Ruby Redfort - Any Last Words?

Part 13: Inner Strength

"Honestly, I don't think that test went too badly," Ruby said, falling into step with Clancy at a vain attempt to strike up a conversation.

They had forty minutes left at the airport before they boarded their flight. He remained silent and a yellowish white hue.

"Hey, you contagious or something? You look like you're waiting for Grim Reaper to snatch you up," she commented, blowing a bubble with her gum.

Ruby could sense something was up, even more so when Clancy turned to her with a sickly sweet smile-grimace. "Nope, I'm good, just thinking about Olive and everything, how weird it is going to be me knowing about her double life. Speaking of my sisters, do you reckon Minny would like this perfume? I could give it to her as a congratulations for her new job, I know Lulu and Nancy have bought her a scarf..." he droned on while Ruby zoned out.

Since when did Clancy Crew not tell her the truth? Ruby! she thought to herself. Anytime you've doubted your best pal, it sure hasn't worked out in your favour. Pulling herself together and shrugging, she cut across Clancy's dreary monologue.

"Clancy? Do you wanna maybe shut it so there's time to go and grab a drink?" Ruby said, elbowing Clancy good-naturedly. She could have sworn she caught something inscrutable flickering in his eyes before he nodded. "Sure. Better hurry up though," he replied.

Loafing around, the two sipped their drinks in what Clancy hoped was an amicable silence. A plan had began to unfold in his mind when Rube had mentioned "drinks".

Scrabbling for the book in his backpack, he furrowed his brow and pretended to be deeply interested in something, while precariously resting his drink on the arm of the chair they were in.

Ruby was looking wistfully at the donuts in a storefront window - she wished she had a couple more dollars. As subtly as possible, out of the corner of his eye, Clancy neatly tipped the drink over Ruby's left wrist with his arm, then quickly grabbing hers so she would think her own drink had fallen over. "What the-" Ruby started before sighing heavily.

Having your arm covered in thick, sticky mango liquid right before you had to jump on a plane was not an amazing feat. "Rube, I'm really sorry. Me and my clumsy arm! Being in a cast is harder than it looks y'know," Clancy said, pulling a realistic contrite expression, hope bubbling ferociously inside of him.

"Don't sweat it Clance," Ruby said after exhaling deeply, wanting to keep the peace, unclasping her watch before it got more wet, and chucking it haphazardly on to the seat before hurrying off.

Clancy's heart jumped, his eyes widening in anticipation. "Just a minute while I try to go and wipe this off. You can buy me a donut from that store and meet me at the gate, buster," she called.

Snatching up the watch and placing it out of harm's way in his backpack (he knew how faulty the clasp could be) Clancy headed off for the plane with the pink and white striped paper bag in his hand. He had bought her an absolute huge donut to make up for the loss of her watch.

What was he saying? A watch that awesome couldn't compare to anything else, Clancy's thought, feeling the first twinges of guilt in his stomach.

Was he really doing the right thing, or the selfish one, choosing to take the watch to the Australian, and saving himself and Ruby? What if she went and killed loads of innocent people? The problem was, he couldn't let her find out.

He didn't know where that woman had eyes reporting back to her, and he was more than certain that the Australian would find out.

Gulping, he nodded at Ruby nervously who had just arrived. Please don't remember the watch, please think you left it at the airport... Clancy begged desperately inside his head.

Settling down into their seats, Ruby fell asleep while gazing out into the inky black night. Clancy's shoulders relaxed and despite everything, he grinned in achievement knowing he wasn't gonna get killed.

"Clance? CLANCY? Wake up, I need to ask you something,'' Ruby whisper-shouted, shaking him. "I think I might have left my darned watch behind. Could you have maybe picked it up after I went? I've already checked in my stuff, it's not there. Pass me your bag, bozo. I'll check myself if you don't wanna wake up,'' she hissed.

Eyes shooting awake, Clancy instantly spoke in a flustered voice. "Rube, why would I have your watch? I mean - uh, my bag's about to burst already, it had no room for anything else in there, so I would say - don't really bother having - having a look," he finished.

Snatching it off him, Ruby quickly unzipped the bag and almost immediately fished out the watch. "Clancy? Wanna explain?" she said with annoyance gleaming in her eyes. "What is wrong with you? Why would you not tell me you had it, buster? I'm here in hot water already with LB, and panicking about losing the watch, suave Clancy Crew tells me it's not on his bag.''

Before he had a chance to open his mouth, Ruby said "Was this a prank or something to get me permanently fired from the one job I've been dreaming of for my whole life? If you're angry with me Clancy because LB found out you know, let me tell you, it was you who forced me to spill. I'm sorry you fell, I could tell something was up in the last couple of days. You know what? Save it, don't bother explaining."

The two returned to silence once more, Clancy's heart in his mouth with fear. How was he going to make it up to her?

Ruby and Clancy were supposed to stay at Del's tonight and they would go to school in the morning together, but as they reached Twinford, she walked coolly towards home without a single word.

A/N:

Seems like poor Clancy really won't ask anyone for help! What do you think will happen next? Do you think he might tell Olive or Hitch? Will he get the watch from Ruby at all after what's just happened, and what might that cause to happen at the Bonjour event...

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Until next week :-)