The music itself made his insides calm, after what felt like endless hours of dancing. He sat down alongside Ruby's friends, although they weren't fond of him at all.

Even with the loudness of his boot clacking along the floor didn't muster up a glance from them. He knew they'd like him one day, but for now they only tolerated him because he was with Ruby.

He stood up walking along the floor smiling brightly "E-Man!" Eric smiled at him "J-Man! hey how've you been lately".

James shrugged his shoulders "been good all things considered" they hugged "I'm glad you're here Eric, I was worried about you".

He moved back "I was way more worried about you James, I'm glad you're alright now". James smiled weakly "yeah, just got this massive boot now".

Eric laughed lightly "oh I'd absolutely loathe that thing if I had to wear it for months". James laughed "trust me, I absolutely hate this thing. I've gotten to wear a bloody bag over it to shower".

Eric hunched over laughing "a bag! that's absolutely horrific James". James paused for a moment when Otis began walking towards them.

He smiled briefly at the boy when he stopped in front of Eric "I'll uh be over here".

James walked off nearing Ruby's table, she stood up when he appeared. She grabbed hold of his hand and began walking making him frown.

"Where are we going?" she didn't say anything and they entered the hallway. He waved at Maeve when they walked past her. She waved back before Ruby dragged him outside.

The cold air soothe his flesh making him smile slightly to himself. "Gonna tell me where you're dragging me off too?".

They entered the small building behind the school, it was odd being inside of it at such an late hour. Normally James came in here during the day time.

But with it being dark outside, the place itself looked rather creepy. No a single source of light entered the area, he knew no one was inside.

Surely if they were, they'd slam into wall after wall due to the darkness that swallowed the room. James tugged at his tie as he looked around the darkness.

"What are you up too Rubes?" he gripped her waist looking down at her as she smiled. Her cold fingers wrapping around his neck soothing his flesh.

He hummed lightly when he heard the distant sound of music playing, a song he recognized. "Figured you'd wanna dance, just you and me".

He heard the uneasiness in her voice, she hadn't told him all of what she was doing. "Hey, what's wrong"  he lifted her chin upwards his gaze worried.

"It's my dad" she smiled sadly no longer saying any more words. "You don't have to tell me what's wrong with him, I'm here for you Ruby".

She hugged him tightly her small frame crushing him as she let out a soft breath. "What do you say we get outta here, I'm not in the mood to dance".

He smiled softly "of course, although you'll have to drive, I can't do that with this boot". She laughed as he grabbed her hand the duo leaving.

—

James pushed the car door open, stepping carefully onto the ground. He pulled his tie off completely as he unlocked his door.

John had been caught a few days after the accident, and he was gonna be locked away for a few years. He took the time to change his locks, change his phone number. And of course just heal.

Ruby walked inside first turning the light on as James closed the door and locked it with ease. He threw his tie onto his couch "I've gotten some fish and chips left over from last night".

She sat down on his couch as he took his suit jacket off setting it onto his counter. He heard the loud clack of Ruby's high heels falling onto the ground.

He felt the coldness of her breath slamming into the back of his neck making him turn around. They locked eyes he let out a slow breath.

"If you wanna kiss me so bad Ruby, you just gotta ask" she kissed him. His body slamming into the counter gently as he laughed lightly.

He gripped her face deepening the kiss as she undid the buttons on his shirt in a sloppy manner. He hissed in discomfort when she accidentally touched the bruise on his side.

"Sorry" he laughed lightly "it's okay" he pulled his shirt off letting it fall towards the ground. Her hands were cold against his back making him tense up.

He struggled to unzip her dress, the small zipper hard for him to grasp. After what felt like minutes it finally moved and her dress fell towards the ground.

The sudden sound of a knock on his door made him pause and huff in annoyance. "Piss off! I'm busy!" it was silent for a moment.

"D-Dad..." James moved away from Ruby quickly opening the door  "Andrew, what are you doing here". The little boy was crying, he ran into James arms hugging him tightly.

"Moms dead" James let out a slow breath as he held onto the boy "what's happened to her Andrew". The little boy sniffled "she overdosed, the cops dropped me off here".

James looked outside the little boys bags sitting neatly near the door. "Why don't you go into your room, I'll get your bags".

The little boy smiled and ran off James let out a shaky breath as he turned looking at Ruby. "You have a kid?" he rubbed his face.

"Yeah, my uh old babysitters the mother, I was very young when she got pregnant, didn't even know what it meant until my mom told me".

He walked outside grabbing the bags off the ground and walked back inside. "He was gonna come to me when I turned eighteen, seeing his mums not stable and all, but I suppose I'm in charge of him now".

"He doesn't have any other family members?" James shock his head "it's just me, I'm really sorry I never told you, to be honest I don't like talking about it.. besides me and Maeve, you're the only one who knows about Andrew".

"It's okay, he's a kid cute" James smiled briefly "you can still stay, he's likely gonna sleep all night, I'll deal with everything in the morning".

Ruby kissed James cheek "of course I'll stay, I'm not going anywhere James". He smiled "thanks Rubes, most people don't stay".

He walked into his room grabbing hold of a random shirt. Ruby followed in after him "is it alright if I shower?" James nodded "if you need clothes, just grab some of mine".

He kissed her letting out a slow breath when he moved back. "I love you" she smiled at him as he walked past her entering a small room.

One she's never seen before, she was kinda surprised she's never noticed it before. The distant sound of crying entered the air.

She looked into the room, James held onto Andrew the little boy crying. "It's gonna be okay buddy, I'm gonna take care of you now".

Andrew let out a small sniffle his eyes closing, "this is your home now, you're safe I promise".