unsolved disappearances » otis and ruby

Part 21

Seeing Baby after four months was a joyous moment. The only thing to ruin it was the constant jokes from Noah, claiming he looked like a large rat with long fur. This would earn him a lot of glares and playful punches in the shoulder on our travels under the English channel.

I found it a pleasant distraction from my anxiety. 

"So your baby daddy set up a secret sex clinic in an abandoned bathroom, to make some cash?" Noah asks in disbelief as I was telling him the story. "That's absolutely genius!"

"In a way, it was how I was introduced to him and how his DNA created a spawn." I had explained the whole story to him, passing the hours we spent on the train before arriving in London.

Noah raises the soda bottle he had in hand he had ordered from the cafe before we got onboard. "But running a sex clinic for advice, he must've been pretty knowledgeable about how to make it a pleasurable experience." The casual mention of my sex life with Otis was enough to make my cheeks flare bright red. "I think I might need to set up an appointment with him."

"I don't know whether to abandon you in London or be impressed with your confidence," I say, shrugging the back of my hair which I had tied back into long braids. My blonde highlights were growing out and I found doing braids made a nice transition from the dark roots.

"Hey, gotta get some advice. Can't use hand forever." He says.

"I'm sure there are plenty of girls that would love to fuck you in Moordale. Just the thought of an exotic man would make them drool!" I exclaim, earning a judgemental look from other passengers from the conversation topic.

"Perfect, I get the sex advice and use it in the field before I have to go back home," Noah says excitedly. "You're a genius, Ruby!"

I decide to tune out the rest of his elaborate plan to insert himself with all my old friends. The only end goal, to get his sick wet.

When we arrived in London, I couldn't be more excited to breathe some fresh air from all the rambling with Noah. "You know you could help," Noah mutters, being stuck carrying the suitcases while I just carried my backpack, which was upgraded from my old school one, and Baby who slept in her pet carrier.

"I have the more important cargo." I retort.

"Just because we're in your homeland, doesn't mean Miss Matthews gets to boss me around," Noah argues back, huffing as we make our way towards the bus terminal for the four-hour bus trip to Moordale. My parents would be picking us up from the bus station that sat on the edge of the village boundary. 

I turn back to him. "You're the one that claims I'm royalty, I'm just fulfilling my duties," I say patting his messy curls, a satisfied smirk on my face.

The bus ride between Noah and I remains quiet. He had resorted to catching up on lost sleep from all his excitement on the train, while I listened to some music. 

I was trying to calm myself as each second we got closer to Moordale.

I watch the scenery out the window, all familiar to me as the towns got smaller and smaller. Houses became father apart as the landscape changed to the countryside. The roads became less busy and in front of me, we even see signs that said Moordale, the miles getting smaller and smaller.

Noah had woken up, as the sound of me taking deep breaths to calm myself down.

"You're okay." He assures me. He grabs my hand, using his thumb to stroke the top of my hand. The motion makes my heart slow a little as I watch the sun begin to set behind the rolling hills. "Remember you can spend as much time as you need at your parent's house, you don't need to go announce your return in the town centre." He reminds me.

"I'm not that predictable. I'd do it with more flare." I say, I can feel the old bitchy Ruby returning to my body since I was returning home. "I've risen from the dead, so why not be fabulous about it?"

The statement makes Noah laugh. "Because fuck everyone else's opinions." He suggestions.

The bus driver announces it was my stop. I look out the window to find the familiar small bench seat that had a simple white shed built over it from cover for the rain. The trees sit behind it, flowing freely through the wind as I exit the bus and Noah gathers our bags.

Parked beside the bus stop was my mother's old station wagon. There I see her still dressed in her nurse uniform, the soft tears falling down her face. "Go ahead," Noah tells me, as I drop my bag to the ground and run towards my mother.

I wrap my arms around her as she does the same. Her hand ran down the back of my hair. "I'm so sorry I left mum!" I exclaim over and over again. "It was stupid."

My mother pulls back a little from me, still keeping me in her arms. "You're safe and more importantly you came back." She says kissing my forehead. "You look so happy."

Noah casually walks over, struggling with all the bags. He kept a hold of Baby in her pet carrier with caution. "So is this the new boyfriend?" my mother asks, making my cheeks go red.

"No, I'm just the best friend. Fill in Dad for the little one when they arrive." Noah introduces himself, shaking my mother's hand. "Noah Baker."

"I'm Dona, nice to meet you finally." She greets him back with a smile. "He's good looking." My mother whispers in my direction making me roll my eyes.

"Let's just go," I say, walking towards the car, helping Noah with the bags.

Look out Moordale. I'm back.