Chapter 3: Everything's New

Ruthie had barricaded herself in her room, but she wasn't hiding herself in the attic. Instead she was in her new room. Yes, the moment the school year ended, her parents had accomplished their goal of moving. They had moved to their in her new home in New Jersey. Ruthie's family had moved to their new house a few weeks after school had ended.

"Hey Ruthie," A voice entered. Ruthie turned around to see that it was her mother.

Ruthie said, "Yeah."

"Don't you want to come downstairs and hang out with the rest of us?" Annie asked politely.

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"Hanging out with my parents and younger brothers on a Friday night; no thanks." Ruthie said inconsiderately.

"You know this attitude of yours has to change. You have to accept that this is your new home and you have to make the best out of it. And if you don't like living here, you can always move back when you go to college." Annie suggested.

"Go back home where I had no friends."

"Well you can always make friends here. I mean we've been in Bloomfield for over a month now and you hardly go out."

"Mom," Ruthie put her headphones on and said, "If you don't mind I want to be alone right now."

Annie was trying to connect with her daughter, but every time Annie tried got close to her daughter, Ruthie shut her out.

"What should we do about Ruthie?" Annie asked Eric, hoping he could solve the problem.

"What about her?"

"Haven't you notice that she locks herself in her room every night?"

"You're overreacting; besides she's just adjusting." Eric inferred.

"No, she doesn't seem herself. She's acting… well that's just it; she's acting emotionless. Every time I try to talk to her, she pushes me away."

"That sounds like a definition of a teenager."

"I'm not sure; my maternal instincts are trying to tell me something…. Maybe this move was a bad idea; or maybe we should have let Ruthie stayed with Lucy and Kevin."

"You're acting unreasonable," Eric walked up to her and said, "everything is going to be okay."

"Promise me that you'll talk to her, seriously." Annie persuaded.

"I promise," Eric said as they signed the deal with a kiss.

It might have been a new home, but there were still places a person could ease drop. Ruthie, standing in the next room, was listening to her parents' conversation. Ruthie felt obligated to go in there and genuinely talk her parents; she hated the move and she would do anything to move back.

Something stopped Ruthie from invading her parent. Ruthie, wiping off her tears, grabbed her jacket and headed out the back door.

Ruthie rushed down the street and headed for the corner. It was late at night and she should have told her parents that she was going for a walk, but since her parents made decisions without her approval, Ruthie felt that she could make decision without their permission.

Ruthie, unexpectedly, heard honking from the street.

"Hey," A memorable voice said, "Do you need a ride."

Ruthie completely stopped crying and said, "My hero." Ruthie got inside the car and kissed the young man.

"You're the most beautiful girl, you know that?" The young man said.

"Thanks, Mac." Ruthie smiled.

"Where to?" Mac asked.

Ruthie took a deep breath, and said confidently, "Anywhere."