Chapter 2: Rhydian
He couldn't take his eyes off of her. His Maddy was back and by the way that she was clutching his hand just as tightly as he was, it didn't look like she would be going anywhere just yet.
When he, Tom and Shannon had first received news of Maddy's return they had been over the moon, but that was dampened somewhat by the fact that Segolia could not say how or when the Smith's were returning. However, that changed once Shannon got on the case, wrangling as much information out of Dacia as possible, and then working out the rest by looking at ferry times.
They had been camped at Dover all weekend, but it had all been worth it when he caught that first whiff of her on the wind. It had felt like a breath of fresh air. Compared to that, he now felt like he was drowning in her scent with the way that the enclosed car just rebuffed it back into his face. Furthermore, he became very aware of how their thighs were pressed together in the back seat of the Smith's minivan that Tom had driven down.
Rhydian couldn't help but grin at the way that Maddy had laughed about how Tom had been the only one to pass his driving test yet, seeing as Shannon had failed once already and he hadn't even tried at all. Let's just say that his thoughts had been slightly preoccupied.
During the long drive back to Stonybridge, Rhydian found himself oddly silent as Tom and Shannon caught Maddy up with everything that had happened whilst she had been gone. Instead, he tuned out as he studied her face for any changes and to see it light up in that way he loved.
He couldn't pinpoint why but he felt this compelling urge to just hold her in his arms and survey every inch of her body to make sure that she was okay. Instead he settled to keeping a hold of her closest hand and chuckling at the way she would occasionally look at him oddly regarding his weird behaviour.
Both teenagers failed to notice the knowing but shocked looks that her parents shared.