Ruby’s P.O.V.

“So you should head to this bar after your show?” Maddie told Gerard holding the piece of paper she’d scribbled the address on once we’d got out of Forbidden Planet.
“Will you be there?” He asked her glancing at the paper and shoving it in his jeans pocket.
“Of course.” She smiled looking over at him.
“Then we’ll be there.” He told as they gave each other a knowing look. I looked over at Frank quickly, taking a longer drag of my cigarette to try and understand what was going on.
“Are they hitting on each other?” He whispered to me as we watched them like they were animals on the Discovery Channel.
“I… think so?” My answer came out more of a question, not fully sure if they were just being accidently flirty, or actual flirty. We both looked back at each other, our mouths slightly parted to show our shock as Maddie’s unusual giggle rang out. “She never giggles. This is getting creepy.” I whispered to him causing him to laugh a little.
“It’s like watching your parent flirt with another at parents evening.” He commented as I smacked his arm nodding.
“That’s exactly what it’s like.” I whispered, both of us going back to looking at each other when we noticed their conversation was coming to an end. “So I guess I’ll being seeing you tonight?” I looked over at him, a little hopeful I wouldn’t lie.
“Will you be there?” He mimicked his best friend as I laughed nodding.
“God Frank break it up, we have a job to get back to remember?” Gerard shouted over to him rolling his eyes like he’d been stood there innocently for the past 15 minutes.
“Good luck.” I laughed giving him a wave as Maddie pulled me off in the opposite direction to them.

We finally arrived at the bar at 8, deciding on getting there early so we could see Dylan and Ryan. “One Red Stag and Coke, one Gin and Tonic” Ryan told us as he placed the glasses down in front of us smiling. “What’s new with my favourite girls then?” He asked seeing that he wasn’t needed by the next customer.
“Oh nothing. Did you know Ruby ditched Thomas?” Maddie asked as I rolled my eyes at how soon this subjected had come up. When we got home Maddie had been full of questions about Frank, about me, about Frank and me, all questions that were irrelevant.
“No I can’t see why he’s having try outs for Manchester United you know.” Ryan said with shock sarcasm causing us to laugh.
“He was an ass. Bragging about his bowling skills.” I rolled my eyes taking a sip of my drink, smiling at the familiar dry taste. Up until this place opening 4 years ago I didn’t drink, bad people and bad influences and all that jazz.
“You at least had food though right? Like good food he didn’t spoil that for you?” Ryan asked me seriously knowing just how much I loved food. I was about to answer when Dylan came over interrupting us.
“What we talking about?” He asked grabbing a glass and pouring himself a coke.
“Oh just how Ruby ran out on Thomas.” Maddie told him matter-of-factly.
“Wait hold up; you ran out? This means no food? Damn I thought you was too nice to do something like that. Cold hearted bitch.” Ryan laughed as I leaned over a little to punch him in his arm.
“You think that’s cold, some random guy who was sat in the booth behind her rang her number and made it look like your mum had an emergency going on.” She looked over at Dylan who looked at me with pure shock.
“We don’t have a mum?” He laughed as I blushed, glad it was dark so no one would see.
“At least no one could get hurt.” I shrugged, taking a bigger sip of my drink.
“She also broke the guy out of his date and dropped him back off at his hotel.” Maddie finished the story as they both stared at me.
“You meeting up with him again sis?” Dylan asked as I shook my head.
“Right he’s in a band and I bet he has better things to do then hang out with a lost case like me ok? So can I have a refill and can we drop this subject because being reminded how shockingly shit my love life is isn’t fun anymore.” I told them holding my glass up as Ryan snatched it off me smirking.
“Sorry to tell you this Dylan but your sister needs to get laid and bad.” He nudged my brother as he walked off to fill my drink up.
“Your love life can’t be that bad, you got to take me home because of it.” A voice came out from behind me as I span on my heels to see a leather jacket clad Frank stood behind me smiling.
“Hey.” I blushed realising he’d probably heard all of that.
“Beers guys?” Dylan asked as they all nodded their heads.

“So how do you know the guys who work here?” Frank asked as we were sat in one of the booths in the corner. All the others were on the dancefloor with their partners and of course Maddie was with Gerard.
“Oh I part own the bar.” I blushed looking over at him, as he looked confused suggesting I should explain. “Ryan and Dylan are best friends, Maddie and I are best friends. Ryan is Maddie’s brother and Dylan is my brother.” I laughed. “When my parent’s died Dylan was lost so we pooled our money into this place with them two and they both run it.” I explained smiling as his expression changed from shock to admiration.
“That’s pretty cool. Are they older than you?” He asked curiously as I nodded taking a sip from my drink.
“By three years. And don’t we know it.” I laughed as I noticed him inch closer. The drinks had been flowing pretty well and I was starting with the tell-tale signs that I was getting close to my limit.
“Want to go get some air?” He suggested as I nodded quickly following him out of the booth scanning the dancefloor for Maddie but not spotting her. I figured she’d guess where we were. We got outside and I pulled my pack of cigarettes out from my leather jacket, holding one out to him as I searched for my lighter, which he quickly produced his own. We stood in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the cool air and the stress stick.
“So how come you needed to get back out there?” He asked breaking the silence. We had both leaned on the wall, side-by-side.
“My childhood sweetheart slept with my cousin in my bed.” I laughed taking a deeper drag of the cigarette before stumping it out.
“Oh ouch that’s brutal.” He looked over at me with a sorry look.
“No it’s fine, it was two years ago. They kept it up for two weeks and then he left her and she went with his best friend.” I laughed as we rested our heads so that we could look at each other. “How about you?” I asked quietly.
“My ex and I were trying for a baby.” He started as my eyes widened a little bit. “She was still taking the pill. Probably so she didn’t get pregnant with mine or Chris’ baby.”
“Oh what a bitch.” I told him honestly as he just nodded, smiling sadly. “Do you miss it? Being in a relationship” I asked cautiously and watched him pause for a minute.
“Honestly?” He asked as I nodded. “I do. But, I think I don’t want a relationship just yet? It’s been like 2 and half years but we were together for 8, you know?” I nodded, it was as though he was reading my mind. “Miss the sex though?” He asked casually.
“Absolutely. Even if it was bad.” I laughed causing him to laugh. We paused for a moment just staring at each other when we moved in closer to each other. Our lips instantly connected, and not in a chore like way like it was with my ex. It was in a raw and needy way like our lives depended on. We kept it up pulling each other closer and closer until I pulled away needing air and kissing down his neck.

“Let’s get out of here?” He asked breathlessly as I just nodded, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the back way so we wouldn’t get seen.

Notes