Okay... rested up... got Weird Al playing... can't believe it has taken me practically the day after I checked complete on the Drug Au to get to this point... but I did take a lot of time out to watch the extra life livestream... Game Attack are fucking crazy, and oh my god the amount total they raised. I also took time to write a Reese/Pyrrha story that is on tumblr. And I'll stop procrastinating now.
Chapter 2:
Smiling as she ran into Blake for the first time the entire day. She couldn't believe how hard it was, she even lost a couple hours of working on her small coding projects, but it was going to be worth. She won.
Slamming the thick book on the table as she stared at Blake. "I won. Told you. Don't come between me and arcade games." Ruby spoke as Blake smiled placing a slightly smaller book on top of the larger book. "Okay I guess that means I'll pay for arcade games for an hour. However, today we are going to read Seamus Heaney poems." Blake said as Ruby deflated a little.
Sulking as she took a seat and slowly dragged the much thinner book down and opened it. "Oh, just so you know, there are three other books you'll need to read as well. All poetry... just that is the only Seamus Heaney one." Blake stated as Ruby began to pout opening to the first page with just a wall of text staring at her. She had no idea how long these poems were... but she was already saddened by it.
Blake halted herself a little when she saw Ruby pout as she was reading one of Blake's favourite poets. Almost like she wasn't enjoying it. "If you get that book and another one done by the time we agreed to yesterday that these studying groups will end, I'll bring in chocolate and strawberry cookies tomorrow. Home baked." Blake spoke as Ruby looked up smiling a little at the idea of getting a treat.
The only problem she found was that it didn't help her situation today. Which was a big problem to her. But those did sound really good. They did combine Ruby's two favourite things. How could she pass up that opportunity?
"Challenge accepted... but you made a worse mistake... those are like my two favourite things..."
"Did I? I mean... you are reading. And I now know of an easier way to get you to do that." Blake quipped back as she stood up with the large book of fairy tales and began to walk down an aisle, one Ruby figured was where the book belonged.
Ruby had to admit that it had a lot of interesting stories, which made the binge reading she did a lot easier to do. She had no idea if that was what caused the stories to become iconic to the point where everyone knew at least one of them. It even had Ruby's favourite one. But after a quick glance over the lines of this poem it seemed really depressing. From what she got, the poem was about some four year old dying because they got hit by a car.
Blake quickly found her seat again and took it pulling out her own book and turned to a new page. Enjoying that Ruby seemed to have picked up reading, even if it was just to get some reward. But it was going to be a small price to pay.
"How are you reading a new book? You only were only half way through the other one yesterday." Ruby asked looking up from the book. She only got half way through a poem about some man going to do something she just knew was going to be terrible to kittens. She needed some distraction. She didn't want to imagine what would befall them. "I finished the book this morning. It was an interesting story. But that isn't up for debate. You should get reading. I mean, if you don't get the two books of poems done, I'll still bring in the cookies the only difference is, I'll eat them and you won't get any." Blake spoke only glancing away from her book to see Ruby sulking a little.
"What is the matter?"
"This guy is so depressing... who writes a poem about a dead brother... or drowning kittens... is the next one about him watching orphans setting themselves on fire?" Ruby asked as Blake smirked a little. "Actually those are the only depressing ones he wrote really. But also keep in mind when he wrote the poems, he saw death frequently and the country was really poor because of constant bombings." Blake spoke as Ruby glanced back down at the poem book.
'Okay... that just means I got to get through these two poems first... then they get happier by comparison going to be easy.' Ruby thought hoping that she was in fact right about that, and Blake wouldn't lie to her about it. She had no reason to doubt Blake, but that nagging sensation being from years of being related to Yang had made her a little sceptical about everyone.
Blake smiled as Ruby just seemed to figuratively roll her sleeves up and began to read those two poems she clearly disliked a lot. Not that the older of the two could fault her. It took Blake a lot to will herself to read them. Reaching down next to her she pulled up what was the largest of the remaining three poem books and placed it on the table next to the book Ruby was currently reading.
"That book is freaking huge!" Ruby exclaimed as Blake just smiled a little. "You'll like Shel Silverstein. His poems get even the coldest person to laugh. And the poems themselves aren't actually that long. He just drew a lot of cartoons to go with each poem. So get those two done by four thirty, and we can go and enjoy the arcade and you'll get your cookies tomorrow, because your alternative is Shakespeare's sonnets, or Elizabeth Bishop... trust me you want to read that 'freaking huge' book."
Sulking a little as she resigned herself to her fate of reading. Just glad that at least Blake was willing to look out for her that much at least. It meant that she could probably do this easier and faster. That is all she needed really.
Ruby saw the machine she was wanting to play all day and she was going to enjoy it. Grabbing Blake's hand she dragged Blake over towards the machine letting go so she could grab one of the plastic gun, smiling as Blake smirked a little.
"House of Dread nine?" Blake asked as Ruby nodded her head frantically. She loved this game to an extreme degree. "It is a zombie rail game... and is amazing. Me and my sister have the record on the machine, and I'm confident she holds me back. And only one way to prove it. You are more than welcome to join." Ruby said as she just stared at the small demo of game play began as Blake pulled out a couple of coins and placed them inside causing Ruby's hand to fly down and hit the start button.
Blake smiled as Ruby developed a small zone like mood when she began to play the game, the way her eyes just darted across the screen, almost like every second she was planning her course of action.
"So, out of curiosity why play this game now? I mean, we've been here what nine times now?" Blake asked as Ruby began to swing the gun around and pull the plastic trigger. As Blake looked back towards the screen to see heads explode. "Because there was always a group here... and I dislike playing this with an audience... which always happens by the time I get to the third level. And that is what fail. But there is like five people here so I should be able to do this just fine." Ruby got out as she pulled the plastic trigger a few times quickly lowering it to the bottom portion and pulled it again.
"So, how did that test a couple of days go? I assume it went well. I mean, Port isn't that harsh marking tests." Blake asked as Ruby smiled a little. "I got forty seven percent. So a pass... but I feel I can do better. But only five in class tests then the summer one... So I have time to get up more." Ruby smiled as she took her eyes off the screen to look at Blake who was observing both Ruby and the screen. "Well, don't forget, I can only help you till may. After that I'm done." Blake said as Ruby frowned at that simple remark.
It was a factor that she remembered constantly, but that didn't make it any easier. Ruby enjoyed these small things Blake would reward her with for doing the reading she assigned each night. She had no idea how she was meant to be able to keep the whole 'plan' Blake had. But that just seemed far too hard. She had even contemplated tanking Blake's grades, but still couldn't do that. It just felt wrong.
"You are going to do just fine Ruby. If it makes it any easier on you, every time I can, we can meet up and do something like this again." Blake said hoping that she could get Ruby to keep this up. She had to admit after the three weeks of helping Ruby, it was amusing to see her still pouting and eventually get to reading whatever it was for that day, just so she could do whatever it was that Blake planned as a reward.
Shaking her head to focus back on the game Ruby just began to debate if it was going to be worth it. "That sounds better... but I don't know if it is still going to be as easy. I mean... I have no idea how I'm meant to pick what to read..."
"We can sort something out Ruby. Even if it is me texting you at the start of the week a list you need to read by weekend." Blake spoke as Ruby smiled a bit more at the way Blake was that confident in her trust that Ruby would do something like reading on an honour system about this whole thing. After all Ruby had contemplated just lying... the only thing that ever stop her was the fact Blake would actually always go through with whatever the reward was. If it was the arcade, they would go. If it was some treat like cookies and milk they would get some.
Ruby figured that was the real reason she did as well as she did on the last test. Just the desire to get something special and Blake had even given her a carton of strawberry milk the day Ruby finished the test.
But the idea that Blake would be gone now, made the last two years seem a lot more daunting. It would be something she would dread just thinking about walking into the class. To go back to flunking.
"Ruby, again, if you just keep reading, you'll work your way up to an A easily. Probably the best advice I ever got from Goodwitch back when I was always getting a ninety five percent. I asked her... and she told me the only real way is to read. And I realised that I actually really enjoy reading. Probably the easiest hobby I have and do on a regular basis. But you went from two percent up to forty seven in three weeks. You should be able to get it to a ninety by the end of the year."
"Fine... but if I do... I want to go to your graduation because that will be the last time I can see you before the final test I'll have." Ruby said pulling the trigger for the final time on the first boss. "Fine. You need to score at least ninety by the final in class test. I'll even ask Port myself to make sure." Blake spoke as Ruby placed the plastic weapon back not really wanting to continue playing it right now. She still had to finish Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if she wanted the brownies Blake was offering for tomorrow. "Well, I'm done for today. Thanks Blake."
Ruby smiled as she ran up to Blake, and placed the graded test down in front of her. "Told you I could do it... not going to bring my average grade across the board up by much... but it does mean, I'm capable of getting a ninety percent... and you owe me one invite to your graduation." Ruby exclaimed, ignoring the fact they were in a library. She was happy.
And she could see a smile on Blake's face. It was large one showing just how happy Blake was. "You see, because I had you read Mid Term Break a lot, you could answer the questions without even looking at the poem." Blake spoke reaching into her bag to pull out a clear box.
One that Ruby knew really well, and it made the test result even better when Blake pulled out a small pink carton. Something Ruby enjoyed to go with the delicious baked cookies Blake had always made for her.
Opening the container Ruby could see there was a small deviation from the normal chocolate chip ones that Blake would make her. Instead they were triple chocolate chip. "I decided to do something special seeing as this is the last study session." Blake said handing the papers back to Ruby. Noticing a distinct frown on her face as she bit into the cookie.
"It is? I thought we would have more time..." Ruby pouted, suddenly the delicious treat no longer tasted as good. It was bitter, and disgusting in a way. "Relax Ruby. I can still stop by every now and then when I'm around." Blake said trying to cheer the brunette up. Once she saw Ruby smile a little she joined her as well. "That would be fun... so what am I meant to read today? Because creative writing is a large portion of my final test."
"Your set for that. But I'll let you choose. I suggest something that is just a collection of short stories." Blake spoke as Ruby stood up, knowing the exact book she was going to get. The same one that started her friendship with Blake really. Once she found the cloth bound book she pulled it off the shelf and walked back to the table to see Blake smiling anew. "Fairy tales? Nice choice."
"Thanks for the help Blake." Ruby got out as Blake looked at her, "The best is yet to come Ruby… once you are done with this school, I have no doubt you can go far."
Author's Note:
Boom got it done. It is shorter than originally planned... that is partially due to I fucking hate writing fluff... but glad I got to write it. Few points of order, the poems at the start that Ruby is referring to are 'Mid Term Break' and 'Early Purges' respectively. I'm using the Irish Secondary school system because I experienced that, and you can be held back for failing one of the three mandatory subjects the school is required by law to teach. As for the reading thing... that is actual advice my 5th year and 6th year English teacher gave to anyone if they wanted to do better at the subject, and it is the advice I give whenever someone asks for help. Just read. I hope you guys enjoyed this... I'm going to go get my pre pre birthday drink on... and then come Saturday, hopefully get the story that won the poll started... till next time.