A/N: So everybody seemed pretty against the idea of a love triangle, or at least one with Xavier. I wasn't going to do it for a while, I mean Ruby is still pretty much insane at the moment. How exciting is it that Bec landed the role of lead female in that US show! It better get past its pilot!
'Come on Case it's been four days.' Brax said, entering his brother's dark room where the sulky teen was lying on his unmade bed.
'What if something's happened to her Brax? What if she didn't have any insulin and now she's in some strange hospital?' Casey asked, he'd said this to Brax at least twice every day.
'I'm sure we would be told if she was in trouble.' He gave the same answer he'd given every time the question was asked. The room went quiet until Natalie knocked on the bedroom door.
'Brax, can you come out here for a second?' She asked, holding a phone in her hand. Brax gave a worried glance towards his brother then got off the bed and followed her into the lounge.
'I just got a call from Leah.' She began once she was sure Casey couldn't hear, 'Ruby's at her house now.'
'What?' Brax half shouted. Natalie held a finger to her lips and glanced nervously down the hall where Casey was.
'She arrived with an old friend of Charlie's about half an hour ago.' She informed him.
'So what do you want me to do about it?' Brax asked, his voice lowered.
'Well do you want to go and see her?' Natalie suggested, confused by Brax's reaction.
'Of course I do.' Brax sighed and sat on the couch, 'But I don't want to scare her off again. Why did she run? Why did she come back?' He asked although the questions weren't really aimed at anyone, 'I want to help her but I can't if she's going to keep doing this. Casey's been holed up in his room for the past three days because of her.' He claimed.
'I know Brax but she needs help, she's not well.' Natalie defended, coming to take a seat beside him, 'Apparently she's been acting nervous and jumpy at Leah's. I don't know how long it will be before she takes off again, I think we should go and try to stop that.' She suggested calmly, rubbing her hand over Brax's.
'You go. I can't at the moment.' He admitted honestly. The way Casey was reacting to Ruby was almost as bad as how he'd reacted after the whole 'Danny Debacle' and as much as Brax loved Ruby, his brothers came first. 'Once I know she's staying then I'll get myself and Casey involved.' He told Natalie, 'You should get her insulin for her.' He said, getting up and walking out of the house.
Natalie sighed. She didn't understand why Brax was acting like this. 'I'm going to meet Gina about some work stuff at the diner.' She called to Casey and grabbed the insulin off the counter where Casey had placed it four days previous.
X
Natalie knocked softly on Leah's door. She only had to wait a moment before Leah opened it slightly and slid outside to join her.
'Hey.' Leah breathed, her voice barely a whisper.
'Hey.' Natalie replied, giving a supportive smile.
'I didn't exactly tell her I called you. Are Brax and Casey coming?' Leah peered behind Natalie.
'No. Brax had to go to Angelo's and he didn't want to tell Casey yet, you know, in case she left again.' Leah gave an understanding nod.
'Well I guess we better go in.' She said, her voice quavering for a minute, 'Ruby look who's come to see you.' She said quietly as the pair entered the lounge.
'Hey.' Natalie forced a smile at the sight of Ruby.
'Hi.' The teen replied, she had deep bags under her eyes and her skin was looking rather pale. Next to her sat a woman roughly Natalie's age with pale skin and dark brown hair.
'I'm Joey.' The woman smiled, noticing Natalie's stare.
'Natalie.' She replied, her eyes refocusing on Ruby.
'Guys I'm really sorry but I have a shift at the diner in five minutes. I can try to swap it with Irene if you want?' Leah told them. Natalie shook her head.
'No need for that Leah. Where's VJ?' She asked, peering down the hall for sight of the young teen.
'Oh he's staying at Jett's tonight. They're leaving for a soccer camp tomorrow and Gina offered to take them. Anyway I have to get going.' Leah told them before rushing out the door. Natalie stood for a minute and the room remained in an uncomfortable silence.
'So where have you been Ruby?' She eventually asked, sitting in the arm chair opposite to Ruby and Joey.
'Up the Coast. I needed some time.' She shrugged but Joey gave her a small nudge, 'So maybe I hadn't planned to return at first.' She admitted, 'I'm just sick of burdening people.'
'Ruby the biggest burden you gave us was running away, especially without your insulin.' She reached into her bag and gave Ruby the Ziploc bag back.
'That was pretty stupid of me but I had no plans to kill myself, I got another one. Where are Brax and Casey?'
'Brax is working.' Natalie replied, unsure of what to tell the brunette about Casey, 'So how did you guys end up traveling companions?' Ruby ignored the fact that Natalie neglected to mention Casey, she'd listened to five of the twenty-seven voicemails he'd left her.
'I work on a trawler and I'd just gotten off at this town about four hours from here. I was going to get some lunch before I headed to my home in Queensland when I saw Ruby at the café.' Joey replied, 'How long have you been living in the Bay?' She didn't recall seeing Natalie before.
'About ten months now.' Natalie answered, 'I'm the school's psychologist. Did you used to live here?'
'Yeah I moved away nearly four years ago after I got an offer for a three month trip on a trawler.' She explained.
'And you were friends with Charlie?' Natalie watched as Joey blushed slightly.
'They were girlfriends for a bit.' Ruby explained, she may have been ashamed to begin with but now she didn't care that her mother had once had an interest in girls.
'Oh. Does Brax know?' Natalie asked out of curiosity, she directed this question to Ruby.
'Yeah. Charlie told him once things started getting serious. He laughed and said 'hot'.' Ruby smiled at the memory, Charlie had been so panicked the day she decided she had to let him know. Natalie was still curious to know more about Charlie and Joey's relationship but she didn't want to be rude.
'So how's Casey? He called me a lot.' Ruby braced herself for the worst, she felt terrible knowing she had hurt him when he was trying so hard to help her.
'He's not very good but he'll suck it up.' Natalie assured Ruby, 'Are you going to stay for good now?' Ruby nodded.
'Coming back straight away wasn't the smartest choice I've made. I should've given it sometime, gotten used to being back in the real world and then come back here but I really didn't have anywhere to go or anyone to be with. My head's a lot clearer now.' She explained, hoping it made sense.
'We certainly should've thought of the effects dumping you straight back into the Bay would've had.' Natalie agreed, 'Look I have to go, I've got some things to sort out, but I'm going to come by tomorrow, hopefully with Brax so we can sort things out.' Natalie informed her, getting up from the chair.
'Alright. Brax is angry at me isn't he?' Ruby asked.
'He just wants Casey to stop hurting and have you get better.' She answered, surprised at how well Ruby knew Brax.
'Can you ask him to come and see me later? He doesn't have to but I'd like to talk to him.' Natalie gave a nod and left.
A/N: This is certainly not my favourite chapter, I would love suggestions of storylines.
