🖤The Last Flame Of Ruby

🖤 Say It Or Dont

Ruby noticed the change—but she didn’t say anything at first.

Not because she didn’t want to.

But because she didn’t know how to say it without sounding… insecure.

Jake still came around.

Still stood by her locker.

Still acted like everything was normal.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked one morning, leaning casually against her locker.

“Like what?” Ruby replied, adjusting her bag.

“Like you’re trying to read my mind.”

She shrugged slightly.

“Maybe I am.”

Jake smirked.

“You won’t like what you find.”

Ruby held his gaze for a second longer than usual.

“Try me.”

He didn’t answer that.

He just smiled and changed the topic.

And Ruby noticed.

🖤 Later That Day

Ruby was walking toward the back staircase when she heard his voice.

Jake.

She slowed down slightly, just enough to hear.

“I’ll text you,” he said.

A girl laughed softly.

“Don’t forget this time.”

Ruby turned the corner—

and there he was.

Standing close to a girl she didn’t even know.

Jake looked up.

Saw her.

Paused.

“Hey,” he said.

Ruby looked from him to the girl, then back at him.

“Hi.”

The girl smiled slightly.

“Hi, Ruby.”

Ruby didn’t smile back.

“Do I know you?”

The girl shrugged.

“Not really.”

Jake stepped in quickly.

“We were just talking.”

Ruby looked at him.

“I can see that.”

There was a small silence.

“Are you done?” she asked him.

Jake frowned slightly.

“Done with what?”

“Talking,” she said simply.

The girl shifted awkwardly.

“I’ll… see you later.”

“Yeah,” Jake said.

Ruby watched her walk away before turning back to him.

“You didn’t pull away,” she said.

Jake blinked.

“From what?”

“She was close,” Ruby replied. “You didn’t move.”

Jake let out a small breath.

“Ruby, it’s not that deep.”

She gave a short laugh—but there was no humor in it.

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true,” he said.

Ruby folded her arms slightly.

“So I’m just imagining things?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you’re not saying anything else either,” she replied.

Jake ran a hand through his hair.

“What do you want me to say?”

Ruby looked at him for a moment.

Then—

“Nothing,” she said.

And that was the problem.

🖤 That Night

Her phone buzzed.

Jake: You’re overthinking again.

Ruby stared at the message.

Then typed—

Or maybe you’re under-explaining.

Typing…

Stopped.

Typing again…

Stopped.

Then finally—

Jake: It’s not a big deal.

Ruby’s jaw tightened slightly.

It is to me.

This time, the reply took longer.

Jake: You’re making it one.

Ruby dropped her phone on the bed.

“Of course I am,” she muttered to herself.

🖤 The Next Day

Jake walked up to her like nothing had happened.

“Are you still mad?” he asked.

“I wasn’t mad,” Ruby replied.

“Then what was that yesterday?”

She looked at him.

“You tell me.”

Jake sighed.

“Ruby…”

She cut him off.

“If you like talking to them, just say that.”

“I talk to a lot of people,” he replied.

“Not like that,” she said.

Jake frowned.

“What does that even mean?”

Ruby shook her head slightly.

“Forget it.”

“No, say it,” he insisted.

She hesitated.

Then finally—

“If you love me,” she said quietly, “why are you so comfortable with people who clearly don’t like me?”

That hit.

Jake went silent for a second.

Then—

“You’re mixing things up,” he said.

“How?” Ruby asked.

“Because talking to someone doesn’t mean anything,” he replied.

“But it does,” she said. “Not everything—but something.”

Jake looked away briefly.

Then back at her.

“You’re overthinking again.”

Ruby nodded slowly.

“Yeah,” she said. “Maybe I am.”

But this time—

she didn’t believe it.

🖤 After

They stood there in silence.

Not the comfortable kind.

Not the soft kind.

The kind where both people have more to say—

but choose not to.

“Are we good?” Jake asked finally.

Ruby looked at him.

Took a second.

Then nodded.

“Yeah,” she said.

But something about it didn’t sound right.

And deep down—

they both knew it.