Hopesnare

in which ruth steals a banana

Ruth was awoken by Sean's failed attempt to untangle the two of them while letting Ruth sleep. They had fallen asleep cuddling, it seemed. To Ruth it didn't really matter, her

memory was always bad.

"What're you doing?" Ruth whined, clutching at Sean's hand when the boy tried to slip away.

"Getting ready," he replied in a pissy tone.

Ruth pouted. "Seany..."

"We cuddled all night!" Sean snapped. "I gotta go, I have stuff to do."

"Since when?" She tilted her head, doubtful.

Sean scowled. "I'm taking lessons."

"Lessons 'bout what?"

"English?" The boy seemed rather unsure of that.

Ruth lifted an eyebrow, making it clear she did not believe him. "I can help you with English, I studied all that to...." Her voice faltered. Then the girl shook her head and sat up a little straighter. "I know a lot about grammar and phonetics."

"Phonetics?"

Ruth stared at him in disbelief. "How the words are said. What are you, an idiot?"

Sean looked offended. "Hell no!"

"Then come back to bed like a sensible person," she told him quickly. "You stayed up late."

"We stayed up late," Sean corrected.

Ruth exhaled through her nose. "We."

"And no," he added. "And I do have things to do."

"No you don't."

"I do." Sean studied his friend. "I can't cuddle with you all the time. Why don't you ask Amie or your Hall friend?"

"Because!" Ruth exclaimed. "You're the best cuddler!"

Sean looked skeptical. She poked him, despite his swatting. "I give up. See you later." He then ran out his door before Ruth could react.

"Hey!" the girl cried, throwing back the covers and hurrying after him.

---

Sean's plan was to eat a quick little breakfast and get out as soon as possible. That way, Ruth, who was in no way a morning person, wouldn't get him back to bed. For the most part, it was foolproof.

Then a pair of arms snaked around his middle and he heard her humming into his back.

"Ruth," Sean groaned, turning around. She giggled when her linked hands "forced" her to lurch around him. "Ruuuuth."

Ruth moved to his front and grinned sleepily up at him. It suddenly occurred to him that Ruth wasn't necessarily rational when she was tired, and Sean began to realize that it would probably take a lot to get her off.

He grumbled and pushed her away, only to find that she had nabbed his banana. She took a smug, triumphant bite and he cringed because germs.

"What's the matter?" Ruth purred.

"That's the grossest thing I've seen you do," Sean replied, recoiling slightly.

Ruth stuck out her tongue, then continued to eat the banana. "Admit it, you got nothing to do. Except cuddle," she sang.

"Why do you even want to cuddle so badly?" Sean asked.

"I do not know," Ruth mused. "I guess it's because you're fun to cuddle with and you get all sleepy and cute." She yawned, almost as if to illustrate her point. "Plus you're really warm and comfy."

Sean stared at her. "Oh...kay."

Ruth, having finished the banana, moved to cling onto the boy's arm. "Or we can just nap."

"No, I do have things to do," he told her.

She pouted and leaned more on him. "Phooey."

"Are you going to let me go?" Sean inquired.

"Fine," Ruth grumbled, and released him.

"Thank you," he responded impatiently. At her sad expression, he sighed. "Aw, don't look at me like that. You can sleep in my bed again tonight, I guess." Sean mentally hit himself because again?! At this point she lived in his house half the week.

Ruth gave him a tired smile and thanked him.

"Now go get changed." He pointed to the bathroom.

"Aye-aye, Cap'n." She saluted mockingly and stumbled away.

Sean stared after her, regretting his life choices not for the first time.