Chapter 4

The next morning, lively voices drifted up from downstairs.

I pushed open the door and saw my parents chatting in the living room with Ruby's parents, Tom and Grace. The coffee table was piled high with fruit and gift boxes.

Ruby sat quietly in a corner, her head bowed.

"Mike, come on down. Tom and his family are here to congratulate you!" my mom, Hazel Carter, called out, waving me over with a big smile.

I paused, a wave of complicated feelings washing over me.

They still had no idea I'd changed my college choice.

"Michael, I heard you got the highest score in the whole city. That's incredible!" Tom said, grinning as he gave my shoulder a friendly pat.

"Ruby wasn't at her best this time. She only got a little over 1400, which is a lot lower than yours," Tom added.

My dad, James‌ Carter, stepped in with a smile. "Tom, don't say that. Both kids are outstanding!"

Grace jumped in, her voice warm and friendly. "By the way, Michael, have you finished filling out your college applications? You two were supposed to apply to Central State University together, then you could have each other's backs."

My expression darkened. But my mom didn't notice anything was off and said, "Mike, Grace is asking you a question."

I nodded. "Yeah, I've already submitted them."

Ruby looked up, a hint of happiness flickering in her eyes.

Tom chuckled, "Once you two are at Central State University, you'll get closer. Who knows, maybe after graduation, our families could—"

"Dad!" Ruby suddenly cut in, her eyes full of bashfulness.

I glanced at her, a cold smirk playing at my lips.

Tom kept going, all fired up, "James‌, why don't we put everything on the table today? These two are so close. Once they graduate, let's start planning their wedding."

"Tom," I said calmly, "Ruby already has a boyfriend."

The living room went dead silent. Tom's smile froze on his face, and Grace's expression went rigid as well.

"What?" Tom frowned, turning to Ruby. "Ruby, what's going on?"

Ruby's face went ghostly pale, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress tightly. Her lips quivered, but no words came out.

I pulled out my phone and opened a screenshot from our class group chat.

There it was, a photo of Ryan and Ruby with their fingers intertwined. The caption read: [Please take care of me for the rest of my life.]

The living room went dead silent for a few seconds.

Ruby finally snapped out of it and managed a strained smile. "Dad, Mom, James‌, Hazel, don't listen to Michael. It was a joke. We were only fooling around in the class group chat."

My mom frowned, clearly not buying it. "A joke? You can't joke about that kind of thing."

Grace chimed in, "That's right, Ruby. You shouldn't be acting like that or doing things you shouldn't."

Ruby bit her lip, her eyes flickering with unease. "It was really the other classmates stirring things up. Ryan and I... There's nothing between us."

As she spoke, she shot me a quick, accusing glare. Her eyes were full of accusation.

My dad stepped in with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "Let the kids handle their own business. We shouldn't get too worked up about it. Come on, let's eat before the food gets cold."

The atmosphere at the table finally eased up a bit. But Tom and Grace kept glancing over at Ruby, and obviously still had doubts in their minds.

Ruby kept her head down, absentmindedly poking at her food with her fork, looking completely distracted.

After dinner, my dad gave my shoulder a friendly pat. "Mike, go take Ruby for a walk and help her walk off the meal."

I wanted to say no, but when I saw the look in his eyes, I finally nodded.

*****

As Ruby and I stepped out of the building, the summer night breeze brushed against my face, carrying a hint of stifling heat.

Ruby marched ahead, then suddenly whipped around, her eyes blazing. "Michael, what was that for? Why did you have to say all that in front of my parents?"

I shot her a cold look. "Am I making things up? Was that photo in the class group chat fake?"

She was at a loss for words, then snapped, her face burning with embarrassment and anger. "It was only a joke. Do you realize you almost put me in serious trouble? If my dad actually believed it, he'd totally chew me out."

"A joke?" I snorted. "Holding hands with Ryan was a joke? Telling everyone you two were a couple was a joke, too?"

Ruby's expression changed, and her voice grew gentler. "Michael, are you still mad about what happened that day? I keep telling you, Ryan and I are only friends. You're overreacting."

I stared straight into her eyes. "Ruby, do you think I'm gullible and easy to trick? Do friends hold hands and act like that? Do friends announce to everyone they're together?"

Ruby froze, clearly not expecting me to say that. After a moment, she let out a cold laugh. "Michael, you've changed. You never used to push me like this."

I looked up at the night sky, the stars still few and far between.

"Yeah, I've changed," I said. "But people change, don't they?"

We went our separate ways, not bothering to say goodbye.