Hatchetfield.

When We Met Before

HAISKOOL IS KILLING US

Ruth: anyone able to come round and help me rehearse?
Richie: aren't u on lights tho?

Ruth: ye but I still need someone to stand in and the actors are all jerks

Ruth: can u come over?

Richie: can't tonight, swamped with hwk

Ruth: :(
Ruth: anyone else?

Max: soz ruth im also doing hwk :(

Ruth: u with Richie? ;)))

Steph: im grounded rn so cant leave the house im rly sry ruth

Ruth: :((
Ruth: Pete? Grace?

Steph: petes out christmas shopping w/ his bro so hes out 4 a few hours

Ruth: rip poor guy :(((

Grace: He's shopping, not dead.

Ruth: grace!! Can u come over and help me rehearse my light cues pls??

Grace: The show isn't for two weeks yet.

Ruth: so?
Ruth: still wanna work on it

Grace: Ok. I can be at your house in 30 minutes.

Ruth: yey!
Ruth: thx grace!!!

Grace cycled her way to Ruth's house, tying her bike to the fence so that it wouldn't get stolen and walking up to the door. It opened before she had a chance to knock.

"Grace! You. Are. A. Lifesaver! Come on-" -and Grace was dragged inside.

The Fleming house was a place that looked comfortably lived in, but in a way that wasn't piled high to the ceiling with everything from Ruth's childhood. The pictures on the walls looked happy and warm, and it reminded Grace a little of her own family pictures. As Ruth chattered on about the show and the lighting cues, Grace spotted a particular photo that stopped her.

It was Ruth, probably about six or seven, wearing a green t-shirt that read "Blessed Be! He Made Me!"

Grace still had a t-shirt like that from when she went to that very same camp at age seven, hanging next to her "Virginity Rocks!" one.

"-and then I had to remind Trevor again that he'd said his line wrong so I'd missed my cue and-"

"Ruth?"

"-everyone- huh?" Ruth looked at Grace, then saw what picture she was staring at and groaned. "That picture is so dumb, I don't know why it's still up."

"I went to that camp too. How old were you?"

"Nearly seven..."

Ruth was standing next to Grace now, "You mean...we could have been at the same camp and didn't know?"

"I think I'd remember if I saw hair like yours, Ruth. Even at that age."

Ruth giggled, "It is pretty recognisable. Ah, those were the days, back when I had no braces." She sighed in reminisce and Grace realised something.

"Aren't you Jewish though? Why were you at a Christian summer camp?" Grace almost regretted asking when Ruth's body drooped.

"I was visiting my cousins and they really – like, desperately –  wanted to go, so I got bundled in with them. It was alright though with the activities and stuff, I just didn't do the celebration ones because I don't do those celebrations or holidays. The leaders got kinda mad at me for it, but I was sneaky and made it look like I was doing them when I was really doing my own thing and by the time I was done they couldn't do anything about it."

Ruth was smiling mischievously to herself and Grace found herself smiling as well, because hearing about Ruth being a little trouble-maker – in the most innocent way – when she was younger was funny compared to how she'd always seen her: awkward and staying out of trouble. Ruth was brilliant.

The shorter teen shook herself out of the memory.

"Anyway, we've got light cues to do!"

Grace nodded, happily following Ruth into the living room, leaving behind the memories of golden trees and laughing children and two kids who met without realising who the other one was.