Ren's phone rang and she quickly answered.
"Hello?" Ren said into the phone.
"R-r-ren?" Ren smiled. It was Ruby.
"Ruby! Hey, are you all right? You sound like you're crying."
There was a pause.
"I am Ren."
"Why?"
"B-because of something that happened."
Ren bit her lip. "What happened?"
There was an even longer
pause.
"Something happened between R-ricky and I."
"Tell me about it."
Ruby's voice came out shaky. "Ricky a-abused me S-Saturday night."
"What? How?"
"Well, when I was at his party I headed into one of his family's huge closet that really doesn't hold anything. I went in there because someone took my shoe and hid. Anyway, I went inside and soon I was pushed down onto the ground and soon I felt Ricky on top of me. He started kissing me everywhere."
"Oh my gosh! Did he stop?"
Ruby started crying. "No Ren, he didn't. It got worse."
"How bad?"
"Real bad."
"As in?"
"He raped me Ren. He raped me."
Ren was in shock. She could hear Ruby's cries but Ren couldn't understand. She never thought anything like this would have happened before.
"Ren, please, say something."
Ren bit her lip. "Did you tell anyone?"
"No I didn't! And Ren, don't you dare tell anyone! I trust you! Please don't! You'll ruin my life if you do."
"Ruby, I'm so sorry it happened to you."
"There's nothing you can do. All I have to do is wait."
Ren looked confused. "Wait for what?"
"The pregnancy tests to come in."
"Pregnancy tests? Didn't he use any protection?"
"As in a condom? Nope. He just did it right there, with nothing."
"Ruby, this is terrible."
"I know Ren. I have no idea what I'll do if I am pregnant. I'll probably have to drop out of school or something."
"I'll help you, don't worry."
"Please do."
Louis, Twitty, Tawny, Tom, and the rest of the class sat in art, watching their teacher lecture on how the importance of art is to the people of the world. Louis decided to talk to Twitty after the teacher mentioned that art keeps the people living together.
"Hey Twitty," Louis whispered. "I don't know what I should enter for the contest."
"Well," Twitty whispered back. "Maybe you could do a piece on how many types of lines and colors you can make." He cracked up a bit. Louis frowned.
Tom then looked at Louis. "Actually, I must say that Tawny draws much better artwork."
"Oh really?" Louis asked sarcastically. "How so?"
"Just watch. It's her turn to show Mr. I think art is importance/teacher her artwork for today."
Just then the teacher motioned for Tawny to come up to the front of the class. Smiling, Tawny headed up with her drawing and handed it to the teacher. After a minute or two he commented.
"My goodness, would you look at Tawny's drawing? Isn't it lovely?" He turned her paper around and showed the class. The picture contained a sun setting into the almost dark sky, and an ocean with palm trees. "It is one of the best. Miss Dean has such a wonderful way with the art!"
Tawny smiled and headed back to her seat. Louis kept his eye on her paper. If his artwork wasn't good enough, maybe Tawny's would.
Then the bell rang.
"I'll see you tomorrow class. And don't forget that art is life! With out it we all would be crazy and have no idea what talent is!"
Twitty rolled his eyes as he headed towards the exit with Tom. "I see he hasn't discovered the word complete fool."
Louis headed over to Tawny. "Um…nice picture."
"Thanks." She put the picture in a folder and turned to Louis. "Yours isn't too bad when you add color."
"Why don't we…um…go out for ice
cream?"
Tawny raised an eyebrow.
"What?" he asked.
"You know Louis, when ever you want something you always seem to try to make me happy before you ask. What do you want this time?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!"
"Fine. We'll go after school."
Ricky sat outside of the High School, staring off into space. He hadn't notice that Ren and Ruby had walked up to him.
"Ahem. Excuse me? Ricky?"
Ricky turned around to Ren who smiled.
"Ah, hi! I've, you know, heard about you and Ruby."
Ricky looked at Ruby. Ruby looked away.
"What about it? You have a problem with it?'
"Um, actually, Ricky, I do."
Ricky stood up. Ren backed up a bit.
"Why?" he asked, glaring at her.
"Because Ricky, you know, it was not right. I mean, you," Ren lowered her voice. "Raped her."
Ricky eyes narrowed. "No I didn't. She wanted me to have you know what with her!"
Ruby looked back at Ricky and shook her head. "No I didn't. I clearly said I didn't want to."
Ricky grinned. "Sorry pumpkin," Ruby twitched. "But I already told everyone that you wanted me to do it with you, so basically it's your fault. Good day." He waved and walked off. Ruby stood there shocked.
Ren looked at Ruby, frustrated. "What a liar!"
Tears begun to form in Ruby's eyes.
"Ruby?"
"He's right."
Ren looked taken back. "What? How?"
"I told him that I would love to have sex with him but it was only a joke. Everyone one else was saying it."
Ren hugged Ruby who was shaking hard. "It's not your fault. You said you didn't want to do it. You said no. It's not your fault."
"Yes it is." Ruby said as her tears fell onto Ren's arm.
Footsteps were heard behind them.
"Excuse me."
Ren let go of Ruby and turned around to see the guidance teacher. (A side note. I don't know who the guidance teacher is! If anyone one does please tell me so I can fix it!) . She looked down at them and then at Ruby. "Ruby, will you please follow me? I need to talk to you."
Ruby and Ren exchanged looks.
"Now Ruby. Not tomorrow."
"Coming."
The ice cream place was empty, besides for two old people sitting in a corner enjoying their vanilla cones. Tawny and Louis walked in and glanced around.
"Wow," Tawny said as they made their way over to a table. "I've never seen it so empty before."
"Actually, one time no one was here before." Louis said sitting down.
"Let me guess Louis, was it early in the morning right after they opened?"
Louis shrugged.
"I see."
"Hello there you two," the waitress said walking to their table. "How may I help you?"
"I would like a chocolate shake." Tawny said handing the menu over.
The waitress jotted down Tawny's order. "Okay than, how about you?" she asked Louis.
"I'll have the same."
"Alright-y then. I'll get your orders ready now." She smiled and walked off to the kitchen.
"Oh wow Tawny! There's something on your face!" Louis said pointing to her face which really didn't have anything on it.
Tawny sighed. "Is there really something on my face?"
Louis nodded frantically. He really wanted Tawny to leave so he could switch the art works. "It kind of…scares me."
Tawny rolled her eyes. "Louis, I'll go check in the bathroom but I bet it's nothing or it's a zit." She stood up and headed over to the woman's bathroom.
Louis grinned. This was his chance. Quietly, he opened her book bag, snatched her drawing, and placed his inside. He then zipped up her book bag and returned it to its original place.
The waitress came back to the table, two chocolate milkshakes on her try. "Here you are," she said placing a milkshake in front of Louis, and placing the other on the table where Tawny sat. "Here is your bill," she placed the bill on the table and smiled. "Have fun!" widening her smile, she went back to the kitchen.
Tawny returned to the table, annoyed. "Louis, there was nothing on my face."
"Oh, oops. Sorry."
[ x BlondeNeko x ]