Chapter Sixteen

Casey's P.O.V.
Brax was being so unfair. I hadn't done anything wrong, and he wouldn't let me go on a break. Four days. Four days, that was all I was asking for. Besides, I would only miss two days of school because Ruby and I had planned to leave the bay on Friday and return on Monday. I was off to see Ruby, wanting to know if she was allowed to go.

-One hour earlier-

Ruby's P.O.V.
Charlie was already home by the time I got back. Piles of paper from the police station were spread all over the table. She sat there in deep concentration, so I made her a coffee. Like all parents, she thought something was up. I told her there was nothing to worry about and I was just being a good daughter. I kept procrastinating about asking her if Casey and I could leave for a few days or not as my chances weren't very high with being able to go. I noticed the sink was full of dirty dishes. Seeing how busy Charlie was, I decided to clean them for her. While I was doing so, she came into the kitchen.
"Are you sure something isn't up?" she asked me.
"No..." I denied. "Can't a girl do the dishes when she has time on her hands?"
"Yeah, of course, but it's not something you would usually do... So what is it?"
Charlie knew me too well. I had to ask her now.
"Can Casey and I please go up the coast on Friday? We'll be back on Monday."
"How about school? This is your HSC year."
"I know, but this will give me some space to clear my head. Once I get back, I'll be fully focused. Please Charlie!" I begged.
"Yes, okay, but on one condition. Brax has to let Casey go too, and you both have to look out for each other."
I ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I shouted.

-Present Time-

Ruby's P.O.V.
"Hey Case, come in," I said. "Did you ask Brax?"
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to talk about. He's not letting me go. He thinks I'll miss out on too much school."
"Are you serious? Ugh, and that's coming from him."
"I know, that's what I've been saying. I'm assuming you're allowed to go?"
"Yeah..." I answered. "But only if you're allowed to go as well," I added.
"Maybe you could get Charlie to talk him into it?"
"Well that could go both ways. Either you'd be able to go in the end, or neither of us will be able to go. He might tell Charlie how important school is and then she'll reconsider," I explained.
"I'll go home and ask Brax again," Casey said.

Brax's P.O.V.
As soon as Casey walked into the house, he started talking exceptionally fast.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you before, Brax. I know I shouldn't have, but I kind of got angry about how you wouldn't let me go. I do see where you're coming from, but this is just two days. Besides, I have a free period on the Friday and Monday so I'll be missing hardly anything. Anyways, I just came back from Ruby's and she's allowed to go. I'm sorry how I had a go at you about Charlie before."
I had never seen Casey be so serious before. He wanted to go so badly. This was his first apology that genuinely came from his heart. I knew it would hit him hard if I didn't let him go.
"You know what? I'll let you go, but you have to make sure that you do well in the test tomorrow or else I'll change my mind," I warned.
Casey gave me his typical confused look. "How did you know about the test?"
"I told you I spoke to Mrs Palmer before, didn't I?"
"Oh right, of course she told you."

Casey's P.O.V.
I immediately raced to Ruby's house. I couldn't wait to tell her. As soon as she opened the door, I lifted her up and swung her around.
"I'm guessing Brax changed his mind!" she exclaimed.
"You bet!" I shouted excitedly.
"Wooo! I think we better start packing then. We'll be off in three days!"
"Don't you think we should celebrate first? Leave all the boring stuff to the end babe!"
"That is so true. You always know the right thing to do," she said and kissed me on the lips.
"So um, how are we going to celebrate? Want to go out or shall we stay in here?" I asked with a wink.
"Ooooh, I think we should go with both!"
"Good idea! I need to go home to get a shirt on, but how about we meet at the diner in five?"
"No way! Stay the way you are! Embrace your sexiness." Ruby shouted cheekily.
"Haha nah, I'll leave that for Brax and Heath," I replied.
"Fine, but wear my favourite shirt of yours!"
"Of course!" I said, and we kissed before I left.

Ruby's P.O.V.
So Casey had listened to me when I told him to wear my favourite shirt of his. It was a white singlet that showed off his body perfectly. You could see his guns from a distance, and well, just quietly, that's the way I liked it. He saw that I was already there and took the seat opposite mine.
"Don't worry about ordering, I've already ordered us a piece of chocolate cake," I told him.
"One piece..? There are two of us..?" He said, looking half confused.
People weren't kidding when they said boys were a tad bit slow. "Two spoons," I winked.

Casey's P.O.V.
It had gotten quite dark by now, but neither of the two of us wanted to go home. As we were walking back to Leah's house along the beach, I couldn't help but notice the perfect spot for us. I lead Ruby to a corner of the beach which was shadowed by a couple of bushes.
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
"Well, this is the perfect spot. We could do anything, and nobody will be able to see us because of all the bushes," I explained.
We lit a small fire, and sat next to it on one log.
"This is beautiful," she said to me.
"And so are you," I replied.