Best Enemies

Rubi

The radio interview was scheduled for 10.30 am the next day. Mum took me home from the hospital after convincing the doctor that I was fine.

"She hasn't got any injuries has she?"
"She could be-"
"No..? Exactly. What she needs now is her family, she needs to be at home" And that was that. Mum paid my fees and the doctor hesitantly handed over some anti-anxiety pills and something to help me sleep.

That brings me to now, tucked up in bed with too many blankets on and about twenty pillows stuffed in all directions around me. Mum has not let me out of her sight since I came home and I haven't been able to breathe too loud without the fear that she will add a few more layers. I finally convinced her that all I needed was some sleep and I did not need a bodyguard standing outside my bedroom. 

Though, in saying this, I haven't been able to rest at all let alone sleep. I just keep repeating the events that occurred over the last few days. I stretch over to look at the clock that balances on my candle crowded beside table. It reads 9:00am, I have an hour to get ready and convince my Mum that I am able to breathe the air outside. I throw off the mountain of blankets and roll out of bed struggling to fight the oncoming exhaustion. I dress in a navy skater skirt and a white cropped T-shirt. I take a few minutes deciding whether to wear my black boots or grey flats, I mean who am I kidding. I scoop up black boots, slip them on, and walk down the stairs trying not to make a sound. 

I found that not telling my Mum was the best way to go about this situation. I grab a muesli bar and stuff it in my bag, wrap my scarf around my neck and tie my hair back in a loose ponytail. I reach for the door handle but I don't open it. If Mum finds my empty bed, she will freak and call the police or something drastic. I scribble down a note and pin it to the coffee machine, which I know is the first thing she uses every morning. 

 I slowly creak open the front door and march out on to the street narrowly avoiding speeding cyclists. Last night's rain stains the road with a shining glow. The radio building is only two blocks away so I don't need to catch a bus or a train. I pull out my phone and scroll down my contacts list trying to find Hanna's name. We added each other's numbers when we met at the hospital to see Nutmeg. I flick through my recent contacts and stop dead. Shay's name glares back at my stunned face. As if the letters are in big black bold font and the words are dancing around the small screen. My breathing intensifies and I feel my heart beat incline. My legs go weak and my chest feels like it has filled with ice. I shake the feeling off and forcefully blink the tears away. I press Hanna's name and type out a quick message. Almost immediately, she replies with a place where we can meet the others. 

 It is a small park across the road from the radio station with a small swing set and a metal slide. I used to come to this park when I needed a getaway. Many times, I would find myself alone with a guy, completely drunk and out of my mind. Shay would walk to the park, drag me off the guy's lap and push me back home quietly so my parents wouldn't hear. She always knew where to find me, it's not like I told her to pick me up. She just knew. My thoughts are interrupted by a yell.

"Rubi, over here!" It is Peter.

I shake the thoughts out of my head and look up. I can't see the others and look around bewildered for a moment. I slowly spin in a circle looking around at the rows of copy and pasted houses and the plastic dollhouse gardens. As I reach 180 degrees I realise that I walked past the park completely and walk back a few metres. I don't say anything as I jog over to them, lean against one of the swings poles, and stare at the ground. Hanna, Felix and Peter are scattered over the various parts of equipment around the park. Nutmeg is still in hospital. They exchange small talk and I murmur some sort of reply or just nod my head to the questions. 

"Are you ready to go Rubi?" Hanna takes my hand pulling me back to reality.
"You don't have to do this if you're not ready, If you don't think Shay would have want-" I cut her off.
"I'm...ready. Let's do this. For Shay" The four of us walk across the road to the radio stations. I hesitate as I reach the spotless double glass doors, take a breath, push on the handle and stride in.  

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Wow every time I update I feel like I say this...

HI.I.AM.SORRY.I.HAVE.BEEN.INACTIVE.FOR.SO.LONG... 

I really need to get this book over and done with.  

Anyway I hope you all enjoyed it and are excited for the last couple chapters of the mediocre book that is Best Enemies. 

LOVE YOU ALL 

MOZ xx