Chapter 13: Thursday: "You just say you do!"
April 18, 2026 at 7:40 AM
*RUBY is sitting in Miss Bloomie's class. Riley's sitting next to her. RUBY's screen has a smile. It's fake. No thought or emotion behind it. *
Riley: RUBY? Aren't we gonna study some more?
*RUBY's face changes for a split-second. A face of sorrow. It returns to a neutral face. *
RUBY: Yes. I'm sorry, I just ... I just need to think about Skell.
Riley: I never got how you could care about that guy.
RUBY: DON'T SAY THAT. *Yelling* HE - He - ... Just ... stop talking for once.
*RUBY and Riley study science before class starts. The class moves as normal. Eventually, they reach break time. *
*RUBY and Riley arrive at the library yet again. Riley is drawing and RUBY is preparing her questions. *
RUBY: # 4 ...;
*RUBY looks at Riley. She's upset. *
RUBY: ... Maybe we can take a break with the questions today, Riley. You can talk about Oliver/Katie I suppose.
*Riley's expression immediately snaps back to her manic smile she usually has. *
RUBY: But, can I just tell you something?
Riley: Fine. What is it? RUBY: I'm ... sorry for yelling at you. And, you're wrong about what you said on Tuesday. I do care about you.
Riley: then why do you always stop me.
RUBY: I'm stopping you BECAUSE I care. If you actually went through with your ideas, you'd be dead. I just wanted to keep you safe. You just haven't realized it.
Riley: What do you mean "Safe?" You haven't done anything to keep me safe. You say you care, but you don't! You just say you do!
RUBY: Are you kidding me? If I hadn't helped you study before Miss Bloomie's test, she would've killed you. If I didn't REPEATEDLY stop you from trying to k*ll Robby, the other students would hate you. I help you study. I make SURE you're okay. If I TRULY didn't care about you, I could've let you die multiple times over. But I DON'T and I WON'T.
Riley: ...
RUBY: You know I'm right, don't you?
Riley: n-no. your wrong. y-you ... you ...
*Riley looks away from RUBY. *
Riley *Internally*: She doesn't care. Only Oliver/Katie does. She - she's just doing it to - to - *grr*, why can't I think of anything.
Riley: Yeah, whatever.
RUBY: Whatever? You can't just - ... Alright. Fine. But, even if you don't think I care, I always will.
