1

"If you don't answer me this time, I swear on my life I'll kill you."

Aiden snapped his head up and saw dark eyes glaring down at him. The silence around him faded and suddenly it felt like the world had resumed. Chairs scraped, voices mingled and he realized he was in college. Slowly, he put down his pencil and smiled weakly. "What were you saying?"

A snort sounded from his right and he sighed inwardly.

"You gotta do what you promised," a light voice sang. "Don't worry, I'll find a knife or something."

His eyes darting between the two girls, he turned to the one who had just spoken. "Eve--"

"Answer me first!" The girl before him slammed her hand against the table and he jumped.

"Damn," Eve whispered, her wide blue eyes shuttering as she quickly tucked a blonde strand behind her ear.

Anyone in their right mind would be afraid when Ruby got pissed. If she got pissed, the world might as well have ended. Throughout their relationship, Aiden had never faced her wrath but now he could practically feel the gods above shaking their heads at him as they prepared for his coming.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. He was sitting beside a window and considered leaping out in case things got too bad.

As if reading his mind, Ruby's dark eyes drifted to the window and down to the students roaming below. A smirk formed on her charcoal lips and she daintily ran her fingers through her sleek black bob. Then, looking back at him, she asked, "Do you not like me anymore?"

His eyes rounded and he tried to speak but she waved a hand. "Speak the truth. There's no need to lie to me, I don't want to be loved out of pity."

His fists clenched and he bit the inside of his cheek. Pity? Ever since he could remember, he had been crushing on Ruby. Their dads were childhood friends and in turn, they too followed in their footsteps. Only, to him Ruby was never just a friend.

Her authoritative manner of speaking and mischievous eyes had enraptured him since the beginning. She had rescued him from bullies and even now, she protected him because of how damn shy he was. He loved her because of what she had been to him and he still did. For her to even assume that his feelings were a result of pity was utterly blasphemous.

"Ruby, you know I love you, right?" he peered up at her.

Eve made a puking sound and pink stained Ruby's cheeks.

"Let's meet after the last class and talk over some coffee," Aiden spoke again. "I'll be waiting for you in our spot."

He smiled gently and Ruby muttered something under her breath, her cheeks reddening even more. Eve began to "ooh" teasingly but Ruby trapped her in a chokehold and dragged her out of the room.

Aiden grinned and his classmates didn't bat an eye. The two girls were best friends after all. Their faces were known and because of his girlfriend, Aiden had even gotten a few friends. Although, they never spoke to him that often.

He was kind of a loner but it didn't matter. His life was peaceful and quiet. Just the way he liked it. As long as the things he cherished stayed with him, he would be fine.

His class ended and he practically jogged out of the building--to the coffee shop that sat few minutes away from his campus. The wind brushed his brown hair over his brow and he smiled, already imagining Ruby's smile as she listened to him speak. Her pretending to be unfazed and cool while he knew she was melting on the inside. He knew her and she knew him.

They were perfect.

As he opened the door to the shop, the owner greeted him, but his eyes strayed to the corner, where he usually sat. His hand slipped from the door handle to wave but his excitement halted when he saw a tall figure lounging opposite Ruby.

A rich blue turtle neck emphasized broad shoulders and a physique which could only be achieved through dedicated exercise. The lights dotting the ceiling reflected off a watch that was strapped around a strong wrist which rested on a lean thigh adorned with straight black trousers.

Ruby didn't seem to notice Aiden's entrance since her back was facing him, however, her visitor did.

Eyes as green as the murky depths of the sea shifted past her shoulder and plump pink lips twisted into a small smile.

Aiden's blood heated with anger when he realized that it wasn't, in fact, a smile but a challenging smirk.

Casually settling his raven hair which was thick and parted to a side, the strange boy leaned over and took Ruby's hand in his. Aiden's lungs tightened and he could only watch as the boy pretended to whisper something in her ear while slashing an evil grin at him.