"Hey guys. Miles and Jai are in Yabbie Creek and Alf's doing a shift at the bar so we've got the place to ourselves. Sit down and choose a DVD," Nicole said as she made her way into the kitchen.
Ruby and Geoff made their way over to the couch and sat down. Geoff picked up the bundle of DVD's Nicole had rented from the store and began to laugh.
"Are you kidding me? These are all chick flicks...Sex and the City, Fools Gold, Bride Wars, Mamma Mia. You can't be serious?", he asks with a pleading look.
Nicole and Ruby begin to laugh at Geoffs pleading look. Nicole finally stops long enough to answer them.
"Well if Jai or Aden were here then maybe there'd be a more even selection of DVD's. But since you're out numbered, yes Geoff, Ruby and are I are serious".
Geoff looks back down at the DVD's and drops them back down onto the coffee table, giving up hope of there being any chance of watching something that involved slapstick comedy or car explosions. He leaned back in the couch and put his arm around Ruby and she looked at him with a smile.
"Cheer up Geoffrey, ten minutes watching a Kate Hudson movie and you'll be tapping into you're feminine side in no time" she says, laughing at thought of it.
Nicole made her way out of the kitchen and over to the couch. She placed a big bowl of popcorn on the table and some glasses. She looked at Geoff and she knew exactly what he was thinking, she could read him like an open book. She knew his concerns when she saw him glancing at Ruby
"Don't worry, it's organic popcorn, No additives, suitable for a diabetic. Now Ruby, would you like a sugar coated candy stick or are good?" she jokes, throwing a mocking glance at Geoff. Nicole waked back into the kitchen and grabbed the juice out of the fridge.
Ruby was laughing at the joke Nicole had made and playfully punched Geoff in the arm. He smile a little, finally allowing himself to relax and laugh at the joke himself. Nicole made her way back over to the couch and sat down next to Ruby. She poured the juice into the glasses and handed them out.
"So Ruby, not to sound annoying or anything but how are you dealing with the whole diabetes thing? Most be tough?", she asks, genuinely interested.
Ruby sits up and crosses her legs under her, takes a sip of her juice and places it back down on the coffee table.
"OK, I guess. I mean I'm still trying to get used to the whole special diet thing. The injections are not the most fun thing in the world or pricking my finger for that matter. It's something I don't think I'm ever going to get used to, but, if I want to stay healthy it's just something I'm going to have to get used to", she says in a matter of factly way. "I've just managed to get Geoffrey here, to chill out about it and stop fussing. Now all I have to deal with is Charlie".
Nicole places her juice on the table and grabs a cushion off the chair across the way. She hugs it tightly to her chest, crossing her arms. She rests her chin on the top of the cushion and leans her back against the arm of the couch, facing Ruby.
"Is she still in over protective mode?" she asks.
"Yeah. I know she means well and I know she's got my best interests at heart. But it justs feels like she's smothering sometimes. A hundred calls a day is a bit much. I mean if anything was wrong I'd call her", Ruby says seeming a little tense.
"Yeah but Ruby she's your mom,,,", Nicole trails off, unsure if Ruby was comfortable with anyone referring to Charlie as her mother. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Ruby had found out the had taken her and Charlie a while to get back to their ususal ways. Only with the exception that instead of being sisters. They are now mother and daughter. Nicole couldn't see how anything could possibly change anyways. Charlie had always been very protective of Ruby. As far as she was concerned nothing had changed.
"What I mean is, she cares about you more than anyone else in her life. Of course she's going to be worried. Maybe you two just need to sit down and talk it out", Nicole finished.
Ruby nodded. She could see Nicole's point of view. Being diabetic was hard, and having to deal with made it hard for to see everyone else's concerns. She realised now that although she is dealing with the condition, Charlie's dealing with worry and probably scared at the thought of something bad happening to had to talk to Charlie and have a proper conversation with her. It was the only way they were going to come to an understanding about the situation. Geoff put the DVD in the the player, picked up the remote and pressed play. When he sat back down, Ruby lay her head against his shoulder and he placed his head gently agaist hers. All three of them sat back and settled into comfortable positions for the film.
Just as the film was about to begin...crash...there was a noise outside. They all jumped and turned around.
"What was that? Nicole said sounding spooked.
Geoff jumped over the couch and headed for the back door.
"I'm gonna check it out" he said as he made his way across the room and into the kitchen.
"Geoffrey be careful", Ruby called after him.
The girls sat in silence as they waited for Geoff to return. The heard the noise of a struggle and Ruby grabbed Nicoles hand. Just then they heard footsteps.
"Geoff", Nicole shouted.
Just then Geoff made his reappeared. He had his hands raise in the air and then following from behind, Derek. He held is gun to Geoff's back nudged him to move over to the couch. Geoff sat down on the couch huddled himself up beside both girls. Derek pointed his gun at all three of them.
"Nobodys going anywhere", he said as he glared at them.
Ruby, as subtly as she could from behind the couch remover her phone from her pocket. She pressed the speed dial number one and placed it gently on the couch, hoping that they could hear what was going on....
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More to come tomorrow. Hope you're enjoying it so far. More reviews would be greatly appreciated.
