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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
Before Ruby could express any concern about having a ridiculous video of her up on the internet and without her permission, they were interrupted by Mrs. Cooper's glare. The class began, and it was surprising to see there was not a single sound which could be heard other than Mrs. Cooper's snarky comments about Mr. Smith's substandard ways of teaching and chalk gliding against the board.As the class progressed, Ruby found herself engrossed in Mrs. Cooper's teaching, captivated by her snarky comments and engaging delivery. The classroom was surprisingly silent, with only the sound of Mrs. Cooper's voice and the chalk against the board breaking the stillness.To Ruby's relief, Mrs. Cooper didn't subject her to the dreaded introduction session where students had to speak about themselves and their hobbies. It was a small victory that spared her from the anxiety-inducing experience.Despite being fully absorbed in the lesson, Ruby's attention to detail didn't waver. She noticed a mistak
As Florence stared at her reflection, the weight of her struggles pressed upon her shoulders. She felt trapped in a life that seemed perfect from the outside but lacked the depth and meaning she longed for. Money and material possessions had become her armor, shielding her from the realities she couldn't change.She sighed, wiping away a stray tear that threatened to betray her façade. It was true that wealth provided comforts and opportunities, but it couldn't fill the void within her. The love and connection she yearned for were intangible treasures that no amount of money could buy.She recalled her grandmother's words, spoken with unwavering belief in the power of determination. Yet, Florence had come to understand that not all problems could be solved with sheer willpower. Some wounds ran too deep, some circumstances were beyond her control.Sometimes, you had to accept the fact that there exist things in the world you could not change. Not with a thousand prayers or uncountable