Only Time
Time is a fickle friend. Good things can happen over the space of a long period of time, like your heart mending from a great tragedy. However, it can be bad as well, because no matter how much time goes by, scars on the heart never truly heal. Many people learn this the hard way, and most of them are the people who think they know every thought of someone who have suffered a loss, or a hardship, when they haven’t.
Another strange thing about time is you never seem to have it when you need it. Then, when you don’t need it, you have ample amount of time to sit around, stare at walls, and complain about how bored you are.
Sometimes, some people, wish they could put their extra time in a box, and open that box when they were in need of that time. This was what Trudy was thinking about when she dug through many unused boxes in the bowls of the local shopping mall, which had been her home for the past five years.
Trudy was a small-framed woman, about 19 years old. Her hair had always been some ridiculous shade of purple, ever since a virus struck her city, killing all the adults in the process. Usually she was calm, devoting all her energy to her small child, who she loved more then life itself.
However, Trudy was no where near being calm as she dug through the boxes around her, squinting through the dim light coming from a nearly dead light bulb hanging from the ceiling. On the contrary she was very rushed. In four days it was her daughter’s, Brady’s, birthday. Brady was to be turning 6, which was a particularly important birthday. Trudy wanted to throw a large party for her little daughter, and she had almost everything set; except for the perfect present.
About three hours before Trudy started digging in the basement of the mall, Trudy was suppose to start off on her journey to Liberty, where she was going to get Ruby’s help to find the perfect present for Brady. However, about 10 minutes before she was suppose to leave, she forgotten she had nothing of value to trade with. So with her travelling cloak still on, and Amber shouting for her to slow down behind her, Trudy flung down into the basement, hoping to find something worthy of trade inside one of the rotting, dust covered boxes.
After about an hour of searching, Salene had come down to visit her, telling her that Brady had been put down for a nap, and that Salene had put Mouse in charge of watching Trudy’s little daughter while she slept. Salene then informed her that she was going to search the rest of the mall for something that Trudy could trade to get Brady something really good for her birthday.
So for two more hours, Trudy searched box after box. Once in a while she sneezed as dust flew at her every time she opened a new box, and her eyes started to water from the stench some of the boxes were radiating. Mostly all Trudy had found by then was junk. She had a nice pile going of things that looked good, but would never be useful in trading. At one point she had found a pile of comic books, The Adventures Of Gabber Man, but when she opened the books to investigate further, she found the pages to be so water logged, that they were hardly readable, which was made worse by the dismal light.
When she found out this fact, she threw the pile of worthless comic books aside and sighed. She was considering giving up, when Salene came running down the rickety staircase, calling out Trudy’s name. When she was finally found, Salene grinned larger then Trudy had ever seen, which made Salene look eerie in the dark light.
“I found something!” Salene said after she caught her breath. Excitement seemed to be pulsing off her. “In Lex’s old room. You know, the one he moved out of when he decided to live in Siva’s room? Well I was digging through his closet, and most of it was trash. But, I threw a bunch of his old clothes out of the closet, and found this almost new bike! I went and asked Lex about it, and he said I could have it, because he had no use for it! You should come and see it… Any trader would give his left ear for it.”
Trudy couldn’t help but grin along with Salene.
The bike, just as Salene promised, was incredible. Trudy had never seen such a nice bike since the virus, and was so amazed by it. So, in about 15 minutes, the bike was loaded onto a wagon that Trudy was to pull to Liberty, which wasn’t going to be too hard, seeing as the bike was lighter then anyone could have imagined. Soon, Trudy was quickly on her way. She couldn’t have asked for better travelling conditions. The sky was over cast, and the air was unusually warm for the time of year. Everything went quite well for Trudy until she got half way to Liberty, when something unexpected happened.
A lone snowflake fell onto Trudy’s head. Soon after, more fell, and by the time she got to Liberty, the earth was covered in a thin blanket of snow.
Liberty looked like a city out of a Christmas card. Snow lightly covered all the buildings, and the people who were outside were slightly bundled up, holding steaming hot chocolates to their lips.
As Trudy walked by, a couple of them watched her, but most of them kept up with what they were doing. A little boy about 8 stopped and said hello to her at one point, his foot in the hoop of a rope that was attached to a worn down, wooden, red sled. He questioned Trudy on if the bike she had was for sale, and she sadly had to tell him no, and he looked a little sad for a moment, then he explained that he was wondering because he wasn’t sure if there was enough snow on the ground yet for him to try out the sled his father had made him before he died.
After a while, Trudy became aware of how cold she was, and she hurried her way along to Ruby’s Saloon, the snow falling a bit heavier as time went by. When she finally arrived, she was almost joyful to just see the cans that were glued to the wooden swing doors, because that meant she was almost to a warm, dry place. The minute Trudy walked in; she heard a voice cry out, “Trudy hello!” And for a moment her vision was blocked by blond hair. Ruby had launched herself onto Trudy and was hugging her. “Finally! A girl to talk to that’s not Slade!”
“Slade giving you headaches again Ruby?” Trudy laughed as she peeled the girl off her.
“Oh you wouldn’t believe me if I told you! All he wants to talk about is Motorcycles, or what Ram’s up to currently. Like I really care about that. “ Ruby rolled her eyes, and walked back over to the bar, and went behind it as she spoke. “I’m actually glad to see you also, because I haven’t talked to you in such a long time. How have you been?”
Trudy didn’t say anything for a moment, as she watched Ruby pour a liquid into a shot glass that was amber colored. She set it down by a sign that was hanging in front of the bar that said ‘Mall Rats served for free.’ She then motioned for Trudy to come over and take the glass. Trudy obliged, by dropping the handle of the wagon, and walking swiftly over to the bar, and sitting on a stool. She then grabbed the glass, and put it to her sore-from-the-cold lips, and smiled faintly over the glass.
“I have been well. I’m in town to find a birthday present for Brady, as you know. For the past week, her birthday has been all that I’ve thought of. I even hired a man who showed me some of his magic acts to perform for all the little ones that are coming. Now that Ram set up that day-care system, Brady does have a lot of demanding little friends that I can barely keep up with.” Trudy tilted her head back and downed all the amber looking liquid in one swig. She felt warmth instantly fill her as she put the shot glass back down, and she looked at Ruby. “What was in that stuff? Not too much alcohol I hope.”
Ruby laughed. “There’s no alcohol in that at all don’t worry. It’s a special blend I made up that instantly makes you feel good for a long time, no matter what amount you have. Pretty cool huh?”
“You should patent that one I think. “ Trudy replied, fingering the glass, and looking at it intently. “So, is Ram still here? Or did he go back to the city?”
“He’s gone, thank goodness. Him and Slade act like such… Well… men, when they get together. He left yesterday actually, so you barely missed him. Now its just Slade and me.” Ruby pulled a face. “Actually it gets quite boring here because Slade spends most of his time shut up in his room.”
“Boring? Liberty is never boring. I know what you need. A good Girl’s Night Out. How bout we go right now? Maybe we can find you a guy to hang out with. “ Trudy gave Ruby a hardy wink.
“A night out? Sounds fantastic!” So, even before they made plans of where to go, Ruby and Trudy both had their warm jackets on, and they were walking out of the Saloon together.
Amazingly, even though Trudy had only spent about 10 minutes in Ruby’s Saloon, the snow outside was as deep as their ankles as they walked the streets of Liberty. Once in a while, Ruby would pick up some snow, and eat it while they walked, exclaiming that when the adults had been alive, they should have made snow flavoured ice cream. Ruby always did have the best ideas for things.
“So where are we headed?” Trudy asked Ruby, while she looked around at all the buildings.
“We’re going to the best pub around. I use to go there all the time when I didn’t have the Saloon up and running yet.” Ruby stopped walking as soon as she said this, and looked up at a small green, hut shaped, building. A large lit-up sign on top of it proclaimed it to be ‘The Shark’. Trudy looked doubtfully over to Ruby, but she looked pretty happy. She walked forward, and approached the oval shaped door, which had a knocker on it, and was painted blue half way up, in the shape of waves.
The knocker was a ring that was bolted to the door. It was silver, and in the shape of a dolphin. Ruby grabbed the dolphin part, and knocked on the door three times with it. Trudy watched, amused, as a small eyehole opened up above the knocker. Someone looked out, and then a voice came erupting from somewhere.
“Arh. And who might you two pretty maids be?”
“I be Ruby, and this here be Trudy. We’re part of the scallywag crew, looking for some tough deep sea men to sweep us off our feet and make us women!” Ruby couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the look on Trudy’s face, and she whispered to her, “It’s all for show. When you’re in here, if any of the staff members talk to you, pretend you’re a pirate, and you’re loved for life.”
“Arh.” Said the same voice that Ruby had replied to. “Ruby I recognize but this Trudy, she be a stow away perhaps?”
“No matey! She be one of the Mall Rats looking for a good time.”
“Well come in then Arh! So we can meet this Trudy from the Mall Rats.”
Ruby whispered for Trudy to play along as the door in front of them swung open, and a kid about 12 stood in the door way, wearing a wig of plastic sea weed, and a swash buckling outfit, complete with a wooden sword. He was about a head shorter then Trudy and Ruby so he had to look up to look them in the eye. Trudy was reminded quickly of K.C., one of her old friends.
“Ah, what a pretty maid to behold.” He said, grabbing Trudy’s hand and kissing it. “I am Sebastian, the captain of this hardened crew. Step aboard miss, and welcome to the S.S. Shark.” Sebastian did a strange sort of bow, and Ruby led the way into the pub.
The pub was like nothing Trudy had ever seen. There was a large bar on the far right of the room that was shaped like a boat. There were 5 wooden stools in front of it, 2 of which were occupied. The lights were large flickering candles, each hanging on the wall, being covered by plastic, see through, shells. Speakers were also lining the walls, and very techno sounding music was playing, that filled the whole place. There were very many people there, and they were all joking and laughing. The floor was a very hard glass, very unbreakable, and was illuminating a large amount of blue light, and it took Trudy a few minutes to realize that under the very thick glass was water. And it was not only just water; there were millions of fish swimming about. It was one of the most beautiful things Trudy had ever seen.
“You weren’t lying when you said this was the best pub.” Trudy gasped to Ruby. However Ruby wasn’t standing next to her anymore. She was walking quickly to a girl that was holding a tray shaped like a fish in the corner. As Ruby walked, her white dress swished behind her, and because she was walking so fast, she kept stepping on the gold hem of it.
The girl she was running to didn’t spot her right away, but when she did, she looked happier then ever. Soon she was running to Ruby too, which looked difficult, because of her tall stiletto heels. When they finally got to each other, they hugged, the waitress struggling to hold onto her large tray with one hand. Ruby turned and called to Trudy. “Come here Trudy! I want you to meet Addie.”
Trudy obeyed, and walked over to the woman. Trudy had to admit that Addie was very pretty. Her eyelids were a deep sea green, and were sparkling, and she had silver face paint on her cheeks. Her outfit was a one piece sequenced bathing suit, the same colour as her eyelids. Her skin was tanned, and her lips were full. Trudy would have killed for looks like that.
Addie turned out to be very nice. Addie had worked at The Shark ever since the virus, and she loved the place like her own child. She was off duty about 10 minutes after Trudy and Ruby had arrived, so she was able to sit with them at the bar. Trudy was having a lovely time. Ruby and Addie were very good conversationalists, but after a few drinks, signs of their drunkenness became obvious. Trudy, who had only had about one drink, watched Ruby and Addie amused. In just 2 hours, they had made themselves so drunk they were hitting on each other, which was kind of funny to watch, because if Ruby had been sober, she would have been thinking herself crazy.
After a while, Ruby turned to Trudy and said, “Well you know what?” She paused and laughed, very drunk. Smiling over to Addie, she started talking once more. “This girl right here. This one.” Ruby raised her finger, to point at Addie. “She thinks she can kiss, but she can’t. Nope she can’t kiss well at all.” She started laughing as though what she said was the funniest thing in the world.
Addie looked offended for a moment, then said, “Well, take this then!” What she did made Trudy’s mouth drop. She grabbed Ruby, and smashed her sea green lipstick covered lips to Ruby’s makeup free ones, and kissed her with as much enthusiasm, as though she was kissing her boyfriend.
Trudy was expecting Ruby to push her off, but instead she ended up kissing back with force, taking control of the situation. Trudy took it as a hint to leave when Ruby pushed on Addie with such force she fell over off her stool with Ruby on top of her, and all the drunken men in the pub were watching with their eyes opened wide, and their hands on their crotches.
As Trudy left to go back to the Saloon, she took one last glance back, and saw both Addie and Ruby taking off articles of clothing. In the back of mind Trudy was snickering. Ruby was going to be so embarrassed when Trudy told her what happened the next day.
Outside, night had fallen, and the only light coming from anywhere was from signs that lined the streets. Some were advertising Casinos, some were actual places to go, and most of them were just lit up for the sake of light. No one was left in the streets, and it was almost eerie as Trudy walked. The snow was still falling heavily, and she dug trenches though it as she walked, the snow now reaching her knees. Trudy absentmindedly wrapped her coat tighter around herself and stared around. Her thoughts lingered on Brady. Brady would have loved how pretty it was here right now.
The last conversation Trudy had had with Brady had been the night before, when she was putting her sweet daughter to bed. After Trudy and Brady had said their prayers, Brady had sleepily looked up, and said sadly, “Why don’t I have a daddy?” Trudy had had no idea what to say to the little one at all. This had been the first time Brady had even wondered where her father was, and her eyes were so full with trust that her mother would know the exact thing to say. She went on to say, “I’m asking ‘cause all my other friends have daddies… Can I have one for my birthday?”
Trudy’s heart nearly broke to hear Brady say that, and Trudy had to try to fight back tears just at the thought of it now. She had told Brady that some little girls just didn’t have fathers. And before Brady fell asleep, she said, “Well maybe one day I’ll have one.”
It took a few minutes for Trudy to realize she was standing in front of Ruby’s Saloon. The building sat dark in front of her, except a lone light from a flickering candle coming from a room, 3 floors up. Trudy guessed that was Slade. His shadowed frame was leaning against the window, and his shoulders were hunched. Trudy stared for a little while watching him rock back and forth ever so slowly then sighed, wondering. Slade was such a mysterious man…
So, with her mind still on Slade, Trudy walked inside the Saloon, went to where the room keys were kept, and grabbed number 20’s key, which was a room quite near Slade’s. She then yawned, and slowly walked up the staircase to her room. At first she counted her footsteps, each one quietly falling on the rich carpet, but after a while she lost count as her footsteps became heavier. Going to the room was so automatic for her, because usually she was a frequent visitor to the Saloon, but usually she had Brady with her, so walking up the steps felt very lonely without the usual sleepy frame she’d be carrying in her arms asking for a story.
After a few minutes she finally arrived to her room, her frame feeling heavy and weighed down. Trudy dragged her feet across the room, and stopped at her wardrobe. The wooden door was slightly ajar, so she barely had to put any effort in opening it, much to her delight.
Light filtered into her room from the streetlights outside creating a warm glow around her making her feel sleepily happy. And as she looked at the mirror inside her wardrobe at herself, she had the feeling a freight train could have gone by and she wouldn’t have moved a muscle in response.
When Trudy finally snapped out of this feeling, she started shifting through her nightgowns, pausing every few minutes, not even questioning why she cared about which nightgown she was going to wear. Trudy always left nightgowns over at Ruby’s saloon just incase, but all the ones she had kept there were so old, that it was a hard decision. However the last nightdress she came to was the perfect choice.
She let out a squeal of delight as she looked at it, running her fingers over the blue satin material. Quickly she was out of her clothes, and was going to pull the nightgown over her head, when she heard the door open behind her.
“Trudy?” Slade’s voice called into her room. His English accent was as clear as ever as he spoke. “Are you still awake? We have to get out of here soon or I think we’re going to get snow bound…”
Trudy was in utter shock! Slade had spotted her, and she wasn’t wearing anything, and her arms refused to move so she could cover herself up. “Slade! I’m sorry... I…” her words would not come out, and it wasn’t any easier to see Slade standing in front of her, his mouth agape.
After a moment of awkward silence, Slade finally shifted his eyes away, and Trudy finally regained use of her arms, quickly pulling the nightgown on, though it didn’t really matter, Slade had seen everything anyway.
“I’m sorry…” Slade managed to spit out. “I’ll… Go. I’ll just go. “ Slade started backing away and when he finally got back into the hall, he broke into a run.
“No Slade!” Trudy called out. She quickly started following him, calling out his name as she went, running down the stairs, and finally trapping him trying to drag his motor cycle to the door, which got caught on the bike Trudy was going to trade for a present for Brady.
Slade ducked his head when he noticed Trudy had followed him, and he tried again in vain to pull his motorbike away from the child bike. Trudy walked over to him quickly, all feeling of embarrassment and tiredness long forgotten. All she wanted was for him to stay.
“Don’t go? Please?”
Slade finally lifted his dark eyes from the ground and stared hard into Trudy’s eyes. He didn’t move at first, but soon he just let his bike drop, and he walked over to Trudy as though he had swayed into a dream.
When he finally reached her he encircled her body with his strong arms, his hands pressing against her back. His hands were clad in his leather riding gloves, and Trudy could feel the rough material through her slim nightgown. Slade held her like this for a moment, and then he slammed his hot mouth onto Trudy’s making his need apparent. Trudy kissed him back with force, pressing her body against Slade’s. Slade’s lips were nothing like Jay’s. They were rough and soft at the same time somehow, and he tasted completely different too. He tasted of wine and something Trudy couldn’t quite place.
His mouth was so warm against Trudy’s that it was almost too much to bear. At that moment all she wanted to do was kiss him until she couldn’t anymore. Neither of them noticed that the snow outside was as high as the doors of the saloon.
Somehow, Trudy never really figured out how, her and Slade ended up on the floor, Slade lying on top of her, and she was taking off his clothes one piece at a time. Slade was so skilled in what he was doing that Trudy’s want for him was reaching crazy levels. He was kissing and caressing every inch of her he could reach, and he was doing something with his hand that he had reached up her nightgown between her legs that was making her whimper and moan in such a way she had never before.
She however felt too inexperienced, when all she could think to do was suck and lick his ear lobe and bite kiss and lick his neck, but Slade didn’t mind, or didn’t notice. She was actually getting some good gasps out of him, which she enjoyed a lot. She felt heat radiating all over him, and she couldn’t help but touch every single inch of him, that she could reach, and after a while she finally got enough courage to take his pants off, which were soon discarded with his shirt.
He let out a satisfied moan when she did this, helping her take off his boxers, letting himself free of all clothing except for his gloves, which Trudy took off Slade’s hands with her teeth, her hands too busy elsewhere on his body. And soon they were one. Except this time everything was so real and so intense, unlike the other two times she had slept with a man. Slade rocked his hips into hers so gently but so satisfyingly, and he and Trudy both moaned each other’s name in delight as they both reached heaven together.
And as quick as it had started, it was over. Trudy lay in Slade’s arms, and let out a muttered thank you before she finally fell asleep.
Trudy dreamed of her and Slade repeating what did when she fell asleep, and she was awoken by Slade licking, caressing, and sucking on her breasts, making her moan once more.
After another bout of love making, Slade and Trudy finally got up, and collected their discarded clothes. It took them a while to realize they were snowed in. Slade was worried at first, but that was until Trudy told him it must have been a blessing in disguise because the snow bounding meant they could spend more time together.
And so for four days, Trudy and Slade talked and made love, and talked some more, and soon they felt as though they had known each other for years, and they felt so close.
Oh the fourth day, Trudy told Slade it was Brady’s birthday the next day and that she was going to be so upset if Trudy didn’t get back for her birthday. Slade reassured her that he had a feeling they were going to be let out soon, and he promised when they did get out that he was going to come to the party with Trudy.
Trudy was overjoyed.
“Brady will be so happy to see you.” Trudy was snuggled in Slade’s arms, her face pressed against his chest, where she was planting small kisses. They were both curled up warm in Slade’s bed.
“And I’ll be happy to be spending time with you. You know I’ve always watched you from afar.” Slade picked up Trudy’s hand and planted small kisses on her fingertips. He sighed and nuzzled her palm. “I was just too afraid to talk to you much.”
“And why in heaven would you be afraid?” Trudy asked, puzzled.
“Because I’ve always had a liking for you.” Slade said quietly.
At that moment a voice drifted upstairs from the bowls of Ruby’s Saloon.
“Trudy? Slade? Anyone? I’ve dug a tunnel! You can get out now.”
“Ruby’s found us.” Trudy grinned into Slade’s chest, and she got up, pulling on her bathrobe. “We’ll be able to go to Brady’s party after all.”
Slade got up as well, revealing he was completely naked. “Wait… Trudy…” He slowly walked over to her, and grabbed her hand, and smiled gently. “You’ll have to forgive me for the lack of ring.” Slade paused, and watched the sentence take effect in Trudy’s mind. She stared at him wide eyed, and sure enough he got on one knee. “Trudy, will you marry me?”
Trudy nearly started crying. It was almost too perfect! “Yes!” She said tearfully. “Yes I’ll marry you.”
And so, Trudy and Slade got engaged, and went to Brady’s party. Except now Trudy did indeed have the perfect present for Brady. A father. And She also had a present for herself. A true love, in Slade, which was there all the time. Only, it took time to realize it was there.