Friend in Distress

"Ruth, guess what?" Christine jumped in excitement a few days after her interview.

Ruth who was surfing her social media pages turned a bored eye to her friend. "What? You have been dis-virgin?"

Christine rolled her eyes and said, "don't be silly Ruth! I actually got the job!"

"Oh," Ruth said and returned to surfing her pages. "Congratulations love," She added.

Christine was used to Ruth's reactions by now so it didn't bother her. Ruth was only interested in news that had to do with boys or shopping for new dresses. Any other thing was left on the garbage can of her brain. She paid zero attention to it. Christine didn't care.

She had finally gotten her dream job just a few days after her graduation. She felt over the moon. She hummed to herself as she searched through her closet for a simple dress she could go out with. She had to give herself a treat. Not every graduate made this much progress in their career just a few days after graduation.

She knew working for the Davies wasn't going to be easy as Ruth's parents were exactly like her if not much worst. But Christine was determined to focus on her job and make the best of her career. She had survived being with Ruth for almost five years now. She would be able to handle her parents as well.

She went to the bathroom and took a quick shower and then came back to put on her dress. After which she walked to the dressing table and started finger de-tangling her thick curls. She didn't have the luxury of always going to a salon like Ruth but she could only make do with what she had.

"Where are you going?" Ruth suddenly asked as she finally noticed that Christine was all dressed up. "Don't tell me you are resuming today?"

Christine smiled at her through the mirror before replying, "I am going out."

Ruth rolled off the bed at this revelation and stared at Christine with full focus. "You can't go out," She blurted out with a straight face and Christine's fingers stopped their movements in her hair.

"Why can't I?" She asked.

Ruth closed her eyes as if trying to put together her thoughts. "Chris, I am sorry to ruin your plans but I need your help..." She stated.

Christine turned to stare at her directly. Maybe it was the mirror transmitting the wrong message to her. "Is something wrong Ruth?"

"Yeah," she said taking another deep breath. "Daddy has actually gotten me another apartment. You know since we are no longer in school and you now have a job that comes with an apartment... He wants me to stay somewhere else. And I wanted you to help me with the packing today," she said in one breath.

Christine blinked hard at this confession. Ruth could literally call the movers to help her with her moving. And besides, there was no hurry, why did she want to do it now?

"Ruth, I just wanted to take myself out on a date to celebrate the job appointment..." Christine started to say but Ruth cut her off.

"And I swear we will celebrate it okay! We will but not today. There are so many things I need help with... I am so overwhelmed Christine. How do you do it?"

Ruth got off the bed and held Christine by the arm, "you are all I have," She said with a small pout.

Being the good girl she was, Christine gave in. She could always have her celebration time some other time. "Okay, I'll help you out."

"Great!" Ruth exclaimed giving her a tight hug. "Come let's go!"

She pulled Christine to her bedroom and pointed to the closet where her clothes were neatly kept in the drawers and hangers like in a dress store. "Help fold them into the bags," she instructed.

They started folding the clothes together until Ruth's phone rang out and it was Alex Pencraft.

"Hello Alex," Ruth sang on the phone. They had been talking all through the week and they both anticipated the weekend so they could finally meet again.

"How is your day going?" Alex asked in his usual polite manner.

"Stressful as hell!" Ruth cried out and Christine gave her a surprised look at the fabrications she was feeding him with. "I am moving out of my college apartment. It is so hard!" She added.

"I could send in my movers to help if you don't mind of course," Alex said out of concern.

Ruth slapped a hand to her chest as her face almost exploded in smiles, "oh you are too kind. I will send my address over. It will be a big help," she said happily.

Getting the movers were going to cost her a few thousand dollars which she had already made her father wire the money. Now she was going to spend that money and still get the movers.

"I'm glad I can help..." He trailed off and she rolled her eyes.

Christine noticed this and made a mental note to ask her about it after the call. It was too early for her to start showing signs of being bored. They have barely had one date!

"...we are still meeting on Sunday right?" Alex asked.

Again Ruth rolled her eyes. "Oh sure. Why not?" She said letting out an awkward laugh. "Just text me the location and time again."

"I will do that..."

"Do have a nice day, A.P!" She said and ended the call.

Christine observed as Ruth rolled her eyes again and dumped her phone unceremoniously on the bed before resuming the task she was barely doing. Christine walked closer to her and pulled the dress she had been to folding away from her. She kept it aside and took Ruth's hands.

"Ruth, what was that about?" She asked calmly.

Ruth rolled her eyes again and said, "I can't lie to you Chris, Alex Pencraft is boring!" Christine raised her eyebrow at this revelation. It was absurd.

"Ruth you have barely met the man!" Christine pointed out.

"I met him in that club and he has been calling and sending sweet messages the whole week! God, I am having nightmares. If he didn't have money, I would have bailed on him a long time ago!" She exclaimed.

Christine was left speechless for five long seconds. She couldn't understand why Ruth wanted money when her parents had enough for her. Aside from that, there was nothing wrong with calls and sweet messages from someone who wanted to ask a person out!

"Ruth, help me here... What exactly are you thinking here? Because as far as I am concerned, Alex is everything a responsible man should be... How is he boring?"

"Look, I am the one with dating experience here and I am telling you the guy is boring. I am only putting up with him because my mum will totally approve of him. And he can help out with money stuff. He just volunteered to send in their movers," she said with a shrug like what she said was very simple.

"But Ruth, just two days ago, you were crying that you had messed up your opportunity to be with this guy. Now that he is coming after you, you are tired? How about the date you were supposed to have?"

Ruth pulled her fingers out of Christine's hold. She moved stray hairs away from her face and smiled at her friend. "About that date. I want you to go in my place..."

"What? Why?" Christine asked as she scooted away from her friend.

"I have a sex date with Michael and I can't miss that for anything in the world."

"Ruth, have you lost your mind?" Christine asked as she couldn't comprehend what had gotten into Ruth anymore. She had met a good-mannered guy from a very good family and she wanted to risk it for a thug she met in college. How crazy could that be?

"I have not lost my mind, Chris. I am thinking straight here. And don't get me wrong. I am not throwing Alex away... It's just that—" she got up and moved her hand through her hair. "It's just that with the way he is taking everything slow like some gentleman, I am going not going to get sex from him anytime soon. He probably thinks I am a virgin, Chris! Or he might say he won't have sex with me until marriage! Geez, babe, I will lose my mind!"

"And you think sleeping with Michael is going to help you not lose your mind?"

"Yes. I will sleep with Michael every time I want to...  You know, just until Daddy's boy makes love to me and I can decide if he can satisfy me or not!"

Christine slapped a hand to her face and shook her head. How did she end up with a friend like Ruth again?

"Think of it as a win-win. You will be meeting Alex Pencraft and you can celebrate your appointment as well."

"Ruth—" Christine wanted to say but Ruth cut her off.

"Think of the perfect excuse you will give him for me. He is such a gentleman, I am sure you both will get along!" She said as she started heading for the door. "I will send him a text now concerning the movers. I need a drink," She added and disappeared behind the door.