She couldn’t help that a wave of traitor-like sadness washed over her as she realized that once the project ended, she’d have no reason to speak to Drew. She pushed the feeling aside. Blake was right here. She couldn’t even begin to go down that road. Not now.
Not ever.
“Do what you have to. I don’t care.” He opened the car door and ducked outside, then slammed it shut with way more force than necessary. When she grabbed her backpack and got out, he stood strumming his fingers on the roof. But just as she started to feel relief that he’d waited for her—as if he couldn’t be too mad if he wanted to walk to class with her—he locked the car and strode off, leaving her behind.
She stood glued to the spot watching her brother walk away, anger emanating from him with each long stride he took. She wished there was something she could do to take away all that hurt and bitterness. To give him back just a little of the happy-go-lucky optimism he used to have.
“Ruby.”
She turned and saw Tiffany heading toward her. Thank God. She seriously didn’t know how she’d manage without having Tiffany to talk to. “Hey,” Ruby said. “I’m so glad to see you. I just told Blake we were having another science group session today.”
“How did he take it?” Tiffany asked, her brow furrowed.
Ruby let out a sigh. “As expected. I think he’s going to divorce me as his sister if this group project doesn’t end soon.”
But at least she didn’t have to be looking over her shoulder while they met, since Blake knew about the meeting.
“And how do you feel about spending the morning with Drew? Although that’s pretty obvious by what you’re wearing.” Tiffany shot her a toothy, knowing grin, which lightened Ruby’s mood almost immediately.
“I don’t know what you mean.” But she couldn’t help laughing as she glanced down at her clothes. After trying on everything in her closet three times over last night, she had eventually decided to wear her dark-wash jeans and a filmy pink beaded tank—one of the most expensive things she owned. Tiffany had helped her pick it out, so she knew exactly how it ranked in Ruby’s wardrobe. Ruby had also gotten up an hour earlier than usual that morning to straighten her hair and make an extra effort with her makeup, without looking like she’d made an extra effort. Which wasn’t an easy task.
“You look really cool. Is that the tank you bought from Ziggy’s?”
Ruby hadn’t believed her luck when she had seen the top on sale. She’d been admiring it for weeks, and had even tried it on, but couldn’t afford to buy it until it had hit the clearance rack. She’d had it hanging in her closet, waiting for a special occasion. Which this definitely was.
“Thanks. Yes, this is the one.”
“I hope he appreciates it.” Tiffany looked Ruby up and down and nodded her head in approval.
Ruby sighed. Truth was that Drew was probably too wrapped up in his guilt and sadness to notice her stupid new tank. It seemed so insignificant when she thought of what he was going through. “He probably won’t even look at me. And it’s not like we’re going to be spending time alone since there are five of us in the group.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not getting excited about spending so much time with him today.” Tiffany nudged her and winked.
As usual, Tiffany had totally gotten it right. Even though Drew would hardly acknowledge her, the thought of being in the same vicinity for a few hours still sent butterflies whizzing around her stomach. Ridiculous, brother-betraying butterflies.
“I doubt he’ll speak to me.” She’d told Tiffany a few days ago that Drew had confided in her about the fire, though she hadn’t shared the details. And Tiffany was also aware that Drew had been avoiding her ever since. “He’s very good at blocking everyone out. He’ll just sit there and leave all the talking to Brad.” Ruby shuddered. It really sucked that the price she had to pay for spending hours in Drew’s company was dealing with Brad and his giant ego for the same amount of time.
“I’m sure you can change that. He can’t totally ignore you if you’re working together.” Tiffany smirked.
“If I want to change it, of course.” Ruby bit down on her bottom lip while trying to sort out in her head exactly what she wanted.
“You just said you did.” Tiffany tilted her head to one side, looking bewildered.
“I know.” Ruby leaned against the oak tree by the path. “It’s just complicated. One minute, I really want us to be friends. He needs someone to talk to about what happened. He can’t keep bottling everything up, which he is at the moment, because it’s destroying him. Then reality sets in, and I realize that it’s a stupid thing to wish for because it would lead to so much trouble.”
She didn’t just mean with Blake, although his feelings were important to her. She meant with herself, too. She didn’t think she’d be able to take on someone as complex as Drew, not in the least because of the worrying similarity he had with her father. The idea that she could get pulled into a negative spiral of despair and anger that would never end, just like her mother had with her father, kept nagging at the back of her mind.
“Ruby, stop,” Tiffany said, firmly holding her hand up. “You’re doing your usual over-thinking everything. Just let it take its course. Whatever happens will happen.”
Yet again, her friend was right. Over-thinking was her middle name. Life would be so much easier if she could be more like Tiffany and not let everything affect her so much. She pushed herself off of the tree and nudged Tiff with her elbow. “And Drew accused me of swallowing a self-help book. He clearly hasn’t had anything to do with you recently.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Tiffany placed both hands on her hips, her expression one of exaggerated innocence.
“Of course you don’t.” Ruby flicked her gaze upward, toward the sky. She then rested her arm around Tiffany’s shoulder and gently pulled her forward. “Come on, I don’t want to be late.”
They turned and headed toward the school entrance, tucking behind a trail of students heading in the same direction. After entering the school, they went to their lockers and then Ruby headed to the library where the group had planned to meet.
By the time she arrived, everyone was already there. She glanced at her watch. The bell for school hadn’t even rung.
“Didn’t you get my email?” Brad asked as she reached them.
Ruby glanced at the others in the group, including Drew, who had his head down. She shook her head. “What email?”
“To meet here at eight-thirty this morning, so we can have as much time as possible to work on the project.”
He had to be kidding. He really was taking his science dictatorship to a whole new level. She couldn’t wait to tell Tiffany about it. She’d crack up. “No. Sorry, I don’t think—”
Crap. She remembered seeing Brad’s name on an email that she’d made a point of ignoring earlier this morning, since she’d had more important things to be doing, which involved lip gloss and her flat-iron. Then again, that was his fault because he’d sent so many messages already on the project. How was she to know that that particular email was actually important?
“Never mind.” Brad waved his hand dismissively. “Sit down, and let’s get started. I’ve already worked out everyone’s tasks, so now we—”
“Why don’t we work at Echoes, rather than being stuck here all morning?” Ruby interrupted as she pulled out a chair and sat down. “It’s a café. They serve coffee. A perfect reason to go, if you ask me.”
And nothing to do with the fact that it had suddenly struck Ruby that in a less formal setting, Drew might relax and be more comfortable with her. He might even talk a bit. Open up.