Ruby Rising Read Online Free

anything interesting?” She smiled at me from across the table. I’d missed doing this with her; talking over dinner and sharing our days.
    “I only went to the lake, Phoenix had a good run around and got chased by a duck.” I told her an animated version of Phoenix versus the duck and soon we were both laughing. “Oh, I met that niece of Dad’s boss at the lake. She seems okay. She invited me to the youth group on Friday night.”
    “Really? That’s good. You must have hit it off then. It’s not like you to make friends so quickly.” She finished eating and begun to clean up.
    “She’s a little different and I wouldn’t call us friends yet,” I took my plate over to the sink and started to help, “but at least I’ll know someone at school tomorrow.”
    After we washed the dishes I went up to my room to get ready for my first day at Primfield High School. I grabbed my backpack and filled it with a couple of folders filled with loose leaf paper, and my pencil case. Then plugged in the charger and connected my laptop. I stood in front of my wardrobe for a few minutes before picking out another pair of jeans, my black combat boots and a black singlet top and put them on the back of my chair for the morning. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about making a decision in the morning about what I was going to wear.
    Once that was done I was still too wound up to go to bed so I grabbed a box to unpack. I pulled out a few of my photo frames, my picture board that I had made and my digital photo frame. I love my photos, I have hundreds of them on my computer, and on the memory card in the digital frame. My photo board went straight up on the wall, it tells a story to me every time I look at it. Where I’ve been, what I’ve done and how much I’ve grown in size and maturity. There was even a photo of me and Claire that was taken when we were about seven. I plugged in the digital frame and watched as familiar faces filled the small screen.
    Although I wasn’t really tired, I climbed into bed and lay there wondering what the next day would bring. I knew I wouldn’t get much sleep and watched the images cycle through my digital photo frame, smiling at some of the memories it holds. Part of me still desperately wanted my old life back. But a larger part had accepted that it wasn’t going to happen, that Primfield, for now at least, was where we were staying.
     
    “Nervous?” My father asked at the breakfast table the next morning.
    “A little” I admitted as I picked at the piece of toast on my plate.
    “Your mum mentioned that you met Mikayla yesterday. That’s a good thing before your first day.” He took a big mouthful of coffee and then set his cup down in the sink. “Her uncle speaks quite highly of her, says she’s quite mature and responsible, running the local youth group on Friday nights. She could be good for you to make friends with.”
    “She did mention the youth group, I wouldn’t mind going on Friday night this week to see what it’s all about.” I paused before adding, “maybe make a few more friends.” I bent down to pack my lunch into my bag so he couldn’t see my face.
    There was a slight pause before he answered. “I’ll think about it and let you know. Have a good first day honey.” It was his standard answer for most things. It was better than a flat out no, however. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
    “Thanks Dad.” I hoisted my bag onto my shoulders and grabbed Phoenix’s food to put outside for him with his toys.  “Well, I’m off. Wish me luck!”
    “You won’t need it honey, they’ll love you, just like I do.” He disappeared before I could say anything back. He was being very affectionate, which was incredibly un-dad like.
    I stood there for a minute taking in what he had said, just the fact that he was even here for breakfast was amazing. I called out a goodbye to my mother who was busy gardening already, trying to beat the summer heat. I could hear Phoenix