"I'd had this notion there were two quite separate Ruths. There was one Ruth who was always trying to impress the veterans, who wouldn't hesitate to ignore me, Tommy, any of the others, if she thought we'd cramp her style. This was the Ruth I wasn't pleased with, the one I could see every day putting on airs and pretending-the Ruth who did the slap-on-the-elbow gesture. But the Ruth who sat beside me in my little attic room at the day's close, legs outstretched over the edge of my mattress, her steaming mug held in both her hands, that was the Ruth from Hailsham, and whatever had been happening during the day, I could just pick up with her where we'd left off the last time we'd sat together like that." page 129
Kathy juxtaposes her best friend, Ruth. First of all, this is an unusual juxtaposition because it is a single person being contrasted against herself. I think the author intended for this juxtaposition to reveal more dimensions about Ruth. I think it serves to indirectly characterize Ruth. From the juxtaposition, we can infer that she heavily concerned with the opinions of others. She even goes to the extent of copying the mannerisms of the veterans. But we see that there is still a side of her that isn't so superficial. Ruth still cares to pour her heart out to her most loyal friend, Kathy. This, I think, sets in stone Ruth's position as dynamic character.
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