Ruby's POV

Sam regarded with a cheeky smirk as she chewed away at her cereal.
She'd been looking at me like that from the second she sat down to eat.

"Okay, what?"
"Have fun last night?" she giggled.
"Ah jeez, you heard that?" I cringed.
"It was kinda hard not to, you've never exactly been discreet." she popped another spoonful of cheerios into her mouth, chewing as she spoke. "Gotta admit, I was impressed, does Brian really get you off that good even from 2000 miles away?"
"Shut up." I snorted, taking a sip from my coffee.
"Hey, I'm not judgin, gotta deal with the distance somehow."

I looked up over her shoulder as Jack walked into the kitchen. He looked away almost immediately when our eyes met, sauntering over to the fridge in a huff.

"What's your problem?"
"You. " he slammed the fridge door shut, shooting me daggers as he set the milk down on the counter with a heavy thud. "Fucking your little rock star boyfriend over the phone."
"Jealous, are we?" I taunted. "That you could never make me scream that loud?"



"You did it on purpose."
"Did I, now?" I grinned, taking another sip from my coffee.
"Of course you did, you're trying to make me jealous."
"And it's working." I chuckled. "You're pissed."
"Just go back to Huntington, and fuck Synyster Gates." he spat. "I always knew you wanted his dick, you fucking groupie."



"That's enough!" Sam cut in. "Cool it!"
"He's got a hell of a lot more to show for himself than you." I was being a bitch on purpose now. "What's the most you achieved, huh? Playing in fucking dive bars? Brian's toured the country, played live on MTV, released three fucking albums and has his own line of guitars."
"If you're so happy with him, then why are you even here?" Jack snapped. "Go back to your fucking Sugar Daddy and his band of merry men!"
"Get over yourself!" I spat. "You've always been jealous of him, why do you fucking hate him so much?"
"Because I knew you were gonna go for him." he clenched his jaw. "And that's why I fucked Topaz."
"The little stripper you ran off with a few weeks after we split?"
"It was sooner than that." he stated.
My stomach dropped. "Excuse me?"
His eyes darkened. "I knew you were gonna cheat on me sooner or later, so I did it first."



He'd stumped me, and I was too shocked to reply.
"Cat got your tongue, huh?" he sneered. "That oughta knock your newfound ego down a few notches." He pushed himself away from the counter, and left the kitchen.

The legs of my stool screeched on the tiled floor as I got up and headed for the guest room.

"Ruby!" Sam called after me, following me.
"That was a low blow, even for him." I scowled, my hands on my hips. "I don't get what his fucking problem with Brian is, but there was no need for that, making shit up just to get back at me."
Sam looked down at her hands, and her voice was almost a whisper as she spoke. "He wasn't making it up..."
"What?"
Sam frowned and closed her eyes. "I knew..."
"I fucking knew it!" I cried, heaving my suitcase up onto the bed and throwing everything in the nearest vicinity into it. "All the fucking times he wouldn't pick up the phone, how hard he pushed his belief that I was the one who cheated, all that time, he was fucking around behind my back!"
"Ruby, calm down!" she pleaded with me. "I know you're upset, but please don't go."
I sank down onto the edge of the bed, tears trailing down my cheeks as I hooked a finger into my red wool bracelet - It was all I had of Brian right now, and comforting. "Why didn't you tell me?" I sniffled.
"Because you were so in love with him, and at that point in time, I knew you'd never believe it."
I didn't answer.
"You know I'm right, Ruby." she said, sitting down opposite me.
"I was so blind..." I whispered.
"It's not your fault." she cooed, reaching over to hold my hand.
"I thought I was over it..." I breathed. "I don't know why I care."
"Because you loved him." Sam sighed. "You truly cared for him and he let you down, of course it hurts."
"I shouldn't even be here... I came back because it felt like the right thing to do, even though it killed me to leave Brian."
"You seem happier with him." Sam nodded. "And call me selfish, but I really have missed the hell out of you, and I don't want you to go."
"Sam..."
"Stay for me?" she frowned. "I'm sick of doing this on my own, and he's got nobody else..."



I leaned over and wrapped her up in a hug, remembering why I'd come back here at all.
It wasn't so much for Jack, it was for Sam.

Notes

Aww, friendshippp

I know, y'all want Ruby to go back to Brian. But Ruby did, for two years, have a life outside of Avenged and Huntington, a life she up and left without really thinking about it. Loose ends and shit need to be tied up.

Also, can we just appreciate the miracle of me updating so quickly after the last one?
Y'all can thank violetshade for that one, she's bustin my balls and helping me out when I get stuck.

Once again, Happy Belated Birthday to Daddy Gates
Can't believe I've been back at this story long enough that I get to say that again



Gorgeous bastard...

Until next time!! xx