"Why can't we rewrite the stars?"
-The Greatest Showman

-------------

He was just sitting on the sofa staring at me. The look of anger in his eyes from earlier was no longer present. Instead he had a look of regret.

He started walking towards me causing me to panic. I quickly acted on impulse and ran to my room. I locked the door and sat down on the floor.

He really scares me now. The look he had in his eyes will never leave my head. And I was doing so good too. I forgot about my worst nightmares for almost two days now. I got myself a job and everything. Now they're back in my head.

"Open up NOW"

He said as he banged on the door. Tears started running down my face as I remembered that's what my foster farther would always say when he comes home.

Everytime I heard his car I would run in my room and lock the door. I would put a while bunch of things in front of it to stop him from raping me.

I want to succeed so bad but it seems like everytime I take ten steps forward I get pushed a thousand steps back.

"Come on, please open up"

I moved from the door and went to sit on my bed. I laid my head in my palm and started crying again. Maybe I shouldn't have ran away from New York.

The panic attacks, the flashbacks, not feeling save, and fearing the man in charge. All those things happened in New York and it's currently happening now.

It's like I ran from a toxic place just for me to go to another toxic place.

"I'm sorry for screaming at you"

He said after minutes of silence. I could feel his presence behind the door. He kept on telling me to open the door for him but I just covered myself with my blanket and laid in bed.

Don't open the door Ruby. This isn't the first time you've been in this situation. He'll hurt you the moment you open the door.

All this anxiety shit got me stressed. I need a nap.

I woke up from my nap thirty minutes later. I was fully refreshed and ready to eat dinner. No banging on my door was heard so I guess he went home.

I changed into my cotton shorts and a white tank top that I found in my closet when I moved in. Now that I think about it half the clothes in my closet isn't mine. Most of them still have the price tag on it.

After I took off my bra I put on the clothes and unlocked the door. The moment I opened the door a body dropped on my foot. I let out a loud scream causing him to wake up.

"Mr. Cruz why are you still here?"

"I'm sorry Ruby"

Ruby? I didn't know we we're on first name bases now. I backed up into my room, giving him space to stand up.

His eyes were a soft brown that sparkled the more I looked into them. They didn't scare me anymore.

"I forgive you. You can leave now it's getting late"

I said as I walked around him. I went into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge for some food. His presence made me uncomfortable and very nervous.

I turned around and he was just staring at me. He didn't move or blink not once. It's like he was a statute or a painting.

"Yes Mr. De La Cruz?"

"Noah"

"What?"

"Call me Noah when we're alone"

I slowly nodded my head and turned around. I'm not used to this sweet soft side of him. Ever since I meet him he has had this tough exterior.

He doesn't even look like a Noah. More like a Paul or a Bob.

"Can I cook dinner for you?"

I turned around in shock. Is this my boss standing in front of me right now. This can't be the same man that tried to make me paint his whole office black in less than a minute.

Bitch If you don't hurry up and say yes we gonna starve.

Snapping out of it I finally nodded my head yes. He took the shrimp that was in my hand and walked to the stove. I went to sit on the stool and watched him as he made dinner.

This apartment came with a fully stocked refrigerator and cabinets that had tons of snacks. The storage room even had food in it.

The fact that I had so much food in this apartment is good for me. I've been gaining some weight after years of being neglected and starved.

I'm not used to having a full fridge or full cabinets. I always made food for my foster parents then aftwards I had to go to sleep. When they sleep I would sneak downstairs and eat the leftovers.

When they noticed that I've been gaining a little bit of weight they started throwing away the leftovers and putting locks on the refrigerator and cabinets.

The only place I got to eat was at school and it wasn't enough to fill me up. I only ate once a day. When I got to college food wasn't for free anymore. Since I had no money to buy food I would often steal food from places or not eat at all.

After almost going to jail for shoplifting I stopped stealing food and just decided to starve. Getting a job was out of the question too.

I remember when I was a senior in high school I finally got a job at a cafe that was near my house. I tried to keep it a secret but after two weeks of working they found out.

The first paycheck that I received went straight to their drugs. The moment I came home they beat me unconscious and took the paycheck from me. After that I had to quit.

When I got my first paycheck from De La Cruz inc I was a little scared that they would pop up out of nowhere and take it from me. It's like they can smell money even if it's miles away.

"What's on your mind?"

Noah asked. My eyes darted to him. I didn't notice he was this close to me. I slowly shook my head as my way of saying nothing.

"Can you please help me with the macaroni and cheese?"

I nodded my head and got out of my seat. While I made the macaroni he was seasoning the other things. He was busting out salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, and more. I could tell this is going to be the best dinner I've ever had.

"Do you want to watch something while we wait for the food to be done?"

"Yeah, sure"

He nodded his head and walked into the living room. He picked up a remote and tapped on the power button. Seconds later a tv popped up out of the once empty table.

He signed into his Netflix account and asked me to pick out whatever I wanted. I immediately picked The Lion King.

I was going to put on 'When They See Us' but I couldn't do it. It's like watching a horror movie to me. The fact that this is happening to my people didn't make me feel comfortable even to consider watching it.

One hour into the movie the timer in the kitchen went off. He got off the couch and went to put the food on a plate. After plating the food he came to take a seat next to me.

On the plate was macaroni and cheese, baked shrimp, and lobster tail with parsley sprinkled over it for a final touch.

"Thank you for making me dinner"

I said as I took a fork full of macaroni. This food taste very good. It has a nice flavor to it and it's very seasoned.

"Are you ok there? You act like this is your first meal or something" he said jokingly as he laughed.

I didn't realised I was devouring my food like an animal. This is my first time in years having a home cooked meal that I didn't have to go through the garbage to get.

"I'm sorry" I said as I placed the food on the table. He stopped laughing and looked at me.

"It was just a joke Ruby, you can eat"

"No it's ok, I'm full anyways"

I said even though it was a lie. He nodded his head and got back to eating his food. I crossed my legs on the couch and got back to watching the movie.

My eyes started to close but I quickly opened them again. I could never fall asleep with someone around. My guard always has to be up. I don't know what will be done to me while I sleep.

"It's okay Ruby, you can sleep. I won't hurt you". I softly nodded my head and drifted off to sleep.

I don't know why but I believed him when he said he wouldn't hurt me.