Sunny and Moon - New Claws

Chapter 2: "Ruby"

"Bye mom!" Cried Ruby while grabbing her back pack, leaving for school.
Her 21 wristbands and bracelets were wrapped around her wrist, and her auburn hair was fixed with a hair clip behind her ear. No, she did not have freckles. Just because she is a redhead, people assumed she had freckles. But she didn't.
While walking on the stone pavement, Ruby's hazel eyes watched some fourteen-year olds, just like her, gossiping about a boy in her class.
Stupid. She thought.
Once Ruby reached her school, she left her light backpack in her locker and sighed. She was finally free.
Today was Tuesday, which meant that the students had the whole day off except for lunch. This day was Ruby's perfect chance to do what she loves most: swimming. But not swimming at her school. The pool was full of chlorine and they had to use caps. Ruby liked swimming in the rivers and lakes.

Before leaving, Ruby took out her swimsuit, goggles, and towel, then ran to the forest next to her village.
Seawill Forest. It was Ruby's favourite place in the world. It was always fresh in there; the trees were a deep moss green and silver vines hanged off of them looking like an old man's beard. The floor was dirt and stones, covered by grass, that tickled your feet when you stepped on it. All sorts of birds rested on the branches, from canaries to parrots to mockingbirds and crows. Although the leaves blocked the sky, rays of sunlight lighted the path that lead you to a lake which looked as it had mermaids and all kinds of marvellous sea creatures.

Ruby ran to the lake, across the winding paths and branches, finally diving into the water, with her swimsuit brushing against the bubbles and her hair spreading wildly across the streams. Ruby opened her eyes. Out of a sudden she found herself in a whole new world, surrounded by colors, fish, corals and sand. Everything was so beautiful. But soon her time was over, and she had to go to lunch. After grabbing her stuff quickly Ruby sprinted to her school, her hair drenching her clothes with water.

Once she got there everyone looked at her. Of course they would. Who wouldn't look at someone who looks different? Wet hair... wet clothes... red hair... unusual. With a knot in her stomach Ruby sat down quietly in a table to eat her beef sandwich. Of course. It was meat Tuesday.

"Hi Ruby!" Ruby heard the squeaking voice from the girl she hated most in the world, Cindy Louvre. Her dad was a french businessman, and all he taught his daughter to do was negotiate. "Life's a game." He always said. "And the Louvres have to win it." Everything was like that. Moves, tricks, cheats and wins. Of course, Cindy was always the winner. She always acted so nice around everyone, but each time they turned their backs Cindy started to talk about them. And it was not nice.

"So... I heard you went swimming the other day. I think it's so cool that you do that. I mean, nobody does that. Could you teach me?"

While Cindy kept talking Ruby was thinking of a little fish she saw in the lake. She was not particularly interested in anything Cindy said. She just blabbered... and blabbered... and blabbered...

"Are you even listening to me?" She asked, Ruby's heart skipping a beat.

"Yeah, uh... you were telling me about swimming."

"True. Well, gotta split. See ya!" Cindy blew Ruby a kiss and left. Finally. Ruby grabbed her sandwich and took of a bite. It tasted great until...

"Argh!" Ruby spit all the sandwich out. That little monster! Her whole sandwich was covered in salt! Ruby had had enough. No more stares, no more Cindy, no more people. She seized her bag, slammed her lunchbox, and left the dining hall.

"I hate her!" Ruby said through gritted teeth. She was in direction to the forest, the only place she felt happy. While running, branches and leaves were hitting her face and arms but all she wanted was to sit in a place, and calm down. Ah. She was finally next to the lake. Ruby sat down sighing, and taking hold of her arm. A branch had made a deep cut. Looking down at her hand all Ruby could see was blood. But it didn't matter. It would heal quickly.

"They don't get it. Do they?" She was leaning on a tree, talking to her friends. "Different is good. Everyone being the same is so boring." A wind made the trees sway, to Ruby that meant they agreed. But then it struck her. "You can't even hear me." She let out a soft laugh. "You are not real."

Ruby once again opened her lunchbox, taking out her beef sandwich. But something caught her eye.

A pair of yellow eyes were reflecting on the water.