Finding Ruby Red

Two.

I looked at Tobias but he gave no indication of an answer, "Sure, I would love to. But I have to be home by eleven." 

"Beautiful, gives us plenty of time." She sounded genrally happy about me staying which made me feel even more comfortable. I could see Tobias smiling. Samara talked to me for a bit about random movies and music, all but her late husbands music. And how Tobias also had a curfew. After we had dinner and topics of conversation were becoming thin Tobias got up. 

"We are going down stairs to watch Harry Potter," He walked over to his mum and kissed her cheek. "It was a beautiful dinner, mum. Thank you." I thanked her and followed Tobias down stairs where there was a giant room that looked like it was once a garage converted into a room. There were football trophies lined up on a book shelf, and photos of a younger Tobias. 

"I was great at football," he said.  

"I can tell," I smiled. He walked towards the big screen TV that was on the wall in front of his bed. There were piles of movies, books and videogames. I caught myself staring at him as he placed the first Harry Potter movie in the player. I thought about how much of a mistake this could be. 

"Star player here," he turned to me and his smile dropped. "You okay?" 

I sat at the corner of his neatly made bed, surely I can't imagine him making his own bed. I didn't mean for it to come across as something was wrong. "Yeah, I'm okay. Keep telling me about the star of the football field." 

"Yeah, well it was amazing. I felt free, I had it all." He smiled at the memory. 

"Then why did you stop?" I asked and instintly regret it, it's not my place to be asking such imposing questions. "I'm sorry, I must have foot in mouth at the moment. My words come out like vomit." 

He laughed, "No, it's okay. I mean there were alot of things going on in my life, things with my dad and then my sister and yeah."

I like Tobias, I like the way he gave up things to be there for his family. I liked the way he smiled at me and how his eyes crease when he does smile. "You're sister is really beautiful, she looks exactly like her mum." 

"She does doesn't she," he smiled at me again. "I wish she knew how beautiful she really is. We are twins so she has to be beautiful." we laughed. But to be honest they didn't look like twins; in fact they look opposite. "Do you have any  siblings?" 

"Yeah I have a brother," I answered. "We don't talk anymore." 

"I'm sorry," Tobias whispered. 

"No please don't be, it's for the best." 

"I hardly know anything about you Ruby Rose Red yet you know alot about me." 

"Not much to know," I giggled. 

"Tell me you're hobbies, what you like and don't like," He sat on the bed. "I would like to know you." 

We sat for hours discussing poets, music and books. For the first time I felt as though I was normal. He never asked why I went to the group sessions and he didn't push questions. I ask him to read some of my favorite poems and he agrees. "If these poems blow, I swear." He gave me a few books to read and when our finger tips touched we jolted away. We watched the movie and I felt like I was in high school again (The short time I was). I wanted him to hold my hand or make once of those cheesy moves where he puts his arm over my shoulder after pretending to yawn. But he never tried. The credits rolled and Tobias stood up. 

"I love these movies, did you know that?" He said streaching. 

"I think you mentioned it maybe once or twice," I wink at him. "I should get home before my mum starts to worry." Tobias agrees and finds his keys. After saying goobye to his mum he allows me to drive his car home. I glance over at him every now and again wondering about his past, I noticed he would talk about his sister and what she went through or his mum but never about himself. We pulled into my apartment block, and stopped the air. The air became thick as we stared at eachother I wondered what it would be like to kiss his soft plumb lips that hardly never moved from a smile. Does he want to kiss me? 

"Hey, Ruby. Can I see you again?" he asked quietly. 

"Of course you can," I say just as quietly. 

"What about tomorrow?" He asked. 

"You don't know me though." 

"That's the point. I want to know you." He placed his hand on mine. 

"You can call me, and we will see." I hoped out of the car and winked at him. 

"You're such a tease," He calls out laughing. 

"I know," I smile at his goofy smile and close the car door.