When Ruby came back from Spectrum, she saw Shelby reading a book. "Hey, Ruby, you coming to the basketball match on Monday?"
"Yeah, obviously. Mouse and Del are playing. Also it's the first game from our grade this year." said Ruby.
"Yeah, speaking of Del, I think she-"
"Yeah I know, I'm going to try talking to her about it," said Ruby.
"Oh no, don't do that." said Shelby, "we kinda have to be sure about it first."
"Anyways, I've heard that there have been school shootings in other schools in Twinford. The Junior High I used to go to last year, Empire High School, Branwell High and Little Mountain Elementary." said Ruby.
"Where did you hear that?" asked Shelby.
"Just… someone. I'd ask Mrs Digby, but she's in Vegas playing poker and bingo."
"Oh. Is that why I haven't met her yet?"
"Yeah."
The school week was definitely not as interesting, and the only thing that came to interest was the fact that Red Monroe was really into Henry Simpson. He was a guy in Ruby's chemistry class who's behaviour changed depending on what class he was in. If it was art, he was a golden child. If it was math, he would get so many detentions with their teacher. Red had only gotten over her tiny crush on Nathan Huxtable, one of Shelby's new friends so Ruby tried her best to hype her up on this.
The school day that same Monday wasn't interesting either for anyone. Everyone was more hyped on tonight's basketball game.
Ruby and her friends had been seated on the seats waiting for the game to start.
"Jesus Christ, how many people are coming to watch this one match?" said Clancy.
"A lot of people, especially from different high schools in Twinford." said Honey Esposito. Honey was Dantaya's ex- girlfriend and had a notable romantic history together. Dantaya and Honey supposedly used to do what Del would call, "more than helping each other with math."
Honey continued, "For example, Peter Chen from the skateboarding park. He goes to Empire High School." She pointed at him. He had a soda in his hand.
"You think Del's going to do extra good just for him?" asked Elliot.
"Oh come on, she's really sporty. Maybe she just likes the fact that he's also sporty." said Ruby.
"Oh, no it's a crush all right. You can't tell anyone, but she's even admitted to it." said Red.
"Speaking of crushes," said Clancy, "there's Henry!" He pointed at a boy with cornrows wearing a shirt that simply said "shut the fuck up."
Red gulped.
"Jesus Christ, Redfort, can you get your dick-shaped head out of the way? The game's about to start, for fuck's sake." Ruby looked behind to see Gemma Melamare, with her baby blue eyes and hair even blonder than it was in Junior High.
Mouse turned away immediately.
"You okay, Mouse, what's terrifying you?" asked Elliot.
Mouse whispered in his ear, "We kinda had a moment…you know during the whole school shooter thing and we were hiding… and I think I might like her in a more than friends way…" Elliot but his hand over his mouth but said nothing more. He nodded his head after.
Ten minutes into the game, Dantaya had realised that her sister wasn't on the court anymore, and her sister sense told her something was wrong. She then looked around the audience, and she wasn't there either.
"Hey, Shelby, could you go look for my sister? She's meant to be playing but she isn't there. And I would go but I've got to go take these photos for the school paper."
"Sure thing", said Shelby.
"Hey, what's wrong, D?" asked Rachel Finch, gulping down a soda.
"Nothing, I just feel like my sister's in trouble."
"Hey, where are you? Del? Everyone's worried about you!" called out Shelby.
The hallway made echos. Those echos followed by a bunch of vomiting sounds, then crying. Shelby followed the sounds and ended up finding Del pouringn water all over her face.
"Hey, hey, no fainting," said Shelby grabbing her. "So how long has this been going on?"
"A couple weeks ago. I mean first off when Coach Danforth said that I had the body of an athlete I kinda just felt i couldn't lose that. So I kept eating just to you know, maintain it."
"You do know you can't have the 'body of an athlete' and you don't need some sports coach to tell you that." said Shelby
"Of course I knew, and I tried to stop but I just can't." she said, her voice breaking.
"First step, is to tell your mom, she can give you some advice, or get some health person to tell you how to control your health. Listen, bulimia's not embarrassing. It's common. It's not a good thing, but you're able to control and recover from it."
Del nodded. "Hey, could you please keep this on the down low? I don't want anybody worrying about me. Also thanks."
"Of course," said Shelby, giving her a hug. "You are aware you can't play basketball until a doctor or your mom says you can right?"
She nodded.
They got back to the baskeball court and sat down with their friends.
"So what's up?" asked Dantaya.
"Bulimia", mouthed Shelby.
"Dios mio!" hissed Dantaya in a curse.
"Don't go telling everybody though. She doesn't want that."
"Of course", said Dantaya. "I'm just so worried about her."