The girl in the cheerleader uniform approached the front office. Ruby was well known at the school so the receptionist knew who she was. “Hi there Ruby. Do you have cheer practice this afternoon?” asked Miss Hollaway.
Kim Jacob’s had decided to pretend she was Ruby until she could get Karen alone. She answered as if she was Ruby “Yes, but I’m here to see Mrs Brown”
“Is she expecting you?”
“No”
“She’s very busy. Can it wait until tomorrow? There is evidently some sort of crisis happening. You haven’t seen Mr Jacobs or Mrs Hastie around by any chance have you?”
“I have actually. That’s what I want to see Mrs Brown about”
Miss Holloway picked up her phone. After a pause she said “Ruby Donaldson is here and wants to speak to you. It’s evidently about Mr Jacobs and Mrs Hastie”
10 seconds later the door to the VP’s office opened and Karen Brown appeared. She had a puzzled look on her face as she observed that Ruby had changed into a cheerleaders uniform. That was quick. Perhaps her mother had the uniform in the car? But why had the girl returned?
“Ruby? Back so soon? What did you need to tell me? Do you know where Mr Jacobs is?”
“I do” the girl replied. “Best if I tell you in your office” the cheerleader marched into Karen’s office without an invitation. The girl sat down on a chair and commanded Mrs Brown. “Shut the door and sit down. You are going to find what I tell you hard to believe”
Karen Brown paused for a moment and looked at the teenager. She did not appreciate the way the girl had addressed her. Her first inclination was to put the girl in her place. This girl had caused her enough trouble today already. However, she was intrigued to find out what Ruby knew about the headmaster and Mrs Hastie. She closed the door and moved slowly to her own seat behind her desk. She sat down, shuffled some papers then asked “Very well Ruby. What is it you need to tell me?”
“You won’t believe me but I’m not actually Ruby”
“No I don’t believe you. I suppose you want to tell me you are Gareth Jones”
The girl gained a puzzled expression “No. I’m Kim Jacobs”
Mrs Brown heaved a sigh of frustration. She had thought her troubles with Ruby had finished when the mother had taken the girl away -supposedly to a medical expert – but clearly not. “And why would I remotely consider that you are Mr Jacobs?”
“Because I am. And I can prove it”
“Ruby! Stop wasting my time! Do you know where Mr Jacobs is or not?”
“I do. Come with me to the infirmary. I’ll prove things to you”
‘Ruby! I have just spent the last 40 minutes in the infirmary as you well know. Mr Jacobs was not there”
“That’s because I am Mr Jacobs and I now look like Ruby Donaldson. And I’m not the only one affected. Mrs Hastie and Mr Cotter are now also duplicates of Ruby. They are waiting for me in the infirmary with the real Ruby Donaldson”
“Ten minutes ago you claimed to be Gareth Jones! You are just not making sense Ruby. Why did you come back? I thought you were off to see your father or step father or whoever he is”
“Are you saying Gareth Jones is also a copy of Ruby?” asked the cheerleader in a display of shock.
“You are not making any sense at all Ruby. How about we call an ambulance?”
“No! Come with me and I’ll show you” The girl left the chair and departed from the office. However, she paused outside the door “The infirmary! Now!”
Mrs Brown was angry now. She was sick and tired of Ruby Donaldson. How dare that girl command her to do anything! She fumed. “Ruby Donaldson! Get back here!”
But the cheerleader ignored her and walked away. Mrs Brown left her chair and went to the door. Miss Holloway must have heard her yelling at Ruby and had a shocked look on her face. Ruby had meanwhile stopped at the door that led towards the infirmary. The girl then had the cheek to say “Are you coming or not?” and went through that door. Mrs Brown followed in a fury.