Free Leave it to Eva by Judi Curtin Page B

flatmates were all really nice.
    After dinner, Ruby described the principal of the school.
    ‘Her name is Mrs Armitage,’ she said. ‘And she is totally scary. Every time she issues an order everyone jumps – and that’s just the other teachers!’ When we’d stopped laughing she continued, ‘She has these cold grey eyes, like sea water on a freezing day. She looked at me once, and even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, I thought I was going to start crying, I was so scared. I soooo wouldn’t like to get onthe wrong side of her.’
    ‘That would never happen,’ said Jenny loyally. ‘As soon as she sees you swimming she’ll love you forever, I’m certain of it. Now we’d better get home, you need to be wide awake for your fitness tests tomorrow.’
    Andrea walked us the short distance home. He and Jenny walked ahead, and Ruby and I walked behind them.
    ‘I’m having such an amazing time,’ I said. ‘Thank you so much for inviting me.’
    ‘Thank you so much for coming,’ said Ruby. ‘I wouldn’t have dared to come without you. I hope you’re not missing anything too important or exciting in Seacove.’
    I hesitated. I still hadn’t told Ruby about what was happening to Kate. I knew she’d be kind and sympathetic, but something made me hold back. I felt like this was her special time, and telling her about Kate’s problems wouldn’t be fair. So I just smiled and said, ‘No. I’m notmissing anything at all in Seacove.’

    The next day Ruby’s fitness tests went really well. When I met her afterwards she was flushed and excited, and I thought she was going to float away with happiness.
    ‘When I came off the running track, Mrs Armitage actually spoke to me,’ she said. ‘She patted my arm and said “well done”. It was totally scary, but kind of amazing too.’
    ‘Why wouldn’t she say “well done” to you?’ I asked. ‘I bet you’re one of the best candidates there.’
    I half-expected Ruby to contradict me, but she didn’t. I turned and saw a slow smile spreading across her face.
    ‘You know, Eva, I’m beginning to think I can do this,’ she said.
    ‘Of course you can do this,’ I said, suddenly realising that even though I’d always believed inher, believing in herself was a totally new feeling for Ruby. I began to name items, pretending to tick them off an imaginary list, ‘Passport, tickets, phone, cool clothes, more cool clothes, some—’
    ‘What are you on about?’ asked Ruby, as I knew she would.
    I grinned. ‘I’m planning what to pack for the first weekend I come to visit you in London,’ I said.
    And Ruby just smiled, like that wasn’t a crazy dream – like it was really and truly going to happen.

Chapter Twelve
    O n the last day of the trials, though, Ruby’s excitement had completely evaporated. When we walked into the hallway that morning, we noticed that someone had slipped an envelope through the letterbox.
    ‘Oh, look,’ I said. ‘It’s got your name on it.’
    She ripped the envelope and pulled out a handmade card. She opened it and I read the caption inside –
Good Luck, Ruby. I know you can do it. Love from Andrea
.
    ‘That is so totally sweet,’ I said, but Ruby just shrugged.
    ‘Mmmm,’ she said vaguely, as she put thecard down on a shelf.
    As we sat at the breakfast table, she was really uptight and nervous. She barely touched the cereal Jenny had left out for her, as she anxiously tapped her fingers on the table.
    ‘You’ve got to eat,’ I said. ‘You need the energy – especially today.’
    So she took another spoonful and spent about ten minutes chewing it.
    In the end I gave up.
    ‘Come on,’ I said. ‘Start getting your stuff ready, or you’ll be late.’
    ‘Oh,’ she said, almost like she’d forgotten where she was supposed to be going and what time she was supposed to be there.
    I had no idea what was going on, but there was no time for a lengthy discussion. Ruby watched as I packed up her swimming bag for her, and