Part 22 (1/2)

Khaden Khaden listened to the hum of the wheels and the silence in the car, stunned that Stuart wasn't yelling, but just driving, his jaw rigid.

As Stuart turned into Sas's drive, Ruby unbuckled her seatbelt.

*I don't think so, young lady. I'm taking you straight home,' said Stuart.

Now she's gonna cop it, thought Khaden, opening his door.

*I'm staying here.' Ruby stepped out of the car and leant back in the open door. *I'm sure you won't mind.'

Khaden raised his eyebrows at Sas. She shrugged, eyes wide.

Stuart made a strange noise. *It's here or home, and absolutely nowhere else. Is that clear?'

*Whatever.' Ruby slammed the door.

*Umm, thanks, Stuart, for you know...' Khaden let the sentence float away.

*Yeah thanks,' added Sas. *And we're really sorry.'

Stuart turned to face them, his arm resting on the back of the pa.s.senger seat. *Promise you won't do it again. Ever.'

*We won't,' said Sas.

Stuart nodded.

*See you then, Mr Martin,' said Khaden, sliding out of the car to stand with Sas.

Stuart opened his window. *Ruby, home by five.'

*Maybe.' Ruby walked to the front door.

Stoney faced, Stuart reversed out the drive.

*What do you reckon is going on there?' Khaden kept his voice low.

*Beats me, but I'm going to find out,' said Sas.

In the lounge room Sas stood over Ruby, who'd flopped in the corduroy beanbag. *Ruby, what gives?'

*What do you mean?'

*How come your dad lied for you and didn't go off about us shoplifting?'

*I don't know.' Ruby wiggled further into the beanbag.

Khaden sat on the edge of the sofa he'd slept on. *Something's going on with you two, Ruby.'

*It's pretty obvious,' said Sas. *Stuart was so mad at the vets, but today, after we'd been busted and all, he was just, well, weird. You want to explain?'

Ruby plucked fluff from the beanbag. *We had a fight, after Mojo, and I told him he was too strict. He promised he'd ease up.'

*I don't buy it,' said Sas, frowning.

Ruby shrugged.

*We came to an understanding, okay?'

*Nuh,' said Sas, sitting on the sofa beside Khaden. *There's something you're not telling me, I can feel it.'

Ruby wiggled her fingers in front of her. * Ooooh, Psychic Sas.'

Khaden shook his head. *I'm with Sas, Ruby. Your dad just straight-up lied for you to a policemen. It doesn't make sense, plus, you've been different lately.'

*Yeah, right, it's all about me,' she said, folding her arms. *How about the stuff you two aren't telling me, like how come Sas stole a man's bracelet and you stole earrings?'

Khaden leant back and laughed.

*Psychic Sas and Paranoid Ruby. What does that make me?'

*Kissable Khaden,' said Sas.

*Gross, Sas.' Ruby s.h.i.+vered.

Sas and Khaden burst out laughing.

*It wasn't even funny,' Ruby said, sounding sulky. *Tell me about the jewellery.'

*Duh!' said Sas wiping under her eyes with her index fingers. *It's nearly Christmas. I stole the bracelet for Dad, and Khaden stole the earrings for me to give Mum.'

*Oh.' Ruby wriggled out of the beanbag. *Gotta pee.'

Khaden and Sas didn't speak until they heard the bathroom door close.

*Do you believe her?' asked Sas.

Khaden shook his head. *No way.'

*So what do you reckon is really going on?'

*Beats me.'

Sas sucked on her bottom lip.

*There's something she's not telling us.'

*Yeah, well,' said Khaden, *there's something we're not telling her, so we're even.'

They heard the flush of the toilet.

Sas stood. *I'll bring in my dock so we can listen to music.'