Ruby Rising (8 page)

CHAPTER 9

Monday went by in a complete blur. I was too distracted with Krystal’s impending funeral to have any form of concentration span. I was dragged around to my classes by either Mikayla or Scott and at lunch he wrapped me in his arms and didn’t ask me what was wrong. At home, my mother’s concern for me grew as I withdrew further from her. I didn’t chat with her over dinner and excused myself after, heading straight to bed.

Tuesday morning I woke up at dawn. Today I had to face Krystal’s parents at the funeral. Part of me desperately wanted to stay wrapped up under my doona, but the adult in me knew that I couldn’t hide forever. I showered and dressed in a long black dress, knee high boots and put my hair half up. I didn’t wear any make up, it wasn’t something that I associated with funerals. I wasn’t there to look my best, I was there for Krystal’s parents.

I was quiet all through breakfast and in the end I gave up. My stomach clenched too tightly to finish it. My parents chatted to themselves like it was any normal day, but to me it was the day that a family would bury their daughter, their sister, niece and granddaughter.

I took Phoenix for a quick trip to the lake, picking one of my mother’s beautiful roses before leaving. I was amazed at what she had done in the garden in such a short space of time. Everything was in full bloom, the vegetable patch was green and luscious and seemed to be growing at super speed. Even the young fruit trees looked like they had grown at least a foot.

I walked to where Krystal had died next to the lake and knelt down on the dewy grass. I placed the rose I had picked on the ground and said a small prayer. I prayed that she was happy wherever she was, that she would find peace there. I stayed there until Phoenix tried to bowl me over by jumping at my head and I knew it was time to go.

“Goodbye Krystal.” I said quietly and turned for home. I didn’t notice the lone black clad figure watching me from the other side of the lake.

My mother had offered to go with me to the funeral for moral support, but I had turned her down. I didn’t want her reminded that it was someone who was my own age. Someone so young and who still had so much to live for.

I walked to the church which wasn’t much further than the school. There were cars everywhere. People milled around outside, a sombre tone overshadowing the many embraces and the shaking of hands.

I hesitated just outside the gates not seeing any familiar faces. I saw a woman stare at me, her eyes bloodshot and red. She noticed me and waved me over, offering a weak smile. Standing next to her but not touching her was a tall, slightly overweight man, his grief visible in the way he held his shoulders. The distance between them was obvious, even to even me.

“You must be Ruby, I’m Julie and this is my husband Tom, we’re Krystal’s parents. Thank you so much for coming, it means a lot to us that you are here.” She embraced me in a firm hug, her body trembling with unshed tears as she struggled to hold back her sobs.

“I’m sorry about Krystal. I didn’t know her very well.” I had no idea what to say to these people, I felt like a fraud. I didn’t belong there.

After she had finally let go of my hand I went into the church, no longer unable to share their immense grief with them. The first thing I noticed was the large white coffin at the front of the room on the altar. It was cascading with red and white roses. Bouquets and wreaths lined the floor around it, no visible floor space was left except for a small path leading to the coffin. The coffin was closed, and I was relieved. I was glad to not be expected to pay my respects; it had been hard enough to watch her die. A large framed photograph sat in the middle of the casket; Krystal smiling, her blue eyes shining as the sun glinted off her blonde hair.

I sat in the middle section, away from the front but not up the back, trying not to be noticed. I took a deep breath and relaxed, noticing my hands were shaking slightly. I hadn’t realised I was that nervous. Sitting in the pew, I watched as people came in, some already crying, unable to contain their grief. Some as uncomfortable as I was, immediately taking a seat and averting their eyes from everyone.

A young man caught my eye, he wore a dark suit, his black hair not quite suiting his skin tone.  I didn’t see his face as he walked directly up to the casket and placed his hand on top. I saw a small white spark under his hand and stared, not sure what had just happened. He turned back towards the pews and his eyes caught mine. His amber eyes pierced into mine and in that second he knew that I had seen him. He nodded slightly towards me and then continued down the aisle to the doors, not looking at me as he went past the aisle I was in.

Ten minutes later I was still trying to figure out what I had seen. Lately it seemed I spent more time trying to figure out what I might have seen than what I was seeing. I was all a little confusing.

Music began to play sombrely and Krystal’s parents came into the hall arm in arm, both with tears streaming down their faces. Behind them was the young man I had just seen at Krystal’s casket. Must be her brother I figured, an older brother.

The funeral passed slowly, there were numerous readings from the bible, and various family members spoke about how Krystal had touched all of their lives with her vivacious attitude, her tendency to find trouble wherever she went and her amazing ability to make people believe in themselves. Krystal sounded like the type of person I could have easily been friends with. Now neither of us would have that chance.

Black Suit Guy stood at the end after the priest had said his last few words and thanked everyone for coming and that the funeral procession to the cemetery was going to be for family members only. He looked directly at me when he said that, I was secretly grateful for the early reprieve and after the church was empty I continued to sit in the pew, feeling strangely content and at home. The beautiful stained glass windows threw a rainbow of light across the floor and over the altar. For the first time in a long time I found myself praying. Silently I knelt on the floor and prayed Krystal had found peace, that her death would mean something somewhere. That it was
necessary
for some reason.

I prayed for God to look out for me, although I wasn’t sure from what.

CHAPTER 10

I woke early again on Wednesday, after a sleep full of dreams and things I couldn’t quite remember in the light of day. I decided to take Phoenix for a walk and he bounded along happily without pulling on his lead. I saw only a few other people out walking, running or cycling and was glad to have some time with him before school.

I chatted with my parents over breakfast and made my lunch. After feeding Phoenix I put him outside in his yard with some toys and food and went up to get ready.

Once I was showered and dressed, I grabbed my completed homework, my laptop and shoved everything into a bag and headed downstairs. I kissed my mother on the cheek and left for school, still managing to arrive earlier than normal.

I headed into the library and got some extra study done, only realising that the bell had gone when the librarian asked me if I needed to get to class. Thanking her, I quickly packed up and left.

The day went quickly. I spoke as little as possible to Mikayla and gave excuses at lunch so I wouldn’t have to sit with her. She didn’t mention Krystal’s funeral or the coincidence of me having the same day off. I figured someone would have told her I had gone. I was getting an odd vibe off her, but she didn’t directly say anything either. I left the group before Scott had arrived. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to be with him, and I knew if he was close enough all logic would leave me.

Sitting around the side of the library where students weren’t meant to be, I sat and ate, sketching absentmindedly in one of my books.

“That’s interesting Rubes.” I jumped when Scott suddenly appeared standing over me smiling, his dimples deeper than ever. “So, why are you avoiding me?”

He sat down right in front of me not giving me a chance to not look at him. As soon as my eyes met his I knew that I was completely lost in him.

“I just needed some space, I’m confused with what
this
is between us. I’m confused about a lot of things actually.”

“After what happened the other night? You’re still not convinced that we’re meant for each other?” His green eyes searched my face and he reached for my hand, gently rubbing his thumb back and forward of the back of it.

“That was so much more than I’ve ever experienced. Don’t get me wrong Scott, I enjoyed it, a
lot
, it’s just…” I let my voice trail off.

“Ruby, just be honest.” I could feel his touch setting fire to my arm, the feeling travelling right through me.

“Did you leave a rose by my bed?” I looked him dead in the face and watched as confusion spread across it.

“No, I didn’t.” For a second I thought I saw anger on his face but it was gone faster than it had come. 

“It was a black rose, Scott.” I saw the flash on his face this time, he took longer to put his mask back into place. It was surprise I saw, he was surprised but not shocked.

“That’s unusual Ruby, so who are you flirting with behind my back?” He leant in and nuzzled me in the neck, kissing and breathing warm breath over me. I felt my face heat, then I felt something else heat.

“Scott, are you trying to distract me?” I said, suddenly feeling breathless and had to remind myself why we were having this conversation in the first place.

“Is it working?” He murmured into my ear.

I pushed at his chest, and he grudgingly sat up. “You can’t do that, you know what you do to me and I am trying to talk to you without getting lost in you and completely turned on!” My anger flared suddenly and my lunch box went flying across to the small grass patch across from me. I must have kicked it when I pushed Scott away.

Without missing a beat, he smiled at me, beaming. “I turn you on?”

“Can’t you see I’m trying to talk to you? Don’t you understand that I think there is something more going on and I just can’t work it out?” I yelled at him and his smile faded. My arms waving wildly as I continued to yell, none if it making sense to Scott who was too shocked to react at my outburst.

“Look out!” Scott jumped up and slammed me into the wall behind me. There was a loud smash and I fell to the ground with Scott, a sharp pain from my back stealing the wind from my air. We were covered in a cloud of dust. Coughing I managed to sit up and looked towards where we had been sitting.

“Scott? Are you okay? Scott!” He sat up coughing, small amount of blood trickling down the side of his head.

“I’m okay, are you?”

“I think so. I hurt my back a little when we fell. But…look.” I pointed to where we had been.

A pile of bricks sat there, smashed and broken.

“Lucky I came to find you then, huh. Here stand up, I need to look at your back.” He gave me his hand and I stood, my legs shaking. I reached around to where my back was stinging and when I brought my back hand around it was covered in deep red blood. Looking up at Scott whose hand rested on my cheek, I could do nothing to stop the blackness that pulled me under.

“You’re okay Ruby, you fainted.” I could hear Scott’s voice, but he sounded so far away. “Ruby, open your eyes.”

As his voice became louder I opened my eyes, groggy and sore. “Hey.” I said. I sat up slowly with the help of Scott. The stars along the wall orientating me to where I was. Scott’s house.

“You faint at the sight of blood much then?” he asked. When I nodded he smiled and kept talking. “I’ve patched up that little cut on your back, it looked worse than it was. Once you’re feeling better I can either take you home or back to school. I rang your Mum and she said it was your call.”

“You rang my mother?” I sat up and pulled my legs over the side of the couch. “I’m fine, I just don’t like the sight of my own blood I guess.” I’d never had trouble with it before and I thought it was odd that it would be something I’d suddenly develop. It also felt odd to lie, when I wasn’t even sure why I was lying in the first place.

“Why did you bring me here? Why not just let the school nurse patch me up? Did you at least tell them about the bricks? Someone needs to fix it before someone gets hurt!” I pushed at him, not even sure why I was so angry but the feeling was almost overwhelming, filling me completely.

He didn’t say anything, but grabbed me in a bear hug, his arms circled around me. “Just calm down, stop getting so worked up.”

I pushed against him but he refused to let me go, after a few minutes I felt myself give in to him and I melted against his chest, relishing in the warmth, my anger fading.

“We weren’t supposed to be around there Rubes, I didn’t want to get into trouble. I’m already on their radar watch list, remember I’m repeating. I’m supposed to be on my best behaviour!” He pulled me slightly away from him by my shoulders looking straight into my face.

“Oh, I didn’t think about that.” I didn’t drop my gaze from his.

“No, you didn’t need to. I was just telling you why I didn’t want them to know. They’ll see the bricks eventually and fix it up. Are you really okay though? We need to head back if you’re feeling up to it, otherwise I can take you home.” He picked up his keys and headed for the front door.

“I’m fine, really. That cut hurts like nothing else but I feel fine. It could have been so much worse. I’m lucky that you found me. Thanks, again.”

He looked at me and looked confused for a minute. “Again?”

“Yeah, the speaker from that first night I went to youth group, remember?” I smiled at him, trying to put him at ease but he still seemed on edge as he drove back to school.

“Oh, coincidence I guess. Look I have to go, but I’ll see you later?” He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left. I wandered off to my class, expecting to see Mikayla there waiting. She wasn’t there, I almost sighed with relief, not wanting to have to explain my absence.

The rest of the day went blissfully fast and I walked home alone. Scott’s car wasn’t in the parking lot so I figured he’d bumped his last class.

I still didn’t get my answers from him about the rose though. He’d just presumed it was from some other guy. Maybe it was nothing after all, it just didn’t feel like nothing.

The rest of the week went slowly. I spoke to Scott every night on the phone and got through my ever growing list of homework, research and assignments. I walked with Phoenix every night and went for a run twice. I felt better, nothing weird had happened, Scott was back to normal and Mikayla was in all her classes and was the same as always; quiet but intense. My parents were happy and I was starting to think that everything was in fact a coincidence, just like Scott had said about speakers and the bricks. Even my mother had stopped looking at me with concerned eyes when she thought I wasn’t looking.

I felt like I had a real boyfriend in Scott, we spoke about sex again, he was more open and honest then I’d ever expected a boy to be. I blushed just at the thought of some of the conversations we’d had. I wanted it to be right for us. I needed to wait for a little while longer, we hadn’t been together that long at all. He had answered by telling me that time didn’t matter, that it was about how we felt and no matter how much time passed he would still feel the same. He would wait. He also knew when I was blushing, despite the fact that he couldn’t see me.

I felt calm and happy on Friday after school as Scott walked me home, hand in hand, we smiled and laughed. He picked me up and put me over his shoulders and smacked me on the backside. I giggled and laughed and squealed for him to put me down. I felt like my life was finally free of drama and coincidence. When we arrived at my house he spoke with my mother while Phoenix jumped around and whined for his affection. I enjoyed the way he interacted with her so easily, and remembered that his own mother was no longer around. It saddened me to think that he had only Mikayla to lean on.

Not anymore
, I thought,
now he had me too
. I smiled as I poured us all some iced water and went back outside. I stopped short at the sight of him with his shirt off digging a new patch of grass up for my mother to extend her ever growing veggie patch. The sun gleamed off him, he was physically very well developed for an eighteen year old. I wondered how he got his body in that shape. He never mentioned the gym or anything that would give him such amazing definition. After I got over my drooling I took over the iced water, feeling more like I needed a cold shower.

“Thanks honey,” my mother’s own face was a mixture of sweat and dirt. I often came home to her tending to her garden. “I really appreciate your help Scott. I was having trouble getting the shovel through the top layers and I need to start getting the soil ready for the autumn veggies.”

“No worries Mrs De Grey. I love being in the garden just as much as you do I reckon. My mother loved gardening.” Immediately he realised what he had said.

“Loved?” she said concern etched all over her face.

“Um, yeah, she died a couple of years ago.” He turned his back and started to dig again, ramming the shovel in harder than what was necessary.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you Scott.” She looked at me questioningly, excused herself and went inside.

“Scott?” I put my arm on his back and he flinched. “I’m sorry”

“For what? None of it is your fault. It just hurts that’s all.” He didn’t look at me, just kept shovelling away at the grass and dirt until he had dug up the entire patch that my mother had marked out for him.

He gulped down his water and kissed my forehead like my mother had done only a few nights before. “I’ll see you later, I’ll pick you up around six thirty.”

I stood there and watched him leave, pulling his t-shirt over his head as he walked. As he lifted his arms I saw a small scar on his right hip, just above the line of his pants. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.

“Mum?” I went into the kitchen where she was busily cutting up a pile of various vegetables for stir fry. “Are you okay?”

Putting her knife down to look at me I saw anger on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me his mother was dead? I felt horrible when I put my foot in it out there!”

“Because it’s not my story to tell! I didn’t realise you needed to know every single thing about him the second I do!” I regretted yelling at her the instant I started, but it bubbled over almost instantly.  “
He
mentioned his mother not you, so why is it suddenly my fault?”

“Ruby, was his father home at least when you went over there the other night?”

“What is this? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? I get good grades and keep out of trouble! What more do you want from me? I’ve got nothing left to give!” I yelled in her face, so angry and yet I had just easily lied to her. I was shaking I was so worked up. Suddenly the knife on the bench flew off, and landed in the fridge door, right up to the hilt.

“Ruby?” My mother was white as a sheet.

“I didn’t touch it, I swear!” I backed away from her, some of the puzzle pieces moving closer together. “I didn’t touch it!” I repeated and ran from the room.

I paced in my room, my head full of questions that I didn’t have any answers for. I heard my mother come up the stairs and gently knock on the door. I ignored it and continued to pace.

“Ruby, I just want to talk to you.” She came into the room and stood in the doorway. “Can you stand still for a minute?” She asked after a few seconds of watching me pace.