We meet in words | Draco Malfoy (rewriting)

16.

Isabella

Isabella sat in the diner, the stillness of the night creeping over her. It was one of those slow shifts, where the silence was only broken by the occasional clink of a plate or the faint hum of the fridge in the corner.

She used to think she enjoyed being alone, but the longer she worked here, the more she realized how eerie it could be. Too much silence, too much emptiness – it had a way of making people lose themselves. She had never been one for idle thoughts, yet tonight her mind raced, filled with a thousand wandering ideas that didn't seem to fit together.

Her gaze flicked toward the clock. 1:00 a.m. Slowly approaching, the ticking sound louder with each passing second.

Sighing, she wiped down the same table for what felt like the hundredth time, her thoughts drifting. It wasn't until a warm hand landed gently on her shoulder that she snapped back to reality.

"Are you alright, honey?" Ruby's voice, soft and concerned, made Isabella look up.

Ruby stood beside her, a comforting presence in the quiet diner.

Isabella forced a small smile as she turned to face her.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Ruby's gaze flickered down to the spotless table Isabella had been scrubbing for far too long.

"You're wiping tables you've already cleaned. Something's on your mind?" Isabella hesitated, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I don't know... maybe I'm just tired of everything." Her voice was quieter now, as if she were confessing something she hadn't fully admitted even to herself.

Ruby's lips pressed into a thin line, understanding more than she let on.

"Why don't you go home? I can close up tonight." Isabella's eyes widened, shaking her head immediately.

"No, no. Tonight's my shift. I'll finish up. You go home." Ruby scoffed lightly, crossing her arms.

"What's the big deal? Friends help each other out, Izzy. Go home and rest. You look exhausted." Isabella's eyes softened at the genuine concern in Ruby's voice.

She knew Ruby worked hard, but Ruby had her own life to manage — a child, a test to study for, all of it.

"Ruby." Isabella placed a hand on hers, squeezing it gently.

"It's alright. I know you have a test tomorrow. And Riley needs you. The last thing you need is to stay here cleaning." Ruby blinked, then let out a long breath, the weight of the night pressing on her shoulders.

"You sure?" Isabella gave a quiet nod, offering a reassuring smile.

"Go home. I'll be fine." Ruby stood silently for a moment before her face softened, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

"Alright, but you better not be here all night by yourself." Isabella chuckled softly, the sound feeling foreign.

"I'll be okay. Go on." Ruby hesitated for a second before giving in with a soft sigh.

"Thanks, Izzy. You really are the best." She gave Isabella one last look, as though trying to imprint the moment into her memory before heading out.

The next few hours passed slowly, the diner's empty chairs and tables amplifying the quiet. Isabella's thoughts drifted again, her mind flicking between work, her past, and her friendship with Ruby.

Ruby had been her lifeline. The way they met was simple yet profound. Isabella, at just fourteen, was struggling to stay afloat when she began working at the diner. But it wasn't until Ruby's desperation hit her that their bond truly formed.