The airport was crowded when Ruby arrived. She hated the way her mind raced and her lips quivered as she took in the amount of people surrounding her. How could so many people be in one place? She felt caved in. She took deep breaths to calm herself down and focused on the bright side. At least her aunt would bring things for her from her travel. It was a beneficial situation.

"Hello, Ru." A deep voice laced with fake British accent said beside her.

She turned and rolled her eyes, recognizing the person and taking in his light brown skin and dark curly hair.

"Luke, I told you to stop using that fake accent. It's not you," she tsked.

"You know I won't listen to you," he replied, raising an eyebrow that looked like dark paint on his skin. His dark brown eyes took in her composure with quiet perusal. "You don't look too fine. Anything the matter?" He asked, concerned.

She squeezed her phone in her hand, her knuckles turning a shade lighter. "I'm cool." She forced a smile onto her face but she was sure it looked more like a grimace and looked down, hiding her eyes from him.

"You don't want to be here," he stated coolly.

She looked up at him, eyes widening at his accurate guess.

"I know lots of things about people, Ru," he answered as if sensing the question in her eyes.

She gave a dry chuckle. "It would seem so."

"So,why don't you want to be here?"

"Why are you here?" She fired back, cocking her head to the side.

"I came here to pick up my sister."

"I didn't know you had a sister," she muttered.

"You don't know a lot about me."

She didn't want to know a lot about him. That meant she'd get attached and God forbid, trust him. She didn't want any of that.

"You haven't answered my question." He looked at her intently, trying to figure out why she was dodging such a simple question.

"Um. . ." She looked desperately for an escape.

"Little Gray!" A voice she could remember clearly from her childhood days called out to her over the crowd, using the special nickname she gave her. She quickly turned towards the source of the voice, happy to leave Luke's scrutinizing gaze.

"Aunt Amara, nice to see you again." She moved forward to meet her aunt and was squashed into a hug.

Amara made a face after releasing Ruby from her grip and said, " Don't call me aunt, I'm still young." She winked and flipped her imaginary hair. Her hair was, as usual, in an afro puff.

Ruby gave a light laugh before she could hold it back in.

"Okay, Amara let's get going." She grabbed her aunt's suitcase and turned. Luke was nowhere in sight, which was a good thing she supposed. At least she would skip the whole introduction thing. She led Amara out of the airport and together they boarded a taxi.

"You've really grown, Little Gray."

"Can't stay the same forever," Ruby quipped.

"I guess so. I hope you are fine, by the way."

"I'm as fine as I can be." She turned to find her aunt looking at her with veiled eyes. "Seriously, I'm fine"

"If you say so." The look in Amara's eyes told her that she didn't believe her.

"How was your flight?" Ruby asked, changing the topic.

"It was stressful and long!" Amara gave a loud dramatic sigh.

"But you survived," she joked back. They both laughed.

"Yes, I survived. As hard as that was." Amara leaned her head back and they fell into a comfortable silence with Ruby nibbling on her nails every little while.

When they got down from the taxi, she directed her aunt to the hotel close by and they booked her a room.

"Amara, why didn't you just come to my apartment?" Ruby asked, tugging at her hair.

"Because I didn't want to inconvenience you and your roommate. Besides, where will I sleep? On the couch?" Amara smiled at Ruby's look. She brought out a pack of satin scrunchies and gave Ruby, along with a pair of ankara - made Sneakers. If there was one thing Ruby loved about Amara, it was the fact that she always got her shoe size perfectly.

Ruby let out a squeak. "Thank you so much!" She jumped up with excitement, then pulled her aunt into a hug.

"Madam, you can release me now," Amara said, smiling. "Back in Nigeria, the other nieces and nephews make me feel old. It's good to be here yunno, were you easily call me by my name."

Ruby smiled back. She tried to picture her mother's country, Nigeria, but failed. One of her dreams was to go there and see the exotic richness first hand.

After helping Amara to arrange some things, she left her to herself. When Ruby got home, she looked at her weekly schedule and huffed. The week was so going to be packed.

True to her words, the week was thoroughly packed. The days folded together and the nights grew wings and flew by. And then Friday finally came, her best day of the week. She was so prepared for it.

"Catherine!" Ruby rushed to Catherine's room and knocked loudly before opening the door.

"You're already dressed." Catherine sounded a bit surprised.

"Yeah, let's go. . ."

"Stop acting so excited, you're making me feel nauseous."

Ruby giggled and gave Catherine a conspiratory wink. "I know that feeling." And she did know it.

"Why are we going shopping anyway. I thought you hated it with passion."

"Oh, I do hate it. But do you know what I hate more?" She asked. Catherine shrugged. "My paint supplies finishing halfway through my painting session."

"That would be bad... Very. I can just imagine you throwing a fit." Catherine put a pale, slender finger on her lips and pretended to think. "I'd love to see that someday."

"Maybe you will. Maybe you won't. Now let's get going." Ruby pulled her from the bed, dragging her out of the room and out the door.

"We shall conquer and subdue all the dragons, then we shall hunt and retrieve the hidden treasure!" Ruby was all active today. It was a rare thing, especially during the middle of fall.

"Oh common! Stop being so dramatic." Catherine rolled her eyes at Ruby, her Australian accent a little more pronounced.

Catherine drove them to the art bookshop close to their college. Ruby walked in and began roaming the store. Catherine's job was to hold the things Ruby picked. By the time they were done, they both had their hands filled. Walking to the cashier, Ruby paid for the art supplies.

When they got back, they dumped the supplies in Ruby's room and ordered Chinese takeout, devouring it while watching the latest Mission Impossible: Fall out. Typical Friday evening. When the movie was over, Ruby walked into her room and sat on her rug. The ankara sneakers Amara had given where on display, an uncommon source of joy and inspiration.

She began to imagine, sinking into a realm were she was the master. Standing, she walked to the unfinished painting with the bag of supplies and began to do what she knew how to do best. She began to paint. That's what people called it, but she liked to say it was an act of creation. A form of bringing out what lied in the deepest, darkest part of her mind to life.

°°°°°

A/N

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Mackenzie the 2nd. . . Out. . . 
*goes into her realm of chocolate pudding to write the next chapter*
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