Eight

***Ruby***

"K-k-kiss?" I stuttured. And at the same moment, he let me go, taking a step back, his eyes smirking a bit. Feeling suddenly hot and itchy, I reached for the side of my neck and began to scratch gently as my entire brain was still not sure what to make of his sudden statement.

The man in front of me didn't seem like he wanted to say anything either. Or perhaps he was waiting for me to finally say something.
I sighed dramatically in my head. What could I say? The English substitute teacher just told me he wants to kiss me.

Well... something like that.

"Uh..." I was going to find something to say regardless. "I-I don't think it is appropriate for you to say stuff like that."

"Why?" The way his brows twitched as he asked that simple question made his face look like it was smiling instantly... and I am not going to lie, he looked a bit gorgeous.

But no, that's not the point. Facing him squarely after I finally got over my mini shock, I said, "You are my teacher and you'll be like ten years older than me and it will seem-"

"Ten years?" his voice croaked.

I have a small shrug while inwardly wishing the entire moment could be over already. "You are a full adult. So, by estimation you'll should be ten years older than me."

"You think I am old?"

"Uh... I don't..." His hand came to my face, shutting me up. After, he began to dig into his back pocket, brought out a wallet then pushed an identification card in my face. Leaning in with my eyes squinted, I said, "What am I...?"

"Look at the date of birth." The way his voice commanded made me throw him a warning glance. I hate people being unnecessarily bossy.

"You are five years older than me," I blurted soberly after I did the calculations. "But-"

"Don't go about saying things you have no idea of. Anyone passing would think I am some kind of pervert."

" Uh... Have you forgotten the part where you wondered how it will be to kiss me?"

He wore a grin. "That is not being a pervert, it is called stating my mind."

Shaking my head, I said, "You are my teacher regardless. It is not appropriate-"

"What is not appropriate is how I can't get your beautiful face out of my head." My jaw slightly dropped. Was I in some kind of weird show? Why was he so keen on dropping lines that make something inside me stir? "So... I have to ask..." His eyes became hazel from green as he took a step closer to me, his faint cologne hitting my sense of smell. "Who are you?"

His question changed the entire atmosphere.

My arms crossed and I returned the audacity of his gaze. "I am Ruby Powers."

He instantly wore a faint smile and said, "I know that already."
Of course. I almost rolled my eyes. My face is all over the tabloids. If only I could spare a few curses for the person who is making money from exposing me.

"What I am asking is..." He took another step closer, my instincts having me do the same but backwards. "Who is Ruby Powers?" The pinkness is his lips became more visible to me and his gaze then began to affect me despite my decision to not be affected by how good looking he was. The air had become heavy with a kind of tension and it worsened when he reached for a lock of my hair and asked, "Who is this beautiful person in front of me?"

*Beautiful.*

The way the word fell out of his lips again made me go crazy for a second. It became chaos inside me for seconds, I could not even focus on the question he asked.
Shaking my head immediately to get rid of everything his words made me feel, I assumed a serious pose before saying, "I don't wish to answer your question."

"Then I'll just ask some other time. But for now..." His finger went under my chin and I felt myself shake a bit at the contact. With ease, he titled my head as he wished, observing every feature of my face like I was his specimen for a science work. "... Ruby Powers, I want you to know I've got my eyes on you and I don't think I'll be looking away anytime soon."

"I..."

"Goodbye Ruby," he gently said before sliding out of my sight and leaving me in complete confusion. I was about to grab a seat so as to get myself together when someone called my name.

As I turned to face the owner of the voice, I noticed Bryan and the girl he was with had gone already. I almost scoffed. So much for trying to stalk the mysterious dude. "Hi, Clara right?"

The girl wore a quick smile which caused her cheeks to puff up in the cutest way. "Yes it is. Are you busy?"

"Uh... No. Why?"

"Well, your mother is here to see you. She has been waiting for you outside the school for an hour now."

"My mother?" If Mom was around, I am certain she would have called my phone. And that left me with the other option. Diane.
Tiredly, I sighed. What did the woman want again? My willingness to be her daughter? She'll have to try harder or just give up trying. And I needed to convey that information to her as soon as possible.
"Clara? Thanks for your help. Bye."

"Wait, Ruby," her shrill voice instantly drew me back. "I want to ask you something." She looked so shy, I had to wonder what her question could be.

"Sure. Ask away."

"Can I have lunch with you?" My brows quirked and she began to ramble. "You don't have to say yes. I was just hoping I can get to have lunch with someone after a while and you seem nice and confident about yourself and I love that. I mean, I like you." Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. " Not in that way. But I admire you."

Okay?
"Clara?" I threw a smile at the being in front of me whose red curls were flying here and there in a very adorable way. "You can definitely join me for lunch. My friends would love to have you around too."

"Really?" You'd think she won a lottery. "That makes me so happy." Hurriedly, she reached for my hands and said, "Thank you Ruby."

"It's okay Clara."

"No. I mean, yes it is okay. But you are the first person to ever remember my name without having to be dramatic about being forgetful."

I gave a little laugh. "I know you from three classes we have together. Besides, it is not hard to notice one of your competitions in academics." She chuckled, her head doing this thing where it ducks several times and then she thanked me again enthusiastically before walking away.

Deciding not to be too bothered by her words, I was soon walking towards the reception where I suspected Diane would be waiting.

And there she was, exposed by the excess lights that raided the small room which faced the parking lot. Her head hung over her phone, she was totally oblivious to my presence as I slowly approached her.

"What are you doing here?" I sternly asked as I stopped my steps in front of her seated figure, looking down at her like I could spit fire on her head if I wanted to.

"Ruby. My darling..." she joyously said as she got up, her arms approaching my sides. I swiftly took a step back.

"I told you I don't want to be with you, didn't I?"

" Ruby... Don't be like this. I am trying to beg for a second chance here. I want to be your mother again."

Crossing my arms as if it would be enough to contain my riding anger, I said, "Why are you asking for a second chance now?"

" I told you darling..." She made to hold me by my shoulders again and I successfully got rid of her approaching hands. Not showing her disappointment that much, she continued, "I have been looking for you all these years."

"Can you just do me a favour?" A small sign escaped me as I looked away for a second. "Stop being a-"

A loud crash from outside drowned my words and as I turned my head to look out of the huge glass, a gruesome sight greeted me. The top of the car right in front of us dented, blood gushing onto the broken windows, there was a body laying right on the top, lifeless.

With widened eyes, I watched as people gathered around the scene. Confusion mixed with questions on their faces as someone seemed to be calling the emergency line. As an attempt to get the body off the roof became successful despite the bloodiness, I was able to catch a glimpse of the person who had just sadly lost his or her life.

"Oh no," I blurted as it hit me that I knew the girl who was probably already walking towards the afterlife.

She was the girl Bryan was having an argument with.