Friday night, before Ruby left, Zac took her out to dinner where they had their first date
less than a month ago. Afterwards they sat in Ruby’s backyard dangling their feet in the
pool.
“I have to give you something,” Zac said reaching into the pocket of his khaki
shorts.
“You better not have spent money on me,” she said.
“Too bad,” he smiled handing her a black velvet box. “Open it.”
“Zac,” she said taking it. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I know. But I wanted to. Open it,” he said anxiously.
She flipped open the lid of the box and lying inside was a tiny square-cut ruby on a
delicate silver chain. “Oh my gosh. Are you serious?” She asked with wide eyes.
“Yes,” he laughed.
“Aw, thank you so much,” she said wrapping her arms around his neck. “This was
so sweet. God, it's gorgeous”
“You’re welcome. Here, let me put it on.”
She took the necklace out of the box and handed it to him. She gathered her hair
up while he fastened it around her neck.
“See you probably already knew this cause it’s your name and all,” Zac said taking
her hand in both of his. “But ruby is the stone of love. It’s supposed to remind you to be
passionate about whatever you do.”
She looked down at the red stone the back up at him. “Thank you,” she
whispered. She leaned in and placed her lips on his. He kissed her back gently taking her
bottom lip between his.
“I love you,” he told her after he pulled away.
She looked at him tracing his eyebrow with her thumb. “I love you too,” she said
before resting her head on his shoulder.
They ended up outside until they almost fell asleep. It was 2 a.m. when Ruby invited
him inside to give him his present.
“Here,” she said picking up the finished painting off the floor of her bedroom.
“Oh my gosh, you finished,” he said taking it from her.
“Yeah,” she smiled. “You like it?”
“I love it. Thank you,” he smiled back and leaned in to kiss her cheek.
“You’re welcome. And I wrote you something on the back. But you can read it
when you get home,” she said.
He flipped over the large framed canvas and saw the entire back filled with her
handwriting. “Alright. Wow, this is amazing. You’re truely talented.”
“Only because you inspire me,” she smiled.
He ran his hand down her shoulder brushing down the strap of her dress. He
leaned in and placed his lips on her bare collarbone. She tilted her neck and closed her
eyes taking in the scent of his shampoo.
“Mm,” she let out a tiny moan as he trailed his tongue up her neck. “God, that
feels good,” she whispered.
His hands went around her waist and bunched up the fabric around her hips. “You
know what would feel even better?” He asked in her ear.
“We’ll have to be really quiet,” she said quietly.
*
*************************************************************
“Mm,” she whimpered pressing her lips together.
Zac buried his head in the crook of her neck and let out his hot breath onto her
skin. Ruby ran her hands down his back and pulled his body against hers. She lifted her
head up and looked down at their bodies riding eachother in rhythm. Zac raised his head
and placed his forehead against hers. He let out a quivering breath and closed his eyes.
He pushed himself into her one last time while she bit down on her bottom lip. He
collapsed on top of her breathing heavily.
“God Ruby,” he sighed rolling off of her. “I love you.”
“I know,” she said turning onto her side. “I love you too.”
Zac’s eyes fluttered shut and soon his breathing became rhythmic. Ruby sat up to
set her alarm clock for 7 a.m. She didn’t have the heart to wake him up plus she didn’t
really want him to leave. She laid back down curled up beside him and ran her hand
across his stomach before falling asleep.
**************************************************************
Around 4:30 Zac’s eyes opened abruptly and it took a few seconds to realize he
had fallen asleep. He looked at the clock and then down at Ruby who was fast asleep. He
gently touched his index finger to her chin admiring the pouty lips and long eyelashes that
belonged to his first love. He slowly sat up and climbed out of the bed causing a tiny
creak. He put his shorts on and pulled his t-shirt and orange polo shirt over his body. He
slid his tan feet into his worn out Birkenstocks while trying not to wake her up. He
looked back at her as she remained peacefully asleep. He reached into his pocket and
pulled out a folded up piece of notebook paper which he placed next to her. He bent
down beside the bed and put his index finger to his lip then touched it to hers. He took his
painting and backed up out of the room quietly closing her door behind him.
He let out a deep sigh and descended the stairs making a quiet exit. He started his
car and drove it into his driveway across the street. He entered the dark house and
climbed the stairs to his room. He put on a Ben Harper CD and sat down to read what
Ruby wrote on the back of his painting.
Dear Zachary,
I never expected to find you this summer. Every single moment spent with you has meant
so much to me. I can’t recall the exact moment I fell in love with you. Maybe it was
when you told me I shouldn’t listen to my practical side so much. Maybe it was the first
time you told me I was beautiful. Maybe it was the first time you played your guitar and
sang for me. Maybe it was the day you got mad at me because you thought I was seeing
someone else. Maybe it was the day we spent eating chinese food in bed. Or maybe it
was the morning I woke up beside you without any other care in the world but you. All of
these times I truely saw you. I saw the Zachary that came into my life and turned it
upside down. No matter what happens between us, I will always remember what you
taught me. You taught me to stop and realize how amazing it can be to completely
immerse yourself in love. Thank you for telling me not to listen to my practical side.
Thank you for telling me that I’m beautiful. Thank you for singing for me. Thank you
for getting mad at me. Thank you for eating chinese food with me in bed. And thank you
for waking up next to me. I love you, Zac.
love,
Ruby
**************************************************************
Ruby woke up to the annoying sound of her alarm clock at 7:00 Saturday morning.
She groaned and rolled over hitting the snooze button. She felt the piece of paper crinkle
under her shoulder. She blinked a few times and sat up opening the paper that had the
song Zac had written for her on it.
What I’ve kept with me
And what I’ve thrown away
Don’t know where the hell I’ve ended up
On the glary, random day.
Where the things I really cared about
Just left along the way
For being too pent up and proud.
Woke up way too late
Feeling hungover and bored
And the sun was shining bright
And I walked barefoot down the road.
Started thinking about my old man
It seems that all men want to get into a car and go
Anywhere
Here I stand - sad and free
I can’t cry and I can’t see
What I’ve done. Oh God, what have I done?
Don’t you know I’m numb
And I can’t feel a thing at all
Cause it’s all smiles and business these days
And I’m indifferent to the loss.
I’ve faith that there’s a soul somewhere
That’s leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down.
Here I stand - sad and free
I can’t cry and I can’t see
What I’ve done. Oh God, what have I done?
I poured my heart out. I poured my heart out.
It evaporated. See?
Blind man on a canyon’s edge
of a panoramic scene
Or maybe I’m a kite that’s flying high
Dangling a string.
Or slumped over in a vacant room
Head on a stranger’s knee
I’m sure back home
They think I’ve lost my mind.
Here I stand - sad and free.
I can’t cry and I can’t see
What I’ve done. Oh God, what have I done?*
**THE END**
* The song above is actually a Ben Folds Five song called "Evaporated" (where I got the title of the story).
Now I'm thinking about a sequel, like where Zac and Ruby meet up in New York in the future...I don't know. What do you think?
story index.
Email: casey_nyc@hotmail.com
