Ruby Rising (10 page)

Switching off the ignition, Scott turned on the radio quietly and turned to face me so he was almost sideways in his seat. I did the same and cleared my throat, I was having trouble concentrating on what I wanted to ask him, his smell was everywhere in the car. It surrounding me, capturing my senses in its headiness and nearly taking away all my control.

“Scott, I need to know more. I need answers, I’m scared I’m going to hurt someone.” I reached for his hand and held it between my own.

“Ruby…” His voice trailed off as I played with the pads of his fingers. “I just don’t know enough for you. I only know what I told you.”

His eyes didn’t meet my own and I knew he was lying to me. The betrayal hurt deeply and I withdrew my hand from his.

“You know more Scott. Why are you holding back?” I glared at him in the darkness of the car.

Scott turned in his seat, facing out to the lake, his face a mask of defeat. “Because I can’t tell you anything, even if I wanted to. All I know is that there will be a girl with a gift. Something so special that everyone will want it and do anything to get it. She will be different to anyone else who has similar gifts and talents. I know that I was meant to meet that girl. I know that there are people who have been looking for her for generations.”

“That’s it?” His eyes didn’t look away from the water, he just stared deep in thought at the quiet, calm lake. Then I realised what he had said. “You can’t tell me can you? It’s not because you don’t want to, it really is because you can’t. You sound just like Krystal did before she died.”

I saw a small smile play at the corner of his mouth for a minute and then it disappeared. He started the car, and it purred to life, rumbling underneath us.

Neither of us spoke as he drove me home both of us locked away in our own thoughts. I wanted to tell him about what had happened in the bathroom but I held back. We shared a passionate kiss in my driveway, and I got out of the car breathless and smiling.

“I’ll see you soon, Rubes.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes, the expression on his face still one of defeat.

I went upstairs grabbing Phoenix from his outside bed on my way. I opened my laptop and undressed while my emails loaded.

I sat at my desk, one leg tucked under me, sure the message that I anticipated was going to be there. I clicked on it when I recognised it. No subject line.

You know more than you realise. THINK about this Ruby. Are you really open to the truth?
It was just as cryptic as the previous messages. I sat for a few minutes, trying to word my response.

If I were any more open I’d be a 7eleven,
I wrote, sniggering at my lame attempt at humour. I only had to wait a few seconds before I heard the soft ping of an incoming email.

Then you don’t need me do you?

You haven’t actually been any help! All you’ve done is give me more questions than I have answers. The only thing you really showed me was that my best friend and my ex are screwing, and probably were behind my back
. I responded and sat back and waited, agitated that no one would just come out and tell me what the hell was going on. Ten minutes later I’d hit the refresh button almost every thirty seconds. I gave up, reading, replying and deleting my other emails.

Closing the laptop I crawled around a very sprawled out Phoenix and fell asleep on top of my bed.

CHAPTER 11

Saturday morning Phoenix woke me at six, we played for a few minutes before he whined at me to go outside.

“Okay Phoenix, let’s go, I think I’ll go for my run now that you’ve woken me up so early. Clear my head for study today.” He took off down the stairs, making me laugh as he miscued the last four and ended up rolling down.

After I settled Phoenix I changed into my running gear and grabbed my iPod, I scrolled through until I found Lady Gaga and pumped the volume up. Once on the street I plugged in my ear buds and started off on the usual slow jog.

I knew where I was headed, where the street lamp had crashed down onto the road the night before. After about a kilometre I picked up the pace, breathing deep into my lungs and out again in time with my pace. Born This Way came on and I could see the lamp come into view so I pushed my body to its limit, my legs and lungs burning for me to stop.

When I got the broken lamp I slowed and put my hands behind my head taking in deep breaths. The part of the pole that had broken off and the shattered glass had been moved to the side of the road.

Looking up I noticed for the first time that there was actually char marks at the broken end of the street lamp. I went over to look at the pieces on the ground and squatted to touch the blackened end. The metal had melted in several places, I hadn’t seen any fire the night before. Thinking back I realised that when my lamp had blown it had caught on fire as well.

The bricks that had fallen at the school though didn’t quite fit, but I also couldn’t remember the whole incident and I hadn’t gone back afterwards because Scott had insisted it wasn’t necessary.

I started walking back towards home, still as confused as I was before but slowly putting more pieces together.

The rest of the day went just as the previous Saturday, I studied, did some work on an assignment and organised my calendar. Mum brought my lunch up for me so I didn’t need to come down. The house was quiet when I finally pulled my ear buds out at three o’clock. I grabbed a shower to refresh myself and dressed in my baggy comfy pants. Looking around for my favourite bra, I realised it was probably in the spare room, where my mother left the washing that needed folding or ironing. I went in and picked through the pile, when I stood up I went to the window and looked out. I’d never seen the backyard from this angle. My mother was pottering as usual and looked content and happy. She was planting in the new area that Scott had dug for her. She had built up a new bed with her own compost and had selected her new seeds for Autumn. I watched her for a few minutes, she looked so comfortable. Just as I was about to leave I noticed her waving her arm over the row of newly planted seeds. In seconds the seeds had grown to small seedlings, picking up the watering can she froze, and I hid behind the wall as she turned her head to look at the house, taking in quick breaths. I wasn’t sure if she’d seen me or not, but I got out of the room and finished dressing.

My mother could make plants grow? I started trusting my instincts, this hadn’t been a trick of the light or a fleeting thing. I wandered down the stairs and made two cups of strong coffee and took one out to my mother.

“Hi, Honey.” She said smiling at me, I instinctively smiled back. When she smiled it lit up her entire face, her eyes shining brightly.

“Hey Mum, how’s the garden growing?” I handed her a cup of coffee and sat down on the grass in front of the new bed.

“Really good actually, the new seeds have taken off well.” She looked from the garden bed to me and I noticed a small film of sweat on her upper lip. 

“Considering you only planted those ten minutes ago, I would say their absolutely thriving. You should have full grown plants by Wednesday.” I looked at her watching her olive skin pale and her smile fade from her face. Her eyes were wary, I could see her battling with what to say next.

“Ruby…I ….” She fell silent, either trying to find a lie or trying to figure out what truth to tell me. We sat there for ten minutes, neither of us talking, both of us staring at the new seedlings, their little green leaves swaying gently in the breeze.

“When you’re ready to tell me the truth, come and find me.” I got up, squeezed my mother on the shoulder and walked back inside, leaving her staring after me. I chose to walk away, if I’d argued with her, I would only have ended up angry and she would have ended up getting hurt. I felt like I’d chosen the right path even if that meant I would have to wait for answers.

My mobile rang in my pocket, I smiled when I saw it was Scott.

“Hey, Rubes,” he sounded husky and sexy as hell.

“Well hello to you too,” my heart racing hearing his voice.

“I was wondering if you wanted to catch up tonight? If it’s okay with your parents of course.” He asked me like I even had a choice, my hormones were already screaming
hell yes
!

“Hang on, I’ll ask now.” I put my mobile down and called out to my mother from the back door. She quickly suggested inviting him over here for a movie night. Whilst it wasn’t the worst idea she’d ever had, I realised that it would also restrict our physical contact, both a positive and a negative. Scott agreed without hesitation and said he’d be there for dinner. I let my mother know that he would be eating with us and then went back up to my room.

Laying on the bed, a huge grin that no doubt looked as dorky as it felt was plastered on my face. I knew I was in love with Scott, despite the length of time I had known him. I was drawn to him, physically and emotionally. It was almost like he was meant for me, made for me, already a part of me. Maybe some of his little story
was
true, maybe he was meant to meet me, maybe we were meant to be together.

I wondered when my mother would come clean about her special gardening ability, if she would tell me the truth or try and blow it off as something less significant, less…
magical
. I thought about the incident at the hall the previous night with the water and pulled myself off the bed, an idea forming in my head.

I went into the bathroom and put the plug in the sink, filling it with water. I put my hands in and swirled the water around. When I pulled them out they were wet, I dried them off and focused harder on the water. For a full five minutes, I repeated the sequence over and over. I sighed and looked in the mirror at myself.
Try harder Ruby, you know you can do this
! I told myself. After all, I’d done it by accident, without even thinking about it at youth group.

Taking a deep breath I stared at the water and felt the now familiar heat building in my toes, as it moved up into the legs and back I raised my hands above the water and it rippled ever so softly, like a drop of water had fallen into it. I willed the heat within me to push harder, it filled my stomach, my core until I felt it pulsing in my hands. I moved my left hand towards the edge of the bowl and watched in awe as the water gently whirled to the left. Repeating the same action with my right hand, the water changed course and whirled to the right. Concentrating, I felt a larger pulse quicken through my body, and raised both hands up higher. I watched the water rise into a small mound, arching up just as my hands had done. As I slightly lowered them and again the water mimicked my movements and flattened back out.

“Ruby?” I realised that my mother was banging on the door to the bathroom. “Ruby are you in there? Are you okay?”

Immediately I felt that pulse leave my body, bringing me back to where I was. I opened the door and saw the worry on my mother’s face.

“What’s wrong? I was just in the bathroom?” I asked, sounding more irritated than I actually was.

“It’s quarter to six and Scott’s downstairs. What have you been doing in there? You’ve been in there for ages!” She looked into the bathroom behind me.

“Just splashing some water on my face, I fell asleep and wanted to wake up a little.” I gently squeezed past her into the hall heading towards my bedroom. “I’ll be down in a minute, I just want to get changed.” I quickly closed my bedroom door, leaning against it. I could control water, I’d simply asked it to move, and it had. I was both in shock and impressed at the same time. I took a deep breath, plastered a smile on my face and headed downstairs.

I found my parents in the kitchen talking with Scott. He was helping my mother in the kitchen chopping up onions.

“You cook too?” I smiled at him, desperately wanting to kiss him. I hadn’t seen my father for a couple of days so I went over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He mumbled something at me but I saw red creeping up his neck and knew I’d made him happy by going to him and not to Scott first.

I wasn’t about to let them see the effect that Scott and I had on each other when we touched. I’m sure he’d be thrown out with the threat of a shotgun if my father even got the slightest inkling.

Dinner went by easily. Scott had already won over my mother by helping her in the garden, although now I wondered why she needed the help in the first place. I had so many questions about what she could do but knew that now wasn’t the time.

After dinner we all went into the lounge room to watch a movie, my parents sat in their recliners and left the couch for us. I sat down first and Scott unabashedly sat right next to me, put his arm around me and pulled me towards him so that my back was up against his chest. I waited for a reaction from my father and when he laughed at the TV I relaxed and leant my head on Scott’s shoulder.

I felt happy. Even with all the weird things that had gone on in the last few weeks. At this moment, here in my parents lounge I was happy.

When the credits rolled I realised that I hadn’t watched any of it. Scott had been gently rubbing my neck and my shoulder and I was too connected with that to focus on the movie.

My father cleared his throat and excused himself for bed, giving me a gentle kiss on my forehead and holding an outstretched hand for Scott to shake.

My mother had a small smile on her face as she watched him leave the room. “Well I guess I’ll head off to bed too. Thanks for helping with dinner Scott. We’ll have to have you over more.”

“You know your mouth has been hanging open for the last few minutes don’t you?” Scott said once my mother had left the room, putting his finger under my chin to close it.

“It’s like they’ve both had personality transplants! How can they be so different with me here?” I turned to face him on the couch. “They would never have let my ex over like this and they certainly wouldn’t have let you stay after they had gone to bed!”

“Are you complaining?” He nuzzled into my neck and kissed a trail from my ear to my collar bone, I shivered in response. “But as much as I’d love to make you
shiver
a little more tonight, I’m going to go so I don’t out stay my welcome. I want your parents to like me remember?”

“But we’re finally alone!” I hated the whiny sound that accompanied my voice. It wasn’t like me at all, so I made an effort to sound less needy. “But I understand.” I unwrapped myself from his arms and stood up. “I’ll walk you out then, shall I?”

We kissed against his car for a few minutes; I could feel his arousal against my own and nearly forgot that we were outside.

“Scott.” I murmured as his tongue licked the small dip between my collar bones making my knees weak, I had to lean against him to hold myself up.

“I know, I know!” He sighed and pulled me up by my shoulders so I could find my feet again. “I just have trouble keeping myself away from you. You’re going to be my undoing Ruby De Grey.”

“And you mine I think too.” I smiled at him and took a step back, giving him enough space to open his car door. “Thanks for coming over.”

Scott wound down his window and leaned on the edge. “It was nice to be part of a family, even if it was just a few hours.”

My eyes welled with tears that I didn’t let him see, I couldn’t even imagine what he went through without any parents to guide him through life. Despite the strictness of my own parents, at least they were there if I needed them. I knew he had Mikayla but I was starting to wonder if she was such a great influence on him.

An hour later I was tucked up in bed with an ever growing Phoenix breathing in my face. I smiled and thought that hopefully things would soon settle down. And maybe…just maybe all the puzzle pieces would fall into place.