The more I live
The more I know.
What's simple is true
I love you.
There's a warmth in my heart.
It haunts me when you're gone.
Mend me to your side and never let go.
“You could always come up here for Spring Break,” Ruby said laying down on her bed.
“Believe me, I thought about it,” Zac told her while he poured himself a glass of
Coke. “But you’ve got school.”
“That’s okay. Skiing will be cool anyway. And hey, you can see Isaac.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I’m missing your birthday,” he said.
“Don’t be sorry. Just be thinking about me when you’re partying in Colorado and
I’m here writing papers,” she smiled.
“Oh I will. I’ll have a few beers just for you,” he grinned.
“Thanks,” she laughed.
******************************************
On the last Friday of Zac’s Spring Break, Ruby woke up around 10 and got in the
shower. She didn’t have class on Fridays but her roommate did so she planned on sitting
around or maybe going shopping. As she was bent over drying her hair the phone rang on
her dresser.
“Hello?” She answered running her fingers through her almost-dry hair.
“Hi, this is Joe from downstairs,” the security guard introduced himself.
“Uh huh.”
“Yeah, there’s someone down here in the lobby to see you. Are you expecting a
Zachary Hanson?” He read off Zac’s licence.
“Oh my God,” her eyes widened. “I’ll be right down,” she said before hanging up
the phone. She ran out of the room wearing her worn out jeans and a burgandy
long-sleeved t-shirt without putting any shoes on. She anxiously pushed the down button
for the elevator several times until it opened.
When she made it downstairs she threw open the door to the lobby and saw Zac
standing there wearing khaki cargo pants and a navy t-shirt over a white long-sleeved one
and his gray New Balances.
“What are you doing here?” She smiled running up to throw her arms around his
neck.
“I’m here to see you,” he laughed picking her up in a hug.
“I thought you were in Colorado,” she said holding her hand to her forehead.
“I was. We got back yesterday,” he told her. “So I thought I’d suprise you. Is
that okay?”
“Yeah it’s okay,” she said excitedly. “Let me sign you in.” She wrote his name
and her name in the notebook and took his hand leading him to the elevator. “Oh my
gosh, I can’t believe you’re here. How’d you get here?”
“I flew here. And then I took a cab,” he said wrapping his arms around her
shoulders as he stood behind her in the elevator.
“Wow. You’re like, my favorite person in the world.” she lead him to her room
which was left open when she ran out of it.
“Well I had to see my favorite person on her birthday,” he smiled walking in
behind her.
“This is gonna be the best birthday,” she said shutting the door. “Okay, this is my
room. Pretty exciting.”
Zac could tell which side was hers by the dark purple comforter with the edges
dyed lavendar which she had done herself. One the night stand was a framed picture of
her and Zac at the New Year’s party. There were various other pictures of her friends on
the walls along with a Dave Matthews Band poster.
“This room’s not bad. Where’s your roommate?” He asked.
“In class,” she smiled.
“I see,” he smiled back wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned in and
touched his lips to hers. She trapped his bottom lip between hers and ran her hands up his
chest. His tongue found hers as she pressed herself against his body. His hands went up
the back of her shirt and down around her hips.
“Yay,” she said after she pulled away. “My boyfriend’s here.”
“I’m here,” he smiled.
“How long are you here for?” She asked going over to unplug the hairdryer and
wrapping the cord up.
“I leave Sunday.”
“Wow two whole days with you,” she smiled.
“Yep,” he said studying the pictures on her wall.
“We can do a lot in two days,” she said coming up behind him wrapping her arms
around his waist. She ran her fingertips under his shirt up his stomach. She trailed them
down to the button on his pants. She unzipped them and ran her hand down his pants
over his boxers.
“Looking for something?” Zac smiled looking down.
**************************************************
“Holy lord,” Zac said slowly rolling off of Ruby’s body. “Yeah, I’ve definitely
missed you.”
“Oh my God,” she moaned covering her face with her hands. “Remind me again
why we don’t do this everyday.”
“Because of that whole, you living far away thing,” he said turning on his side to
face her.
“Oh yeah.”
“I love you so much,” he said before kissing her forehead.
“I love you too,” she smiled trapping his body underneath her leg.
“Do you have to work tonight?” He asked.
“Actually I asked for the whole weekend off since it’s my birthday,” she told him.
“Sweet,” he said before yawning.
“Aww, I bet you’re sleepy.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “My flight left at 7 this morning.”
“Well how was Colorado? Did you meet any pretty girls?” She smiled.
“Yes,” he smiled back. “Did I do anything with them? No.”
She laughed softly. “Good.”
“I’ll tell you all about Spring Break when I wake up,” he said sleepily.
“Well go ahead and take a nap. And then we’ll go get lunch,” she said running her
fingertips down his face.
“What time does your roommate get home?”
“Not until like, 4:30.”
“Cool,” he said and closed his eyes.
******************************************
Zac woke up about an hour later and Ruby changed into a white fitted button
down shirt with her worn jeans and a beige long cardigan sweater that came past her hips and tied
at the waist. They had lunch at a chinese restaurant near Ruby’s dorm and left to go walk
around Manhattan. First they went uptown to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and
stayed there for a few hours.
“God, I could stay here all day,” Zac said wandering around one of the many
rooms.
“I know. This place is huge,” she said standing back to study a painting.
They left the museum and jumped on the train getting off at 57th street to go to
FAO Schwartz.
“This is my favorite part,” Ruby said holding onto Zac’s hand leading him to the
stuffed animals. “Look at the monkey,” she smiled picking up the big stuffed monkey.
“He’s so cute.” She wrapped the monkey’s arms around Zac’s neck. “He likes you.”
“He’s cute,” Zac laughed.
“He looks like you,” she smiled touching her nose to his.
“Thanks,” he laughed before giving her a kiss. “So get it,” he said after he pulled
away.
“Maybe I will.”
“Well maybe I’ll buy it for you,” he told her taking the stuffed animal from her.
“No you won’t,” she said taking it back.
“Well then don’t watch me while I walk to the register,” he said as he took the
monkey and walked away. He paid for it and returned with a bag leading her out the
door. “Come on.”
“Thank you,” she said taking his hand as they walked down the street.
“I didn’t buy you anything,” he told her. “Your birthday’s not until tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she smiled. “Hey you hungry for dinner yet?”
“Yeah. We should probably get off 5th Avenue before we end up in Tiffany’s,”
Zac said.
**************************************
After dinner downtown, before it got dark, they walked over to Washington
Square Park and sat up on one of the low walls.
“I don’t want you to leave on Sunday,” Ruby said leaning her head on Zac’s
shoulder.
“I don’t want to leave on Sunday either,” he told her wrapping his arm around her
waist. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too. Then I’ll want to kiss you and look at you and you won’t be
here,” she said quietly.
“I know. And I’ll want to have lots of sex with you and you won’t be there,” he
added.
She laughed. “What do you do when you want to have sex with me and I’m not
there?”
“I’m not telling,” he grinned.
She giggled and looked up at him while he looked off to the side innocently. As
they were laughing, one of the drunk, homeless guys from the park came over ot them.
“Hey Ruby, how are you doing today?” He asked her.
“Hey Jerry.”
“Can I tell you something?” Jerry asked picking up her hand. “You’re beautiful,”
he said before kissing the back of her hand. “You’re lookin’ fine today.”
“Thanks,” she laughed and looked over at Zac who seemed to be scared.
“Who is this?” Jerry asked moving over to Zac. “Is this your boyfriend?”
“Yes,” she smiled leaning into Zac and wrapping both arms around his waist.
“Can I tell you something?” Jerry asked Zac.
Zac laughed. “Yeah.”
“Your girlfriend is beautiful. You hear me?”
“I know,” Zac nodded. “She certainly is.”
“I see her walking around here everyday,” he said and let out a low whistle.
“You’re a lucky man.”
“Yep,” Zac laughed. Ruby turned her face into Zac’s shoulder laughing.
“I want to give you some advice,” Jerry said. “Hold onto her. You keep
something that good.”
“I will.”
“And don’t be cheap. You have to give her massages and buy her nice things,” he
intructed Zac.
Ruby covered her face with her hand and continued laughing. “Thank you Jerry.”
“Okay honey. I’ll leave you alone,” Jerry said. “What’s your name?”
“Zac,” he told him.
“My name’s Jerry,” he said holding out his hand. “People call me Georgetown.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zac said shaking his hand.
“Have a nice day. You guys make a beautiful couple,” Jerry said before walking
away.
Ruby leaned her head back on Zac’s shoulder. “Oh my gosh,” she laughed. “I see
him all the time.”
“I think he likes you,” Zac smiled.
“Well then you better hold onto me,” she said looking up at him.
“And give you massages,” Zac added.
“I know,” she laughed.
**********************************
“Hey,” Ruby smiled coming back into her dorm room with Zac later.
“Hey roomie,” Natasha said turning the TV off.
“Look who’s here,” Ruby smiled holding onto Zac’s hand as he followed behind
her.
“Oh my goodness. Is this the boyfriend?”
“Zac this is my roommate Natasha, Natasha this is Zac,” she introduced the two.
“The one you’re always on the phone with?” Natasha teased.
“That’s me,” Zac smiled. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“You too.”
“Oh, where’s your bathroom?” Zac asked.
“It’s down the hall,” Ruby said opening the door. “Two doors down - guys is on
the other side,” she pointed.
“Okay. Be right back,” he said and left the room.
Natasha looked out the door and watched him walk down the hall. “Oh my gosh,”
she whispered closing the door. “So cute.”
Ruby smiled and laid her cardigan over her desk chair and took her shoes off. “I’m
so happy he’s here. I had no idea he was coming.”
“Hey I can sleep in Lyndsey’s room while he’s here,” she offered.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, of course,” Natasha nodded. “I’d wanna be alone with him if I could,” she
smiled.
Ruby laughed and laid down. “Thanks.”
While Natasha was gathering up her things for the night, Zac came back. She left
to stay the night down the hall.
“So what do you wanna do tonight?” Ruby asked resting her arms over his
shoulders.
“You,” he said placing his forehead on hers and pulling her closer by her waist.
“Hm,” she smiled. “That can be arranged.” He placed his lips on hers and as soon
as his tongue made its way into her mouth there was a knock on the door.
Ruby pulled away and cleared her throat. She went to the door while Zac sat on
the bed. “Hey,” she said when she saw Kathryn on the other side.
“What’s up?” Kathryn asked coming into the room. “Ooh, there’s a boy on your
bed.”
“Hey,” Zac smiled.
“Hey there,” Kathryn smiled back. “I know you. Ruby has like 2,000 pictures of
you.”
“This is Zac. Zac, this is my friend Kathryn. She lives down the hall,” Ruby said
sitting on her bed next to Zac.
“Wow. I didn’t know you were coming,” Kathryn said.
“I didn’t either,” Ruby smiled laying down with her head in his lap. “He showed
up this morning.”
“Aww. How sweet. What are you guys doing tonight?” She asked.
“I don’t know,” she looked up at him. “Probably not much since we’ve been
walking around all day. So we’ll most likely end up staying here so we don’t have to
spend any money.”
“Yeah. I hear that,” Kathryn said standing up. “Well if you get bored, drop by my
room.”
“Cool. We’ll see you later,” Ruby said.
“Alright. Bye guys,” she waved.
“Bye,” Zac and Ruby said as she left. Ruby kept her head in Zac’s lap and looked
up at him.
“Anymore visitors?” Zac asked raising one eyebrow.
“I hope not,” she smiled.
“Good,” Zac said standing up causing her head to fall back onto the bed. He went
over to lock her door. “Because I have to give you something.”
“What?”
“One of your birthday presents,” he smiled and kneeled over her while he
unbuttoned her jeans.
“Well my birthday’s not until tomorrow, but if you insist,” she said while he pulled
off her jeans. Zac unbuttoned her white shirt and ran his hand down her waist. He leaned
down and placed his lips on her stomach slowly running his tongue along her skin.
“Wow,” she said sitting up on her elbows so she could look at him. “I’ve never gotten a
birthday present like this before.”
“Oh, it gets better,” he said kissing right below her navel.
***************************************
chapter 15.
