Broken Wings

Chapter 5: Celebration Plans

Chris did not realize that Zureicka had watched him, while he was listening to Ruby and Claude's conversation. Zureicka could not wait to speak to Chris alone.

“Hello Chris and how are you doing today?" Chris did not recognize the voice behind him, so he turned around.

“Oh hello Zureicka, I am well and how are you?" he responded.

“Well, I'm doing better, now that I see you," Zureicka commented with a delighted smile on her lips.

Chris did not understand why she was talking to him. She usually never paid attention to him. “And why would you be so happy to be in my company?" Chris asked sarcastically.

Zureicka stepped closer and tugged at Chris' shirt sleeve. “Come along with me. I think we have something very important in common," Zureicka whispered to Chris. He did not have enough emotional strength to fight with her, because he felt depleted at that moment. What he had overheard in the cafeteria was a blow to his self-esteem and inner feelings. His knees felt weak.

Zureicka led Chris into the back of the hall, behind the curtains. He wondered what people would think about this if they saw them.

“What's the problem Zureicka?" Chris said with slight irritation in his voice. He had already heard that she was not mentally sound.

“Patience, just be patient," she said with her finger on Chris' lips.

“I think I want what you want," she said with a scheming look in her eyes.

“I think you are making a mistake, Zureicka. What have you heard? There must be a misunderstanding somewhere," Chris stated firmly.

“No Chris. You see, you want Ruby and I want Claude. I can help Ruby to notice you and you can help Claude to notice me," she stated boldly.

“I don't know what you're referring to, Zureicka. Ruby and Claude are individuals who can make up their own minds about what they want in life," Chris said and turned around to leave.

“Not so fast my friend. Either that, or we do something to make sure that they don't go to the Prom together. Don't be a wimp! Fight for what you want!" Zureicka said firmly, with a determined look on her face. Chris now realized that Claude had spoken the truth about her.

“Zureicka, that will not make either one of us happy," he pleaded, hoping to make her change her mind.

“Chris, I know how much you care about Ruby. If you don't cooperate, you will be sorry. Unfortunate events might befall your beloved Ruby," Zureicka stated with a sneering grin on her face. She was really malicious, Chris realized. He would have to warn Ruby. Perhaps he should tell Claude as well, Chris thought.

“Okay, I understand what you mean. No need for threats, somebody might be listening," Chris said with a finger across his lips. “We have to talk somewhere else. So how about meeting me in the park, before I go home tomorrow afternoon?"

“That's a plan. We can do that. But, no funny tricks," Zureicka warned with a wagging finger.

“I promise," Chris said as he turned around cautiously and then quickly walked in the direction of his classroom.

*

Chris was not so sure about what to expect from Prom anymore. It seemed like a disaster in the making. He decided to take a walk through the woods alone again, but not so late in the afternoon.

So Chris walked to the well and stood there thinking about all the years that he and Ruby had spent there. How was it possible that she was not also drawn to him? He asked himself. Could he possibly find a way to get her onto the same page? Chris then walked back through the woods slowly and lost in thought.

"Hey, look who's here!" he heard Ruby's voice. She and Claude were sitting under a tree.

"How's it Dude?" Claude said in greeting.

"Doing fine and you?" Chris replied.

"Oh we're doing fine. Actually talking about outfits for Prom. My dad's gonna send me something from France," Claude said. "Why don't you give me your measurements and he can get you a suit as well? No charge."

"Oh no, you don't have to worry. My mom said she would make me something. She's quite good with her sewing machine," Chris responded.

"No Chris. Don't let your mom go to that much trouble. Isn't it better to have something made in France?" Ruby advised.

"Yes, you're practically Ruby's brother. I want this for you," Claude said with an exaggerated pat on Chris' shoulder. "I will be so sad if you objected, my man."

"Okay, I promise to think about it very seriously," Chris responded. He could not pay attention to his injured pride right at that moment. He decided that now was a good time to talk about Zureicka's threats. Postponing would do no good.

“There's something very important which you need to know about," Chris told them with a serious expression on his face.

"Oh, what's that?" Ruby asked curiously.

"Zureicka came to me today and she asked me to help her in ambushing your plans for the Prom," Chris said very quickly. He had to get home soon, or his father would be upset about his neglected chores.

"What? She actually wants to ruin the Prom for me and Claude only?" Ruby asked with her eyes stretched wide.

"I told you she's a 'psycho'. And just how is she going to do this?" Claude asked.

"We're actually supposed to arrange this together tomorrow afternoon, after school," Chris informed them.

"Will you please tell us what she plans, so that I can tell my uncle? Maybe he can tell her father about this," Claude commented.

"Oh, her father's always on her side. I doubt if he will believe us," Ruby remarked.

"We have to try though," Claude said. "Her father was strict enough after he had to fetch her from my home because of threatening to harm me with a knife. He promised to get her into therapy."

"But why does she choose you as her accomplice?" Ruby asked.

"Well, it's because she knew that if she threatened to hurt you, I would be the one who was most likely to try and prevent that. I'm the only one that she can intimidate into helping her," Chris stated firmly.

"All right then. Thanks for telling us, Chris. We will be watching our backs," Claude promised.

"I have to go home to my chores now," Chris announced.

"Oh let's walk together. Maybe we can come up with plans to counter-effect whatever she's planning," Ruby suggested. So the three of them walked back with hurried steps.

*

When Chris arrived at home his mother was looking out for him. "Chris, you left your phone at home. Where were you? A girl called Zureicka wanted to talk to you," Chris' mother announced.

"Oh? What does she want? I don't usually talk to her," Chris responded.

That evening Chris was actually considering taking Claude up on his offer. A suit made in France would be great. But who was Chris going to take?

As he drifted off to sleep, Chris felt a whole lot better than he had earlier in the day.

He was woken up by a sound at his bedroom window. He rose slowly and checked outside. Was some bird lost, or something?

Chris looked through the window just as a small stone hit the glass. It wasn't a bird. At the bottom below, on the ground stood a girl with wild black hair which was blowing in the wind.