Ruby Reinvented Read Online Free Page B

International Jetport in approximately twenty minutes. Please make sure your seat belts are fastened, your seats are in their upright position, and your tray tables are secured. It’s been a pleasure having you on board today. Thank you for flying with us.”
    â€œThat was fast,” I say through a yawn.
    â€œFor you, maybe.” Ellie’s hands are gripping the seat rests. Even though she flies with us all the time, she hates it.
    I laugh. “Relax, Ellie. We’re almost there.”
    â€œI will relax when we are on the ground, like human beings belong.” She squeezes her eyes shut.
    I stretch and look out the window. It’s dark, but I can see that we’re getting close to landing. I hear a few dings, and Ellie grabs my hand. Her fingernails are digging into my skin, but I don’t say anything. She’s doing me a huge favor by taking me here, and I don’t want her to feel bad—even though she’s leaving crescent-shaped dents in my hand. She loosens her grip when we land and breathes a big sigh of relief as we taxi down the runway.
    We’re the first ones off the plane, and it’s a short walk to the baggage area. There’s a driver holding a sign with Ellie’s name on it. We always use Ellie’s name when we travel because we can’t ever use ours. As if it would matter.My parents are instantly recognizable, even without a sign.
    The driver helps us with our bags and takes us to his car, a stretch limo.
    I groan.
    â€œPlease tell me we’re not going to take this to the school tomorrow.”
    â€œYou don’t like it, Bea? Such a beautiful car.”
    â€œIt’s not that.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “I just don’t think that most of the kids who go to Midcoast Academy ride in limos.”
    â€œMmmm.” Ellie nods her head. “I see.”
    â€œI just don’t want to seem too weird.”
    Ellie’s still nodding. Even though she doesn’t say anything I feel like I should keep talking.
    â€œIt’s not like at home, Ellie. These kids are normal. Normal kids don’t ride to school in limos.”
    â€œYou want to be normal, Bea?”
    I look down at my hands. “Sometimes.”
    â€œMmmm.” Ellie nods again. “But remember to be proud of who you are.”
    As much as I love Ellie, she doesn’t understand. I’ve grown up hearing the stories of her childhood in Russia. She grew up poor, with eight brothers and sisters in a tiny house. Her mother died when she was five years old, and her father was really mean. She’s always telling me howlucky I am to have parents who love me and can afford to give me nice things.
    The car ride is taking forever. I’m not sure if I can’t sleep because I slept on the plane or because it feels like there are a million butterflies in my stomach. I stare out the window, amazed that I see nothing but darkness. No streetlights, no cities. I don’t even see any other cars on the road.
    I’m definitely not in Los Angeles anymore.
    The car slows down and pulls into the driveway of what looks like a gigantic house.
    â€œDid we rent a house?” I squint out the window.
    â€œThis is a bed-and-breakfast,” Ellie explains. “Only a few blocks from the school.”
    â€œYou mean we could walk there?” I practically squeal since that means I won’t have to show up in a stretch limo.
    â€œI suppose so. Let us see what the weather is like tomorrow.”
    I’m not sure what the big deal is until I get out of the car. The wind cuts through my jacket and bites my skin. Nope. This is definitely not LA.
    Ellie checks us into the bed-and-breakfast, which is toasty warm thanks to a big stone fireplace in the middle of the house.
    A woman with short gray hair takes us up to our rooms.
    â€œSo you’re here to look at Midcoast Academy?” she says,even though it sounds like she says So you a heeya to look