The Hunter's Daughter

Chapter 14

Ruby

As it turned out, there were no tears after Nick left and I was determined to keep it that way. I mean come on! I’m a smart, ruthless individual – I shot a guy! I’m not going to let this get to me, I refuse, this is stupid. So what I had a fight with Nick? So what he’s turned into my warden? So what it’s probably the end of the only relationship I’ve ever had?

I made a decision through my somewhat sleepless night to do what I promised myself I’d do if it went bad between us – I would draw a line under it, chalk it up to life experience and lay it to rest, the whole thing – Nick too. After all I came here to do a job and let’s face it, Nick to some extent was a distraction from that.

At least with him out of the way now I can go back to being inconspicuous, I can go back to being somebody that no one would miss if I suddenly disappeared; if I hadn’t of gotten myself  involved with him then yesterday would’ve been a piece of cake. The rest of the night went on like that - me convincing myself with pure facts about why being with Nick in the first place was a bad idea, and it kind of helped me see the light a little bit and it kind of made me sad too, which just made me mad, so I think it’s best I’m alone today.

I started my usual walk to school, earphones in under my knit grey beanie and off I went. It didn’t occur to me until I walked into the school yard that I hadn’t seen Nick waiting for me like he was before – not that I expected him to, I just noticed.

I froze for a little moment, just staring up at the school and cursing it for having been built, before I turned the volume on my iPod to a deafening height and started my feet again to go inside. It was way busier inside the building this morning than it was out but I knew that I wasn’t late, it’s just colder, hence the hat. 

I cut through the crowd easily and got to my locker in good time, putting my school bag in first and sighing for the loss of my music to cover the sound of school, my safety blanket gone, I wrapped my earphones around the iPod and tucked it up in the zip compartment of my ‘emergency exit bag’ that I’d stuffed in there my first day, this one stays in my locker in case I have to split during school, it’s twin is in my room.

Shutting the door on my locker I jumped a mile when a person’s head was revealed from behind it. Unexpectedly it was Gina of all people. I found myself frowning at her face in my confusion until I thought about it being rude and snapped myself out of it enough to throw her a small smile. It’s so out of character for her to seek me out, she’s shy as hell to start with and secondly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with her, but here she is with a small friendly smile, standing by my locker.

Her voice was small and soft, like she was visiting someone in hospital. “Hi Ruby”.

“Hey Gina, everything ok”? I asked with a half raised eyebrow.

She shrugged. “I was kind of going to ask you that”.

“Oh” damn Austin! He’s on my list now. “Yeah, I’m good” I smiled. Gina looked surprised and then her eyes narrowed like she was switching to a more sensitive lens for the microscope she had me under. After a couple seconds her eyes softened and she put her arm through mine, walking me back outside into the cold. I stared at her in interest as she pulled me outside, it was definitely odd. We stopped under the tree that I ate lunch under that time, with Nick – URGH! Why is he everywhere?!  I sighed and leant against it, keeping my cool the whole time about it - facialy anyway, after all it’s like I said, I’m drawing a line under it.

“Austin said you and Nick had a fight last night” she said matter of factly, not in a mean way just because she realised being sympathetic wouldn’t wash here.