Sixteen

***Ruby***

With a kind of fear within me, I walked towards my mom who was still trying to decipher what exactly was happening.

Everywhere was already a bit of a chaos as murmurs filled the air and eyes trained on me. But that really didn't bother me.

"Mom.." I carefully called as I found myself in front of her.

"What is going on Ruby? What is this?" She pushed the paper in her hand towards my face and I sighed. I really didn't want her to find out in such a way.

In fact, I didn't want her to find out at all.

"Mom..."

"What is this supposed to be?" Her forehead creased with a frown as she took another unbelieving look at the contents of the flier. "A naked you?"

"I-"

"This is not how you look naked," she protested, her frown getting deeper. " I am sure of it."

"You know how I look like naked?"

"I am your mother, of course I do. That's not the point here. " She quickly changed the topic before I could ask a question that instantly bugged my mind. "Why is this happening Ruby? Is something going on that I don't know? "

"Uh..." Her brows lifted and I felt intimidated. How on earth would I tell her everything? She will certainly freak out about the whole Bryan issue. "First, I really wish you didn't find out about this this way."

"I bet you didn't even plan on letting me know. And that makes me even more curious. I am so sure now that something is going on and I need to hear about it."

"I-"

" Don't leave out a single detail, " she warned and I sighed as heaviness befell my chest.

"This started after Maddison died. There is this guy who acted suspiciously with her just before she was pushed or fell off the rooftop and I reported what I noticed to the cops."

I bit into my lower lip as my hands pressed into each other so hard, I could draw blood if I went even further.

"The guy got angry at me when he found out I was the one that told the cops and he kind of threatened me."

" Kind of?" Her arms crossed giving her chic look at that moment some more sexiness.
"Kind of threatened you, Ruby?" She made the flier dance in front of my eyes again. "This is supposed to be a nude picture of you. Do you know how implicating this is even for your future?"

"I-" I was beginning to feel so tired. I guess I really hate been put on the spot.

"You will be going to college soon. What if this happens to be the reason you don't get considered? I don't wish it happens but if it does, what will you do then?" Mom scoffed and I felt my eyes stinging already.
" Were you really going to keep this from your dad and I?"

"I was-"

"No you weren't. I know you didn't think about telling us at all. I know you Ruby. I may not be your real mother but I have been taking care of you for so long and I know how eager you are to share stuff that make people around you happy.

You only hold things that are threatening to your relationship with people in and that is not a good thing Ruby. You don't call some people family or friends if you can't confide in them even when you are going through extremely tough times.

You need to realize that it is okay to share problems. It doesn't kill you."

My throat felt heavy as the tears threatened to fall.

" Gosh." Mom's voice lowered and she sounded regretful instantly. "What am I doing? We should be finding a solution to this issue instead I am going on about nonsense."


"No, I guess I needed to hear those words. I feel so tired now that all this is happening. I really should have said something. I should have realized how heavy the result would be. Mom..." I looked up at her with those years finally falling. " Please help me."

Mom sighed and pulled at my hands which were still trying to strangle each other. "Come here," she said and pulled me into her chest. "I am sorry you are feeling so tired."

Her embrace felt so comfortable, I forgot that we were right next to an interrupted memorial and broke into tears.

"Oh, my baby," she cooed and pulled me even closer, her hand running through my hair. "You must have felt really, really upset. Who is that bastard who is hurting my baby with such rubbish posts? I'll crush his legs into powder and feed it to him as a solution."

" Mom..." I found a space to laugh at her threat and she chuckled with me.

" Let's go home Ruby. I know you need to sleep."

"Dad will be so furious with me, won't he?"

" Let's talk about that tomorrow. I need you to rest right now. Do you want to say bye to Abby and Jake?"

" I'll text them," I held firmly to her sides as she slung her shoulder over mine.

" Okay baby, let's go home."


~

I am not going to lie or sugarcoat how I was feeling.

It is as though I am between two heavy rocks which are closely in on me. I am trying hard to separate the two before they crush me, but it is so hard to stop them. The rock in top feels so heavy and the one below keeps tugging at my leg in a bid to drag me all the way to the bottom of the earth.

I don't care if the analogy is trash, it's just the best way I could describe how I was feeling.

I have often read books about people who have been bullied. Of course, I sympathized with them but at the same time, I always wished they could be strong enough to fight back.

I am not trying to say I am not able to fight, I am just feeling tired already, a voice is already telling me to give up.

So, I kind of understand why some of those characters never fought back.

Looking to the side as the fact that I was already depressing myself depressed me even more, I noticed it was just few minutes past midnight.

As I grabbed my phone, I noticed I had tons of calls and texts from Abby and Jake. After replying to them with the simple statement- *I'm fine*, I tossed my phone to a corner and got off the bed to get some water as my throat felt parched.

As I grudgingly walked towards the kitchen, the scene from Maddison's memorial came back to me and I just had to wonder why on earth Bryan would go as far as doing that.

What was on the internet had already turned my life upside down and then he does something even more?

My hands clutching my hair as I stopped my lazy steps, I squatted and groaned loudly into my laps as I recalled further the look on his face as he insisted he wasn't responsible for the whole thing.

"Ruby?" my mom's voice called from the kitchen and I froze. I wasn't ready for the talk.
"Come here, baby," she called further and I felt pulled by the softness in her voice.

My eyes feeling like they looked really sober, I stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

On getting there, my mom's smile greeted me and I instantly noticed that she was not alone.

"Dad..." I felt so shaken, my legs could have failed me at that moment.


"Sit down Ruby," mom said and I did as she said but not without feeling too conscious of my dad's silence. He might not be saying anything, but his eyes which would have seemed calm to any stranger spoke volumes.

As I adjusted on the seat, I caught a glimpse of a piece of paper on the island and I could tell it was the flier without the front page showing.


My head found it difficult to stay up. And my hands resumed the strangling.

My dad sighed and my eyes shut in preparation of his statement.
"Ruby..." He made a smacking noise with his lips. " I need you to tell me what exactly happened."
A shaky breath escaped me as I found it difficult to do what he asked.
"Ruby... Look at me."

"Look at your father Ruby."

My head bounced as though I was nodding and I finally was looking straight into his blue eyes.

"Tell me Ruby," he urged with no pressure hidden in his voice.

The fact that he wasn't showing any signs of anger made me a bit relaxed and I finally found the strength to tell him about everything just like I had told mom.

When I had finally let it all out, he said nothing and that brought the fear back in. I began to worry he would bring in his idea and that idea definitely threatens to blow things up even more.

"Miss Sands?" I frowned at my father's use of mom's maiden name.

" Yes, Mr. Powers?" She played along and that made me more confused.

His eyes seemed to be instantly smiling. "Does Ruby have to go to school tomorrow?"

"Hmm." Mom stroked her chin quite dramatically. " I believe she needs a break."

"Then..." He faced her, his left hand resting on his thigh to angle out his elbow after. "Can you take her shopping tomorrow?"

My head tilted to the side as it made absolutely no sense.

"Of course I can." The fact that she was going with it made me lose it even more.

What on earth were they doing? Shouldn't I be receiving a lecture already?

"Good. Have our daughter ready by eleven am. We have somewhere to go."

" An outing?" My brows cocked at my mother's question.

And as my father smiled and replied in the affirmative, I just couldn't help but conclude that I have parents that are one of a kind.

But at the same time, I smiled within me. And as my parents bade me goodnight, I felt so grateful and I became even more curious about how my dad's plan.

I guess, I'll have to wait.
And why not, waiting is my specialty.