Oklahoma Girl: The Emerald Ruby
by Lindseys Angel
Later that week…

“Fred! We’re going to get drinks. Do you want anything?” Lindsey asked over the pulsing music that flowed through the Emerald Ruby, the coolest teen club in town.
Actually, it was the only teen club in town.
“No thanks Linds. I’m ok!” she yelled back, tapping her foot to the music.
“Ok!”
Fred sat quietly by herself until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Wesley and his mates.
“Hi! Wesley right? You’re in my English class!” Fred said.
Wesley smiled. “Yes. I actually came over here to talk to you about, well, anything really. May we sit down?” He gestured to the empty chairs around her table.
”Oh. Yeah. Sure!” She said, deciding that they guys wouldn’t be back for a while seeing as they were busy talking to a group of girls.
Wesley and his mates sat down. “Oh sorry. This is Giles and that guy there is Ethan.” Wesley introduced.
”Hi! I know Giles. We’re in Physics together. You’re really smart.” Fred said truthfully.
Giles smiled warmly. “Actually, I believe I ‘was’ the smartest. Until you came along. Your theory on deoxyribonucleic acid and it’s relationships with the brain is quite fascinating.” Giles told her.
Wesley and Ethan were staring with their mouths open.
Fred giggled and Wes thought it was the most beautiful sound.
“So Fred. I see you in the library quite often. Do you like to read?” Ethan asked politely.
“Yeah! I love books! My mom and brother and step-father say I have my own personal library at home! My bookcase had to be moved into the spare room for all the books to fit in it.” Fred gushed.

The conversation continued on the subject of books until Angel, Gunn and Lindsey came back.
Giles looked up and nodded to them. “Angel. Gunn.”
“Giles. Wesley. Ethan.” Angel said.
Fred frowned.
“Right. Well. We’ll be off. Nice talking to you Fred. See you later around school then.” Ethan said as he, Wesley and Giles stood up to leave.
“Wait!.” Angel said. “Why don’t you stay? It’s fine with us.” He said.

Wesley and Ethan were staring with their mouths open.
Fred giggled and Wes thought it was the most beautiful sound.
“So Fred. I see you in the library quite often. Do you like to read?” Ethan asked politely.
“Yeah! I love books! My mom and brother and step-father say I have my own personal library at home! My bookcase had to be moved into the spare room for all the books to fit in it.” Fred gushed.

The conversation continued on the subject of books until Angel, Gunn and Lindsey came back.
Giles looked up and nodded to them. “Angel. Gunn.”
“Giles. Wesley. Ethan.” Angel said.
Fred frowned.
“Right. Well. We’ll be off. Nice talking to you Fred. See you later around school then.” Ethan said as he, Wesley and Giles stood up to leave.
“Wait!” Angel said. “Why don’t you stay? It’s fine with us.” He said.
They looked surprised, but they agreed to stay.

They continued talking until the bouncer kicked them out so they could close. During that time, the seven of them became unlikely friends.

Next day at school…..

“Hey Wes! Giles! Ethan! Over here!” Gunn called out to the three new comers.
Angel had invited them to sit with them at breaks and they had just arrived at the football stands where Angel, Gunn and Lindsey sat.
But that day Fred was there as well. And that was what made Wesley’s day brighten, despite the dreary weather.

4 weeks later…..

“Hey Wes. Where’s Ethan? I haven’t seen him in days?” Fred asked one day.
Ethan had not been at school for the past week and the group were wondering where he was.
“I’m not sure. I rang his parents last night but all I got was their answering machine.” Wesley said thoughtfully.
“It’s strange. He never misses this much school. No matter how sick he is.” Giles added.
“Speaking of missing persons. Where are Angel and Lindsey?” Gunn asked.
“Here!”
Angel and Lindsey came jogging down the stairs to the rest of their group. Both were breathing hard, their hair was tussled and their lips swollen.
Fred frowned. “Lindsey. Have you gotten in a fight again?” she asked sternly, not wanting her brother to get in trouble.
Lindsey and Angel looked like deer’s caught in the head light.
”Well uh, we were uh…” Angel stammered.
“Well. See that it doesn’t happen again.” Fred dismissed casually.
Lindsey and Angel relaxed. No-one noticed.

The next day Wesley sat down quietly and didn’t talk to anyone.
Fred noticed this. “Wesley. What’s wrong?” she asked.
Everyone stopped and looked at Wesley.
He took a deep shuddering breath. “Ethan’s parents called me last night.”
”Yeah? And?” Gunn said.
Wesley swallowed. “They found his body last night. It seems he committed suicide. His wrists were slit and he was hung from our old tree-house.” He said, desperately trying not to let his tears show.
No-one spoke. No-one could.
Finally, Lindsey broke the silence. “When’s his funeral?”
“Saturday. His favourite day.” Wes told him before getting up and leaving them.

Saturday came. The sun shone brightly as the coffin holding Ethan Rayne was slowly lowered into the ground.
Fred cried and Wesley held her, not bothering to hold back tears of his own. No-one was. Not even Angel or Lindsey or even the normally tough Gunn.
The crowd started to move off as the ceremony finished.
Wesley and Fred had agreed to go out and have some coffee afterwards.
As they turned to leave, both saw Angel and Lindsey standing close together. Angel’s hand was around Lindsey’s shoulder and Lindsey had his head rested on Angel’s broad chest.
Both dismissed it at the time, they were too upset to think about it.

“So you knew Ethan since you were a little boy?” Fred asked, sipping her coffee.
“Yes. I, he and Giles were together all through our school years. Well. We were. Until now.” He said sadly.
“It’s ok Wes. He’s gone to a better place.” Fred said, placing her hand on his.
Wesley looked at their hands and smiled. “By the way. Did you happen to notice how close Angel and Lindsey were? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Angel like that around anyone.” Wesley told Fred






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