Twisted Devil by Ivy Blake

Chapter Twenty Four

Ruby

Me and Bella posed for pictures as our parents went stir-crazy with their phones. It was the first time that Dad and Zoe had met Bella’s parents and from first impressions, I could tell that they were all getting on like a house on fire. I couldn’t help noticing the way that Bella’s mom kept side eyeing Zoe and making non-verbal contact with her husband, so I assumed that the age thing hadn’t gone over their heads either. But no one said a word, and the celebrations were able to go on smoothly. Bella and I were practically the stars of the show and it was nice, if not a little intense, to have so much attention and praise thrown our way.

“I’m so proud of you girls!” Bella’s mom exclaimed as she wiped away her tears with a handkerchief for what must have been the fifth time already today. “It’s been a tough year for you both and you’re both looking radiant as ever!”

Me and Bella squeezed each other tight and posed for another picture. Her mom was right, we looked pretty fucking fantastic, and I had to give thanks to Bella for doing my makeup and picking out this dress because I was basically pulling my hair out with stress from having to look for the perfect outfit.

“She’s right, you guys look sensational!” said Zoe as she snapped her own pictures of us, no doubt to go on her Instagram with some sort of cringey caption like ‘future stepdaughter just graduated!’

Just kidding, of course! But I wouldn’t put it past her…

Even though Zoe still did make me cringe sometimes, I’d gotten to the point where I was too occupied with my own relationship to obsess over her one with Dad. That didn’t mean I wasn’t counting down the days until they broke up, because I was still sure that it was going to be soon. And even though I didn’t agree with the weird ass age gap, it wasn’t my business. And besides, Zoe was starting to annoy me like 1% less every single day, and I guess that was something.

“I’m so proud of you! Your speech was so good!” exclaimed Dad as he walked in front of the cameras and pulled me into a hug. I hadn’t seen him in a suit for a really long time and forgot how smart and put together he looked when he actually made the effort instead of his usual attire. The impact of his chest against my face knocked my graduation cap off, but Bella caught it before it hit the ground.

“He’s right, you were amazing!” exclaimed Bella’s dad as he smiled at our embrace.

“Thank you,” I said, first to Bella’s dad, then Dad. Dad squeezed me tightly and for the first time in what felt like forever, I actually felt like he noticed my achievements. Noticed me. And that I actually had to work for shit.

“You came in late, in your final year, and you beat them all. That’s my fucking kid!” He said, low enough so that only I could hear. He pulled back and held me by the shoulders. “I always believed in you and I know you’re going to go on to do amazing things.”

His eyes twinkled, and I bit back my tears as he pulled me into another hug again. “I’m so, so proud of you!” He ruffled my hair, and I gave him a dramatic scowl before fixing my appearance in my phone camera.

Graduation was a lot more stressful than I’d expected it to be and I couldn’t wait until the party tonight so I could blow off some steam and actually relax properly while not being around parents. While I knew I’d be grateful for the pictures later, right now I was tired of posing and just wanted to get out of my dress and out of the limelight.

I felt like there’d been even more pressure on me than if it had been a normal graduation because I was valedictorian and didn’t want to risk a nip slip or a tear or making a fool of myself on stage. Luckily, everything had gone as well as it could. I’d stumbled over a few words at the start of my speech, but I breathed through it and hoped that no one realised or that the recording didn’t pick it up.

“Anyone want to come and grab some refreshments?” asked Bella’s dad.

Dad and Zoe mumbled in agreement, leaving me, Bella and her mom standing alone together. I tried not to display my curiosity at the fact that Bella’s mom was still standing with us and was hesitant as she beckoned me to come towards her. Bella shrugged as I walked towards her mom, unsure if she was going to tell me off or tell me some wild secret. Since I’d moved to this town, I’d realised that literally anything and everything was possible.

“I just wanted to say thank you for being such a good friend to Bella. This year has been really challenging for her and for our whole family and I know she really appreciates having you in her life,” said Bella’s mom gently. I looked into her kind eyes, the same ones she’d gifted Bella, and felt warmth flood into my chest.

“Don’t even mention it!” I said honestly. “Bella’s been an amazing friend to me since the day I got here and she’s made my time at Valley High absolutely amazing,” I added. Bella’s mom beamed in response and pulled me into a hug.

“I’m going to check out these tasty refreshments. You want anything?”

“I’m alright for now, thanks.”

My stomach was still too anxious to risk eating anything, so I planned to wait until things had calmed down and I was home again. After Bella’s mom left, Bella looked up from her phone and came over to join me.

“You guys chatting shit about me?” she joked. The gold in her eyeshadow sparkled every time it caught the sun, and I made a mental note to ask her to teach me how to do mine like that.

“I wouldn’t even dare,” I chuckled.

“Well done, by the way!” Bella squealed as she pulled me into what was probably the tenth hug of the day. I never tired of her hugs and her sweet perfume. She looked absolutely stunning in her flared mustard jump-suit and golden makeup, like she’d walked right out of an issue of Vogue.

“And well done to you! You’re a fucking star!” I exclaimed, squeezing my friend’s hand gently. As I looked into her eyes, I nearly cried as I thought about how far she had come.

This past school year had been really tough for Bella and what with therapy, having to talk to the school as well as the police and confront trolls who accused her of lying online, it was nice to see her smiling and having a day where she could just push that shit aside for a moment. I knew it was only the beginning of a really long journey and that the trauma of what had happened with Coach would stay with her, probably forever, but I was so glad to see that she had a good support system to help her along the way.

“Did I tell you that you look absolutely gorgeous?”

I almost jumped from the sound of Tyler’s voice beside me and slowly turned around and looked up at my boyfriend with a big smile on my face.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said coyly as I took in his well fitting suit up close.

I’d scouted him out while I’d been on stage and had almost melted from the adoring look that was on his face as he watched me deliver my speech. I had to practically force myself to tear my eyes away from him out of fear of crying in front of hundreds of parents and the whole student body. Not a good look.

An amused smile played across his lips as he played with a strand of my hair, his eyes full of love, reserved just for me.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Bella said, winking before she headed in the direction that her parents had gone in.

“You were so good up there, Ruby,” Tyler said once we were finally alone, his hand finding my waist through my graduation gown.

I blushed from all the compliments and felt my chest grow warmer as I looked up at him. To have such a guy on such a day filled me with so much joy, I wouldn’t change anything for the world.

“You were a good audience member,” I teased as I remembered seeing him starting the standing ovation, which had almost made me keel over in embarrassment.

“Only for you, Ruby,” he purred. Tyler’s eyes drifted from mine to my lips and I bit my bottom lip nervously as I could sense that it wasn’t just kissing he wanted to do.

“Not here, Tyler,” I whispered to him as if he was a kid that wasn’t allowed to have his candy until after dinner time.

“You don’t know how badly I want to bend you over that table and fuck you right now,” growled Tyler, his hand slipping further down my waist until it rested just above my ass.

I wriggled against his hand, wanting him to go lower. But we weren’t exactly in an environment where R- rated activity would be appreciated, especially since the whole school had just been notified of both my full name and face only moments before.

“How about you keep your mouth clean until we can be alone properly?” I asked, while looking up at Tyler through my lashes. That familiar cruel smirk reappeared on my boyfriend’s face and he squeezed my ass before returning his hands to a respectable height at my waist.

“Only because your dad is staring at me right now,” Tyler whispered into my hair. I whipped around to see where Dad was spying from and saw him waving as he approached us.

“To be continued then,” I said, even though I would have rather snuck off to the toilets, but alas, a girl had to wait.

Besides, Tyler and Dad had only met a couple of months ago and even though I’d refrained from telling Dad how we’d really met, I could tell that he was a little bit suspicious of Tyler even if he tried to hide it. I think it was more because I’d never brought anyone home before and he didn’t really know how to act now that there was another guy in my life.

“I’ll make it worth your time,” Tyler chuckled, and he took my hand in his massive one.

And I knew he would absolutely make it worth my time.