Chapter 23: Chapter 23

"That's why you left isn't it? You left because you found Woody." I say quietly, my arms still wrapped around Uncle Tobias. The feeling is strange because I can't help but think how many times we've been in this position but the opposite way round. Uncle Tobias was my comfort growing up, the person who's shoulder I religiously cried on. Mum and Dad were always there but Uncle Tobias was my safe haven from everyone and everything. He never questioned my sadness and instead let me work through it silently unless I wanted to talk.

"Yes."

One word.

One single word to explain the heartbreak he put me through. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, the emotions inside of my stirring like crazy. He didn't do it because he didn't love me. He didn't do it because he forgot about me. He did it to right a wrong from his past. A mistake that he probably regrets since the day he made the decision.

"You could have come back once you found him."

"I couldn't come back to this town Ruby, especially not with Woody. It's too painful for me and I was scared of him finding out the truth. Your Mum and Dad were planning on moving out to be closer to me just before they were taken." Uncle Tobias says, lifting his head up ever so slightly. I shuffle backwards, my eyebrows creased together in confusion.

"Really? Is that true?"

"I have no reason to lie anymore." He responds, giving me the smallest of saddest smiles. I gingerly nod and reach out, taking hold of his hand.

"Mum and Dad never told me. You hurt me by leaving. I felt like I lost one side of my body." I whisper, swallowing hard. Uncle Tobias squeezes my hand —

"I know sweetheart and I'll always be sorry for that. I'm here now and I don't plan on hurting you ever again."

I look up into his large brown eyes, my own front crumbling just like his. I can feel the tears building up and I quickly blink them back, years of frustration and sadness becoming overwhelming.

"You've always been my best friend Uncle Tobias."

He responds by reaching forward and enveloping me into a tight hug. His strong arms wrap around me like a safety blanket and he runs his hand over the back of my hair, just like he did when I was younger. I close my eyes and breathe in his scent, a level of calm washing over my body.

"And you've always been mine, I love you Ruby."

"I love you too." I whisper, feeling the hole in my heart from Uncle Tobias leaving fill back up. If one positive thing came from my parents being taken, it's re-uniting with him and becoming family again. After several moments of quiet, I pull back and reach up, wiping away the remnants of tears on my cheeks.

"I'm going to go find Woody." I tell him quietly, standing to my feet. I offer him my hand which he takes and I pull him up off the floor. He nods his head, wiping at his red tired eyes.

"I think that's a good idea."

*****

I find Woody after searching for around an hour. In the far distance, I can make him out sitting on top of a brick wall, facing the river flowing underneath him. His entire back is tensed up and rigid, the only movement coming from his hand bringing a cigarette back and forth to his mouth every few seconds. I bite down on my lower lip and shove my hands in my jacket pocket as I come to a slow halt. He doesn't know I'm there but for a moment or two, I stand and watch him.

"Hey Woody." I eventually shout out. He instantly turns around, brown eyes darkening when they notice me.

"Leave me alone Ruby." He yells back, the rumble of his voice floating away with the wind picking up around us.

"Ouch Cowboy, that hurt." I respond, taking a few steps forward. He shakes his head and turns back around, bringing the cigarette to his lips again. As he breathes out, the white smoke drifts upwards and into the sky before disappearing.

"My life is so fucked up." Woody says, sounding defeated. I breathe deeply before finally closing the distance between us and approaching him. I hoist myself up onto the wall and sit beside him, our shoulders touching. Woody doesn't flinch or move away, he remains in the exact same spot. I look down at the water sloshing underneath us, the current growing stronger as the day draws to an end.

"I feel you. My parents have been kidnapped and I literally have no clue where they are. My family consists of drug dealers and ex gang members."

"Yeah that is pretty messed up." Woody agrees before chuckling darkly. He lifts the cigarette and takes a long drag from it.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you." I say quietly. A silence falls upon us and Woody remains rigid next to me. I can hear his heavy shaky breathing and I turn to look at him. His eyes are trained on the water below us but his jaw is tense and sharp. For a second, my eyes linger on the beauty of his face and the sadness in his eyes. When he speaks, it snaps me out of it —

"I've never had a family until Tobias found me but now everything feels like a lie."

"It's not a lie, he loves you Woody. He made a massive mistake and he's trying to fix it." I explain. He doesn't respond but he drops his head to his chest, breathing in sharply. I watch as he closes his eyes, his chest rising and falling. Without thinking, I reach for his hand that's next to mine and intertwine our fingers together. He suddenly tenses next to me and I bite down on my lower lip, wondering whether I've made a mistake.

"Ruby . . . " Woody says quietly, opening his eyes and turning his head. He makes eye contact with me and I feel like the breath has been knocked straight out of my chest.

"I'm comforting you, that's all. Stop reading too much into it Cowboy." I say quickly, trying to play it off cool. Inside I feel like my heart is ready to explode out of my chest but holding his hand was my first instinct and I'll always react like that.

Act now. . . Think later.

It doesn't always work out for me.

The smallest of smiles stretch across his lips and his eyes flicker down to our hands. His is huge compared to my small one but the warmth radiates through us both.

"Can I one-up you?" Woody asks, taking me by surprise.

"If you must." I respond, rolling my eyes at him playfully. He releases my hand but lifts his arm up instead and slides it across my shoulders. He pulls me closer to him until our bodies are pressed tightly against one another. I rest my head on his shoulder, my heart hammering inside my chest. He feels incredibly warm and smells delightful.

"Strangely, I feel better. I thought having you so close to me would bring nothing but chaos."

"Because I'm basically a walking talking disaster?" I question him. I feel his body vibrate as he chuckles lightly.

"No, that's not the reason."

"So what is?"

"I'll tell you one day." Woody says, secrecy lining his voice. I pull back and glare at him.

"That's not fair!"

He laughs, the light re-appearing back inside his eyes. All traces of anger from our minuscule disagreements fades away as I look up at him. I realise that I like it when Woody is happy, his eyes are a true reflection of his feelings. His laughter dies down as we stare at one another, the distance between us closing by the second. Silently he reaches up and cups my cheek with his free hand before running it back until it disappears inside my hair. The smallest of breaths leaves my mouth at the contact and I drop my eyes to his lips.

"We shouldn't do this," I whisper, my body involuntarily growing closer to Woody's. He leans down, his warm breath hitting my lips.

"But we're going to, right?"

"Yes." I murmur before our lips connect and he kisses me with a burning passion I've never experienced before. His hand plays with my hair as his lips press against mine, becoming forceful and increasingly desperate. I fall into him, a thousand butterflies exploding in my stomach. That's when it dawns on me that he's the connection I've been searching for this entire time. . .

"Damn Cowboy." I breathe out, resting my forehead against his. He laughs, creases appearing around his chocolate coloured eyes. His smile becomes infectious and I can't help but laugh along with him. As we're walking back to the hotel room, Woody turns to face me.

"You taste like strawberry milkshake Wentworth."

"It's Melvin actually and aren't you a lucky boy?" I respond. Woody doesn't question the sudden change of surname but instead he nods and smirks knowingly. He reaches out and grabs hold of my hand before yanking me back towards him. I don't resist as he leans down and kisses me again, his tongue exploring my mouth. When he pulls away, he winks at me — "Yes I am, a very lucky boy indeed.”