Paid to Catch

Friend or Foe?

Cerice's P.O.V.

My mind whirred the gears in it, then reminded me of two things: Black hair. Dog. It couldn't be Jeremy. The infant in Mrs. Fuente's arms must be Jeremy, if that was the case. So that meant the person in the middle- it really was a girl, and a different person. But who? She looks so familiar, yet doesn't.

I hear footsteps coming from behind me. I sit up straight when I hear a familiar voice- Jeremy's voice. "Hey, Puppy Girl, why are you here?" he asks in annoyance, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I thought I told you to leave me alone for today." I break off from my trance immediately.

"Um, I- uh," I stand up and turn around to face him. "I was worried about you, that's all," I say, and frown a little when I remember what happened between him and his cousin Theodore yesterday. "You were so upset the other day, and I wanted to cheer you up.."

Jeremy laughs at my reason. "You? Cheer me up? Pssh, please, like you succeeded on that task yesterday." I force up a smile, telling myself over and over that he was just being his spoiled, bratty-self again, but the corner of my mouth was twitching slightly in annoyance. Though I feel like at the very least, he's back to normal again.

"Well, sorry for failing." I say truthfully, then heave out a sigh. "But anyway, you're fine now, right? Have you eaten the cookies I brought? You're back to normal?" Woah, I sound like a concerned big sister or something. My eyes widen when I remember the picture.

Jeremy nods once. "Yeah, I'm fi-"

"Kiddo," I cut him off, turning my gaze to the old tattered picture on the corner of the table- the one with the black-haired girl and baby him and the dog. I point a finger at it. "The girl in this photo..." I say, gulping. All of a sudden I felt nervous about asking the question. "Who is she?"

"Huh?" he said, dumbfounded at first, before he walked over and saw what I was pointing at. He scratched his head and grunted. "Oh, probably one of my cousins or something." he said, then narrowed his eyes at me. "Why did you ask, Witch?"

I giggled stupidly in response, turning my head to avoid the mean look he was giving me. Probably one of his cousins? He doesn't even know? But then again, he was still a baby when this picture was taken. I conceal my frustration, face him, then respond, "Nothing. Just... I really see a resemblance." I smile.

He snickers. "What did you expect? It's in the genes." he states. 

I nod. "Yeah..." I trail off. My thoughts scatter aimlessly, but also goes back and forth to the mystery girl in the photo. She looked too much like him, I refuse to believe that It was just his cousin!

But should I press the subject? According to how kiddo reacted, he himself isn't so sure. I doubt he even cares about her identity. Should I consult the maids, since I'm pretty close to them? But I'd feel guilty for disturbing them when they're working. Mrs. Fuente, then? Uh, never mind. That would be an embarrassing thing, and she might think I was silly for making such a fuss over a photo.

Jeremy waves a hand in front of me. "Hello? Earth to Hag? You still there, hag?" I blink, breaking off from my trail of thoughts again. 

"E-eh?" I stutter. 

Jeremy sighs, then rests a hand on his hip. "Spacing out, are we? That's no good. Listen, the house just informed me that mom wants us to do some holiday shopping. She told me that we can buy whatever we want in the meantime."

"Oh, I see." I giggle. "I'll help you out on your shopping, then. After all, I am your babysitter." Jeremy scowls. 

"Are you deaf? I said we, idiot witch." his hand fishes for something in his pocket. "That means you're buying something, too. Don't worry, I know you're poor, so I'll buy it for you."