Ronnie sat cross-legged on her bed the next morning, not having moved since Eric had come home the night before to tell her Chad was with social services now. Ronnie had wanted so badly to call Chad, but Eric didn't know where exactly he had been taken and maybe it would be better to let Chad contact her, when he felt ready.
Ronnie was devastated and could not bring herself to lie down, or even change into her pyjamas. She couldn't imagine going back to school and not seeing Chad anymore. She couldn't imagine not being able to hang out with her best friend anymore. She felt like she had lost him forever. She knew Chad would be safe now, but a part of her selfishly wanted Chad to stay in Glen Oaks forever.
Lucy and Mary had come the night before to try to talk to Ronnie, but it had been no use. Ronnie hadn't felt like talking at all, despite her sisters efforts.
Now as the sun shone through her bedroom window, mocking her, Ronnie heard the familiar busy bustle outside her door. Schooldays were always busy mornings, as four of the Camden kids were getting ready for school. With the exception of this morning; Ronnie didn't want to go to school.
"Ronnie, come on!" She heard Lucy shout as she rapped on the door. Ronnie sighed and she wrapped her arms around her knees. Leave me alone. She thought. She didn't even want to face her family, the most supportive people in her life. She especially didn't want to face the questions she would be asked at school.
"Where's Chad?" They would ask. Ronnie felt no desire to confront it. Not today.
A knock on her door made Ronnie jump a little not long afterwards. Ronnie turned her head away as there was a pause. She thought whoever had knocked had gone away, but the doorknob turned and in walked Annie. She observed Ronnie and noticed she was wearing the same clothes she had on the day before.
"Ronnie," Annie said quietly as she shut the door behind her. "Have you even slept?" Ronnie didn't answer, but Annie knew she hadn't. There were dark circles under Ronnie's dark brown eyes and her bed was still made.
"Honey, you can't do this to yourself. You need to get your rest, you know." Annie pulled out Ronnie's blue backpack from underneath her dresser. "And you have to go to school."
"I don't want to." Ronnie mumbled as she tried to hide a tear. Annie turned and looked at the depressed girl and she went to sit on the bed beside Ronnie. She wrapped her arms around her and stroked her hair gently.
"I know you're hurting sweetie. I know it's hard to see your best friend go, but you did the right thing; you really did. Now Chad doesn't have to worry about getting hit whenever he does or doesn't do something wrong. He doesn't have to live in fear anymore. He can start to enjoy life – don't you want that for Chad?" Annie asked. Ronnie sniffled and nodded.
"Yeah I do." She managed to say. "I just don't want to lose him as a friend."
"You don't have to. Just because Chad may not stay in Glen Oaks, that doesn't mean you can't be friends. You can visit each other and write to each other and email each other. Besides, you don't even know if he's leaving Glen Oaks. We just have to be patient for him to give you a call and let you know what's going on. He will, you know. You're his best friend." Annie explained. Ronnie broke away from Annie's embrace and shook her head doubtfully.
"No, he won't. He's mad at me, I know it. I broke a promise to him. I've never broken a promise to him; he's my best friend. Annie he was so scared that I would tell somebody; he begged me not to, and I did." She said with misty eyes as her eyes shifted to the frame beside her bed, concealing a photograph of Chad and Ronnie sitting on her front steps.
"Honey, Chad may feel a little confused right now, but soon, he'll realize you did the right thing, and I hope you'll realize it as well. Think of what could have happened if Chad stayed with his dad. I know you don't like to think about it, but you know exactly what he was going through, don't you? You knew in your heart that even if you might lose him as a friend, you knew you had to do something to help him. You have a very good heart Ronnie. You were able to look past yourself to help others. You took a big risk, but you did it for your friend. Chad will see this over time, and he'll realize that what you did was more loving and caring that keeping a promise. Trust me sweetie, you and Chad will continue to be friends; just give him some time. He won't forget how much he cares about you. Just be patient." Annie said as she kept her arm around Ronnie, whose tear-streaked face grew pink. Ronnie sighed, not sure she honestly believed Annie, but nodded all the same. Annie smiled slightly and hugged Ronnie once more.
"Now come on, I meant it when I said you had to go to school. Besides, you have basketball practice after school tonight. You don't want to miss that, not with championships coming up." She said as she stood to leave. With a wink, she closed Ronnie's bedroom door behind her. Ronnie sighed and leaned back against her pillow, wiping away the last of her tears. She looked down at the green bracelet Chad had attempted to make her a few months ago. She smiled as she remembered the day he gave it to her.
"I suck at making these. A friend of mine tried to teach me years ago at summer camp, but I've never really mastered it. Anyway, I thought you'd like to have one. It's a friendship bracelet. I spent a long time on it, so you'd better appreciate it Ron. I'd only give something like this to my best friend." He had said as he handed it over to Ronnie. Ronnie had absolutely loved it, and had sported it every day since, always thanking God for the wonderful friend she had made in Chad.
She sighed as she got dressed for school, trying hard to stay strong and hopeful for the friendship that had meant so much to her over the last few months. She said a little prayer as she threw her basketball clothes into her backpack that Chad was safe, wherever he was.
Ronnie sat in the front seat of the family's station wagon, waiting for Eric, Simon and Lucy. Ronnie was surprised she had been the first to get ready for school, despite the fact she was so late getting ready. She had skipped breakfast though, not feeling hungry. She tried to argue against bringing Annie's bagged lunch, positive she would not be any hungrier at lunch, but Annie gave her that look that was not to be argued with.
Eric was the first to come out to the car, and he sank into the driver's seat and as he let out a sigh, he looked over at Ronnie, who appeared just as Annie had informed him; like she had gotten no sleep.
"Are you feeling alright?" Eric asked, hoping she would talk to him now, for she had been somewhat cold toward him since he had called child services the afternoon before. Ronnie turned to face him, and she nodded slowly, the dark circles under her eyes appeared more noticeable as the sunlight reflected brighter against her pure skin.
"Really Ron?" Eric asked again, sure she wasn't telling the whole truth. Ronnie sighed and only shrugged.
"Are you still mad at me?" Eric asked, leaning against the seat. Ronnie looked taken aback as she turned to face him again.
"I was never mad at you Eric." She admitted, as though she had done something wrong. She was always so sensitive and worried about hurting others, so Eric had to smile slightly.
"You know it's okay to feel angry sometimes. It's perfectly healthy." He said, and as Ronnie shook her head, unsurely, Eric added, "It doesn't make you anything like your parents." He knew that had been what she had been thinking. She sighed.
"I'm sorry if you thought I was angry at you. I really wasn't. I…I just didn't really know what to do, or how to feel. It just felt like my whole world was being turned upside down, again. It just seems like yesterday my parents died, and now it feels like I'm losing my best friend too. It's just a lot to deal with." Ronnie admitted, looking down at her fading jeans. Eric nodded, understanding.
"I hope you know you did the right thing." He said, after a moment of silence. Ronnie shrugged, and Eric decided not to push, and he started up the engine as he saw Lucy and Simon hurrying to the car.
"I just hope you know how much we all love you and we're here for you if you need to talk." Eric said quickly before Simon and Lucy opened the backdoor and sank inside quickly, chattering away. As Eric drove toward the school, Ronnie already felt a little better.
When they arrived at the school, Lucy and Simon said a quick goodbye and headed up the stone steps to the school. Ronnie stayed behind for a moment, and looked at Eric with those innocent eyes, that Eric knew still held a lot of pain.
"Are you okay Ronnie?" Eric asked, as he grew concerned. Ronnie smiled slightly and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks Eric. I love you guys." She said as she grabbed her backpack and headed toward the school.
Eric watched her proceed up the steps toward the school with a smile on his face. Little did he realize he wasn't the only one watching her.
In an old, rundown Chevy, parked across the street from the school, dark brown eyes were fixed upon the small figure approaching the school. The man wore an expression of cunning slyness. He bore a slight grin, and his angry eyes grew more and more intense as he watched Eric's station wagon pull away. As Ronnie disappeared into the school, the man leaned against his seat, and muttered to himself.
"R-R-Ravishing R-R-Ronnie."