cautiously, Ruby opened her fist, and something dropped from her hand into mine.
Then we stood there, like an evil fairy had turned us into stone.
âWow,â I gasped when Iâd got tired of standing there, looking like an idiot made of stone.
Iâm used to beautiful things, but I think this might have been the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I was a bracelet made of tiny purple and mauve beads. As I moved my hand, the bracelet shimmered in the light, almost like it was half alive.
âWow,â I said again, just before I realised that I couldnât take presents from Ruby. How could I take anything from a girl who had so little?
âBut I canât â¦â¦.â I began.
Ruby jumped back like I had punched her.
âItâs OK. I didnât buy it,â she said.
For one second a horrible thought floated into my mind.
âI didnât steal it either, if thatâs what youârethinking,â she said.
I shook my head. âIâd never think that of you,â I said, telling a total lie.
I looked at the bracelet again, and slipped it on to my wrist.
It felt cool and silky against my skin.
It matched my purple top perfectly.
âMy mum made it,â said Ruby. âI told her I wanted to give you something for helping me, so she made you this. I hope you like it.â
I stepped forwards ready to hug her, then decided against it. Ruby
so
wasnât a huggy kind of girl.
âI donât like it,â I said.
Rubyâs face fell, and I rushed to finish what I had started to say.
âI
love
it. I absolutely love it.â
Then, for the first time ever, I saw Ruby give a proper smile, and it was almost like she had given me another present.
As we walked out from the market together, I saw Ella coming along the street with Chloe andAmy. I felt a sudden flush of embarrassment. The more I got to know Ruby, the more I liked her, but the other girls probably still thought of her as the class loser. I wondered for a second if I could duck back into the market, but before I could move, the girls were in front of us. Beside me, I could feel Ruby becoming tense and alert â like she was ready to be offended.
But I neednât have worried.
âHey, Eva. Hey Ruby,â said Ella, like seeing us together was the most normal thing in the world. âWeâre going for hot chocolate. Do you want to come?â
âNo,â said Ruby.
âWeâd love to,â I said at the same time, and half-dragging Ruby behind me, I followed the girls into the coffee shop.
âLet me buy you a hot chocolate,â I said to Ruby, brandishing my five euro note.
She shook her head fiercely. âI can pay for myself,â she muttered, and I realised that I had insulted her proud spirit.
âWhatever,â I said, half-relieved that Iâd be bringing most of the money back home to Mum and Dad.
Soon the five of us were seated around a big table, stirring marshmallows into our hot chocolate and talking about stuff. Ruby didnât exactly look relaxed, but she didnât look like she wanted to run away and hide either.
âHey, Eva, cool bracelet,â said Amy as I reached for extra sugar.
âRubyâs mum made it,â I said.
âNo way,â said Chloe.
I nodded. âItâs true.â
âWow,â said Ella. âShe must be a genius.â
I turned to Ruby. Her face was red, but I could see that she was pleased.
It turned out to be a lovely day.
Â
Chapter Nineteen
O n Sunday, Victoria came to spend the day at my place.
âWow,â she said when she came inside. âDid you get a new kitchen put in?â
Dad smiled.
âNo,â he said, puffing up with pride. âThatâs the old kitchen. A friend gave me a few cans of paint he didnât need, and I used it to paint the units. Nice arenât they?â
âTotally,â said Victoria.
I wondered if she was being sincere.
Maggie Brendan
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