Chapter 5

The next day it rained. The earth was swept with a torrent of rain that was accompanied by clashes of thunder and strikes of lightning that illuminated the whole cloudy grey sky.

Ruby's father had to drop her off at school it was so bad. Ruby looked discontentedly at the sky, seeing the horrible weather as a bad omen and a warning for her not to do what she intended to do.

There was no way she could leave things like this, so jumbled and unresolved. She had to speak to Robert today.

The first lesson of the day slipped past with Ruby learning a thing and when she reached her second lesson she received a shock. Robert was sitting in the seat next to the one that had been assigned to her at the beginning of the year. Ruby gulped and glanced around helplessly for a free seat but they were all taken and people were beginning to stir at her. The teacher gave her a hard glare before she took her seat and removed her jacket.

Ruby spent the first ten minuets trying to concentrate on the lesson but when they failed she started to take quick glimpses at Robert. His pale, handsome face was expressionless and his pointed chin gave him the impression of somebody important. Those beautiful green eyes so similar to hers but so different at the same time were focused on the teacher droning on in front of the class.

She knew that he knew she was staring at him but he didn't say anything to her, choosing to ignore her completely. When the bell rang for the break between the next two lessons Ruby collected her stuff quickly and leapt from her seat, following the back that disappeared from the room as soon as the bell stopped.

Robert was undoubtedly a fast walker and Ruby had to jog to keep up with him. He strode down corridors and turned corners quickly, Ruby was sure that he had no idea where he was going but yet he walked on. She tried to be quiet and have stealth but after about four minuets she turned a corner that Robert and turned and somebody yanked on her sleeve, pulling her. They forced hr against the wall, pinning her there.

"Why are you following me?" demanded Robert angrily. Ruby had a sudden awareness of danger and how much stronger than her he was. She swallowed reflexively in fear and realised that they were in an old part of the school were no lessons were conducted.

Well, she did want to talk to him alone and it didn't get more alone than this.

"I wasn't," she replied, fighting to keep her voice steady. Roberts face was an inch away from hers and she could feel his cool breath on her face. Emerald fire was sparkling in his eyes.

"Don't take me for an idiot," his said gruffly. He lowered his arms but didn't move back.

"I had to talk to you but I couldn't do it in front of them," she said significantly, knowing that he would understand who she meant.

"Speak and then leave me alone," Robert ordered, glowering at her. Ruby shuffled uncomfortably.

"What happened? Yesterday when you helped me up something happened," she said incredulously, "I'm not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing."

"It was a bad thing, believe me," sighed Robert, running a hand through his blond hair. His expression softened a little and he almost looked as if he cared.

"But what was it?" Ruby stressed.

Robert's face darkened and his emotions retreating like a wave, his face was hard once again and his eyes were glittering.

"It is nothing. Whatever you thought it was it wasn't, you must be taking drugs or something because nothing happened between us," Robert said huskily. Ruby's mouth hung open in disbelief. How could he be saying this!

"Well," Ruby said stiffly, "If that's the way you feel then I don't think we should ever speak again."

"I'm good with that," Robert said tonelessly. He gave her one last meaningful stare before he turned and walked away, leaving Ruby struggling for breath.