Ruby
We chatted a little while eating. Caleb’s parents were interested to hear about my hopes and aspirations for the future. James spoke about the success of my gymnastics team and said how great it had been for Lakewood to show off their athletic abilities.
He passed a cheeky remark about me being flexible, which caused Caleb to choke on his food. He drained his glass of water in three large gulps.
Claire got a little over-excited when we told them about my parents moving to Montana and me staying here to study. She suggested that I just stay with Caleb in his apartment like a regular couple and that my dad would never find out.
Caleb cleared his throat, sending an eye signal to her as if to say ‘shut up’. But I think I took him by surprise when I said I had the same idea
Caleb I had every intention of including my bedroom on the tour. I wanted to show her my favorite thinking place, which was the widow’s walk on the rooftop. The only access point was on my balcony, outside my room. I was just thrown off guard by how she delivered her question, that was all. I wasn’t expecting her to sound so suggestive. My heart almost died in my chest. It would be a downright lie if I said the thought hadn’t even entered my mind about taking things further. The idea flashed inside my head, just now, much to the approval of my male genitalia. This only contributed to my awkward embarrassment. Ruby giggled. The tips of her sandals made a sound on the carpet runner as I led her by the hand up the sweeping staircase. It felt like we were doing something risky, sneaking around. The dark polished wood of the banis
Ruby “No, I want to,” I replied, not feeling very brave but wanting to let Caleb share his special place with me. I peered over the edge of the balcony and cringed. “Just don’t let me fall, okay. It’s a long way down to the bottom and that stone paving looks very unforgiving.” My attempt at a light-hearted joke to cover my fear didn’t go unnoticed by Caleb. He flashed me a killer grin. “Here, give me your hand.” He grasped hold of my hand, threading his warm fingers between mine as he led me up the narrow, uneven steps. Chunks were missing in the stone. I had to tread carefully. I could imagine these steps becoming deadly when it rained. My sandals felt like they were slipping on the smooth surface, and that was while they were dry. I clutched hold of Caleb’s forearm to steady my
Ruby After saying good night to Caleb, I trudged up the path towards my front door, clutching hold of my bag and the book that I borrowed. The light was off in the sitting room but the bluish glow of the TV was flickering through the curtains. No sooner had I closed the door behind me, my dad called out, “Lock up, behind you!” I did as he asked before turning my attention to the stack of packing boxes, brown tape, and dust sheets in the hall. A subtle reminder that they planned on moving soon. “Hey,” I popped my head around the sitting-room door, acknowledging my parents. They were both lounging on the sofa. Dad was sitting slouched with his legs stretched out and had a bottle of low-calorie beer in hand. He had his pajama bottoms on. His rip
Caleb The ground shook with aftershock tremors of another blast. They had turned the hillside into an excavation site. The bulldozers, drilling equipment, explosives, and trucks, had all arrived late last night. The extraction machinery covered each cavity that had been made on the rock surface. Thanks to floodlights, the team had been hard at work throughout the night, blasting their way through the bedrock to the soft, purple mineral beneath. The pack knew what was happening, but the humans just assumed that they were experiencing earth tremors. I slid off my ear defenders and wore them loosely around my neck. “Aaron, how soon did the Geologist say she could get her team here? I want to make sure that we get rid of it all.” I tosse
CalebAaron ignored my reproachful glare and continued in his humored tone, “So, as soon as she finds out that her dead dog is her werewolf boyfriend, she’s going to be totally freaked out for sure.” He slid his arm around my tensed shoulders. “Or ...” He raised a hand in front of us both, slowly clenching it into a fist. “After she hears you out, and you explain everything.” He poked my chest with his finger, giving me a more serious look. “She’ll think it was cute. Finding her lost in the woods, sticking around, being there for her, when she needed someone. She’s gotta understand you were scared to tell her what you are, right? I mean, it’s a pretty big secret to trust someone with. It could’ve compromised the entire pack if she’d taken it badly. At least her mom is now married to Aiden and has a hybrid kid. She can’t out you, without outing h
Ruby The gentle summer breeze blew my gown around my legs as I waited in front of the school entrance, along with my family. Dad had dressed Sam in a cute little black suit that matched his. Both had their blond hair gelled back into a suave style. I tickled Sam under his chin, making him giggle. “Who’s being such a big boy today, huh?” He hadn’t asked for his pacifier once since we left the house. Mom hoped he would grow out of needing one. He had gone through so many, popping them all with his teeth. I stood around idly, sparing the odd glance at each car that pulled into the parking lot, seeing more of the students from my year arrive with their families. Mia was the first of my friends to show up with her parents, followed by Tegan and her Mom, who arrived a few minutes later. “Hey,”
Ruby “I’m making some coffee, do you want some?” Mom offered. Her voice dragged with fatigue. It had been a long day, and we had only been home an hour. Dad went somewhere with Caleb and Aaron; they left straight after the Ivy Orchard. I was so glad to see them getting along again. Aaron, who I’d now had been introduced to, reassured me he would bash their heads together if they started fighting again. The only time I saw Dad scowl at Caleb was when I handed back his suit jacket. Clean from showering, I leaned against the kitchen counter beside Mom. “Yes, please. I’m tired. I don’t want to fall asleep and forget to meet Caleb.” I ruffled my damp hair with a towel before tossing it into the laundry basket. “Yikes, I’m stuffed, after e
Ruby It’s true what folk say, you have a fight-or-flight response. Everyone does. It’s all to do with self-preservation, to escape to safety, or a fierce desire to attack back. All my rational thoughts flew through the window and all I could think about was my mother and Sam. My mom had stopped screaming, and that was when I expected the worst. My world spun off its axis, time slowed down, and my legs weren’t as fast as I willed them to be. The rush of adrenaline surged through me, and without even thinking, I was thundering down the stairs, jumping the last four steps. Sam’s high-pitched shrieks were like a red rag to a bull to me. Just like a knife through my heart. The impulse to save them fuelled me to burst through the kitchen doorway, intending to grab the first thing that I could find to use as a weapon and take that person down.