by Dakota Lake
I messaged Seth while I waited.
Hey, Can you pick me up on the way home, I’m at Eggy's Diner-small blue diner near home. Ruby
Five minutes went by and my cell beeped. Message from Seth.
I finish at 4 where is Micah?
Long story, explain later.
Sure will swing by cabin to collect truck first,see you soon. I had forgotten he'd gone to work on his bike this morning.
The waitress returned with my soda.
“Fries shouldn't be to long hun,” she said placing it on the table.
“Thanks,”
I watched the out the window as the sky grew darker and the rain fell even harder. In the midst of it all I saw a bird land on the outside menu board. It was the raven, it sat ruffling it's feathers shaking off the rain. I grabbed the menu and hid behind it, waited then slowly peeked over the top. The bird had moved closer and was now sitting on the window ledge inches away from me the only thing dividing us was the glass.
“Seriously, stop following me,” I said, banging the menu against the window.
“Are you okay?”
“Err...,” I turned around in my seat and looked up to see a pair of black eyes staring back at me. I knew those eyes. “There was a bird on the ledge,” I said looking back at the ledge but it had flown away.
“I don't see anything,” he leaned over looking out the window. He probably thought I was nuts talking to myself. “It's Ruby, isn't it?”
“Yes, Cam right.”
“Yep that's me. Didn't think you'd remember,”
“Well you're hard to forget,”
'Hard to forget' I couldn't believe those were the words that had just come out of my mouth. I quickly thought of something else to say.
“Because you fixed my friends car, we would have been stranded without you.”
Much better I didn't want to seem so pathetic falling all over him, even if he did look amazingly gorgeous. No what was I thinking I wasn't one of those girls, boys didn't rule my every waking thought.
But I was positive I would have a hard time trying to sleep tonight with his face behind my eyelids. “So Ruby, is it all right if I join you or are you waiting for someone?”
“No it's just me,”
He smiled and slid into the seat opposite me. He was dressed casually, wearing a scruffy cap, his soft blonde hair stuck out at the sides. He had on jeans and a plain white shirt, he didn't look wet though he definitely hadn't come from outside.
“This place does great food, what have you ordered?”
“Cheesy fries,”
“Good choice.” he smiled at me, with a smile that was contagious. “So what are you doing all the way out here Ruby?”
“I had a disagreement with my designated driver, so I'm stuck here waiting for my brother to come and get me,”
“So you lived round here long?” he asked.
“No I arrived a week ago just visiting, but things have changed and now I’m staying.” “Yeah didn't think I’d seen your face round here before.”
I felt my face flush red. Then I remembered my face was all bruised, he probably wondered what had happened to me.
“I had a batting accident,” I pointed to my face.
“Oh that I hadn't even noticed.”
This was only the second time I had met him but I still couldn't hear his thoughts, unless he wasn't thinking anything which was strange, everyone had something rattling around in their heads. I looked at him closely, maybe it was me. Was I losing my ability? Maybe it was this town? He wasn't the first person I had met who wasn’t projecting their thoughts, but that would mean comparing him to Micah this guy was nothing like Micah, he was actually friendly to me. “So what are you doing here?” I asked.
I wasn't entirely sure if he didn’t work here, he definitely hadn’t come from outside he would have been soaked like me.
A sly smile spread across his lips as he scanned the menu.“For the food, of course.” I couldn’t help but smile I had to glance out the window to distract myself from staring at him. A black motorcycle pulled up near the door, it was the same bike that had passed me on the road a few times. The driver swung off and seemed to be looking at me but I couldn't be sure as he still had his helmet on. I quickly moved my eyes back to my drink twirling my straw.
He walked in, removed his helmet and briefly looked over in my direction. At first glance he reminded me straight away of the boy I had met in the forest his dark black hair and build looked the same, but after closer inspection this boy was dressed more like a teenager and was probably around my age.
He had on a navy hoodie, dark jeans and green high tops, a chain hung from his pocket most likely attached to keys or a wallet. Definitely not the same boy.
He walked over to the counter and the younger waitress went over to him. I noticed Cam was watching me, I smiled and took a sip of my drink. Cam casually turned his head to look in the direction of the boy and then back at me.
“I'll be back in minute,”
I nodded sucking on my straw. He got up and walked past me to where the rest rooms were. Cam had been gone a few minutes and the boy at the counter kept looking in my direction, probably looking at my face. I ignored him and fixed my eyes on the clock on the wall behind the counter. The older waitress walked past me to the rest rooms I watched her pull some cleaning supplies from a cupboard opposite. I went back to watching the second hand on the clock tick round and soon realised Cam had been gone for over ten minutes. The younger waitress bought my food over and set it down.
“Is your friend ordering?” she asked.
“I don’t know he disappeared into the bathroom,” I said fidgeting in my seat.
“There’s no one in the bathrooms, I’ve just given them the once over the older lady said walking past us. I frowned looking at the younger one she looked as confused as I did.
“Are you sure?” I asked the older lady.
“Quite certain my dear, but you are welcome to check for yourself,”
“Erm, I’ll come back,” the younger one said following the other lady back behind the counter. I looked at my plate of food, it looked too hot to eat, so I started biting my finger nail a bad habit I had never grown out of. I kept looking behind me, maybe one quick peek, I wasn't crazy Cam had definitely walked that way maybe there was a fire escape at the end.
I thought it that was a bit extreme, he could of just said something had come up and he had to leave, it would have been the normal thing to do than just running out the back door.
I walked over to the rest rooms as it turned out there was no fire escape at the back, just two bathrooms and a small cupboard opposite. I quickly peeked round the door to the ladies, it was empty and I also noticed the windows were too small for any normal size person to be able to climb out of. I thought it couldn’t hurt to check the men’s, after all she had said I was welcome to, didn't she?
I quickly swung the door open and went in. The men's bathroom was also empty. It didn't make sense, he couldn't have just vanished into thin air. I stood next to the sink trying to figure it out when I noticed myself in the mirror. I had forgotten I was caught out in the rain wearing mascara. I frantically started scrubbing under my eyes with my sleeve removing smeared mascara, when another face appeared in the mirror behind me.
“What are you doing?” he asked. It was the boy from the motorcycle.
“I was looking for a friend,”
His eyes roamed around the bathroom and he raised an eyebrow at me.
“Never mind,” I said hurrying to the door, embarrassed I had been caught in the men's bathroom. “What happened to your face?” he asked as I was halfway out the door.
I stopped and looked at him, his eyes were the most vivid green I had ever seen.
“A crazy guy hit me with a bat,” I said letting the door swing shut behind me, it was the truth and I didn't know this guy so I didn't have to explain myself to him, it was none of his business. I hated Micah for this and I hated being t
he center of attention.
I returned to my seat and started nibbling fries from the edge of the plate, they weren't so hot anymore. The boy walked past me back to his seat, he leaned over the counter talking to the younger waitress he handed her what looked like money. She had gone all giggly and I was sure I heard her snort. She glanced over in my directions and nodded at him, then he walked out to his bike and drove off. The girl went back to cleaning down the counter top, they had probably been gossiping over my face or worse making fun of me cause Cam had just done a runner and left me. I didn't know exactly where he had ran to though, I doubted he was hiding in the cleaning cupboard. I finished my food and started looking through my new school books trying to block out the old man in the corner, his thoughts were all numbers I think it was sudoku.
It felt like I had been sitting there for hours by the time Seth pulled up in his truck. I gathered my stuff and walked over to the counter to pay, the older lady was refilling the pie selection. “How much do owe?” I asked her.
“Nothing dear, all paid,” I looked at her confused.
“But I haven't given you any money yet,”
“No someone else paid your bill and extra to cover anything else you ordered, a nice tip left over.” “What, who?” I said looking around but there was just the same old man sitting in the corner doing a crossword now and a truck driver who was scoffing down a meat pie. I looked at her puzzled. “Let me ask Libby. Libby dear come out here a minute would you,” she called. The younger waitress appeared from the kitchen.
“The young girl wants to know who paid her bill?”
“It was that boy that came in earlier,”
I looked at her confused.
“I thought you knew each other,” she said. Lucky girl he was hot, I heard her thinking. “Really he could of said something, he just left me at the table and vanished.”
“Not that one,” she said giggling. “The other one, the one on the bike,”
She continued talking in her head, I wish I could have a ride on....
“Okay well thanks,” I hurried towards the door I didn't want to hear the end of that sentence. I had no idea who he was, why would he pay my bill? Then it dawned on me, he probably felt sorry for me I did say I was attacked by some crazy guy with a bat. Well it wasn't a complete lie. “So what did he do this time? He said you forced him to abandon you in town. He's been pacing and I warn you he's in a foul mood,” Seth said, as I climbed into the truck.
“Well that’s not my fault, he insulted me more than once and he drives me mad. I couldn’t get back in the truck with him I would have probably ended up barehanded strangling him on the way home, sorry he gets me all worked up.”
“The words, I didn’t want to leave her she made me, I had no choice. Seth if she gets eaten by a bear I’ll feel really bad for like the rest of the week,” he said trying to control his laughing. “What he didn't say that,”
“Yeah he did, you put the bear idea in his head and it's stuck he's convinced you were going to get eaten on the way home. He was sulking when I left.”
“Well it serves him right, he was really mean. Wait are there bears round here?” I asked, looking out the window.
He shook his head. “Well I’ve never seen one, but I could get you some bear spray anyway and you could use it on Micah if he misbehaves.” he grinned.
We arrived home to find Micah in front of the TV watching cartoons.
“Look still in one piece,” I said jumping on the couch next to him. He blew a bubble with his gum and stood up ignoring me.
“I'm gonna head out stuff to do tonight,” he said, moving to the door.
“Okay man, I’ll see you later,” Seth said rooting through the fridge. The house phone started to ring and Seth picked it up.
So annoying.......mom......can't believe, I heard his thoughts.
I left him talking to whom I guessed was someone from school and went into the kitchen. He swung around the door a minute later.
“That was school, mom never rang. I will have words with her, doesn't look like you will be starting tomorrow,” I let out a sigh. “Don't worry I will sort it. Now how about home made pizza for dinner,” he said opening the cupboards.
After dinner I watched TV with Seth, then dragged myself to bed at 11ish. I left Seth snoring on the couch.
I spent Tuesday lounging around in pyjamas. Micah never stopped by, so it was just me and the dog for company, the school rang in the afternoon. I was starting at Heaven's Point High tomorrow.
Chapter Ten
I was up early Wednesday, I was both nervous and excited. I had even picked out my outfit, skinny purple jeans, black boots and one of my favourite oversized jumpers black with a leopard on the front. I opted for a high ponytail, there was no point trying to hide my face behind my hair it was far too noticeable. I was half way through my cereal when I realised Seth wasn't here, how was I going to get to school? My question was soon answered when Micah pulled up in his Dodge, I met him on the porch.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Erm yeah,” I said trying to push the dog back to lock the door. Micah switched to Seth's truck. The drive to school was quiet and took longer than I thought it would, I would still be on time but I was hoping to find Caitlin before the bell.
He swung into a parking space and stared out the window, I wondered what he was looking at when I spotted the raven perched on a tree branch near the edge of the parking lot.
“How did you even see that?” I asked.
“Not hard when it's been following us,”
“What?” I looked at the bird, then back at Micah but his eyes weren't giving anything away. I opened my door and started to climb out.
“Don't talk to any strangers,”
“It’s my first day I hardly know anyone, of course I’m going to talk to strangers. Unless you want to be a little more specific,” I asked looking around the parking lot, but he ignored my question. “Give me your cell,”
“What, why?” I asked.
“So I can give you my number,”
I slowly retrieved my cell from my bag, He picked it out of my hand and keyed in his number, he then rang his own cell with mine to get my number.
He passed it back to me. “You can get out now.”
I quickly climbed out and slammed the door turning my back on him.
I heard the bell and followed the crowd towards the main doors, from the corner of my eye I saw the raven take flight over the building.
Inside the corridors were buzzing with activity, teenagers dashing to lockers and through doors. The noise in my head was so loud, I forgot what been in school was like and what a busy corridor full of thoughts sounded like. I stood there overwhelmed getting bumped from side to side. I decided it was best to move to the edge at least until the stampede was over. I saw a boy unloading his bag into his locker, he looked harmless curly red hair with glasses.
“Hey, where can I find the main office?” I asked.
“Down on the left, you can't miss it.” he said turning back to his locker. Her face looks a wreck, I heard him thinking as I moved away.
I found the office, inside there was an older lady with her hair in a messy bun held up by a pencil. “Hi, I'm new starting today. I’m meant to pick up my class schedule,”
“Yes, you must be Ruby,” she said looking up at me from her desk. What happened? I just smiled, I was going to be hearing comments like that all day.
“Now where did I put it?” she said patting down the desk, paperwork was floating everywhere. She was very disorganised for a secretary. “Maybe it's over here,”
I turned around and leaned against the counter the wall facing the corridor was all windows so I watched as the last ones in the corridor disappeared behind doors.
A boy in a red hoodie with the hood up glided past the window faster than the other kids, he glanced over at me and caught my eyes for a split second then ducked down and up gliding faster, he was on a skateboard.
&nbs
p; “Here we are,” she said talking to herself. “They you are my lovely,” she said handing it to me and pointing at a number. “Locker 87.”
Poor thing, she was thinking as she smiled at me.
The phone started ringing and she frantically searched for it under the paperwork. I quickly looked at my schedule and the classes I would be in today. My bag was loaded down and already hurting my shoulder. I really wanted to drop off the books I didn't need straight away. I didn't think been late on my first day was that bad. I could always say I got lost.
It took me a few wrong turns before I found my locker number. I was also very aware of the boy on the other side of the corridor. The same boy in the red hoodie.
He had his board propped up against the locker next to him and his bag in his hands loading it with books. The thing that caught my attention first was his green high tops. Where had I seen them before?
I busied myself in my locker I didn’t want to get caught staring. The previous owner of the locker had left behind some foot spray and their stinky gym shoes. Gross! I heard the locker behind me slam. I carefully peeked around the edge of my locker door. The boy lazily strolled by, obviously not in any rush to get to class. He turned back and looked at me, there was a hint of a smile on his face.
Then he turned the corner and was gone. It was the same guy from the diner the one that had caught me in the men's bathroom. I knew I recognised those high tops.
I grabbed my bag and searched for the room number on my sheet. I had Calculus first, which was probably my worst subject to start the day with.
I knocked and let myself into the classroom, the teacher an older man in a beige suit motioned for me to come over to his desk. Everyone in the class was chatting, some were still sitting on their desks, maybe they hadn't started yet, or maybe they had? The teacher was sipping on coffee very strong coffee from the smell of it. The class quietened down and heads were turned in my direction. What happened to her?.......attacked......who's that?......fighting.....car accident......new girl.......who's she?