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Taking a deep breath, he stared forward.
He would be brave like his beautiful Ruby – and wished he would have kissed her that Christmas Eve that she was dressed like the night sky. He’d been so tempted, wanted to so much, and had looked up to see her father standing there – watching them.
That brief conversation was the longest that they had talked, but it really didn’t change much. He had a horrible crush on the bold girl - one that would go unfulfilled forever.
He was here, and she was bound for college next year. Some other guy would snatch her up in a heartbeat, because he knew if things were different? He would.
Michael only prayed that it wasn’t one of his friends that fell in love with his Ruby… and he hoped she was happy.
* * *
Two years later…
Michael lay in his bunk,feeling so alone.
He was home for Thanksgiving for a brief respite and surrounded by people he considered family, yet feeling empty and filled with so many thoughts he couldn’t act on.
Ben Merrick, Ruby’s brother, was in the Air Force Academy – and gone, so he couldn’t even use that avenue to find out how she was doing. Michael felt cut off, isolated.
Ruby had enrolled at Texas A & M in College Station south of here, his friends were all off doing their own things – and those that didn’t leave? They were working fulltime or busy with their own lives.
He’d come home – yet it didn’t feel like home much anymore, and that was surprising, making him feel like he was floundering. If he didn’t have home, didn’t have that ‘security’ anymore, then what was he going to do, because that ‘man’ that was excelling at West Point?
That wasn’t him.
That was an actor, a shell, and the real Michael was curled up on the inside, waiting, and felt like he was wasting away… and it frightened him.
CHAPTER3
RUBY
Years later…
Ruby walked into the hangar,immediately feeling the memories wash over her as she gazed at all the familiar faces surrounding her. Spotting Benedict and Rose standing there together, she smiled. Her brother, Ben, had always loved Rose Griffin, and there was something about the couple that reminded her of her parents.
They were just meant to be… and it was obvious.
Walking up, she moved to join them and saw Rose’s eyes light up as she spotted her. Her brother smiled nervously, and Ruby fought back at making a face at him. He was so nervous about this, and it was kinda comical, because when it came to Rose?
Ben had zero-confidence, and he really should.
The two of them were destined to be together. Every time she saw the couple, there was a magic between them that seemed to come to life, making her sigh with envy. Her brother was lucky that he’d found his person…
Ruby was alone.
People shied away from those that didn’t ‘fit’ or they couldn’t ‘control’. Men would ask her out, but always requested she ‘try to dressdemurely’or ‘could she calm her hair down’… and she didn’t want to have to change for someone.
She loved her life, thrived in her environment, and was finding her place working as a kindergartener aide part-time to get a feeling for her degree in childhood education.
“Hey Ruby – I love your hair,” Rose said easily, looking at her fondly.
“Thanks! You like it?” Ruby grinned.
This year it was almost like a unicorn had sneezed on her head. She had a field day with this latest trend that just ‘screamed’ her. The students loved it and immediately came to her, opening up. There were streaks of pink, yellow, purple, pale green, and orange… and it was pulled back into a bun, making it look almost like a kaleidoscope.
“Love it,” Rose admitted. “It suits you.”
“I think so too… and even my dad admitted it.”
