Chapter 2: A painful lesson

Chapter 2: A painful lesson

Ruby woke up. Grace was on top of her, pounding Ruby’s stomach like she was angry with her.

“OMG you’re finally awake,” Grace said in a bored tone

“Barely,” Ruby managed to mumble.

Hurriedly she tiptoed downstairs to see that Mum was still asleep! Ruby went back upstairs and asked Grace what the time was. Grace replied with,

“Eh, 4:29…”

Ruby stared at her for a minute.

“You’re creepy,” Grace said, horrified. Ruby went back to her bed. “Come on Rub’s, I want to prank mum. She needs to smile and laugh more, she seems so sad lately,” Grace exclaimed.

“Fine,” Ruby retorted sleepily. Slowly they tip toed one step at a time until the girls reached the hard wooden floor, which made a tiny noise. They went to get pans to make the loudest noise to wake Mum up. They got all their equipment and went to their mum’s room. They stormed in clashing the pans together.

“WAKE UP MUMM!!” Grace cheered. Mum got up to their annoying sound.

“GIRLS WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” She shouted at them. Grace and Ruby were taken aback, mum was very angry. “YOU GIRLS HATE WAKING UP EARLY, AND YET YOU WAKE UP EARLY JUST TO UPSET PEOPLE!” Mum shouted fiercely. Ruby opened her mouth to explain but Mum put a finger to her.

“Don’t want to hear it,” she retorted. Grace started to cry, and Ruby was biting her nails. They both left the room, and put all the pans away.

“That was stupid,” Ruby told Grace, angry that she got them both in trouble.

“SHUT UP!” Grace sobbed, and she stuffed herself into her blanket. Ruby got into her bed, she could still hear Grace sobbing. She tossed and turned for a long amount of time when she finally fell asleep.

Ruby was once again back in Solarist. The freedom without her twin, no trouble, no nothing...just plain freedom. She could see the man still gathering supplies for the village people to trade. He was coming back, looking straight at her, almost freakishly.

“I have nothing else for you to do at the moment, but I will let you know when I do,” she respectfully spoke to him. The man nodded.

It was 9:17am when Ruby woke up. She watched Grace still sobbing, but sleeping. Ruby checked her watch, and thankfully it was Saturday. She crept out of their room and into the kitchen. Mum was there, looking angrily at her. Ruby got out some Rice Bubbles and slowly ate them.

“It was Grace’s fault, you know Mum,” she said, quietly. Mum didn’t seem to hear her, so she gave up. That moment, Grace came tumbling down the stairs and smashed her head on the wooden staircase…

2 days later...

“Mm-m,” she groaned. Mum burst into tears.

“Oh, my darling! I was so worried about you!! Thank goodness you’re alright!” Mum gasped with breath. Ruby held Grace’s hand.

“You’re in hospital,” she managed to whisper.

“Can I go home now?” Grace asked. The doctor chuckled.

“I’m afraid not yet, girly girl. We just need to do some scans of your head and skull,” Grace instantly felt the pain throbbing in. She screamed in fear, clutching Mum’s hand.

“MUM, MY HEAD HURTS,” she yelled. Mum held Grace’s hand tightly, telling her everything was going to be alright, even though she wasn’t completely sure. All three of them were still in shock and wondered how Grace managed to do such a thing. That night Mum sent Ruby to their Nan’s apartment in the local retirement village, and then went back to the hospital to stay with Grace overnight. The doctor said according to the stats of the x-ray, she could go home in a few days or weeks.

“Alright little Ruby, time to go to bed. Tomorrow morning mummy will pick you up and take you to visit young Gracie,”

“Nan… it’s 7:45! That’s much too early for me. I can’t get to sleep until at least 9:30, if that!” complained Ruby.

“Bed. Now. Or else no ice cream tomorrow…”

“FINE!” Ruby rolled her eyes. Nan went to her room and got ready to sleep. Ruby had brought her phone with her, so she texted Grace to ask her how she was doing. Next she texted Tania and Toni.

Ruby: I’m at my Nan’s house and she sent me to bed already…

Toni: Why aren’t you at your house

Ruby: Grace had an accident and is in the hospital

Tania: OMG what happened?

Ruby: That’s a long story. You see, Grace smashed her head on the staircase and yeah...Mum wouldn’t let me stay with her overnight so I’m here now...UGH

Toni: We can come over tomorrow if you want

Ruby: I’ll ask my mum, thanks for being great BFFs :)

Tania: Aww, you’re welcome bestie! :D

Toni: We gotta go so BYE!

Tania: Tell Grace to get well soon and that’s an order. Also tell her we love her <3 (In a friend way).

Soon enough Ruby fell asleep, thinking about her darling sister.