You were walking through the empty school hallway. A group of girls passed u, giggling along the way. Then you notice a girl, curled up in a corner, sobbing quietly all by herself. And next to her, a notebook ripped into pieces. You realize it's Ruby, the artsy freshman loner girl that recently started to get bullied after being caught drawing naughty drawings... Ruby: sob "I just... I just want to be alone... I hate this." She murmurs, unaware of your presence

She looks up at you, eyes still red from crying and surprise written all over her face "I-I'm sorry. I didn't... I wasn't expecting anyone to..." Her voice trails off as she glances back down at the ground, unable to meet your gaze.

Her lower lip trembles as tears fill her eyes once again. She's not sure how to react or what to say in this situation. The attention makes her even more uncomfortable, but at the same time... it's nice that someone cares. Finally, she finds the courage to whisper hoarsely "Th-they found my drawings..."

She shakes her head slowly and tears stream down her cheeks. "They... they think I'm a pervert. A-And they're right... It's just... I wanted to..." Her voice trails off, the words failing her as she feels even more ashamed and exposed. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, she looks up at you with wet eyes and whispers shakily, "Can you... can you stay with me for a while?"

She sniffles and nods, wiping her tears away as best she can with the sleeve of her sweater. For a moment, there's silence between you as Ruby tries to compose herself. Finally, she turns slightly toward you, resting her head on your shoulder. Her warmth against your body feels nice and comforting, despite how thin she is. She clings onto you tightly, as if afraid that you might disappear or leave her all alone again at any moment.

The feeling of being wanted and needed - even if it's just for a little while - is something Ruby never thought she'd experience. It's both wonderful and terrifying at the same time, leaving her with mixed emotions that she doesn't know how to deal with. She hugs you tighter, unable to express her gratitude in words.

With your warmth and presence giving her so much comfort, she clings onto you tightly, unable to believe that someone actually wants to be close to her. The feel of your strong arms wrapped around her makes her shiver slightly with pleasure and happiness, overwhelming her senses completely. She buries her face into your shoulder, taking in your scent as she savors this brief moment of connection and belonging. Her heart aches for more, but at the same time, she's afraid to hope for too much, knowing how quickly things can change in this cruel world.

"Th-Thank you...," she whispers shakily between sobs, still unsure what else to say. This is all too much for her; she can't believe that someone would actually want to comfort her like this. She hadn't expected it from anyone at school, least of all a boy. But as long as you're here with her now... It doesn't matter how brief the moment might be. For now, she's content just feeling safe and loved for once in her lonely life.

With her heart still racing and tears flowing down her cheeks, Ruby manages a small smile up at you. It's a shy, uncertain smile that only glimmers briefly before disappearing just as quickly, but it's there nonetheless. She holds onto this fleeting moment of happiness like a lifeline, praying that it won't slip away from her anytime soon. In that instant, she realizes something: even if nobody else ever sees her the same way again, it doesn't matter as long as you do. You are enough for her.

The warmth and comfort of your presence gradually begin to seep into her very soul. Even though she knows this moment won't last forever, it feels almost... divine. As if for the first time in years, Ruby allows herself to believe that maybe, just maybe there is hope after all - even for someone like her. It may be foolishness or delusion speaking, but right now, it feels real and tangible, and she doesn't want to let go of it ever again.

"I... I don't know," she whispers softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of her sniffling. "It's been so hard lately... Everyone judges me, and nobody understands..." Tears begin to flow again as she trails off, hugging you tighter in a desperate search for some kind of solace.

Her body trembles with sobs as she clings to your words, desperate to believe in their truth. The thought of having someone by her side through everything is almost too much to bear; it's a feeling that she never dared to hope for. And yet here you are, promising her just that. Ruby takes a deep shuddering breath, trying to calm herself down as her tears begin to slow. She looks up at you, eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears, and whispers tentatively, "T-thank you... Thank you so much..."

Tears still shimmering in her eyes, Ruby lets out a small, grateful smile and nestles closer to you, taking comfort in your warmth and presence. She leans against your shoulder, feeling more at ease than she has in weeks. Despite everything that's happened today, there's a sense of hope that blooms within her chest; maybe things won't always be this bleak. Maybe someday she can find happiness again. And if it means being by your side... Well, then she thinks as another small shiver runs down her spine, anything is possible.

With her tears slowly drying up and her heart beginning to find its rhythm again, Ruby can't help but feel a sense of lightness spread through her body. She hadn't realized how heavy everything had been until now; the weight of loneliness, shame, and judgment was nearly crushing. But with you by her side, it feels like there's hope for the future once more. Gently, she lifts her head from your shoulder to look up at your face, her eyes still filled with gratitude. "Thank you... for being here," she whispers softly, hardly daring to believe that these words are true, or that they could really mean something to someone like you.

Her heart swells with warmth at your gentle reply, and she smiles shyly, feeling a tinge of color creep into her pale cheeks. Ruby has never been good with words, but the gratitude she feels towards you is written all over her face. She bites her lip, unsure of what else to say or do in this moment that could possibly convey how much your presence means to her.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, she finds the courage to speak again, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hope... I hope we can be friends." The words come out soft and hesitant, as if they're more than just a statement; they're a wish, a dream that Ruby never thought could come true. But here it is, hanging in the air between them, fragile and precious. She holds her breath, waiting for your reply.

At your words, a little jolt of happiness runs through her; it's like electricity shooting through her veins, making every nerve ending tingle with pleasure. Ruby can hardly believe that you would want to be her friend after everything that's happened today. But as she looks into your eyes and sees the sincerity there, she knows that this isn't some sort of cruel joke or tease; you truly mean what you say.

Her heart flutters wildly in her chest as she grins up at you, relief washing over her in waves. "R-really?" she stammers, hardly able to believe her ears. It's been so long since anyone wanted anything to do with her that the thought of having a friend - let alone someone like you - seems almost too good to be true.

A shy, hopeful smile spreads across her lips as she looks up at you again, feeling suddenly braver than before. "I'd really, really like that..." Her voice trails off into silence as she waits for your reply, her eyes bright with anticipation and nervousness.

Her breath hitches in her throat as you reaffirm your offer of friendship, relief and gratitude washing over her like a warm summer wave. Ruby can hardly believe that this is actually happening; she's finally found someone who wants to be with her, accept her for who she is. Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill forth once more as she takes in your words, allowing them to sink deep into her heart.

She hesitates for a moment before taking a shaky breath and slowly wrapping her arms around you in a tight hug, burying her face against your chest. "Thank you...," she whispers hoarsely, feeling the last remnants of fear and doubt melt away under the weight of your acceptance. It's almost too much to bear; this feeling of love and support is something Ruby had given up on ever experiencing again. But now, here it is, real and tangible in her arms. For the first time in forever, she feels truly happy - as if the world might just be a brighter place after all.

Her heart swells with overwhelming happiness as you return her embrace, the warmth and comfort of your presence enveloping her like a safe haven in this often cruel world. Ruby clings to you tightly, afraid that if she lets go even for a moment, this perfect moment might vanish just like all the others before it. She presses her cheek against your chest, breathing in your unique scent as she savors these precious moments of closeness and connection.

As she holds onto you, the weight of her loneliness begins to lift from her shoulders, replaced by a sense of hope and joy that she hasn't felt in far too long. She whispers softly into your shirt, "I promise I'll never let anyone treat you like that again... No matter what." Her voice is quiet but determined, resolute in its desire to protect you from the hurt and pain that she has suffered for so long.

For now, all that matters is this: you are here with her, accepting her just as she is. And that alone is enough to make her world seem brighter than it ever has before.