Jerome Valeska

                                    

                                          
Author's Note: Okay some of you might probably kill me by the end after reading the complete chapter. But hear me out okay. Ruby is a little extreme when it comes to her feelings hurt. She seems to forget what is right and what is wrong and does what impulsively comes into her mind. She will take a step which she will regret. For sure. Please don't hate my baby Ruby for it. I just wanted to add a little Jerome to the story. :)
                          
"Where's Delilah? " I croak softly. "I booked a cab for her. She's safe. Don't worry Ruby." His reply seems off.
I don't say anything to him after that.
                          
The car ride back to my apartment is a quiet one. Xander is silent as he drives the car slowly back, I bite my inner cheek as thousand thoughts seem to be sinking into my mind. The boy I have been dating for the past few months is not the boy I think I know. He has an identity that he did not tell me about. What if he is a secret murderer or psychopath or rapist or something? Who knows. He goes by an alias. He could be anything. I shift my gaze towards Xander. He seems angry. His demeanor is different, this is not the calm and sweet Xander that I know. His knuckles are turning white by the way he has his hands curled tightly against the steering wheel. I sink back deeper into the seat and sigh, placing my head on the backrest and closing my eyes. No, Xander cannot hurt a soul or be something different that what he portrays. There must have been a reason he uses an alias. Jerome seemed dangerous and scary. Had Xander not come, I don't know what he would have done to me. I shudder thinking at the thought of Jerome.
                          
Soon, Xander pulls up in front of my driveway. I bite my lip and look at him,hoping he would say something to me. He just clears his throat indicating that I need to get out. I quickly mask the hurt expression in my face as I nod softly and slide out of the car and run into my apartment. I sink to the floor,leaning against my door, the sound of him starting his car engine echoing in my ears. He drives away.
                          
I sob uncontrollably then, shaking and convulsing due to my unstoppable urge to cry and let it all out. I don't bother laying in bed, I just curl up on the cold tiles floor , drool and tears falling off my face into the floor and I sniffle and fall asleep.
                          
***
                          
I wake up the next morning, my body hurting immensely due to sleeping on the hard , cold floor. I groan and drag myself up and into the bathroom. I flick the lights on and glance at my reflection in the mirror. I look like a mess. My hair are in a frenzy as if somebody just electrocuted me. I have tear stains on my cheeks mixed with the stains of my eyeliner due to the immense crying. My eyes are puffy and swollen. I turn the faucet on and splash some cool water over my face. Then dabbing my face and hands with a hand towel, I make my way into my bedroom to check my phone. Maybe Xander might have called. Just maybe. There is a message from Xander. I open the message and read it. I clutch my phone harder as I read the words again and again, each word piercing into my heart like a thousand knives.
                          
Xander : We can't be together Ruby. Please take care of yourself.
                          
He just broke up with me. How could he just fucking break up with me like that ? First of all, the man has the audacity to lie to all of us about his secret identity. He sinks into my heart, makes me fall in love with him and just breaks up with me. He also doesn't have the freaking decency to say this to my face. He just texts me saying that I have been dumped. Just freaking great.
                          
I turn my phone off. I can't speak to anyone right now. Not even Delilah. Everything hurts. I look around the room and it hurts. Memories of Xander come back to haunt me. Our first kiss. Our first night together. Those intimate moments. How he told me he loved me. Where did that love go? Was it all a fucking lie ?