The Things I Love About You

She is his Saviour

Ruby couldn't help but laugh, it was a happy laugh and her face glowed making her more beautiful. Today she and Jay has emerged as the winner from the geography practical, they has got the best result in the entire class. This was something of joy for Ruby and she was grateful to Jay, for all his help.

Ruby sipped her strawberry milkshake as she walked towards the lockers room and in the corner she bumped into Anastasia. A sigh escape Ruby parted lips.

"I'm not surprised you are always annoying me". Anastasia fold her arms around her chest and made a face.

"Please, I don't want to talk to you". Ruby told her.

"Drama queen, as if I even want to talk to you". Anastasia snorted.

"Then don't be an old interfering busybody". Ruby snapped and Anastasia eyes narrowed.

"We will see if indeed I'm a busybody, you jackass!" Anastasia scrowl at her as she flung her locks away from her shoulder and walked away, her heel boots making a click sound on the tiled floor.

Ruby ignored her and went inside the room to her locker. She kept her bag and lock it up safely before strolling out to the dressing room to change into her basketball jersey.

Ruby hair was styled in top knot and thick tendrils were plastered to the side of her forehead. She was looking gamine and sporty wearing a yellow and black jersey and holding the basketball when Drake approached her.

His practice was over and he has come to have a talk with Ruby. Ruby gave him a relaxed smile as he came towards her.

"Where have you been, I haven't seen you all day". Drake said and Ruby rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't you know I have classes?" Ruby respond heartily, tapping his shoulder.

"I see, can I ask you something?" Drake came closer.

"Yeah", Ruby nodded.

"What's going on between you and Jason?"

"Wait, is that the question?" Ruby enquired tentatively. She wonder what was cooking up in his mind.

"Listen, I heard you guys are kinda close so..." Drake voice trail off and he scratched the back of his neck.

"I don't care about what you have heard, what do you think of me?" Ruby asked, her voice hard with emotions.

"Look, Ruby, I'm just looking out for you". Drake reach out to touch her shoulder but she pulled away.

"Really?" Ruby was surprised, why was Drake bringing up this issue. Again.

"So you won't answer me". Drake asked, half question, half statement.

"I don't owe you anything". Ruby regard him, her eyes flashed with something close to anger.

"Heck! Ruby, I'm your best friend".

"Yes". Ruby said, shortly.

"Are you dating him, come on, don't lie to me". Drake snapped.

"You bastard! How is it your cup of tea if I date him?".

"He is not right for you, you are sixteen Ruby and you should know..."

"Thanks Drake, but I know what is best for me and listen, I don't want to talk about this".

"Are you running away from the truth?"

"What truth, tell me Drake, how long have you known me? We are childhood friends and yet you still don't trust me. You keep on saying the same thing, again and again and I'm beginning to find it offending. I am not dating Jay, we are not that close so please drop this off. I don't know why I'm still here talking to you, I've got other things to do. Excuse me". Ruby said, she took a deep breath to steady herself and went away bouncing the ball.

Drake watched her go and cursed himself inwardly. What has he done? Why has he even question her? of course, she wasn't dating anyone and he has made a big show of it. Drake felt so foolish for allowing his imagination to destroy his friendship but why has he even ask her the question. That thought linger on the back of his mind, then it hit him on the chest and he exhaled slowly letting out his pent up emotions as the realization dawned on him that he had been jealous.

Drake couldn't believe, he has been jealous of Jason getting close to Ruby and that's because he was already in love with Ruby. Drake shook his head agitated and stormed away, muttering more curse at himself for failing to realize he has been in love with his female best friend for the past three years.

•••••••••••••••••••••••

Jay groaned inwardly and laid his fingers on his temples. His head was throbbing with pain as he has been suffering from acute headache since morning, now it was worse. He hope he wasn't getting a migraine.

He raise his head from his desk and lock eyes with the girl sitting close to him. She has been looking at him for a while but now, she gently offer a sweet smile and look away. Jay sighed, he couldn't remember her name, was it Rachel or Regina?

Jay look at his wristwatch and sighed again, the

economic class was too boring and verbose. Jay stood up feeling light-headed and raise his hand up to gain the teacher attention.

The teacher, Mr Samson, turned away from the whiteboard and narrowed his eyes at Jay.

"Yes, Jason Peyton, how may I help you?". Mr Samson demanded.

"I am having a terrible headache, my head hurts terribly". Jay said as she stood up and half of the class turned to look at him, including Ruby.

"Are you sick, you should go home and get yourself treated". Mr Samson said.

"Yes, sir, I need to go home". Jay added. He rub his temples again as he squint.

Mr Samson considered him for a moment and pick up his marker.

"You can leave". He said briskly and Jay nodded a thank you, avoiding the questioning eyes of his classmates and pick up his text and notebook. Jay stuttered out of the class tiredly.

He went to his locker and kept his items in his backpack, slung it on his left shoulder and walked out. He decided to pass through the pool area to avoid unnecessary questions when Jay ran into the ABCD g**g.

Adolf was the first to sight him and called out cheekily, "Jason!".

Cameron and the other two boys turned and made weird faces.

"Hey, what's up n****r?" Cameron extend his hand for a shake but Jay turned him down.

"Can you guys please excuse me?" Jay requested politely.

"Oh! Too bad, the road is occupied".Darren shook his head and fold his arms across his chest.

"Why won't you talk to us?" Cameron asked, he is now standing face to face with Jay, but Jay was still a little bit taller.

"That's question is useless". Jay retort.

"Don't think you are smart, dude". Barry chip in.

"Then stay out of my business". Jay snapped, he was getting irritated and impatient.

"Don't you talk back at us". Adolf snort at him.

"Of course i'll". Jay countered, his bright blue eyes blazing with irate as he clutch the hand of his backpack and looked at the four boys in front of him. "You have got nothing to do about it".

"Ha! funny, isn't it?" Cameron said through gritted teeth and gave Jay a hard, backward push. Jay lost his balance and footing and swagger as he slip and fell into the pool with a loud splash.

The loud laughter from the ABCD g**g echo in Jay ears as he struggled inside the water. Alas! he wasn't a good swimmer and might end up getting drown. Jay close his eyes tightly, struggle the more and gulp down more water down his throat.

Soon the boys laughter died away and Jay felt himself weak and going under.

Ruby breath in deeply as the economic class finally come to and end. It has been too long and tiring with Mr Samson and his bored lectures. She stood up and began to gather her materials on the desk when a very familiar voice said hi.

Ruby held her books and text and look straight at Drake.

"Hi". Drake said again, awkwardly. They haven't spoken since that Monday he questioned her.

"Hi", Ruby respond. "Is there a problem?"

"Naw, I just want to say sorry for what I said and all those questions. I shouldn't have poke my head into your business but honestly, I was only looking out for you as a friend". Drake said.

"I see", Ruby muttered and she caught sight of a book on Jay empty seat. "Wait a sec". She gesture to Drake and went to Jay seat to pick up the book. It was his excerise book and Ruby shook her head.

"Wot is that?" Drake has come close to her and peer down at the book.

"This belongs to Jay and I've got to return it, he had forgotten it". Ruby said and Drake face changed.

Ruby held the book and look up at Drake." Sorry, dude, but I'll see you around". She said and left the already empty classroom.

Ruby meet Katherine, her teammate on her way out. Katherine was whistling to herself when Ruby stopped her.

"Hey, Kathy, have you seen Jay anywhere?" Ruby asked.

"Jay". Kathy, as Katherine was popularly called furrowed her eyebrows and nodded. "I saw him walking towards the pool".

"Oh, thanks". Ruby smiled at Kathy and hurried away. She hope to see Jay before he leaves.

Student were going to their various classes as Ruby took the pool path and saw Jay backpack on the ground. She ran and took it up before picking up his glasses, they laid beside the backpack and the glass has cracked. Ruby was confused when she saw Jay things and look at the pool, that was when she saw Jay drowning in the pool.

Ruby place her palm over her mouth to suppress her scream. She glance around but no one was in sight to help her and Jay life could be in danger.

Ruby was wearing a white high waist pleated mini skirt, jeans tee shirt button up and jeans baseball boots. She quickly unlace her boot and release her hair from the pony tail before diving into the pool without a second thought for herself.

Ruby was a good swimmer so it wasn't so difficult to rescue Jay. She lay him on the tiled floor and came out of the pool sopping wet. Her skirt was sticking to her thighs and her hair was heavy now tangled in an untidy mess.

Ruby gasped for breath and press down at Jay chest, she continue pressing his chest, applying more forces and breathing into his mouth when Jay cough and splutter. He spat out water and took in a deep breath.

"Are you OK?" Ruby question. She was now kneeling beside him. Jay looked into the depths of her green eyes and blink, he blink again and sat up nodding his head as an answer to her question.

He help his head between his hands and tries to rethink.

"You were drowning when I rescued you". Ruby said, gently. She tuck her wet locks away from her face.

"Thank you". Jay said and looked at her again. Her skin shone under the bright sunlight with a clear radiance. Her auburn hair was messy and seems unmanageable with thick tendrils plastered limply to her forehead. Her hair was still dripping wet.

"How did you fell into the pool?" Ruby asked as she stood up and squeeze the end of her tee shirt together.

"I was pushed by the boy?" Jay respond faintly.

"Which boy?"

"The ABCD g**g, wanna get involve with them". Jay asked, tilt his head backward to glance straight at her.

"Of course not". Ruby said hotly. "That's sheer cruelty, and iniquitous".

"The boys are terrible", Ruby added.

"I'll drive you home, I don't think you are in the condition of going home alone". Ruby said and bent down to wear her baseball boot while Jay mutter something weakly and inaudible to himself. He was whacked.

"You wait here, I'll be right back". Ruby told him.

Ava was in the locker room exchanging her books when Ruby meet her. She was shocked to see Ruby entirely wet.

"What's wrong, how did you get so wet?" Ava asked, whispering.

"The car key, I need to take Jay home". Ruby said.

"What happened to Jay?"

"He was drown but I saved him. I want to drive him home".

"Here", Ava hand her the car key. "You should drive carefully but how did he get drown?"

"I'll tell you everything later, please, tell Erika I'll be back soon for practice". Ruby said and notice every girl in the locker room was looking at her. She went into the changing room and change her clothes to a sport jersey and shorts. She brought the car around and pick up Jay.

Ruby manoeuvre the car through the busy streets and traffic. Her eyes were focus on the road and he try not to glance at her.

"How did you get involved with the ABCD g**g?" She asked and glance at him.

"It's a bit complicated", Jay answered.

"How? make me understand. Those boys are not ever friendly".

"You can never understand, I'm not a coward".

Ruby flicked him a look, shook her chestnut mane and press down on the accelerator.

"Please, pull the car over. I feel queasy". Jay told her and Ruby pull up at the roadside. Jay hurried out and throw up, she gave him water to rinse his mouth and return to the car. Ruby asked if he was okay and after Jay nodded, she pull out and they continue the rest of the journey in silence.

When Ruby stop the car in the driveway of the Peyton house, she gasps at the beautiful house standing majestically before her.

"Please, don't tell Farrah how it happened". Jay said, pleadingly.

"Why?" Ruby look into his melting sapphire blue eyes and felt something heavy on her chest.

"I don't want to trouble her unnecessarily". He said.

"I have heard you", Ruby told him and unbuckle her seatbelt. She went over to help Jay out of the car and wrap her hand under his arm. As they took a step towards the house, the front class door burst open and Amery came out. He let out a audible gasp of surprise when he saw Ruby and Jay together.

"Just ignore him", Jay told her quietly as they walked passed him into the living room.

"Dammit!" Someone sworn loudly as Ruby and Jay step into the living room.

"Wow, wow, look who we have here. A beautiful damsel". Kent smirked as Ruby got Jay to sit on a stool. He was exhausted and dog tired.

"Can you please call me Mrs Farrah?" Ruby requested.

"Sure thing", Brian respond and added a wink. He went upstairs and soon return with a fair skinned woman.

"Oh My God! what happened to him?" Farrah asked, she came to him and held Jay.

"He...", Ruby looked at Jay and turn back to Farrah. "He fell into a pool at school so I decided to bring him home".

"She is his saviour", Earl said.

"Are you okay?" Farrah placed both of her hands on his cheek. Jay was raddled and washed out. "I'll take you upstairs", she said to Jay and gesture to Brian. "Come with me".

"Hey, what's your name?" Kent asked.

Ruby ignore him and pretend she didn't hear. She looked at the different painting hung on the wall of the room.

"Sweetheart, do you mind if I get your mobile number?" Brian asked with a grin as he came downstairs.

"She is a doll", Amery smirked. Ruby kept silent and fold her arm across her chest. She hope the boys would let her be.

Farrah soon came downstairs and thanked Ruby."I'm highly grateful to you". The older woman said . "What's your name?"

"Ruby, that's my name". Ruby respond.

"Thank you so much for bringing him home".

"It's Ok", Ruby beamed, showing her pearly white teeth.

"Why don't you stay for a cup of tea and cake". Farrah suggested.

"Thanks, but I gotta go". Ruby touched her hair, it was still damp and fall to her shoulders in thick curls.

Farrah saw her off to her car parked in the driveway.

"You have got a beautiful house, Mrs Peyton". Ruby said admiring the flowers planted neatly by the fence.

"Thanks, but please call me Farrah. Hope the boys didn't trouble you". Farrah asked with a knowing smile.

"Naw", Ruby shook her head and climbed into her small car. She buckled her seatbelt and wave at Farrah.

"Drive safely, Ruby", Farrah waved back at her. Ruby start the engine and pull away from the driveway. She had a happy contented smile on her face.