Part 28 (1/2)

*That woman. She's Khaden's mum.'

Before Mum could speak, Sas called out to us. *Ruby, can we talk?' She stood with her dad to our right.

*Want me to come?' asked Mum.

*Please.'

I stopped a few steps away from Sas and Angelo. Sas's eyes were glazed and her nose red. I reached out to her, but she stepped back.

*Sas...'

*Ruby, I wanted to apologise for the way I spoke to you at the hospital. I was...'

*It's okay-'

*I'm not done.' Even though her voice broke, she stood tall. *I was cruel and I'm sorry...' She took a deep breath. *It wasn't your fault.'

Angelo squeezed her shoulder.

*Sas, we'll-'

*I'm going to live with Dad for a while.' She looked at her feet. *I just can't be here...'

Her words were a bucket of water on my hope that we could patch up our friends.h.i.+p.

*Okay.'

I started to leave, but stopped.

*Sas, I loved him too, you know. Not the same way you did, but I loved him.'

A sob caught in her throat.

*Let's go, Ruby,' said Mum, a hand on my elbow. I let her guide me between the headstones and out onto the road.

Sas A Year Later...

To: [email protected] Hey Ruby.

How have you been? Living in Torquay is pretty good. Who'd have thought? The school is smaller than ours, and there's a teacher a hundred times worse than Mrs Bosworth, I kid you not.

Dad's new place is pretty cool. It's not far from the surf beach. I can hear the waves from my bedroom at night.

Even though Dad and Lee are still together, Dad moved out of Lee's after Christmas, so we could move in together. Pretty cool, huh? I'm working mega-hard on being nicer to Lee. It's not easy though.

I'm also learning to surf, which is easier than trying to be nice to Lee, and I'm back swimming too, not in the pool though, at the beach. I'm doing my bronze medallion so I can be a lifeguard. It's heaps of fun. The guys are hot too. You'd love it.

Mum told me your dad and mum have split for good. Ruby, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I was so caught up in my own stuff, so angry with Dad, that I didn't pay any attention to you. I wasn't much of a friend.

Anyway, I was thinking, I'm coming back for a few weeks at Christmas and it'd be great-at least if you're up for it-I'd like to see you. Maybe I could come around or something.

I understand if you don't want to see me.