The Leo's Ruby

Chapter 1

Ever since I picked up my first book, I was dazzled. I wanted to create new worlds for readers to traverse through, be amazed and have something to distract them from their harsh realities.

My plan was to move to California to hace a better chance of publishing and I've always wanted to live in a big city.

The dream has changed a bit since then, but not much. Now I just wanted to rid myself of school, teenagers and go to California. I reached this very important revelation as I sat at my nearly empty lunch table in the gray cafeteria. I liked sitting alone since no one could bother me while I was writing. And this time it was a short story on an idea I played with for sometime about a boy who wanted to rebel against his country but unfortunately gets too close to the king through a series of events.

As I scribbled down the last of the first chapter, I was interrupted by someone slamming their hands on my table. I jumped suddenly which caused me to strike a line through nearly everything I had written. I was about to give this person a piece of my mind but was dazed as I looked to see the face of both my nightmares and dreams.

He was, of course, handsome which made it hard to hate him but I still did. I also felt something other than hate...

He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes that could pass for gold. A pure gold that I always thought could peer into my very soul. My former best friend, Leonardo Icitti.

"Hey Rubes, what are you writing?" He asked like always has, with a big grin and an eager gaze. It's like he can't remember what he did only a year ago. He was delusional.

"None of your business." I replied. "Maybe if you didn't ruin things, I'd tell you."

His mouth went into a tight smile. He appeared to be nonchalant but his body language was tense.

"That's in the past." He said. "It won't kill you to tell me."

But it could kill my good mood so I rose and walked out of the cafeteria into the  small garden area. Our school just installed it so more students could appreciate the world outside their phone but ironically, it served as a good skipping place to be on your phone. And in my case, a good hiding spot.

Leo followed a few seconds after realizing what I was doing. I knew I couldn't outrun him. He was the best track runner in the school but I was smarter. I just needed a distraction. Just then, a crowd came right behind me.

I dashed quickly into a bush. I forced my breathing to slow down. Think. I spun and spotted a tall tree. I squatted and crawled behind it so I could climb without Leo seeing.

"Where'd she go?" He muttered to himself as I climbed.

I grinned to myself from my high perch, looks like I might be safe.

His eyes darted around the small garden. I could see a group of friends sitting on a bench laughing. A boy with headphones sitting under a tree. A freshman playing on his phone. I looked down to Leo again and our eyes locked.

I definitely wasn't safe.

He looked impressed.

"I'm surprised your light enough to get up there." He mused. Sure, I was a little on the heavy side but that was rude. Anyone could get up a tree if they wanted to.

"And I'm surprised your pea sized brain could process what I did." I shot back. I knew him for ten years, since we were in the first grade so this was standard banter.

He chuckled.

"You always were the wittier one." He replied. So he finally admitted I was smarter. I shouldn't have been so happy about it but I was. "Come down. I don't want you to fall."

I hopped down near him. I, surprisingly, landed on my feet gracefully.

"I'm shocked you care." I replied sardonically.

"Of course. You're my best friend." He said and I almost believed him that time.

The bell rang and I rushed back into the building. He looked upset that I left him. It didn't make me feel too bad.

Sitting in my math class, I wrote new idea I had. I thought it may be better than the rebellious citizen. I scribbled as my teacher curiously looked over my shoulder. He gave me a thumbs up. Mr. Tams was the best. He knew I would still get a good grade on the test despite this little tangent I was taking.

I left the school with a solid plan in mind. I walked home everyday. It was only ten minutes and no it wasn't hard for me. I wasn't obese or at least not yet.

"Rubes! Wait up." I heard his voice call to me. I walked a little faster to show I wasn't interested but he was right next to me in mere seconds.

"Can't you read body language?" I asked.

"Yeah, I know when a body has fine written on it." He sauntered next to me. I prevented a laugh from coming out. Why was he always so funny?

"That's definitely not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I meant you should know that I wanted you to leave me alone." I said.

He looked over to me and smiled.

"But you always make me happy. That's all the reason I shouldn't leave."

"I wish I could say you made me happy but that would be lying."

I could see my familiar small yellow house come into view. It was nice and cozy for the five members in my family. There was a bed of flowers outside in all colors ranging ftom a white daisy to purple flowers.

"Stop lying. All these years you spent with me. If you didn't like me then you would ignore me."

He was right. Why wasn't I ignoring him after all he put me and my family through? I even hated him. Maybe it was nostalgia of last year. Memories and feelings that haven't faded yet.

"I... I don't know." I admitted. I opened the door to my house but he let himself in. Really? I thought I would get rid of him.

"So what are we going to do today?" He asked.

"I'm going to write my story but you're going to leave." I said as I went up the stairs to my room. He followed me. He can't take a hint.

"Wow your room has gotten a lot less pink." He commented. The last time he "graced" my bedroom was last year. I stopped liking pink then. Everyone liked it so I switched over to green.

"Yeah. Pink is for kids and love sick girls."

I spread out my materials on the desk and started playing light jazz to get my mind going.

He leaned over my shoulder. He was too close, my breathe hitched but I was mad. I never gave him permission to be near me. He made me feel too many emotions. He wasn't very heart healthy.

He read over what I had so far.

"This is really great. You may have a talent." He praised. "But you should change this part here..." Then, suddenly, a golden light came from the paper. We were sucked in.