Who: Ruby and Jules Where: The High School When: After school, Tuesday, Nov 14 Status: Complete
It was one of those days that just felt like fall. The air was crisp and clean, the leaves bright shades of red and orange, and there was just enough of a chill in the air that Ruby knew she’d have to zip up her jacket for the ride home. Winter and the snow were just around the corner, but she was going to enjoy this weather while it lasted, especially now that the rain seemed to have passed. With her backpack on her shoulder, she headed towards the school parking lot, already pulling out her gloves as she walked. She had some time today before her shift at Moxie’s, so when she spotted Jules heading in the same direction, and without a pack of other girls around her, Ruby called out to her. “Jules!” That familiar knot twisted, an expectation of rejection, but Ruby stamped it down. Things had been okay lately. She couldn’t imagine Jules ignoring her.
Jules was heading to her car, not really paying much attention of anyone around her as she shot off a quick text to Jasper full of mushy heart emojis. She knew it was cheesy and he might roll his eyes, but that was part of the appeal of it. The sound of her name drew her out of her thoughts and Jules lowered her phone as she glanced behind her shoulder. People calling out for her before, during or after school was nothing new, but she was a little surprised to find the voice belong to Ruby. The other girl didn't look pissed or anything, so Jules slowed down as she slipped her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. "Hey," she greeted, somewhat cautiously. "What's up?"
As soon as she did it, Ruby realized she didn’t have anything specific that she needed to ask Jules about and that it might be weird for her to talk to her without a reason. Which was stupid. She didn’t need a reason to talk to anyone else, why should she need a reason to talk to Jules? Still, she searched for something they had in common, which these days was rather limited and pretty much narrowed down to Jasper. And Amelia. Ruby smiled, catching up to Jules. “Not much. I was just wondering… I wanted to run something by you,” she started, then dropped her voice just a touch. “Have you met Amelia?”
Jules's brows lifted at the question and she had to resist glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. But everyone was heading out, eager to get home, or to wherever, and no one was paying much attention to the two of them. "Not yet," Jules admitted, though she had to imagine she would meet Jasper's sister soon, right? She shifted onto her other foot and gripped her shoulder bag. "I was sort of thinking about inviting her to a bonfire Sebastian and I are going to have Saturday night... I'm not sure how social she's feeling, but... it might be fun. Why?"
Ruby relaxed and smiled as she nodded. “That’s kind of exactly why I was asking. I ran into her the other day and afterwards I just kept thinking that she missed high school, and all her friends are still nine, and I kinda had this crazy idea that maybe I should invite her to the dance? Except I don’t want her to get the wrong impression. I think the bonfire’s probably way more her speed.” She knew Amelia was just getting back into being around people and the more she thought about it, the more she thought the dance was a horrible idea, but she hadn’t had anything else to offer.
Jules couldn't really predict how Amelia might react to attending a high school dance when she's never attended high school, and she kind of had a feeling Jasper would be worrying about her all night if she were there. Maybe easing her into something as big as a dance was smarter. Jules realized she had no idea if Ruby had been invited to the bonfire or not. Jasper knew about it, so he may have asked her, but Jules also figured he would have run it by her first just to make sure Jules wouldn't feel weird about it. Which she wouldn't. Not really. "Well, I mean, if you want to invite Amelia to the bonfire and come with her, that would be okay. I don't want her feeling like a third wheel to me and Jasper, and I'm sure Jasper would like it if you were there too. There'll probably be more of my friends there than his," she admitted with a small, sheepish smile.
Ruby really hadn’t intended to invite herself to Jules’ party and she hoped Jules didn’t see it that way. She’d just been thinking about Amelia and how she was home all day and knew so few people in the world. If it was her, she’d go stir crazy. Not at first, but eventually. “Are you sure? I didn’t… I didn’t really mean to put that on you,” she said. “Is this like, a big party? Who all will be there?” If it was tiny, it might be awkward, but if it was huge, she just wanted to know ahead of time. Ruby could usually blend with whatever crowd, but she liked having a head’s up on what she was walking into and Amelia would probably like to know herself. Ruby hoped she wasn’t overstepping herself and thought she might send a quick text to Jasper, just to make sure it was cool first. The last time he’d been around both Ruby and Jules, he’d been pulling them apart.
"You didn't put anything on me," Jules said with a shrug. "I was planning on inviting Amelia to the bonfire anyway, but she might feel better if you did it? It's not going to be a big party. I don't even think I'd label it a party. It's just a group of us going to the beach Saturday night. I mean, there'll probably be beer, at least, but it's kind of just to chill and have fun before the shitty weather comes. But you should definitely come and bring Amelia. I know it would make Jasper happy." Jules was self-aware enough to recognize what a step that was for her... ignoring her own insecurities to make her boyfriend happy. A month or so ago she would have absolutely refused to let Ruby anywhere near Jasper...at least when Jules was around. But she knew he loved her now, and that was enough for her to be chill about it. Besides, Ruby wasn't all that bad. "Are you going to go to the dance Saturday? I mean, with or without Amelia?"
“I’ll ask her. If she wants to go, we’ll be there,” Ruby said with a little smile. If Amelia didn’t want to go, Ruby wasn’t as sure about herself. Jules friends weren’t hers and she was an even more awkward third wheel than Amelia would have been. It made her wish she had an actual date to tote along, but there wasn’t anyone that she felt any kind of a spark with. She could just ask someone, but then if he was interested, she’d just be leading him on. “I don’t know. I don’t really have anyone I’m dying to ask. There’s a few guys, but they’re more into me than I am into them and it just seems like a bad idea.” It was one thing to flirt when she’d already been drinking and wanted the attention, but asking them at school, sober, would definitely send the message that she wanted more.
Jules had gone out with boys who were more into her than she was into them and it had never really exploded in her face before. But she knew that she and Ruby had different views on a lot of things, boys included. "So maybe find someone just go with as a friend," she suggested. "Or go with actual girlfriends? Then you can dance with whoever you want without a guy getting jealous. Honestly some of my favorite dances in high school were the ones where I just went with some friends." Before her hormones really kicked in anyway.
Going with a bunch of girlfriends would be fun if Ruby had a bunch of girlfriends. She had a few, but usually found it easier to get along with guys than girls. And there were a few guys that wouldn’t take an invite to the dance as a possible invite into her pants. “Yeah, maybe,” she smiled. “We’ll see if I can round someone up for the task. If I do, can they come to the bonfire thing too?” It would be harder just to ditch someone, especially if they were a friend.
For a weird second, Jules wondered if Jasper had any guy friends Ruby could ask. But... she couldn't recall ever hanging out with Jasper's friends, and she wasn't entirely sure he had any other than Ruby. They usually hung out together, alone, except for the party after homecoming and they spent most of the night fighting... over Ruby. It felt like ages ago, even though it hadn't been. Jules smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah, totally. I'll let you know what time we're all going to head to the beach. Dress warm though, since it'll probably be colder once the sun goes down. Hopefully we'll get a nice fire going before that happens."
“Definitely,” Ruby smiled, rubbing her gloved hands together. It was already chilly outside and she knew it would be worse once the sun set, even with a fire going. It would have been nice to have someone to curl up with… Maybe she’d ask someone. “I’ve got to head to work, but let me know if you need me to bring anything? And thanks.” For the invite, for not blowing her off, for not ignoring her. For giving her a chance. Ruby still wasn’t sure she could call Jules a friend, but this was way better than whatever they’d been before.
Jules didn't feel like she needed to be thanked for anything, but she nodded anyway and returned Ruby's smile. "I'll let you know. See you later." She waved and started off for her car again, thinking that was much more preferable than the two of them fighting in Jules's kitchen with an audience. Hopefully the civility could continue at the dance, or even the bonfire, if Ruby opted to stay home Saturday night. Either way, this was something of a good start to maybe being friends again, or at least something close to it.