Summer in the City

Chapter 4 - Hot In The City

Anna

Ruth was a blast to Anna. They were together almost every night just starting off with Anna going to see Ruth perform at different clubs. And even visiting Milango's club a couple times. They would always meet up after Ruth's gigs to walk around the city and visit different places and run around in the dark together. When she wasn't with Ruth, Anna was in her room listening to her radio, hearing about some candidate for the city and listening to music.Today Ruth was free and had told Anna to meet her in front of the Rxy Club. It was only the afternoon, she was so used to seeing Ruth during the day, that when she turned the corner and saw Ruth standing in front of the Roxy with her leather get up it kind of surprised her.

Anna followed Ruth around the city, unsure exactly where they were going and after going around in circles Ruth stopped in front of some kind of clothing shop with mannequins and hangers in the front of the business.. She stood a distance away as she turned around and placed her hands in her black jacket pockets. She put her tongue against the inside of her cheek as she looked around suspiciously. She looked both ways on the sidewalk to barely see people minding their business as they walked by. Anna looked around in confusion.

"Who are you looking for?" She asked slowly as she began to look around too.Ruth shook her head,

"Nobody." Ruth then finally turned to look at Anna and moved her eyesight quickly to the store front. Anna tried following her and only turned to the hats hanging in the store front. Anna confusingly returned her gaze to Ruth,

"What?" she asked, Ruth slightly sighed,

"Take it." She said quietly.

Anna furrowed her eyebrows,

"What?" She asked, turning her head to the racks of hats outside. Ruth took her hands out of her pocket in frustration and pointed without looking,

"Take it."

"You're talking about stealing?" Asked Anna

 "Anna it's a fucking hat. Listen this is a life lesson. When would be the next time you'll be able to steal something huh? And get away with it? Look." Said Ruth pointing to the owner in the inside who's back was turned toward the opposite side of the store

"He's busy, won't even notice. C'mon. We're running out of time here. You've got to learn to be quick and slick."

Anna looked back inside and she bit her lip nervously

"Okay, quick and slick." Said Anna quietly stepping closer to the storefront as she began to look around. She checked the prices of the hats quickly,

"Anna, we're not here to actually buy." Whispered Ruth

 Anna took a hold of a red one that seemed cheaper than the others, she took it in hand and looked around the area and Ruth picked a white floral one and did the same. Ruth suddenly turned around and jogged till the end of the street laughing. Anna followed behind, with the hat in hand, she was able to take te white tag off of it as she chased Ruth in the New York sidewalks. Careful to not bump into anyone else. Ruth quickly ran down the stairs of the subway, and When she finally reached below and Anna had caught up, Ruth placed her arm over Anna's shoulders,     "See," She said calmly, as Anna took strong breaths,

"Easy peasy." She said as she placed the floral hat on her head. She had the white tag dangling in her face

Ruth and Anna walked down the street together laughing as they finally reached it up the city again after they left the subway. The subway was dark and full of graffiti, people looked suspiciously at them, as if that wasn't their area so they left as soon as they could. Up in the city again, they seemed to be in a different part of town, where there was much less bright lights and small businesses, just a lot of tall old buildings, and soon Ruth became stiff as she stared up at a white luminescent building, that had large windows, with bars on them.