RUBY.
The rain announced its coming through the rumbling thunder and lightning. As I looked outside the large window in my room, I saw that there were growling, ominous dark clouds gathering above. I fought the urge to jump into my bed and wrap my duvet over my body in fear. I was afraid of thunderstorms, they gave me the chilly vibes and seemed to always announce the coming of something bad.
The thunder had rumbled over and over the night my mother took her own life, it was also present when my dad announced his intention of bringing in Lola and Sapphire. It always seemed to be there to mock me, to tell me that my total existence was just a joke, a joke to give certain people some fun. I hate thunderstorms, yet I fear them. I will always fear them.
I suddenly heard the main door open but then I couldn't hear footsteps. The night was scaring me more and more but I managed to get off the couch I was seated, took the nearest object I could find and walked out of my room. I tiptoed across the large living room in a fighting stance with my weapon like I was sure to overtake whoever the intruder was. Silence hung in the air before a falling glass shatters on the ground and then I screamed.
"What are you doing?"
I heard the deep voice that I recognized anywhere. Toby.
"Why the fuck are you acting like a rat in the house? I could've killed you!" I screamed lowering my weapon.
He stared at me like I was a mad woman and then looked to and fro at my face and the so called weapon.
"Kill me? Really? With a book? Seriously, Ruby? Nobody dies from being hit with a book."
"Whatever! Always announce your arrival as loudly as you can instead of just walking in like an assassin." I half-shouted.
Silence. Toby was silent as he stared at me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. I looked down at my body and noticed that my nightwear had exposed my cowgirl panties and I had a nipple slip. I tried to cover up immediately and proceeded to walk into my room until he blocked my way.
I tried again and he did the same thing.
Silence gnawed at my insides as words suddenly seem to evade me. He stared at me while I tried to do the same but could only stare at the door behind him. The silence was like a gaping void, needing to be filled with sounds, words, anything. Silence seeped into our every pore, like a poison slowly paralyzing us from either speech or movement.
After what seemed like hours of unnatural staring contest. I finally found my voice even though it came out as a whisper. "I would like to retire to bed and you're in my way."
"I know that." He replied.
I tried to mask my confusion about the whole scenario and proceeded to leave again but collided into him this time..It was getting frustrating. "Leave the freaking way, Toby!" I snapped at him as he finally let me through.
But before leaving, I turned back and looked at him, "Why exactly do you just like getting on my darn nerves, Toby? Why on earth do you even hate me so much? Is it still about my look? I'm not even that fat as I was in high school, your bullying made me start dieting so what is your problem? Why do you keep taunting me? Why?" I let out, hoping we can get to speak like normal humans for once.
"You are my problem, Ruby. You are! You took my freedom and snatched the very opportunity to have me in your grasp even when you could have refused, the ball was in your court and you decided to just hold onto it instead of throwing it. That's why I hate you." He said, very calmly, even though every bit of venom lacing it couldn't be missed.
"Oh please, Toby! Stop acting like you are some damn prize! I sure as hell don't want to be married to you either! I mean if you don't have a choice, what makes you think any ball was even in my court? I had to do what I had to do too. I don't even like this life, I hate being in the eyes of so many people, I hate smiling for cameras and acting stupid scripts, and I sure as hell don't give a fuck about you, not anymore. I think you keep confusing the highschool Ruby to this Ruby. Yes, I might still be a pushover and a timid girl but definitely not one who would keep taking whatever is dished at her till whenever. So man the fuck up and stop acting like a damn kid!" I snapped, my voice rasing at each point I pulled, Toby stared at me wideyed, like he couldn't believe that I would even as much as say anything like that. Well, even I was surprised.
"You feel the same way as I do, you don't want this marriage too, right? Then prove it!" He suddenly said, confusing me.
"What? What do you even mean by that?" I asked.
He took a good look at me and then stepped closer to me that it almost looked like he was about to kiss me.
"Ruby, simply prove that you hate me too and don't want this stupid marriage by filing a divorce." He said.
"What? It isn't even up to two months yet." I let out.
"And so freaking what? We have couples that break up hours after their wedding, who cares? I don't like you, I don't want you,, you feel the same way, I can't do it because my dad has a hold over me but you, what does your family have over you, nothing. You just did it, now the ball is in your court again, divorce me, I would deal with the backlash that my dad will throw at me afterwards, after a month at most, the press will forget about the stupid divorce and so will dad so do it."
I stared straight into his eyes, shocked at the determination in it, "and if I don't want to?" I threw, in a defiant stance.
"Oh Ruby, all I have to say is welcome to hell, dear wife. I'm your host and you?" He said in a very sarcastic tone with his right hand held out for a mock handshake.