Holiday Cheer

November passed, making way for the December’s holiday cheer to officially kick in. Ruby had a new brace on her leg due to her little adventure outside the community.

Brad currently was talking to Ruby about the things that usually went on during the party.

“I think I’ll be okay, mingling a bit.” She smiled his way, every day getting more comfortable around the community.

“Good. Lindsey is upstairs picking out every outfit possible for you to wear. I’ll see you for lunch, right?” They came to a stop by the stairs.

“Yeah. See you then.” With one more quick smile, Ruby headed up the stairs.

As he foretold, Lindsey already tore apart both their closets (technically half of her closet, since Lindsey shared it with Luke) trying to find clothes. Ruby didn’t have many clothes. Nothing fancy like Lindsey, but she had the necessities.

“We need to get you to go shopping,” Lindsey mumbled to herself as she held up clothes by Ruby before tossing them aside.

Ruby had refused, not wanting to go outside the gated neighborhood lest she is found. Most importantly, she knew she couldn’t handle to see herself so far from home. She knew these people lived nowhere near Los Angeles or San Diego. Ruby traveled between the two a lot and came to call it some kind of mismatched home for herself. It’s all she had.

“I can just wear whatever, right? It's not like it's something fancy, is it?” She came to sit in the comfy chair by her bed, watching as clothes were tossed around without a care.

“Yeah but come on! Just wearing whatever isn’t fun!” Lindsey stuck her tongue out at her before returning to her chore.

A day later, Ruby had been forced into a pair of skinny jeans and a cute sweater with reindeer. She picked at the clothing, feeling out of place in Lindsey’s clothes. Especially the ugg-like, black boots with a small heel to them. They felt uneven compared to her sneakers.

“Come on!” Lindsey rushed at her, grabbing her hand and hauling her downstairs where people continued to flood in from the front door. Many stopped her, hugging her and wishing her well. Making her feel welcomed as if one of their own.

Outside, Lindsey showed her to her seat, near the front where a stage had been constructed for a band to play. Music boomed from some speakers all around the yard. Lindsey left her in search of Luke and after ten minutes of meeting people, Ruby escaped to a quiet corner of the house.

As she rounded the corner, leaving the party behind, Lilac, the young albino girl, stood hiding from everyone else. She hadn’t been seen much around the house between staying in her room and going to school.

“Hiding out, too?” Like she had been caught red-handed in a sinful act, Lilac quickly turned away, intending to leave.

Before thinking better of it, Ruby grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. Lilac didn't turn around but didn’t fight her either.

“Mind just hanging with me? I need a hiding place, too.” The young girl turned then, choosing to stay by Ruby’s side, even when her hand was released.

They didn’t speak for a while, just listening to the loud noise coming from all directions. Lilac rocked on her heels, uncomfortable with it all. She was quite socially awkward and from the looks of it, outcasted from her peer group. If not ignored, she’d be relentlessly teased for her behavior, only making it harder for her to socialize.

Speaking up once more, fully understanding how the other must have felt about her, Ruby nudged Lilac’s arm. “Ya know, for the longest time all I could think about was running into the woods and just getting lost, hoping they’d never find me. I still feel that, like I haven't completed that goal despite being safe here.”

“I’m sorry they hurt you.” Ruby smiled at the soft voice. It reminded her of… well, herself.

“Can I ask you something? I mean I could have asked anyone at this point but I didn’t want to know. I mean, I was scared to face the truth. I’m nowhere near my home. I’m not even in California, am I?” By the shake of her friend’s head, Ruby sighed. “Where am I, Lilac? Truthfully.”

“Virginia, technically speaking. We’re just on the border between Kentucky and Virginia.” At those words, Ruby choked on a sob. She held up her arm, hiding her face. “I’m sorry…”

“No, no, don’t be. I asked for the truth and you answered. Thank you. It's just hard knowing I was dragged halfway across the country.” Taking a deep breath, Ruby wiped her eyes. “My friends have no idea what happened to me. I don’t have a family to call. The university probably threw away my credits at this point…”

Lilac looked at her in complete shock. The words had tumbled out of her mouth like a drunk before she could even think twice. Despite being a very reserved person, Ruby hadn’t felt regret at what she said. Like Lilac could be trusted, though they don’t know each other at all.

“I’m sorry for ruining Christmas with all that. Can’t seem to stop this emotional rollercoaster. I feel stuck between the nightmares and the reality that this is going to come to an end. Gosh, I’m horrible. Come on, let's go back to the party.” Plastering a smile to her face, Ruby tugged on Lilac’s sleeve, guiding her back through the crowd.

They neared the table she had been seated at by the front. People flowed around them, sometimes coming in between them as they greeted friends and family, danced, and played games. Escaping them, they sat down in silence, looking around at the chaos.

“Lilac? You're not supposed to sit there… you sit with Dr. Smith in the back, remember?” Three girls, around Lilac’s age, came sauntering up, eying her with an emotion Ruby couldn't quite understand.

“I asked her to sit here.” Ruby placed a hand on the younger girl’s shoulder, keeping her seated.

“We have assigned seats with family. You should be with yours.” A blonde, from Ruby’s right, stepped forward. She looked her over, clearly not recognizing the new face. “Who might you be? I’ve never seen you here.”

“Ruby. Lindsey told me to hang out here for a while.” The girls furrowed their eyebrows, still not recognizing the name.

“Well, okay, but Lilac needs to sit with her family. It's rude to take other people’s seats.” One of the other girls spoke up, dressed mainly in leather as if rejecting the holiday spirit.

“Lilac, switch seats with me.” Confused, and ready to give herself whiplash from turning her head so fast, the girl stood up and switched seats.

“What-”

“See? I’ve given her my seat so she’s not taking Brad’s.”

“That makes-”

Cutting them off once more, Ruby continued, ”one, I’m sure Brad doesn’t care and two, I don’t really care if Brad gets mad at me.”

“Someone sure is sassy today.” The new voice from behind had the girls jumping to attention, even Lilac stood up. Bowing their heads, the high school girls gave quick apologizes and took off. Ruby held Lilac’s hand, keeping her from running as well.

“I get that way when I’ve reached my limit.” She tugged the girl back down to her seat, holding her hostage. Ruby didn’t meet Brad’s gaze, a light pink coating her cheeks under the glow of the night lights.

“If you want to go back inside-”

“No, no. I can stay.” Ruby waved off Brad’s concern, finally releasing Lilac. “Pull two more chairs, please. Lilac and the doctor will be sitting with us. If they agree to.” She cut her eyes over to Lilac who kept her head bowed.

Since she didn’t protest, Brad brought over two more chairs and sat next to Ruby. The girls passed by them, from a distance, and watched as he pushed a strand of her hair back.

“They weren’t bothering you, were they?” His fingers lingered on the ends of her hair.

“Oh, no, they weren’t bothering us.” She gently pulled his hand away, the pink becoming redder on her cheeks. Flustered from his simple touch and intense stare, she pulled his hand under the table and out of view.

“Is Lilac joining us?!” Lindsey plopped down next to the quiet girl, leaning across the table to join the conversation.

“I hope so.” Lilac still didn’t respond but at least she straightened herself up and accepted the punch in a red solo cup. Ruby smiled at that but when they offered her a cup as well, she froze.

She knew they wouldn’t drug her. She knew that. She knew that. She knew that. She knew that.

Who am I trying to convince?

With a hesitant and trembling hand, Ruby took the cup and sipped from it. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Brad’s smile. Still holding hands, he gave her a squeeze under the table and released her.

Before thinking twice, something Ruby noticed she had been doing a lot lately, she gripped his hand, not looking him in the eye but focusing on the bantering between Lindsey and Luke. He didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at her, but he laced their fingers together.

A strange warm feeling formed in her heart, fluttering it faster than normal. Like the night he stayed with her.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back inside?” He whispered in her ear, catching the occasional twitchiness of her eye and how she would stiffen then relax.

She squeezed his hand, biting her lip, “I think I’m okay. It’s just a little… unsettling is all.”