Ruby stammered, “I-I… umm…” “What are you doing in my grandson’s bed?” The old woman raised an eyebrow at her, but her lips twitched as though she was holding back a smile. It dawned upon her that the woman was Caden’s grandma. The matter had become worse. “Grandma?” Caden’s shocked voice suddenly fell on her ears. Ruby gasped in response, kicking off the sheets from her. He appeared behind the woman, his eyes widened in panic. “When did you come home?” “Well, thanks for the warm welcome, Caden. Now tell me who that is,” the woman urged, now smirking. Caden’s gaze locked onto Ruby’s face, and she saw him hesitate. Then he said in an easy voice, “I see you’ve already met Ruby.” He paused, the silence seeming to stretch for hours before he mumbled, “my girlfriend.” Ruby clamped her hand over her mouth to keep herself from screaming in protest. What was this guy going on about? Caden’s grandmother didn’t buy it; Ruby knew that from the way the woman scrutinised her. She leaned cl
Ruby stifled the burp that surged from her throat, discreetly using the back of her hand, while her eyes darted helplessly towards Caden. He, however, remained unmoved by her silent plea, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed his grandmother bringing in more food. "Don’t like the food?" Caden's grandmother inquired, a hint of concern lacing her voice as she arranged the bowls on the table, her brow furrowing slightly. Ruby momentarily froze, managing to swallow the food before responding, "It's absolutely delicious, Mrs. Miller," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of breathlessness, which elicited a chuckle from Caden. "She's just a bit shy," he interjected, though there was more mischief in his tone than sincerity. While Ruby shot him a pointed glare, it seemed that every little thing she did only served to amuse him further. "I'm just pulling your leg," the old woman chuckled, her laughter echoing in the room. "I'm accustomed to these two devouring everything in sight."
Florence manoeuvred her car to the familiar street, the engine humming softly as she drove out of Caden’s driveway. Although she had managed to seem chill to her friends, on the inside her conversation with Daniel was suffocating her. The heavy silence that settled between the three as she drove didn’t help either. So she put on some music and blasted it, loud enough to cast out any of the gloom in the car. As they drove, Florence stole glances at Ruby, her mind swirling with thoughts of what had transpired with Daniel at the party. She couldn't bring herself to voice her concerns, the weight of her own confusion and guilt pressing down on her. While Ruby sat beside her, lost in her thoughts, trying to piece together the fragments of memories from the previous night. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her, the gaps in her memory leaving her feeling unsettled and vulnerable. Caden’s words haunted her, but she was sure he was only bluffing. There was no truth to
Ruby was glad to be back in the comfort of her own house. She wasted no time, throwing herself on the bed as soon as she opened the door to her bedroom. “Now I can scream as much as I want,” she blurted out, realising a moment too late that Florence was right behind her. “Come in, Florence,” she told her, her voice muffled as she buried her head in a pillow. Riley called out from downstairs, “Are you sure you guys don’t want anything to eat or drink?” “No! We’re fine,” Ruby answered, her voice loud enough to reach her sister. “Pretend like it’s your house. Get comfortable,” Ruby offered. In response, she received a smile that clearly showed just how nervous Florence was in the moment. Ruby sat up straight, although she wanted to sleep the day away. She had to do this for her friend. “I’m listening. Tell me what’s bothering you,” she said in a soft voice. “Even if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. We can do something. Watch a movie? Or I’ll let you paint my nails. Ril
Ruby realized with clammy fingers that tomorrow was the day as the tip of the red pen smoothly completed the cross mark in the tiny square of the calendar. She had run out of time to prepare, feeling the weight of anticipation settling upon her.The impending arrival of tomorrow consumed Ruby's thoughts, causing her heart to race and her stomach to churn with anxiety. Despite having carefully considered this day throughout the past week, her nerves threatened to drive her to madness as it drew near. The absence of her friends, who had chosen to continue their education at her former boarding school, only worsened her unease. Even Luke, her close companion, would not be there.Glancing at the untouched glass of warm milk her mother had placed on the bedside table hours ago, Ruby noted its transformation into a cold liquid mirroring the raindrops against her window. The thought of its taste made her cringe, and she abandoned the book in her hands, too weary to continue reading. Trying t
An hour later, Ruby found herself standing in front of the massive mirror in the girls' bathroom, groaning in frustration and occasionally stomping her feet as she tried to remove the remnants of milkshake from her hair. Thankfully, her jacket had protected her t-shirt from being spoiled. She carefully wiped away the few drops that had dripped onto her jeans, and the previously empty dustbin beside her was now filled with discarded tissues.It was impossible for Ruby to go back home, change, and return to school in time. Taking the city bus would consume two hours, and with only four lectures scheduled for the day, she would miss all of them.Feeling frustrated and wanting to appear presentable in class, Ruby checked her watch and realized there were only ten minutes left in the first lecture. Physics was her favorite subject, and she had prepared diligently for this lesson. However, all her efforts had been in vain because of that infuriating guy, Caden.Determined not to let this in
Mrs. Cooper tapped her knuckles on the polished surface of her table, trying to gain Caden's attention. Since they had entered her office, his gaze had been filled with animosity towards Ruby, while Ruby herself maintained a composed demeanor, looking straight ahead at her teacher.Clearing her throat, Mrs. Cooper addressed Caden directly, holding Ruby's cellphone in her hand. The screen displayed a picture of Ruby with her chocolate and milk-drenched hair, taken before she had cleaned up. It served as evidence of the prank he had played on her.Slowly and menacingly, Caden turned his head towards Ruby and replied, "Yes," with a hint of pride in his voice.Mrs. Cooper pressed further, "Was anyone else involved?""No one. It was only me," he claimed, shouldering the blame entirely. Ruby couldn't help but wonder why he would lie and take all the responsibility upon himself.But there was someone else involved—the person who had recorded the video.Sighing, Mrs. Cooper rubbed her temples
After submitting the required documents, Ruby walked back to Room 201, her classroom. The atmosphere was bustling with activity, and unfamiliar faces filled the room. She couldn't help but feel a sense of uneasiness, her anxiety bubbling up within her. She tried to hide her nervousness, but her slightly shaky movements betrayed her emotions. With sweaty palms, she entered the classroom, whispering a silent thank-you to no one in particular as she found an empty seat on the second bench. Before settling down, she couldn't resist glancing at Caden, her arch-nemesis. To her surprise, he appeared cheerful and content, surrounded by his group of friends. How could he sit there looking so delighted after receiving a month of detention? The injustice of it all frustrated her, fueling her loathing towards him with each passing moment. Shaking her head in disbelief, she contemplated the decision to leave her former school and friends behind. It had only been one day, and she was already fille