Him - Ruel Van Dijk

Twenty Eight

Saturday - 12:25 pm

"What about this one?"

"Isla, it really doesn't matter what college you go to."

"But it does! I want to get into a good university, and I need to have gone to a good college for that."

Ruel laughs. "I don't think that's how it works."

"But what would you know?"

He raises his hands in defence. "Right, okay, I'm sorry."

We continue to search through our options, stopping briefly whenever there was one that caught our eye.

"They're all private schools."

"I know."

"Do you want to go to a private school?"

I look up at the boy. "Absolutely not."

"Okay so," He lifts a piece of paper. "Where are you moving to?"

I look at him as though he's stupid. He was currently holding a map of the place I was going to, and he asks me that question.

"Canberra."

"No, I mean, like, where in Canberra?"

"Oh, uh, I think my parents are looking at a few houses in Gungahlin." I point to the top part of ACT, showing him where exactly it was that I would be living by the end of the year.

"Then go to Gungahlin College."

"But what if-"

"Stop. This is what you do with everything. There will be good things and bad things. You just need to look at the good."

"And you're expecting me to find the good?"

"Yeah, I think I am."

1:37 pm

I let out a groan, making Ruel look to me.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't think I can be." I let out a small laugh, making Ruel chuckle in response. "It's just that I need to tell Emma."

"Wait, you haven't told her?" A look of astonishment covers the boys face. I had told him about Emma a few days after our initial conversation.

"No, I haven't and I feel so bad about it."

"Tell her now."

"Ruel, I'm not going to do it over text."

"Then call her."

I roll my eyes. "I can't do that either."

"Invite her over."

Half an hour later, I had asked Emma to come over, and she was currently knocking on my door.

"Ruel, how am I gonna do this?"

"Ease into it."

"Okay. Um, and she doesn't know about you."

"Oh."

"Can you go to the living room please?"

"Sure."

I watch him until he goes out of my sight. Taking a deep breath, I open the door.

"Isla, what is it?"

I smile, inviting her in before saying anything.

"I have good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?"

"The bad."

"Okay so, um, I- I'm moving."

"Like, house? That's not that bad."

"Emma, I'm moving to Canberra."

Her expression drops from happy to sad confusion.

"What do you mean?" She whispers. "Are you joking? Please tell me this is a joke."

"Emma, I'm not joking."

She stands there, staring at the floor.

"What's the good news?" Emma lifts her head. She has tears in her eyes, and I honestly don't think I've ever seen her this upset.

Right on cue, Ruel walks up behind her, a huge smile on his face, a massive difference from the look on Emma's.

"Behind you."

She spins around, squealing as soon as she sees the tall boy.

They hug and talk, mostly just Emma fangirling over him.

"Isla." She whines. "You just made this my favourite day, but also my most hated."

I laugh. "I also hated meeting Ruel."

A/N:

There's a kid in my grade at school that looks like fetus ruel and another kid in the grade above me that looks like ruel in his current form and its so weird