Page 7 of Coming Home to Crumbleton

‘Eww!’ huffed Lee. ‘But still… she’s pretty cute…’

Oli grabbed his end of the trunk and hefted it so that Lee had no choice but to take his own end again. With any luck, it would distract him enough to make him shut up and drop the subject. Oli really didn’t need a trip down memory lane where Lee decided to retrospectively lust after his ex-girlfriend… or ex-whatever Ruby was to him.

They’d never really put a label on what had happened between them. They’d never told anyone about it either – other than Caroline of course – but they hadn’t had much choice when it came to her. She was Ruby’s best friend - and his cousin. Add to that the fact she was also the nosiest person in Crumbleton and they hadn’t stood a chance of keeping it from her. Luckily enough, Caroline was also loyal to a fault and knew how to keep a secret.

It had been a magical summer – one where the pair of them rarely left their happy little bubble-for-two. Of course, the summer had ended with his first and only broken heart. Still – his time with Ruby had changed his life forever. He couldn’t deny that.

‘Dude, you sure you’re okay?’ said Lee, a look of real concern on his face as they continued their tortuous shuffle down the hill.

‘I’m fine!’ huffed Oli, taking another treacherous step backwards.

‘But… you’re puffing again, and you’re all red in the face!’ said Lee.

‘Just cursing Andy for choosing today of all days to work on that wonky patch of cobbles. If anything should be moved with the help of a van, it’s this monstrosity!’

Of course, his discomfort had nothing whatsoever to do with the three hundred steps they still had to face until they’d be able to load the blasted thing into the van waiting for them in the Dolphin and Anchor’s carpark. It did however have everything to do with the fact that right now, Ruby was probably heading to her parents’ house. Then she’d be wandering around Crumbleton… visiting the café… visiting the bookshop…

‘I can’t believe she’s back!’

Oops. That particular thought had escaped his lips.

Lee raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Right?’ he said. ‘Who’d have thought someone that successful would come back to this hole!’

‘Oi,’ huffed Oli. ‘I happen to love this hole.’

‘Of course you do,’ chuckled Lee. ‘But then, it turns out you’re as big a nerd as she is! Like… a nerd in jock’s clothing. Hey - maybe if she isn’t married and doesn’t have babies, you two nerds can get together and have little nerdletts!’

Oli promptly lost his grip on the trunk and almost dropped it on his toes.

‘Dude - watch it!’ laughed Lee. ‘Seriously man - you need to start working out more.’

‘You know, you don’t have to keep asking for my help whenever your grandmother sells something heavy and ropes you in to carry it down the hill!’ grunted Oli.

‘You know you love me really,’ said Lee with a grin.

‘Yeah… somewhere very deep down,’ sighed Oli, taking a deep breath before getting a better grip on the trunk. He needed to focus on what he was doing before one of them ended up getting hurt.

And there it was - the root of the problem. Whenever Ruby Hutchinson was anywhere near him, Oli lost his head… then his heart… and then he got hurt.

Well, at least their little encounter had sorted one thing out - six years apart hadn’t been quite the cure he’d been hoping for!

CHAPTER 4

RUBY

Ruby burst onto the cobbled high street, almost mowing down a little old lady in the process.

‘Steady on there, dear!’ said the woman, clutching Ruby’s arm - though whether it was to steady Ruby or herself was up for debate.

‘I’m so sorry!’ puffed Ruby, bringing her hand to her heart as though she might be able to calm both its erratic fluttering and the deep ache that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

‘No harm done,’ said the woman, peering closely at her. ‘Well, well, well, if it isn’t our very own Ruby!’

Ruby straightened up and took a better look at her victim’s face. ‘Mrs Barker!’ she said, recognition dawning… and noting with relief that this time it came with a warm bloom of affection rather than horror.

‘The one and only!’ said the woman, her face creasing like a paper bag as she grinned at Ruby. ‘I have to say, I can’t wait for your event. Got my ticket the minute they came out!’

‘Oh!’ said Ruby, not sure what else to say to say. ‘Erm… thank you. That’s nice.’

---