A month and two weeks later...

"Am fine Ruby, for God's sake, go back to L.A. Grant and I would join you there after handling your father's lawyers."

As Ma complained, I observed her closely, she was looking much better than a week ago. Her pale skin was reviving and she had started gaining her normal weight. Although her eyes and skin tone looked paler and her dry blonde hair was tied into a ponytail. I could tell she was trying to restart her life again after dad's death. Within the blink of an eye, a month and few weeks flew by.

I arched up one scattered eyebrow, "I want to stay back and help you guys settle in," I scoffed, focusing on the box labeled 'Grant's junk' "you are supposed to be happy am here, instead, I am getting lectured. Dad's lawyers can email the-"

"Ow!!"

I didn't get to finish before I received a smack on the head—my unkempt hair at that. If the press could see me now.

I whisked my head up, "Mum, what's that for?" I whined.

"For using the move as an excuse to stay away from L.A," she said frankly, leaving the living room to the kitchen.

"No am not," I denied a little too quickly. To stay away from L.A! Why would I stay away from L.A

Suddenly, Zach's face fluttered to mind. The kiss we shared moments before...

I shook my head, trying to get rid of Zach's related thoughts. Which I haven't made much success with over the last few weeks.

I stormed into the kitchen after her and leaned on the kitchen aisle, "am not running away, they're just things I feel like am ready to face but when I think about it or imagine it; it leaves me blank and back to a clean slate," I confessed.

It was the first time, I was conveying my innermost feelings. Not because she was my mum but because I was a sore loser.

Zach had come to offer his condolences along with the Jennings. When it was over, Zach made an attempt to talk to me and I brushed him off throughout the whole day, I made no move to talk to him by avoiding him.

By sundown, I decided to stop running and talk to him as I headed over, Johnny stopped me. He tried to make small talk with me and his parents. By the time I could get away from Johnny and his family, I couldn't help but scoffed a little as I walked away. Johnny never mentioned what when down in L.A or about been gay to his parents. And by the time I walked around the house twice, realization dawned on me, Zach had disappeared.

I tried calling many times to apologize but like I said earlier am a sore loser. I couldn't call him. Hell to let the phone even ring, I couldn't.

Ma didn't look the least touched, she had been trying—really trying hard—to understand my frequent moods wings the past few weeks.

"Well, congrats cause we are going to L.A in two days." My mouth hung open.

Flabbergasted, my jaw dropped, "wait what? B-b-bu-t-t Ma, why? What about Dad's lawyers"

"Because Drew's birthday is in three days and your father's lawyers are rounding up everything by tomorrow," she said, her voice cool.

Still, I stared at her. Was she crazy? The last time I was in L.A I asked her to move and she said no now she was eagerly moving? And why does she have Drew's birthday in mind and why was I just finding out?

As if she understood the confusion written all over my face, she smiled, "have been talking to your friend, Jersey Jennings, on Facebook for a while..."

"Wait, what?" I muttered under my breath. Suddenly, I remembered introducing the Jennings—along with Zach—to mum. All through that day, I glanced at them once in a while to see them talking in hushed tones and Ma mostly sniffing.

So that's how they became friends, I thought. But I couldn't go back yet, I wasn't ready to face the world. I had to try to convince her to stay longer.

Silently, I cleared my throat and did a few acting exercises in my mind. I was getting all ready to act the part of a sorrowful daughter, not that it actually worked on her, but I was willing to give it a try.

The hundredth time is a charm, right?

"Ma, in two days! You took this important decision without telling me. Am upset Mum, how could you," I sniffed, pacing around the room as a tear fell before speaking again, "I begged, no pleaded with you to move with me but you refused and now so quickly your moving? I haven't even," I stopped short. My acting was on a row, I shot Ma a quick glance and she was looking at me like I was the last piece of the puzzle in her life and she would do anything to have me.

Got you now mother!

"Even what?" She asked intrigued by my acting

"Even," immediately, my mind turned blank. Shit! I buried my face in the palm of my hands, I didn't think this through. I was so busy trying to give the best acting that I didn't think of a backdoor excuse.

My brows arched up, I had an idea. Proud at myself, I raised my head up boldly. "Even...said goodbye to the house or anybody yet. I haven't even done my laundry, pressed my clothes," I ranted. I spun around to face her then gripped her hand.

I never said it was a good plan.

"Mom," I whined, "please don't make me go. As for Drew, we can send him a card and cupcakes too as a cherry on top," I suggested sweetly.

Ma looked into my eyes for a minute, as if she was trying to get the truth from them and then she sighed.

I couldn't help but feel smug, Ma was actually listening to me for once.

Slowly, she pulled her hand away from my grip and dropped a sorta book next to me on the counter.

I blinked and exchanged glances with the book and her.

What was happening and why was I having a bad feeling that I wasn't going to like it?

"I understand, Sweetie,"

My surprise came out quickly, "you do?" Quickly realizing my mistake, I changed my tone, "you do? I know, you always get me Ma," I said more soberly.

She reached out clasped her hands over mine, "I do. That's why am doing what I think is best for you, Sweetie."

"So you want me to read?" I asked unbelievably.

She released my hands, my eyes moved over to the book resting on the counter. I looked at it more closely to find out it wasn't a book but it looked like a book. It was fat and white.

It was a binder, a big binder.

Was it what I thought it was?

Slowly and carefully, I reached out, my hands shaking at every stretch. My breath seized as I turned it over.

'You have got to be kidding me,' I said under my breath.

I picked it up and stared—hard—at her, "really Mum, this is the script for swapped up next episode."

"Yes. It came in the mail yesterday."

"But, but, Ma, am not ready to face...anyone yet."

She chuckled, "you have been facing Grant and me for weeks now."

"That's different," I argued.

"No, what's different about you now than before is that you're letting yourself down, you're letting the old Ruby down. So in two days, I expect you to leave on that plane with us and then go back to your career. I didn't raise you to be a loser, that's not what your father would want for you. You hear me?"

I nodded slowly, she was right. For days and weeks, I kept on making excuses, letting myself down, thinking that I am a loser. But I wasn't a loser, I was far from it, I was like a piece of a puzzle trying to get the perfect spot to fit in after been abandoned. But I wasn't abandoned, I allowed others to abandon me, to make me feel left out, deserted and alone.

"Where did you learn to talk like that Ma, from a TV show?" A bored voice rang out interrupting my thoughts.

Both our heads turned at the same time to see Grant leaning on the fridge next to the door.

I could not believe him, "you were spying on us?" I asked unbelievably.

"No, I just happen to walk in when you two were having your talk, Hi Ma."

Ma looked away and sighed again. I followed the direction of her eyes to see that the box labeled "Grant's junk" was the only thing that had left Grant's room and it was packed by Mom.

"You, come with me," she said as she stalked out of the kitchen, there was no question about who she beckoned because the culprit followed. Before she moved out of sight, Ma turned around, her dry hair almost getting loose from the ponytail, "remember, two days," she said and walked out.

Grant stopped too, he ran back into the kitchen to pick up an apple then threw a banana at me. Barely I avoided it and with eyes shining like slits, I got up to chase him when he ran out of the kitchen singing loudly.

"Zach and Ruby sitting on the tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

Soon his voice floated away and I grabbed the binder as I headed for the direction both of them followed—the stairs up to my room.

To start packing.