The chains that trap her Part 5

[Saturday]

Having just visited her dad's grave, Ruby felt reassurance that she hadn't felt in some time. By the time they finished. Ruby's phone was flooded with phone calls from her stepdad. She looked at Owen and decided that she was going to confront him. They stepped back on the bus and took it back to her house. Owen joined as Ruby said she would prefer not to be alone. Which brings us to this moment. Standing outside of her house. Ruby looks at it as if it was new to her. Her brain acting as if she had never seen this place before, the anxiety that filled her as the door opened to her stepdad standing there, with her mum cowering behind him.

"You have some explaining to do." He said walking towards Ruby.

"No, she doesn't," Owen said stepping in the way. "Wow, you are even scarier up close."

"This is a matter between father and daughter. Don't get involved. I thought you were smarter than that."

"It's as you said, mister. My parents raised me right. They raised me not to leave a crying girl alone." Owen stood as he watched the scent of death grow larger. His false bravado slowly went away but he was used to acting emotionless. It was his secret weapon that annoyed most. His lack of expression was one that pissed many off, his friends included.

"Why don't they come inside." Ruby's mum said from inside only to be glared at by her husband. "Ah, I mean. If it's easier then out here. We can all talk inside."

Inside Ruby's house, she sat next to Owen with her stepdad and mum watching her. As if an awkward boyfriend was meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time.

"I've done my job." Owen whispered to himself, almost in tears. "Why am I here?"

"J-just stay." Ruby said forcing him down.

"So." Her stepdad said. "What do you want to say?"

Ruby stood up prepared to deliver the speech that she prepared on the way. Only to retreat at the sight of her stepdads constant ghastly gaze.

"U-um, I think the way you treat me is unfair." Ruby said. "I'm almost 18. I'll be off to university soon. You've been taking my freedom."

She spoke while looking at her mother who couldn't stand up and protect her. All she could do was stay beside her husband and be on his side.

"University?" Her stepdad said. "What makes you think you'll be going to university?"

"W-what?" The room said in sync.

"Y-you're joking right?" Ruby said. "I want to go to university."

"Nope, not happening." her stepdad said. "Who knows what will happen there. If you want to go to university you'll be going to a local one where you still live here."

"Oh, I see…" Ruby said sitting back down.

"U-um, If I may add something." Owen said putting his hand up as if he was in a classroom. "I think you're being too harsh on her? She'll have to move out eventually. Why trap her until you die."

Perhaps it was Owen's sudden bluntness about the situation. His filter that didn't exist. His way of speaking was one most didn't understand, instead of using a logical argument based on facts and evidence, he uses an argument based on his own logic. One that plans to reveal all the stubbornness and arrogance of his opponent.

"What did you say?" Her stepdad asked.

"I'm saying you may live for a while. Why ruin her life because you were probably raised the same way? Or if you weren't raised the same way, why ruin her life? in my personal opinion. you aren't fit to be a parent. My parents are better than you and they work all day. Alright, I'm done, Goodbye." Owen said as he was about to leave but the door was slammed in his face, sealing his escape.

"What did you say!? Who are you to complain about how I raised my child!? You have no right to say anything of the sort. You're lucky I don't beat you up right now."

"Hehe..." Owen let out a slight laugh, not because he found it funny, but because it was a very awkward situation.

"I just mean… maybe try and understand Ruby's point of view. Why restrict her all the time, it's not like she is your biological daughter."

Those words shouldn't be said to someone in this situation. It's true they weren't biologically related and perhaps remembering that shouldn't annoy someone. It's nothing more than the truth. Either way, Ruby's stepdad was angry, very angry. He raised his fist in the air but was stopped by Ruby who jumped in front, protecting Owen.

"Move!" Her stepdad screamed. "I need to beat this little shit, he should respect his elders."

"I do respect elders," Owen said cowering behind Ruby. "You act like a child who deserves no respect."

"Alright stop it both of you!" Ruby screamed. "Owen was only protecting me, you shouldn't take it out on him, he was saying it for me."

"I get what you are saying," her stepdad said. "But he shouldn't say that shit to me."

"Forget about him!" Ruby's mum said. "Can't you see you are driving our daughter away from us?"

Her mother's words resonated with her husband who looked at Ruby's crying tears.

"You care more about what the boy is saying over our own daughter who ran away! Why won't you just listen to her for once!"

"Whatever," Her stepdad said sitting back down knowing not to argue with his wife. "What else do you want to say?"

Ruby looked at Owen and explained everything that had happened recently at school as well as what she wished for in the future. She wanted a family like what she had before, she wanted the freedom she had before and the joy she experienced.

After an hour of conversation, which Owen would describe as being extremely awkward for an outsider such as himself, Owen was about to leave but was stopped by Ruby's parents.

"Are you going to look after her?" Her stepdad asked.

"Excuse me?" Owen replied.

"Ruby, you're her boyfriend, right?"

"Ah, n-no… we are just friends."

"Ah, young love." her mother said pushing in. "I'm glad it's you, I'll make sure she dyes her hair back!"

"Jeez!" Ruby said shoving Owen out the door. "You people just leave him alone. I'll walk him partway back so I'll be back later. Bye!"

"It was nice meeting you," Owen said before he left. "Sorry about what I said!"

"Tsk, What a cheeky brat." Her stepdad said to himself as the door closed. "I guess his parents did raise him to be alright."

# # #

"Well, good thing that is sorted." Owen said. "Hopefully things go back to normal or at least improve for you."

They walked down an empty road side by side, despite this, awkwardness filled the air.

"T-thank you," Ruby said. "You've put up with my selfishness for a while. T-thank you,"

"Well, what are friends for?" Owen said as Ruby stopped in place.

"F-friends, huh?" she muttered.

"What's up?" Owen said turning around. "Why did you stop?"

"I don't want to be friends." She said looking at him dead in the eyes. "I-I want to be more."

Ruby announced to Owen something he didn't understand. He stood looking at her before looking down to the ground and fiddling with his hands.

"Ah, I… I don't know," Owen said. "I.. I'm sorry. I don't know if I feel that way about you."

Ruby looked at Owen with a stern resolve and didn't shy away.

"It doesn't have to be now!" She said. "We have two years together. Even if nothing happens by the end of it. I want to spend these two years with you. Even if it's just as friends. And maybe if something does come out of it. Right now, I think I can put up with being friends."

"Huh?" Owen said. "So you want to stay friends? Didn't you just say-"

"I know what I said!" Ruby interrupted. "But just think of it as another selfish request of mine."

She looked at Owen and smiled.

"Oh, one last thing," she said. "Hold out your hands. I got you something as a thank you."

"Really? What is it-?" before Owen finished Ruby jumped into Owen's face shocking him but stopping him from leaving. She pulled her lips away and rested her head on his chest. "Thank you." She said before running away.

"W-what?" Owen said feeling his lips. "W-what just happened?"