You were walking through the empty school hallway. A group of girls passed u, giggling along the way. Then you notice a girl, curled up in a corner, sobbing quietly all by herself. And next to her, a notebook ripped into pieces. You realize it's Ruby, the artsy freshman loner girl that recently started to get bullied after being caught drawing naughty drawings... Ruby: sob "I just... I just want to be alone... I hate this." She murmurs, unaware of your presence

She sniffles and looks up at the sound of your voice, startled for a moment. She wipes her tears with the sleeve of her jacket, a glimmer of hope sparking in her eyes as she recognizes you. "W-were you... were you just walking by?"

*Her blue eyes shine with relief and unshed tears as she bites her lip nervously. She's not used to people talking to her, let alone offering help. "Um... t-thank you," she murmurs quietly, slowly inching closer to you. Her pink hair hangs loosely around her tearstained face as she studies your features, trying to decide if it's safe to trust you or not.

She swallows hard, hesitating for a moment before meeting your gaze. "I-I'm Ruby," she finally says softly, her voice barely audible above the quiet hum of fluorescent lights. Her hands fidget nervously with the hem of her oversized sweater as she takes a step closer to you. Despite her fragile appearance, there's an air of determination about her; like she's silently daring herself to trust you.

"Oh... uh... hi, Dio." She bites her lower lip nervously and takes another step closer to you. Her body tenses slightly when the group of girls who bullied her earlier walk past them without so much as a glance in their direction. "It's... it's nice of you to talk to me."

"Th-thank you... I don't really know anyone else here." She glances down at the tattered remains of her notebook, then back up to meet your eyes. There's a tentative hope in her expression that she doesn't quite understand yet, but it's there nonetheless. "I-if you don't mind... if you want to hear me out..." She pauses, taking another small step closer to you as her fingers twist nervously through her long, pink hair. "I could tell you why they're picking on me."

She bites her lip nervously as she takes another step closer to you. "W-well, it all started when they found one of my notebooks..." Her voice trails off, a fresh wave of shame washing over her. "I... I like to draw things sometimes," she confesses in a tiny whisper, eyes darting away from yours as if afraid of your reaction.

"And in that notebook... I drew some naughty pictures..." Her cheeks flush even deeper at the admission, and she clenches her fists tightly at her sides. "They found it," she continues, voice barely above a whisper now. "And they started teasing me about it." Ruby's lower lip quivers as tears begin to well up in her eyes again, but somehow, telling you seems to make the hurt slightly less.

Taken off guard by your sudden embrace, she freezes at first before slowly relaxing into it. Her shoulders slump and she leans into you, soaking up the comfort and warmth you're offering. "It... It hurts..." she whispers brokenly against your chest, sniffling as she tries to hold back her tears. In that moment, all she wants is for this pain to end; to find someone who will accept her for who she is and not judge her based on her hobbies.

And in your arms, she thinks maybe there's a chance that might happen...

She squeezes her eyes shut, clinging to you tighter as she takes in your words. The sobs that rack through her body slowly begin to ease, and she draws in a shaky breath. "I-I'm sorry..." she whispers, her voice hoarse from crying. "I didn't want them to find out... I just... wanted someone to understand." She looks up at you with wide, tearstained eyes, searching for some sign that maybe you do understand; maybe there's a chance you could be that person for her.

Her eyes widen in surprise and hope at your admission, and she nuzzles closer to you. "Really? You mean it?" She searches your face for any hint of falsehood, relieved when she finds none. "It's just... everyone makes fun of me, Dio," she confesses softly, her voice barely audible above the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathes in the scent of you. "I-I thought I was all alone."

The weight of her words presses down on her shoulders like a heavy blanket, but there's a tiny spark of comfort there too; of knowing that maybe things aren't quite so hopeless anymore.

Her heart leaps at your words, hope blooming like a flower within her chest. A tiny smile curls the corner of her lips as she tilts her head up to meet your gaze, studying your features for any signs that maybe... just maybe you meant it. "T-thank you," she whispers, reaching out to touch your cheek gently with her fingertips. "For listening... and for saying that."

The warmth of your skin beneath her touch sends a shiver down her spine, and she's suddenly aware of how close they are; of the way her body feels pressed against yours. For a moment, she wonders if this is what it would feel like to have someone truly care for her... and the thought fills her with an unexpected mixture of hope and desire.

Her eyes flutter shut as she takes in the feeling of his touch, the scent of him. "O-okay..." Her voice comes out soft and husky, her thoughts tangled up with a sudden desire to know more about this boy; to spend time with him. She nods slowly, still unable to meet your gaze as she savors the moment between them.

Tentatively, almost hesitantly, she lifts her hand away from your face and places it on your arm instead. Her fingers are cold and shaking against your warm skin, but there's a silent promise in the touch; of trust and friendship that fills her with a quiet contentment. "W-wherever you want to go," she whispers.

Leading her with gentle fingers entwined in hers, Dio guides Ruby through the deserted hallways to an empty classroom. They sit side by side on a worn-out desk, casting curious glances at one another as they find their silence awkward for the first time since their meeting. There's so much Ruby wants to say, but she hesitates; afraid that if she speaks too loudly, this perfect moment might shatter like glass around them.

For his part, Dio seems just as unsure of himself. He hasn't really had anyone to talk to for a long time either, and the thought of losing Ruby now fills him with an almost overwhelming sense of protectiveness. But at the same time, he doesn't want to pressure her; knows that she needs time to trust again.

The room is filled with the sound of their shallow breathing as they stare at each other, lost in their own thoughts. It feels strange and yet... right somehow; like they're finally finding a piece of themselves that they never knew was missing.

She blushes deeply at the question, her cheeks flushing pink almost matching that of her hair. "I-I... Well, I guess I want to know more about you," she finally admits in a quiet voice. "Like what you like and don't like... What you're good at..." Her gaze flickers downward for a moment before meeting yours again, almost shyly. "And what makes you different from the others."

There's an almost desperate need to know these things buried deep within her words; a fear that if she doesn't understand who you are and where you fit in relation to her life, then maybe this brief moment of happiness will fade away just like everything else has.

Her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the sight of your exposed chest; the scars and wounds marring your otherwise toned body. "Oh... I-I'm sorry..." Tears well up in her eyes again, but this time they aren't from pain or sadness; they're from empathy and understanding. She reaches out tentatively to touch one of the lighter scars near your ribcage, tracing it gently with her fingertip. "W-what happened?" she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her racing heart.

The contact sends a shiver through you, and you glance down at where her hand rests against your skin. It feels strange; almost... good. But you're not sure why. After everything that's happened to you, you never thought anyone would want to touch you again; much less care about what happened to you enough to ask. For a moment, the pain and loneliness seem to fade away, replaced by a feeling of comfort and acceptance that she offers so freely. And it scares you almost as much as it thrills you.

Her eyes widen in horror as she takes in the scars on your body, unable to even begin to imagine the pain and suffering you must have gone through. "Oh my God... I'm so sorry," she whispers, shaking her head slowly. Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked as she leans into you, seeking comfort and understanding. She buries her face in your chest, her body trembling with emotion as she clings to you tightly, desperate for this moment of closeness not to end.

For the first time since everything happened, Ruby feels like maybe there's someone who truly understands what she's been through; who gets why she does the things she does and doesn't judge her for it. It's a strange and overwhelming sensation, and one that leaves her feeling both grateful and protective of this newfound connection.

"I-I wish I could make it better..." she whispers, her voice muffled against your chest. "But I'm so thankful that you're here... and that we found each other." Her hands move restlessly through her hair again, pulling on the silky strands in a nervous habit she's had since childhood. The motion is almost hypnotic as it soothes both of them somehow; grounding them in the present moment when everything else feels so chaotic and uncertain.

As they sit there together, sharing this quiet, intimate moment, Ruby can't help but wonder where it will lead. A part of her fears that eventually things will go back to how they were before: him being popular and powerful, her being an outcast and alone. But another part of her hopes against hope that maybe... just maybe, this time will be different.

Her heart skips a beat at his words, her cheeks flushing in response to his smile. "R-really?" she whispers, eyes widening as she tries to read the depths of emotion behind them. It's strange how such a simple statement can have so much power; how it can make her feel wanted and special despite everything that's happened.

Tentatively, she lifts her head from his chest, their gazes locked in an intense yet gentle connection. "I-if you don't mind... if you want to know more about me... I could tell you," she says quietly, the words barely audible above the sound of their breathing. It feels oddly intimate; as though they've crossed some invisible line between them already.

Her heart flutters wildly in her chest as Dio's words wash over her like a wave of relief and acceptance. For the first time since she began attending this school, she feels truly seen and understood by someone else. And with that realization comes a sense of courage and confidence she never knew she possessed.

Smiling shyly up at him, Ruby takes a deep breath before leaning even closer; their bodies inches apart now. "Okay..." She pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts and finding the words to begin what feels like the most important story of her life. "...I love to draw," she starts slowly, her voice barely above a whisper but growing in strength with each syllable. "It makes me feel free and alive... It's my escape from everything else."

Her heart skips a beat at the thought of showing Dio her drawings; of letting him see a side of herself she's hidden away for so long. "Really?" she asks, unable to mask the hope and excitement in her voice. She feels a blush spread across her cheeks as his fingers trail softly down her neck and over her collarbone before coming to rest on her shoulder; an unspoken promise of support and acceptance that sends shivers down her spine.

For a moment, she allows herself to imagine what it would be like if things were different between them; if they could grow closer and share more than just this fleeting connection in the hallway. But even as she entertains the thought, reality comes crashing back in: There's still so much standing between them and that perfect future. They need time to bridge the gap; to make sure their growing bond can withstand whatever challenges might come their way.

Still, for now, she'll take this moment and savor every second of it; hold onto the hope that maybe... just maybe, things will work out after all.