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Chapter 15
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Reckless Hearts Chapter 16
Monday arrived sooner than Ruby would have liked. Fortunately, she had spent her weekend with her sister, indulging in their favorite guilty pleasure—binge-watching Gossip Girl and engaging in endless chatter about trivial matters. It was a blissful escape, allowing her to temporarily forget the challenges of being away from her family and adjusting to a new school. Yet, with the start of a new week, reality swiftly reminded her of its presence.Ruby received a summons from Mrs. Cooper, and her heart sank. The news of an incident in the canteen had already reached her ears, and she braced herself for the consequences. However, this time Mrs. Cooper decided to give her a stern warning, allowing her to escape with just a warning. The phrase "misbehavior isn't tolerated here" echoed in her mind, and Ruby couldn't help but wonder about the principal's own teenage days. There was a mischievous glint in Mrs. Cooper's eyes whenever she heard of pranks played on Mr. Smith, hinting at a rebell
Reckless Hearts Chapter 17
After an exhilarating hour of watching the intense football match, Ruby felt a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. As a mere spectator, the energy and excitement from the game had somehow drained her. She found herself thoroughly entertained by Luke's impressive goals, while also smirking at Caden's occasional skillful moves.Relieved that she had managed to dodge any stray balls that came her way, Ruby was thankful that the only casualty of the game was Joan, one of the cheerleaders, who had injured her arm. Although Ruby sympathized with Joan's misfortune, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that she had avoided a similar fate due to her quick reflexes.Throughout the game, Ruby had barely managed to read a few pages of the book she had borrowed from the library. The spark of excitement that had ignited within her while watching the match made it impossible for her to concentrate on the pages. She was captivated by the sheer passion and intensity of the sport, finally u
Reckless Hearts Chapter 18
"I can't believe I have to spend three hours like this," Ruby murmured under her breath, her lips downturned. She had a sinking feeling that she would come to regret her decision to come to the movie.Caden, with his intentional choice, had taken a seat right beside her. The seating arrangement was as follows: Daniel, Joan, Olivia, Florence, Caden, Ruby, and Luke at the corner. They had bought popcorn buckets and drinks, but Florence had already finished hers even before the movie began. She snatched Daniel's bucket with a disdainful scoff and remained silent throughout.For Ruby, the experience was far from enjoyable. They laughed at the jokes delivered by the actors, but the romantic scenes were particularly challenging for her to endure. Caden's constant gaze in her direction made her heart race, and she struggled to resist the temptation to look back at him, almost failing multiple times.During the intermission, most of them left to grab another round of popcorn, fortunately incl
Reckless Hearts Chapter 19
Laughter and giggles filled the air, with everyone except Caden joining in the lightheartedness. His focus remained fixed on Ruby, listening intently to every word she uttered.Ruby's smile slowly faded as she delved deeper into her response, her tone becoming more serious. "My thirst for knowledge has vanished, and I no longer believe that knowledge is power. I've lost my curiosity and independence. Instead, my life revolves around the guy I love, and I've become emotionally and financially dependent on him." A snort escaped her as she expressed her frustration. "I've taken people and life for granted," she concluded, punctuating her statement with a nod.A heavy silence hung in the air as the weight of her words settled among the group. Each person was lost in their own thoughts, temporarily unable to find the right words to respond.Breaking the silence, Ruby took the initiative. "Well, that wasn't too serious. Let's continue, shall we?"Caden, still captivated by Ruby's honesty, w
Reckless Hearts Chapter 20
Daniel continued pouring out his feelings, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and gratitude. "You understand me like nobody else does. You saw this coming, didn't you?" Frustration laced his words as he ran his fingers through his hair, his exasperation evident. "I don't say it often, but I want you to know that I consider myself incredibly lucky to have you by my side, always."Florence couldn't contain her joy and affection for him, her cheeks dimpling with a wide smile. She reached over and pinched his cheeks gently, her eyes welling up with happy tears. "Same pinch! You're truly the only constant presence in my life," she declared, her voice filled with genuine warmth.In response, he pulled her into a tight embrace, their bodies pressed close. Florence melted into his arms, resting her chin on his shoulder blade, cherishing the comforting closeness they shared. The embrace symbolized their unwavering bond and the depth of their connection.Suddenly, his tentative voice
Reckless Hearts Chapter 21
And just like that, a week had passed, and yet everything felt different for Ruby, despite the outward appearance of normalcy. Ever since she made the conscious decision to acknowledge and accept her feelings for Caden, he had become a constant presence in her thoughts. He seemed to weave his way into her dreams, appearing as a visitor in her subconscious mind. Her notepad was now adorned with absent-minded doodles, with the letter 'C' enclosed in a heart, a symbol of her infatuation. Despite her preoccupation with her crush, Ruby remained focused on her academics, recognizing the impending mid-term exams. She wasn't the type of girl to neglect her studies while indulging in romantic daydreams. Instead, she diligently worked day and night, taking detailed notes while others engaged in idle gossip. While her peers watched random football practices, she would often be found in the library, immersing herself in her studies. Although she longed to be there to support her best friend, Luke
Reckless Hearts Chapter 22
“It's nothing. Don't think about that!” she whispered to herself.She sighed over her erratically beating heart and heard his reply, "We started on the wrong foot. And it was my fault. I just didn't think you'd react that way. But I want to start fresh. I think you're smart. You managed to beat me in chem and—"Ruby interrupted him, "We had a competition?""You tell me, did we?" Ruby shook her head nonchalantly. He continued, "I believe smart people should stick together. So," He brought his hand forward. "I'm Caden. Welcome to Willowbrook."Ruby looked at him in confusion, hesitating before she shook his hand, managing a tiny smile. "Ruby Norman. Thank you for not spilling milkshakes on me this time."***"Why would she lie to me?" Ruby questioned, her voice filled with confusion and hurt.Luke sighed. “It’s not a big deal,” he assured her.Her surroundings were a chaotic blur, reflecting the turmoil within her mind. Observing the vibrant energy of her peers, she couldn't help but
Reckless Hearts Chapter 23
Paige entered the nearly empty classroom with a storm of anger. Heads turned to observe her as she marched purposefully towards Caden, who appeared completely clueless about the brewing storm. Olivia, with her usual nonchalant tone, remarked, "Satan's back. Wow," rolling her eyes in response to the dramatic entrance.Caden arched an eyebrow, uncertain of how to respond to Paige's sudden presence and obvious frustration. He awaited her next move, bracing himself for whatever was about to come.“I want to talk to you,” she told him.Caden’s response was dry. “Fine. Talk.”Paige let out a deep sigh of frustration, feeling a mix of offense and disappointment at Caden's lack of immediate attention. After being away for two whole weeks, she had expected him to be more attentive, clinging to her as he usually did. But his indifferent attitude was like a blow to her heart. Did this mean her suspicions derived from the pictures were true? Was he really over her?In a softer tone, Paige made an
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Reckless Hearts Chapter 62
Ruby woke up to the persistent buzz of her phone vibrating on her nightstand. She groaned, annoyed by the interruption to her sleep, and reached out to silence it. Her vision was blurred from sleep, and her mind was still foggy. As she squinted at the screen, she saw a flurry of texts and missed calls from various contacts. Her heart rate quickened with an undefined sense of dread, but her groggy mind couldn’t piece together what might have caused such urgency.Before she could delve into the messages, her bedroom door creaked open. The sound was eerily loud in the early morning silence, and Ruby looked up to see her sister, Riley, standing in the doorway. Riley's face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.“Ruby… are you up?” asked Riley, her voice too quiet, too held back.“Yeah, just,” Ruby answered hesitantly, dread filling the air. Ruby knew everything wasn't okay but she still put forward the question, “Is everything okay?” “Something bad has happened,” Riley revealed, her voice tre
Reckless Hearts Chapter 61
An hour later, Caden drove Ruby to Florence's house, the car humming softly beneath the weight of their shared silence. They had spent the past hour talking about everything and nothing at the same time. After their kiss, they had wandered through Willowbrook High, finding a quiet park bench where they sat. Caden had even shared stories from his childhood, making Ruby laugh more than she had in days. Caden told Ruby about the time he had gotten detention for sneaking a frog into the teacher's lounge as a prank. Ruby recounted her own mischief, like the time she accidentally set off the fire alarm trying to make popcorn in the science lab microwave.Every now and then, there was a comfortable silence where they simply enjoyed each other's company. As they pulled up outside Florence's house, Ruby turned to Caden. “Do you want to come in?” she asked, her voice soft.Caden shook his head gently. “I think it’s best not to overwhelm her. Besides, I have to go to a party hosted by one of my
Reckless Hearts Chapter 60
“Break her heart and you’re dead, grumpy boy,” Olivia told Caden, jabbing a finger at his chest before she walked away.For what seemed like a whole minute Ruby stood in her place, her heart pounding in her chest. She had her eyes glued on Caden who had his back to her as he watched Olivia walk away, out of their sight. What did Olivia mean? Why would she say that to Caden? Did Caden plan on asking her out?Ruby shook her head slowly, exhaling. This was not real. She subtly pinched herself, hissing as the pain reverberated through her arm. This was real. Caden Miller was here in front of her and he had sent Olivia away so he could talk to her. “Ruby?” Caden called out her name, nudging her arm gently. “Where did you get lost?” he asked as she shook herself back to reality. “No. Nowhere,” she answered, fumbling. “Walk with me?” he prompted, his voice careful. Was he nervous?Ruby nodded, gulping. As Ruby retraced her path, falling in footsteps beside Caden, she thought of how they
Reckless Hearts Chapter 59
Olivia had done her best to maintain her giggly, I-am-absolutely-okay-now facade. But the more she looked at Luke, the harder she found it to keep herself from breaking apart. He had outright rejected her. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain herself, although she was sure there was no explanation she could have given him. There’s never an explanation for crushing on someone. But whatever she felt for him had been more than just infatuation. Luke had been nice to her; he had been playful. He had made her so happy in such a short time. Maybe her subconscious couldn’t let her be that way and decided to ruin it. She wasn’t even sure how he had figured it out. Was that how obvious it was? Did she have it tattooed on her forehead? It had hurt so much when he’d said that it would never work. That she and him couldn’t be together. He wasn’t even ready to give it a chance. He had already made up his mind. And here Olivia was, begging to God to let him give her a single glance. As the d
Reckless Hearts Chapter 58
Ruby was a different person—she knew it the moment she stepped inside her classroom after the long-term break. Or maybe that was an exaggeration. Arguably, at least one-sixteenth of her was different. She had not given much thought to who had spiked her fruit punch at Florence’s house party over the break. She had spent it reasonably—mending her sistership with Riley over TV shows, hanging out at Olivia’s to help her with babysitting/the daycare, and, of course, daydreaming of being with Caden. That guy was always there, in some way. In some corner of her mind, he had found a place and he liked to remind her of it every now and then. But now, feeling the first wave of her classmates’ chatter pass through her, she suddenly found herself trying to discover who among them had done that to her. It could’ve ended horribly. Ruby wasn’t stupid. She knew why people spike drinks at a party. But to think it was random and not carefully selected was not something she could wrap her head around.
Reckless Hearts Chapter 57
Olivia was cheering, her voice piercing through the chilly evening air like a beacon. Her hands were raised high as she screamed, “Come on, Caden!” just as the football soared toward him. He was distracted—momentarily—but then, in the blink of an eye, his focus was back on the field.Luke sprinted forward, their eyes meeting for the briefest of seconds. Caden noticed the slightest nod from him. It was the signal. And he did exactly as they had planned.Anyone who blinked missed it—a clever maneuver they had practiced countless times. It was a strategy to confuse the opponent, and it worked perfectly. The ball was passed with precision, a deceptive flick to the side that sent the defenders scrambling. After two seconds, the sound of the whistle resounded across the field.Willowbrook had just kicked in the winning goal.The next few minutes were a blur for Caden. It wasn’t just him screaming for their victory but likely everyone else. The roar of the crowd, the crush of jubilant teammat
Reckless Hearts Chapter 56
Daniel’s mother opened the front door of the house. Her eyes widened the moment she saw Florence’s distraught face, but she quickly bit her lip and offered a smile. “Oh, hello, dear. Come inside. Dinner’s ready.”Florence tried her best to stretch her lips into a smile, but she failed terribly and could only cry. Daniel was supportive, guiding her in, his arm still protectively wrapped around her. He told his mom, “Can you bring our food upstairs?”“Of course,” his mother said, nodding. “Give me just a minute.”He guided Florence up the stairs, although she didn’t need it. Florence had been frequently visiting Daniel’s house ever since she was a baby. They had been playschool mates because their mothers had been childhood friends. However, the stark change in Florence’s mother’s behavior over the last few years had clearly affected her relationship with Daniel’s mother as well. The moment Florence stepped inside Daniel’s room, a question struck her mind. “Does your mom know that we’r
Reckless Hearts Chapter 55
Florence smiled against Daniel’s lips as he leaned in across his seat to kiss her. Something that started off as a soft peck on her lips made her heart flutter in a way that she found herself, pulling him closer by grabbing the collar of his shirt. “Woah,” he voiced, giving into the kiss. When Florence pulled apart, she was just fine, but Daniel was breathing hard. He blinked slowly twice, and from the look on his face, Florence knew she had sent him back to heaven and brought him right back into her car. They had been on their way back from Willowbrook’s second football match in the inter school championship. This one had ended on a high note—everyone had been holding their breath up until the last few seconds when Luke had thrown in the winning goal. Somewhere along the way, she had found herself unable to hold back—Daniel had been looking way too cute lately and all she wanted to do was kiss his face all day. Now as they sat staring at each other, the night quiet outside, an exci
Reckless Hearts Chapter 54
Six days into the term break, Ruby had started to feel restless. She had never spent so much of her time inside the house, not since she had first left for her boarding school. Riley had kept her company in the evenings upon returning from work. They watched teen dramas together, getting stuffed on popcorn as Riley gossiped about her co-workers. While Ruby’s days were spent immersed in the pile of books she owned—reading about bad boys that turned good for the girls they fell in love with; grey characters that struggled with making decisions; and why the stars were something to be fascinated about endlessly. The feeling was odd because she had always believed she enjoyed her own company. She’d never felt the need to be around other humans. It was because she missed school. She missed being on her toes with all the homework and classwork and assignments and presentations. She missed being surrounded by Olivia, Luke, Florence… and Caden. Although she had made up her mind to speak to C
