"Is this really a good idea?" Ruby asked for the third time, her eyes darting uneasily toward the door.
Ariana let out a slow sigh, setting the document on the table. "As I said, leave it to me. He won't say anything to you. And he definitely won't throw you out."
Ruby's shoulders slumped. "Alright…"
Ariana studied her for a moment before asking, "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Baggy eyes, messy hair… You look like you're already in heartbreak—before even hearing his answer."
Ruby muttered under her breath, "We both know what he's going to say… and just the thought of him frowning at me makes me anxious."
Another sigh from Ariana. She rose from the chair, took a wooden comb from the table, and said, "Come here."
Ruby blinked, then scooted to the edge of the bed and turned her back toward her.
As Ariana began combing through her tangled hair, she said, "You've really changed. The stories I heard about you… They were something else."
