Changing Prudence (EDITING - ON HOLD)

Chapter 1

Rue was so happy that she had finally left college, seven gruelling years she hoped to never be reminded of. Since day one, Rue was the quiet, slightly bigger than average girl that sat at the back of the class, hoping not to draw attention. Unfortunately for her, the teacher always seemed to ask her to present her explanations at the front of the class, which didn't bode well as Rue's cheeks flared bright crimson and her hands started to tremble uncontrollably. According to the teachers she was the 'brightest girl they have had the pleasure to teach' though she knew what they were all thinking, in fact she over-heard two of her teachers say it when talking about her: 'Pity, it's a waste, all that knowledge and she won't embrace it', and she could see it in their faces when they asked her a question.

At that moment she burst into tears, reminded that she has never had a friend to boost her confidence, to tell her that she was smart, to force her to take her knowledge one step further. Rue, being the quiet girl she was often come across as ignorant, therefore scaring off any possible friends she could make before she could get to know anyone. It had been like that her whole life. The only real friend she had was her brother Cole, and he was away at university for the majority of the year. Cole adored his little sister, probably a little over-protective, but he had to be when his sister was so fragile. Cole was always trying to find people to make friends with Rue, but all the people he knew were not her typical idea of a friend since they were regular party-goers.

Cole was one of the most popular people Rue had ever seen walk the corridors of St George's school and sixth-form, Cole was her role model, but she found it difficult to live up to people's expectations of her, hence the dislike of the limelight. She was disappointed to find that the situation didn't get any better when Cole had left; in fact it got worse with people expecting her to step into his shoes, so to speak, and take control. Yeah, like that was going to happen.

Rue, looking forward to spending the whole summer with her family, rushed home after the final exam, to be greeted by humongous bear hug by her Mum and Dad. Cole waited his turn so he got the longest hug of all. Cole was the image of their Mum, with slick blonde hair and green eyes; he was tall and had a thin layer of muscle so that he looked slightly intimidating to the untrained eye. Only Rue knew how soft he really was. Rue, however, had a look of her grandma when she was younger, long fiery hair and bright blue eyes. In the last year she had lost a lot of weight through the stress of exams, which had been good for her, she could now be tagged the pretty girl. She wore minimal make-up and her parents where always trying to buy her clothes other than jeans and band-tees.

Rue heard a muffled sob and pulled away from her brother's embrace to see her Mum trying to clear away tears with her sleeve.

'Prudence Rose Wood,' her Mum mumbled, calling her by her full name and trying unsuccessfully to stay calm, 'you sure you want to leave your farther and I to go to university with Nicholas?' Rue always hated her name and the fact that Cole got a great name with an even greater nickname, Cole's luck however, ended at that with his middle name being Curt. They had always tormented each other about their names when they were young.

Rue couldn't help but laugh at her mother's sudden emotion. After all it was her Mum that pushed her to enrol at university with Cole ninety miles away from home, not far from the lake district, her favourite place outside of her home town. Rue had signed up and enrolled at Aurburn University when she received her results, to study Bio-Chemistry, since she had passed with three A-stars at A-level. Science was her passion, and she seemed to have a natural flare for the subject, so the choice was a no-brainer, and was actually pretty excited to have a fresh start, far away from the people she had known for the last seven years of her life.

She took a look round at her small house, that she would only be living in for a handful of weeks and sighed. 'You know I need a fresh start, and I could do with it being as far away from this tiny town as possible.' The town wasn't all that bad, it just didn't offer as many opportunities as Aurburn. Rue had never really known what to do after university; she didn't even fully understand who she was yet. She was hoping getting out of her home town of Cedarbrook would help bring her future path into the light.

Her Dad, seeing the emotional exchanges, decided to lighten up the greeting. 'Anyone for pancakes?' their Dad made the most delicious raspberry and ice cream pancakes. It was tradition for the Wood family to eat this specialty at the start of the summer holidays.

'No need to ask me twice!' Cole replied dramatically darting to the breakfast bar, in attempt to get the most pancakes.

'Hey, save some for me!' Rue adds sarcastically, she knew her brother would never get in the way of her and pancakes. It was law in the Wood household!

Rue and Cole immediately fall into deep conversation about the day, and arguing who has the toughest year coming up.

Their parents came to the breakfast bar after getting everyone a drink. Harriet, their mother sat down opposite Rue and motioned for her husband Mark to sit down next to her.

'So, it's your big birthday coming up, turning eighteen... are you going to give us any clues?' Harriet asked, this would be the first year Rue's Mum had brought up the subject of Rue's birthday by asking for ideas, rather than passing her a pile of invites to hand out at school. Rue was relieved that this was the case, but confused all the same, she looked up to see her Mum sat in her regular attire of paint splattered apron and a look of seriousness on her face. To Harriet, birthdays are a serious matter, and Rue knew that she would get a say in her eighteenth birthday.

'Well I was thinking, we could ask the grandparents and close family if they wanted to go out for a meal?' It was the last thing Rue wanted, she hated the fuss she received at birthdays, but knew it was the easiest option. She loved her grandparents; she just didn't like the constant questions from them of her non-existent social life.

Her Mum's face broke into a huge grin, 'I'll get right on it'. Rue was completely baffled by that reply fully expecting an argument for more guests from her Mum. Ok now she had something to be dubious about.

'You know why Mum's so giddy don't you?' Cole had a glint of humour in his eyes.

Uh oh... this can't be good. Rue shook her head.

'Oh my dear, oblivious sister. Mum's idea of 'close family' is about all eleven cousins, all of our aunt's and uncle's, our grandparents siblings, oh and don't forget their children!' Cole's grin grew wider as comprehension hit Rue.

'Oh no, oh god, help me now!' she turned to her Dad who was rolling up his sixth pancake. 'Dad, help me, tell Mum, just grandparents, I mean think of the costs if she invites everyone!'

Her Dad just laughed, 'you know I won't let her invite all those people if you don't want,' he looked up and saw Rue's horror-struck expression, 'I'll go talk to her... just after this pancake, I can't leave it now that it's all ready and melting!'

At this I just laughed. Typical Dad.