Ruby Unscripted Read Online Free Page B

before I respond. Austin follows her.
    Maybe Carson can pick me up after work. He may grumble and complain about taking me places, but unless he’s heading off with his friends, he usually goes where I want to go. And down here, he won’t have friends at first. He’ll want to do things with me even more—
    Mom returns to the kitchen all quiet and distracted-like.
    â€œDid Carson say when he’ll be here?” I ask.
    Mom is silent long enough to make me stare at her, ignoring the waffle sizzling in the iron.
    â€œWhat? What is it?”
    â€œHe’s not coming. It sounds like he wants to live with your dad.”

chapter four
    Carson not living with us?
    Not here to drive me around or talk to or even to fight with?
    Then the full impact hits me. I might be going to school without my brother. He’ll be at our old school sitting with his friends; my friends will pass by, or sometimes our groups will even combine, but I won’t be there. I’ll be alone in the new school in Marin.
    There is no way he’s abandoning me like this. I call him, but it goes directly to voice mail as I should have expected. There’s no service at Dad’s, which is why I sometimes feel stir crazy there. If it weren’t still before six in the morning, I’d call the house, but I don’t want to wake Dad and Tiffany.
    Carson and I fight like cats and dogs; there’s no way around that truth. But especially since the divorce, we end up doing a lot together. And though we don’t hug and say, “I love you,” or smile fondly at one another, we have a pretty close relationship—though neither of us would admit it too readily.
    This is something I can’t even imagine.
    After our predawn breakfast, mostly in silence, Uncle Jimmy leaves, and the rest of us all eventually fall back to sleep. Aunt Jenna wakes me at ten to get ready for my first day of work.
    I dial Dad’s house, and he answers.
    â€œDad, what’s going on with Carson? Is he there?”
    â€œNo, he’s at school.”
    â€œWhat’s this about him not moving down?”
    â€œWell, your brother would miss Cottonwood. He’s not really a big-city person.”
    I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Did Dad convince my brother to stay in one short day?
    â€œHe only has one more year of high school, and he can work at the hardware store over the summer.”
    I glance at the clock. “Dad, I have to go, sorry. I’m starting work with Aunt Jenna today. I’ll call back tonight. But tell Carson I called.”
    Dad says his usual endearing “Okay, good-bye, sweetie,” and I rush for the bathroom.
    Later, as I blow-dry my hair, my phone beeps. I expect it to be Carson, but the name surprises me.
    NICK: Hey there Rubes, I'm sitting in Spanish II, Como estas?
    ME: Bien. is that right? I took French. Bon. How are you?
    NICK: Fine, but I missed your empty seat in alg last period. So you haven't started school yet?
    ME: Monday. I start work at my aunt's coffeehouse today.
    NICK: Sounds cool. Maybe someday I'll show up there for
a coffee. How far away are you?
    ME: Three to four hours.
    This doesn’t even sound like Nick. He’s never this talkative.
    NICK: Is it three or is it four?
    ME: Depends on traffic.
    NICK: I have a cousin at Berkeley. He wants me to come down. Arc you near?
    ME: Across the Bay, not too far. My stepdad thinks I should go to Berkeley for college.
    NICK: Cool. Hey gotta go. Mr. Finkle keeps glancing my way. I think he's on to me.
    ME: No problema. That's Spanish for no problem.
    NICK: Thanks. I'll write later. Want to ask you something
    ME: Don't keep me in suspense.
    NICK: Oh but I am.
    ME: Meany
    NICK: Yep. Crap, gotta run. Bye Marin girl.
    ME: TTYL

    â€œI think your mom will talk Carson into moving down,” Aunt Jenna says as she drives faster than usual. We’re late. The convertible top is up, and a thin fog covers the sky.
    â€œHe has