Page 81 of Almost Ours

She sniffles before letting her forehead fall against my chest, forcing my hands from her face. “Do you mean that?”

I wrap my arms around her shoulders instead, resting my chin lightly on top of her head. “Yeah. I really do. I think you’re great.”

She lowly laughs but there’s no real humour in it. “You’ve known me a little while. You’ll get sick of me eventually.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I know so.”

My arms tighten. “I guess you’ll have to ask me again in a year.”

She tips her head back slightly. “You reckon you’ll still be around in a year?”

I don’t even need to think about it. “Yeah. I know I will be.”

Chapter Nineteen

Wednesday

24th October 2015

Ruby:

RUBY (07:00): Morning! I have just woken up, gotten dressed and I am now heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

OSCAR (07:01): This needs to stop.

RUBY (07:05): I have done my morning wee, I’m now going to do my skincare, and teeth, and everything else. Then I am heading to breakfast with Josh. Who is just MY FRIEND. Is that okay with you?

OSCAR (07:10): Ruby, come on…

RUBY (07:45): I am ready for the day and I’m heading to Breakfast Club now. I have four lectures today. Due to finish at around 4pm. Then I have therapy at six.

OSCAR (08:00): Am I driving you to therapy? I need my car today so can pick you up?

RUBY (08:15): I am currently at breakfast with Abi, Brooke, Josh and Ewan. I also plan to have lunch with them at around 1pm. I was going to take the bus to therapy, but I think that might make you uncomfortable and we wouldn’t want YOU to feel anything.

OSCAR (08:57): I’ll pick you up at 5 x

RUBY (11:15): My first lecture just finished. I am grabbing a drink from the shop with Abi and Brooke. They are talking about going to the S.U. on Friday. Would you be comfortable with that? What if my phone dies? Or I get drunk and forget to message you even if other people know I’m safe and sound?

OSCAR (12:00): I think you’ve made your point after three days of this shit x

RUBY (13:04): I am heading to lunch now, with Josh. You should probably know he has stayed over a few nights this week. We aren’t sleeping together or anything and we’re just friends, but if I do start having a sex with anyone, you’ll be the first person I tell!

OSCAR (13:06): Fucking hell.

CAM (13:07): Keep it up, Rubes. It’s a great way to show him what an overbearing twat he can be. Love you! X

RUBY (16:00): Lectures have finished and I’m grabbing a quick drink with Josh in the S.U. Non-alcoholic ofc, don’t worry! Then I’ll go and get ready for therapy. I will meet you outside my halls at quarter to five.

RUBY (16.25): Walking to halls now.

RUBY (16.30): Just got to halls.

RUBY (16:34): Getting changed.

RUBY (16:43): Heading down.