Ruby

Vegas's liquor smelling-like wind meets my face as we leave the airport. A couple of cabs are waiting outside for us. Ash is spending a lot, really. I get into a cab with Alexander. "Your friends are fun." He says as the cab starts to drive away. "Yeah. You will love Ash as well." I say with a smile. "You always talked about Albert and Ash but never that guy Tobias." Alex says. I freeze at the sign of his name. Seeing Tobias today, sent shivers up my spine. It had been a while since I saw him. It broke my heart when I saw how he was holding Elite's hand. "He's not important." I say, looking out the window. Vegas's lights aren't very clear during the day. People are everywhere. The weather here isn't as cold as back in New York. "He kept on staring at you, Ruby." He says. "Really?" I ask as I look at Alex. I clear my throat in embarrassment. "I mean, it doesn't matter." I say as I stare down at my hands. My grey nail polish needs to get a repainting. "I don't mind hearing his story." Alex says. "I am not ready to say his story." I mumble slowly. "I will wait." Alex says, holding my hand. I look up at him. His hair is brushed perfectly like always. He's smiling at me. "Thank you, Alex." I say with a smile back.

"Look at you, my dear high school losers." Ash says as we embrace. "I missed you." I say as we hug tightly. "I missed you, too." He says as we pull back. Ash had trouble after a year of college. He had feelings for a girl in his college. He never had feelings like this before. He turned gay in his freshmen year. This girl changed his life. Made him rethink his decisions. He broke things off with Jimmy, his old boyfriend, and decided to give things a shot. There he is now, marrying her. Leaving the gay path. I support his choice. He's happy and that's what makes me happy, as well. "Albert." Ash shakes hands with Al and his wife, Penny. "I bet you that my wedding is gonna kill yours." Ash says with a wink. "Fuck off, rich boy." Albert says with a chuckle. Ash traveled for our get together a year ago, in Al's wedding. That's when he introduced us to his bride. Elizabeth Jones. She's a sweetheart, really. I loved her so much. "Woods, a ghost from the past?" Ash says as he walks up to Tobias. He is a ghost from the past. From my past. My terrible past. "Ash, who could have thought?" Tobias says with a smile. "You must be Elite." Ash says, giving me a look with the side of his eyes. "I am. Congratulations, Ash." Elite says with a smile. She looks quite different now. Her hair is longer. Her skin is glowing. She's happy. "Thanks, Elite." Ash says with a smile back. "Now for the boss, Alexander right?" Ash says, shaking Alex's hand. "That's right." Alex says with a smile. "I have heard quite a lot, Mr. Titan." Ash says with a smirk. They both look at me. "Hope it's all good stuff." Alex says. They both chuckle as I roll my eyes in embarrassment, meeting with Tobias's. I shake my head away, breaking our eye contact.

"It's so good to see you again, Ruby." Elizabeth says, as we embrace tightly. "It's great to see you too, Beth." I say smiling as we pull back. "Al and Penny. Look at that little buddy." She says as she squats to cuddle Henry. "You're really having that bridal glow." Penny says with a smile. "Oh, yours was so much better." Beth says with a smile. Her curly auburn hair touches her shoulders. Making it look like a cloud around her tiny fair face. Her nose is so small. Her asian eyes are almost black. Dimples pierce through her cheeks when she smiles. "How is my future wife doing?" Ash asks as he hugs her from behind. She laughs as he kisses the side of her head. Seeing two people in love aches my heart sometimes. Maybe if Tobias didn't leave five years ago, we would be engaged if he wasn't so scared from starting a family. Maybe we could have been happy, instead of breaking each other's heart. I am not using Alexander to forget Tobias. I enjoy being with Alex. He makes me feel good about myself. He makes it seem like I can tell him anything. It is hard to catch feelings for someone when your heart belongs to another.

I walk up to the mirror of the bathroom. I wipe the steam, to look at my blurry reflection. I let my hair loose. I scratch my scalp, closing my eyes and taking deep breathes. A knock on the door of the room, makes me jump. I walk out to the door. I open the door to meet with Tobias's face. "Hey." He says, looking down at me. Shit, I am wearing my bathrobe. "I am sorry." I say with embarrassment. "I came well to -uh- I wanted to say that -uh" He stops with a sight. "Are you okay?" I ask. "Do I look okay?" He asks. "What is it?" I ask. "Can we talk?" He asks. "Let me get dressed, first."I say.