Fifteen

***Ruby***


Three days later, the school was wearing a different look in preparation for Maddison's memorial. I actually didn't think my mother would approach the principal, but she actually did and the woman who we hardly see actually listened to her.

Investigations were put on hold and no classes were held after eleven o'clock for certain reasons I can't even imagine.

But then, I am so glad the memorial service gets to happen. It was the least that could be done for the departed soul. Since I was part of the school decorating team as well as Abby, we were part of those creating a different touch to the open grounds behind our school. It actually was quite a place as it had an awesome view at night. You are able to see the city ahead in a very beautiful way.

"Is that a piano?" Abby queried as she got off the ladder which she had earlier climbed to put up the other side of the banner which was made. I looked behind me and behold, a grand piano was actually being dragged to a side, just in front of the arranged chairs. Seeing the instrument made me feel mushy inside as I recalled a certain time when I was still young, when my mom and dad took me to the penthouse we used to stay in.

That night will continue to be memorable because those two created music that soothed a seven year old me and drove me to a pleasing sleep.

"I guess someone will be performing tonight. It will certainly make the atmosphere different, don't you think?" My head whipped back to Abby who gave an agreeing shrug. "We are done right?"

"Yeah." Her eager eyes scanned the entire space.

"Thankfully, Jake and his friends offered to help." I waved at the boys who were clustered at a corner, unstacking the last batch of chairs.

"I wonder why we are not doing this in the auditorium," Abby said after a quick sigh.

"Well, I think we'll light candles. The principal certainly wouldn't want us burning the school down, right?" Abby's eyes were somewhere else and it seemed her mind was too. As I followed her line of sight, it landed on Jake whose forming biceps were felxing effortlessly as he moved from here and there with stack of chairs in his hold in consecutive minutes. "Abby?" I called her to check if she was deep into the staring business.

"Hmm?" she absentmindedly replied and I wore a smile.

"What do you think about Jake, Abby?"

"How do you mean?" Her eyes quickly tore away from the tall guy and she shook her head as if trying to erase a deadly memory.

"You-"

"Ruby," a sort of familiar voice cut my question short and I looked to the side to have my eyes falling on a even more familiar person. But I still couldn't place the name so I cautiously smiled. "It's me, Clara."

"Oh my!" She's the girl that wanted to have lunch with me. "I am so sorry, I didn't recognize you on time."

" It's fine." This time she was putting on a pair of glasses which she seemed to always push back onto her nose bridge as she wore a reluctant smile while tugging at her denim top that complimented her hair colour. "Not many people recognize me."
She gave a nervous laugh and I sort of felt bad.

"Are you going to introduce me to her?" Abby waltzed into the conversation.

"Oh yeah, Abby meet Clara. Clara meet Abby." I don't really get that form of introduction. Why repeat the names when they already know from the first statement?

"I also see you around," Clara said to Abby who wore the smile she usually has on when she's trying to scrutinize someone. Clara clearly wasn't aware of that as she faced me with a wider smile and said, "We never got to eat lunch together."

"There was no way it could have happened with what happened to Maddison."

" I doubt you would have even had an appetite," Abby said with a hint of sassiness.

" Oh, I ate before the incident actually."

"Then why did you ask Ruby to eat lunch together?" Abby wore a frown and I reasoned it too. "Are you some kind of heavy eater?"

"Abby drop it. She just wants to be friends." My beautiful friend threw her hands up in surrender. "Are you staying for the memorial service?" I asked Clara.

"Yes, Maddison was my friend."

"Oh." That was all I could say.

"We should have lunch sometime though. I really want to be friends with you. See you." I waved back, a small smile on my lips as I watched her walk back into the school.

"Hmm." Abby sounded like she was about to make a judgement. "There is something fishy about her."

"What are you saying?"

Abby dropped the hand she placed underneath her chin and easily changed the topic. " We should go back to your house and get dressed."

"Right. We have three hours to do that." I took out my phone and texted Jake that we were leaving. Our eyes met and he gave a wave from where he was after reading the text. "Did you tell your mom you'll be late though?" I asked Abby who was now packing her stuff into her bag which looked like it went through a tie and dye process.

"You know how she is Ruby. She wouldn't even care if I decide to sleep under a bridge tonight." Since it was a topic that could erupt into Abby crying her eyes out while asking for odd flavours of ice cream, I just nodded curtly and soon, we were on our way to my house.

~

A few minutes to nineteenth hour of the day, the program started. It turned out that Maddison left a family behind. Two elder brothers and her mother. It saddened me that she was torn away from them at such an early stage. I can't begin to imagine the pain they must be feeling.

Just like how I can't bear the thought of losing anyone in my family, including Abby and Jake.

Taking a look around the dark lights which were provided by customized lanterns which were laying around without use in the storage, I noticed most of the seats were taken already and that was quite surprising. Not many people claimed to be associated with her even when she was being wheeled away.

Is that how death works? Does it really magically make people have interest in you even for a second? If that's the case, that's really sad.

Taking a deep sigh, I ran my hands through the simple dark blue gown which matched Abby's in colour. Just that her gown was a bit straighter. The person with the microphone was reading about the life of Maddison and the little achievements she had made. It turned out she was a volunteer at her church from where she heard and helped plead cases of people who have been wrongly jailed.

I can't help but wonder if she knew Bryan before he went to jail or after.

But regardless, she really did a good job while alive.

"Oh my, that's Mr. Klaus," Abby who looked sober earlier suddenly perked and I noticed more than half of the seated students did too. Already damning the change in atmosphere caused by the entry of a single man, my eyes traveled to the front where Mr. Adonis Klaus was now taking a seat by the piano.
"Oh, don't tell me he is playing the piano," Abby sounded like she could faint from excitement. "That's so cool."

My arms folded and I wore a disapproving look in regards to her reaction. The male teacher who had been solemnly reading out Maddison's profile threw the English substitute teacher a smile before going to sit down. Then, the murmurs which were faintly growing died down and the entire place waited for the man to start playing.

As he took a second to stare down at the keys, I noticed he had styled his hair differently. It seemed more bouyant and the wind blew the styled front even more which caused him to briefly run his hand through his hair. I would love to deny it, but he actually looked so good doing that.

Soon, a tune filled the air and I felt my body achieve some kind of tranquility. The tune was sad alright, but then it was assuring as it was saddening right from the start of the piece. I obviously wasn't wearing a dreamy look like some because a gorgeous man was playing a piano so well, but my entire system couldn't deny how good the whole thing felt.

As my hands started to tap against my lap in unison with the easing melody, Abby's head shifted forward and I had to lean backwards as her head almost bumped mine. "What?" I asked her as her peering intensified.

"I am sure it is him," she incoherently said and my eyes narrowed in reaction.

"Uh?"

"Ruby, it's that bald man. He has been staring at you ever since we sat down."

" Which-"

Abby turned back my head before u could get a glimpse. " Don't look, he'll know we have noticed him. Actually..." Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned back. " He is gone."

"Oh." My eyes then traveled to the dark distant space with my forehead creased. A bald man...

The piece being played ended and suddenly as if it was waiting for a grand entry, papers started raining from the sky. That created noise as people became really curious as to what was happening. When one of the falling papers fell on my laps with its contents hiding from my sight, I took it and what I saw had me springing off my seat.

The same picture of a supposedly nude me that was being circulated around the school was printed largely on the paper with the words; *I LIKE GIRLS. CALL ME FOR A GOOD a TIME*; written beneath it.
Soon, the murmurs and Abby's calls didn't move me as my mind wore some kind of shield as my whole body exploded with anger. I was about to leave where I was when my eyes met the shocked one's of my mother.

And she was holding the same piece of paper in her hands.