Reckless Hearts

Ruby realized with clammy fingers that tomorrow was the day as the tip of the red pen smoothly completed the cross mark in the tiny square of the calendar. She had run out of time to prepare, feeling the weight of anticipation settling upon her.

The impending arrival of tomorrow consumed Ruby's thoughts, causing her heart to race and her stomach to churn with anxiety. Despite having carefully considered this day throughout the past week, her nerves threatened to drive her to madness as it drew near. The absence of her friends, who had chosen to continue their education at her former boarding school, only worsened her unease. Even Luke, her close companion, would not be there.

Glancing at the untouched glass of warm milk her mother had placed on the bedside table hours ago, Ruby noted its transformation into a cold liquid mirroring the raindrops against her window. The thought of its taste made her cringe, and she abandoned the book in her hands, too weary to continue reading. Trying to reassure herself, she whispered, "Everything is going to be fine. You can do it."

A knock at the bedroom door interrupted her solitude, and she instantly recognized her mother's presence. "Come in, Mom," she murmured, grabbing a pillow and burying her face within it.

Dressed in a nightgown, her mother entered, her face etched with a frown and her eyes betraying her sleeplessness. It was evident that she hadn't found a moment of rest either. Approaching the bed, she embraced Ruby and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, saying, "I knew you would be awake. Stop worrying, Ruby. It's only high school."

"But none of my friends are going to be there!" Ruby lamented.

"You can always make new ones. This is your opportunity to branch out, experience other things," her mother responded cheerfully.

"I can experience the world better by reading about it," Ruby retorted, her gaze drifting towards the bookshelf in her room.

Lifting her head from the pillow, Ruby noticed her mother's gaze fixated on the untouched glass of milk. She braced herself for a scolding, but to her surprise, her mother smiled. "Drink it," she encouraged, bringing the glass closer to Ruby's lips. Hesitant, Ruby gulped it down.

"Good night, sweetheart. You're going to have a great day tomorrow," her mother reassured, switching off the bedside lamp and enveloping the room in darkness.

As time passed, Ruby's eyelids grew heavy, but her worries refused to dissipate. They manifested as recurring dreams throughout the night, bordering on nightmares.

***

Ruby glanced at her wristwatch, realizing she still had twenty minutes to reach her first class. Despite repeatedly consulting the campus map, she couldn't locate her classroom.

Contemplating asking a nearby group of students, she dismissed the idea, urging herself forward with determination. "You can do it," she whispered to herself, taking a step forward.

Five minutes later, she stood outside Room 201, where her first class of the day was scheduled. Suddenly, she remembered that she needed to meet the Department Head to submit some documents.

Due to her former school's delayed term, Ruby was starting a month later than the other students. Consulting the map once more, she realized she would have to walk to the second floor, take a right, and then make another left to find the office.

After taking a right turn, Ruby found herself facing a wall instead of a corridor, realizing there was an error in the map. With no other option, she approached a group of six students standing a few meters away, engaged in lively conversation.

Clearing her throat, Ruby spoke up, "Excuse me?"

The group's chatter ceased abruptly, and all eyes turned towards her, making her self-conscious.

"Hey?" a girl of the same height as Ruby responded, stepping forward. She wore a loose-fitting t-shirt that draped lazily over her body, and her straight, silky hair cascaded past her waist. Ruby could still sense the lingering gaze of the others in the group.

Offering a small smile, Ruby introduced herself, "I'm Ruby, a new student in senior year. I was wondering if you could help me find the office?" Her lips pressed together with hopeful anticipation.

The girl glanced at the map in Ruby's hands but refrained from commenting. Smiling warmly, she introduced herself, "Of course! I'm Olivia. The office is-"

"Hey, Liv!" a masculine voice interrupted her. It belonged to one of the guys from the group, who strode towards them, his gaze fixed on Ruby. He stood tall, boasting broad shoulders, and his curly hair peeked out from under his jacket's hood.

Ignoring Olivia, he addressed Ruby directly, "I'll show you the way to the office. The map's outdated," he offered.

"Sure," Ruby replied, offering a hesitant smile.

As he started walking, Olivia pulled him back, whispering something into his ear. Ruby strained to catch the words but couldn't. She observed the dismissive wave the guy gave to Olivia and continued walking.

He pointed to a door on the right and said, "You see that door? That's the office. The map hasn't been updated. It was relocated here a few days ago," he explained, accompanied by a smile.

"Okay. Thank you," Ruby responded, making her way towards the wooden door with a nameplate that read 'Office'. A hint of hesitation flickered in her mind, sensing some potential trouble, but she dismissed the feeling. Caden's gaze remained fixed on her, and she couldn't help but notice the group inching closer, which felt rather strange.

Checking her wristwatch quickly, Ruby pushed the office door open and stepped inside.

In a split second, she realized she was too late. The glass of milkshake strategically positioned above the door had been flipped upside down, drenching her hair and jacket with its contents.

Laughter assaulted her ears. She turned around and saw Caden leaning against a wall, his hand clutching his stomach as he laughed at her misfortune. He glanced at another guy, Daniel, who joined in the amusement. Daniel held a phone, recording the whole incident. "Did you get it, Dan?" Caden asked.

Daniel confirmed with a chuckle, "I did! Let's get out of here." The group retreated, leaving Ruby standing there, drenched and humiliated.

Caden, struggling to regain his composure, straightened up and locked eyes with Ruby. Anger surged through her as the milkshake dripped from her hair. Her nostrils flared, and without a second thought, her hand connected with Caden's cheek, delivering a forceful slap that sent him stumbling backward. It took him a moment to realize what had just happened-the impact of her slap registering on his face.

Their expressions mirrored each other-Ruby fueled by anger, and Caden realizing that this was only the beginning.

Gently patting his reddened cheek, he growled through gritted teeth, "You're going to pay for this!"

An hour later, Ruby found herself standing in front of the massive mirror in the girls' bathroom, groaning in frustration and occasionally stomping her feet as she tried to remove the remnants of milkshake from her hair. Thankfully, her jacket had protected her t-shirt from being spoiled. She carefully wiped away the few drops that had dripped onto her jeans, and the previously empty dustbin beside her was now filled with discarded tissues.

It was impossible for Ruby to go back home, change, and return to school in time. Taking the city bus would consume two hours, and with only four lectures scheduled for the day, she would miss all of them.

Feeling frustrated and wanting to appear presentable in class, Ruby checked her watch and realized there were only ten minutes left in the first lecture. Physics was her favorite subject, and she had prepared diligently for this lesson. However, all her efforts had been in vain because of that infuriating guy, Caden.

Determined not to let this incident go unpunished, Ruby resolved to escalate the matter to the higher authorities. After ensuring she had done her best to clean up, she looked at herself in the mirror with a resolute expression and headed towards the office in search of the Head of the Department.

_____________

The first lecture came to an end, and throughout the class, Caden smirked, his hand still pressed against his cheek. Paige couldn't help but notice that he hadn't paid attention and hadn't even answered Mr. Smith's question, which was highly unusual for him.

Paige turned to her group of friends behind her and asked, "What's going on with him?" Most of them shrugged, equally clueless about the situation.

"We're as clueless as you are, Paige," Olivia replied with a frown.

Paige rolled her eyes, harboring a deep disdain for Olivia, knowing that even if she had the answer, she wouldn't share it with her. The feeling of animosity was mutual.

She looked to Florence for answers, but Florence seemed too engrossed in sharing details of her latest trip with a disinterested Ella. On the other hand, Daniel, Ella's twin, was surrounded by girls, indulging in flirtatious banter. Paige even spotted some seniors in the mix. She sighed, aware that this was one of Daniel's many attempts to find "the one."

Amidst the commotion in the class, Paige turned to Caden again and teasingly asked, "Are you not going to tell me what happened? Who ruffled your feathers?" She giggled, knowing that it would push him further.

Caden, still pressing his cheek, turned and glared at Paige. She had a knack for pushing his buttons, but in that moment, as she took in his expression, a shiver ran down her spine, silencing her.

Ruffled his feathers? No, she had disrupted his life. No one had ever slapped Caden Miller and gotten away with it. Subconsciously, he began planning his revenge. He didn't know her weak spots yet, but they were classmates, and their paths would cross again soon.

"Why do you care?" he asked through gritted teeth, enduring the pain of her slap. It was excruciating to speak, but he managed to utter the words.

Paige burst into laughter. What kind of question was that? Pouting her lips, she linked her arm with his and said, "We've been dating for four years now. If I don't care about you, who will?" She fluttered her eyelashes, and her captivating doe eyes held his gaze.

Biting his lip, Caden tightened his grip around her arm. "Then tell me, what were you doing with that college guy in the canteen yesterday?" His voice came out softer than he intended, and he looked away, not wanting her to see how much it affected him. The pain was evident in his tone.

Paige held his chin and turned his face towards her. "I didn't know you had a heart for me to break," she grinned, continuing with a sugary tone. "You can't deny that you've been with other girls too." Her words hit him like a bitter truth, even though they were coated with sweetness. "But in the end, the whole world knows it's going to be you and me. Caden and Paige. Always." She finished her statement by planting a light kiss on the back of his hand, which was intertwined with hers.

Before he could respond, the classroom suddenly fell into silence. Tearing his gaze away from Paige, he looked ahead to where everyone's attention was focused. Standing there was Mrs. Cooper, their Chemistry teacher and the Head of the Science Department. Her arms were folded, and her expression appeared to be a mix of disappointment and irritation. Behind her stood the petite figure of the girl who had stained his cheek red in the corridor.

Mrs. Cooper stared directly at Caden, commanding his attention. "Caden Miller, report to my office. Now," she ordered before swiftly exiting the room.

Ruby was also watching him, her lips forming a satisfied grin.

Mrs. Cooper tapped her knuckles on the polished surface of her table, trying to gain Caden's attention. Since they had entered her office, his gaze had been filled with animosity towards Ruby, while Ruby herself maintained a composed demeanor, looking straight ahead at her teacher.

Clearing her throat, Mrs. Cooper addressed Caden directly, holding Ruby's cellphone in her hand. The screen displayed a picture of Ruby with her chocolate and milk-drenched hair, taken before she had cleaned up. It served as evidence of the prank he had played on her.

Slowly and menacingly, Caden turned his head towards Ruby and replied, "Yes," with a hint of pride in his voice.

Mrs. Cooper pressed further, "Was anyone else involved?"

"No one. It was only me," he claimed, shouldering the blame entirely. Ruby couldn't help but wonder why he would lie and take all the responsibility upon himself.

But there was someone else involved-the person who had recorded the video.

Sighing, Mrs. Cooper rubbed her temples gently, showing signs of fatigue. "This kind of behavior is not tolerated at Willowbrook High School. Playing pranks on fellow students is strictly forbidden."

Caden argued, "It was a harmless prank."

Mrs. Cooper briefly glanced at Ruby, who stood with proper posture, her hands clasped together, maintaining a neutral expression. Then she shifted her gaze back to Caden, who had folded his arms across his chest, displaying impatience and anger.

"It wasn't harmless. Her hair was a mess," Mrs. Cooper emphasized, thrusting the cell phone forward to show him the incriminating photo.

Caden rolled his eyes dismissively.

"It took her an hour to clean up, and her jacket was ruined as well," Mrs. Cooper added, searching for more reasons to scold him. She couldn't help but feel that wasting a perfectly good milkshake should be a punishable offense.

"Ma'am, I missed the first lecture, and it's my first day here," Ruby interjected, unable to hold back.

"Yes, exactly," Mrs. Cooper nodded firmly, although she didn't entirely agree that it had caused any significant harm. After all, Mr. Smith wasn't known for being a particularly effective teacher.

Mrs. Cooper shook off the thought and focused on Caden, attempting to maintain a stern expression. "I have excused too many of your mischiefs. This, however, is too much and shouldn't go unpunished," she said, resting her elbows on the table. "But, if you apologize..."

Ruby couldn't approve. She didn't want to hear his apology. She wanted to see him face the consequences.

"I'm not sorry for what I did," Caden interrupted, cutting her off. "I don't feel any remorse," he confessed bluntly.

Mrs. Cooper shook her head in disbelief. His stubbornness seemed impenetrable. "Too bad, Caden Miller. You've just bought yourself a month of d-"

"Wait," he interjected. "Aren't you going to ask me what she did?"

Mrs. Cooper furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

"You didn't tell her? Maanya, right? Go on, tell her what you did," Caden gestured with his head.

Ruby knew this was coming. She had anticipated the repercussions of her actions, even though it had been in the heat of the moment.

"Ma'am, I... I was angry," Ruby began, her voice frail. "I didn't mean to do it, and I deeply regret my actions. I'm sorry for what I did."

Mrs. Cooper questioned, "What is 'it'?"

Caden knew she would take her time to confess, and by the time she did, Mrs. Cooper might view it as a mistake rather than a serious offense.

"She slapped me," he snapped, stepping closer and turning his face to give Mrs. Cooper a better view of his swollen cheek imprinted with Ruby's hand.

Mrs. Cooper's eyes widened in shock. "Violence isn't tolerated! How could you slap him?"

"Ma'am, I'm..."

"What she's done is worse because my cheek hurts. I couldn't pay attention to Mr. Smith because of the throbbing pain," Caden confessed, a smug satisfaction evident as he observed Ruby's helpless expression. It seemed as if she might break into tears at any moment.

"At least she's sorry for her mistake," Mrs. Cooper concluded.

Mistake. There it was again. He hated that word. Just because someone repented for their crime, did it make them any less of a criminal? His cheek might eventually stop hurting, but his wounded ego was beyond repair.

"You'll be serving detention, Caden. You're dismissed now."

After Mrs. Cooper dismissed Caden from her office, she informed Ruby that they needed to have a conversation. Caden's disappointment was evident as he groaned in frustration and left the room. Ruby stayed behind, her anxiety growing as she wondered what awaited her.

Mrs. Cooper, with a serious expression on her face, requested Ruby to take a seat. She began, "Ruby, what you did was unacceptable. Violence is never justified, regardless of the circumstances."

Ruby nodded, feeling the weight of her actions. "I understand, ma'am. It was a mistake, and I deeply regret it."

Mrs. Cooper sighed, her stern expression softening slightly. "Apologies are a first step, but they don't erase the consequences of your actions. Slapping another student is a serious offense, and it cannot go unpunished."

Ruby's heart sank as Mrs. Cooper continued, "You will also serve detention for a month, starting tomorrow, just like Caden."

Ruby felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. Part of her was glad that she wouldn't be the only one facing consequences, but another part dreaded the month of detention that lay ahead.

As Caden made his way back to the classroom for the second lecture, a mischievous smile spread across his lips. He saw an opportunity to bring his own version of justice. He knew Ruby's weak spot now, and he couldn't wait to exploit it.