Differences count

Chapter 1

Have you ever gotten this feeling, that you're never going to fit in? Or even the people around you are making fun of you and you just want to explode? 

Well, my name is Ruth, and I know how you feel. I've been different my whole life. My parents died in a house fire when I was only 3 1/2 years old. I've been bouncing around foster homes ever sincee. I only have one friend, her name is Safire, she's part of the preppy group, sometimes I wonder why she'd be friends with me, but my mind wonders back in time to the 3rd grade. Safire and I were playing in the pool together. I've always been a good swimmer, but saff on the other hand wasn't. She had a lot of trouble keeping her head above the water. On August 17, 2001, Saff was having a particularly hard time doing her laps, she ended up swallowing to much water and couldn't breath, so she sank. I didn't know what else to do besides go after her, the life guard being a bit in the chunky side didnt help much so I took a deep breath and swam down. I grabbed the very back of her bathing suit and pulled with every ounce of my body. I got her up to the top, with a few teachers and chunky waiting for us with a look in their eyes. I can quit explain the look, but it made me shrivel up, like a raisin. Anyways, this event, in particular, is the reason Safire is my best friend. She understands me, she'll never judge what I wear or what I eat. She protects me from the other mean and hateful preps.

"Ruth honey, it's time for school, Please get up." My current care taker, Anna, is such a sweetie. I've never seen her yell, once. I have been with her for almost a year, I hope I can stay with her. She doesn't punish me like the other foster parents I've had, she doesn't think a good beating won't do any good. And to be totally honest, boy am I glad!! Before Anna, it seems I would always get thumped, even if I didn't do anything. People just get a vibe from me, I guess, the need to hit me or hurt me, whether it be mentally or physically, is just to much for some people to handle. For the past year Anna has spent all her extra money on clothes and books for me. She spends all her time asking me of I'm okay, or if I need anything. She is the nicest person you'll ever meet. I....I....Gah, who am I kidding, I LOVE HER!!  

"It's time to get up already? I just fell asleep!" I say half awake. 

"Well, it's not really time for school. I just said that to get you up!(: But what I need to sayin very important!" she says excitedly.  

"Mmmkayy." I say, while rubbing my eyes. 

"Dont get to excited, but.." it seems she can hardly hold herself in one spot. "my other and father have payed for both of us to go on a two month cruise all over the world!!" she says jumping up and down, acting like a teenager.  

"You're kidding!? Omg when!!??" I say with the same excitement.  

"We leave next week! Our flight is at 3:00 pm." 

"Oh my gosh, I've never been on a cruise before. I won't know what to pack or how to ask or..." I ramble on not really paying attention to what I'm actually saying. Two months? That's a long time. What will I do about school..? And Safire..what will she think? Will she think I'm ditching her? I can't even think about that right now. I'm going on a cruise!!!  

"....and what about the goldfish!?" I finally spit out. The look on Anna's face tells me she knows I wasn't even paying attention. No need to explain. We both go awkwardly back to sleep.

The next day I try to process what had happened the night before. I can't believe we're going in a cruise. I'm awestruck. Why would someone want to take me on a cruise. I'm Deffinatly not worth it. Pushing that to the back of my thoughts, I think about what I'm going to wear today. I think I should wear my new jeans. They have white spots down the side and big rip in the knee. I don't know why Anna would spend money on ripped jeans when I could just rip them myself. She says it's a new fashion trend, and that I should keep up to speed with the newest fads. I pull an orange shirt over my head and it messes up my hair making me shiver. I push my bangs back out of my eyes. I don't even know why I try at school, nobody really cares about my outfit or hair. I could shave my head and nobody would notice. But that doesn't bother me, I like not being noticed. It gives me a peace of mind that I don't have to worry about people being obsessed with me or any haters. I don't have haters. People neither hate nor like me. It's as simple as that, I'm invisible. Except when I'm with saff. Omg do I get the weirdest looks, like I'm a new person at the school or I have some kind of tv screen on my face. But I don't let that bother me, I spend most if my time in my room drawing. 

"are you ready for school, Ruth?" Anna says softly. 

"yeah, gimme a sec." 

I throw my backpack around my shoulders and stuff some dollar bills in my pocket for lunch.

When I get to school it's the usual process, go to my locker pick up my books for my first period, witch is AP English then I go into the girls locker room to meet saff. She had PE first period so she is doing her warm ups.  

"Hey, how's you?" I say. 

"Oh hey babe!!" she calls me babe all the time. I don't see the point , my name isn't any longer.  

"Uhh so I kinda have some news.." I spit out fast. 

"okaaaay?"  

"well Anna...she kinda got tickets for a cruise.." I don't know how she will react but I cross my fingers and hope for the best.  

"Oh really? When is it?"  

"I leave in a week."  

"But that's during the school year? How long will you be gone?"  

"Uhh...well... Two months.." I squint my eyes expecting to get punch in the arm or something. 

She just looks at me with a blank stare. 

"Well say something!" I kinda scream out. 

"Two months? That's a long time ruth. You'll miss so much schoolwork. And I guess you've forgotten about my birthday next month. I thought you'd help me with the party?" 

Shit!! I forgot about her party!! Saff throws a huge party every year and everybody who's everybody shows up. I usually help decorate and plan.  

"I'm so sorry saff!! I don't have a choice! I mean it'd be really rude for me to turn it down bc Anna's parents payed for everything!" 

"yeah sure of course. Um sorry I gotta go.." I could tell there was something bugging her. She wasn't alright. I needed to figure out what was wrong.