Page 34 of Save Me

I try to step around her, but she moves aside too. “Please.”

Her tone is no longer as annoyed as a few minutes ago. Now she sounds tired, like she can’t wait to get out of this room at last either. Maybe that’s why I nod and let the others past. Or maybe it’s thinking about Lexington and how I’d do anything in my power to avoid spending any longer at these team meetings than necessary. Kieran is the last to leave, and as he shuts the door, he gives me a funny look. If I had to guess, I’d say he was jealous. Interesting.

Ruby clears her throat. She’s leaning against a table, arms folded. “If you’re pissed off with me, don’t take it out on the team. It’s not their fault, and it’s unfair to make their work harder just for that.”

The memory of yesterday almost makes me sick. I remember every word she hurled at me. But no way do I want her to know how hard they hit home.

So I avoid her eyes. “I’m not pissed off with you.”

“You seem kind of cross though.”

I look at her, eyebrows raised. “We had a silly debate in a study group, Ruby Bell. And after a while, I got sick of it. What do you want?”

“I just wanted to apologize. I was unfair and made it personal, and I’m sorry.”

OK, that wasn’t what I was expecting. It takes me a while to find the right words. “You give yourself way too much credit if you think I’m losing sleep over that.”

She blinks several times in a row, clearly confused by my snarky retort. “You know what? Just forget it.”

“You don’t have to apologize just because you want something from me.”

“I’m not apologizing because I want something from you, James,” she replies. “But because I’m truly sorry. I was just…awful yesterday.”

For a while we look at each other, and I hunt for hidden agendas on her face. But I don’t see anything. Her expression is honest and open. She seems to genuinely mean that. I weigh up my options for a moment. I could keep giving her the cold shoulder and act like I don’t care about what she said. But then I run the risk of her actually blabbing on me to Lexington and him making me stay on this committee for longer. Arguing with Ruby Bell is bloody tiring. It looks like meeting her halfway will make my life a bit easier.

“OK,” I say, simply.

Suddenly, the atmosphere between us is considerably less loaded with rage than it was a few minutes ago. I feel like I can breathe again, and Ruby’s shoulders look much more relaxed too.

“Good,” she says. For a moment, she looks indecisive, like she doesn’t know what to do next. Then she nods and turns back to her table.

She picks up her planner, opens it, and ticks something off. I find myself wondering if apologizing to me was genuinely an item on one of her to-do lists. It wouldn’t surprise me.

I could leave now. We’ve said everything that needs to be said. God knows why I don’t budge, just keep watching her pack away her stuff. Everything seems to have its place in that godawful backpack of hers, and it’s strangely soothing, almost hypnotic the way a folder, a notebook, her pens, a water bottle, and finally her planner disappear into there, one at a time.

“How many costumes do you need for the poster?” I suddenly hear myself asking.

Ruby freezes in mid-movement. She slowly turns her head to look at me. “Two,” she says cautiously. “One for a man and one for a woman.”

I can see her trying, and failing, not to look too hopeful, and decide not to keep her in suspense any longer.

“I’ll ask my parents,” I say after a pause.

Ruby’s eyes light up, and it’s clearly a major effort not to grin. “Honestly?”

I nod. “Happy now?”

Ruby closes her backpack and heaves it onto her shoulder. Then she comes a few steps toward me. “Thanks. That really will help us out.”

I shrug, and, for the first time since I’ve been part of the events team meetings, we leave the room together.

“The plans are coming together, I think? For Halloween?”

She gives me a sideways glance. I’m as surprised as she is that I asked that. Why the hell aren’t I out of here?

“Yeah, it looks like it. But I don’t think I’ll sleep properly until it’s over—and been a success.”

“Why does it mean so much to you?”

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