Chapter Thirteen:
I'll Always Be Here For You

	Sometime during Stormy's day of crying and feeling sorry for herself, she'd fallen asleep. It hadn't been until a cold breeze from the window blew across her, that she woke up. Weakly she pushed herself up, her body was tense and ached from the emotional roller coaster she'd been on. Her eyes were sticky and burned from all the crying she'd done. Her nose was raw from the hundreds of cheap tissues she'd used to wipe it with.
	With all the strength that she had left in her body, she forced herself up into a standing position. She was still fully dressed in the wrinkled array of clothing that she'd laid down in. Stormy didn't care though, she feebly walked across the room, closing the window, pulling the curtains closed. If the world were to disappear right now, Stormy wouldn't care one little bit.
	It took great effort she pulled her shirt off and dropped it on the floor, followed by her bra, jeans, and panties. The room was freezing cold, but she didn't feel it. The only thing she could feel now was the crushing loneliness that lingered in the house. Stormy smirked an ironic smile, her uncontrollable loneliness had been the main cause of all of her misfortune. If only she'd controlled herself. Taken her time to fix herself, before getting into another relationship. This would have never happened.
	Across the room from where she was standing was a standing mirror. The reflection in it was ugly. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. The things that she had allowed to transpire after she'd gotten divorced was appalling. Since your divorce? Try your whole entire life. That inner voice goaded her. She threw the closet door open and pulled one of her long night shirts out, putting it on. At least now she didn't have to see her disgusting naked body. Too bad she couldn't put an old shirt over her soul and hide it.
	Stormy walked across the hall into the bathroom to wash up. The black mascara that cascaded from her eyes made her look like a demonic rocker. Her breath tasted awful. From not eating or drinking anything all day, she suspected. Maybe I should get cleaned up, I might feel better. She told herself, as she started the water running. First things first, she brushed her teeth. As she had thought, the minty toothpaste taste in her mouth did make her feel better. Not as good as the cold water on her face had though. The soft fabric of the towel cuddling her face was nice too. When she thought she'd done enough and was at least feeling like she didn't want to kill herself. She headed down the staircase.
	When she got down the stairs. She went directly for her pack of cigarettes, pulling out her last joint. If there was ever a time to smoke a special cigarette, now was that time. Her hands were trembling when she put it in her mouth. It must have been destiny, because there was only one match left in the box. When she struck it, there was a knock at the door.
	Stormy's heart skipped a beat. Her palms grew sweaty. Images of Steven standing at the door wanting to come in, filled her head. The heat from the match burned her thumb, causing her to grunt and drop it on the floor. Instinctively she stepped down on it, putting it out. Had he really come back? Was he ready to forgive me? The very thought of him being with her again, made the guilty pang come back. But what if it was meant to be? Her mind cried desperately. All of her rational thoughts were leaving her again, as if she had already smoked that joint that hung from her lips. What should I do if it is him? She asked herself. There only was on answer. If it was him at the door, she would just let him back into her life, and live with consequences.
	Stormy took the joint out of her mouth and laid it on the counter, before walking over to the door. She took a deep breath. Trying everything in her power to calm the raging torrent in her stomach, that didn't involve vomiting. The door opened into the cold winter night. Stormy broke down crying when she saw who was on the porch.
	Ruby stepped through the screen door and wrapped her arms tightly around Stormy, pushing her face into her neck. Stormy just let the tears come in waves, sobbing in the protective embrace of her friend. Stormy sagged against her, her body felt as if it weighed a ton. Ruby was there now to hold her up. To carry her if she needed it.
	After a long time of standing in the doorway crying into Ruby's arms. Stormy finally stepped away looking into the face of her friend, who had been crying too. Ruby just nodded and close the door behind her, locking it.
	“Honey, go sit on the couch. I'm going to make us some tea.” Her voice was warm and nurturing.
	Stormy nodded and did as she was told. It had been the exact thing she needed right now. Ruby disappeared through the kitchen archway. Stormy paced into the living room, flopping down on the couch. The cold weather outside was making her bones hurt, the ones in her hands especially. Stormy attempted to massage her own hands as they rested in her lap. Ruby walked into the room and sat down next to her, urging Stormy to tell her everything that happened.
	It hadn't taken much coercing to get her to open up. Stormy told Ruby everything that had happened between her and Steven. From the low points to the high points. From the sweet moments, to the jealousy fed inferno. Stormy had even told Ruby about how all she had wanted was the control. Of her life, of everything. In the end though, it didn't matter. Neither her nor Steven had control. They just ended up spin out in a fiery relationship that burned out too soon. A rebound that wasn't meant to last more than a few fuck sessions. Her and Steven had come from different worlds and collided in to one another too hard. Steven had been too strong, too hopped up on the confidence she'd given him. Stormy had been too weak and was crushed against his inertia. Now all that was left were the pieces. That why Ruby had come. To help her pick up the pieces. What had she said? Stormy asked her broken mind. I'll always be there for you. Ruby's voice echoed in her head.
	Ruby reached up and pushed Stormy's hair from her face, so she can look at her. “Don't look at me!” Stormy snapped. “I feel like my face weighs a ton.”
	“Hush now. I don't want you to get down on yourself about this. It's hard to get over a break up. It's even harder when that person was a rebound, because no matter what, you'll always feel guilty about it.” Ruby's voice was soft and alluring.
	Stormy looked at her from the corner of her eyes, lifting her head away from her arms. “How do you know?”
	“Because I've done the same damn thing.” Ruby pushing Stormy's hair back over her shoulders and away from her face.
	“When?” Stormy cocked her head slowly, she'd never heard this story before.
	“After my first boyfriend left me because of my pseudo penis. I ended up dating my best friend. She and I had been through so much together. I thought that she was the only person that could make me feel better. I ended up just using her to stop feeling so bad. I never felt shittier in my life. When we broke up, I didn't just lose a girlfriend, I lost my best friend. I never recovered from that. At least not until I met you.” Ruby caress her fingers along Stormy's cheek bone, to cup her jaw.
	Stormy listened intently, enjoying her friend's tender caress. “I realized later on that I just wasn't strong enough to overcome my heartache by myself. Cheryl was young and didn't know how to even deal with something of that magnitude. I knew it before we went out, but it didn't stop me. I just let it happen anyway.”
	Stormy pushed her face against Ruby's hand. “I never let anyone get close to me after that. I wanted to make sure if something like that ever happened again, I would be strong enough to protect my friends from me.”
	“I'm sorry Ruby...I never knew.” Stormy reached up and gripped Ruby's collar pulling her close.
	“Don't be, I'm not anymore.” Ruby touched her full lips to Stormy's forehead. “I'm just telling you this, because I want you to know that I've been there before. And I'm here for you now. I'm...strong enough to be your rebound if you need me to be. We can get through this together.”
	“I don't want you to get hurt.” Stormy rested her head against Ruby's chest, her heart was pounding hard.
	“You won't. You can't hurt me anymore than I've already hurt myself. I just want to be with you, more than anything in this world. If it means I have to do it as a rebound, then I'll take that chance.” Ruby pulled back, looking into Stormy's welling eyes.
	Stormy leaned into her, their lips touching firmly. Ruby's lips were soft like silken pillows. Warm and welcoming, like home after a long day of roaming. Stormy waited for the nagging voice to call to her. Telling her that she was making a mistake, but there was no voice. Just the sound of her own heartbeat, and Ruby's soft breathing, warm on her face.
	Ruby cradled Stormy to her, shifted her head to the side to deepen the kiss. Stormy parted her lips, wanting to feel the kiss. Wanting to feel desired again. Ruby's tongue tasted like cinnamon, sweet and spicy. The feeling of her friend's tongue probing her mouth, lit a fire inside of her. Ruby was stronger than she seemed, but tender and slow. It was easy to feel that Ruby wanted it, as much as Stormy was starting to want to give it to her. Ruby had waited for a long time to be this intimate with her, maybe she deserved it.
	Ruby pulled away from the kiss, her fingers caressing along Stormy's jaw. There was a glistening in her golden eyes as she looked deeply into the Stormy's. Maybe she was even looking deeper than just her eyes, Stormy couldn't tell, but she couldn't look away, she didn't want to break the link that they shared.
	“I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with. I mean it.” Ruby's breath was warm on  her face. “Trust me, I'll know too. Beside Dutch, there isn't anyone in this world that knows you like I do.”
	The words were so comforting.  Like Ruby had just wrapped her in a warm blanket of protection. It had only taking a moment of thought for Stormy to know that she wasn't ready for this, not yet. Ruby spoke the truest word anyone had ever spoken to her. The thought that she was going to give in to another chance relationship over a semantics, told her that she wasn't ready. Stormy reached up gripping Ruby's hand, pushing it firmly to her cheek again.
	“I'm not ready, not yet.” She said through a tear strained voice.
	Ruby just smiled back and gave her a peck on the bridge of her nose. “I understand, I don't mind waiting. You're well worth it. Come on, I'll take you upstairs and get you into bed, before I take off. You look like you could use some a good nights sleep.”
	Stormy shook her head slowly. “You're leaving?”
	“Well not until I get you cleaned up and safely tucked into your bed, I'm not.” There was a warm playful cadence to her tone.
	Ruby had tried to get up from the couch, but Stormy held her tightly. “Stay with me.” Her fingers searched frantically for Ruby's until she'd found them.
	“Are you sure? I don't want anything to happen, that you're not ready for.” Ruby laced her fingers with Stormy's.
	“I may never be fully ready for this Ruby. All I know is that I want you there beside me while I try to get ready.” Stormy's voice cracked when she spoke her name.
	“I'm here for you,” Ruby got up from the couch, helping Stormy to her feet.
	They walked up the stairs hand in hand. Once they were in the bedroom, they shared another soft kiss. Stormy helped Ruby strip down to her underwear before they both got into the bed. Ruby lay behind Stormy, her arm wrapped across Stormy's bare stomach.
	Ruby softly sung a song against Stormy's back. “...oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need. This ain't love, it's clear to see. But darling, stay with me.”
	Stormy giggled fondly at the sound of Ruby's untrained voice. It was endearing and beautiful. Ruby simply kissed her gently between her shoulder blades once again. Her breath warm across the fur on Stormy's back. It was nice to feel Ruby so close to her. To smell her scent, feel her body heat all around her. The best thing about it was, there was not one ounce of guilt. Ruby's low humming, helped Stormy's eyes to grow heavier pulling her into a deep sleep. The last thing she heard before she was gone, was Ruby saying goodnight to her.