Oh my, people love gossip a lot."

"Tell me about it, " I said as I shook my head at the height of the noise that surrounded the room. "How's your work going?"

She shrugged. "I'm trying my best I just hope my sacrifices are worth it."

I shared a look with Jake. "Sacrifices? What's going on?"

"I don't-" Her words were cut short by the silence that befell the class. Everyone that was either running their mouth like they are close to one of the person in the gossip or arguing over the issue had thier mouth closed instantly.

With slight curiosity, my eyes traveled to the entrance and there he was.
My heart skipped as our eyes met.

"Uh..." His thick voice pierced the room as he stopped to take a second to breathe properly. "Abby and Ruby, can you guys step outside for a minute?"

Everyone's eyes suddenly fell on Abby and I and as we got up and walked towards the door, whispers trailed our movements.

Once outside, Adonis began to walk and we followed him silently, my mind already running in circles.

As I dug my fingers into each other, I reasoned that he was there to speak on the issue with Mrs. Cook.

The thing is, it works in two ways.

Either it is a lie or it is true.

I know that I have bestowed some of my trust onto Adonis but a part of me that always keeps challenging me whenever it comes to liking him drilled it into my head that I had better leave him if it is true that he is involved with Mrs. Cook.

Abby's steps and mine came to a halt when Adonis suddenly faced us.

"Abby, I'm so sorry for calling you out, I didn't want to put Ruby on the spot."

"Oh, I thought as much." The look on her face told me that she was trying to find some facts about the issue just by looking at him.
"I should excuse you guys now," she said while her eyes were narrowed, so narrowed, I bet she could hardly see anything.

"Thank you Abby."

"I'll see you later," she said, her hand grabbing mine supportively as she walked past me.

It then became just Adonis and I.

Running his hand through his hair, a reckless breath escaping his lungs, he locked eyes with a quiet me who was waiting for him to start talking or better put explaining himself.

"Ruby..." Hands on his waist, his eyes darted to the ground for a second and for that brief second, he looked like he was regretting certain life decisions.

That made a small frown appear on my forehead.

"I am guessing that you have seen it."

"I just heard about it."

"Oh."

*Oh? That's all he can say to that?*

I want him firmly clarifying the issue not spewing one syllable word out of his fine mouth.

"It is not true. I am not her lover."

The corner of my lips tried to lift as he finally said what I wanted to hear but I still had more questions. So, as I crossed my arms, I said, "I heard there is a picture of you two. How did that come to be?"

He sighed hard. "She came over to my house yesterday covered in blood and all."

"Uh?"

"She made me believe she miscarried but had nowhere else to go. But now that I think about it..." He scoffed. "I was so stupid. I should have seen through her play."

"Do you think she really miscarried?" I recalled how adamant Bryan was about her keeping the child.

"Maybe. Maybe not. The thing is, I have nothing to do with her and I will make sure that I get to the root of this."


"Sorry to interrupt you guys. But I think I can help you with that."

"Caitlin." I was startled no doubt but that emotion quickly advanced to concern as Caitlin seeing me with Adonis could give her a reason to get back at me for the past few weeks.

"It's fine Ruby," she said, smiling warmly. "I know you guys are together." I frowned and she chuckled. "I won't tell on you guys, I promise."

"Uh... Thanks."

"Mrs. Cook didn't just show up at your doorstep, Mr. Klaus," she began as she faced Adonis. "Bryan gave her some instructions and she did a good job of following them."

Shaking her head out of pity, she continued, "I have no idea what Bryan has on Mrs. Cook but she is in the same situation that my father and I are in and I think that gives that bastard the power to do as he wishes. He knows we would dance to his tune no matter what because he has something to use against us."

The more time I spend with Caitlin, the more I pity her. Apart from the fact that her relationship with her father is weird, having Bryan around, watching her every move would certainly be suffocating.

"Thank you Caitlin. I had my suspicions and you just confirmed them for me." She smiled at Adonis. " Regarding your issue with Bryan, you can't let him continue this way or else he will wreck you. Try looking for something that would make you have power over him, maybe then, you'll become free."

"Oh." She looked taken aback but once recovered, she appreciated him for his advice.
"Don't worry about Bryan, he is not going to keep getting away with things. He is going to fall one day and I'll make sure I'm the reason he falls."

Adonis smiled at her tone of bravery while I hoped she actually has the strength to do such a thing.

There is something about Bryan... he has a way to mess with one's mind without trying hard. Take when I encountered him for some minutes for example.

He called us friends yet I felt scared when he said the word. He threatened me and I lost the will to sleep because at a point, it felt like he would crawl out of my bed and do evil things to me.

"Ruby.. " I shuddered as Adonis's hands landed on my shoulder as he intended to shake me out of my thoughts.

"Where is Caitlin?"

"She left."

"Oh."

After looking around for some seconds, Adonis pulled me into his chest and once again, I felt warm and protected.

"I am glad the words flying around haven't gotten to you," he said, his voice quite grumpy as one of his hands landed on my head, his fingers running through my hair after.


My arms went around him and I finally let out that smile. "Well, like they would say, the less you pay attention to negative comments or people, the more peaceful your life becomes."

"That's a great way of seeing things. I certainly need some more peace in my life."

Suddenly oblivious to the fact that someone could actually walk in on us, we maintained that soothing position for some more seconds before the thoughts in my head ruined everything.

Instantly pulling away from his hold, I said, "Adonis, there's something you should know."

He reached to adjust my hair, the tip of his fingers made a brief contact with my skin for a second and I was suddenly reminded of the previous day.

His touch, his lips, his body... they keep setting me on fire. A good kind of fire and I just can't imagine being away from him.

But...

"What is it?"

I sighed. "My dad knows who you are."

"Of course he does. He-"

I shook my head. "He knows all about you. What you used to do. What you are doing now. Your relationship with me. He has found out everything Adonis."
I released a very shaky breath.
"Things are going to be very different from now on Adonis. My dad is definitely going to do something about his discovery but I don't know what that might be."

I watched as his eyes twitched. "What can I do?" he asked.

"Maybe..." I closed my eyes as dread overpowered my system. "Maybe we should stay away from each other for now."

"What?"

"He can't see us together Adonis," I said, my voice already cracking as that moment was already making me emotional. "I have no idea what my dad can do to you if he sees us together and I don't want to know."

His eyes which seemed more light brown at that moment drilled into my soul as I managed to look at him. "Ruby..."

"Adonis I-"

"Your words hurt me so much, Ruby." I closed my eyes as I felt the rush of emotions. "But your words are not wrong. If that's the way you want it to be, fine. I'll be looking out for you still."

"Adonis..." My hands wrapped around the end of my shirt, I began to wonder if I should just retract my words and see how things go from there. I had no idea my decision would hurt me so much as it hurts him.

"Can I drive you home after school?" he asked and I looked up. "I won't be having you in my arms for a while, so I want to spend today with you as much as I can."

I nodded as my lips pressed tightly as I tried to keep the tears away.

I really had no idea I liked him so much. I really can't bear being away from him. Staying away from him sounds even harder when one considers the gangster drama surrounding us.

But it is for the best.

My dad could get ruthless when he wants to and I really don't want him to take out his anger on Adonis.

Warmth enveloped me once again as Adonis's lips landed on my forehead. A few seconds kiss and my eyes were welling up.

"I'll see you later," I managed to say before I ran off, to the rooftop where I felt it would be safer to cry as much as I wanted to.