SHE

ELEVEN

"Ru," my mom asked, her face seemingly stressed, "why are you asking such question out of nowhere?"

"I'm just wondering, saw an article about them on the internet," I shrugged, using every bit of inner Ruby Rose that I had in myself.

"Princess, what makes you think we would know anything about them?" dad questioned.

"Because you are answering my questions with questions," I stated, my eyes analyzing them.

My parents shared glances again.

"Stop doing that!" I said, my voice steady.

"Doing what, Ru?" mom pretended to be clueless, and so did dad. I had to admit - they were pretty good actors, certainly better ones than I.

"Pretending like I'm not here while you steal glances at each other as if having a conversation. Also answering my questions with questions and pretend to not know anything," I grew more frustrated by second, being fully aware my parents weren't being honest with me.

"Ruby, don't get involved in that stuff, it's better if you know nothing about it," dads eyes were concerned.

Mom once again nudged him with her elbow, giving him a pointed stare. As if that wasn't suspicious enough, dad had called me by my name. He never did that unless I was in big trouble, which I wasn't at the moment. At least, that's what I liked to think.

"So you do know something," I studied their faces, searching for something.

"Prince-" my dad started, nearly getting up before mom stopped him.

"Ru, what matters is you have to stay away from "Quietus". There's no need for you to even think about it," mom gave me the look that didn't leave room for any other answer than "yes".

"But I don't understand.." I furrowed my brows.

My mom sensed my confusion, placing a hand on mine.

"Promise me you'll do that - stay away from them."

My mouth became dry. I didn't want to look in her eyes.

"Alright, mom," I smiled, convincingly.

Mom smiled back at me: "okay, now go and make your old parents some popcorn."

I rolled my eyes, laughing, picking up my laptop: "old my ass, I'm going back to my room."

"Watch that mouth, beautiful," dad said, but I was already leaving.

Going upstairs, I placed the laptop on my bed, grabbing a notebook and pen as I hopped next to it.

I opened the laptop, my mission clear - find out anything I knew about "Quietus".

I hated lying to my parents, but I just had to know and if they weren't going to tell me, I would find out myself. Because I felt in my gut that one thing was obvious - Eden won't tell me a thing.

Before I let guilt get to me, I began breaking into the police system, unfortunately, it had become a thing for me to do in my free time. I had to find something, anything that could get me further with this case. I decided to go straight after the Blake Harper guy, the only thing that seemed to connect everything together so far.

~bzzzzzzzzz~

~bzzzzzzzzz~

I picked up my phone: "yeah?"

"Where does that serious tone come from, babe?" Eden smoothly asked, probably laughing.

I ignored her comment: "where'd you disappear this morning?"

"Oh, I had some stuff to take care of, and when I came back I saw a car in front of the house. Since there was security outside the house, it wasn't hard to figure out your parents were back."

Security? I rolled my eyes. I hated when there was security around, which was the reason I had made sure I didn't have any. Of course, there were still multiple security systems set up in the house, I was pretty sure my parents also had a secret way to spy on me, to make sure I was alright. Of which I made sure when I'd broken my finger in school, by an accident and seconds later security came rushing in, it wasn't hard to figure out my parents were still protecting me, even if I had no clue of the guard presence at the time.

"What stuff?" I questioned while trying to dig up something about this Blake guy.

"You know, the usual. Helping mom and so on," she lied smoothly.

"How is she?" I asked, wondering how long she'd keep on lying to me.

And suddenly I found the guy. He was way bigger than expected, having worked in special forces, now working for the FBI, which meant he wasn't a regular cop. This guy was something else. I clicked on his picture, taking a closer look at the guy, and for sure, he looked like a way manlier version of Eden. The file, however, said nothing about him having any family, unlike the previous articles I had read about the 2 of the gang leader's kids going missing.

"- and then she told me she hasn't seen you for too long," Eden dragged out her lies.

I had zoned out, not hearing most of what she said.

"Is it alright if my parents visit sometime these holidays?" I asked, "I mentioned you both, and they seemed pretty interested in you."

"Uh... Yeah, sure," Eden's voice sounded off.

She cleared her throat, changing the subject: "so are you feeling better now?"

I smiled: "yeah, your kisses and hugs seemingly heal anything."

"Wanna see what else I can do?" she asked, her tone huskier, I was pretty sure she was smirking.

"I'd rather feel than see, Harper," I said, my tone lower.

There was silence on the other end, and my grin grew even bigger, knowing the effect I left on her. Because she left the same on me.

"Be out in 5, gorgeous," she ended the call.

Trying to decide if I should leave the investigation for tomorrow took a while, however, it wasn't too hard to decide, knowing I was pretty whipped.

I quickly put on a bomber jacket and my superstars, heading downstairs.

"I'll be back later, guys! Love you!" I shouted, walking out the door, pretty sure they were making out or doing something else I'd rather not see.

"Be safe, beautiful!" dad shouted back.

I smiled, walking out, my face slamming into Eden's chest.

"Ow!" I pouted.

"Don't pretend, babe, we both know my boobs can pretty much replace pillows," she said, smirking and giving me a peck.

For my surprise the bodyguards hadn't moved an inch, staring someplace else.

"Hey, Henry," I smiled, "how's Crissy?"

The head of bodyguards, Henry turned, smiling: "she's doing great, miss Gold."

I rolled my eyes, pushing his shoulder playfully.

"I've been telling you for how many years to call me Ru? You should start listening to me or I'll have to tell my parents," I joked.

"Since the day you started properly talking, miss Gold. You're disturbing my work, get lost before I call your parents," he smirked.

I flipped him off, smiling as I interlocked my fingers with Edens.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked, as we walked to her house, where her motorcycle waited for us.

"I know this amazing Italian place.." she started, but I put my finger on her lips.

"Say no more," I smirked, placing my hands around her neck and pulling her closer.

She didn't resist me, immediately answering the kiss. It quickly turned passionate, her nibbling and softly biting my lip driving me crazy. I pushed her against the garage door, running my hands all over her body, eventually my hands finding their way under her shirt.

"Ruby," she breathed.

Did she feel the same way I did? I was hanging on by a thread, trying to control myself around this girl. Even the slightest touch from her made me all bothered. Hell, sometimes her voice did that too.

She turned us around, so that now I was the one against the wall, but, unlike hers, my front was against the door, while she kissed down my neck, her arms also finding their way underneath my shirt. I couldn't do anything in this position, my arms longing for her body.

"Eden, please," I pleaded. I wanted to touch her, but it came out more like me begging her to go on.

She turned me back around, breathing hard. Why did she stop? She pecked my lips, going to the bike and holding me the helmet.

"If only I'd known that mentioning food turns you on so much.." she laughed, waiting for me. I smiled, flipping her off as I put the helmet on and got on the bike.

I was falling fast and deep for this girl. Screw that thread I so desperately held on to. She was what I wanted, what made me happy, what brought me to life. And if it meant letting go of that thread made of pure fear, then I was willing to do so.

It was about time, my subconsciousness told me.