Shades of Summer (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 1)

by Joy Elbel

  “Everything’s fine.” Lie number two. “I’m just really tired.”

  “Okay….” Shelly hesitated like she wasn’t sure if she should ask the next question. But she did anyway. “How did everything go with Zach tonight?”

  I was in love with Zach and I wanted to shout it to the world but I couldn’t talk to Shelly about it. Considering the circumstances, I couldn’t tell anyone how I felt because admitting my feelings for Zach involved explaining why I now knew I could never be with him. And that was a secret I would have to take to my grave. A grave I would see sooner than I ever imagined if that thing felt like attacking me again. I couldn’t call it by its name because it was hard to look at that thing knowing it was someone I once loved.

  “Okay, I guess. The movie was good.” And there was lie number three. The biggest one so far. It was like describing the Grand Canyon as nothing more than a pot hole.

  “Just okay? He seems like a really nice boy. And boys sure didn’t look like that when I was your age, if you know what I mean!”

  Oh for real, did she seriously just admit to checking him out? I mean, he was easily the hottest guy ever but it was just gross to think of someone over the age of 30 admiring his…assets.

  “Yeah, we had fun, I guess.” It was hard to be casual when all I could think about was how amazing it felt when I was in his arms.

  “Well, there’s one thing about boys that hasn’t changed since I was young. And that’s how they act when they’re with a girl they really like. And Zach really likes you, Ruby. It’s been a rough year for you but I hope you’re ready to leave the past in the past. Zach could definitely help you with that.”

  There was a multitude of topics I never, ever wanted to discuss with Shelly and the conversation she was trying to have with me was included in that list.

  “I’m really tired. Can we talk about this some other time?” How about never, does that sound good for you?

  “Sure, some other time then.” She seemed pleased, like she actually thought I wanted to talk about it later. She really tried hard to give the impression that she cared, I’ll give her that much.

  “Okay, I’m going to bed now.” I dreaded going to my room but I didn’t know how to talk my way out of that one. My seemingly never ending supply of lies had just run out.

  “Wait, Ruby. I’m staying up to write—why don’t you just sleep on the couch here until morning so I can keep an eye on you? You can never be too cautious when it comes to head injuries. I’m sure your dad would agree.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was the real reason she wanted me to stay downstairs or not, but regardless of her motives, I was grateful. I desperately needed sleep and this was probably the only way I would get it tonight.

  “I suppose. I’m too tired to climb all those stairs anyway.” And that was the truth.

  “I’ll go get your pillow and a blanket and check in on Mimi and Coco. I’ll be right back.”

  I kicked off my shoes and stretched out on the couch. It was extra fluffy and I sank into it without hesitation. The overstuffed cushions wrapped around me, surrounding me with warmth and comfort. It made me think of Zach and how good it would feel if he were the one cradling me instead. Zach. I had to stop thinking about him now. The haunting got exponentially worse the closer I got to him—tonight was proof of that. Distancing myself from Zach was the only way to end it. But which was worse—being attacked or being alone? I wasn’t sure any more. As much as I wanted to be with Zach, Lee simply wasn’t going to allow it and I knew that for sure now. He nearly stopped my heart on the very same night that Zach started to breathe life back into it—that couldn’t be a coincidence.

  Shelly returned with my things and insisted on tucking me in. “How are Mimi and Coco?” I asked anxiously, as she adjusted my pillow for me. I was such a wreck earlier that I forgot all about them. Man, I was going to be a lousy mother someday. Wait. What was I thinking? If Lee wouldn’t even allow me to date, I would never even have an opportunity to be lousy.

  “Good. Both are sleeping soundly so you don’t have to worry about them. I’ll be at my desk if you need me, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks Shelly.” And I really meant it. Aside from scoping out my guy, she was totally cool to me tonight.

  “Oh, here.” She dug into her pocket and produced my cell phone. “I thought you might want to call Zach in the morning. Hearing his voice might make you feel better.”

  I took the phone wishing I could call him that very second. Instead, I placed the phone on the stand behind my head and curled deeper into my blanket. I laid there for a minute and then realized I forgot something.

  I popped my head up and said, “Goodnight, Shelly.”

  She stopped typing instantly. “Goodnight, Ruby. Sleep well.”

  I was certainly going to try.

  11. Weaving the Vines

  I woke up groggy and with a dull thudding ache in the back of my head. The first thing I did was reach for the bottle of painkillers on the stand beside the couch. My throat was dry but I popped one in and swallowed hard. I picked up my cell phone to check the time and found that I had two new texts. The first was from Rachel, wanting to know how things went with Zach after we left the drive-in. I bypassed it to check the other text and found that it was from Zach. My heart jumped up into my throat at the sight of it only to plummet all the way down to my stomach after remembering what happened after he dropped me off last night. I wanted to be with him so badly it hurt. Literally.

  His text was brief unlike the one from his sister. I chuckled to think that Rachel actually texted like she talked. Zach’s message was only one line: “Can I c u 2day?” He sent this message at 11:05 am. It was now 1:24 pm. I slept much longer than I thought. I was contemplating a response when my phone vibrated crazily in my hand. A new text. From Zach.

  He had more to say this time. “I really want 2 c u 2day. If I have 2 wait til 2moro, I’ll go crazy!” I put my phone down on the couch. I didn’t know what to say to him so I took the coward’s way out and I said nothing.

  Just then, Shelly walked in, obviously surprised to find me alert. “I thought you were never going to wake up! How does your head feel? Are you hungry, can I get you something to drink?” She was firing off questions so swiftly that I was getting whiplash just listening to her.

  “My head still hurts. I’m not hungry but I wouldn’t say no to some orange juice.” While Shelly went for the juice, my phone vibrated again. Another text. This one was from Rachel.

  “Where r u? Zach goin wild thinkin he did s’thin 2 make u mad last nite. Text him back b 4 I strangle him!!”

  What could I say to him? I couldn’t just tell him the truth. “I had a great time last night but when I got home I was attacked by my dead boyfriend and ended up with a gaping head wound. Now, I’m afraid that if I see you today, I’ll get beaten up again tonight. Or worse. However, I am madly in love with you and it just may be worth the pain. Love, Ruby.” Disgusted with my situation, I tossed my phone into the folds of my blanket and slowly sat up.

  Shelly came back with the orange juice and I used it as an excuse to ignore the text messages. Shelly took a look at my head and seemed satisfied that it looked better than it did the night before.

  “How did you sleep last night?” She had a sneaky smile on her face and immediately I knew that I must have been talking in my sleep. I did that sometimes, especially when I was really tired.

  “Good,” I said cautiously, afraid to ask what she heard but suspecting it had something to do with Zach.

  “I thought so. You kept repeating Zach’s name. You really like him, don’t you?” Suddenly, she was all giggly and acting like Rachel. No wonder Rachel liked her. She was Rachel, twenty years from now—blond hair, bubbly personality and all. It made my head hurt more just thinking about it.

  “He’s nice.” It was like describing Niagara Falls by just saying it was slightly moist. If there were words to describe how unbelievably amazing Zach was, they definitely weren’t
in my vocabulary. And I had a pretty extensive vocabulary for someone my age.

  “Just nice, huh? I think he really likes you. You should invite him over today—he might make you feel better.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he would make me feel better. But I couldn’t risk it. What would happen if he got hurt next time instead? As horrible as I felt now, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ever caused him pain. It happened with Lee—I refused to let it happen again.

  “I really don’t feel like having any visitors. I think I’ll just watch some TV or something.” Did I sound as sad as I felt? Ugh, I really needed to work on hiding my emotions better.

  “Okay. If you change your mind later, feel free to invite him over. I didn’t get any sleep last night so I’m going to grab a quick nap. Do you need anything before I lie down?”

  “No…thanks, though.” I spoke more to Shelly in the last fourteen hours than I usually spoke to her in a month. And frighteningly enough, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Or was that just my head injury talking? But I had to admit she was a real lifesaver last night. If I hadn’t slept downstairs in her study, who knows what might have happened.

  Shelly smiled and left to take her nap. I finished my orange juice and got up to stretch my legs. The pressure in my head was unbearable, forcing me back down onto the couch. Deciding not to fight the pain, I curled up with my blanket and ignored the muffled buzzing of my phone as I let the medication carry me back to sleep.

  The dream was different this time. I was running on the same path in the woods, toward the same stone structure, but the shadow was nowhere to be seen. Instead, standing on the curved stone staircase was someone in a black tux. Someone I recognized. It was Lee. He was beautiful but unreal somehow, like he too was made of stone. He smiled strangely at me, holding a single red rose in his left hand. I tried desperately to call out to him but I couldn’t make a sound. I shouted mutely, frantically searching for my voice. His smile faded as his lips morphed into a demonic grin. He pressed one finger to his lips, and hushed me mockingly.

  How could he be so cruel? A single bloody tear rolled down my cheek and across my lips. Wounded by his harshness, I tried to stop running. I didn’t know where to go—I just knew I needed to get far away from him. But to my horror, I found that my feet disobeyed, forcing me onward toward my tormentor instead. One by one, the crimson tears dripped down until my face was awash in my own blood. I would never get away from him, away from this place. Suddenly, something grabbed me from behind and shook me violently. Everything dissolved into blackness.

  I awoke to find Shelly with an iron grip on my shoulders, shaking me back to reality. It took me a few seconds to realize where I was and to stop screaming. My throat was raw and I felt worse than I did before. I knew that Shelly would ask me what I was dreaming about. What could I possibly tell her? The dream went beyond frightening and into darkness I’d never seen before coming to Rosewood. All I knew was that I was a hot mess and I couldn’t take very much more of all of this.

  “Ruby, are you okay?” she asked, her eyes wide with worry.

  I used to think she only tolerated me because she loved my dad. But I had to admit that she really seemed to care about me lately. I don’t know how I would have gotten through the night without her. It felt like my whole world turned upside down since moving to Charlotte’s Grove. Everything I thought I knew was turning out to be wrong. So this was what insanity felt like.

  “Yeah, I just had a bad dream.” My head was pounding so I downed another painkiller.

  “You’ve been having a lot of nightmares. Is it the same dream every time?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t remember.” My voice was ragged and faltering. There was no hope of hiding my emotions this time.

  “I’m worried about you. Something’s wrong. I don’t know what it is but something is definitely wrong. You can tell me anything, you know.”

  Shelly wasn’t going to let it go until she found out the truth. Dammit! She needed to save the detective work for her book.

  “I’m fine. I just think the painkillers are messing with my head.” Dad would buy that excuse but I figured that the bloodhound might not be so easy to convince. I was right.

  “Okay, that might explain tonight. But what about the other nights? You weren’t taking any pills then.”

  “It’s probably just the stress of the move. It’s not hard to damage the fragile psyche of a teenager, you know.” It was exactly the kind of answer I would normally give Shelly and I somehow even managed to utter that fact with the appropriate amount of sarcasm.

  “Fragile psyche my ass! I don’t know what’s going on with you but I have noticed that you seem normal and happy when you spend time with Zach. Give him a call. Your phone’s been vibrating all day. I’d be willing to bet that most of those texts have been from him. Invite him over to watch a movie or something.” I picked up my phone to see that she was wrong—there were five new texts, but four were from Rachel and only one was from Zach.

  I checked my messages as Shelly droned on with more reasons why I should invite him over. The texts from Rachel grew more intense with each message. She wanted to know what was wrong and what happened between me and Zach after the drive-in. Zach’s text nearly broke my heart. “If I did something 2 upset u, plz tell me so I can make it rite. I don’t want 2 lose u.”

  Unable to take it anymore, I finally gave in and texted them both back. “Sorry guys. Don’t feel good—slept all day.” I sent the same message to both of them. What I really wanted to say to Zach couldn’t be expressed through a QWERTY keypad. I barely hit send when they were already buzzing back replies.

  Rachel hoped that I would be okay by morning—she wanted details about my night with Zach, ASAP. Typical Rachel. Zach wanted to know if there was anything he could do to make me feel better. And of course, typical Zach. I wanted to ask him to pick me up and take me somewhere safe but I knew that I would pay for every glorious moment spent with him. I couldn’t stay away from home forever and I was seriously afraid of what Lee would do to me when I finally had to return.

  Shelly leaned over to read Zach’s text and smiled victoriously. “I told you he liked you.”

  I ignored her and continued to type my reply. I told him I had the stomach flu and I just needed to get some rest.

  Shelly’s hawk eyes caught every word I keyed and she scolded me for lying to him. “Why didn’t you tell him the truth?” she questioned.

  “If I told him the truth, he would worry about me.” I clicked send figuring the problem was solved. The sound of footsteps in the entrance hall signaled that my dad was finally home from work. It was almost eight o’clock.

  “Lies have a way of revealing themselves, Ruby. And if he really likes you, he’ll be worried anyway,” Shelly said as she went to greet my dad. I was starting to wonder if Shelly was on the Zach Mason for Boyfriend Committee’s payroll.

  My phone buzzed again. I looked at the message, cursing to myself that Shelly was right. Did I need him to bring me anything? Did I want him to come sit with me for a while? What I wanted and what I could have were two different things. I wanted him here with me, to hold me while I slept.

  What I told him was, “no thnx—all I need is sleep”.

  So once again, I analyzed the situation. There seemed to be a definite, undeniable pattern. The closer I got to Zach, the more intense the haunting seemed to get. Haunting. It was a tough word to use in connection with someone I loved so much and for so many years of my life. I needed to spend some time away from Zach before I ended up with Lee permanently.

  I was feeling brave after turning Zach away, optimistic that maybe things would be okay if I stayed away from him so I made the long walk up to the attic. When I opened the door, the room was warm and peaceful. Shelly cleaned up the mess on the floor so there wasn’t a trace of the horrors I endured there. Mimi and Coco ran to meet me and I felt awful for leaving them alone so much lately. I sat down on the futon and they both curled up nex
t to me happily.

  A soft knock on the door caused me to nearly jump out of my skin. “Ruby, is there anything I can do for you before I go to bed?” Dad called from the hallway.

  I opened the door just a crack and did my best to look miserable. Not hard to manage. “There is one thing. I don’t feel like going to the shelter in the morning. Would you mind calling Andy for me?” Just one more day away from Zach was all I needed to get myself under control. One more day and I would be over him for good.

  “Absolutely. Don’t forget to let your friends know that you don’t need a ride in the morning. I’m glad you’re okay.” He gave me an awkward pat on the shoulder and walked away.

  Glad you’re okay? He was my father! He was supposed to come in and fluff my pillow before tucking me in, offer to read me a bedtime story even though I was way too old for things like that. Something changed between us after the accident but I didn’t know what. Or why.

  Resisting the urge to slam the door, I took a deep breath and pushed it shut slowly. I turned on the TV and crafted one last text to Rachel and Zach both.

  “Won’t need ride 2moro. Staying home til I feel better. Ttyl.” I turned off my phone and enjoyed a quiet evening in my room alone with Mimi and Coco because no Zach also meant no Lee.

  12. White Knight in a Red Neon

  Monday went by quietly. I missed Zach and Rachel but the peace was well needed. So well needed that I asked my Dad if I could stay home again the next day and he consented. I fielded multiple texts from both of them, Zach growing more worried with each. He even offered to bring me chicken soup if I was up to eating it. Could there possibly be another boy on the face of this earth who would bring me soup to make me feel better? Probably not and it made me want to be with him even more. Which was exactly why I politely declined the offer and told him I would be staying home again the next day. His response? “Get well, sweetie.” Why did he have to be so perfect? Avoiding him would be so much easier if he were just a normal teenage boy.