Chapter 7: Young Adults

Both girls were shocked and Lieschen let out a scream of terror at the sight of Zureicka with the gun in her hand. “Where did you get that?” Ruby asked involuntarily.

“None of your business! What are you doing here? Didn’t Chris carry out his orders?” Zureicka growled.

“What orders? How can Chris be involved in this? You are just mad! Put that down!” Ruby shouted. Lieschen was beginning to whimper.

“Oh shut up, you little kitten!” Zureicka shouted. At that moment, Marion peeped in at the bathroom and ran away. “Now see what you’ve done with your screeching?” Zureicka sneered. With that, she grabbed Lieschen and placed her arm across Lieschen’s neck, holding her tightly.

“Okay, Zureicka. This does not have to go so far,” Ruby said softly. “I know what this is about. You just wanted to be in the choir, didn’t you? But Mrs. Jones did not mean to reject you. Voice training is what you needed. That’s the only thing that kept you out of the choir."

“Then why didn’t she say so? No, she felt that I had no talent, that’s all,” Zureicka said. She was pointing the gun at Lieschen’s head. “Actually, it’s you I should be finishing off,” she said and pushed Lieschen away, on top of Ruby.

Lieschen suddenly kicked backward and knocked Zureicka against the wall, where she knocked her hand against it too and the gun fell out of her grip. Ruby grabbed Zureicka’s carefully styled hair and held on tightly.

“What’s going on in here?” the headmaster asked from the door. He saw the situation and grabbed Zureicka by her right forearm, lifted her up, and then carried her out of the bathroom, while she kicked and screamed.

Everyone else in the hall was shocked at the turnout of events. They did not expect any drama or scandal at the annual high school prom. The people at the other tables were abuzz with talk about what just happened.

“Wow, that’s actually sad,” Lieschen commented when they were all sitting down at their own table having dinner in the hall, a few minutes later. “Her dress was really stunning.”

“Oh, you had time to take notice of her dress?” Claude commented. "You sure have an eye for fashion.” Everyone else at the table laughed at this.

“I’m so relieved to be out of that bathroom and I’m so happy that school and crazy Zureicka days are over,” Ruby remarked.

“Let’s dance and enjoy the rest of the night,” Chris commented with his glass raised in a toast. “To the future!” he shouted and everyone else at their table joined him with their glasses up.

"Chris, did you promise Zureicka anything?" Ruby asked later when she and Chris were dancing together.

"Oh yes, I had to trick her into believing that I would drug you, at least," Chris said.

"Did she phone you?"

"Yes, she found a way of phoning even though she was grounded," Chris explained. The maid helped Zureicka to access her phone behind her dad’s back.

"Oh, but then she's not stupid, because she didn't trust you completely," Ruby said with a teasing smile.

"Let's forget about Zureicka. The night clearly does not belong to her," Chris stated as he gave Ruby another twirl on the dance floor.

*

The after-party was held at Claude’s home. The only people there were Chris, Ruby, Lieschen, Claude, and two Youth leaders from the local Church. “So you kids are going to University now,” Jim, the male youth leader commented. “I guess you’re going to see much less of each other in the following year. So let’s think back on the good events of the past year.”

“Ruby won many music contests,” Claude commented.

“Chris had a suit flown in from France,” Ruby added.

“I made new friends,” Lieschen said with a chuckle.

“Zureicka is finally in a place where she can’t harm any human or animal,” Chris mentioned with a huge sigh of relief.

“It’s a pity though,” Ruby commented. “All she needed was voice training. Not the madhouse.”

“Yes and a whole lot of talent,” Chris added with a giggle.

The group partied until the early morning hours.

*

Ruby and Chris went to enroll in University on the same day.

“Wow, we’re doing everything by ourselves. In the past our parents did all our enrollments,” Ruby commented as they entered the admissions hall.

“Yes, this is a whole new adventure,” Chris agreed. “My dad did warn me against wasting time though. So he will be watching my progress very carefully.”

“I am going to continue with local music competitions,” Ruby commented.

“Oh what a coincidence, running into the two of you,” Leroy said from behind Ruby.

“Oh hi Leroy,” Ruby greeted him in a sarcastic tone. “What are you enrolling for, after all? Is it still gonna be drama?”

“Sure! I’m going to Hollywood, people. That’s a promise,” Leroy announced with a big smile on his face.

“Well, I will be seeing you guys around,” Ruby declared and blew a kiss at the two young men, as she walked away.

Later that day, Claude was visiting Ruby at her home. They were sitting on the patio. “We have such heavy schedules,” Ruby declared. “We had better make a point of visiting each other at least twice a week. That’s the limit my dad gave me.

“Oh, my uncle said we could hang out three times a week,” Claude said smugly.

“So it’s gonna be a contest between our elders?” Ruby replied with her eyebrows raised, pretending to be alarmed.

“We can go out on the town on Friday’s and Saturday nights,” Claude suggested, while he twirled Ruby’s hair around his forefinger.

“It depends on how much study work we have though,” Ruby said in a serious tone of voice.

“We should make time for each other, otherwise we will be emotionally unbalanced as a couple you know?” Claude emphasized.

*

So they carried on for the following three years. They studied hard and Ruby did many practical examinations. She also participated in local music shows. Claude began to take frequent trips to France, for business training.

“When can I accompany you on a trip?" Ruby asked one afternoon, while they were studying together in the kitchen, at Ruby’s home.

“Haven’t you saved up enough from all your prize winnings?” Claude asked.

“I have, but you have to invite me, I think?” Ruby sounded confused.

“Well, then will you please accompany me on my trip for my first big fashion event in Paris next year?” Claude said, whilst looking into her eyes with a more serious expression.

“Okay. Now we’re talking. I might actually be going on a music trip there myself,” Ruby announced. “I was singing in Toronto one evening and someone in the audience was a talent scout. He contacted me after the show and arranged an interview with me. That’s when they offered me my first professional career contract. They are a classical band and so I just could not miss out on the chance of a lifetime,” Ruby explained.

“Are you only telling me about this now?” Claude asked. “I thought we were keeping each other updated about everything we did?”

“Oh, are you serious now? Claude, you’re up and down to France with your trips, so when do I get a chance to update you on anything?”

“I thought we had phones for that kind of thing,” Claude mumbled.

“Claude, I have as much to do as you,” Ruby complained.

“Ruby, I think your head is in the clouds with all your music success,” Claude declared.

“Wow, Claude. Do I detect a hint of resentment?” Ruby laughed.

“Okay, I see our relationship is a bit of a joke to you,” Claude commented in a hurt tone of voice.

“Oh sorry. Am I interrupting?” Chris asked from the kitchen door. Claude wondered how much Chris had heard.

Chris smiled at both his friends and sat down at the table. “How are your exams going, people?” he asked with a smile in their direction.

Claude, Leroy, Chris, Lieschen, and Ruby were at the same university because they were each in their own way emotionally attached to their village. The university was close by.

“Exams are great so far,” Ruby responded in a quiet tone of voice. She was feeling uncomfortable with both her friends for the first time since they had all met.

“Mine is going okay,” Claude said with a smile. Ruby wondered how he was really feeling.

“I think I’m the only one here who is not going to France next year,” Chris commented.

Claude looked at Ruby curiously. He wondered if he imagined a smug grin on Chris’ face. “Chris, did you know that Ruby was going to France next year?” he asked curiously. Chris and Ruby exchanged guilty looks.