Rusty's Secret

3. On The Inside

Thursday, February 14th, 2026

Coco stared Jack in the eyes as Jack started his scentence. "I....I'm so sorry, Coco....I-I never wanted to be your date...I just didn't want to hurt your feelings....You put me on the spot, and I felt pressured....I'm sorry...." He explained to her. Coco's eyes teared up as he finished talking. She looked down at the wooden floor. She looked back at him. "Thanks for being honest" She gave him a hug. She knew this was what Jack wanted, but on the inside, she was hurting.

A few tears fell out of his eyes as she watched Jack walk away. She tried to wipe them away, but her tears kept coming back. She covered her face as she escaped into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She watched as he fur got soaked in tears. She quickly turned to her side as someone walked into the bathroom.

Jack walked back to his friends. "Jack! We saw Rusty! He ran into the bathroom, crying..." Mackenzie explained to him quickly.

Rusty ran into the bathroom as tears quickly formed in his eyes. He locked himself in a bathroom stall. He quickly opened his phone as he tried to wipe his tears. He stared at his lock screen. The background was a picture of him and Jack. He wanted to throw his phone against the stall door. He tried not to let tears fall onto his phone screen as he quickly opened up his messages.

Rusty: Mum can you please come pick me up!

Rusty waited for a while. She never responded to the text. "Mum, please answer" He sniffled. He waited and waited until he finally gave up. He hit his phone against the floor as he dug his head deep into his knees and cried even harder.

Coco watched Bluey walk into the room. She backed up a little. "O-Oh, Hi Coco...." Bluey said as she walked in. "Coco, what's wrong?" She asked as she walked closer to her. "Leave me alone!" Coco screamed. "Did he reject you?" Bluey asked. Coco slowly nodded. "It's okay, Coco. But you can't control who he loves. You'll just have to accept his decision" Bluey said comfortingly. Bluey tried to give her a hug. Coco pushed her away and ran out of the bathroom. Bluey just stood there as she watched Coco sprint back into the gym.

Rusty: why isn't mum answering her phone!

Digger: she's in a meeting, why?

Rusty: I want to go home!

Digger: why? What happened?

Rusty: Jack doesn't like me back...

Digger: oh, Rusty, if he doesn't like you he doesn't like you. You'll just have to accept his decision. You two are best friends. He'll always like you but he just doesn't like like you. Just get over it

Rusty: I can't! Can you take me home...

Digger: sorry, dude, I'm at cricket practice, your on your own until mum comes to pick you up

Rusty threw his phone underneath the stall as he read the text. He started to cry again. He unlocked the stall and wiped his tears until no more tears came out. He picked up his cracked phone and left the bathroom to look for Jack.