Soulless

Chapter 1

She walked into the Oak Hills Grill. Confidently. Pridely. Head held high. She didn’t deserve to be like that. Not after what she did to my brother and I.

That’s the first thing I thought when Ruby came back to town. The day started out as any other early August morning. I had been working my late morning shift from 10:00am to 3:00pm to keep my brother, Joseph satisfied that I won’t go running around for any trouble: it worked. The grill was the usual hang out for everyone who attended Oak Hills High. A couple of my friends who run in the same circle worked along side me. They all knew my story. They all knew Ruby.

“Saige,” she spoke my name as I looked up to see the abomination before me. Hate surged through every inch of my body as I stole a glimpse of the oldest Coleman of our trio.

I wasn’t surprised when she searched my face and saw no reason to keep quiet. I had learned to shield my emotions astoundingly well. Nothing but a blank face.

“I have been calling for a while and you haven’t been answering my calls,” she said. Obviously wanting an explanation. I didn’t need to give one, she knew exactly why.

“I didn’t get any calls,” I replied bluntly as I cleaned the main counter where customers requested their orders.

“Yeah . . . since Jo wouldn’t give me your number. He knew you would kill him. But whenever I did call you never talked to me,” she said wistfully. I didn’t reply. My silence was the only answer necessary for her to know that the subject needed to change. “How are you? How’s school?” Ruby asked, obviously wanting to chat up some small talk.

It was obvious that I was being resentful, so why was she bombarding me knowing I had a job to attend to requiring my utmost attention? Well not bombarding me but questioning me. I decided to let her down hard to show that I was in no mood to conversate, making sure she didn’t question me or my motives.

“I’ve more important things to do right now. Why don’t you go meet up with our brother. Also known as the only person who values your presence,” I responded viciously. I knew if Joseph was among us he would not have approved my decision to have practically punched her in the gut. Yet I didn’t care. She swiftly whirled in the opposite direction. Leaving without a single word, however, secretly revealing an unshed tear which I knew escaped from the hold of her eyelid the second she turned the 360༠ away from me.

I shook my head turning my attention to one of my friends working not so far, who I knew heard the entire “meet and greet.” Kat stared at me through unbelievably large brown eyes and I knew she did not like what I said to my sister.

“Saige. Come on. It happened a long time ago. Can’t you just give it a rest?” she spoke. I looked at her, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Kat observed my facial expression and realized I was not proud of her siding with the enemy.

“It’s because of her that Joseph and I ended up in the foster system for four years. She was selfish and left us to fend for ourselves. So no, I can’t give it a rest,” I replied matter of factly. I knew she felt guilty for her statement and I was upset with myself for the way I snapped back at her. I turned my head towards the clock noticing mine as well as Kat’s first shift of the day was coming towards an end.