SHE

SEVEN

I was putting on my Nike Roshes, getting ready for my morning run. It was a beautiful day outside, the sun glazing my skin. I smiled, quite happy with the day already.

Warming up was needed, but after that, I started running, enjoying the chilly breeze the early morning provided.

Not long after I felt a presence behind me. And somehow I felt I had to get as far away from the person as possible, so I started running faster.

But so did the darkness behind me. It became faster and I just couldn't keep up. It seemed like a dark cloud and by now it had overtaken me.

I couldn't see the sun anymore, it felt like the darkness was trying to swallow me whole.

Dark arms came out of the darkness, grabbing my neck and squeezing it. I struggled to breathe, but I was still fighting it.

"Who are you?" I choked out, trying to free myself from the firm grip on my throat.

The owner of the hands was laughing, scaring me. I could barely hold on anymore. Then the person came closer. I furrowed my brows. It was me.

The other me used my confusion as a weakness, squeezing my neck even harder.

"Just give up, Ruby," she smiled, "it's easier."

I tried to fight back, kicking and hitting, trying to do anything to stop this.

~bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz~

"Give up," she whispered, her face even closer now.

~bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz~

~bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz~

I sat up in a second, looking around me, trying to catch my breath. What the hell?

My hands automatically made their way to my neck, trying to remind myself it was just a nightmare. I still couldn't stop shaking.

~bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz~

Right, my phone. Someone was calling.

"Yeah?" I said, massaging my temples, trying to calm the headache that was currently trying to attack me.

"What's wrong, darling?" Eden asked, her voice concerned.

Her voice brought a smile to my lips. A weak one, but still it was something.

"Nothing, just sleeping," I looked at my fingers, seeing them shake.

"Come downstairs," Eden told me, making me get out of bed in a rush.

I was at my door in seconds. Without thinking about it, I unlocked and opened the door.

She was standing there, her side resting against the doorframe, looking at me, smiling, her eyes looking into the darkest places of my mind. Now this was a sight I wanted to wake up to.

"Do I have to ask again?" she asked, analyzing me.

"Wh-" I stuttered, avoiding her gaze, "what?"

"You're shaking," she stated, taking a step forward, grabbing my hand in hers.

She was so warm, so collected. It brought a smile to my lips.

"Just tell me what's wrong," her eyes were burning holes in me.

It was just a nightmare and I wanted to tell her, but I had a feeling this nightmare was more than that. Something was going on in my mind, my body. I wasn't being myself.

She placed a strand of hair behind my ear, cupping my cheek.

"I'm not dropping it this time," she said bluntly. Well, that's unusual. But I knew she meant it, the determination clear in her face.

"It was just a nightmare," I shrugged, brushing it away.

"You can talk to me about it if you want to," she assured me.

I knew I could, I simply chose not to.

"It was just a nightmare," I repeated, smiling and leaning in to kiss her.

She analyzed my face but didn't say anything.

"You missed the dinner, but you're lucky I brought some for you," she smiled, showing me the food container.

"Charming as always," I smirked, letting her in.

////

"Any plans for the holidays?" Eden asked, a spoon in her mouth.

"My parents are coming back," I said, my mood immediately brightening.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I've never seen them around," she said, taking another scoop of ice cream, watching the Wentworth newest episode.

"They're busy, have a business to keep up," I shrugged, putting a mouthful of ice cream in my mouth too.

"Wow, it's delicious," I stated, amazed, not expecting the wondrous sensation in my mouth.

"Just like you," Eden smirked, kissing me. I kissed her, then placing a small kiss on her nose.

"You're so cheesy," I laughed.

"Oh shut up," Eden threw a pillow at me, getting up.

"Where to?" I asked, focusing back on the TV.

"Bathroom," she shouted from another room.

I kept watching Wentworth, seeing another of the prisoners get beaten up.

"Ouch," I winced, still eating the ice cream.

It went on for quite a while and eventually I realized Eden was taking far too long.

"Ed?" I shouted, getting up from the sofa.

I walked around the rooms and ended up finding her at the music room. Yes, my parents' house was that big. She was playing the guitar and singing.

~Said, you just don't know how beautiful you are~

~And baby that's my favorite part~

I couldn't help but smile, looking at her. And so did she, while singing.

~You walk around so clueless to it all~

~Like nobody gonna break your heart~

She noticed me, looking at me as she sang the rest of lyrics.

~It'll be alright babe, see, me, I got you covered~

~I'm gon' be your lover, you might be the one~

~If it's only tonight, ayy, we don't need to worry~

~We ain't in a hurry, rushin' into love~

//My favorite part - Mac Miller ft. Ariana Grande//

She put the guitar down, taking steps towards me.

"Any other hidden talents you'd like me to know about?" I smiled. She placed an arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

"There's certainly a few I'd like to show," she said, smirking.

My mouth suddenly felt dry, as I tried to swallow. Eden placed a kiss on my cheek, exiting the room, leaving me hanging.

"I missed the whole episode, we need to re-watch it," she said as I followed her back to the living room.

"No way, that's a waste of my time. We're watching the next one," I laid down on the couch, taking the remote.

"No, I don't think so. You're not making me miss another episode!" Eden tried to take the remote from me.

"Well I just did," I grinned, playing the episode.

"You're unbelievable," Eden groaned, moving away from me.

"But you still like me," I stated, still grinning.

"You suck, I'm making the popcorn. What kind would you like?" Eden asked, getting up.

"Caramel. Thanks," I focused back on the TV.

Just sitting here, having Eden in my home felt natural, as if she was meant to be here. I've always been a believer in fate, thinking that if something's meant to be, it will be. It just so happened that fate had brought us together. And I couldn't be anymore happy things turned out this way.

"Here you go," she handed me a bowl, smirking.

"Now what's up with that smirk?" I asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

And then I smelt it. I knew what caramel smelt like and it was far from cheese.

I clenched my jaw, looking at her to find her still smirking.

So I took a fistful of popcorn, throwing it in her grinning face.

"What was that for?" she asked, still grinning.

"You think you're funny, huh?" I smiled.

"What you give is what you get," she stuck out her tongue.

"Lucky for you I love cheese even more."

I put the bowl aside, crawling to her and resting my head on her lap.

She placed a hand on my head, playing with my hair.

"Hey, Ruby?"

I didn't look at her, my gaze still fixed on the tv-show.

"What is it?"

"You'd tell me if something was bothering you, right?"

I turned my head, looking at her.

How could she read me so easily when no one ever did? But I didn't want to bother her, be a burden when I wasn't even sure what was going on myself.

"You don't need to worry about me, silly," I smiled, placing a hand on her cheek.

"But I do and I will, so you should just be honest with me."

"I'm alright," I assured her, pulling her in for a kiss, "But I might get worse if you keep giving me cheese popcorn."

"Just watch the TV," she laughed.