Within Their Reach

03. Goodbye

I'm baaaack!
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(12 years later. Ava is 18)

Autumn had crept in. Leaves gleamed in the specks of golden flaring red and fiery-reds cast a rich hue on the forest. The huffing wind was too lazy to scatter the leaves as the larder of aromas drizzled from the trees.

The forest was much quiet this week. Not a bird in the nest or a squirrel on the tree. They were prepared for something no one knew about. It had come earlier than planned.

Duke walks anxiously over to the old cottage as these dried leaves crackle beneath him. He opens the door without knocking making Henry startle in his rocking chair while reading the newspaper.

"For the love of God!" Henry relaxes while holding his dear chest. "Twelve years but still you haven't learned to knock."

Duke looks at him with a mischievous smile. "Well what can I say, Mr Woods, twelve years and you still haven't learned to lock your front door." He states.

Henry narrows his eyes at him but couldn't help himself to hold on to his laugh making both of them chuckle.

"Where Av?" Duke asks already knowing the answer to that. He was just nervous about facing her this afternoon, wanting to tell her something.

Henry sighs and goes back to reading his paper. "You know where. Probably reading or daydreaming."

Ava barely went outside to face people or take efforts to talk with them. Half her day she was either with Duke or reading books and the rest was utilized by her mindlessly viewing the woods.

They both were always together. He helped her with the bullying issue and to ignore all the rude comments that other people say.

He was comfortable around her more than he had imagined. The girls of his age did try to take an interest in him because of his features but he never liked it. More like his nature didn't accept it. But with Ava, things were different. She didn't show him any interest but he did which was not seen by her.

Even his family was very kind to her. It was as if only one look at her was enough to let them know she is a caring and a kind child.

Duke's heart raced against his chest as he walks up the stairs and stood in front of her door. He contemplates whether or not to tell. Letting out a heavy sigh he turns the doorknob and enters the room.

The scent of pinewood and mint grass hit his nose. His eyes search for a certain someone around the room and stop when they fall on her. A playful smile perks his lips looking at her.

"Hey!" Ava exclaims getting up from her bed and running behind Duke who was now holding her book. "Give that back!"

"So this is what you do all afternoon, huh?" He looks at her teasingly. "What is in these books of yours anyway?"

He starts reading it while Ava tried to take the book off of his hands. But every time she came to face him he turned his back.

"Holy shit!" Duke's eyes widened after reading the page. He looks at Ava with a smirk and holds the book out for her. She snatches the book from him and groans narrowing her eyes at him pointedly knowing what was about to come.

"Ava fucking Woods! You have erotica on your nightstand?" Duke looks at her with surprise.

All these years and he still had a lot to discover about her. He never pegged her as a girl who would be interested in smutty books.

Ava on the other hand was red with embarrassment. She covered his mouth with her palm due to his loud talk, not wanting her father to hear it. He on the other hand was having all the fun that he can while looking at her mischievously.