The Ineffable Ruth Rhodes

prelude

ruth

Ruth Rhodes ambled down the sidewalk leisurely, returning from her study session at a cafe just as the sun kissed the horizon.

She thought to call her father to pick her up, but she enjoyed looking at the sky as well as feeling the wind. it was peaceful. It was the reason she was late to class half the time also.

She was about to take a photo of the pink and blue scenery when she heard a call from behind her.

"Helloooo," the voice called.

Now, as she was quite used to drunk people by this time, she didn't think much of it. The smell of alcohol really irritated her nose in a way that made it itch, so she held her breath. But then the voice sounded closer.

"Hey— oh. You're really preeetty..."

On any other occasion, she would've smiled and said thank you, but she was kind of getting uncomfortable, so she continued walking down the path without paying much attention, although the person kept yelling a, "hellooo? anybody home?," giggling to themselves as if they made the joke of the century.

It was only when the person blocked her pathway, throwing out their arms as if she wasn't allowed to pass, that Ruth froze, because she realized she knew this person.

Everyone did.

With warm, but currently, clearly intoxicated brown eyes and light chestnut coloured champagne curls with a straight toothed smile that warmed a room, the features came together to make someone that was the spectacle of her school.

This person was Vincent Alderage.

"Caught up to you," he said. Then he giggled. Ruth watched silently, cocking her head at him in curiosity. She didn't know where he'd come from, as she hadn't heard any party music.

"Did you come here from a party?" she asked, half expecting a tangible answer.

He nodded vigorously— then stopped as if he was confused, and shook his head with fervour.

Yeah, he'll be fine, she decided, and plowed past him, but heard a loud thump and turned to see him on the ground.

Ruth rushed to him and bent down, pulling her braids behind her ear. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I think so." he shook his head as he got up. she got up too. Ruth assessed the situation for a second, then sighed.

"Phone," she told him softly with a hand outstretched, and he frowned like he'd never heard of the word before.

She patted him down, picking his phone from his left pocket (grateful it wouldn't have to progress to the... back) and sighing in relief when she saw the lack of password security. She went to his favorite contacts, and called the first number titled 'ale 😒'.

"Hello?" the person over the other end said tentatively. It was a female voice, low and smooth, but distinct enough that Ruth placed her at age 26 most.

"Hi, this is... a friend of Vincent's calling." she peered around the neighborhood mindlessly. "I found Vincent a little far out, but I don't see any parties around here, and he's really drunk."

"Drunk?" The line went silent for a second. "Wow, okay. Thanks for calling, love. What's your name?"

"Ruth," she said after contemplating. After all, she'd never meet this person, and she'd never speak to Vincent again, so there was no reason to call herself Liora.

"Thank you, Ruth. Whereabouts are you two right now?"

She ignored Vincent whining and clinging to her as she replied. "Around Mahogany Road," she replied, then turned to the house behind her. "House number 76. South East."

"Alright." she heard a bit of conversation, then keys. "I'll be there in twenty, in a black infinity. Thank you again."

"No need," she replied, and ended the call.

It was usually quiet, she noticed then. Her eyes dropped to Vincent, who was sitting with his legs crossed on the ground, hands flat on the pavement as he rocked back and forth with a boyish grin on his face. He kind of looked like an excited puppy.

"Hi, Ruth," he said.

"Hi Vincent," she replied, lips twitching as she crouched down to his level.

"Hey." He whispered, stopping his rocking and getting serious as he cupped his mouth. "C'mere. I have a secret I want to tell you."

"What's that?"

He leaned in real close, until she could smell the alcohol on his breath, and some of his curls were tickling her forehead.

"I have a plan," he said, then leaned away and broke into a giggle fit. Ruth was half genuinely interested and half bored as they waited for the lady over the phone to come, so she sat down as well.

"Yeah? What is it?"

He gestured for her to come closer. She did as he said. He waved his hand again. She came in closer, and then she could've sworn she could count each speck in his eyes.

She waited for the bomb of a plan, not knowing how long they sat there staring at each other, until he said it.

"I want a huuuuuug," he said instead with a frown, and didn't wait for her response before wrapping his arms around her. She froze at first, then gingerly pat his back.

She didn't know why, but as he hugged her, she felt sort of sad. As if his sadness was rubbing off her. "There there."

"You give warm hugs," he murmured, eyes shut. He had long eyelashes, she thought. they were beautiful. "I wish I could hug you all day."

"Thanks," she replied softly.

The two stayed like that until the lady over the phone came.