Rules

Although Ruby had briefly wondered if Stefan meant what he said to his mother the previous night, she was sort of glad to hear him say he didn't mean it.

"I understand. Let's just have some rules between us if it will help you feel better," Ruby said, and Stefan raised a brow.

"You really don't feel awkward in any way?" He asked, and she shrugged.

"I've never thought of you as anything other than Stefan, my best friend. And if I thought for a moment that this arrangement would make you this uncomfortable or make you think differently of me and see me in a new light, I wouldn't have pushed for it. I'm sorry," Ruby said, and Stefan sighed.

"I don't think differently of you. I'm just not comfortable, and that is why I need us to set up rules that will help ensure that we won't start seeing ourselves in a new light. I don't want to end up becoming sexually attracted to you," Stefan said, and Ruby felt butterflies flutter in her belly at the thought.