Work Text:
Rues Year did not start very well, she had to admit that. She almost went into Cardiac Arrest, had huge fights with Gia and Ali, fucked with that creepy ass gangster lady Laurie and lied to everyone close to her.
The thing with Jules and Elliot became really weird really fast. At first she was thrilled to have her two favourite people with her at all times but Rue and Elliot were constantly hiding their drug consumption from Jules and Rue couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something too.
Their games of truth or dare became more intense with every quest and the air thinkend with jealousy. Eventually Rue had snapped at them in the car, she couldn’t think one straight thought, it was too much.
So after the fight she had tried to drown her negative thoughts in the suitcase she got from Laurie and she could’ve sworn that she saw death in some fucked up ethereal way.
This traumatic experience was in a way the scariest she ever had so this time she really wanted to stay clean, for her sake and that of her friends and family.
She wasn't quite ready to face Jules and Elliot yet but she wanted to put more energy towards her friends, so the only logical thing was to start with her oldest one.
Lexi and Rue were sitting on the floor of the room that Lexi and Cassie shared. Cassie was out most of the time but Lexi claimed that she didn’t know where her sister was on all those nights.
Maybe she was hanging with Maddy or she was dating another East Highland asshole no one should know about. The classics.
“To be honest with you Rue, I was quite surprised when you asked me to hang out with you”
A sad sounding, huffed laugh followed Lexi's statement.
“I was a shit friend, I know that now and I really want to change that, you feel me?”
She had said stuff like this before and she knew that Lexi was sceptical so Rue tried to say it in the most genuine way she could.
They were having a good time, talking about all the funny shit that happened to them since preschool and Rue laughed more than she had in the past few months. She really missed her friend Lexi.
A perk of not being high all the time was that you notice stuff. For example the constant vibration that came from Lexis phone and the fact that she tried hard not to pick it up all the time to check it. Or the fact that she smiled like an idiot if she checked it. It was kind of odd considering that she wasn’t the type who got a lot of texts from people but maybe shit changed in the time Rue wasn’t present in her life.
The second thing she noticed was the green cable knit sweater that was lying crunched up on Lexis bed and Rue could’ve sworn that she had seen it before.
It came to her like a divine inspiration.
“Yo Lex! Isn’t that Fezco’s sweater on your bed?” She said while pointing at it.
“Ahm…I don’t know, I found it at the end of the New Years Party. It looked expensive so I picked it up in case someone lost it. B..But I really don’t know whose it is. Maybe it is Fezcos. I wouldn’t know.”
She rambled as a slight blush crept on her cheeks.
“I could be wrong but I think I saw him wear it a couple of times. You want his number? I can give it to you.”
Rue tried to grab the phone in her pocket before Lexi answered.
“I already have it but thanks anyway” Her eyes widened slightly as she realised what she said.
In a confused but non judgemental way Rue asked: “You two know each other?”
“I mean everybody knows Fez, right?”
“Yeah I guess. I just never saw you interacting with him.”
“Oh wow, where did the time go? It got late, don't you think? Maybe you should head home, I don’t want your mom to worry about where you are.”
Lexi seemed in a hurry but Rue understood what she meant, it really was late and her mom had the habit of getting paranoid when it came to her oldest daughter. Who knows why.
Just like every other weekend in East Highland some kids' parents weren’t home and a Party was organised.
Rue didn’t know whose house she stepped into but that didn’t really matter. Lexi had borrowed her mom's car and Rue had tagged along with Cassie, Maddy and her.
She wasn’t in the mood for a Party because alcohol and drugs were off the table and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face Jules but things had to be sorted out so she came anyway.
She looked around the crowd and spotted Fez who was already looking in her direction. He was sitting on a grimy Couch that overlooked the whole room. These spots were always his favourite because he could see everyone and potential customers could see him. The perfect place to be a part of the party without actually participating.
Maybe she could hang with him for the time being but before she started walking over she noticed that his gaze wasn’t set on her but on Lexi.
He looked kind of mesmerised and watched her as she walked behind her sister.
It took him a second to notice Rue who was staring at him.
Not thinking much about what she just witnessed she walked over and greeted him.
They talked while Fez smoked his usual Joint but Rue could help but notice that his attention wasn’t fully with her as he scanned the crowd frequently.
He turned his head away from her to look at something on the other side of the room and there it was. A small purple bruise on his neck.
“Is that a Hickey?” Rue asked, laughing.
Fezcos hand got up to the spot on his neck and covered it.
“What? No. Watchu mean?”
“I mean the thing you’re trying to hide right now. I’m neither blind nor dumb you know.”
“Yeah I know but it ain’t no hickey.”
Rue didn’t believe one word he said.
“Ok I believe you.What is it then?”
She never saw him flustered but she guessed there’s a first for everything.
“Ash threw something at me.” He simply stated while looking at his shoes.
Even though Rue knew that Ashtray wasn’t a normal kid and had severe anger issues she didn’t buy it. Her mind was already set up that Fez was hooking up with someone. Was it someone she knew? Was it a serious or a casual thing?
She wanted to know, she wanted to press the matter further but before her interrogation could beginn she felt a light touch on her shoulder.
“Rue?”
She turned around and saw Jules. She looked beautiful as ever. Her blond Hair framed her face perfectly and her Make up complimented her facial features. Rue felt like she fell in love with her over and over again .Every Time she looked or spoke to her.
They had to talk about their latest fight. Jules had to know that she was sorry for snapping at her and for lying about using. She had to know that Rue was trying everything to stay sober not just for Jules this time but for herself and everybody else she loved.
“Can we talk? Please?”
A bit dumbstruck she managed to answer: “Yeah course. I was just chilling with Fez but we can talk.”
Fezco took a long drag from his joint before he spoke. “Wassup Jewel.”
The talk that she had with Jules wasn’t pleasant but it was necessary. They had to get their problems out of the way so that Rue could focus on the important things. Her mission to find out who Fez was seeing. She disregarded her friends for too long and she wanted to be involved in their lives again.
Rue didn’t really have a plan but she walked into Fezcos house like it belonged to her.
“Hey Ash.”
“What the fuck you doin’ here?” He said sitting at the dining table, counting cash.
“Where is Fez?”
“Not here.”
Rue didn’t know if it was a question or a statement so she looked around. A pair of Mary Janes laid next to the door she just came through.
“Ash, are you lying to me?” She couldn’t help but smirk at him.
“Man, I don't give a shit. He can’t say I didn’t fucking try to get rid of you.”
She interpreted that as the go to start looking for Fez and his mystery girl. Maybe she would catch them in flagranti.
If this was anyone other than Fez she would be scared that they would be angry at her for doing this but he never stayed angry when it came to Rue and the shit she did so she started her way to his bedroom.
The door was closed of course, she suspected that and evaluated the options of knocking or bursting through the door.
She had some civility left to make herself known before she entered.
“Fez! I’m here to hang out. Can I come in?”
“No. Fuck off Rue. I’m busy.” But she chose not to hear him and opened the door.
There they were. Fez lying on his bed with a brunette Girl straddling him. They were mostly clothed but it seemed like they were about to get rid of a couple of layers if the hands on her ass were something to go by. Clearly surprised the unknown woman hid her head in his shoulder.
“Ayo Rue are you deaf or sum? Get the fuck outta here.”
He looked pissed but Rue was smitten.
“Are you going to introduce your girlfriend to me or what?”
“I’m foreal.”
The look he gave her was serious so Rue decided to go back to the living room. They had to come out eventually, she clearly killed the mood.
She threw herself on one of the ancient sofas they had in their house. The suspense got unbearable for her and it definitely wasn’t overly dramatic.
“Sooo Ash…you like your brother's new girlfriend?”
“She ain’t new.”
How long had Rue been oblivious to this and why did Ash never say more than a couple of words? This would be easier if he liked to gossip like Maddy or Cassie.
“I was hoping you’d be gone by now.” Fez said as he came walking inside the living room.
“Hi Rue.” It was Lexi's cautious voice.
“Sup Lex….”
It was embarrassing for her to admit but it took her a moment to realise what was happening right in front of her. So she just stared at her friends, not a single word coming out of her mouth even though she had a million thoughts that wanted to be verbalised.
Her gaze wandered to Ashtray to confirm that he was seeing the same thing she saw.
“I think we broke her.” Lexi said uncomfortably but smiling nonetheless.
Rue finally found some words. “Yes. Yes you did.”
It was so obvious and yet she didn’t put the pieces together. Her way of becoming a better friend and a better observer would be longer than she thought.