The Path to Hue

Part XXV

"Skyler, hey. It's really great to see you. Outside of class, I mean. Poppy tells me you took up tennis,"

"Uh, yeah. Lucky number 4, heh."

She's nervous to see me, does she see my hands trembling? I can't pull the nerve to even put them in my pockets.

"Um, do you wanna go for a ride? Ruby? We can take our food to the lookout point?"

"Yeah, that sounds great. I'll uh... My keys, they are in my pocket. Yep. I'm uh- I'm ready to go, heh..."

"Let me just grab a sweater. Thank you again, Sunny. For the food,"

"It's no problem! Go have fun! Maybe bring back some ice cream?"

Skyler smiles at the ground and nods, "For sure."

-

We're quiet until she changes the radio station, Olivia Rodrigo blasts and Sky leans onto the headrest. She seems exhausted. I wish I could read her mind.

"Hey, everything okay? You just had practice right?"

"Yeah, I got back to the dorms thirty minutes ago, but I'm okay. My feet hurt a bit.... And to be honest, I wasn't expecting to see you outside of class today."

"I understand. But um, I really wanted to talk to you about something,"

"Go ahead,"

"So. It's been about a month since you asked for space, and I've given you all I could within that time. And I'm sure you heard that Emerald's Halloween party is this Saturday. And I thought, maybe if you wanted to go... with me?"

"Ruby," she sighs, "this is the first time we've really talked in a bit. How about you ask me at the end of tonight?"

Does she have some sort of elaborate date set up for me? A movie? A bouquet of orange roses? It feels like it could happen at this rate, or am I reading too much into it? She can't possibly be that put together. How was she supposed to know I'd drop by her dorm?

"Tonight?" I say blushing, "Are we doing something tonight?"

"Why don't we go bowling? After we eat of course,"

"That sounds,, amazing actually."

"Great," she smiles, sipping from her chocolate milkshake.

-

"Two pairs of shoes please, a size 7 and a size 9,"

The bowling attendant hands us the two pairs as you tie your hair back. I can't help but feel my face turn pink.

"Your shoes madam," I say.

"Thank you Ruby, but don't be fooled. I am gonna destroy you. I was a bowling master back home, you can go and ask Colin yourself- shit. I didn't mean-"

"To bring him up? Skyler, it's okay. I'm uh... I'm actually starting to get over it," I smile. She laughs as she chooses the galaxy blue bowling ball,

"That's good, I am too," I grab the maroon ball, and look at my reflection within it. Are we, healing together?

"Loser buys the ice cream later, how's that sound?" She asks.

"I have a better idea," I clear my throat, "If I win: you go to the dance with me and you buy the ice cream,"

"And if I win?"

"Place your bet Bradshaw," I say smugly,

"If I win, you have to buy the ice cream and I'll consider going with you,"

"You've got a deal, but I'm ready to overthrow your bowling career," I chuckle.

-

"So... what made you wanna ask me to the dance?" Skyler says as I walk up to the lane.

"I just- haven't been able to take my mind off of you, even when I was seeing someone else. Sorry about that by the way..."

"Rubes, it's cool. We weren't together, I really don't blame you. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about you either,"

"What, really?"

"Well duh. I've just been emotionally unavailable, you know this!"

"Yeah, I do. So, has that changed?"

"Uh, yeah actually. The time away from you really helped, no offense. I think we both needed time to heal by ourselves. Even if it was just a few weeks," How is she this fucking perfect? I arch my shoulders back as my ball escapes my grasp, I knock down eight pins.

"Beat that!"

"Ha! Easy. Watch and learn Anderson," she stands and in less than 5 seconds, her ball strikes all ten pins. Fuck. She really is good.

-

It's my last turn and I need to get a strike, I'm ahead by two points. If I strike, there's no way she can get ahead of me. It's a make or break situation. Plus, I forgot my wallet at the dorm.

"Ruby! Just go!" Skyler giggles. Little does she know my dignity is riding on this. I breathe in and roll my lava-colored ball into the lane. It feels like everything is in slow motion. All the playful banter doesn't exist as it rolls towards the end of the lane. And just like that... I don't strike. I hit nine out of ten pins. Fuck. Now it's just a one point difference.

"Well, it's all up to me then huh?" Sky laughs. I look at her with dread. I'm gonna have to ask to borrow money, on top of losing too.

She steps up to the lane and gets ready to roll her ball, I can't bear to watch. But I can't look away either. But as I do, she rolls it into the gutter. I place my hands behind my head and exhale deeply.

"Skyler! What? How-?"

She turns and immediately kisses me, I'm shocked. But I melt into it, my hands reaching over her shoulders.

"I guess I have to go to the dance with you now," she grins, "any costume ideas for us?"

I can't speak, her eyes are sparkling. I lean into her again and run my hands through her hair. I can feel her smile on my lips.