Page 28 of No One's Like You
Ellie observes Theresa from her position, that girl she disliked so much. Half the school was crazy about her, and the girl isn't even all that. Besides, she was playing with Ruby, and of course, Ellie is her best friend and never likedanyone hurting her. She clicks her tongue and takes her eyes off the pair to focus on someone else.
"Have you seen Harper?" Jerome whispers and pops a salmon roll into his mouth.
Ellie nods slowly with her eyes wide open.
"Nothing remains of that cheerleader."
"Don't be vipers," Ruby scolds them as she approaches at that moment. "We came to have fun, not to criticize. Stop being disrespectful."
Jerome accepts his friend's scolding and follows her with his gaze as she goes to another table to get a mini burger.
"Stuart, without a doubt, is the one who looks worst," says Ellie without any remorse, and Jerome is quick to agree with her.
It's not that Ellie and Jerome are harpies, but some of those present used to strut around flaunting their beauty to those who were late bloomers, those with acne-covered faces, or those who still had squeaky voices, not knowing that the future would return their tyrannies in an... interesting way.
The night progresses with conversations, laughter, and the occasional silly joke from Rob. Everyone seems to be enjoying the company and food. The reunion won't end late; they had agreed to start early because some have obligations the next day, especially those with children.
"Hey, oldies!" Rob shouts, clapping his hands forcefully several times. "It's time to have fun."
Rob approaches the speaker, turns up the volume a bit, and takes several disastrous, rhythmless steps, demonstrating his non-existent dance skills. He grabs a couple of bottles from one of the tables and a package of small plastic cups, the kind used to serve shots.
"Let's remember old times," Rob clears his throat and does a cheap imitation of a TV host. "Ladies and gentlemen, time to enter the wonderful world of the bottle game."
Some groan, others applaud so excitedly that they even jump a little. They serve several rounds of a dubious liquor and, after toasting, hurry to sit in a circle with overflowing eagerness to relive those moments when they would sneak away to play spin the bottle. How many first kisses were given thanks to that pastime.
Ruby rolls her eyes, but she doesn't want to be a party pooper either, so she follows the group and takes a seat. Rob, of course, places the bottle in the middle of the circle ceremoniously and, with a 360-degree turn, starts the game.
"Come on, come on," everyone applauds when Jess spins the bottle and it stops in front of Clark Stevenson. Both approach and give each other a chaste kiss before laughing like teenagers.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are we, twelve years old? Let's spice things up."
This time, to everyone's amazement, it's Maddie James who speaks. The introverted girl obsessed with science who seemed to never do anything wrong.
"The scientist has spoken!" says Rob and points with both hands at the couple who just kissed.
After three more turns—and several extra shots—Theresa, who had sat diagonally from Ruby, spins the bottle with skill and smiles victoriously when she achieves her goal: to taste Ruby Hebert's lips again. Theresa isn't shy, and when she has her former classmate in front of her, she takes her by the neck and gives her a hot kiss. She plunges her tongue into her mouth and, after a few seconds, pulls away biting her lip. Everyone applauds euphorically; the alcohol is already noticeable, and if anyone might have been tense, they've long since loosened up.
Ellie notices the same flip in her stomach that she felt that day when Ruby was flirting with some girls through the app, with the difference that this time she feels an additional pain. Someone is stabbing her in the chest and twisting without compassion. She doesn't understand it, she doesn't understand anything.
"Damn, she nearly left her without oxygen," says Ellie with a slightly furrowed brow, and Jerome just glances at her sideways without saying a word.
Almost twenty minutes later, with alcohol in full effect, the eternal connection between Ruby and Ellie takes the form of a bottle pointing at both of them. Ruby's heart speeds up, and she knows that if she touches her best friend's lips, she'll sink deeper than she already is. She needs to escape this trap of destiny, and her head tries to find the best possible excuse.
"That doesn't count," Ruby says laughing, though trembling inside. "We're best friends, it would be weird."
Ellie looks at her and feels a pang. No, absolutely not. She kissed Theresa, why not her?
"Don't be a prude, Ruby," says Ellie and extends her hand for her to stand up. "It's a game."
Ruby doesn't move and observes Ellie's stylized hand waiting for her. She looks to both sides, and everyone is expectant with rosy cheeks. She stands up and evokes the damn guru she can't get out of her head. She breathes once, twice, and three times before looking at Ellie. She tells herself it will be a quick kiss, without consequences. A few seconds and it's over. Ellie is the one who takes control, holds her by the cheeks, and joins their lips. The Fourth of July is one of the most important days in the United States; thousands upon thousands of fireworks illuminate the sky across the country, but not even that light show compares to the light that's warming Ruby's heart. Ellie's lips are soft, made of cotton. They taste like vodka and orange, and Ruby is sure that drink is going to become her favorite. She has to stop, for her own good, she has to do it. So Ruby begins to pull away from Ellie's mouth, but her best friend has another idea because she presses closer to her, lowers a hand to her hip, and slides her tongue into Ruby's mouth. Everything spirals out of control because what was supposed to be a simple kiss turns into a hurricane of teeth and saliva. Ellie caresses her with her hands, plays with her tongue, and even allows a moan to escape freely from her lips.
While everyone applauds and whistles with amusement, Jerome observes the scene with caution. His heart aches for Ruby, but even more for Ellie, who doesn't realize she's completely fallen for her best friend. Jerome has walked between doubt and certainty all his life because Ellie has always been very difficult to read, although that sixth sense of a rainbow boy has often told him that Ellie is as in love with Ruby as she is blind. He doesn't plan to say anything; he can't keep getting involved in this, especially because after his advice, Ruby got hurt.
"Get a room, girls!" is the phrase that pulls both women out of their idyll.
When they separate, their eyes search for each other; they're both disconcerted and don't know what to say. They remain silent; it's for the best, and Ruby feigns a smile that looks more like a grimace when everyone shouts that they did very well.
The night continues, and before midnight, everyone starts to leave. They say goodbye with hugs and promises to meet again. Theresa hands Ruby a card with her number, promising that if she calls, she could visit her and show her more than just the streets of Denver.
