Rhapsody High: The Tale of Super Zero

Chapter 10: Runaway

School Rule #10: Sometimes things just don't work they way we expect them to. When everything becomes too much to handle. Skip school or go on a vacation. A little bit of a break would help.

Chapter 10: Runaway

That saturday morning Ruben parked his Harley on his usual parking spot and looked around the school. He couldn't believe he had to go to school on a weekend but he had no other choice. He took his sling bag and looked around the parking lot. Troy's porché was already there, he hoped CJ was already in too. A lot of Northsies are in sights and they couldn't risk their school reputation this year.

He bend down to the nearest water fountain and gulped some water. He felt rather stuffy in his leather jacket.

"Ben... You already arrived." A womanly voice came up from behind him, causing him to choke uncontrollably. His mother.

"Mum? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to watch you playing. It's been almost 6 years you hadn't played a real game. I am so proud of you." She came close to him and kiss his cheek. Her black hair is curled perfectly, and a slight make up covered her pale face. She wouldn't give herself a little more time to get ready unless it was important to her. A lot lately however, all her outings are important.

The tall dirty blonde hair man was next to her, his arm around her mother's curve, protective. Ruben hated the sight of it. "We were thinking of driving you here, but you woke up really early this morning. I was surprise you really looked forward toward this, son."

This man needed to know his boundary. He is not Ruben's father. "I have my own Harley, Mr. Robinson. Thank you. There is no need to drive me around."

"We were just thinking that it will be good if you exchange your Harley to a car instead? Motorcycle isn't too safe these days." His mother added. They had this conversation before, he saved up for this Harley despite his father, real father, ended up giving it to him as a present last year. He is not exchanging his Harley for anything.

"I'm not the governor's son, mum. I don't need special treatment." Ruben stated clearly. He knew that the reason why he hasn't been forced to go to those galas and dinners were not only because he didn't want to. They are scared that Ruben would bring shame for being the "bad child" brought from the second marriage and ruined Paul Robinson and her mother's good reputation. "You don't want any of your cars to be seen anywhere around me."

Nathaniel who were standing behind their parents finally cut in their awkward silent. A lot lately there has been too many fights around the house. "Mom, Dad, let's get to the gym. Ruben is just nervous."

Ruben's mother sighed. "Ben, we never want to hide you. I just hope today would be the start of you trying to clean up your mistakes." With a pat on Ruben's shoulder, she drew a heavy smile and walk with the governor. Hand-in-hand.

Before following behind, Nathaniel whispered to Ruben. "Your mum is a nice lady, i don't know what is wrong with you. Stop breaking her heart and do this right."

Ruben clenched his fist. His mistake? Everything is his fault. There is always something wrong with him, but not her. Nobody knows the real story. Why is everybody blaming him?

Sitting down on the bathroom's cubicle, he sighed. His day couldn't get any worse. He checked his watch. 10.30 am. He didn't bring his phone with him. He is sitting down here, wearing his basketball team attire. All wet. He couldn't protect his teammates if the Northsies injured them, he wouldn't know what is going on now. He felt so tired.

The whole night he couldn't sleep for some reasons. Mostly was just his bed, he never felt comfortable sleeping on the new bed. He also heard Nathaniel opening and closing his books next to his room. What a hardworking step-brother he has. He wanted to ride on his Harley and just drive around aimlessly like he used to do, but he promised his mum he would be home by 11pm the max. His father hadn't replied his messages either. He knew living with his father wouldn't do him any good. He has no home to go to.

Without realizing it, Ruben fell asleep. He woke up when his watched vibrated. 2 pm. The game has ended. His clothes were drying now, but he still felt rather cold. He sneezed. Great! He probably caught a cold. The zero girl has gone too far. What did he do anyway? She mentioned the word, prank? He never did anything to her. This is ridiculous.

He got up and tried to broke the cubicle's door. No use. The principle had changed those doors to the new ones since there were too many doors got broken last year. He climbed onto the toilet seat, and looked at the space between the cubicle. Too tight, but he might be able to go across.

He gave his body a push. Just like parkour. He told himself. He used to do parkour when he went to France with his father 3 years ago. This will be no different. He slipped smoothly in between the cubicle wall and the ceiling. The next thing he knew, he slipped over, his arm crashed the toilet's seat on the other side. A purple swollen could be seen from his arm. It was painful but he has gone through worse.

Now that he is free, he opened the bathroom door. Nobody was in his sight or in the hallway. He walked towards the gym and about to get his stuffs, when the janitor locked the changing room door.

"Wait, wait, could you please let me get my bag?" His money and his harley's keys are in there. He would have to stay until monday if the janitor didn't allow him to.

The janitor looked at him sternly. "Mr. Tyler." He grunted.

"Please..." Ruben pleaded. No janitor liked him after he used their rooms in the hallway for sneaking around with Renata. They knew they had to keep their mouth shut if they still want their jobs.

"Fine." The old man replied. "Don't mess in my room again."

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Ruben drove his Harley to a huge house in Peak Valley. His current house. Not home. House. He got down from his Harley and walked into the house. He needed to call CJ and Troy and check the situation.

"Where were you?!" His mother's angry voice boomed out. "I wasn't expecting so much from you, Ben! Just a game. Just one simple game and you have to fled off irresponsibly and skipped it. Just like your father!"

Ruben sighed. "I'm sorry. I got stuck somewhere."

"Do you know that Nathaniel got injured for replacing you? Do you know that?"

Nathaniel got injured. So CJ was right. Well, Nathaniel deserved it, he thought. "I'm sorry. I'll check on him." Ruben walked up, ignoring his mother's voice.

"You are not walking away from me, Ben! I tried. I really had tried!" His mother was sobbing, and Ruben hated it, but he just need to change his clothes and call Troy or CJ. "Why can't your father take care of you?"

His mother last words hit him. "I'm leaving." Ruben replied. "You don't have to trouble yourself taking care of me."

An hour later, he was on his Harley without destination. Driving for hours aimlessly. When the twilight was near, he took out his cigarette and smoked one. He had stop smoking since she started seeing Renata, but this one is an exception. Renata was calling him, over and over again. He just didn't feel like calling her back. He had trouble her enough.

He took out his phone and called CJ, "hey, man. Can i crashed tonight?"

"Yeah. Sure, but i'm staying over at my parents'. You mind?"

"Nah. It's alright."

With that sorted, he ride himself to a normal two-story house on the edge of the town. Normal house, not mansions like Troy's or Nathaniel's. It was alike with his normal home before his parents divorced.

He pushed the bell, and waited for awhile. Hopefully CJ opened the door. A blonde ponytails girl came out from the door instead. The four eyes!