15

The days grew into weeks as Ruva settled in at Akarnae. Her Core Skills class was held on Wednesdays and Fridays, and in them she used only her animal speaking gift. Her teacher, Astrid Marmaduke, had recommended that she keep her second gift a secret, and Ruva was more than happy to do so. Arra's response to her second gift was overwhelming enough, she didn't need twenty other reactions to deal with.

Marmaduke made Ruva attend extra lessons after classes on Wednesday and Friday, to help her learn more of her second gift. Ruva was proud that Marmaduke's lessons were beginning to show results, but it gave her less time to deal with the gigantic pile of homework building up on her desk. To add to her struggles, every Monday and Thursday after ES, Tayla would keep her for two hours after lessons. She was given harder tasks, ones that seemed almost impossible when she heard them.

Ruva always found it hard to go down to the rec room after her extra lessons. She was always exhausted, whether it be mentally or physically. She found it hard to be social, and most people left her alone. Ruva was appreciative that Arra made the effort to talk to her, even when she was tired and barely able to keep her eyes open.

When those times came, Arra gave her chocolate, claiming it could fix anything. Ruva had to agree, Arra's support was exactly what she needed to get through her first fortnight at the academy. Ruva managed to keep it together, until she came to her first PE class in the third week.

It was the start of class, and Finn informed everyone that he would be testing their water survival skills. Ruva gulped. She didn't get along with water, not since she was almost kidnapped. Her kidnapper was dragged into the water, but they never found the body. Ruva tried to ignore the fact that he could still be out there, but it came to mind whenever she saw a body of water.

Finn had made them all change into bathers, and he said he would test their 'basic skills' this lesson. He brought them all out to the middle of the lake, asking them all to jump in. Everyone did so, but Ruva froze. The lake water was dark, surrounding her on all sides. Who knows what could be down there? Ruva saw something move deep below the surface. Was it a fish? Or was it something worse…

"Springden! Get in the water!" Ruva squeaked as Finn shouted at her, then she gulped and stared down at the water. She took a deep breath, readying herself to step in. Who knows how deep the water was, anything could be lurking just out of sight. All of a sudden Ruva was airborne, flying through the air towards the murky water. She was too shocked to do anything other than put her arms out, trying to catch herself on the liquid surface. She hit the water with a sickening smack, sinking down.

Ruva couldn't see anything, but her reflexes kicked in and she kicked towards the surface. Her thoughts were muddled when she was above the surface, but below the silence was deafening. There was no sound, and Ruva's thoughts were quiet too. They told her one word.

Up.

Ruva swum upwards, the surface seeming so far away.

Up.

She could see her classmate's shadows, watching as they treaded water.

Up!

Ruva needed air now. She kicked harder, drawing nearer and nearer to the surface.

UP!

Ruva was desperate now, she knew she would only last a few seconds longer.

Finally, Ruva breached the surface. She took in a deep breath, only half of it air. She choked on the water she inhaled, sputtering and coughing. Jaiden jumped into the water, causing another wave to pass over Ruva's head. She started coughing even harder, but nobody seemed to notice. Someone help me! She thought, wanting anyone – anyone – to notice her struggle. When Ruva finally managed to gain control over her breathing, she began to calm down. That is, until she felt something touch her foot.

Ruva shrieked and kicked at whatever touched her, but she felt nothing but water. Finn was telling them to do something, but Ruva was too shocked to notice. Did she imagine it? Ruva treaded water for another minute, nothing happened. Maybe she just thought she felt it, it could be shock or something. Couldn't it?

Something slid against Ruva's foot again, she squeaked and tried to pull her foot away. She definitely didn't imagine it. For a second she couldn't feel it, then it latched onto her foot. Ruva squealed, shaking her foot more and more as she tried to dislodge whatever was on her foot. She took in quick breaths of air, splashing the water crazily around her when, suddenly, she was under.

Ruva started thrashing under the surface, blinded by panic. She screamed underwater until she had nothing left to scream with, but her mind was still screaming. She was blinded by bubbles as she strived for the surface. Whatever had grabbed onto Ruva was gone, but Ruva was fully disoriented. When the bubbles around her finally cleared, Ruva realised she was very deep below the surface.

Too deep.

It was dead silent down there, and colder than Ruva expected. She gave one last attempt at kicking, before realising she would never make it in time. Ruva let herself drift, her blond hair curling around her arm. Goodbye, she thought, addressing everybody and anybody.

Something broke through the surface, darting down towards Ruva. It was a person, and Ruva felt a tiny bit of hope. The person came closer and closer, and they grabbed onto Ruva's arm.

'I've got you, Ruva.' Ruva smiled as Leo pulled her to the surface. She clasped onto Leo and rested her head against his chest, the gesture seeming perfectly normal to Ruva's oxygen-deprived mind.

When they broke through the surface, everything was a blur. It wasn't just because of the water dripping down her face, Ruva needed air, more air than treading water could give her. Ruva wasn't aware that she clung tightly to Leo as he hauled them both out of the water.

She didn't notice Leo asking Finn to take her to the Med Ward.

She didn't notice Finn bringing them back in to shore.

She didn't notice anything because all she could think about was two things:

I almost died.

Leo saved my life.

…

Ruva sat on her bed with Arra, who had supplied her with enough chocolate to feed an army. She had just finished explaining everything that had happened to her.

"Ouch. You've had a rough day,"

Ruva laughed at Arra's understatement, something she could only do thanks to Fletcher's pain meds.

"I do have one question, have you thanked Leo yet?"

Ruva sat bolt upright. "No, I haven't!" She started rushing around, shoving chocolate wrappers in the bin and putting on her shoes.

Arra put a hand on Ruva's arm. "Slow down, there's no need to rush. He's probably in the Rec Room." Ruva obliged, trying to calm down her shaky hands. Talking to Leo… she got adrenaline just thinking about it.

Ten minutes later, Arra and Ruva were walking through the Rec Room, looking for Leo. He wasn't anywhere to be seen, although Alex said he was probably in his room. They headed back up the stairs, and knocked on Room Four's door. Leo opened it, his face brightening when he saw Ruva.

'How can I help?' Leo looked to Ruva, looking at her in a way that made her feel very uncomfortable.

"We – I uh…" Ruva stumbled over her words. He's going to fall in love with you, her subconscious devilishly added. Ruva went bright red, the words she was trying to say turning into mumbles.

Arra sighed and interrupted Ruva's bumbling. "We came here so Ruva can thank you."

"Um, yeah. Thanks Leo for, uh… stopping me from drowning." Ruva cringed inwardly at her lame gratitude, and Arra groaned out loud.

Leo didn't seem to notice how bad her thank you was. 'You're welcome Ruva, I wouldn't think twice before helping you again.'

Ruva blushed again, and Arra had to drag her away from the door.

As soon as they were in the privacy of their dorm, Arra spoke.

"He likes you."

Ruva blushed again. "No, he doesn't."

Arra ignored her. "And you like him."

"No, I don't."

"You like each other."

"Stop it, Arra!"

"You more than like each other."

"Arrabella Squeaker!"

Arra laughed. "Okay, okay. Tell you what, if you give me all the details about Leo I might stop teasing you,"

"I don't feel like I have much of a choice here," Ruva grumbled, but she made Arra sit down and told her about the pink ribbon between Leo and herself.

Once she was done, Arra asked one question. "Can I see this ribbon?"

Ruva nodded and activated her second gift. The familiar ribbons surrounded her, and she wasted no time in grabbing her gift ribbon and holding it against Arra. "Open your eyes," she said.

Arra opened her eyes and gasped at her surroundings. "Whoa."

"See the pink ribbon? That's the one connected to Leo," said Ruva. She pointed out the pink ribbon, and was hit by déjà vu. She was doing the exact same thing her dad had done, all those years ago.

"Can I touch it?" Arra asked, her hand already reaching for the ribbon.

Ruva nodded, but her attention was drawn to a new ribbon. It was pale blue in colour, the same shade as the sky on a summer's day. Ruva had seen blue ribbons before, but never connected to herself.

Ruva reached out to touch it, making sure not to immerse herself fully. As soon as she touched she saw two things. Her kidnapper being dragged underneath the water, and herself getting pulled beneath the surface. Ruva wrapped her arms around herself, the two memories making her shudder. She realised what the blue ribbon was.

It was a ribbon of fear.

Water. Ruva was afraid of water. The realisation hit her like a bombshell, and her shock reverberated through all her ribbons.

Arra squeezed her arm. "Are you okay?" Ruva shook her head and deactivated her gift.

"N-No. I saw a-a new ribbon, a ribbon of fear. I'm afraid of water, Arra," Arra hugged Ruva, not saying anything. "It was pale blue, almost a sickening blue," she whispered.

Arra squeezed her once more before letting go. "Everyone has fears, even me. I can't stand heights, even small ones. Just forget it for now, because thinking about it will make you feel worse," Arra didn't continue until Ruva nodded. "You say that Leo is going to fall in love with you, and I agree with you, but that's not all. The pink ribbon is connected to both of you, and I think you'll fall in love with each other."

Ruva went bright red. "You're saying…"

"Yes," Arra interrupted. "You're going to fall head over heels for Leo."