Chapter 11, Part 2

                                    

                                          
   (Don't play the song yet!)
                          
   Ruby paced back and forth in the girl's bathroom, out of breath.
                          
   Why did she have to be so scared of everything?
                          
   The slow music had started to play, and she'd practically run away from Moody! She'd make some excuse and scurried off to the girl's bathroom.
                          
   The truth was, she was terrified of slow dancing. She'd been dancing with the group earlier, but that was different, they were all friends, and there wasn't so much touching involved.
                          
   Ruby obviously knew now that you could not get pregnant from dancing, but that fearful feeling her mother had implanted in her at a young age stayed with her. She'd never really danced with a boy before, especially not one she had a crush on.
                          
   "What if I were to step on his feet?!" She panicked.
                          
   Although if anyone were likely to do that, it would be Moody.
                          
   She let out a long sigh. If only she were braver. Anne was brave. Maybe she should take inspiration from her. 
                          
   She abruptly left the bathroom and walked back into the dance, finding Moody at the food table, where she thought he would be.
                          
   "Hey," Said Moody casually. "Have you tried any of this food?"
                          
   "No." Ruby shook her head, standing stiff and awkward. 
                          
   "Well good, because it's disgusting."
                          
   "Oh." She laughed. 
                          
   "Want to get out of here and get some real food?" He said with the quirk of an eyebrow.
                          
   "Sure." She said, after hesitating for a second.
                          
   'Be cool, stay calm.' Moody said in his head.
                          
   'Don't freak out, be normal.' Said Ruby in hers.
                          
***
                          
   They drove down the dark roads slowly. It was quiet.
                          
   'Quick, kill the awkward silence!' Moody thought frantically.
                          
   "Um... so what's your favourite colour?" He asked. "Oh wait, I already know that. It's pink, right?"
                          
   "Yep." Ruby smiled. He was cute when he was nervous. Which was most of the time. "What's yours?"
                          
   "Um, I think green."
                          
   "That's a good colour."
                          
   "Yeah."
                          
   He stopped the car in the McDonald's parking lot.
                          
   "Is this okay?" He said.
                          
   "Sure." Then Ruby giggled. "McDonald's. How fancy."
                          
   He laughed softly along with her.
                          
   Ruby relaxed as she looked into his warm brown eyes. His smile was so sweet and reassuring, and when they were alone there was less pressure to try to act in the "normal" way everyone expected them too. They could simply be their weird selves. 
                          
   Then they went inside, ordered some food, and took it back to eat in the car. Rain had started to pour, and the drops made an echoing, thudding, noise as they hit the roof.
                          
   "Mmm," Said Moody. "These are the best fries I've ever eaten."
                          
   "They are good." Said Ruby, nodding. "You know I've been reading this book Anne gave me, Pride and Prejudice."