The Ineffable Ruth Rhodes

18 a not-so-perfect plan

vincent

Vincent thought about Ruth a lot more these days, and it had a lot to do with the look on her face the night they went out as a group, as if she was disappointed in herself for... for living. For feeling happiness. He couldn't quite get the look on her face out of his head.

She'd caught him staring more times than he should've been caught, and every time he'd smile at her she'd switch from a frown to a small smile, and she'd scrunch her nose up at him and stick out a tongue. He thought he was going insane.

Vincent dialed the familiar number for no reason at all, waiting for the recognizable voice as his brain finally caught up to what he was doing.

"What?" she said. Ruth, said.

"That's no way to say hello, Ruth."

He wanted to tell her about how he'd gotten over Charlotte. The double date hadn't been the ideal scenario— but this phone call wasn't either. He didn't know why, but it felt monumental, as if the news would mean something to her. It was silly. They weren't actually friends, and didn't talk to each other unless necessary, but he felt as though telling her would mean something. Maybe when she found out she'd smile and say she was proud of him, or that she wished him happiness. The thought made him feel... warm, in a way he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"How rude of me— hello, dearest Vincent." He could hear the smile in her voice. It made him want to smile. "What do you need?"

"Are you free this Saturday?"

He'd tell her then. 

She whistled. "I'm specifically busy this Saturday."

"Oh?" he shifted, shoving the feelings of disappointment down. "What's going on Saturday?"

"It's kind of my birthday." She laughed.

She laughed. Like it was funny.

"Oh, really?" the gears in his head spun. "I didn't know, I'm sorry. What are you doing for your birthday?"

He imagined her shrugging over the other end of the line. "Spending time with family and Sumaiya if she's free. Nothing much. What are you doing Saturday?"

He thought up a lie. "I'm going out with a friend... I was just going to ask if you wanted to tag along, but it's okay."

"Oh! Then have fun," she said, and waited for a beat. "If that's all...?"

"Wait," he started, and reached for a piece of paper without thinking, "Can I have Sumaiya's number?"

"... Sumaiya? Why?"

"Ah, I have her in one of my classes, and I skipped it yesterday so..." he lied. He'd never skipped a class in his life. "I need the notes from that class."

She hesitantly told him the number, and he wrote it down and said goodbye. A few seconds later, he dialed another number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Vincent."

"Um..." it was as if she put the phone under a blanket or something to hide the sound, and then put it back up to her ear. "Yeah?"

"Do you know what's happening this Saturday?"

"If you're referring to Ruth's birthday, then yes."

"Okay, great. I have a plan."