Tobias

The food arrives. We're sitting around her kitchen's small table. "Ash wants your number." She says as she takes a bite from her pizza. Ash Montoro? Woah. "Montoro?" I ask her in a shocked voice. "Yeah." She says. She's not looking at me. She breaks every eye contact I try to connect. "Okay, You can take it." I say. She nods with her eyes fixed on the ground. "How is he by the way?" I ask trying to break the silence. "He's good. He's getting married in two weeks." She says. "Congratulations." I say. She eats in silence. This is not Ruby. The Ruby I know. Have known. Her hair is loose, it touches her shoulders. It's still red. The orange red. Her face is still freckled. Her lips are still that reddish orange. Her lips. I wonder if she ever kissed any other guy. I did. I kissed another girl. That's not Ruby. But, she looks grown. More mature. "How is your family?" I ask. "They're okay." She says. I sense the sadness in her voice. I caused her this sadness. I did more when I left. This is wrong. I may be hurting her more by being here. "I should go." I say as I stand up. The pizza box is missing two pieces only. "Oh, right. Elite must want you back home." She says as she stands up as well. Our eyes meet. Elite is not home. Her eyes sparkle. Not with happiness but with tears. "Yeah." I say as I grab my phone and keys. I walk out of the kitchen. She follows me. I pull on my jacket. She open the door. I walk outside. "Tobias." She calls me. I turn to her. "When you said that you wanted me back at the bar, did you mean it?" She says softly. we stare at each other for a minute or two. Of course, I did. "I was drunk, Ruby. I am sorry." I wasn't. Her face falls. I hate doing this to her. God. I just want to hold her. "Good night." I say and turn to leave her behind, just like always.

"Where were you last night?" Elite says as she pours some coffee into her mug. I hear rain as it hits the street. It's raining badly. My phone beeps. "Walking." I lie as I check my phone. Natalie says that she can't come today because of the bad weather. "So, You didn't see Ruby?" She asks. "I didn't." I did. She smiles as she drinks her coffee. She places her finger between mine. I don't hold back. Another message beeps. It is an unknown number.

*unknown: Hey Tobias. It is Ash. Ash Montoro.

Oh, yeah. "Who are you texting?" Elite asks. "A friend from school." I say. Her hand leaves mine as she gets up to leave. "I am leaving." She says. "Bye, baby." She says as she pecks my lips. "Bye." I mutter as she leaves. My phone starts to ring. Ash's number comes into view. I hit the green icon. "Hey." I say. "Hi. I missed you, bro. How are you?" Ash's voice comes from the other line. "I am good. How about you? Congratulations by the way." I say. "Oh, so Ruby told you." He says in a happy voice. Ash was a close friend of mine. He was the one I told that I like Ruby. He was the one who knew that I was in love as well. "Well, you should come." He says. "Oh. I don't know, man. I will have to safe up money first." I say. "Oh no, I am flying you all here on me.My private jet will get you guys." He says. Well, he's rich. Cool. "Okay, man. Why not?" I say. "You can also bring your girl." He says. Fuck. Ruby told him. Of course she did. "Yeah, She's so busy most of the time. But, I will ask her." I say. She will come. I know. She won't let me go there alone with Ruby around. "Okay, I have to go. I will call you later." He says. "Yeah, bye." I say as we hang up. I sight. Last night flashes back to my head. How she asked if I really wanted her. I do. I do very much. I have always did. But, I can't. I have a girlfriend. I can't have one of them without hurting the other. Elite. She's a good friend. Just not a good girlfriend. I don't love her. Ruby. She's the love of my life. She's the one I want. I love her.

I am cleaning the counter. The rain is pouring out there. I grab my jacket and head out of the shop. The rain wets my hair along with the rest of my clothes. I can't walk back in this weather. I search the road fo a taxi. I find one. I get into it. I tell him the address to the apartment. I get a text from Elite. She's stuck in her office for the night. I leave her on read. I arrive at our building. I get into the apartment with soaked clothes. I get into dry clothes as I start to do some laundry. As I wait for the washing machine to finish, I make a peanut jelly sandwich. I open my phone. I search through my photos. Her picture catches my eye. Her red hair is falling onto her shoulders. It is that picture back in Anne's birthday. She's laughing. It's been a while since I last saw her laugh. Five years. I swipe through the photos. A photo of me and Elite appears. She's laughing as well. I am kissing her cheek. I sight. Maybe Elite is the one for me after all. Or maybe not?