Beautiful thieves

Chapter 5: Confidences and Promises

Her hair was flying around her face, as they were running, giggling. They climbed the old stairs, passing by more and more floors. Just when Ruby's legs started to ache, they reached the last floor, which was the 14th.

"Why are we here ?" Ruby asked, getting impatiente.

"Shh, come on, you'll see"

They walked a little, just a few steps. They reached what used to be a balcony. Ruby lost her breath. From where they were standing, you would see a great part of New York. Skyscrappers were surrounding the city, the lights escaping from them were lightening the whole city, blackened by the dominant night. It looked like a black a white movie, this time way brighter, with a few red spots in the sky. It was so impressive, Ruby couldn't take her eyes out of the beautiful skyline, savouring each look she gave. Alex looked at her, smiling. Ruby was beautiful tonight. Alex knew it. Slowly his heart was beating faster and faster. His hand, which haven't left Ruby's, tightened its grip.

Finally, Ruby's eyes met Alex's.

"Thank you for bringing me here" She said, eyes glittering

"Anytime" Alex smile

They sat down  next to each other,stopped holding hands, still staring at the skyline

"Why are you in New York ?" Alex suddenly asked after a moment of silence

"I need money"

"For what ?"

"Who cares ?"

"I do !" 

Alex really wanted to know why Ruby was in New York, and why she needed money so desperatly 

"My mother, she... She has a lung cancer.  All the shit started when I was, 6. my dad left us. I don't know my, my mom never told me. Ever since he left, my mother started smoking, a lot. 3 years ago she's been diagnosed with lung cancer. She sold all her jewelry to pay a part of the treatment. She had to quit working. We don't have much money anymore, and can't pay for the treatment she needs. That's why I'm here. I had enough, enough of seeing her getting worse and worse everyday, enough of this lack of money. I want to make as much money as possible, at least to pay the totality of the treatment...."

When Ruby stopped talking, Alex was speechless. She was so strong. Having to deal with an ill mother and having the strength to carry on... And she was brave enough to leave her mother for a while in order to make money to save her. 

"You're so stronge... You know, my mother died when I was 12, I'm 19 now, and I still miss her so much, I always will. She taught me to be grateful in life, enjoy what we have and fight for who we love. She died in a car crash... I was in the backsit. Sometimes I wish I was the one dying instead of her. Every sunday, I buy her flowers and put them on her grave. Sometimes I talk to her sometimes I don't..."

Ruby was staring at him all the time, listening carefully. The story touched her right in the heart, and a little tear ran down her blushing cheek. When Alex noticed, he quickly wiped the tear and pulled Ruby in a nice hug

"Shush, don't cry, please." Alex tried to calm Ruby down, but she cried even more.

He took her face in his hands, looking at her in the eyes while Ruby was stroking one of his hand.

"I promise to help you earning money, a lot of money. You're mother will be great, as long as you let me help you, you won't loose her, I swear" 

Alex's promise stopped Ruby's tears. She hugged him more. He then took her hand and they went home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex couldn't sleep tonight. What Ruby told him about her mother was heart breaking to him. He lost his mother, and he knew how it felt. He didn't want anyone in the world to feel this way, especially not Ruby. He sat down on the couch he used as a bed, and thought. He promised that he would earn a lot of money for Ruby's mother. But dealing drug won't help a lot. Suddenly, he had an idea. The kind of idea that smelled like big troubles, but that felt so right.