Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Ruby

The gates to her wrath have been opened.

" H ey, Ruby, do you want to come over to my house tonight and get ready for the party together?"

I take the plate of pasta and sauce from the lunch lady and place it on my tray, moving down the line with Presley. Her mentioning the party tonight makes me lose my appetite. When they asked me yesterday if I'd come, I was trying to politely turn them down, not wanting to have anything to do with it. But then Chase asked, and for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to say no. But I'm freaking out, without a clue as to what to wear tonight. All I have are big sweatshirts and jeans, and Cassie was talking about wearing a dress.

The fact that Cassie's going to be there terrifies me. Although, Presley told me this morning that she and Chase broke up, so maybe she won't be going anymore.

"Um…okay. What time?"

"Whenever." She shrugs. "We can eat, get ready. You know…do all the girly stuff before we go out."

I don't even know what the girly stuff is. This is the first anything I've been invited to. I've never had a sleepover or been invited to a birthday party. I'm a fish out of water at being a friend in general. Here she is cool as a cucumber, getting excited about tonight but I'm a hot mess, trying not to puke.

I should put the plate of pasta back.

"I promise I'll stay by your side all night. You're going to be my date."

I follow her out of the line, heading back to our corner table. I thought Kyler was going to be her date and I was just the tag along. "Aren't you going with Kyler?"

"No." She shakes her head. "I told him we're just going to be friends."

Friends? Kyler is the ungettable get. And she's the one who's gotten him. I can't even wrap my head around that. They seem so cute together, and he can't keep his hands off her. I'm about to ask her why when my path is suddenly blocked. I grip my tray tighter as the fear hits my stomach.

"Just so you know, Ruby…" Cassie cocks her chin, and a shiver runs down my spine. "Your invitation tonight is Chase's attempt to get back at me for telling him I want to fuck his best friend." She briefly glances at Presley as if she's trying to make my friend question things with Kyler, then she returns her sharpened daggers right on me, staring me down with her cruel confidence. "If I were you, I'd stay home with your books because no one wants you there."

Her hand comes out and my tray of food is suddenly tipped up and before I know it, I'm falling on my butt, the sauce and noodles smeared against my entire front. Embarrassment swallows me up. My nerves rush through my ears, and Cassie's wicked laugh is the soundtrack of my humiliation.

"You're such a fucking loser, Ruby. Look at you and how pathetic you are, Bag Lady."

Presley reaches to help me up off the floor. The spaghetti falls to the ground as I stand. Some strands still dangling from my clothes.

"I promised myself I wasn't going to be your enemy, Cassie." I look up at the sound of Presley's voice. She sounds so different. Colder than Cassie. "But consider me your worst fucking nightmare now. If I see you do or say anything cruel to Ruby, or anyone else"—she looks around the room—"I will destroy you. Whatever you're jealous about when it comes to this girl, you better let that shit go because I promise you won't like the consequences. My wrath will be far worse than anything you've done to my friend over the last twelve years. Understood?"

Presley gives her one last warning glare then turns her back on her.

"Come on, girl. Let's go to the locker room and get you cleaned up. We'll let the bitch clean up the mess from her jealous little tantrum."

Now, Cassie's eyes are flared. She's never been disrespected. Everyone worships the ground she walks on. But the room is dead silent. No one is laughing right now or cheering her on like usual. Presley leads me out and down to the gym locker room. She helps me with the mess, and then gives me the clothes off her back while she puts on her gym clothes. I'm still shocked by the fact that someone stood up for me. Not only that, but I think Cassie has finally met her match.

"Don't you dare let what she said get to you, Ruby. Tonight, we're going to show up at the party and prove to her that she doesn't intimidate us. She's not going to bully you anymore. And if she does, she's going to pay. Okay?"

"Thank you, Presley." She's only been here for a few days, yet she's done more for me than anyone ever has.

She shakes her head. "No, Ruby. Thank you . I've never had a true friend before. And I'm not going to let anyone hurt my girl."

I reach out, wrapping my arms around her for a hug. She has no idea how much that means to me. I've always wanted a friend.