Cigarettes and Skittles

Chapter 5

Before you read: This chapter is in Ruth’s point of view. From now on I’d be introducing some chapters from Ruth’s POV as well, which will be mentioned in the heading so as to avoid any confusion otherwise the chapter will be from Abel’s POV mostly. Happy reading!

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It was a lovely Sunday afternoon outside and I, in my room, am on the verge of losing my mind. I have already completed all my school work for the coming week and have even done house chores to pass some time. It’s been days since I went anywhere except from home to school and vice-versa. It's the weekend and I have nowhere to go since I had falling out with my ‘friends’ and am basically friendless at the moment. Despite being a huge nerd, for once, I am bored of reading books also. I want to go shopping, movie or even just to eat outside. Anything.

“Ruth! Can you come down for a minute” mom yelled from downstairs.

“Coming mom” I yelled back since it’s hard to hear from here. Sitting up, I adjusted my top and pulled my hair into a ponytail before going downstairs.

“I need this to be delivered to the nursing home. I promised I’ll send some sweets today but I’ve an appointment today and I’m already late. Sweetie can you please deliver these” hastily putting the cupcakes in a tupperware, she looked at me hopefully.

“Ehh why not? I’m bored anyway. Where is Cody?” The house is eerily quiet. Dad had already left after breakfast for whatever work and now mom is leaving too.

“He left some time ago to go over to his friend’s house for a school project” throwing on a jacket, she picked up her keys and looked at me “don’t forget to bring back the tupperware and check the lock before you go. Be safe and text me when you get there sweetie. Love you” smiling at me she left the house hurriedly.

Re-checking the lock, I pulled my jacket closer to retain my body heat. Although it’s sunny outside, the temperature is still low and the nipping air doesn’t help much. I pulled out my smartphone to look for the address my mom sent me, it's an hour bus ride from the nearest bus stop. Now if I actually would’ve gotten my licence the ride would’ve been cut by half. Anyway, I started my journey by foot as always as I put my earphones on with tupperware in my hands. Wow this day couldn’t get any lamer.

It was around 2 when I reached the nursing home. I texted mom to let her know that I did and to put her mind to ease. After spending some time with them, listening to their stories of youth and young love, I felt so good. Some of them had diabetes so they couldn’t enjoy the treats mom sent otherwise the rest of them enjoyed it. As I left the nursing home I couldn’t help but think about the helplessness of old age and the loneliness it brings with it. Martha, one of the old ladies there, was telling me about her husband. She met him in their late teen years and as she described herself she was quite the rebellious one. Her husband on the other hand was a decent fella. She told me how they balanced each other perfectly and about the perfect amount of good and bad they needed in their life. Although I don’t believe in things like this it was nice hearing the happiness in her voice as she recounted her youth she spent with her late husband. She told me they spent 57 years together when he died of some health complications and his death took a toll over her health. The longing in her eyes made me sad for her, I mean I can’t even imagine loving someone this much let alone losing someone I’ve been with for so many years. Looking around I realised I’m lost and that I had walked into the wrong neighbourhood. It looked like shady things happened here, I tightened my hands around the keys in my jacket and started to walk faster. As I was scared out of my wits of being in the wrong place, I saw a car coming towards me. Oh s**t! Please don’t be a r****t or a murderer or worse both. I started praying so hard and fear had me frozen in my place. The car passed by me, I took a sigh of relief when it stopped just near an alley. Please don’t be a killer. I sneaked a look to see 

“Max” I said a little too loud, probably out of relief that it wasn’t a killer. Daniel was also with him. They were the friends of Kai that I met that day in my aunt’s building, when that stupid Abel accused me of stalking him. 

“Hey candy girl! What are you doing here” Max shouted from there. He’s the sweetest one of them all. Shouldn’t I be asking the same question?

“I lost my way” I kind of shouted back embarrassingly since he was a little along the way on the street. “Hi Daniel!” I waved my hands in his direction which he waved back. They talked about something and Daniel went ahead and entered somewhere in the wall? It’s too dark to see something clearly from such a distance. Just as I thought that was all the interaction that’d happen between us and they don’t want my nose in their business, Max started walking in my direction. Thank god he did otherwise I had no idea where to go from here.

“Thank you for coming. For a minute there I thought you were going to leave me here. I have no idea how to get out of…...this...neighbourhood. Hey what happened? It’s okay if you have to be somewhere. I’ll manage” I absolutely have no idea how to manage but he looked really troubled about what to do. It seemed like he had some business here and I was getting in the way. As I started trudging along into the unknown, my jacket was tugged back.

“f**k it. Come along with me, I’ll give you a ride later” and he started pulling me by my jacket sleeve towards where Daniel disappeared. I panicked. I don’t want to witness drug deals or something. Now that I think I can wait for a cab or something, why didn’t I think about calling a cab. Stupid Ruth. I started to stop myself by trying to keep my shoes grounded. Max stopped to look at me questioningly.

“I don’t want to trouble you. I’ll just catch a cab.” and as I pulled out to look at my phone it had no reception. Max was peeking at my phone from behind.

“Well looks like you are coming with me afterall” this time I couldn’t think of an excuse to tell him so I silently followed behind him. As we neared the place where Daniel disappeared, a small door became visible in the dim light. The door was black and was situated so as to make it hard to notice in the night-time. As Max held the handle of the door he turned to look at me in all seriousness “You can’t say a word of what things you are going to witness here otherwise you may end up the same” I went paler if that was possible. What the hell are they doing in there? I don’t even want to know, I just want to reach my home safely and-

“I am kidding but yeah be cool” he laughed at my face and opened the door. I went in after him, still not fully convinced. We passed a long narrow path to reach a dimly lit room where Max opened a big, heavy-looking door. Crude slangs, curses and loud cheering filled my ears as we entered what looked like a sports arena? I had no idea they have a sports centre here but it’s probably something illegal that’s why it’s so hidden.

“Stay with me, it's a bit of a tough crowd here” Max shouted near my ear, making me jump up a little. I nodded my head in yes and held onto his sleeves as he made his way through all the shouting testosterone fueled men. As Max stopped, I looked up to see Daniel sitting there In boxing shorts smiling at me. Kai looked at me and then back at Max and took Max aside where they whisper-shouted about me being there, which I can hear completely. Regardless, I took a seat besides Daniel,

“Are you going to fight?” I ask him stupidly. Of course he’ll, I just needed to start a conversation to distract myself from all the loud surroundings.

“Yeah I am scheduled after 2 fights” he replied focusing somewhere else. I looked around to see Abel but couldn’t find him.

“Hey doesn’t Abel come here to-

My words got stuck in my throat as my eyes fell upon the center of the arena where a very sweaty Abel entered the ring in boxing shorts. Holy Fudge!