6 days later

Ruby woke up feeling good for the 1^st time in a long time; the smell of bacon and eggs filled the air. She walked into the kitchen Lencia was dancing and frying breakfast it smelled so good.Ruby started dancing as well they bumped hips and danced to the beat. Ruby ate and went upstairs and began washing their clothes in the tub. Lencia watched her pour dishwashing liquid and body wash in the bathtub and wash the clothes.

“Come in and help,” Ruby said. She waved at her, Lencia clothes were also in the tub. Lencia sat on the counter and helped her wash them. Then they rung them out and hung them to dry.

Valencia

I had to get ready for school; it was almost Valentine’s Day. The gift should be coming soon, hopefully. “I will be home at 4 p.m. see you ruby.” “I love you!” Ruby said for the first time. I was speechless at first…  Did she really love me? The dislike that I had for her had slowly flown into the wind; I just wanted her to like me but she was so mean. she was my sister, and I accepted that she’s all I have in this world. “Love u too,” I  called out.

The bus was late, so I had to walk the 10 blocks I made it 20 minutes early, so I hid in the bathroom. I hated this school! I missed my old school and friends. The girls here were uneducated bitches! They will not leave me alone. They always find something to say or talk about that involves me. If they took the time, they would know that I was friendly. I liked sports and art and studying. I sat in the last stall and put my feet up; it will all be over soon; I have the highest GPA in this school. I was the youngest one in my grade. And I got picked on because of it.

My favorite class was P.E.  the drama started when I didn’t want to do what other girls did. I didn’t wear make-up or tight clothes, I turned down the dance and cheer team. I joined the chess and math club. And my last mistake was my magnetic personality; everybody is always in my face.

I really just wanted to be left alone. I knew they were all fake. Nevertheless, for some reason, it is a bad thing to be intelligent, and that is how I get treated every day.

The bathroom door opened, and I instanly heard giggling and shoes.  I heard all the stalls open and then what I heard next made me sick to my stomach. Gulping, sucking, and groaning somebody was giving oral in this bathroom. I did not want to know who I did not want to know anything about. I sat quietly and disgusted. I was stuck I could not leave because students swear, I was a snitch and would most likely jump me again. I just wanted to graduate! I touched my face; it hurt like hell.

Finally, the sucking stopped, but then I heard smacking and moaning, “yes! Joseph!” A female voice called out, “Shhh!” He whimpered, then smacking sped up, and then he groaned out just like every morning,

same dude, different girl. He had the nerve to keep trying to get at me; he has had sex with every girl in this school. I waited an extra 10 minutes, like always, then went to class. I started class late, and I have already caught up with everybody plus extra credit, so my teachers don't even care if I’m late anymore.

I walked into a class all eyes on me just like every other day; I had on simple black denim overalls and ankle heel boots. I washed my hair and had loose natural curls. I made my way to my seat and put my head down. I already past the high school exam this way; just review. I just could not wait to go home. My teacher came up to me; he ignored the bruises on my face.

“Valencia, do you want to be in the tutor group to help other students?” Mr. Brown asked me. Not only did I have AP classes and a high GPA and straight-A, s high S.A.T scores but now they want me to help people study! This was over kill

“No, thank you!” ‘I said. “Its extra credit Mr. Brown my English teacher begged!” he stood in front of pouting ugh leave me alone! Pick somebody else there was no one else who was qualified.  “Fine, I will do it!” “Good thanks”Mr brown said doing a little jigg. “After school, I will put up the names of the students that qualify, and you choose who you want to help,” he said. “Teacher’s pet!” Somebody yelled out. Well, at least I’m a smart pet; you’re just a regular dog I snapped in my head.

In my next class, I was able to participate—math with Mrs. Laroni.

Students mostly slept in her class. Not me, I sat in the front row and took notes. I loved math. I mainly enjoyed the fact that everything had a formula, and you just had to apply it. I loved it when I was called out for an answer. Math is a language that is hidden in everything around you, or in plain sight, it’s all about how you perceive it.

The math classroom was low on budget, so it was a small room with a handful of students. Mrs. Laroni didn’t have a smartboard; all she had was a chalkboard and old school loud projector. The math books were falling apart and had pages missing and random jokes all over the pages. There’s a massive hole in the ceiling with wires hanging out. It's where the speakers were before they blew out; the school didn’t have the budget to replace them. There were two types of people in math class—students who got it. And students who didn’t. I tried to help everybody out.

My next class was the most immature class of them all. Sex E, D what was supposed to be a supervised class based on information to protect us. Was just disturbing mainly because of who it was taught by. Joseph Dugg. If you don’t remember, he is the guy that’s taking a girl's virginity in the bathrooms. If you walked into the classroom, everything seemed reasonable. But it was far from that there were a lot of inside jokes going on in that room.

I recently started skipping classes sex E.D and foreign language. The bell rang after a long day, and I flew out of class. It was finally time to go home. 

I was almost out the door, but I was stopped by Joseph “did you pick somebody for the dance, yet?” he asked. He towered over me. He was light-skinned. I did not even want him talking to me! I knew what he wanted to do with me, and I was not interested. “Now, as a matter a fact, I’m going to go with my mom,” I said.  “You are going with your mom?” He looked at me, shocked. “I hope she is as sexy as you.” I walked away from him, not paying him any mind.

I forgot to check the list, so I ran back to the classroom; I checked the list and found a random name on the list and texted my information. Somebody texted back I set a time in which I was available.

I ran home after another long, incredibly pointless day. I just wanted to drop out or do an online school or something.

I took a deep breath and unlocked the door, but to my surprise, the house was different.

Everything was stripped bare, and all of our things were packed. I was freaking out did we finally get robbed and reposed.

I picked up my phone to call Ruby, but her number was disconnected. My heart was beating a 1000 miles per hour. I didn’t have much, so I calmed down as long as I didn’t have to go back to foster care. My heart was thumping so loud that I didn’t hear Ruby behind me.

 Ruby covered Valencia's eyes. “Shhh,” it's a surprise ruby said, helping Valencia walk. “Carefully sit down,” Ruby said, guiding her. Valencia sat on a soft cushion. She listened to the engine roar as they rode. They drove for a while. Ruby stopped and guided Valencia. They needed to move the neighborhood that they lived in was too dangerous. Drugs being sold on the corner prostitutes out at night murders every other night. The neighbor’s house was broken into last night; the money couldn’t have come any sooner.

Black mold was found in the walls of the complex, and ruby had received the letter just days prior but didn’t have the money to move we just kept the windows open so we could breathe. I see ruby has been secretly making moves while I was at school. “Open your eyes,” ruby screamed! Valencia opened her eyes.

 I screamed so loud, It was a house, a big house with a porch and stairs. The house was gray and blue. I turned around and looked at ruby. She smiled. The struggle was finally over. “Look around,” she said. I looked around and saw ruby’s new car she had a pink camouflage challenger.  We had new beautiful furniture, and a fancy TV’s I was speechless as I walked through the house and took it in.

When I made it to my room, I almost died the room was huge and my favorite color purple with my name on my door and wall, I had new clothes and shoes my own bathroom also.

I had to check out Ruby’s room; it was painted red and Grey, unlike the rest of the house, which was bright. Wow, she had a projector and a video game system in her room, wow! I was very excited we had food and each other.

I went into my room and plopped on the massive bed; it was huge, not a small twin bed. I was stabbed in the back by something I pulled back the cover to see a smartphone and a diamond ring necklace and bracelet I was overwhelmed by it all I never had anything new only hand-me-downs or donated clothes but these clothes had price tags!

I activated my new phone once I figured it out it was different from my flip phone. As soon as I got it working, mom popped up on the screen “it’s about time,” she yelled at me through the screen! “Come outside,” she screamed, honking the horn! I ran to her car. The window rolled down, and she pointed to the lexis and told me to follow her; she threw me the keys. “wait, Is that my car?” I screamed she smiled my day had just gotten better. Then it hit me. I DON’T know how to drive. “I don't know how to drive,” I yelled. ! Mom got out of the car and hugged me. I cried in her arms.

Valencia was confused by the hug, but she still held Ruby, and they walked into the house. In the middle of the night, she heard noises. Valencia was scared, so I knocked on Ruby's door ruby let her sleep with her. Valencia really appreciated ruby, and she felt as the days went by, they became much closer.

Tomorrow is my tutor's day. I was in such a good mood; nothing could bring me down! I smiled, showing my teeth and dimples, which is something I rarely do. At school the following day-

The day started as usual except today I overheard an argument in the bathroom one of the girls was pregnant, her name was Brittany and did not want to get an abortion, but Joseph was not going to let that happen. He kept covering her mouth and whisper-yelling. The girl stormed out of the bathroom stall this time before the schedule.

 I was alone in the bathroom and enjoyed the silence until my phone went off. Ma wanted to know if I needed a ride after school. I begged her! Come to get me, she told me to go to class. 20 minutes in class I was dying of boredom All I kept hearing is “blah blah blah,” and “there will be a test on this” somebody behind me kept coughing really loud and obnoxiously behind me a dry cough. I pulled my hoodie over my head.

“Valencia 50 points can you light a diamond on fire yes or no if so how?”  My teacher asked me, “Yes,” I mumbled. “Wow, that doesn’t make sense how can you burn a diamond stupid it was a trick question,” Jasmine said, making fun of me.

 I could easily breakdown the reason why "she is stupid and go into her genealogy, but instead, I ignored her because she is psychologically damaged, so I take pity.

“Anything can burn at the right temperature and with the right conditions.” “something can burn so bad that not a trace is left like a human body” I looked at her and continued. “ the composition doesn’t matter, toss it into the sun or a hot enough flame, and it doesn’t exist anymore” “If “you have the means motive and patience that is,” I said putting my head back down.

 “perfecto,” Mr. England said. Sliding me a bar of fine job chocolate that he brings every year from his country, only the right answers receive one.

 I texted ma, I embarrassed jasmine, so I’m pretty sure she was going to show off at lunch. The kind of stuff she did would get her killed where I am from. She had spit in a girl’s cup, and her other students thought it was funny.

 She flooded one of the stalls and locked a girl in the bathroom. She has even hurt people; jasmine walked up to a girl, pulled her to the ground by her hair then snipped off her ponytail. I wasn’t afraid of her; I just didn’t want the drama.

I heard a laughing baby text tone go off! Was she here? There was a knock on the door. Ruby came in dolled up with tights and a half-shirt showing a shoulder and her belly piercing. Her hair was pressed down, and her lip-gloss was popping. She looked her age for once, showing off her curves. Joseph escorted her into the room; he could not take his eyes off her.  “New student,” somebody body yelled out. Mr. Brown tipped his glasses down to get a look.

I busted out laughing; everybody looked at me, mugging thinking I hated on her. “Girl, why are you hating?” Jasmine said with an attitude. “Ma, what you doing here?” I asked happily. Jasmine scrunched up her face at Ruby looking between Ruby and Me. “Let’s go,” she said. She walked over to Mr. England. I watched her smile and flirt with him. I knew she was flirting because Mr. England kept clearing his throat and wiping his face.

“Valencia!” He called my name. “Yes, sir?” I said, standing up and walking over to him. “Is this your sister, he asked? “Yes, sir,” I replied. She is stunning, he said. I made a face I only wanted to hear one thing. “You’re free to go,” he said. She rescued me from class! Jaws dropped! I shot jasmine the eye; Joseph followed us out the door keeping his eyes trained on Ruby’s body as we walked.

“Yo!” “Excuse me,” he said, trying to talk to us. “Hey, ladies” “hey!” he yelled. Ruby turned around and gave him a nasty eye. “Step back and stay away from my baby,” she snapped, grabbing me; we jumped in the car, and he froze, and place ruby sped off on his butt.

“So was that Joseph following me around?” She asked. I told her, “yeah,” she shook her head “stay away from him; he is filth,” she said simply.

“That is the type of boy that would get you pregnant and then leave.”

Little did mom know I already knew what type of boy he was.

When we got home, we ate ice cream and played video games ma “I quit my job dad gave us hundreds of thousands of dollars and I set up a bank account for you when you turn 18” she said.

Since Ruby came into my life, I have not been happier, and I know she felt the same way also I smiled now; this was not like anything I have come from. I like it here. And I loved ruby she was the kindest person you could ever meet. I respected her honesty. The next day.

“Ruby, I will be home later,” I yelled to her, halfway out the door the house. “Do you want a ride?” she asked. Oh, yeah, I forgot. We have cars now! “Can I drive?” I asked. Silence filled the house, “ma!”  “Fine...” Ruby screamed out. I jumped into the car, and my heart started racing.