SHE

TWENTY

I'd never believed that something could bring me down, hurt me any more than losing a family member ever could. I simply never even thought of handing someone that power over me, letting them close enough so they would have the ability to make me want to die.

There were never any issues for me to stick by what I believed in. That i until I met the Eden Harper herself. Turns out some people are worth being vulnerable for, some people naturally have the power over you that sometimes even overpowers blood.

"Mom, I'm leaving," I said loud enough for mom to hear from the living room, while I was in the kitchen, grabbing an apple.

"Where to, Ru?" she came into the kitchen.

"Hanna's picking me up, she'll help me with chemistry homework," I took a bite out of the apple.

Mom raised a brow: "so tell me if I'm wrong, but are you telling me you're leaving your girlfriend while she's sleeping in your bed to go do chemistry homework with Hanna, even thought you have straight A's in every subject and its holidays?"

I took another bite of the apple, nodding my head. I forgot my mom is far from clueless.

She squinted her eyes at me: "right. Ru, all secrets come out eventually, so you better not be keeping any."

"Adios, mom!" I waved, quickly walking out.

"Morning, Hen. Smile, you'd be amazed how much more handsome it makes you look," I winked at him.

I saw the corner of his mouth lift, but he still kept his lips in a tight line.

"Morning miss Gold," he nodded.

"I'm curious.. do you ever sleep?"

"Don't we all, miss Gold?" he asked, sarcastically.

I saw Hanna pull up, her grinning face appearing out of the window, together with her waving hand.

"Hen, let's play basketball when I come back," I smiled back at Hanna.

"See you," I said before he could complain about my idea.

I ran to the car, hopping into the passenger seat. "Miss me?" Hanna grinned, kissing my cheek.

"Of course," I laughed.

She stepped on the gas, her driving as fast and dangerous as ever.

"So..Ready for the scan?" she asked.

"As ready as I could ever be," I sighed.

"I'll take that as a no," she smiled.

I ignored her, not really wanting to discuss this: "did you get the meds?"

"Sure did, preciosa," she opened the drawer in front of me, dropping a bag of pill packages in my lap, "you owe me one."

"I owe you far more than one," I sighed, putting the bag in my purse.

"These are all serious prescription drugs, I left notes attached to all 3 packages, stating what they're for, when and how much to take. If you do more or less than I have recommended, I'll make sure to kill you in case the drugs don't."

I laughed: "I didn't realize we were playing good doctor, bad doctor."

She looked at me, her gaze holding silent promise: "I'm not kidding, this is serious stuff," she sighed, "I need to get my act together. Putting my ass on the line because I can't resist a beautiful girl. Mama Jules didn't raise her daughter to be a p***y, yet here I am.."

I put my hand on hers, giving a comforting squeeze: "I'm sorry, Han."

She intertwined our fingers, and I looked down at our hands together. I'm pretty sure she was meant to be my first love. How ironic, the way things turned out. Yet here we still are, us against the world.

She pulled into the hospitals parking lot, turning to me, and placing an escaped curl behind my ear.

"You know I'd do anything for you, Ruby," she kissed my hand, "let's go before you have enough time to friendzone me."

She let go of my hand and I sighed looking at the hospital in front of us.

There's no way in hell I'll spend the rest of my life stuck in there, I thought, getting out of the car.

///

"Make sure to call me. Love you," Hanna kissed my cheek while I got out of the car.

I smiled at Henry, who was probably already trying to figure out ways to get out of the basketball game.

"Get ready, Hen," I slapped his butt.

"I need to wait for 5 until the replacement gets here, miss Gold."

I nodded, opening the door and seeing no one else than Eden herself in front of me, with her arms folded.

"You left me in your bed alone to go out with another girl?" she raised her brow.

I smiled, taking steps towards her: "no way! Is my girlfriend jealous?"

She looked to the right, clenching her jaw: "stop. I want answers."

I opened the door, telling Henry we need to cancel the game, to which he replied with a very happy nod.

"Yes, you're right, but you make it sound way worse than it is," I said, turning back to her.

She looked at me, reading my face.

"Do you trust me?" I asked straight forwardly.

"Ruby.." she warned, her voice low.

"Answer," I said.

She sighed: "yes, I do."

"That's great," I gave her a peck, smiling, "I know this amazing italian place.."

She bit her lip, smiling: "say no more."

"I'll be back in a few hours!" I shouted to mom and dad.

"Alright. Love you, princess!" dad shouted back.

"So where are we going this time?" Eden questioned, putting on my helmet.

I thought about it: "somewhere peaceful with frozen yogurt."

"Alright, hold on," she got on the bike and off we went.

///

Eden handed me my frozen yogurt with fruits and berries on the sides of it, while hers was with oreos and nuttella.

I hadn't even told her what I wanted, yet she still managed to figure it out.

The place she took me to was just like I'd wished it would be - peaceful with frozen yogurt. It was quiet, jazz playing on the stereos, park right next to the place. Instead of classical chairs, there were bean bags, comfy rocking chairs and sofas, as well as many pillows and blankets.

We sat on one of the sofas, cuddled together underneath one of the blankets. No talking was done, just silence, frozen yogurt and us.

"Where were you with the girl?" Eden asked, breaking the silence.

///

I lied down on the table.

"Ready, preciosa?" Hanna's voice asked from another room.

"Yes," I replied, my voice weaker than I intended it to be.

The table slid into a tunnel opening, tube rotating around me and making me feel slightly paranoid. I heard clicking and buzzing noises.

"You're doing great, hold on just a second longer," Hanna's soothing voice said.

I inhaled and exhaled. And repeated. Then one more time. The table started moving again, bringing me back in the room.

I sighed, running a hand across my face. In a few minutes, I changed back into my clothes, waiting for Hanna to come.

If she was taking longer than needed, then the results were clear. And she was. The door handle moved, and I watched it as if my life depended on it. I smiled because it actually did. And when I saw Hannas puffy, red eyes, it was all clear.

"Ru.." her voice broke.

"I guess I'm really never wrong, huh," I smiled.

It was stupid of me, but I still had hope. I always did, and as it turned out yet again, I shouldn't have had any. I promised myself this moment, I'd never have hopeless ones, if my intuition knew the truth.

I didn't realize I was crying until Hanna's fingers started wiping the tears off my cheeks. She hugged me tightly, moving her arm up and down my back, calming me while I sobbed quietly.

"It'll be alright, Ru. We'll figure this out," she promised.

But why would she give promise she wouldn't be able to keep.

///

"Ru?" Eden repeated, her eyes searching my face.

"Nowhere special, just went to visit mama Jules," I smiled, lying.

If I had to fight this, then I would do it, but I would do it alone. I wouldn't let my family and Eden see me at my weakest. This was my problem, I wouldn't make it anyone elses.