(A/N) This isnot the last chapter I will tell you before so don't worry! Please read and review.
Chapter twelve: Rumors
Ruthie had planned this all out in her head, but now faced with the reality of doing it she wasn't sure she could. As she walked down the hall she could feel the heat of the stares coming at her, some were sympathetic glances and others were icy glares. Ruthie brushed them off and kept on walking; she was ready for the criticism and judgment because she could give a rat's ass what these nobodies thought of her. The one thing Ruthie hated was how alone she felt, she felt like nobody in the school cared about her. That's probably because nobody did, they cared about the gossip she brought and the stories of her but not about her. Ruthie could tell this was going to be a long day.
Ruthie sat in the back of the cafeteria pushing her food around on her plate, and listening to the whispering around her. She couldn't take it anymore; Ruthie got up and dumped her lunch in the garbage placing the tray on top. Ruthie rushed out of the lunchroom ignoring the whispers as she left. She walked quickly to the guidance counselor's office. Once there, Ruthie took a seat on a couch in the front area; she rested her head in her hands letting her tears slowly streak her face. The door opened and Ms. Nobelle walked out talking to another student. Ruthie figured she was a ninth grader; Ruthie would do anything to go back to being an innocent 9th grader like her.
"Ruthie?" Ms. Nobelle said in a soft voice.
"Can we talk?" Ruthie sighed and followed Ms. Nobelle into her office and sat down in a chair. Once the door closed Ruthie started talking so fast it was hard to keep up.
"Slow down," Ms. Nobelle said.
"Why do people care," Ruthie said.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"They all care about what happened and I mean they care about the gossip why do people have to have an opinion on any of this its none of their business!" Ruthie said getting up. She started walking back and forth. "I mean, is my life really that interesting and you should hear of the things they've said!"
"Like what?" She said.
"I've heard so many rumors, they're awful! You want to know the worst!" Ruthie said sitting down again she was making herself dizzy walking back and forth. She looked up at Ms. Nobelle who nodded at her. "Someone said they heard I got drunk and had sex with Ryan and Alex and as a cover-up told Sean they raped me so that Sean would go and beat up Alex and then Alex came to school and shot him. Why would anyone makeup something so mean and ridiculous!"
"People love to gossip, it's like the game telephone when it's transferred by word of mouth people misunderstand and add their own details" Ms. Nobelle said. "People also just want someone to blame" Ruthie started crying harder and just sat there staring at the floor.
"I thought…" She started taking a deep breath. "I thought today would be so much different I thought that I would be ready for all the rumors and that I would show people I didn't care, but I guess do"
"So you care what people think, you're not the first Ruthie. Rumors are mean and hurtful, it's hard to just ignore them but I know you can." Ms. Nobelle said. The bell rang and Ruthie looked up at Ms. Nobelle. She waited a moment and then hesitantly got up.
"Thanks" Ruthie said before she left Ms. Nobelle gave her a reassuring smile. Ruthie walked out into the halls to face the judgment but she braced herself with the thought that there was only half a day left.
Ruthie walked out of the building and into the sun where students were running out to enjoy the rest of the day. Ruthie felt a sudden relief as she walked down the steps. Ruthie spotted Martin in his car, and waved he always seemed to get out before her. Ruthie was heading toward him when she spotted the one face she had dreaded seeing all day. Ryan! He turned his head and met her eyes giving her a glare. Ruthie looked back at Martin and took a deep breath as she headed in the other direction. With each step Ruthie could feel her heart pounding out of her chest as she approached Ryan and his buddies, the few he had left.
"What'd you want?" Ryan said glaring at her.
"I… I…" Ruthie stammered. Martin watched in his car stunned wondering what she was doing, when she reached ran, Martin got out ran over to her.
"Ruthie?" Martin said.
"No," Ruthie said shaking her head. "Ryan, I just wanted to tell you that if you ever bother me in school you'll regret it. I don't want to ever see your face, hear you voice or hear your name again! You didn't ruin my life, and I didn't ruin Alex's life. I talked to him, he's sorry for what you did. Alex may be psychotic and pathetic, but you your just pathetic and your not worth my time. If you were I might actually care about making your life miserable." Ruthie said looking at him in disgust. "Oh and for all I care you can tell people whatever you want about me, cause you and I both know the truth." Ruthie started to walk away, when Ryan reached out and grabbed her arm she froze in her spot. Martin shoved him so hard to the ground he almost smashed his head on the concrete. Ruthie stood there motionless, with her jaw hanging down.
"You ever touch her again and I will smash your head into the ground!" Martin said fiercely.
"You ever touch me again and I'll do it myself," Ruthie said walking past him. Ruthie finally felt a sense of relief a sense of power she wasn't of afraid of Ryan anymore. She didn't have to be.