Ruby and Mitch, Emily Ward

Ruby and Mitch

int. circus tent RUBY and MITCH (two teenagers, perhaps no more than 17) are standing around a roped-off area; above them a group of aerialists perform dazzling tricks on silks and ropes. RUBY is wearing eclectic clothing; her socks are wildly mismatched and her linen jacket is wrinkled but well-cared for. MITCH is more pristine, the lines of his careful button-down neatly pressed. They are standing close enough to each other to suggest comfort and tension, but far enough from each other to suggest embarrassment. After a moment of silence:

Mitch I - I, uh - I’m sorry, I didn’t mean Ruby No, no, it’s fine, I shouldn’t have Mitch I just... Kenna told me that you Ruby Well, you know Kenna. She’s always saying Mitch Yeah, but this time... she said something about you and Ruby What? Mitch Uh, just that, you know... That you wouldn’t mind being kissed. Ruby Well, she was right -

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Mitch (with stunned disbelief) She was right?

RUBY ignores the implication for the moment.

Ruby What girl doesn’t want to be kissed, Mitch? ... Was that all?

MITCH shakes himself slightly and gulps to regain his courage.

Mitch And, uh, that... you wouldn’t mind being kissed... by me.

A heavier pause now as MITCH watches Ruby’s upturned profile. She blushes under his stare but keeps her attention on the twirling aerialists.

Ruby (with the air of one thinking ‘f**k it’) Yeah. She wasn’t wrong.

This is a pleasant surprise for Mitch. His bottom lip trembles and Ruby finally turns to look at him. Mitch

Ruby, I - I didn’t mean to overstep a boundary, you know, earlier - Ruby You, um. You didn’t. Mitch So... it was OK?

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RUBY gives him a small smile and surprises him further by reaching for his hand and slowly weaving her fingers between his. They share a smile. RUBY then turns to gaze up at the aerialists.

Ruby Aren’t they beautiful?

MITCH smiles and steps closer to her, gripping her hand a little more tightly. Mitch Very... They remind me of birds. Ruby Crows or sparrows? Mitch (with a chuckle) More like parrots.

RUBY hums and focuses on a particular aerialist who is moving fluidly through his silk, jolting his limbs in a way that looks akin to jumping.

Ruby That one looks like a flying squirrel. Mitch Cousin to a monkey. RUBY laughs and looks up at him. Ruby You’re the monkey!

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Mitch I do take my bananas very seriously.

RUBY watches him for a moment with a combination of bemusement and wonder. Ruby You’re allowed to, you know. Mitch I’m allowed to what? Ruby Kiss me again.

MITCH just stares at her for a moment, his gaze lingering and softening. Taking utmost care, he leans forward to brush his lips against hers. RUBY and MITCH fold into each other, their lines blurring; it becomes impossible to tell where one of them ends and other begins.

A second later, the aerialists finish their dance. At the sudden burst of applause, RUBY and MITCH look up, wondering if the people are clapping for them. But when the teens realize that they are just another part of the backdrop, they smile at each other, lost in the silk.

Emily Ward ’15

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