Dreams are funny things. Sometimes, the dream is
plainly just that, a manifestation of the subconscious
mind. Other times, the line between reality and
unreality is more blurred. Truth fades into fiction,
and the world around you isn't what it seems.
Ruby knew she was dreaming. She'd gone to sleep in Four Eyes' arms, her favourite place to fall asleep, and she knew, quite rationally, that this was a dream. Other than that, she also knew she hadn't been to this run down tavern in Queens in a year, nearly to the day. And there was no way she'd come here if she were awake and coherent. She couldn't, the memories were too painful.
Frowning, she pivoted in a slow circle. As clearly as she knew this was all in her mind, the floorboards beneath her feet felt very solid, the smoke stung her eyes, and the crack of billiard balls hitting each other rang in her ears.
"Got a light?" a voice asked from beside her, and she turned.
"No, sorry," she murmured. The boy in the ugly patterned vest grinned.
"It's all right," he replied, sticking the cigar into his mouth anyway. "Smoking'll kill ya."
"Do I know you?" she asked him. He was short, barely taller than she herself, with dark hair, swarthy skin, and dancing eyes that gleamed at her from below the brim of his hat.
"Nah, don't think so," came the cheerful answer.
"Then why am I dreaming about you?" she wondered aloud. The boy's grin widened.
"Are you sure you're dreaming?" he asked, and she noticed that his cigar was lit now. She hadn't seen him find a light.
She nodded. "Quite sure," she said.
"How do you know?" the boy persisted, and Ruby felt a spurt of annoyance.
"'Cause I do. I fell asleep, and I ain't woken up yet." This made sense to her.
"Maybe you just don't remember waking up," the boy suggested, pushing up his hat a bit.
"I think I'd remember that," she shrugged, looking around her. "What am I doin' here?" she wanted to know. "I never come here."
"Bad memories?" the boy nodded as if he knew something about this, and Ruby had to blink back tears.
"Yeah," she murmured. "I want to wake up now."
The boy smiled, almost gently. "Are you sure? What if you could change those memories?"
Ruby bit her lip. "I wish. But you can't do that."
"Can't you?" the boy eyed her. "Why not?"
"'Cause it don't work that way." Her patience was beginning to wear thin.
"Don't it?" Pause. "Ya ever read Shakespeare?"
"What? Why?"
"More things in heaven and earth, Horatio, and all that?"
"You're really exasperatin', ya know that?" she sighed at him.
The boy laughed. "So they tell me." He paused, studying her face, his expression turning serious. "What would you say, Ruby, if I told you you could change those memories?"
Ruby smiled a bit wistfully. "I'd say thank you for the thought, but that's impossible."
"Nothing's impossible," he persisted and she rolled her eyes. "Look over there," he nodded towards the bar, and Ruby turned to follow his gaze to a couple seated near the end, their backs facing her. The boy was tall, with sandy blonde hair and broad shoulders. Beside him, a small girl, red haired and slight figured. Ruby blinked.
"That's - "
"Once in a while, the powers that be grant second chances," the boy with the cigar was going on as she gaped. "So, if you want to give your friend one, you have exactly six minutes and thirty four seconds before a knife hits his throat."
She gasped at that, opening her mouth to protest, to demand what kind of sick, twisted joke this was, but there was a rushing in her ears, like a windstorm only a hundred times stronger. She felt dizzy, disorientated, her vision fading. She felt as if she were falling, then a hand on her arm steadied her.
"Ya aw right, Rubes?"
She blinked, trying to focus her eyes. "Yeah," she muttered automatically. "What - "
"C'mon, let's go, I still gotta walk all the way back to Brooklyn afta dis."
What?
The world snapped into focus like a gunshot, and Ruby reeled. "Bastian?" she blurted out, and the blonde boy paused on the cobblestone street.
"Hey, what's da mattah? Ya look like ya seen a ghost," he remarked worriedly, coming back to grasp her hands.
Second chance.
What the hell is going on here?!
"I - " she swallowed, trying to find words. It's a dream, it's all a dream, I'll wake up any second now, and -
Over Bastian's shoulder she could make out the opening of the alleyway shortcut to the bridge. It awned black and forbidding, like... like a place where an innocent boy might die on a balmy autumn night -
She shuddered and looked up into concerned blue eyes.
"Let's go back to Rye's an' get some a' Mac's boys to walk us back to Brooklyn," she suggested. Bastian arched an eyebrow as he rubbed her arms.
"Why?"
"Because..." she faltered. "Because I want to."
Bastian thought about this. "You wanna spend the night in Brooklyn?" he repeated.
"Yes, Bastian, let's just go," she was getting frantic that the longer they stood there, even in the bright light of the streetlamps, the more of a target they became - even in her dreams, Luke couldn't be far away.
"Aw right." He looked pleased, if a little lost. "What do we need Mac's boys for?"
"Safety in numbers," she replied, tugging on his hands. Bastian promptly scowled.
"I can protect ya, Rubes," he protested. Ruby stopped and tried not to start bawling hysterically.
"Of course ya can, love. It ain't me I'm worried about, it's you."
This seemed to soothe his damaged ego, and Bastian grinned. "Really? About me? Aw, Ruby, thanks." Still grinning hugely, he threw an arm around her shoulders and led her back towards the safety and light of Rye's Tavern and Billiard Hall.
What an odd dream.
Ruby rolled over and snuggled against Four Eyes' back, reluctant to relinquish her hold on sleep. She could feel the sun on her face, and it was warm.
That dream-- She brushed the thought away. Sad, so sad. How she wished it were truly that easy to change the tragedies of the past.
"Hey, sugar, time to get movin'," she murmured, moving up and kissing the back of his neck. "Can't stay in bed all day."
A huge yawn, and the boy beside her shifted lazily.
"Aw, why not, Rubes?"
Holy Christ!
She shot into a sitting position, blinking sleep out of her eyes, feeling as though someone had just dropped her straight into a pool of icy cold water. She was awake - wasn't she? She had to be! But -
"Bastian?" she squeaked out.
The blonde boy yawned. "Expectin' somone else? Geez, Ruby, thanks," he muttered, but he didn't look terribly offended.
"What - how - oh, my God," she couldn't breathe.
Bastian frowned. "What's wrong? Ya aw right?" Sitting up, he put a hand against her cheek. His touch felt real enough, but -
"What would you say, Ruby, if I told you you could change those memories?"
What on earth - ?
"Once in a while, the powers that be grant second chances. So, if you want to give your friend one, you have exactly six minutes and thirty four seconds before a knife hits his throat...."
"Oh my, God," she whispered again as Bastian frowned and brushed her tangled hair out of her eyes.
"Ruby?"
It wasn't possible - the world didn't work that way - an entire year - it wasn't possible.
"Should I get ya a doctor?" he fussed, pressing his fingers to her forehead to check for a fever.
"N-no, I'm aw right," she finally managed to reply.
Second chances. How in the world –
"Ruby?" Bastian was frowning deeply. Ruby looked up at him for a moment, then promptly burst into tears. "Hey, hey, what’s the mattah?" the Brooklyn boy blinked in surprise, then quickly pulled her into his arms. "Did I do sumthin’ wrong?"
She couldn’t speak. Bastian was alive. Somehow, by the grace of - something – he was here and unharmed and the entire past year hadn’t happened – last night – the boy with the cigar – Rye’s – that all had been a dream, but this, this was real – the arms around her were solid – she was awake. It was real.
Thank you.
"No, I’m all right," she finally managed to say between sobs. "I dreamt you died," she whispered into his shoulder.
"Me?" Pause. "Yer dis upset about me?" Bastian sounded incredulous. Shaking his head, he pressed a kiss to her hair. "It’s aw right, I’m heah, I ain’t dead," he grinned and wiped her cheeks with the back of his hand. "See? Nuthin’ ta cry about."
Nothing to cry about, but she couldn’t stop. The world didn’t work this way, but somehow, they’d been granted a miracle. Just wait until Four Eyes –
Four Eyes.
The past year hadn’t happened, which meant – her heart turned over and the bottom seemed to fall out of her stomach. Which meant they hadn’t fallen in love – or at least, he hadn’t. Without the memories of that year - Ruby found herself stunned out of her tears. Without Four Eyes - Bastian was alive, but –
Miracles apparently didn’t come without sacrifices.
Pulling away from Bastian, she wiped hurriedly at her tears. "I wanna go to the Bronx," she announced, swinging her legs over the side of the small bed. Bastian’s grin faded and he scowled a bit.
"Why?"
"’Cause, you an’ Four Eyes hafta talk," she replied, standing up. Guilt tore through her as she scrambled into her clothes. She had no memory of the time between the events in the dream and actually waking up, but it was obvious what had happened in the interim. She felt vaguely ill at the thought of letting anyone other than Four Eyes – even Bastian, whom she’d been intimate with so many times before – touch her.
"Ain’t got nuthin’ to say," Bastian muttered, getting out of the bed himself and beginning to dress.
"Yes, you do. An’ I ain’t takin’ no for an answer. This has gone on too long," she told him firmly, braiding her hair quickly. "You an’ him hafta work things out."
"Ruby - "
"No arguments," she snapped, then softened as she moved closer to him. "Bastian, please? Fer me? It would mean a lot to me," she smiled up at him and Bastian heaved a sigh.
"Like I kin say no ta that face," he muttered in disgust. "Let’s go the Bronx."
She led Bastian straight to that particular street corner in Port Morris, without a single hesitation. If Bastian wondered how she knew so well where his former best friend sold, he didn’t mention it.
Ruby caught her breath when she saw him. It all looked so normal, such a familiar, beloved sight. He was selling his newspapers, down the street from Doze, same as he did every day, except –
She was not going to cry. This was a wonderful opportunity, a blessing.
“Four Eyes?” It was a struggle to keep her voice steady. Four Eyes turned when he heard her voice, and in the split second before his poker face slid into place, she saw the surprise in his expression.
“Hey,” he greeted them quietly.
“Hey, love,” Ruby choked back tears and managed a wobbly smile.
“Hey,” Bastian added, vaguely grudgingly.
There was a beat of awkward silence as the three looked at each other. Finally, Four Eyes cleared his throat and shifted the newspapers in his arms. “How’s Faith?” he asked, directing the question to Bastian.
The blonde boy shot a glance at Ruby before answering. “She’s aw right. Hunter an’ some a’ da Queens fellas got her out,” he shrugged. Ruby exhaled slightly to hear it. At least one thing was still the same. There was another silence. “So, uh - ” Bastian shrugged again. “How ya doin’?”
“Can’t complain,” Four Eyes answered, warily.
Bastian nodded and cast another glance at the girl beside him. Ruby let out a shaky breath and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m gonna - ” she waved a hand vaguely in the direction of a nearby dress shop. “I’ll be right back.” That said, she bolted, leaving the two to talk alone.
Bastian frowned as he watched her go. “She’s been actin’ weird all day,” he remarked, then turned back to his former best friend. “I guess she’s allowed, dis Forlani thing’s been hard on ‘er.”
Four Eyes didn’t respond and from her eavesdropping spot behind a nearby fruit cart, Ruby wanted to scream. He’d always been so…. like this. She knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling, but he wouldn’t say anything.
Bastian sighed, exhaling a long breath. “Shit.” He glanced the way Ruby went, then back to Four Eyes. “Forlani has ta go down,” he stated, firmly. His tone implied nothing but resolve, no accusation.
Again, no reaction.
Bastian bit back another curse. “Ya in or not?” he demanded.
“Wasn’t expectin’ ta be asked,” Four Eyes replied quietly. Bastian shrugged.
“Yeah, well, I’m askin’,” he muttered. Would it be horribly sissy to admit he missed his best friend? Another awkward silence, and Ruby scowled. Say something dammit, she ordered Four Eyes mentally. Don’t just stand there.
“What brings ya heah?” Four Eyes finally asked, and Ruby crossed her fingers. This could get the ball rolling.
“I got dragged outta bed ‘cause Ruby said you an’ me needed ta tawk.”
She was going to slap him for that.
Another beat.
“I know ya ain’t got nuthin’ ta do wit’ Forlani,” Bastian added, seriously.
“How do ya know?”
Now she was going to slap both of them.
Bastian looked away. “’Cause I know ya don’t make the same mistake twice.” He paused and looked back at Four Eyes. “Fool me twice, right?”
“Ya didn’t seem overly convinced yesterday,” Four Eyes replied, almost too low for Ruby to hear. She had to clamp down on the urge to rush from her hidden spot and throw her arms around him.
“Changed me mind,” Bastian almost snapped, plainly frustrated. “I’s allowed, ain’t I?” Four Eyes shrugged slightly, but remained silent otherwise. Neither one spoke for a moment, then Bastian sighed again. “I’ll see ya.” He started to turn away, then paused and turned back. “Dere’s a poker game in Harlem on Saturday.” Four Eyes watched him, then nodded slowly. “I ain’t gotten much better,” Bastian went on, with a self conscious shrug. “But…”
Four Eyes almost smiled. Even from her vantage point, Ruby saw the subtle change in expression and had to bite back tears. “Ah - ” he began.
“So,” Bastian continued, somewhat heartened, “If ya wanna come win all me money…”
“I’ll try ta be dere,” Four Eyes finally said. Ruby almost jumped for joy. Bastian grinned, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.
“Aw right den,” he nodded.
“Um - ” Four Eyes began again, and Bastian paused, waiting. “’msorry,” he mumbled in a rush, shifting his papers uncomfortably.
Bastian studied him for am agonizingly long moment. “As far as I’m concerned, everythin’ is fergotten,” he replied, sticking out a hand. Four Eyes hesitated, then shook it awkwardly. Ruby stopped trying to hold back her sobs, and ignoring the odd looks she was receiving from the fruit peddler, buried her face in her hands and cried tears of sheer relief.
Four Eyes shifted his weight, muttering some weak joke about being a bastard. Bastian flashed him a disapproving look. “What part a’ fergotten don’t ya get?” he demanded. Then, “now, where’d dat girl a’ mine go?”
She was really going to slap him for that.
Wiping her cheeks, Ruby left her observation spot and rejoined them, summoning up a shaky smile for the two of them. Bastian put an arm around her shoulders, and for a moment, no one spoke. Then, unable to stop herself, Ruby stepped forward and put her arms around the boy she adored, hugging him with all the love that had developed in a whole other world. Four Eyes blinked and awkwardly hugged her back. She could feel the surprise in his tense body, and she could feel Bastian’s scowl without even looking at him.
“So we’ll see ya Saturday?” she asked, her voice husky from choked back tears. Four Eyes nodded slightly, and she smiled.
“Later,” Bastian nodded, and his best friend, no longer former, if not completely restored, nodded back at him.
“See ya,” he murmured in reply. Ruby could tell the whole conversation had thrown him for a complete loop.
She couldn’t stop looking back at him as Bastian led her away.
“Ya wanna tell me what dat was all about?” Bastian demanded as soon as they were out of Four Eyes’ earshot.
“What was what all about?” Ruby blinked up at him innocently. Bastian scowled.
“You got a thing fer O’Malley er sumthin’?” he demanded, and Ruby winced inwardly. Should have known. She’d never been the subtle type.
“Um, no?”
“Um, yeah?” Bastian shot back. Ruby sighed and stopped walking.
“Bastian, it has nuthin’ ta do wit’ that.” All right, blatant lie. “I jus’… wit’ Luke back, it brought eveythin’ back, an’ I jus’ thought it was about time y’all… ya know?” she shrugged. Bastian sighed, his expression softening.
“Aw right,” he conceded, leaning in to kiss her. Ruby let him, but only after a quick glance told her Four Eyes couldn’t see them. Not that it would matter to him, really.
She wasn’t sure how much she liked this brave new world.
Stay tuned! More to come...
