then ~ RUEL FANFIC~

Ruel's POV

Next week. My heart thumps against my chest. 

"She can't." I mutter to myself. "She doesn't have the money, her dad won't let her. She isn't coming."

In a way I don't want her to come. She won't manage. I probably won't either. But somehow the threat of 'you can't stop me' seems true.

There's a knock at my door, softer this time. I walk over and unlock it. Open the door.

"Coco, for gods sake, go away."

"No. I heard that conversation you just had."

"So you were snooping."

"Maybe. Either way, you can NOT let her come back here. It would ruin her."

"I know." I say, gritting my teeth. "But she's stubborn enough to come anyway."

"So I heard. That is why we are going to fly to Darwin."

"No thanks."

"Too bad. Me and you, alrighty? I'll book a flight now. Start packing."

"When do you plan on flying out?" I ask lazily, knowing coco's overlarge plans usually fail.

"Next week. Monday."

"Sure. Fine. You do that, won't you?"

"I'm going to and you can not stop me."

"Yeah, yeah. That's what Alira said. What makes you think us being there will stop her?"

"Because you're one of the surprisingly few reasons she wants to come. Maybe you'll convince her to stay."

"No I won't. She couldn't care less about me."

Coco leans against the door frame, arms crossed, face concerned.

"Ruel, I didn't want to tell you this, but-"

"Don't make up some bullshit about how much she cares."

"I wasn't going to. She's called me, maybe, ten times since they moved. Sometimes crying. Asking how you were. If you were ok. If she could do anything to help."

"Well she cant. I don't need help."

"That's a lie. You need her as much as she needs you."

"I told you, stop bullshitting. You don't know how I feel."

"You'd be surprised."

She turns to go back downstairs but says something over her shoulder as she leaves. "I hope you know how much you hurt her."

It's like ice fills my body but I remain calm enough to not slam to door. I click the lock slowly and quietly trying to contain whatever tears or rage that's welling up inside me.

Just as I think I may as well let it out, the feeling disappears and is replaced by the usual emptiness. I take a deep breath and look out the window. 

Night has really fallen now. I walk to my closet and put on a jacket, grab some money and my phone, then lower myself into the tree outside my window. It only takes a few second to climb down to the ground. I look back up at the house, wondering if they'll notice I left. Hopefully, I'll be back by 1.

I could call a cab, or even just drive myself, but instead I choose to walk down to the beach then along the path. Ahead I can see my destination, a group of shops, restaurants and a carpark on the foreshore.

I get there and go straight into the pub and up to the bar, trying to keep my head down.

"Ruel!" Comes an overly happy voice. It's one of the men working in the bar, who I assume is a friend of dad's. Like the rest of the world. "You should not be in here, sonny. Not till October, right?"