Ruby -joshler-

chapter two

Tyler: Dude, that's insane!! I found it in the woods when I was like 17 last year. Meet me there as soon as you can!

Me: I'll be there in 20 minutes.

     I locked my phone and put it in my pocket. I put on my black beanie and slipped on some black Vans. "Mom, I'm going on a walk!" I yelled from the stairs as I made my way down. My mom was in the kitchen. 

     "Okay honey, be back by 5:00 and keep your phone on you!" She called back to me. I walked out the door into the crisp December air. It was 3:02. I had two hours to get back home. I began my walk to the forest behind the school I went to.

                                                                            ***

     After about fifteen minutes walking, I reached the woods. After a while, I thought I heard an instrument. A guitar, maybe? No... The name of the sound was on the tip of my tongue. As I followed the small path that led to the treehouse, the strumming became louder and louder. Before long, I'd made it to the tree. I climbed up the ladder that I remember nailing to the tree. 

     I pushed open the trapdoor and climbed up into the treehouse. Tyler was already there. He was strumming a small guitar-like instrument that I finally recognized as an ukulele. He noticed me watching him and immediately stopped, clearly embarrassed. His cheeks turned all rosy.

     I grinned. "That was really good, Tyler." I was willing him to keep going, but he set the ukulele down at his side. "I didn't know you played." I told him.

    "Yeah... I can also play the piano and sing. And work a synthesizer." Before then, I'd never heard of a synthesizer. The word sounded weird. My eyes widened in amazement. 

     "Dang. I've never met anyone who can play that many instruments. I only play the drums." I noted. Tyler smiled. 

     "Yeah, music is a big part of my life." He murmured. He still had a rosy tinge to his cheeks but I figured it was from the cold. 

     He was wearing the same outfit he had on at the hospital a few hours ago. Black skinny jeans, floral vans, and a red hoodie with the inside if the hood black. "Can you sing a song for me?" I blurted out without thinking.

     Once again he blushed. "I dunno... My songs are sorta... depressing, I guess. And personal, y'know?" I nodded. I kind of regretted asking. I didn't want to embarrass Tyler.

     "Sorry." I apologized.

     "No, it's okay. It's just- maybe another time." He nodded, and so did I. I felt sort of awkward. The silence between us was so noticeable it was like another person sitting between us. 

     "What was Ruby like?" Another dumb question from me. Why would Tyler want to talk about his friend who just died? I expected him to be mad at me. I wouldn't have blamed him. I suck at thinking before I speak.

     Surprisingly enough, he didn't get mad. But his eyes teared up as he spoke. "She was the nicest person I've ever met. She never wished anything bad upon another person. She was gentle and sort of sensitive, too. And she hated herself. She never had a realistic reason except for her depression. It was horrible. (possible trigger warning) One day she was cheery and the next she was wearing long sleeves to hide the cuts on her wrists." The tears that were swimming in Tyler's eyes poured down his face at that point.

     "I'm so sorry." I felt pathetic. 'Sorry' didn't explain how I felt, but I've always found it hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words. "Were you two-"