Trish
Ripley…Tenenbaum…III.
Before the name even fully leaves her mouth…
I’m shoving back from the table.
Trish looks positively delighted.
Trish
You already shook on it!
Jolene slashes her hand through the air.
Jolene
The creepy new kid?
Jolene
You’re setting her up to fail.
I’m grateful for Jolene’s support…
Because I’m at a loss for words.
I crane my neck to get a look at the guy in question.
He’s sitting alone, hat pulled down low, headphones in his ears.
His faded band shirt is comically wrinkled…
And his plain, drab jeans are so old…
I’m surprised they haven’t disintegrated off his body.
As for what he looks like?
Because his entire face is covered by a gnarly, overgrown, rat’s nest of a beard.
He looks like he’d be more at home in a bayou…
Than an elite high school nestled against the Cali shore.
Needless to say, his appearance doesn’t go unnoticed.
But it’s his attitude that makes him really stand out.
He’s quiet, but condescending.
Socially awkward, but rude.
He walks around scowling at everyone and everything…
And frankly, no one has any idea what to make of him.
Transforming Ripley into prom king isn’t just impossible…
It’s downright laughable.
Trish
What’s it going to be?
She makes a show of looking down at her designer watch.
I stare at her, unseeing…
Then startle when Jolene puts a comforting hand on my arm.
Jolene
You don’t have to do this.
I could call the whole thing off.
I SHOULD call the whole thing off.
But I still feel everyone’s eyes on my back.
I can still see Cash tucking Maria’s hair behind her ear…
And the desire for revenge is strong.
I’ll make Ripley Tenenbaum III prom king.
With that thought in mind, I stand up.
Jolene
You’re actually going through with this?!
Ruby
Have a little faith in me.
Ruby
Besides, with Cash out of my hair I have time on my hands.
Trish looks surprised for a moment…
Trish
You’re gonna need it.
As I make my way across the cafeteria…
My eyes settle on Ripley.
I have to be smart about this.
Kill him with kindness to get on his good side.
I pull out the chair across from him and take a seat.
Slow as molasses, huge brown eyes shift up to meet mine.
I blink at him, marveling over his impossibly long lashes.
Ripley has really nice eyes…who knew?
For a moment, he just stares at me blankly…
But then his brow furrows.
I gesture to my ear, and reluctantly, he removes his headphones.
Despite his rude tone, I keep the smile plastered on my face.
Ruby
Do you mind if I sit?
His dismissive tone is insulting…
But I force myself to laugh.
And then, I rack my freakin’ brain.
Because what the heck do Ripley and I have to talk about?!
Just kill him with kindness, Rossdale!
How on earth am I going to finish this sentence?!
My eyes land on his head.
Ruby
Do you like uhh…dancing teddy bears?
A muscle in his cheek twitches.
Ruby
Oh yeah, um, of course it is!
Ruby
I actually just bought a few new hats myself.
Ruby
They had a sale down at the mall…
Ruby
And Trish and I couldn’t help ourselves!
Ruby
You can never have too many hats, amirite?!
His face contorts with an unnatural level of disgust.
Okayyy, kindness isn’t going to work.
Maybe I should try and flirt a little?
I run a hand through my hair, drawing attention to it.
Ruby
You look really good in it.
I make sure to make eye contact…
And drop my voice a few octaves…
Clearly my words have no effect.
So, I reach for the only other thing I can think of.
We’re in the same homeroom.
Ruby
So, did you see Mr. Hannigan’s toupee this morning?
Ruby
I swear one day that thing is going to fall off!
Ruby
I just hope I’m there to see it.
He shakes his head in annoyance…
Then shoves up from his seat.
Leaning on the table, he narrows those large brown eyes on mine.
His tall frame is towering over me…
And I get my second surprise of the day.
Ripley has a seriously hot body.
His t-shirt stretches across broad, strong shoulders…
And his arms are leanly muscled.
Ripley
I don’t know what game you’re playing…
Ripley
But I’m not interested in your expensive hat collection…
Ripley
Compliments you definitely don’t mean…
Ripley
Or making fun of a really nice guy.
Ripley
So why don’t you tell me what you’re really doing here?
I say the first thing that comes to mind.
Ruby
Nice arms. Been working out?
Ruby
We can talk about anything you want.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise…
I hold still as he scans my face.
Ripley
You want to go out with me?
Ripley
Did you lose a bet or something?
If he only knew how close he is to the truth!
Luckily, I’ve got a killer poker face.
To my surprise, his lips twitch.
And then, he does something I’ve never seen him do before.
The loud, booming sound fills the cafeteria…
And once again, all eyes are on me.
As soon as he gets ahold of himself…
He bends down to whisper in my ear.
Ripley
Not in a million years, princess.
I catch up with Ripley by his car.
Despite what happened earlier, I’m not giving up.
But he kind of intrigues me.
No one has ever stood up to me like that.
Let alone turned me down for a date.
He seems like a complex and mysterious guy…
And after a closer look, I realized he’s actually kind of cute.
I gear myself up to talk to him again.
Luckily, this time I’m prepared.
I asked around in my last class…
And turns out that Ripley is a musician.
When I get close, I see a guitar in his backseat.
He turns toward me with a frown.
Ruby
Sorry about earlier.
Ruby
And no biggie about dinner.
Ruby
Totally cool if you don’t want to go out with me.
He gives me a strange look before turning away.
Ruby
— But I do need your help with something!
He slowly spins back to face me.
Ripley
With what exactly?
I see a teeny tiny spark of interest light his eyes…
And my insides do a small victory dance.
Ruby
I’m editor-in-chief of the school paper…
Ruby
And we’re running a piece on the local music scene.
Ruby
I figured you’d be the guy to ask.
He leans against his car, smirking.
Ripley
Not sure you’d be into my type of music.
Ruby
Why do you say that?
He nods his head to my Lexus a few spots over.
Ripley
Heard you blasting Bieber in your car the other day.
Ripley
Everyone within a five-mile radius heard you singing.
Ripley
If you can even call it that.
I cringe with embarrassment.
Ruby
So I like pop music, sue me!
Ruby
But that’s not what I’m looking for here.
Ruby
I want to highlight something other than the mainstream.
When he just stares at me…
I give him my best puppy dog eyes.
Ruby
Show me The Dancing Bears!
He sighs, but a smile comes over his face.
A sly one, as if he’s got a secret.
Ripley
Okay. You want to learn about real music?
Ripley
Meet me at Mick’s Tavern tonight at nine.
Then gets in his car and leaves.
Mick’s Tavern is a total dive.
And the floors are sticky with god knows what.
But as I make my way through the lively crowd…
There’s laughter in every corner…
Low, sultry tones coming out of the overheard speakers…
And drinks served in mismatched glasses.
Everyone seems so at ease and comfortable.
I suddenly wish I wore a t-shirt and jeans…
Instead of a fancy cocktail dress.
I scan the room looking for Ripley…
And find him sitting at a small table by the stage.
He nearly jumps out of his seat at the sound of my voice.
Ruby
Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.
Ripley
You actually came.
He gives my outfit an obvious once-over.
Ripley
This isn’t exactly your type of place.
I raise a brow, then grab the chair next to him.
I pull it out so it scrapes across the floor before plopping myself down.
He isn’t going to scare me off.
Ruby
Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think.
Ruby
So open mic night, eh?
Ruby
You going to play something?
And a woman walks out onto the small stage.
She says a few words in introduction…
Then to my surprise, looks down at our table.
Girl
We’re going to kick things off tonight with a crowd favorite.
Girl
Rip — the stage is yours!
The following applause is deafening…
And I jump a little in my seat.
Ripley — Rip — apparently has made a name for himself.
I watch as he hops on stage, guitar in hand…
And settles himself onto a stool.
He doesn’t say anything in the mic…
But his body language speaks for itself.
He’s cool, confident, collected…
And weirdly, my stomach does a little flip.
When the applause finally quiets…
He starts strumming on his guitar…
And I’m instantly lost in the music.
The song he plays is simple, but heartbreakingly beautiful.
The soulful acoustic warms me from head to toe…
And I find I can’t take my eyes off him.
As the tempo increases, he moves more with the beat…
And when the harmony hits its peak…
His face contorts with passion.
A small sigh escapes my lips.
I clap emphatically with everyone else.
The crowd starts calling for another song…
But he shakes his head with a smile, pulling the mic toward him.
Running a free hand through his beard, he clears his throat.
Ripley
I’ll play another for you in a bit…
Ripley
But first, I want to introduce you all to a friend of mine.
And I straighten in my seat.
Uhh…where’s he going with this?
Ripley
She came here wanting to learn about the music scene.
Ripley
So I thought, what better way to learn…
Ripley
Than to try it out for herself?
He better not mean what I think he means.
Ripley
I have it on good authority that she’s a fantastic singer.
Ripley
So please welcome to the stage, Ruby Rossdale!
Understanding crashing over me.
That’s why he invited me here tonight.
What his secret smile was all about.
He wants to embarrass me!
When the spotlight swings my way…
I realize I have two options.
I can sit here at the table and let him win.
Or I can get my butt up there…
Because I’ve been humiliated enough today.
I didn’t let Cash get the best of me…
And I won’t let Ripley, either.
Even though I’d normally be mortified to do something like this…
With my biggest, brightest smile…
I stand and walk to the stage — cocktail dress and all.
The shock on Ripley’s face is absolutely priceless.
He didn’t think I’d do it!
His expression gives me the rest of the confidence I need…
And I not-so-gently yank the mic stand from him as he exits the stage.
Ruby
Thanks for having me.
Ruby
I uh…didn’t exactly prepare a song…
I look over at the table where he’s sitting.
Just to really annoy him?
I take in a deep, calming breath…
Racked with nerves, but determined to get through this.
I mean, I’m not a terrible singer, either…
But it’s certainly not my life’s calling.
Praying that the audience won’t start chucking tomatoes…
I open my mouth and start to sing.
I choose a soft, slow song…
Just to keep with the vibe of the place.
I keep my eyes screwed shut.
And I can hear my low tone reverberating through the room.
I cringe when I fly off key a few times.
But the audience is silent through the whole thing.
Nothing like they did for Ripley…
But it’s good enough for me.
Not just because I bested Ripley…
But because I did something out of my comfort zone.
I sang in front of an audience…
Not caring about how I looked or sounded!
Light as air, I take a small bow…
And his expression is noticeably softer when I sit down and we lock eyes.
Ripley
I can’t believe you just did that.
Ruby
I’m full of surprises.
Ruby
You were amazing, by the way.
He turns to me, sheepish.
And I see a little pink on his cheeks.
I laugh and wave him away.
Ruby
Please don’t return the compliment.
Ruby
I was mediocre at best.
Ripley
I wasn’t going to.
Ripley
I was going to say that you’re…
Ripley
Braver than I thought.
No one has ever called me brave before.
He regards me quietly in response…
And we listen to the next few songs in silence.
I can’t help but notice there’s a weird tension between us now.
Wondering who the heck this guy is.
I keep thinking of him up there on that stage…
How intense he was, how passionate.
I catch him staring at me a few times, too…
As if I’m a puzzle he’s trying to solve.
When we leave an hour later…
I bump his shoulder with mine on the sidewalk.
Ruby
So, was that your plan all along? To embarrass me?
Ruby
Or did the idea come to you when you saw my dress.
Ripley
To be honest, I didn’t even think you’d show up.
Ruby
I told you I wanted to learn about the music scene.
Ruby
And I’m glad I did…that was a lot of fun.
I notice an ice cream shop across the street…
And I grab his arm, jumping on my toes.
Ruby
Oh! Let’s check that place out.
His toned bicep flexes under my grasp…
Then he stops abruptly and turns to face me.
He glances down at my hand on his arm before meeting my eyes.
Ruby
Because it’s ice cream.
Ripley
No, why are you doing this, Ruby?
Ripley
Why did you sit with me at lunch?
Ripley
Why did you ask me to dinner?
Ripley
Why did you show up tonight?
I swallow thickly, looking into his eyes.
The brown irises are peppered with small flecks of gold.
Instead of answering his question…
I try to take the easy way out.
He growls in frustration.
Ripley
Not a real answer.
Ripley
Just tell me the truth.
Ripley
Is your paper running an article on social outcasts too—
Ruby
— Don’t call yourself that!
Ripley
It’s the truth and we both know it.
Ripley
People like you don’t mix with people like me.
His words strike a chord…
And I feel a tinge of guilt.
Not wanting to completely lie to him…
I give him another truth.
Ruby
Maybe I've had enough of “my people” lately.
I look away, thinking of Cash.
And this time, it’s Ripley who puts a hand on my arm.
His handsome brown eyes are the softest I’ve seen them yet.
Ripley
I saw what happened today with Cash.
He just shrugs, and shoves his hands in his pockets.
Ripley
You dropped the Ken doll for the social pariah?
In an attempt to lighten the mood…
I give him a playful smirk.
Ruby
Well, only if you shave that beard.
Ruby
I can’t be seen with you otherwise.
His hands automatically fly up to his face…
His cheeks turning bright red.
Ripley
Are you always this shallow?
Ruby
Oh, come on, it was just a joke!
He takes a few steps back…
Ripley
— Catch ya later, Princess.
