Ruby Parker Hits the Small Time Read Online Free Page B

they did that was wrong. It was everything they were .
    It took me ages to be able to go back to the set and act like everything was fine. Actually it took until one of the runners came and banged on the door and shouted my name. A part of me wanted to just walk out of there and leave them in the lurch. But I’m not very good at rebelling, so I just went back and I did my scene. Luckily I was filming reaction shots for a scene when Angel accidentally finds a robber in her house and I had to scream and look scared. It was pretty easy. After all, it’s not every day that you find you’re going to get killed, is it?
    Flat 32
Mandela Tower
Freedom Estate
Luton
Beds
    Dear Ruby,
    I hope you don’t mind me writing to you. I’m sorry to be taking up your time. It’s funny though, because I’m thirteen like you, and I feel like you know me really and that talking to you is like talking to a friend.
    The thing is, Ruby, I don’t know what to do at the moment. I really don’t. My best friend, Becky, stopped talking to me a couple of weeks ago. She got in with the in-crowd and then just stopped talking to me. And it wasn’t just her—it was everyone. Nobody talks to me anymore. It’s not like anyone calls me names or hits me or anything, but all day long at school, I’m on my own. At break time I just go to the library and read a book. I told my mum about it and she said it wouldn’t be this way forever and that Becky will talk to me again one day, but I don’t think so.
    I tried to talk to Becky before English yesterday and one of the other girls said, “Don’t you realize she hates you?” I didn’t know what to say after that. Becky looked sort of upset, but she still didn’t talk to me. I know when Angel and Julia fell out, Angel felt like that too for a while, but then she found out just in time that Julia was going to be kidnapped by Armenians and they made up. I don’t think anything like that will happen to me. On Sunday nights, I feel so terrible that I’m sick. It’s the summer holidays soon and that’s good, but even then I know that I won’t have anyone to talk to and that I’ll have to go out on my own and pretend I’m with friends so my mum doesn’t worry about me being lonely.
    What would Angel do?
    Love
Shamilla Choudary xx
    Ruby Parker
    Dear Shamilla,
    I’m sorry that you’re feeling so lonely, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to answer your letter. Today I had a very tough scene at work and I really thought about what Angel would do if she were you. I think that sometimes when there’s a whole group of people doing something, it’s easier to do what they are than to be different. I think maybe that’s what your friend Becky is doing. I don’t think she has stopped being your friend—especially not if she was upset about what that nasty girl said to you. Maybe since it’s summer now you could ring her up and see her without her other friends around. Or maybe just send her a friendly text message. I bet once the pressure of school is off she’ll realize how much she has missed you, because a good friend is hard to find.
    If she really has stopped being your friend, well, she really isn’t worth being upset about—although I know that’s easy to say. I talk to my mum when I’m really worried and I think you should try to talk to your mum again. Ask to her sit down for a minute and really listen. I bet she will, and I bet when she properly understands how sad you are, you’ll feel better.
    You sound like a lovely girl and I bet you’ll make new friends before you know it. If you don’t think you can talk to your mum, I have enclosed some leaflets and the number for ChildLine.
    Good luck!
Ruby x

Chapter Four
    I usually do tell my mum everything. Usually she picks me up from school or the set and we go home together and I tell her all about