♥

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, RUBY HAD FUCKED UP.

Ruby had continued to crash at Eddie's, but she had made a plan with herself to keep it friendly. Somehow, she had kept to her plan until Tuesday. The downfall had come with a little bit of alcohol that had overridden Ruby's senses, causing her to tumble back into Eddie's bed again.

So, every night since, the two had found themselves in the pattern of it. The sofa had become forgotten; Eddie had made sure to change his sheets.

On Thursday night, Ruby had stood in his bedroom, wearing one of Eddie's t-shirts as she had a rare smile on her face. Teasing Eddie, Ruby's finger pointed towards his electric guitar.

"What would you do if I touched it?" Ruby asked.

Eddie frowned. "If you touch her, then you have to touch her right."

Ruby raised her eyebrows at that. "Do you win a lot of the ladies with that one?"

Laughing, Eddie stood from his bed, wearing an old tartan printed pyjama bottoms with holes in the legs and a t-shirt. "Oh, you are still the only one," he told her, pulling down his electric guitar from the stand with hands so gentle. "I'm not exactly a catch with the ladies, am I?"

"They just don't understand the real you," said Ruby, looking down at the guitar. "Can you teach me how to play?"

Eddie grinned at that, more than eager to show Ruby. "I thought you'd never ask. Little Red, your life is about to change."

"A little dramatic, but okay," Ruby decided, amused.

Then, Ruby was sitting down on the edge of Eddie's bed, cradling the guitar in her arms as Eddie moved her hands and fingers so that she would hold the musical instrument properly. As her fingers used the plectrum to pluck at the strings, the sound caused Ruby to flinch, knowing she didn't share the same talent as Eddie did.

"With practice, you'll get there," said Eddie, trying to not recoil himself from the harsh sound. "Keep going and I'll find you a spot in Corroded Coffin."

Ruby laughed at that. "I think I'm better off being your groupie."

Eddie didn't seem to mind that either. Whatever had reignited between them was just casual and maybe they were both using each other. Ruby obviously had her own issues, but she could tell that Eddie felt a little alone and misunderstood.

But perhaps Ruby was getting too comfortable with leaning on Eddie. Especially that night as Ruby's nightmares became the worst they had been. Trapped in the back of the car again, Ruby was back to clawing her way to her father, screaming for him until the sirens echoed louder.

Jolting upwards, Ruby's eyes were wide in panic. A broken sob fell from her lips, ears ringing, stuck in the loop of the fatal night's events. Ruby pushed the covers away from her leg, hands trembling as she held onto her leg, finding it just as it was: pale and scared, but no bone sticking out.

"Ruby! Ruby!"

Hearing her name cut through the hysteria as Ruby froze, remembering where she was. A hand was on Ruby's back as her head fell downwards, unable to look at him — more than anything, Ruby was humiliated.

"Ruby," said Eddie, sounding strange with a voice so gentle, and the nickname gone. "Hey, look at me."

Of course, Ruby was stubborn enough to stare down at her leg, hating everything because of one night.

"Hello," Eddie tried again, causing Ruby to force herself to look at him, a fake smile forming that neither believed. Still holding onto her leg, Eddie's hand moved, fingers cupping over her hand as he gently loosened the grip that Ruby had on her leg. "You're all good, Ruby. You're here with me."

"I know," whispered Ruby, voice shaky, but she held onto Eddie's hand tighter. "It was just a nightmare."

"Just a nightmare," Eddie agreed.

A nightmare Ruby had lived.

Ruby felt stupid for crying, hating herself for still struggling.

"You know," said Eddie. "I happen to give a good hug."

That caused a hint of a smile from the blonde, believing those words.

Still, maybe Ruby's defences had crumbled for a moment as she let Eddie Munson wrap his arms around her. Resting her head against his chest, Ruby let out a long breath.

"Things will get better," Eddie promised her. "I'm calling it now, Ruby: you will be reunited with your brother and I'm gonna graduate. This is gonna be our year."

Ruby tried to smile at that. "Our year."

And as her head tilted upwards, Eddie kissed her. Ruby, like usual now, fell into the distraction of being with him. Though, even Ruby was aware that they were starting to cross the line.

The next morning, Ruby was eating cereal that Eddie had given her when Wayne Munson came home from his night shift again. Seeing Ruby standing in the kitchen, his eyes slid to Eddie, unknowing what to think of their strange arrangement. Ruby had gone from crashing on the sofa to sleeping in Eddie's bed, so she supposed she was perhaps outstaying her welcome.

So, when Wayne left them, Ruby's eyes fell on Eddie again. "Maybe I shouldn't stay here anymore."

After last night, Ruby was already considering running. Though, Ruby was defiantly not going to be speaking about what happened.

"Yeah, and where would you go?" Eddie asked.

Ruby frowned at him.

But Eddie was standing closer to her, grinning brightly. "Remember when we first met?"

"What, when I first bought weed from you?" Ruby questioned, knowing he was just trying to distract her mind from the doubts that had started to settle.

"Ruby Baker buying weed," said Eddie, mocking how surprised he had been.

"That wasn't surprising," Ruby pointed out.

"No, that's true," Eddie agreed. "What surprised me was that you stayed. Everyone else buys what they want from me but still sees me as a nobody — a freak."

"Eddie, we got high together," Ruby said.

"True, and other things..." The smile brightened on Eddie's face, but she looked downwards at the bowl in her hands, noticing how close Eddie was standing.

"Yes, well we've happened to fall back into that habit," Ruby confirmed.

"What I'm saying is, you had once stayed for me, so now I have your back," Eddie told her, truly meaning it. "You can stay, or you can leave, but you will always be wanted here."

While the words were reassuring, Ruby could only fear them. The longer she stayed, then the more at risk Eddie was of being struck by Ruby's curse. But, here, Ruby felt safe, and maybe she was selfish enough to abuse that to numb herself.

"I will see you tonight then," Ruby decided.

Eddie's smile widened, clearly happy with that. "Maybe come by later, though," said Eddie, glancing down to his Hellfire top that he wore with his leather jacket and denim waistcoat. "Hellfire night. Unless I could persuade you...?"

"I'll find a way to occupy myself," Ruby said instead.

"Your loss," Eddie insisted.

♥

It was another day of hell for Ruby. With Robin at school, the blonde was forced to work with Steve alone for the day, and Ruby could not think of anything worse.

Already, with the shop open for the day, the two stood next to each other in uncomfortable, tense silence. There was nothing to say: Ruby hated Steve and Steve simply just sulked about it.

The silence was far better than talking, though.

But, of course, Steve could not keep his mouth shut.

"So, what did you do last night...?"

Glaring at him, Ruby folded her arms across her chest.

"Guess I'll just put a movie on then..."

Steve did just that, where he decided on Back to the Future with Ruby relieved it was something decent. Then, with the film filling the silence, the two carried on standing awkwardly, very aware of the other.

Until the bell went with a customer. Turning, Ruby's eyes spotted Chase's mom entering the shop with her piercing dark eyes and hair bleached a bright blonde.

"Shit, shit, shit," Ruby whispered.

Then, before she was spotted, Ruby ducked down behind the counter. Her reaction caused Steve to turn to the customer, recognising who it was too. Steve's eyes briefly fell to Ruby, who was now sitting on the floor with her knees folded to her chest, hiding.

"Make her leave!" Ruby hissed at him in a whisper.

Steve looked as if he was about to reply, but his attention fell on Ruby's old stepmother, forcing a fake smile on his face. "Morning," greeted Steve. "Can I help you today?"

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Variety Logan asked.

Even her name caused Ruby to glower, hating everything to do with her.

"I was friends with Ruby," Steve answered. "Your step-daughter."

"Oh, yes, Steve," Variety recalled. "Such a handsome man you've become since I last saw you. Have you heard from Ruby at all?"

"Uh..."

Ruby elbowed Steve in the leg, shaking her head at him.

"No, I haven't," said Steve quickly. "We don't talk anymore. Have you?"

"Probably for the best, right?" Variety told him. "The last I saw of Ruby, she was at the funeral. Did you hear about that?"

The reminder of her father's funeral caused Ruby to tense, remembering it ending with Ruby alone with Chase long gone.

"Briefly," Steve replied.

"John, the idiot, didn't wear his seatbelt," said Variety, oblivious that Ruby was there. "Ruby... well, even I had a little sympathy for her. Though, because of her, I lost Chase, so maybe she got what she deserved. Ruby was always a brat of a child. Grew up to be exactly like her mother: a screw-up and a waste."

Ruby felt her face pale at that, eyes glossing with tears. Maybe it was her dad's fault for not wearing a seatbelt, but there had been a drunk driver too. It was Variety's fault for losing Chase: the mother had been caught cheating, having left Chase home alone at three to go out.

But, more than anything, Ruby hated to be compared to her mother, who had randomly ditched them, wanting a life that was based on men, drugs, and drinking. The last Ruby had heard: her mother was in prison for robbery and possession of drugs.

"Ruby always deserved better than Hawkins," Steve defended her, sounding agitated. "And don't even get me started on her mom. Ruby's more like her dad than anything. Were you here to buy something or to just insult your step-daughter?"

"Oh, yes," Variety remembered. "Some help would be good. My son has this ridiculous obsession with dinosaurs. He hates me because of Ruby, so I'm trying to fix things with him."

Ruby's heart broke as she thought about her brother, who was forced into staying at a home he hated. There was till paper and pens under the counter, so Ruby reached for it, thinking of her little brother as she wrote a film before holding it upwards. Steve's fingers grazed against her own, taking the slip of paper, where he read it while listening to Variety's non-stop talking. From seeing his expression, even Steve was fed up with Variety.

"Pete's Dragon?" Steve read out loud.

"That's not a dinosaur," Variety replied, agitated.

"No," agreed Steve, forced on the spot. "It's not... but Chase would like it. I, uh, remember Ruby telling me before we fell out, that Chase liked dragons too. He wanted to be friends with a dragon."

That perked Variety's attention as the two wandered away to find the video. Ruby's head fell back against the back of the counter, closing her eyes as she hated giving Variety the win with the film, but all she wanted was Chase to find a slither of happiness since Ruby was making him wait.

They found the videotape with Variety making the purchase before finally leaving. Then, Steve sunk down on the floor next to her, eyes falling on Ruby in concern.

"It's not true, you know," said Steve.

"What?" Ruby questioned.

"You are not your mom," Steve reassured her, knowing any talk about her dad or Chase would not help.

"Oh, but I am," Ruby told him. "All I do is screw up — look at us, after all."

"What happened with us was my fault," Steve insisted.

Ruby's head turned, eyes narrowing as she studied him. The guilt shined within his irises, where she could see how sorry he was — but Ruby did not want to believe it. More than anything, Ruby did not want to hear his excuses.

"I'm going out to smoke," Ruby decided.

"Ru, wait—"

But Ruby was gone, leaving Steve with his head knocking back against the wall in frustration as he groaned. Outside, Ruby had smoked two cigarettes before she could force herself to head back inside. Fortunately, for them (well, Ruby more), the two were busy with customers, sparing them from having to talk again.

Later in the shift, the phone rang with Ruby being the one to pick it up, not expecting a kid to be calling them.

"Shit," said the teenager as Ruby introduced herself, where she was certain she could hear a smile in his voice. "You are Ruby."

"Yeah, that's what I just said," Ruby replied.

"I'm Dustin," he introduced himself. "Has Steve told you about me?"

Sighing, Ruby rolled her eyes, and then she handed the phone over to Steve. Of course, Robin had warned Ruby about the young swarm of teenagers that Steve was close to, which had somewhat surprised the blonde. Steve had always been good with Chase but never had a bond that risked his popularity.

"What, to hang with you and Eddie "the Freak" Munson? Uh, yeah, I'll pass."

Hearing that, Ruby had scowled as she picked up a pen from the counter, throwing it at Steve's head. It struck him, causing the man to grumble as his head turned, shooting Ruby a glare.

"What was that for?" Steve mumbled.

"Stop being a dick," Ruby told him.

"Nothing, Dustin," said Steve on the phone again. "Ugh. Whatever. Besides, I mean, I really dig this girl. I think that she could...who knows, she could be the one."

Ruby scoffed at that, finding it hilarious more than anything.

"I'll ask her," Steve said with a sigh. "Ru, you wanna join Hellfire tonight?"

"Thanks for asking, but I've already declined."

That caused Steve to frown, where his eyebrows furrowed. However, the bell went with customers entering the shop again, pulling Steve away from the phone as the two returned to their job again.

♥

Ruby was in a bad mood the following morning — it was her own fault, really. Being with Eddie, Ruby had become too comfortable, leaving herself vulnerable. She had felt foolish sitting on the steps of his trailer, waiting for Eddie to come home, where the night had ticked by.

It had been late when Ruby had arrived at the trailer: first, she had visited Chase; then, she had wandered around town for a bit until her leg had started to ache; and then, finally, she had given in to hope that Eddie was back.

But Eddie never came home.

And Ruby felt like a fool.

So, that night, Ruby had not slept. Her mind had constantly ticked with a headache forming, throbbing deep in Ruby's head. Though, while she was furious at herself, Ruby could not be angry at Eddie: all he had done was finally see that Ruby was more of a burden than anything.

Arriving at work, Ruby had been late with Steve and Robin already on shift. The two were chatting, falling silent as Ruby entered.

"Hey," said Robin, eyes falling on the newbie. "You okay?"

"Super," Ruby replied, though it sounded forced.

"Ru—"

Ignoring Steve, Ruby headed out the back to change into her uniform for the day. Already, she knew she looked a mess with the permanent dark circles under her eyes. Plus, there was the reality that she had spent the night on the streets.

When she headed back out, Robin was holding up a tape.

"Doctor Zhivago," Robin informed the two.

Steve groaned. "Ugh, you know I don't do double VHS."

"But it's about doomed love," said Robin.

"Oh, well, that's relatable," Steve said, pushing the trolley towards the two.

"Precisely," Robin agreed.

"And kills the time," Ruby added.

"Also, Julie Christie is b-b-bonkers hot in this," said Robin, moving around the counter towards the small television screen. "Like, seriously, the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life."

But, as she turned on the television, the news came on with Ruby's breath stilling.

"We're in the Forest Hills trailer park in east Roane County. We don't have a lot of details now, but we can confirm that the body of a Hawkins High student was discovered early this morning. Police have not released the name, although we are told they're currently in the process of notifying the family..."

"Hawkins has had a shit time since I've left," muttered Ruby, relieved that it was not the trailer park that Chase was currently staying in. "The fire at that mall and now this?"

Neither Robin nor Steve said anything.

But, of course, Eddie still lived at the trailer park, whom she had not seen since yesterday morning. From the screen, Ruby can't make out what side of the trailer park the newswoman was standing on.

Ruby's on edge most of the day as she kept the news on, worried for Eddie's sake. The worst scenario was playing in Ruby's head: Eddie dead on the floor with Ruby sitting outside, oblivious. But the news remained mysterious which was not making Ruby feel any better.

From the counter, Steve had watched Ruby throughout the day with a permanent frown. Ruby was currently talking to a customer, trying to laugh, but the sound wasn't as joyful as Steve had once heard it.

Next to him, Robin laughed at him.

"It's not funny, Robin."

"Oh, it really is," said Robin. "Seeing you suffer brings me joy."

Yet, even that evaporated for Robin as she sighed. "Steve, just tell her what happened," she encouraged him. "I'm sure she'll forgive you once you charm her."

But, of course, another problem had to come walking through the door not long later.

"Hey, Steve."

Turning, Ruby recognised the voice from the phone the previous day as her eyes fell on a young teenager with a baseball cap. Next to him was a girl that was perhaps a similar age with bright hair and freckles like stars on her face.

"You see this?" Steve asked Dustin, pointing to the news.

"How many phones do you have?" Dustin asked.

"Someone was murdered."

"How many phones do you have?"

"Two," Steve answered. "Why?"

"Technically three," Robin corrected. "If you count Keith's out the back."

"Yeah," the girl agreed. "Three works."

"What are you doing?" Steve questioned as Dustin removed his backpack, sliding it across the counter. Then, the teenager jumped over with Ruby moving out of the way, staring at him in disbelief.

"What are you—"

"My pile!" Robin exclaimed.

"No, no, no," cried out Steve. "My tapes."

"Steve, control your kids!" Ruby snapped at him.

Dustin did not listen to them as he sat down at their cash register, taking over with Ruby in shock. It took some nerve, but it was ridiculous.

"What are you doing, man?" Steve demanded.

"Setting up base of operations here," Dustin replied.

"Base of operations?" Robin questioned.

Then, Ruby was helping Robin clear up, sharing an exasperated look with the other woman.

"Get off of that," Steve told him.

"No, I need it."

"What the fuck is going on?" Ruby demanded.

"Need it for what?"

"Eddie's friends' phone numbers," Dustin explained.

Ruby's heart jolted to a stop, curiosity getting the best of her now. After the phone call yesterday, Ruby knew that Dustin was friends with Eddie, so it had to be him they were talking about.

Why were they wanting to call Eddie's friends?

"Oh, Eddie," said Steve. "Your new best friend you think is cooler than me because he plays your nerdy games?"

"Yes," Dustin replied, looking at Steve in confusion about the second part. "I never said that."

"Seriously, you guys," said Robin, cleaning up still. "Maybe on Monday you can play around in here like toddlers, but it's Saturday. It's our busiest day."

"All right, look, Robin, I totally emphasize," Dustin continued, uncaring. "But this cannot wait until Monday."

"Oh my God," Steve responded.

"What because calling Eddie's friends is an emergency?"

"Correct!"

"What's going on with Eddie?" Ruby found her voice.

Everyone turned to Ruby, who didn't like the sudden attention.

For a second, Dustin paused as his eyes focused on Ruby, head cocking to the side. "So, this is Ruby."

"Dude, shut up," Steve hissed at him.

"Why are you trying to reach Eddie's friends again?" Ruby questioned, impatiently.

"Uh... about Hellfire," Dustin replied, causing Ruby to frown at him, knowing it was a lie. "It's really, really important."

"You've got to be kidding me," Steve mumbled.

Then, Dustin turned to the teenage girl next to him. "Can you just fill them in while I do this?"

"Fill us in on what?" Robin questioned.

Though, all eyes were on Ruby again, who was frustrated now.

"Hold on, hold on," said Steve. "There's a customer, Ruby. Can you go see what film he wants?"

Under everyone's gaze, Ruby felt her frown deepen, hating to be left out. "Right, I get it."

Then, she left to help the customer, but her heart kept thinking of the worst with Eddie again. There was something going on as Ruby continued to look over, seeing them on the phone more than anything, hearing snippets of conversations as they were looking for Eddie.

And hearing that, caused Ruby's curiosity to turn to fear.

With the shop busy, Steve ended up helping Ruby out on the shop floor as he tried flirting with a girl, who was not interested. For a moment, Ruby had found joy in Steve's failure.

"Look at that," said Ruby as the customer left with Steve lingering at the door. "King Steve has really lost his charm — not that you had much of it to begin with."

Steve pulled a face, but then he was smirking cockily. "Yet, you still slept with me."

"That was a massive, stupid mistake," Ruby clarified.

The smirk vanished, replaced with the sad puppy eyes again. "No, the biggest mistake was you coming back here."

Ruby scoffed at that. "You are such an ass now."

Then, she turned to leave. "Ru, wait—"

"Steve, what did you do now?" Robin demanded.

"What didn't he do?" Ruby questioned, angrily. "You know what, I've had enough of whatever is going on. Someone tell me, where the hell is Eddie?"

Dustin's eyes fell on Ruby, mouth falling open. "You know Eddie?"

"I've been crashing at his for over a week," Ruby informed them.

Steve let out a scoff, shaking his head in disapproval. "Among other things, I bet."

Ruby flashed him her middle finger, forgetting that they were working for a moment. "I don't kiss and tell, Harrington."

"I thought I recognised you," said the youngest teenage girl (Max, if Ruby remembered correctly). "I've seen you at Eddie's trailer a couple of times."

"And you weren't with Eddie last night?" Robin questioned.

"No..." Ruby's fists clenched, moving closer to the counter. "I was supposed to come by later than usual as it was Hellfire night, but no one answered the door."

"So, if Eddie wasn't with you, then where would he go?" Dustin asked.

"I don't know," Ruby answered. "Why are you looking for him?"

"The student that was murdered," explained Max, causing Ruby's heart to pound again. "Her body was found in Eddie's trailer, but we believe he's innocent."

Ruby fell into shock, knowing that she had to have been sitting outside with a corpse inside the trailer now — the thought alone made her stomach churn, threatening to hurl. But, worst of all, was the thought of Eddie being mixed up with it. And thinking that caused Ruby to shake her head.

"Eddie wouldn't hurt anyone," Ruby stated.

"We know," Dustin reassured.

So, Ruby felt more apprehensive as they carried on calling, hating to be the one to simply just wait around. But, if she got involved, then word could spread further of her being here or link her to the case — that would then result in losing Chase. Already, it was only a matter of time until the police figured someone else had been staying with Eddie. Wayne Munson could drop Ruby's name at any moment, and she could end up being wanted.

Thinking about that caused Ruby to step outside, needing to smoke again.

This was so typical of Ruby.

Then, there was Eddie, who was hiding somewhere or even in danger himself. Ruby felt sick — head and heart spinning with numerous emotions that she could not keep up with. Again, her head splintered with another headache; Ruby was sleep-deprived, but emotionally exhausted too.

Inside, Steve caught her arm. "Ru, are you okay?"

"I don't know," Ruby admitted, honestly.

"Hey, guys," said Max, suddenly, having hung up on the phone. "I might have found a lead."

All eyes fell on Max, hopeful for some good news. Even Ruby edged closer to the counter, praying for something positive to follow next.

"Seriously?" Dustin exclaimed.

"Yeah," Max said. "Apparently, Eddie gets his drugs from some guy called Reefer Rick and sometimes Eddie crashes there."

Everyone looked to Ruby as if she could confirm it.

Ruby simply shrugged. "Eddie hasn't crashed anywhere else in the past week, but he did mention Rick's name a couple of times in the past when I bought drugs from him."

"That sounds promising," Robin realised. "And where does this Reefer Rick live?"

"See, that's the thing," said Max. "No one knows. He's more of a...a legend than someone that people might actually know."

"What about a last name?" Dustin asked.

"I don't know that either."

"Bet the cops know a last name," Steve suggested, having been the only one to not get involved as he sorted the tapes in the trolley.

"What?"

"The cops," Steve repeated himself as everyone looked over at him. "I mean, listen, if this Reefer Rick is actually a drug dealer," then he turned, leaning on the counter next to Ruby. "I guarantee you he's been busted at some point. Means he's in the system."

"The cops?" Dustin repeated. "Really, Steve? That's your suggestion?"

"You fucking idiot," Ruby mumbled.

"I mean, I think they should be filled in on what we know, what's going on."

"Right," said Ruby. "Thanks, Steve. If we go to the police, then who do you think is gonna end up being questioned?"

Steve frowned at that, having not realised that Ruby was at risk now too. But, studying him, Ruby noticed that his mind was on Eddie too, not believing that he was innocent.

"You think Eddie's guilty, don't you?" Dustin realised too.

"I believe in innocent until proven guilty," Steve answered. "All that constitutional shit. I just, you know..." he slapped his hands together, rubbing them awkwardly. "...don't think we can rule it out."

"That's precisely what we're trying to do here, Steve," Max reminded him.

"And maybe we'd have a little bit more luck if you spent less time trying to find a girlfriend and more time trying to find Eddie," said Dustin, frustrated.

Steve had flung his arms out. "Oh, well somebody has to attend to the customers."

Ruby rolled her eyes, knowing she had been the one dealing with the customers while the others had called. If she could help without getting involved, then Ruby would prefer it.

"Especially if they're babes, right?" Robin agreed with a wink.

"Hey, not fair," Steve pointed at her. "Okay, I attend to all the customers equally, babes and non-babes alike. We've got a very big selection in here. Okay? It can be super overwhelming for people."

Robin's face lit up at that. "Yeah, it can be."

Then, she hurried to the screen monitor of their cash register with the group of them following.

"What are you doing?" Max asked.

"Maybe we don't need a last name," said Robin.

Even that piqued Steve's interest as he came over, standing next to Ruby as they watched the screen. The computer beeped, coming up with a customer list.

"Twelve Rick's have accounts here," Robin announced.

"Lot of Rick's," said Max.

"So, let's narrow it down."

Then, Robin went through numerous customers as they compared their film collection to the kind of Rick they were looking for. Eventually, they finally got to a profile that matched a drug dealer, which gave them a potential lead.

"That's out by Lovers Lake," Dustin clarified the address.

"Middle of nowhere," Max realised.

"It's a perfect place to hide," Robin decided.

They were then hurrying out the door with Ruby hesitantly behind, frowning with her mind torn: did she leave to help Eddie or stay out of it? Seeing her hesitation, Steve's eyes fell on her as Robin was locking the store door.

"Ru, you don't have to come," Steve reassured her.

Either Ruby ran to protect Chase or stayed to help Eddie.

If she was caught and lost everything...

I have your back.

The words ran in Ruby's mind.

"I'm coming," Ruby decided.

♥

So very excited for Ruby to find out everything! Her and Steve might eventually get on again, but they'll be bickering a lot to start with lol. I'm such a sucker for Ruby and Eddie right now though🥺 also Ruby's symptoms have started!!