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iiⅰ ◦〉"spring" 〉𝔯𝔲𝔢 & 𝔩𝔢𝔵𝔦

Nostalgia is supposed to be good, Rue thought, but it makes the sight of Lexi's house more nerve wracking than ever. It was the same brownish-oak color, but less rusty and faded now in the daytime.

Rue realized the only time she'd ever gone to Lex's in the past few months was near the middle of the night, when she needed her to do her drug tests for her. She wondered if Lexi dreaded things like the moon or the stars when the sky was pretty and black, because it meant enjoying the night sky meant Rue would be coming in a while to kill the mood and brush her off.

She took a deep breath, reassuring herself that this was a new year, and that things would only change if she let them. That started with Lexi, and trying to mend the rift that severed their friendship.

Rue rang the doorbell and waited. She didn't have to reassure herself that Lexi was there-Lexi was introverted and stayed home all the time.

A faint stomping started down the stairs, along with a muffled croaking voice, howling at whoever was running downstairs tto see who's knocking. Based on the drawling from the low, grating voice from inside, it had to have been Ms. Howard.

Lexi yelled that she'd do it, a small hint of surprise on her face once she recognized Rue's after opening the door. Her dark brown hair fell at her back now, a little over a few inches longer than when Rue had last seen her.

She wore all white now, a long sleeve button up stopping at her knees, and Lexi being Lexi, a baby blue skirt she probably borrowed from Cassie. She looked like some modern angel, plain and pure, and ready for whatever hell Rue was about to descend the both of them into the longer she lingered around.

"Hi, Rue."

"Hi, Lexi."

Lexi's eyes flickered toward Rue's, and whether or not Rue had noticed, they had always been the first place Lexi would look on the rare occasions Rue actually came over. Rue's eyes shone bright this time, perky and full of life rather than drained and empty.

While Rue never appeared to be the happiest person on earth in the last few years-Lexi could see the other girl was content at the moment. Despite her doubts about Rue's well-being and health in the past, and the guilt for knowing she played a part in it-Rue was okay now.

Lexi could feel it. 

It was the feeling of hesitance that since Jules had skipped town, the stupid truth that Lexi's pestering thoughts were right: she would always be Rue's second choice. Her last resort.

But again, blind faith took over, and reminded her she didn't know why Jules had left, or how Rue had felt about it. Rue, as far as Lexi was concerned, never meant to act out of malice. Genuine and outspoken was the beauty of who she was, even if her words were once things Lexi couldn't bear to hear. She was willing to listen.

Lexi smiled at last, leaving the door open a crack and her doubts behind as she walked out and into the door entrance to talk to her. Her bare feet balanced on the gray welcome mat.

"Happy spring break. How's everything been?"

"Well," Rue began, "it't been a long, long few, sobering months."

"Sobering as in...everything's okay?"

Rue nodded, knowing if she stood for the small talk any longer, she'd run in circles and never get to the point.

"Yeah. Everything's good. I just wanted to talk to you. If you have time."

Lexi put on her shoes before turning to shut her door, the heat of her cheeks stinging a little more than she liked. It had been months since she and Rue had spoken, the two of them alone with no interruptions. Right now things were fine, no teen angst bullshit getting in their way.