CHAPTER 11

"What did Principal Hurst want?" Tori asks casually, walking towards me and taking hold of my arm. I look up at her sadly, my eyes filled with both pain and dread.
"I'm sorry Tori."
She pauses, freezing on the spot. Her green eyes widen and she shakes her head, strands of fiery red blowing in the wind.
"No way. No way! No way Ruby Wentworth!" Tori yells, pulling away from me and taking a step back. I grimace at her voice, knowing I've let my best friend down along with my parents.
"You've been expelled, haven't you?" Tori asks and I nod grimly, giving her my apologetic look. Tori gasps dramatically and falls to the floor, her hands reaching up towards the sky.
"Why God? Why did you leave me alone in this evil school where I will die without my companion. Why? Whyyyyy — "
"Tori, people are staring."
"Please answer me God, I need to - "
"Tori, people are staring!" I repeat, yanking her up off her feet. I grip onto her arm tightly and drag her away from the school before she gives herself the reputation of a crazy person. The corners of my lip twitch upwards and even though my school life is falling apart, Tori manages to make me smile.
"I can't believe you've been expelled Ruby. Your parents are going to lose their shit."
I groan out loud, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.
"Don't remind me. They'll pack my bags and ship me off to stay with my Grandma Michelle and Myra." I shudder.
"No way! I can't go six whole school hours without you and not spend time with you after school. This is an outrage, I will contact the school board to petition this outcome." Tori says professionally, jabbing her finger in mid air.
"Tori, it's over. Accept it, I'm expelled. Principal Hurst practically kicked me to the curb and dusted his hands off. Stupid Patrick." I grumble, kicking a stone with the front of my trainer. The closer we get to home, the more nervous I feel. I grip tightly onto Tori's hand for moral support.
"I'll talk to Principal Hurst and explain the situation. I'll tell him what Melissa and Kate said and he'll have to let you come back. Your parents won't allow him to expel you Ruby."
I nod my head slowly, her words actually making a whole load of sense. This could actually work. If Tori explains to Principal Hurst that it was self defence against Austin and I was standing up for her, he might change his mind. My parents are also stubborn as hell and would argue with Patrick until they are blue in the face.
Especially my Dad.
"What if my parents decide to home-school me?" I gasp, the terrifying thought running through my head. Tori grimaces, scrunching her face up in disgust.
"Ew, imagine your social life. It would practically be non existent. You'd end up living with ten cats, five dogs and your parents." Tori snorts, slapping a hand over her mouth. I narrow my eyes and glare at her.
"That actually doesn't sound too bad. My parents are awesome and I'm an animal lover."
"You told me you flushed your fish down the toilet when you were five Ruby."
I chew the corner of my lip at the memory and nod my head, agreeing with her.
"In my defence, he was already dead! Poor Mr Puffy, he didn't stand a chance." I say sadly, mourning my goldfish.