The Ineffable Ruth Rhodes

21 minding you

ruth

Ruth blinked at her screen severally, eyes narrowing every time her head did a backflip. Every time she moved in her bed, the pain in her head only multiplied, telling her to stop her work and just get some rest. But she couldn't really afford to hand her essay in late, and she wanted to be caught up when she returned to school.

It'd been a week since her mock birthday party, and since the gift Vincent had given her-- a star shaped jeweled necklace that looked like it costed the same amount as her college admissions... totaled up together.

But it was stunning.

The only reason she wasn't wearing it then was because she was afraid she'd throw up and some of the leftover would somehow touch it.

She shivered at the thought.

She brought a glass of water to her lips, about to give up on the essay and just rest when she heard three knocks on her room door.

"Who is it?" she croaked.

No reply.

Slowly, Ruth sat up, taking her time to open the door.

Standing there, was the last person she was expecting.

"Hey, Ruth."

"You're... in my house," she said dumbly, trying to remember where she was and how to breathe, "Hi."

Vincent smiled slowly, like a sun rising at the brink of dusk, and said softly, "Hi."

"Why are you here?" She blinked out of her haze. "Who let you in?"

"Your sister. I told her I was a worried friend." It was then that his facial expression changed, as if he was scrutinizing her. "You've been gone all week. You look really sick, Ruth. Does Sumaiya know about this?"

She started to shake her head, but it felt like someone was smashing a hammer over her head and she paused to wince.

"No, Sumaiya doesn't know," she sighed. "And don't tell her. She's re-doing her midterms this week and I don't want to bother her to take care of me."

"Is it a cold?"

"No," she grimaced, knowing how he'd respond to her next words. "I think it's a fever."

He studied her, smile slipping off his face. "Since when?"

Ruth pursed her lips, eyes on the ceiling. "Not long ago."

"It was the rain, wasn't it?" he said, as if it wasn't a question. "You haven't been to school since then— we haven't even talked since the... gallery."

Ruth tried not to think about the events before she started feeling all giddy for no reason, and shrugged slightly with a weak smile. "I'm really sensitive to cold, so."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, frowning slightly. "You should've told me."

She managed another small smile. "I prefer the cold weather, anyway. Thanks for checking in on me." Then she turned and stalked back to her bed and placed her chromebook on her lap. Vincent followed her.

"Ruth?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you doing?"

Ruth peered over at him. "I'm working...?"

"You're sick."

"I'm not that sick—"

Ruth was, indeed, that sick.

"Your eyes have bags the size of a miniature saucer. The ones they use for cake slices in those fancy places."

"So now you're insulting me."