The Ineffable Ruth Rhodes

45 i promise

The months leading up to Ruth Rhodes' departure from Vincent Alderage passed in the same way a car passes a cyclist on a highway, or the way the birds glide past everything once they take flight.

The first month went by hastily, with midnight ice cream dates and seeing who the better Mario Kart Player was.

It was the first month when Vincent was sitting on Ruth's patio, watching her swat away a bee annoyedly with his head in his palm as they looked over their schedules for the second semester.

Vincent looked over her shoulder, swatting the bee away for her. "What do you have?"

"Thank you. And..." She checked his schedule. "HL History. We both have-- oh, no, you don't."

"Should I switch?" he asked her, raising a brow.

She shook her head. "It's okay."

"You sure?"

She nodded. "We still have science together so it's okay."

He showed her his paper.

She frowned. "Oof. HL physics. Are you insane?"

He grinned, and she did too. "Just a little."

"That smile," Ruth said, tsking with a shake of her head, "Is very dangerous."

"Yeah?" his grin turned cocky.

"Yeah," she said, pulling him in, eyes on his lips.

"Ruth! Food's ready," Gabi called, peeking her head out the door. She arched a brow when the two jumped apart. "Oh? My bad, continue."

Vincent blinked at Ruth for a moment after Gabi left, then both broke into a fit of laughter. She was happier, these days.

They all were. It was contagious.

And the time she spent being happy, got more and more enjoyable the more she allowed herself to feel it. Even with the looming reminder that she'd have to leave Vincent in a matter of time, and the nagging feeling both of them felt but never spoke about.

"Let's eat, yeah?" Vincent said, pulling her arm, and she trailed after him, dragging her feet.

MARCH

It was 11 a.m. when Ruth was cramming and received a call from Vincent.

"You know how we're supposed to meet up and study in a couple hours?"

Ruth hummed, nodding out of habit. "Mhm."

"I kinda just want to spend time with you."

She was already standing and grabbing her things. "I'll be there in fifteen."

—-

He answered the door with a smile.

"You look very cute in that shirt," he said as a hello, and hugged her.

"It's your sweater, baby," she said, and kissed his cheek as she passed him.

He followed her, holding her waist as they walked up the stairs, laughing when they tripped over each other's feet.

"I like that I can call you over here whenever I want and it isn't weird," Vincent said once he'd sat beside her on his bed. "I like that this is real."

Ruth sat up, pulling a hairband out and tying her hair up. "Me too. I always wanted to invite you out but half the time I couldn't think of a good enough excuse. The other half the time I was too embarrassed to say anything."