Chapter 3: Are you always this clumsy?

"You're here". Ruth turned to the direction of the voice to see a girl around her age standing with her arms crossed. The girl walked further into the room and soon got to Ruth.

"Hi I'm Ava" she extended her arm for a handshake.

"Ruth," Ruth said, accepting the handshake.

"So do you like the room?" Ava asked, smiling.

"It's lovely. Thank you." Ruth replied.

"I'm glad you liked it. I took extra time to design it. I don't know if you're a girly girl or just a girl so I chose white and black for the interior mixing both professional and casual"Ava gushed excitedly while advancing towards the bed. She sat down on it and tapped the empty space gently "come sit"

Ruth walked towards her and sat down beside her.

Ava took her hand and said "listen, I'm so sorry about your parents. I know you must be feeling so much pain inside you".

Ruth hung her head low,her eyes getting teary.

"Listen, unlike everyone, I won't tell you not to grieve over them. You should cry out all the pain inside you. The only good thing is you should always have someone by you. Cry out if you want to"

With that Ruth burst into tears and Ava hugged her tight. She felt relieved after a while of crying.

"Sorry I ruined your dress. That's so stupid of me" Ruth chuckled softly.

"Oh this old thing, it's not a big deal. It's good you're feeling better now" Ava replied "why don't you freshen up and we'll have a girl's talk later huh. I have a feeling we will be best of friends" they both burst out laughing.

Ruth stepped out of the washroom with a towel wrapped around her. She walked into the closet and saw all the dresses there. She figured Ava must have arranged them. Probably because Mr Fred had informed her earlier about her visit. She checked through all the dresses figuring out which one to wear. But she only saw bright colors and they looked so girly. She hasn't always been a girly girl who loved bright stuff, she was more of a reserved person. She decided to look through her suitcase which she brought from home.

After a while of searching, she settled for blue jeans and white short sleeve top. She got dressed and laid on the bed waiting for Ava's or anyone's arrival. She was starting to get bored so she decided to take a walk. She slightly opened her door and stepped out of her room looking north and south. She stood outside her room deciding which way to go. She turned left but decided against it and turned right where she's instantly hit in the face by a hard surface. For the second time. She gently rubbed her forehead and took some steps back.

"Are you always this clumsy?" She heard a deep voice. She looked up and locked eyes with the same ocean blue eyes as she did before. Before she could reply she heard Ava's voice.

"Don't be so hard on her Ethan. She just got here"

The man turned to Ava and said "And she has started ruining things almost immediately". With that, he brushed past her.

"That's my brother, Ethan," Ruth nodded.

"He's always been like that, don't think about what he said," Ava explained. "Come let me show you around"

Ruth followed.

Ava showed Ruth all parts of the mansion but the part Ruth loved most was the garden. It was a sight to behold. It is the most beautiful part of the house. It gives a sense of relief from stress and has a calm scene. It's filled with abundant colorful flowers which makes it very beautiful. It even has a swing. Ava saw that Ruth was looking at the swing, she asked "do you wanna go there?"

Ruth turned to her "Actually, my father and I used to swing in our mini garden back home. Just looking at the swing reminds me of him" she chuckled slightly.

"So then do you want to swing?" Ava asked again looking her in the eye.

"I'm not sure I should," Ruth replied.

"I won't force you to. It's okay."

Ruth's stomach growled.

Ava noticed this and said "let's go eat."

"Yeah."

They both walked back inside and met the family already seated at the dining table.

"Oh!" Fred said "I see you've already met Ava. Let me introduce you to the rest of my family"

Fred pointed to a middle aged woman who smiled at Ruth "this is my wife"

The woman stood up and walked to Ruth "Hi I'm Marie" she extended her hand.

"Nice to meet you ma'am" Ruth replied.

"Come sit" Marie motioned to her.

They all sat at the dining table and the maid served the food. They were about to start eating when Ethan walked in heading towards the stairs.

"Ethan dear, come join us" Marie asked.

"No thanks," Ethan said ascending the stairs. Ruth followed him with her gaze expressionless. Fred noticed this and tried to change the topic.

"So Ruth, why don't you tell us about yourself. What do you do? Your hobbies and stuff?"

"I'm 23. I'm a college graduate and I'm still yet to find a job even though I'm looking to find one"

"What did you study in college?" Fred asked, raising the spoon to his mouth.

"Cyber security operations" Ruth responded.

"Hmm, that's great," Fred said.

"Fred, why don't you let the little girl enjoy her meal in peace. No talks at the dining" Marie scolded

"As you say ma'am" Fred raised both his hands defensively and they all laughed.

Ruth enjoyed the small talks at the dining. She laughed her heart out. For a moment, she forgot about her grief. She felt like she was with family, again. She thought, nothing can bring back her dead parents, she might as well be grateful for the new one the universe has sent her way. "I hope things remain like this for long" she thought to herself.