My Little Ruby

Chapter One

One Year Later

"Sapphire, come here. I need to talk to you." I hear my mother yell.

    I sigh and walk to her room. "Yes?" I ask from the doorway. "So, we need more money and I found a way."

     My eyes shoot open in surprise. "Really?" She nods.

     "We have to watch a little girl for a few weeks." She says. All my excitement disappears. I don't like children. After the death of my brother, the sight of children sickens me.

     "Oh no. Find another way, make me get a second job. Anything." I beg.

     My mother shakes her head. "No. We need this. It could be awhile before anything else turns up. I'm sorry Sapphire. There's no other way fast enough."

     I grunt and turn around. I stomp back to my room and slam the door.

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     The doorbell wakes me. I turn over and pick up my phone. I turn it on check the time. I groan when I see it. 6:45 on a weekend.

     I hear voices and decide to get up. I go ahead and change into some clothes before going out.

By the time I make it out to the living room, one of the people already left, but there is a small crying girl sitting on the couch in front oft he television.

My mother is trying to comfort her. Telling her, "It be okay"or "He'll be back". I roll my eyes. And turn back around to head back to my room but my mother sees me.

"Sapphire, come back over here and meet this sweet, poor little girl." I groan and turn back around on my heels. "Alright but hurry." I say folding my arms.

I walk around the couch to where I can see the girl. She is actually really cute.

Her hair is blonde and quite long. She can't be more than six. My heart softens at the sight. She looks so sad. She is looking at the ground and has stopped crying.

"Sapphire, this is Ruby. Ruby," she says kindly. "This is my daughter Sapphire that I was telling you about. You guys will be best friends."

I roll my eyes and wave weakly to her. And turn around and start back to my room but my mother stops me again.

"Um, we're not done yet," she says. The little girl looks up and I see her eyes, they are big and brown and- sad.

"Hurry up then!" I say. "Alright. She will be sharing a room with you."

     My eyes widen. "Um, no she's not." I say. "Um, yes she is." My mother replies. "We talked about this. We've been talking about this for weeks!"

     "Like I was listen." I mumble.

     "Well, it doesn't matter because it's happening." My mother says as she stands up. "And I want you to show her to your room. I'll put a mattress in the room and make the it up for her bed later. I have to get ready for work."

     I groan and walk over to Ruby. "Hi. I'm Sapphire like my mom said. You can call me Sapphy though." I say as kindly as I can.

     Ruby looks at me but doesn't say anything. "Do you want me to show you to my- our room?" I ask.

     She shakes her head. "Do you want to watch tv?" She shakes her head again.