Chapter Four Hundred and Ninety One

April and Xavier sat down to breakfast with Gina.

"Mum, did you hear any weird noises last night?"

Gina choked on her coffee.

"Are you okay, Mrs Austin?" April asked worried.

"Yes, I'm fine," Gina coughed. "It just went down the wrong way. Weird noises?"

"Yeah, moving around, mumbling… weird."

"I got up to get a glass of water at around two," Gina lied.

"Yeah, it was around then," Xavier remembered.

"Sorry," Gina said. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"I was just worried," he said.

"Not enough to get up and check it out!" April remarked.

Thank goodness, Gina thought to herself.


Ruby was more nervous than she had ever been as she climbed into her instructor's car the next morning for her regular lesson. She could hardly believe she had made such a fool of herself on the beach. She had been replaying it over and over and over. Claire, Nicole and her parents had reassured her continuously but she knew the truth. She had behaved like an idiot and Alex had probably been completely put off. Any chance she had with him was probably likely out of the window now.


Nicole had asked Claire out for breakfast on the beach. Claire was still quite shy when she was invited to things. It was like it was a surprise when people wanted to spend time with her.

"Thank you for inviting me out," she said politely when the two of them were sat down on the sand with the food they had brought.

"Well, it's nice to get a chance to catch up," Nicole said. "Although what will we talk about without Ruby here to bleat on about Alex?"

Claire rolled her eyes and giggled. She had had her fill of Alex.

"You're as bored of Alex as I am then?" Nicole admitted.

"I just don't want to see her get her heart broken," she said.

"And now I've seen him, I don't see what's so special about him," Nicole added.

"And I don't think he's into her either," Claire said. "He barely even grunted at her when she saw him. He's playing her. He's going to hurt her. It's not fair of him to string her along like he is."

Nicole sighed.

"She won't be told though," she said.

"I know," Claire said. "She won't see what she doesn't want to."

Nicole studied the look of frustration on her friend's face.

"You care for her a lot, don't you?" she said.

Claire blushed and then looked alarmed, panicked that she knew.

"Claire, it's okay," she said.

"I don't like her like that," she lied. "She's just my friend. I know she's straight."

"It's okay, Claire," Nicole tried.

"No," Claire said seriously. "It's really not."


Gina was worried. She had overheard Xavier confiding in April that he thought she might be seeing someone and that that might be the noise he heard overnight. He was concerned that if she had started dating again, then it really was the end of her relationship with John and that he would be hurt.

Now Gina was stuck with what to do about the fact that she was actually back together with John. She hadn't wanted anyone to know just yet, not even Xavier. In fact, she especially didn't want him to know. She didn't want the pressure of it being a real thing yet. She just wanted to have fun.

But she also didn't want her son to be in anguish. She didn't want her teenage son to be taking on the stress of her relationship when he should just be having fun with his girlfriend and his friends.

She needed to talk to John.


Ruby was feeling anxious and stressed. She had failed to reverse around a corner. She'd nearly hit another car during a bay park. She'd hit a curb. And her general driving had been shaky at best.

She pulled up outside the school, ready to finish her lesson and start her actual academic classes for the day. They were the last things she wanted to do right now but she knew she couldn't get out of it.

"Sorry I've been so crap today," she apologised.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Alex said kindly.

Ruby sighed heavily, disappointed in herself.

"Are you okay, Ruby? You seem very distracted today."

"I just… couldn't focus," she said. "I keep getting everything wrong. I feel stupid."

He reached out and touched her face.

"You're not stupid," he said. "You're doing really well. You just need to polish your skills."

"What skills?" Ruby said with a half laugh.

"You're a good driver, Ruby," Alex said. "You just have to believe in yourself."

He still had his hand on her face.

"And be kinder to yourself," he said. "You're smart, funny, beautiful."

She half laughed again, disbelievingly. She was interrupted by him kissing her.


Claire gathered up her things and stood up.

"I have to go," she said hurriedly.

Nicole stood up too.

"Claire, please don't go," she said.

She was desperately upset that she had gone about this all the wrong way.

"No, I really have to go," she said. "Please, just please don't say anything to anyone. Ever."

"I won't," Nicole said. "But please talk to me."

"There's nothing to say," Claire insisted.

"You don't have to carry this by yourself."

"I don't want to talk about it," Claire said. "It won't help. Ruby would never look at me like that and that's just something I have to live with. Talking about it isn't going to change that. So I just have to be the dutiful best friend and that's all. Please just let me get on with it and don't mention it again."

She turned and left.


Ruby could hardly wait to get to lunch time so she could meet up with Claire and tell her all about the kiss with Alex. Arriving at the restaurant, she hurriedly pulled Claire aside and sat her down at a table.

"Guess what!" she said.

For a moment, Claire panicked that Nicole had told her about their earlier meeting.

"Alex kissed me!"

Across the room, Joey overheard them and was concerned. She was also concerned about Claire. She hadn't been herself all day but she wouldn't open up as to why. Every time Joey had approached her, she'd just clammed up and said she was fine.

"He did?" Claire said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Inside, she was heartbroken.

"Yes! And he kissed me! He made the first move! All unprompted!" she swooned. "Oh, it was so amazing, Claire. It was everything I hoped it would be. I've been desperate to tell you all about it all morning but I've had stupid school."

"So, are you a thing now?" Claire asked.

"Well… I guess so," Ruby said. "I mean, I don't know. He said he'd text me. But it was so amazing. And he said he liked me and I like him."

"Well, I'm really happy for you, Ruby," Claire tried. "You deserve someone who will make you happy."


That afternoon, Nicole still had Claire on her mind. She just couldn't settle in her heart that Claire was holding these feelings for Ruby and keeping them all to herself. She wasn't proposing that she told Ruby. They both knew that Ruby didn't return them. But she hated the idea that she had nobody to talk to. She hated the idea that such a lovely girl as Claire should feel so alone.

Heading over to the restaurant, she hoped to get the chance to talk to Claire. Instead, she found that she had gone home sick.

"Do you know what was wrong with her?"

"She said she had a headache and she felt sick but…"

Joey sighed.

"She hasn't been herself all day. Then she saw Ruby at lunch time and she went sick after that."

Nicole paled.

"Jo, I think this was my fault," she admitted.

"I doubt it," Joey said. "Ruby was full of the joys of spring at lunch time. She and Alex kissed during her lesson this morning. She was going on and on about it and I think Claire might feel a bit pushed out."

Nicole and Joey looked at each other for a moment, silently trying to assess what the other knew.

"Because… Ruby might not spend as much time with her if she has a boyfriend…?" Nicole suggested, trying to gauge Joey's thought process.

Joey chewed her lip.

"Why do you think this could be your fault?" Joey asked.

"Joey, Claire has feelings for Ruby and I tried to talk to her about it this morning and she just freaked out and now I think I've ruined our friendship because she's embarrassed and upset but there's nothing wrong with her liking Ruby but she doesn't want anyone to know and I've now completely broken my promise not to tell and…"

"Nic, chill," Joey interrupted. "Breathe."

Nicole obeyed.

"Charlie and I worked out ages ago how Claire felt," Joey said. "And you haven't done anything wrong. You're just trying to be a friend."

"I'm worried about her," Nicole said sadly.

"I understand," Joey said.

"I don't know how to talk to her without her getting upset," she said. "She's kind of a closed book."

"She's been through a lot in her life," Joey said. "Just give her time. Let her know that you're there for her and that you don't have any judgements on her."

"I don't," Nicole said. "At all."

"Good," Joey said. "Just keep being there. Keep talking. Keep listening. Keep supporting her. Especially now that Ruby is off in la-la-land with this Alex guy."

"Yeah and then we'll all have to pick up the pieces with that," Nicole remarked.

"Such a pessimist!" Joey laughed.

"Oh, you think it's going to work out, do you?"

"Not a cat's chance in hell!" Joey said. "But we have to be supportive. Right?"

"Right," Nicole complained. "Thanks, Jo."


Nicole had only been gone for ten minutes before she burst back into the restaurant, hurrying back up to Joey.

"Joey!"

"What? Where's the fire?" Joey asked, startled.

"I just saw Alex kissing some girl on the beach!"

Joey sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought it was. She had only just been talking to Charlie on the phone, trying to persuade her to be a supportive mother even though they both disliked the idea of their daughter dating this Alex guy. They just had a feeling that he was no good for her and that he was going to mess her around. But they didn't want to be the kind of parents that harassed their daughter and dissed every guy she was interested in. Even if they wished she would suddenly switch sides and fall in love with Claire who was perfect for her in every way.

"What am I meant to do?" Nicole asked. "I've already upset Claire and now I've got this on my conscience! Ruby is going to hate me when I have to tell her that the guy she's been drooling over for weeks, the guy who finally showed an interest in her, is kissing some girl ten seconds after he kissed her! Why did I have to see him? Why?"

"Okay, calm down," Joey pleaded. "Charlie and I will tell Ruby, okay? You stay out it. Go home and relax. Chill out. Do whatever it is you do to enjoy yourself and Charlie and I will sit down with Ruby tonight and break it to her."

"She'll still know it was me who saw him," Nicole complained, although she was grateful that Joey was taking it away from her.

"But if she shoots the messenger, it'll be us, not you," Joey said. "Go on, off with you. And stop getting yourself into mischief, okay?"

Nicole managed a smile. She hugged Joey and headed home, hoping she would manage not to interfere in anyone else's life along the way.


That evening, Ruby arrived home still in a swoon over Alex. She was disappointed that Claire hadn't been quite as over the moon as she was about it all and she hadn't even had a text back from Nicole. She had thought they were as into her relationship status as she was. She could hardly believe that she had finally landed Alex as a boyfriend. Or potential boyfriend. She wasn't exactly clear what stage they were at right now.

"Hey guys!" she greeted happily. "Guess what!"

"We know," Joey said cheerfully.

Ruby looked a little sulky at not being able to share her news.

"You did announce it in the restaurant," Joey reminded her. "I was there."

"I didn't even see you," Ruby said.

"You were in a swoon," Joey said, gesturing for her to come and sit at the table where she and Charlie were setting dinner down.

"Listen, we need to talk to you," she said more seriously.

"Look, I know," Ruby said casually. "Be careful. Don't fall too hard. I do know the drill and I do appreciate your concern but I am old enough to take care of myself."

"It's not that," Charlie said a little awkwardly. "Come and sit with us."

A little hesitantly, Ruby joined them at the table.

"What is it then?" she asked anxiously.

"Um…" Joey said, glancing at Charlie.

"The thing is…" Charlie said.

"Would you just tell me?" Ruby snapped impatiently.

She was not prepared for anything to spoil her good mood. She hadn't thought she could like anyone this much after Liam but now she did and she wanted to hold onto it.

"This afternoon, on the beach, Alex was seen kissing another girl," Charlie said gently.

Ruby felt like her heart was being crushed into a million pieces.

"Who saw him?" she asked after a few moments.

Charlie felt so sad at the quiet, young voice that asked the question.

"Nicole saw him," Joey said. "She didn't know what to do because she was so worried about you being upset so she came and told me. I said that your Mum and I would talk to you tonight."

"So he doesn't really like me?" Ruby asked, her voice still so small.

"I don't think it's that," Charlie said kindly. "I genuinely don't think it's you. I think he's just one of those guys who uses people and doesn't think twice about hurting them. Trust me, I've met a fair few of those people in my life before."

"I just… I really thought he liked me," Ruby said sadly.

"I know, darling," Charlie said, reaching an arm out to hold her.

Ruby fell into her arms and allowed herself to be held. Silent tears fell down her face as she wondered what the point of ever trying to fall in love was. Joey watched them for a few minutes, mother comforting daughter. Eventually, Ruby pulled away.

"I'm not hungry," she said, pushing her plate away. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Joey said.

"I'm going to call Claire."

She hurried away from the table and into her room.


Next time… Ruby loses her confidence, Robertson manipulates Miles and Joey is protective of Ruby…