Chapter 7 - Rue

"What to wear?", I ask myself. I have never been to a party before. Moreover, it is chilly outside. Who would be dumb enough to wear something exposing in this weather?

I pick my favorite sweater and a black ripped skinny jeans. I want to show as minimal skin as possible.

I get dresses but before I put on my sweater, I feel the urge to wear something cute underneath so I put on one of my cropped cami tops. I tie my hair up to keep it from my face. I put my mom's red lipstick in my purse and I don't know why I did that but it felt right.

I lay on my bed waiting for the address Chance promised to send. Yes. I gave him my number. Well…technically my mom's number.

Speaking of my mom, I gave her supper not long ago so that should be enough for the night.

Ding!

FInally. I am excited yet nervous. I haven't been to a party before. A college party would be a huge step for a beginner like me. I put the address into the GPS and find out it's going to be a long walk to the place so I decided to head out immediately.

After 25 minutes of walking, I get closer to the place. I see a couple of girls walk past me wearing shorts and tiny tops leaving nothing to the imagination. I am so thankful for my clothing choice because it's freezing out here. These girls didn't think so. They are crazy not to.

I walk a few blocks further and when I turn around the corner to face a road with a dead-end and at the end of the road stood a two-story building flooded with people. This is when I realize that the whole world is crazy. Maybe not the whole world but these college students are wild, especially the ladies. It's 40 degrees Fahrenheit tonight and they're all out on the lawn without a jacket in the least.

I walk towards the house and see Chance on the front porch, he immediately notices me and meets me halfway. He opens his arms wide for a hug.

Oh, I didn't know we are on hugging terms but I hug him anyway. Must be a college thing to hug people you just met once.

"I'm glad you could make it Ruby", he smiles at me.

"So am I", I respond as he leads me inside the house.

Drunk people were lurking everywhere. There was a long line to the bathroom. Couples were hanging out in the corners of the house and there were some noisy guys at the dining area doing who knows what.

Chance leads me into the basement which is dark, hot, and damp. The basement was filled with so many people it was illegal. Colored lights are flashing around setting a mood to the atmosphere.

I instantly begin to regret my clothing choice, not because everyone else looks good compared to me but rather because it is burning up in here and I'm toast. Everyone seems to be vibing, not caring about it though.

As we make our way through the crowd I begin to sweat and I'm being crushed and rubbed by sweaty people who seem too intoxicated to care.

I am getting lost in the crowd when Chance takes my hand in his and smiles at me.

"You'll get used to it", he yells over the loud music and people singing along.

I smile and nod my head at him. This tiny but kind gesture makes me feel all warm in my heart and hand. Maybe it's just the temperature in here.

He brings me to a small group in one of the corners of the basement. I instantly recognized the girl from the library and of course Avery.

"You already know Avery but this is Maya", Chance introduces the girl.

"Hi, I'm Ruby", I smile at her but she isn't having it. She looks me up and down and then whispers something to Avery and they both start snickering.

"Don't pay attention to them. They're...umm..."

"Jerks", I completed Chance's sentence and he smiles at me.

"For lack of a better word, Yes. Sometimes. Let me go get us some drinks.", he says as he leaves giving me no chance to protest.

I don't want to be left alone with these two. As soon as Chance leaves I begin to feel self-conscious and I'm sweaty as hell. Awkward.

"You must be mad comfy in those clothes", Maya says with sarcasm soaked in her words.

Avery laughs. "I bet she is. Miss goody two shoes.".

I just stare at Avery in shock as they both continue to laugh. What had happened to him to make him this way? This is not the Avery I knew, the one I grew up with. This is someone else.

Not realizing that my heart rate had started to rise, my breathing was ragged and my hands began to shake.

Oh no, not here. Was this a bad idea?

Maya notices. "Hey, are you okay? We're just messing with you?".

"Don't mind her, she's just an attention seeker", Avery says as he turns Maya's face to his while I just stood there.

Were they more than friends? Is this why he's being a jerk to me? Or….. Is he trying to make me jealous?

The room starts to spin and I feel suffocated with heat. Everything seems so overwhelming. I need to get out of here.

As I'm heading out of the basement I bump into Chance holding two red cups in his hand.

"Hey Ruby, sorry I took so long. Is everything alright?"

"Bathroom", that's all I manage to say.

"Oh, it's the first door on your left after you climb the stairs", He smiles at me. How does he manage to do it? Smile every time. He's something.

I turn and rush out. Lucky for me there was no line to the bathroom. I lock myself in the smelly and messy bathroom and look in the mirror but didn't see anything because everything went black.

******************************************

Rue's POV

"How long has it been since I've been out like this", I say to myself. "Ruby could have done better than this smelly bathroom..ugh"

Staring at my reflection in the mirror I think to myself, 'Tonight I have full control'. I notice what I'm wearing and it is distasteful. This girl needs some lessons on clothing choice.

I take off the sweater and look into the purse for that red lipstick I made Ruby bring along. I apply it and release my hair from the bun. After ruffling my hair a bit, I look acceptable in the least. Next time, I'm styling us.

I head down into the basement where I make my way through the drunk people. I find my way to the corner where Chance, Avery, and Maya stood chatting.

When they notice me, the look on their faces is priceless. That's how you do it, Ruby.

I smirk as I reach them and I grab the cup in Chance's hand as he just stares at me. In fact, they are all staring. I had to break the silence.

"It's rude to stare you know?"

They then gain composure except for Chance. Avery and Maya pretend they weren't just staring.

"Ruby, you look- ", Chance starts but I cut him.

"It's Rue"

He looks confused. I hate that I have to repeat myself. I also hate when I'm mistaken for that naive girl, Ruby.

"My name is Rue."

"Oh, I'm sorry.", he smiles, again, as he looks me up and down. "You look different."

"Yeah, I get that a lot", I say as I gulp down the disgusting contents of the cup. What the hell, cheap beer? Cheap but effective I begin to realize after my fourth cup.

Avery and Maya steal glances at me while I chug down my fourth cup. They look shocked, as they should, I'm not Ruby.

My eyes meet Avery's and I smirk as I grab Chance's hand and drag him closer to me.

"Let's dance", I whisper in his ear and he quickly obliges.

Avery's eyes never leave us and I don't stop looking him straight in the eyes as I dance with Chance.

Maya notices and turns Avery's face towards her. I chuckle and place Chance's on my waist and we continue to dance with little to no space between us.

Avery gets mad and that makes Maya mad but that gets me excited. I want to take it a step further but Avery has other plans.

I continue to intimately dance against Chance and his hands wander to my lower back which I don't mind. Avery heads over to us. He taps Chance on the shoulder and whispers something into his ear but his eyes linger on me.

I don't know what he said but they both head ou leaving me alone with Maya. I know she is dying to piss me off but I beat her to it.

"So you and Avery are a thing?"

"Yeah, we are". The arrogance in her voice makes me want to put her in her place. "What is it to you?"

"Me? Oh, nothing just curious".

She doesn't believe me and curiously asks, "Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing serious it's just there's only one person in his heart", I whisper into her ear. "I would give up now if I were you."

My words drained all color from her face.

"How would you know that?", she asks, unsure of herself.

This was getting very fun. Ruby might have felt bad for Maya but that is her weakness. She's so empathic.

"Oh wait, he didn't tell you?", I ask in a fake shocked tone.

"Tell me what?"

"That's not my place to tell", as if on cue the guys return.

"What did we miss?", Chance smiles as they approach us.

"Oh, nothing much, we were just getting to know each other better", I say as I wrap my arms around Chance's neck.

Avery shoots Chance a look and he slowly slides out of my arms. What just happened? What did they talk about out there?

"We're leaving", Avery says as he puts his arms around Maya but that didn't go so well. She also slid out of his arms and shoots him a look.

I can't help the little laugh that escapes from my throat.

He sharply looks my way suspiciously.

Clearly, he wasn't the only one creating havoc tonight.

Bring it on.