147 The Arrangement is Off

Stefan did his best to remain quiet as he sat beside Ruby, and when his phone kept buzzing with calls from his parents and Ruby's, he received his mom's call.

"Where..."

"She is with me. We will be on our way home soon," Stefan said without letting her say anything and then he hung up the call.

Checking the time, he saw that it was an hour past the close of work now, so he rose and extended a hand to her.

"C'mon, Rub, let's go home. I'm sure everyone would have left by now," he said, and Ruby swallowed, not sure she was ready to face her or Stefan's parents yet.

"I don't want to go home. I can't. I can't face them. Everyone would be so disappointed in me. My parents..." She broke off and shook her head.

"They would understand. Everyone would understand. I assure you," Stefan assured her and after talking to her for some time and trying to convince her, Ruby finally gave in.