Embry
Letting Ruthie go back home is one of the hardest things I had to do during the day. I couldn't wait until she turned eighteen. Once she was legally an adult, she could get out of there. Once she was safely out of that house I'd be able to tell her the only secret I've ever kept from my best friend.
Ruthie and I have known each other since preschool. She stood out in our class at the Rez school. She was strawberry blonde and had bright blue eyes, which contrasted with the dark hair and copper skin all the other kids had. She was so shy, even then. She wouldn't speak to anyone, and would play by herself most of the time. One day some kids were picking on her for a dark purple bruise on her cheek, so I threw sand at them. The first time I ever talked to her, was when she said in her angelic voice, "thanks". After that I took it upon myself to protect her.
Even when I met Quil and Jake, she was always my best friend. They were good for doing stupid guy stuff, working on cars and watching sports and stuff, but Ruthie had a very calming aura, and if I ever had something bugging me I felt like I could tell her. The only secret I ever kept from her was when I phased for the first time. I had tried to ignore her at first. She didn't need to be caught up in this, she had enough to deal with by herself. But when Sam explained to me about how we protect the Rez, I thought about Ruthie at home with her father by herself. I couldn't be a protector if I ignored her. So I let her back in.
She didn't mind the changes much. She teased me about how hungry I was all the time and how tall I was. Ruthie is tiny, and she seems even more so when she's standing next to me. She didn't mind when I'd accidentally fall asleep in the middle of the day when we were watching tv. I think she's had so much abnormality in her life that this was semi-normal.
I hated keeping secrets from her, especially since I knew everything about her life. Before she had moved to La Push when she was 3, she lived in Oklahoma. She had a little brother, her mother, and her father. Her father was an alcoholic, and one day came home drunk with a gun. Her mother tried to get Ruthie and her brother out of the house, but her dad fired at them. Her mother and brother were killed, and her dad packed up Ruthie and left before anyone realized they were gone. They showed up at the Rez, and Ruthie entered preschool. That's where we met.
Her dad continued to drink, and Ruthie would show up at school with bruises on her arms, or finger marks on her cheeks. Somehow she managed to hide them though. She wanted to stay on the Rez with me.
"You're my best friend Em. I can handle my dad when I get to see you every day. I couldn't take being alone forever" she told me one day when we were twelve and she was helping me with my math homework. I loved being able to see her every day too. I knew she was safe when she was with me. Once I became a wolf, I saw her differently than when we were kids, however.
As soon as we met on the beach the day I chose to stop ignoring her, the world stopped rotating around the sun. This was Ruthie, my sweet little Ruthie, and she was more than my whole world. I loved her more than anyone could possibly love another person. I didn't want to date her though. I mean, ideally I did, but she didn't need a boyfriend. Not until she was out of her house. I knew my purpose as a wolf was to protect my Ruthie. Sam later explained to me that this was called imprinting. I kept it hidden from the pack as well as I could. Sometimes I wonder if they've suspected it, but they keep their mouths shut. That's the other secret I hadn't told Ruthie. Once I told her about being a wolf, I would tell her about imprinting.
I was thinking about this while I waited on the beach for her. Today I had brought my moms fruit salad for us to eat. Ruthie was an amazing cook, but she spent so much time waiting on every need of her dad that sometimes she forgot to eat. So I took it upon myself to feed her. When Ruthie finally showed up, she was walking funny, like she was stepping on rusty nails every time she took a step. It was warm out, but she still wore jeans and a sweatshirt. She gingerly sat next to me with a grimace of a smile and I immediately began to get angry.
"What did he do to you?" I growled. Ruthie put her small hand on my knee.
"He didn't do anything." She said softly.
"Please don't lie to me Ruthie. I only want to help you. I can't help if you lie." I said, taking her hand in my own.
"No, I mean it. It wasn't my dad this time. It was his drunk friend." She said, her voice barely a whisper. If I didn't have super hearing, I probably would have had to ask her to speak up.
"Can you tell me what he did to you?" I asked. I had seen Ruthie in every state. I had learned over the years how to handle the abuse. It had gotten worse after I imprinted. I wanted to go rip apart every person who harmed her. Ruthie's lips clenched together tightly. With shaking hands she unzipped her sweatshirt, revealing the tshirt underneath. She then took the hem of her shirt and pulled it just above her belly button. I could see dark purple and yellow bruises along her sides. Long, distinguished finger marks.
"Has this happened before?" I asked quickly.
"Not like this. It was only ever my dad, and he didn't do this kind of stuff." She said. I really wanted to gather in my arms and hold her, but I didn't. Ruthie was very sensitive to physical contact. I could get away with small things, like when I had brushed her cheek the day before, or when she's asleep and I carry her to my room. But otherwise she'll shy away and become frightened.
"Hey Embry?" She asked quietly, interrupting my thoughts. I looked up at her.
"Do you think we could watch that movie now?" She said. I smiled warmly. I knew that if she came over we'd end up falling asleep on the couch again, and I'd be able to keep Ruthie safely in my house where nobody could harm her.
"Of course." I said, standing up and offering my hand to Ruthie. She hoisted herself up, obviously in pain.
"You're lucky I'm not Paul." I said nonchalantly as we walked slowly to my car.
"Why is that?" She asked.
"If anyone hurt Scarlett, he'd go beat them up." Ruthie shook her head. I had offered to go give her dad a piece of my mind once, but she said she didn't want him hurting me. I did as she asked and didn't go, because I wanted to keep her happy.
"Scarlett's also his girlfriend." She pointed out.
"Just because you're not my girlfriend doesn't mean you can't be the most important girl in my life." Ruthie blushed, then laughed.
"Don't let your mom hear that." She warned. I laughed along with her, glad that I got her to smile today. I opened the passenger door for her, mimicking a chauffeur, which made her smile even bigger. I finally went around to my side, and put the keys in the car.
"Where too, m'lady?" I asked.
"Casa de Call, please." Ruthie said. I glanced over at her again as I drove. I really was the luckiest guy on the planet, having her as my best friend.
hello! Thanks for reading! Lots of backstory, hopefully some questions you have are answered. If they aren't, message me or leave a review! Enjoy!
