Her Shadows

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

AMELIA POV

It's officially two weeks and counting until the Auction. In anticipation, Eugene has increased the workload. We're being called to missions almost nightly, constantly taking out threats and stealing information.

I am supposed to be continuing my supervision of Mr Parker.

Supposed to be.

Instead I somehow find myself at the local cinema... with Jayce... about to watch a horror movie.

At least I'm watching one of the Parkers.

I have no clue what I'm doing or why I am even here. I've somehow become addicted to that constant fluttery feeling in my chest that alights every time that goofy boy is around. For the first time in my life, my body is alive with goose bumps and sweaty palms.

Somehow, this clumsy, blushing man has me feeling the most alive I have ever felt. As though I were finally surfacing from an ocean of water I'd been drowning in for 15 years and he's my boat to safety.

So, I guess that's why, me, a trained and deadly assassin, finds herself waiting for a grinning boy with messy chocolate locks and dazzling hazel eyes to buy us the largest popcorn available and a bag of MnMs, apparently an amazing combo.

I watch with amusement, as he juts out his belly in an attempt to balance the enormous bucket of popcorn and two frozen cokes in his arms. With a moment's hesitation, almost wanting to see him attempt to carry the ridiculous amount of food, I walk up to him and take the popcorn from his arms, rolling my eyes at his playful smile.

I've also somehow become less and less aware of my emotions around him. I can no longer mask all my emotions beneath indifference when faced with that dazzling grin and friendly eyes.

Or maybe I just no longer care to.

He's like a breath of fresh air in a room of smoke. A flashlight in a tunnel of pure darkness. He feels like a burst of colour in a world of grey.

So what if in two weeks, when my mission finally ended, and my goals for the Auction are finally achieved, this would all end.

Because when his father dies. When this hidden world of Auctions, assassins and dealers of deceit crash into his perfect perception of reality, all those fluttery feelings and blissful moments will crash and burn. Shattering like a glass jar dropped on stone.

But for now, I would allow myself this lie.

For once in my 20 years of existence, I would allow a few, singular chips to be made in my wall of bricks and let myself feel things I have no right feeling.

Then when the two weeks end, I will rebuild those walls with stone.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts and back to reality I watch Jayce hand our tickets to the ticket lady before moving toward the cinema.

On our way, he somehow manages to manoeuvre the drinks and chocolate in his arms, so he can freely reach into my bucket of popcorn and withdraw a handful. Then he shoves it into his face and I watch with a breathy laugh as a few bounce off his chin and to the floor.

He grins at me childishly, popcorn still stuffed in his cheeks like a chipmunk storing nuts.

He picks up a piece and lightly chucks it at me but to his surprise and my utter smugness, I lean forward and catch it in my mouth. I chew it with arrogance as we reach the cinema door and walk inside.

"Now if you get scared, always remember you have my shoulder to cower behind," Jayce humourlessly announces.

I look at his trouble-making gaze and can't help but sarcastically throw back, "oh how chivalrous of you!"