Rules Of Different Games

Chapter 3-Fishing Alone

Chapter

Ruth Finn

The subtle tones of water lapping against the edge of the lake were nice this fall night in Pine Creek Village. Too bad the fish hadn't been biting lately. I sat idle with the fishing pole my great grandpa George gave me last week wondering if there was anyone else having a horrible Friday.

"Ruthie, baby. Is that you?" I heard my dad scream.

"Yeah, what's up?" I stood, brushing off my ass of the leaves and dirt. Next time I come out here, I'm bringing a camping chair.

"Your sister needs a ride home." My dad, Shaun Finn, yelled from the cab of his truck, laughing when my mom giggled and made a waving motion.

"Uh, sorry to be Captain Obvious, but why aren't you going to get her? You're already driving around." I frowned at them, picking up my pole and tackle box.

"I'm drunk as shit. We were with Miranda. She allowed me to drive out here, but said I can't go to town." My dad laughed like he told me a great joke.

I laughed at him. "Why didn't she go? Miranda drives everywhere drunk." I shook my head at them.

"Just go, Ruthie. Maybe stay and have fun with the kids. I heard Brown will be there." My mom, Lena, said lightly, lighting a cig out the window as they spun Miranda's old Buick they were in around in the dirt and drove away from me.

My parents were insanely in love, but they were bad. Always getting into trouble with Miranda Finn, because my dad was her one and only grandchild. Not that she didn't adopt everyone in her path, but still. She was in her late 60s and they were in their 40s and all of them had better sex lives than me. Shit Miranda had two men living with her and always has. It's the damnedest thing. And then you have me, a girl who could get no one. And when I did try to get someone, or kiss them. Bad things happened. Lately, I just decided to give up on the world and became a little closed off.

I put my stuff in the bed of my new to me, used Ford I bought off my Uncle Tommy, and jumped into the driver's side. My sister Lou Anne hated my truck. Probably because she was jealous, but I paid for it with my own money so she could suck it. Maybe she should have spent the last 6 years of her life suffering through odd jobs and dealing with Miranda like I did if she wanted nice things. It wasn't my fault she never had a job or tried to do anything other than high school politics. We all can't be class president.

Nah, me and my identical twin were nothing alike. She used her beauty for power. I didn't use mine at all. I got so tired of looking like her and people thinking I was her that I started dying my white blonde hair black a few months ago when school started. And I don't plan on ever going blonde again. The black hair doesn't only separate us, but it also makes me feel dark. And I liked that, it keeps people at bay.

The homecoming party my sister was attending was at a kids' house named Riley Scottsdale. Riley was a cool dude and always had a small smile on his face. When we were kids, he used to bring Lou and I flowers every Friday to school. He was a cutie. And is currently my sister's boyfriend. I'm pretty sure the two of them are going to tie the knot someday. Which is fine by me, as long as she's happy.

I parked in the driveway of the big circular drive to the fancy country house and honked my horn. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, but she didn't answer. I hated this shit. If she called for a ride, why wasn't she answering? Grumbling to myself, I got out wondering if I even looked alright to go inside that house full of my peers.

I was wearing a tight white shirt with a black sports bra, with black joggers that were snug. I looked every bit as comfortable as I was and felt ridiculous because the people in that house were used to me in nice jeans and regular t-shirts. I liked to dress casually and go under the radar. With my hair up in a messy bun, and basically pj's, I guess that I was alright to go in. Ha.