“How long?”
I know what she’s asking and don’t pretend otherwise. “Since term four last year.”
“Term four?Eve.”
“I know. I’m a horrible person, aren’t I?” When Ruby doesn’t respond, I add, “you’re meant to say, ‘no you’re not.’”
She doesn’t smile.
“Anyway, I heard that Oliver and I … you know … and you came and there was a fight. I don’t remember what you said.”
“I said everything you’d expect,” Ruby says. “And you both went back to kissing. And Oliver wassuchan asshole.”
We arrive at the canteen and enter since it’s the middle of recess and there’s no line.
“I feel … used,” Ruby says. “Like you only hung out with me for Oliver.”
“Ruby, no. Not at all. You’re my best friend. Ihatedliking Oliver.”
“You did?” At the fridges, Ruby picks out a chocolate milk.
“Yeah. Ew. I hate having a crush on anyone. But I suppose Oliver is—”
“Whatever you’re going to say, don’t say it. You’re going to make me vomit.”
I smother a laugh. “Okay, fine. I won’t.”
To my delight, Ruby smiles. A second later, she sobers, her voice hard. “You know what really pissed me off, though, Eve? Oliver told me you guys went out to see a movie all the way in February! You went on a date and you never told me!”
My stomach sinks. “Shit. I’m sorry. I can’t explain that. I shouldn’t have lied. I mean, I didn’t tell you for the same reasons I didn’t tell you about liking Oliver,” I add, “but I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’ve kept so many things from me.”
I think of Noah and the Jealousy Pact. Oliver coming over yesterday. My stomach twists into knots.
At the counter, Ruby grabs an Anzac cookie before paying for her food.
Once back outside, I resume speaking. “I understand why you’re angry, Ruby, and why you ditched me at the party—”
She scoffs, and I can’t help firing up. “Let’s talk about that, though. How could you leave me there? Something could have happened to me!”
“Nothing would have happened to you, Eve, you had my brother, your knight in shining armour. And you had your best bud, Noah-fucking-Rosselli.”
I blink. “What’s wrong with Noah? And that's not the point. The point is that I wouldneverhave left you at a party alone, especially if we had plans and if you were drunk and vulnerable. Someone could have taken advantage of me!”
Guilt flashes in Ruby’s eyes. “That wouldn’t have happened. You had people to protect you.”
I eat my granola bar to stop myself from responding. Without either of us deciding on it, we sit in our usual spot under the oak tree.
After a minute of silence, Ruby speaks. “How did you get home?”
“I didn’t. I stayed with Noah.”
“People are saying you had sex with him.”
“Do you believe that?”
She appraises me. “No.”
