During Ruby's initial visit to the community center, she hadn't any idea her new human companions' older sisters were upstairs in one of the spare rooms doing their homework. Ruby would've recognized the three who were Shaggy's co-workers: Haley, Hagit, and Felicia. However, she didn't know what her human crush, Arnette's older sister Iola, looked like. Iola attended the same high school as her other friends' older sisters. Yet she didn't work at the restaurant.
Iola DuBois's bright red hair was in a stylish short haircut that helped frame her heart-shaped face. It also helped bring out her brilliant blue eyes. Today, she was dressed more casually then usual. Just a pink shirt with a winged heart and jeans. "Are you doing okay, Iola? You seemed distracted today." Haley Vandom questioned as she brushed her bangs out of her face. She cursed as she had to redo her long braid thanks to the wind the city was famous for.
"It's nothing to fret about, Haley," Iola assured her. She took a deep breath before resuming, "My dad let me take two weeks off from interning at the business enterprise. I need two weeks off if I'm going to pass the impending exams. I know Dad's grooming me to take over the enterprise one day,"
She fiddled with her choker for a second, "Still, I wish I could have more fun sometimes. I have nothing against my father's business organization. After all, his corporation is about assembling green technology to help benefit the Earth and humanity. Nonetheless, I deserve a little more free time," she finished with a deep sigh.
Everyone gave Iola a compassionate look. "It's hard on all of us, Hagit Dawson replied honestly as she adjusted her blue ski cap. She was the tomboy of the group, and you could tell it by her boyish clothes and tough girl attitude.
Frankly, Hagit didn't like her name. When her parents were expecting her, they couldn't decide on a name. Consequently, they just wrote several on paper shreds before throwing them in a bag. Then they just pulled two out and used them as her name. Heck, they even did the same with her little sister! But at least she had gotten a nicer first name!
Still, that wasn't here or there at the moment. The friends had yet to learn of the trouble brewing for their siblings downstairs. Again, they'd gotten together to study for exams. So they weren't aware yet of the problems in the gymnasium.
"Well, we all have problems, girlfriend. I'm doing my best to watch my baby sister and help around the house while my daddy is gone. My mama falls to pieces whenever Daddy ships out.
With how screwed up the world is these days, I can't say I blame her! Still, we need to study for these examinations. If we don't do well on these exams? We for sure won't do well for next year as seniors.
I don't remember what y'all planned after finishing high school. But I'm just hoping to God Almighty there is still a damn world for us after this year's election!" Felicia Hanshaw declared after slamming her chemistry textbook shut.
"Perhaps we should all take a break? We've been at it for a couple of hours now. Why don't we go the cafeteria and get a bite to eat?" suggested Haley, to which the girls nodded. They did spend half an hour enjoying their food. Suddenly, Felicia's little sister came running into the lunchroom. Chrissy looked highly upset about something. She was trying to speak through tears, so it took Felicia a while to calm her baby sister down.
"It's okay, Chrissy. Now calm down and tell me what's going on. I thought you were hanging with your new girlfriend, Ruby?"
"I was looking for Mom! No offense to you, Haley. However, your little sister made some serious racist remarks towards my new friend! And she even shoved her to the ground for standing up for others!" Chrissy managed to get out.
Haley snarled and slammed her fist into her hand, "Oh, wait till I'm done with that little troll! She better feel lucky I'll be dealing with her. Where did that brat go?" Haley demanded, to which Chrissy replied which spare room upstairs Venus had gone to.
"Thanks for telling me, Chrissy. And no, I'm not angry at you. I'm just pissed my little sister is one of the most entitled mini-Karens ever! Ugh!" as Haley stormed out of the room to deal with the little devil. Hagit then questioned if everyone was okay back in the gym. Chrissy stated Ruby's sister was on her way to pick her up. But she and the gang would feel better if they watched over Ruby until her sister arrived.
"Ruby expressed that her hometown is considerably different from Chicago. I also believe this is the first time she's dealt with anyone being racist with her since she looked baffled. Please, we'd feel better if you stayed with us until her sister came and got her."
"Don't worry, Chrissy. We'll go do that, won't we girls?" Iola asked, to which the group nodded. They stayed with the children till Ruby's older sister Crystal arrived. Both Hanshaw sisters saw their mama divulging to Crystal what transpired. It seemed Crystal was shaken to hear what occurred to her little sister. It also looked like she was terrified to talk to her sister regarding the incident. Still, they heard Crystal thank Mrs. Hanshaw before taking her sister home.
"Well, your new friend's hometown is unquestionably secluded. Seeing how she didn't understand certain aspects of what happened," Haley huffed as she returned from dealing with Venus.
"What did you do to your sister?" everyone asked.
Haley took a few deep breaths before explaining. "I utilized my cell phone to freeze access to her social media pages. Plus, it locked up her own cell in the process. Venus doesn't know the password to unlock it. So she's got no cell services or social media."
"Are you allowed to do that?" Hagit questioned with a single eyebrow raised. Haley nodded.
"My parents told me to do that if neither is around, and she misbehaves in my charge. So yes. There is a timer lock on it, too. So not till exactly a fortnight's passed to the exact second will she be able to access anything on her phone or online." Everyone returned to the lunchroom to wait till it was time to go home. Till then, they just worried about their new friend.