Page 25 of Fractured Mind
I’ve wanted to demand that Ruby tell me everything she knows. But she has been nothing but good to me since I’ve been here, and the need to remain friends with her has stopped me from asking questions. I considered talking to Nana, but if Mom wouldn’t tell me, why would she?
Something else that’s been bugging me is Ashton and Jackson’s absence. They haven't returned to school since we went to the beach. It makes me wonder if it’s because of my last conversation with Ashton. It’s been clawing at me because I can’t handle any more secrets.
“Do you know why Ashton and Jackson haven’t been back at school?” I ask, interrupting Roman and Ruby’s conversation.
Roman stops talking, while Ruby’s eyes go round. She waves it off, but her body is stiff. “If they want to skip days, they will. They have no plans for a higher education like us.”
I raise a brow at her because there’ssomething elseshe isn’t telling me.
She flinches. “Well... today, they’re getting ready for tonight.”
Roman shakes his head at her, his lips pursed, like a parent reprimanding a child when they say something they shouldn’t.
At the realization, I freeze. “He’s not, is he?”
She looks down.
Roman answers, “Yes, he’s fighting tonight. It got rescheduled because of what happened last time.”
“Why does he do it?” I’m struggling to understand why he would want to hurt someone and get hit in return. It makes no sense to me.
Roman shrugs. “Everyone’s got their own hobbies and ways they let off steam. I play football, Levi surfs, Jackson’s into art, and Ashton hits people.”
I wipe a hand over my face. There are hobbies and sports Ashton could do, yet he chose one that could seriously injure him. “It’s quiet with just us. Where’s Levi?” I ask.
“It is very peaceful, isn’t it?” Ruby chuckles. “He’s studying. Not that he needs to, mind you.” Ruby’s face brightens as she swings her head to Roman. “Are we going to win tonight?”
“You bet we are,” he replies, beaming.
The two of them focus their attention on me. “You’ve got to come with me to the football game and watch Roman kick the other team’s ass,” Ruby says.
I couldn’t say no,so here I am, standing by the stadium, staring at the sea of red, white, and blue. While I search for Ruby, a guy walks toward me. As he gets closer, I recognize Theo, the guy from the bakery.
He stops when he’s two feet away. “Hey.”
“Thank you for the macaroons.”
“No problem.” He lifts a brow. “Did they live up to their expectations?”
I flash him a grin. “They were amazing.”
“How have you been settling in?”
“Really good.”
“That’s great...” He peers down briefly. “Now that you know I’m not some crazy person, I’d like to take you out sometime.”
I’m surprised by his forwardness. “I-I...” All words have left me. I stand staring at him like an idiot.
“Mia!” I look at where my name is being called, and it’s Ruby waving me over.
“Think about it. I’ll see you around.” His voice carries conviction, like it’s a promise. I nod and wave before moving toward Ruby.
She glances back to where I had just been. “Who was that?”
“Just someone I met on my first day here.”
Her head tilts as she watches him walk away.