Chapter Eleven - Home

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I walked the other way home so I didn't have to walk past the church. Shaun was the last thing I wanted to think about. A church was the last thing I wanted to see. I just wanted to be home, in my own room, hidden beneath the sheets I wish I never left that morning.

The front door was, obviously, locked and I didn't have a door key so I jumped the fence and walked around the back yard. In the pot plant I got the key and opened the back door. Inside was quiet. I breathed out.

Home.

I went to the fridge, made myself a sandwich and poured a glass of water, then took it to my room and collapsed on my bed, too happy to be home to cry.

Yes, it was the worst day of my life. But I was home.

I ate my lunch on my bed with my curtains thrown wide open, letting the sunlight embrace my room. Halfway through my snacking, I heard my phone buzz.

It was Shaun.

Are you in class?

Fortunately for Shaun, I was in the right mood to be talking to him. My patience for churchy-long-distance-running guys was limited.

No, I replied. I'm at home today.

A moment later, it rang.

"Hey Shaun," I answered.

His voice sounded deeper on the phone. "Hi Ruby. Are you unwell?"

And then something happened.

I don't know what.

Maybe his inquiry of my health was they key that opened the door to me opening up about how I was feeling. Maybe it was his genuine kindness, or the fact that I really didn't care what he knew about me or thought of me.

But I burst into tears.

"Ruby? Ruby what's the matter?" His voice came through like a warm blanket. Someone cared. Someone was listening.

"You have no idea what I've been going through this past month," I sobbed.

"Tell me," he said anxiously. "Tell me what's wrong."

And I did. I told him everything. I told him about how my sister and mum had been fighting incessantly right up until she moved out the day I met Shaun. I told him about my messed up friendship with Jenna and Chloe and how mean they were to me. I told him about Blake and Lottie and how stupid I had been. I told him about my locker and Mrs Lascomb running after me in 5 inch heels and the PA system asking me to come to the office.

And how I ran home.

All the way through he was extremely understanding and compassionate. When I had nothing more to say he told me that he would be my friend no matter what.

"Thank you," I sniffed.

"Do you want to come around to my house?" He asked gently.

"No," I said honestly. "I'm tired. But thank you for calling and listening to my dramas. You have no idea how kind you are."

"I'm not kind. I care about you."

"I know, Shaun."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes," I said. "What about you? You're life can't be perfect."

There was a long pause. I heard him clear his throat. "Well, no, it isn't," he said. "My parents got divorced a few weeks ago."

I stopped. My dad travelled a lot for his work. Sometimes he and mum fought to no end but I always knew they loved each other. And I always knew dad was coming home.

"Oh," I said. "I am so sorry. Here I have been going on about my pathetic life and your..."

"It's okay, Ruby. It's nice to help someone else. It's nice to be someone's shoulder when you're feeling down too."

"I am really sorry Shaun."

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine."

"You don't want to talk about it?"

He paused again and cleared his throat. "I'll tell you what, Ruby. Why don't you come to church with me this Sunday? I won't force my religion on you. I just want to see you. And you can meet my dad. He's nice."

I thought. For a long time. Shaun kept asking if I was still there. Eventually I shrugged. I had nothing to lose. Shaun was my only friend. It would be nice to see each other for a little while.

"Okay," I said. "What time?"

When mum got home I told her everything. Except for Shaun calling me. She gave me a hug and made me a fruit smoothie in the blender. I drank it quickly.

"Do you think you'll be able to go to school tomorrow?" She asked.

I shook my head bluntly. "No."

"Well, what about Wednesday?"

"Can I just go on Friday?"

She considered this. "I would really like you to go every day. I know its hard. But you still have Serena."

"No I don't. Nobody likes me. She knows and she doesn't think its right. She's friends with Lottie more than she's friends with me and I know she doesn't hate me, but - "

"Ruby," mum said. "Just go."

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