True Friendship
Through the series, Ruby has had an issue balancing the relationship with her friends and the romantic relationships. Moreover, the fake friendships she has endured in her teenage years makes it complicated to know when it is real. She undergoes emotional growth to differentiate the bonds she has with her multiple friends including the boyfriend. The narrative explores the journey of self-discovery and empowerment as a young woman coming into herself. Therefore, true friendship is an essential factor in this path as their relationships evolve through ups and downs. Furthermore, the conflicts in her life allow her to see the true friends from the fake ones.
Expectations Vs Reality
Young adulthood involves reconciling naïve expectations and the reality of how things work in the world. In her romantic relationships, Ruby has had her expectations fulfilled but mostly crushed by the truth of the matter. Ruby and Noel are having a difficult time in their relationship, as the boy is being distant and the girl feels like her needs are not being met. The lack of good communication between the lovers creates a rift which leads to a breakup. Consequently, Ruby proceeds to begin a relationship with her crush but her expectations are also quickly shattered. She learns that expectations are a road towards disappointment hence communication and pragmatism is the right path.
Grief
In this installment, death is at the center of the story as different characters are grieving the demise of someone close to them. Ruby has lost her grandmother and is dealing with aftereffects which include her father’s depression and heartache. Since her mother is on vacation, Ruby’s father descends further into grief affecting her daily life too. Additionally, her relationship with Noel suffers because he is traumatized from seeing his friend get killed in an accident. The detached attitude that Noel has throughout their relationship is due to his anguish and pain from the experience. Finally, once Ruby discovers this truth, they reconcile, enabling her to have a mature and serious moment.
