A/N Ok you guys have liked it so far, oh you are too nice to me. I hope you like this chapter too. Keep reviewing I really appreciate your input.
Chapter 4:Sleeping Beauty
Simon walked out of his room. He had just changed his clothes and had hidden his bloody shirt.
"Robbie I'm going downstairs for breakfast. Do you want anything?"
"No thanks," Robbie answered from inside his room.
Simon walked downstairs and as he passed the table he knocked the photo album off that was sitting on it. He looked at the page that had fallen open. It had four pictures of him and some other kids about his age. The pictures had been taken when he was a lot younger. He read the writing below them.
Simon age eight with Nigel, Chris, and Clare.
Clare, so that was where he knew her from. They had gone to school together until she moved away at the end of third grade.
She was so happy then so different. The only thing that was the same was the perfect blue sparkle of her eyes. He looked at the other pictures lots of them had Clare in them. We were best friends.
Robbie walked up behind Simon.
"You ready to go back."
"Just a second."
Simon took out the picture and stuffed it in his pocket. Then picked up another book. It was Ruthie's storybook. She had asked him last night to bring it to her.
"Ok let's go."
*****
Ruthie pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. It said that the poetry assignment was due on Monday, it also had the types of poems written on it.
"Dad can you find me some paper and a pen. I have some homework to do."
Matt handed her a pen and a napkin.
"Write it on this and then copy it over on paper when you get to school."
"I guess that'll work."
Ruthie sat down and started to work.
***
Robbie tossed Ruthie her bag. They were standing next to Matt's car and they had changed their clothes.
"You ready?"
"I don't want to go, what if Lucy wakes up?"
"Someone will come get you."
"But-"
"Ruthie you're going to school. Your parents want you to."
"Fine," Ruthie said and reluctuntly got into Matt's car.
"Simon come on," Matt yelled.
Simon was talking to Clare about ten feet away.
"It's ok I've got a ride."
"Yeah," Clare said and handed him his helmet. He put it on and she did the same.
"You want to drive?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah why not?"
"I guess."
She showed Simon where everything was and how to start it as Matt and Robbie watched.
Simon got on the bike and Clare got on behind him. He started it up and they sped away.
"Are you sure we should let him go off like that?" Robbie said to Matt.
"Yeah we always let Simon ride off with girls who own motorcycles when he's suposed to go to school," Matt said with as much sarcasm as possible.
"I think that's the girl he met last night."
"I thought he went home last night."
"No but you're going to have ask him about it."
"No you tell me."
"I promised not to."
"He's my brother."
Ruthie jumped out of the car.
"Hello are you two going to fight all day or are you going to take me to school. Because I don't have to go if you are but-"
"No you're going to school," Matt said and got in the car.
Robbie got in the other side and so did Ruthie.
*****
Simon parked Clare's bike in the parking lot just in time for the first bell to ring. They put their helmets awyay.
"When do you have P.E.?"
"Third period, why," Simon answered.
"Meet me here."
"You want me to skip with you?"
"It isn't as much fun alone as it would be with a cute guy," she said getting closer to Simon.
"All right I'll meet you."
The bell rang again. She kissed him on the cheek.
"See ya then," she said and ran off.
Simon watches her walk away then starts to walk off to class.
Like I'm going to be able to concentrate anyway.
***
Ruthie is sitting in class during second period. The door at the side of the room is open.Everyone is clapping and a girl walks back to her seat.
"Ruthie would you like to come to the front of the room and read your poem?" The teacher asked.
Ruthie picks up her paper and walks to the front of the room.
"My poem is called Sleeping Beauty.
You thought Beauty had a price
That it came with sacrifice
So each day you paid
To lessen what you weighed
But the price got to high
Now in bed you lie
And we're all weeping
Because beauty you are sleeping," Ruthie didn't wait for their reaction she ran out the door as tears blurred her vision. She ran and ran, until her legs felt like they would fall off. She sat down on a bench.
On the other side of the park Simon and Clare were walking hand in hand. Clare slid her hand out of his.
"What's wrong?" He asked suprised.
"I want to see what's wrong with that little girl," she said and pointed in Ruthie's direction.
"That looks like my little sister Ruhtie but she's supposed to be in school."
"So are you, let me talk to her if she's your sister then she'll know you skipped."
"Ok just find out what's wrong with her."
Clare walked over and sat down on the bench.
"Are you lost?"
"Only in my head," Ruthie replied.
"I know what that feels like."
"You do?"
"Yeah that's exactally what I felt like when my Mom was diagnosed with cancer. Now what's your problem and why is it keeping you from school."
Ruthie turned to face her, her face was tearstained and her hair was messy from the wind.
"My older sister took diet pills and they made her really sick. She had a heart attack and now she's in a coma."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"Me too my other sister is 3000 miles away."
"Well why don't you tell me about it then."
"Ok, I just don't know what to do and I couldn't take a whole day of school."
"Well why don't you come with me."
"I shouldn't."
"Me and Simon."
"Simon, where is he?"
"Over there," she said and pointed to SImon who was sitting on of the other benches.
"Are you the girl he left with this morning?"
"Yeah I'm Clare,"
"I'm Ruthie."
"Well Ruthie do you want to go see your brother?"
"Yeah."
They walked over to Simon.
"Hi Simon I met your girlfriend."
"Why aren't you in school?"
"Why aren't you?"
"I asked you first and anyway Mom and Dad will be mad at you even more."
"No way you'll be in more trouble skipping school to be with your girlfriend."
Simon took out his wallet and handed Ruthie some money.
"Here's ten bucks not to tell."
"You're bribing me?"
"Yes but that doesn't mean bribery is right."
"Simon she's smart she knows whats right and wrong."
"Yeah it's going to cost more than that."
Clare laughs. Simon sighed and pulled out another ten.
"No more now come on let's go get some lunch."
"Ok,"
******
Simon, Ruthie and Clare are sitting outside the dairy shack eating ice cream.
"So why did you run away from school?" Simon asked his sister.
"I read my poem and I didn't think I could take the rest of the day. So I ran I'm sorry."
"Can I read your poem?"
"Yeah," she said pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. He read it quickly and then hugged Ruthie.
"This is really good."
"Yeah but I wish the inspiration for it had been the book not Luce," Ruthie said trying not to sound sad.
There was a silence.
"You guys said something about your other sister being 3000 miles away, does she know about this?"
"I can't believe it we compleatly forgot about telling Mary."
"Can we call her?"
"Yeah."
They walked towards a pay phone. Simon followed the directions and called. In Buffalo the phone rang. Mary picked it up.
"Hello."
"Will you accept a collect call from Simon Camden."
"Sure whatever."
"Mary,"
"Hey Simon why are you calling collect."
"Because I'm not at home, that's not important though. Lucy's in the hospital. She had a heart attack and now she's in a coma. We were so worried yesterday that we forgot to call you."
"Oh that's nice you can't remember to tell me that my own sister almost died."
"Look Mary I'm sorry I kind of freaked out yesterday because we we're the only ones home. Anyway Ruthie wants to talk to you."
"Hi Ruthie are you guys at the hospital."
"No actually we're supposed to be at school."
"Did Mom and Dad let you skip?"
"No we both kind of did that on our own and then ran into each other. I want you to come home, I don't like not having any sisters."
"Ruthie listen to me Lucy is going to be fine and you can call me whenever you want. I'm coming home soon and I don't have enough money to change the ticket so I can't go."
"But I need you."
"Ruthie I will come home as soon as I can but I don't have the money. Put Simon back on the phone."
"Hello."
"Simon what's the number of her hospital room?"
"I don't know."
"Then do you know the hospital's number."
"Let me check."
He paged through the phone book until he found the number.
"It's 629-7103."
"Thanks, I should go talking is expensive."
"Ok bye."
"Bye."
Simon hung up the phone and faced Ruthie.
"Do you want to go to the hospital."
"Yeah."
"How about you Clare do you mind?"
"Nah maybe I'll visit my Mom."
******
Eric and Annie are sitting at Lucy's bedside. Annie is holding her hand and talking to her. Simon, Ruthie and Clare walk in.
"Why aren't you two in school?" Eric asks.
"Yes and who's this?"
"We couldn't concentrate so we left I'm sorry. This is Clare remember my old friend," Simon said and showed them the picture.
Annie got up and hugged Clare.
"Oh we haven't seen you in years, how's your mother?"
"She's right down the hall if you want to see her."
"Why what's wrong?"
"She has cancer."
Annie put her hand over her mouth.
"Do you want to see her?"
"Yes."
"Follow me," Clare said and led Eric and Annie out the door.
Ruthie and Simon sat down in their chairs and just sat there.
****meanwhile
Lucy woke up again but this time she wasn't tired. She sat up yawned and stretched then remembered where she was.
"Sara?"
"I'm here," Sara said from behind her.
Lucy turned around.
"How long have I been gone?"
"About two days."
"I don't want to go back yet."
"Why?"
"Because I'm still scared."
"Lucy I've been watching you lately."
"You have."
"Yeah it's one of the advantages if being dead you know what everyone's doing, Sara said and smiled. Anyway you all forgave Mary right?"
"Yeah."
"So why wouldn't they forgive you."
"I guess but they'll be so disapointed in me and I have to miss school for rehab."
"You're already missing school."
"There's a million other reasons why I don't want to go yet."
****meanwhile
"I should read my poem to her," Ruthie said breaking the silence.
Simon nodded so Ruthie took out her poem and began to read.
****meanwhile
"Lucy you have to go."
"No I'm not ready."
"I have to leave you now."
"No Sara stay."
Sara hugged her.
"Good bye Lucy, I'll see you again in heaven."
Sara disappered in a flash of light.
"Sara," Lucy called after her friend as the room began to shake as if in an earth quake.
******
T.B.C.
A.S.A.P