Aveline
It's been three weeks since that party mess with Ruby.
We've both been distant—kinda like two planets orbiting the same sun but pretending the other doesn't exist.
I've been hanging out with Kai more. He's... nice. Alia's always around too, sticking to me like protective glue. I get it—girl's seen me make some academy award-winning dumb decisions.
> "If there was an award for being dumb even after thinking carefully, I'd be the first one on that stage."
Yep. That's me.
We were chillin' in the library when Kai popped up with his usual milk and snacks.
Alia, of course, looked like she was ready to turn him into ashes just by blinking.
"Hey Ave!"
Ugh. Ave? What even is that? Sounds like a budget nickname. At least go deluxe—Little Bunny Rabbit—
WAIT.
Why am I thinking about HER again?!
"Hey Kai, come sit with us."
He joined us, and Alia was already mentally writing my eulogy.
Kai started with his usual flirty stuff. "I love your dancing, Ave—the way you move, the rhythm, your bends…"
I'm honestly used to it by now. He keeps saying things like that, kinda like he's obsessed with the way I look more than who I am.
Then he dropped it—
> "Are you free this weekend?"
I blinked.
Looked at Alia.
She blinked back.
I waited for her support and she just said, "Nope. I'm not free, Aveline."
Traitor.
Kai smiled like a puppy and I, being the absolute queen of bad decisions, said yes.
He hugged me. Why? I don't even know.
---
Weekend hits.
We end up at a cafe. Is this a date? Or just... weird?
We're chatting, then he grabs my hands and goes full heart-eyes:
> "Aveline… will you be mine?"
Mine?
Like... "mine what"?
Mine as in girlfriend?
I froze. Not totally uncomfortable. Not totally into it either. Just... stuck.
> "Kai… I need time to think, okay?"
I paid the bill—because girl code. I hate when guys act like girls are gold-diggers just for eating. Bye.
As I walked out—
BOOM. Fate enters stage left.
I bump straight into her.
Ruby.
Out of everyone in the damn city—why her?!
I almost fall—like, romance-novel fall—but of course, she catches me.
Mid-air. Arms around me.
Universe is clearly shipping us.
> "Ruby?"
"Nope. Just a ghost with great arms."
"What are you doing here?"
"No, what are you doing here, Ave?"
I muttered, "I was with Kai…"
She froze.
Eyes colder than the inside of my freezer.
Then casually said, "Want me to drop you home?"
I tried to brush it off. "No thanks, I can manage."
...but clearly I could not.
Because BAM—some knife-wielding maniac jumps outta nowhere and takes me hostage.
Ruby doesn't blink. She starts counting.
> "1... 2... 3..."
Her voice? Calm. Lethal. Like a storm in heels.
> "...10. My turn."
And she grabs the freaking knife with her bare hand.
BLOOD.
Then punches the guy like he just insulted her coffee order.
He tries again but she throws herself in front of me.
Her palm's bleeding. I'm shaking. She still stands like a damn warrior queen.
> "Still think you can manage on your own?" she murmured.
I was this close to yelling at her. But I couldn't. She was bleeding.
> "Let's go to the hospital."
> "Not until you hold my hand."
She's bleeding and still stubborn as hell.
I sigh. Grab her uninjured hand. Because… of course I do.
---