About Ruben

When one is confused

To say that Ruben was absolutely shocked would be an understatement of the day. Of the week. Of the month. Of the year. No, of the bloody century!

Honestly.

Ruben was so confused that everything around him seemed to fade away. Gone with a 'pop'.

Who had taken the liberty to write in his dia- memory book? Who had actually read his thoughts, his words? Seen his pictures, sketches? Oh my god, what must they be thinking?

Ruben was sitting on his bed, hiding under his covers and shielded away from the rest of the world.

His baby sister Cathleen and his mom's dog Rosie were making a ruckus downstairs that automatically made Ruben trudge upwards to seek out the tranquility of his bedroom.

Cath was still on a roll. He could occasionally hear his mom telling her to calm down by telling her that tomorrow they're going dress shopping for Cath. The crying only worsened after that.

Back to Ruben's memory book. Ruben kept on flipping the pages, trying to gather his mind as how or why or when these new words appeared.

But Ruben was so confused. So very confused.

-•-•-•-

The very next day Ruben came to an agreement with himself. His brain agreed with his heart that he would show his so called best friends about the so called memory book.

But there were a few things he would do:

1. He would not tell them what kind of book he was talking about. He'd only mention that it's a memory book (and he would punch Mitchell if he said otherwise)

2. He would not allow them to read it.

3. He would punch Mitchell if he tried to read it.

4. He would not tell them that... John had a name.

5. He would not tell them what kind of book he was talking about. This was probably the most important point.

6. He would punch Mitch because he feels like it.

When lunch period rolled around, Scar, Mitchell and Ruben took their usual seats in the far corner of the huge cafeteria. Kalani was unable to join them. She had extra class. Ruben was secretly relieved that she wouldn't come because it was kind of embarrassing, given the (little bit confusing but undeniably very much existing) bond between the two.

"So," Scar had said, pulling Ruben out of his thoughts. "What's cracking."

"My knuckles," Mitchell had replied. He had taken no interest in speaking until now. He had been busy twisting his fingers and hands in an almost horrific way. Ruben winced and turned away from the knuckle-crack-a-lacking boy.

"Bywaters," Scar called out. "What's the matter, dude."

"Obviously his hair," Mitchell had said. Ruben threw Mitchell an unamused glance while Scar did the opposite.

"What's up with you today, Mitch?" Ruben had asked his male friend. Ruben may be lousy in being social but one thing he wasn't. Stupid.

He knew his friend since second grade well enough to know that something was most definitely was wrong. He nudged Mitchell inconspicuously and raised an eyebrow as if to ask 'What's bugging you?'

Mitchell sighed and rested his head in his hands.

"He got rejected," Scar had piped in while she chewed away on her fries. "Kelsey Hooper said no to our dear little Ross."

Ruben had been wanting to say something when suddenly Mitchell slammed his hands on the table in an angry manner.

"I didn't ask her, Scarlett. I don't even find her the least bit attractive," Mitchell had hissed before he somewhat calmed down. Scar, taken aback for a second, simply shrugged her shoulder before she returned her attention to the golden potato sticks.

Ruben didn't think he'd seen right. He almost thought that he had been imagining things. But then he saw it again.

The gaze Mitchell threw Scars way.

And it was most definitely new.

After trying to analyze this discovery for a good five minutes, Ruben gave up.

"So," he had then said and gained Scar's and Mitchell's (little) attention.

"There is something I have to tell you," Ruben had been biting his finger nails.

"You're gay," his two friends called out at the same time.

"What? No," Ruben had given them an unamused tilt of his head.

"Then what?" Scar had pressed him on.

Ruben had taken a deep sigh. This was it, he thought. Johns identity or in this case existence was about to be revealed.

And before all bravery could leave him like carbon dioxide left his nose, he sat up straight and poured the words into space.

"I have a memory book which I lost and now found again. Someone has written inside it and I need your help to find out who it was...please."