Third-person POV
The morning sun peeked lazily through the curtains of Ruby's small, sun-warmed bedroom, but the real buzz had started much earlier.
Ruby stood at the dining table, helping her mom pack the last batch of neatly wrapped snack boxes. The aroma of fried dumplings, spiced peanuts, and honey-glazed buns filled the air, but one particular snack box sat separately—carefully wrapped with a yellow ribbon and tucked with a small note inside.
"For Sam," her mother said, gently tying the knot. "She liked the rice crackers last time, right? These are the seaweed ones. I added extra."
Ruby smiled as she accepted the box, her heart softening. "She'll love it."
Her mother gave her a knowing look. "She's always welcome here. Feels like family already."
Ruby looked away, pretending to inspect the knot. Don't blush. Don't blush. Too early for that.
Meanwhile, Felix was standing outside the house like a boy band member waiting for his ride to Coachella, sunglasses on, dramatically fanning himself with a novelty paper fan he found in Becky's room. Becky, trailing behind him, carried a beach tote overloaded with sunblock, card games, a Bluetooth speaker, and emergency chocolate—because apparently, "group harmony relies on sugar."
"Ruby, do your parents love Sam more than us?" Felix called out through the screen door. "I saw your mom give her the golden snack box. That's favoritism. I'm emotionally wounded."
"They literally packed you three full boxes," Ruby called back, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, but were they decorated with ribbons and maternal affection?" he pouted.
Becky groaned. "You're just salty 'cause you know you can't compete with Sam's mysterious main character energy."
He gasped. "I am the main character!"
Outside, Sam arrived just in time to hear the tail end of Felix's dramatic whining. Dressed in a sleeveless black hoodie and beige cargo pants with a baseball cap tugged low over her eyes, she looked more like someone headed to an action film shoot than a beach day. Still, her eyes lit up when Ruby walked out holding the snack box.
"You remembered," Sam said softly, her fingers brushing Ruby's as she took it.
"Of course," Ruby replied, voice a bit too casual. "My mom did, actually."
"Still," Sam whispered, eyes softening. "No one's really done that for me before."
The words struck Ruby like wind against chimes. She wanted to ask more—but Felix chose that exact moment to wedge himself between them.
"Alright, lovebirds. Let's not flirt before breakfast. It makes the rest of us lonely."
Becky smacked his arm, but Ruby was already flushed and fumbling with her bag.
The Bus Ride
Despite Sam offering to drive everyone in one of her family's many cars, the group had decided to keep it simple: a local tourist bus. Felix argued that it would be "a core memory in the making," and Becky simply said, "I don't trust you people with AUX in Sam's luxury car."
So here they were—wedged into the middle row of a slightly worn travel bus, air conditioning humming, windows cracked just enough to let the salty coastal breeze in as they rolled down the winding road toward the beach.
Ruby sat beside Sam. The window was slightly foggy, and sunlight painted soft outlines across her cheekbones. Sam looked… peaceful.
For a while, the group laughed and chattered about everything from which sunscreen actually worked to why Felix packed three different sunglasses ("They're moods, Becky. Don't be basic."). But somewhere between the hills and the coast, Ruby began nodding off.
Her head tilted once, then again—and then gently came to rest on Sam's shoulder.
Sam froze.
Time didn't stop, but it slowed. Everything in her world narrowed to the soft weight leaning against her and the warmth that pooled quietly in her chest. She didn't dare move.
Not even when the bus hit a bump and their shoulders brushed more closely.
Not even when Felix, sitting in the row behind them, grinned like the devil and took a picture with the quietest click his phone would allow.
Becky, catching him, raised an eyebrow. "Creepy much?"
"It's for Ruby," he whispered. "To torment her later. As best friends do."
Becky snorted but didn't disagree.
Sam's Memory: The Decorated Lunchbox
Sam stared out the window, but her mind had already drifted. That snack box Ruby gave her—tied up neatly with a ribbon—triggered something old and buried.
She remembered being seven.
It was the class picnic. Everyone brought colorful bentos and cartoon-shaped sandwiches. Sam had begged her mother to make one too. Her mother—dressed in a business suit, heels clicking through the marble floor—barely glanced at her.
"Waste of time. Eat what the school gives you."
When Sam insisted, her mother waved her off. "Don't cling. You'll grow up weak."
Sam didn't cry, but her nanny had noticed. Later that night, the house cook was asked—quietly—to shape her rice into stars. But it wasn't the same. It wasn't from her mom. It wasn't thoughtful.
And yet, here she was now.
Being handed something so simple. So gently made. Without begging. Without performing.
Her throat ached with how badly she wanted to cry. But she didn't.
Instead, she blinked hard and murmured, "Something got in my eye."
Ruby, half-asleep but alarmed, turned toward her. "You okay?"
Sam nodded quickly, rubbing her eye. "Just dust or something."
Ruby didn't question. She leaned in—close enough that Sam could feel her breath—and blew softly near her eye.
"Better?" she asked, voice hushed.
Sam's heart did something ridiculous. "Yeah," she whispered. "Thanks."
Click.
Another picture.
Felix, whispering again behind them: "I should become a professional paparazzi. I capture only peak romance."
Becky elbowed him harder this time. "Control yourself, Spielberg."
Felix & Becky's Bus Banter
Becky plopped into the window seat beside Felix, tossing her tote bag on his lap with a dramatic sigh. "Ugh. I already regret sitting next to you."
Felix raised a brow and adjusted her bag like it was royalty. "Excuse me, madam. This seat comes with premium commentary, complimentary eye rolls, and zero personal space. Consider yourself blessed."
Becky snorted. "Zero personal space is exactly why I regret it."
From across the aisle, Sam glanced at them briefly, a small smirk tugging her lips. Ruby was already curled up on Sam's shoulder, blissfully asleep, completely unaware of the chaos that was Felix and Becky's default setting.
Felix leaned closer to Becky, dropping his voice dramatically. "You know, if this bus breaks down and we end up stranded, I vote we repopulate the civilization together."
Becky blinked, horrified. "That was the worst pickup line in the history of pickup lines."
"I know," he sighed, looking genuinely proud. "But it got your attention, didn't it?"
She shoved his arm off the shared armrest. "You're a walking, talking embarrassment."
Felix tilted his head. "And yet… you never sit with anyone else."
Becky opened her mouth, ready with a witty retort, but paused. Then turned to look out the window quickly. "That's only because Ruby is busy with her unofficial date," she muttered under her breath.
Felix caught it. "Jealous much?"
She kicked his foot lightly. "Of them? No. Of you? Always."
Felix grinned like he won a prize. "Aww. That was almost affectionate."
Becky rolled her eyes. "Almost. Don't let it go to your head."
He leaned back, satisfied, crossing his arms like he just scored a win. "Too late. It's already there."
Arriving at the Beach
By the time the bus neared the coast, the salty scent of sea air was thick in the breeze. Ruby stirred and sat up straight, startled at how long she'd leaned against Sam.
"Oh god, sorry—did I—?"
"You were fine," Sam said quietly. "You were tired."
Ruby tucked her hair behind her ear, flustered but secretly thrilled.
When the bus finally pulled over, the beach stretched out in front of them like a scene from a postcard—soft golden sand, scattered umbrellas, waves crashing against the shore in rhythm with the wind.
Sam stepped off the bus last, her eyes flicking from Ruby's face to the distant ocean.
This is going to be a day I remember, she thought.
Not because it's grand. But because I don't feel alone in it.
[End of Chapter 25 ]
Sometimes the softest moments say the loudest things. And for Sam, Ruby's quiet presence was beginning to drown out everything else.