In the College Library (Raylor)

[Ray]

Raylor smiled, sitting down. "This is fine," he said, looking at her a moment before taking his cup and sipping a little bit.

He didn't know if he'd ever get used to tastebuds, but today, he promised himself he wouldn't go crazy about it. Especially now.

"Thanks again," he said as he sipped a little more. "You are very kind."

[Ruby]

She smiled back, reddening at the complement. "Thanks. It's my pleasure. I just...it's nice to have company sometimes."
She sipped her drink. "And...I don't mean to pry...but you looked like you could use a friend."

[Ray]

Raylor kept sipping his drink as she spoke. He noticed she was turning red again. "It certainly is," he agreed.

When she said he looked like he needed a friend, he felt his own face turning red. He put his cup down and looked away. "I was that obvious?" he asked.

[Ruby]

She smiled sadly. "A bit, yeah." She reached her hand across to his and took it without thinking, squeezing gently. "What happened? If...if you don't mind my asking..."

[Ray]

Raylor gently squeezed her hand when she took it. It was so comforting to him. "I don't mind. It's probably best if I talk about it..."

He looked at her, smiling back. "I guess it started when my ship crash-landed here, killing my parents. I was left here alone with no one. Then...I met Jae. I thought she was the one. I mean...we were going to have a baby..."

He squeezed her hand a little tighter as he continued. "Then, a couple of months ago...she....disappeared. I haven't seen her since...and...I'm alone again. He felt the warmth of a tear as it rolled down his cheek."

[Ruby]

"Oh gosh...I'm so sorry!" She squeezed a little harder. "That's...that's horrible. And...Oh I'm so sorry..."

Her eyes filled with tears. "That's got to be so hard..."

[Ray]

"It's fine. I've recovered, I just can't get those memories out of my head sometimes," he said sadly, finishing his coffee and tossing the cup into the trash.

He held onto her hand, just enjoying how it felt. The feeling of her hand in his was cheering him up a little, and he smiled gently. "It can be very hard at times, especially being home alone...."

[Ruby]

She nodded. "Yeah...I live in a dorm, but half the time my roommate isn't even over, so it's like pretty much being alone too..."

She sighed. "But it's no big deal. I get used to it."

[Ray]

Raylor smiled, not noticing he had started gently stroking her hand with his thumb, gazing into her eyes. He didn't know why, but he almost felt....attracted to her.

Is that wrong? Or...I don't know what to do... Realizing what he was doing, he stopped, but still held on. "Well, my situation is a little harder to get used to," he said softly.

[Ruby]

She flushed, looking at his hand. He was...sweet. Unlike most of her ex's.

She nodded. "Yeah...I...that would be..."

[Ray]

Raylor smiled, gently releasing her hand. "You've made me feel better. Thank you, Ruby," he said gently, getting lost in her eyes again. Then, without thinking, he leaned in a little, going for a kiss...

He stopped when he was almost there and pulled away, demorphing. <I'm sorry about that,> he said shyly before turning to walk away. He felt so ashamed, knowing he probably ruined what could have been a great friendship.

[Ruby]

Ruby was about to lean in to him when he leaned into her. He could tell he wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss him back.

She blinked when he backed off and demorphed. She sat, slightly dazed for a moment, processing the last few seconds. When she realized he was walking off, she stood. "Wait!" She started walking briskly after him and tried to get in front of him.

[Ray]

Raylor's stalk eye turned to look at her when she called for him to wait. He stopped, for she was soon right in front of him. He looked at her a moment, thinking about what he had almost done.

He was relieved that she had chased after him. He put his hand under her chin, lifting it to look him in the eyes. Smiling softly, he said, <Thank you for being so helpful...I did not mean to....I mean....I don't know what came over me. Will you forgive me?>

[Ruby]

She smiled at him and put her hands on his shoulders. "I don't mind..." she replied, giving him a quick kiss on the slits that served as his nose.

[Ray]

Raylor's smile grew when she kissed him on the "nose." He wrapped his arms around her as he morphed again.

He smiled once fully morphed. "You don't?" he asked, before gently pulling her into a kiss.