Travis & Ruby

—Ruby’s POV—

After my shift at Max-Books, I walked past the alley, and in less than five minutes, I found myself standing outside Eva’s school. I waited there until I saw her coming out, chatting animatedly with her friends. I waved to get her attention. She definitely saw me but chose to act like she didn’t. Typical.

I sighed and walked about sixty-eight steps away from the school’s front gate, just far enough where her friends couldn’t see me. After a few minutes, she approached, not looking too pleased.

“Ruby, please stop picking me up from school. I’m not a baby,” she muttered, speeding past me as I tagged along behind her.

“Of course! You’re a baby. You’re just eleven, not even a teenager yet,” I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

“All of my friends go home by themselves. You’re embarrassing me, and I’ll get you for this,” she huffed, quickening her pace.

Before I could respond, she suddenly tripped and fell into a deep gutter, splashing into the dirty water below.

“Ahh!!!” she screamed, flailing.

“Eva!” I yelled, running up to her. I stretched out my hand. “Hold on!”

She was already sinking. Only her hands were visible now. I grabbed them with all my strength. “Got you,” I muttered, pulling her up with a grunt.

As soon as I got her out, I hugged her tightly. “Ruby, I’m dirty and soaked! Stop hugging me!” she sputtered, spitting out dirty water. I held on tighter. “Ruby… I can’t breathe…” she mumbled.

I let her go, chuckling. “See? This is why I always pick you up from school.”

“I don’t always fall into gutters!” she protested instead of thanking me.

My smile faded, and then her face softened as the reality of what just happened settled in.

“What if I wasn’t here? Do you know what could have happened to you?” I muttered, raising my eyebrows.

Her expression dropped, and I could see her realising how serious it could have been.

She opened her mouth to speak, “I’m so…” But before she could get a word out, she suddenly jumped up, yelling. “Ahh! Ruby! Something… something’s in my butt!” She stuttered as she continued jumping.

“Just take off your pants,” I said.

“No!!!”

“Eva, nobody is here. Just take it OFF!” I shouted in a serious big sister’s tune.

“You’re going to pay for this.” She groaned as she took off her trousers.

What came out shocked the living hell out of me!!!

No way!

“Aww. Ruby, see! He’s… maybe SHE. She’s so cute! What is this?” she asked as she wore back her trousers.

“I have no idea.” I gasped.

A blinding white, fluffy, small, adorable-looking animal. Size: like a mouse… no, smaller than a mouse. I could cover it in my hands. It had no tail and an adorable charming cat eye with long lashes. Rabbit legs and tiny ears like a cat, but much smaller than a cat. Just then, it started looking at me. I freaked out internally when it started hopping towards me like a rabbit.

“Stay… stay away.” I stuttered as I crawled backwards. The adorable… Hmm, I don’t know… paused then TILTED its head!!! Blinking continuously.

“Aww… Ruby, I think Cutey likes you!” Eva exclaimed excitedly.

Cutey?!

“Cutey?” I snapped. “How did you… is that her name?” I asked.

“No! I just named her,” Eva replied.

“Why? Why… don’t tell me you’re keeping this thing,” I said.

“I am.” Eva replied curtly as she carried her school bag, leaned down, and picked that THING. “Cutey, wanna go home? You don’t have a home, do you? Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.” She said playfully, petting the thing in her palm. I could hear it make purring sounds like cats, rubbing its head on her palm like a cat!

“Not on my… woah!” I trailed off as I watched the creature kissing my sister’s fingers that were on its head. Eva giggled.

“Isn’t she so cute!” Eva exclaimed.

Wait, Eva fell into this gutter, and she’s wet. Then why isn’t this thing wet as well? This freaking thing came out of her wet trousers! This is not right.

Eva started giving me cat eyes. She only does that when she needs me to do something for her. “Ruby, my lovely sister. Can we please keep Cutey?” she uttered, then started blinking continuously, trying her best to persuade me.

“No.” I replied curtly as I got up, ready to leave.

Look into my eyes, am I not cute?

“Oh my God! Ruby! Cutey can talk?!” Eva exclaimed.

“Omg! I’m definitely keeping you,” I declared. Eva giggled excitedly as she hugged me with one hand.

“Eva, Cutey is a magical creature,” I whispered.

“I know, right?” she laughed, placing Cutey on my palm.

I pet it. It was just making a purring sound as she closed her eyes, enjoying the touch.

I finally got home. Though pets are not ‘ALLOWED’ in our apartment, saith the landlady… but I still brought a pet.

Adorably stubborn, right?

Eva and I are orphans. Eva’s actually my stepsister. I never met my dad, and I don’t even know what he looks like, but my mom’s face can never leave my memory. Mom said my dad died when I was three years old… so she got married to another man, which led to Eva’s existence.

But unfortunately for us, we lost her two years ago. I was sixteen then, and Eva was just nine. I made a promise to my mom on her sickbed that I would protect Eva and make sure no harm came to her, and I definitely had been doing that. Had I?

[Flashback]

Me: “Eva! Get up! Punch her in the face… Yes! NO MERCY! That’s my sister. High five.”

[End of Flashback]

I still believe I am the best sister any child could ever wish for.

“RUBY!!!” Eva screamed my name. I was startled up from the bathtub I had deemed myself in for more than an hour, enjoying the warm water piercing into my delicate skin… but as far as Eva exists, believe me, I don’t have the right to any kind of pleasure.

Meet me

Meet Eva

Meet Cutey

I quickly grabbed my towel, barely wrapping it around myself as I bolted out of the bathroom. Without a second thought, I snatched the fake gun I carry everywhere. Eva still doesn’t know it’s fake. Heart pounding, I tiptoed toward the hall, trying to balance my weapon and the towel that threatened to slip with every step.

Eva’s screams echoed down the hallway, and my mind raced with possibilities. What could it be this time? I thought, gripping the toy gun tighter. My imagination ran wild, conjuring every possible danger as I moved silently, prepared to strike at whatever was terrorising her.

If someone as much as brushed my towel, I’d be standing there in nothing but panic and a plastic weapon, but I couldn’t think about that now. I had to save Eva from whatever was causing her to scream. I edged closer to the hall, steeling myself for the worst.

“Eva?” I called out cautiously.