C6 No way, Ruby Wentworth!

"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.

"Damn it, your parents are home." Tori says, pausing in front of our house. My eyes land on their car parked in the driveway and I mentally shudder as I can vision the next ten minutes. Lots of screaming, possibly crying. . . from both Mum and I.

"I can't believe I have to go inside and tell them their only child has been expelled from school. Why couldn't I have been born a goody two shoes?" I groan, sitting down on the brick wall opposite my front door. If I sit out here long enough maybe my problems will disappear.

"If you were a goody two shoes, we would never have crossed paths. Our rebellious side is what started this friendship Ruby." Tori says supportively, squeezing my hand in hers. I sigh deeply and place my head on her shoulders.

"You're right Tor. I should go in there and face the music."

"Yeah, you got this Ruby. Don't forget your best puppy dog face. That shit is adorable. . . I can't resist it."

I let out a small laugh, practicing my puppy dog look. I haven't done it for a while but Tori's right — it does work wonders.

"Okay, I think I've got this mastered," I say quietly, taking a deep breath and whirling around to face our house. Tori grabs my hand, squeezing tightly as we both begin to take slow steps forward. I think about walking forward in slow mo but realise that would be a tad too dramatic.

Before I know it, I'm standing directly in front of the door. I grab my keys and take a deep breath, pushing open the front door. Tori urges me to take a step inside so I do, wiping my feet on the mat underneath me.

"Mum? Dad?" I call out, my voice echoing around the house. It's eerily quiet but I notice Dad's car keys sat inside the bowl in the hallway. I call out to them again but silence greets me.

"That's strange," I say, turning to Tori. She shrugs casually, walking to the bottom of the stairs.

"Mr and Mrs Melvin!" She yells, cupping her hands around her mouth. She pauses and waits but again, silence greets us.

"Mum! Dad!" I screech from the top of my voice, wanting to get this over and done with. My face twists into confusion as the house falls silence once again.

"I have a feeling both of are them are waiting to pop out from somewhere to give me a heart attack because I am the worst child ever," I mumble, pushing open all the doors downstairs. The house is exactly as we left it this morning, nothing has been touched.

"I visioned your parents to come storming down the stairs, yelling." Tori says, trailing behind me. I nod my head, agreeing with her. The frown on my face deepens as every room downstairs is empty.

"I'll check upstairs but you're coming with me. There's no way I'm being punked by my parents alone."

I take hold of Tori's hand and warily walk upstairs, straining to listen out for any shuffles or muffled voices.

"Mum, Dad. Please don't pop out and scare me. I have a very fragile heart despite what Principal Hurst tells you. I just want to start by saying I'm really, really sorry." I say loudly as I check the first bedroom. It's empty.

The second one is the same.

I check underneath my bed and inside the closet but nothing. Panic starts settling inside my stomach and I turn to face Tori, noticing her frowning in confusion.

"What about their bedroom?" She suggests, pointing down the hallway. I nod but grimace at the same time --

"God, I hope they aren't getting it on. We both should be spared from seeing that." I shudder, walking towards their room. I place my ear against the crack in the door, listening out for any noises. Silence.

"Mum? Dad?" I ask quietly, pushing open their bedroom door. I step inside and the sight that greets me causes me to scream loudly, every hair on my body stood up straight.

"Oh my god!" Tori screams behind me, gripping onto my arm. I clutch onto her just as tightly, unable to tear my eyes away from the mess in the room.

And then my eyes land on the blood.

So much blood.