The fact that it was actually autumn, finally hit me with an icy blast of wind. Where had the summer gone? I also notice the fact that Twinkle toes was still out there and I hadn’t gotten any closer to capturing him. And the fact that he might actually be wriggling his way into my heart annoyed me. My usual tactics of tackling him to the ground had failed more times than I could count. Ok girl, calm down, no more talking to him, no more thinking of him, or those wonderful silver eyes of his, or how his hair gets in the way of them or how you wish for those eyes smiled at you and not that stupid grin and… and nothing. Ahh, he’s messing with my head.
A trap, that’s what I need. Now what sort of trap? A simple plate of cookies under a box propped up with a stick would never fool anyone. What I needed was a well thought out plan. What if I got the twins to… no, I had a feeling that the towns people were getting suspicious of me and the thief. Well Cameo, I guess you’re on your own.
Stumped for ideas I turned on my laptop and clicked on my trusty friend Google. Since moving here I generally kept off my computer and especially the internet as it was painstakingly slow. What would one need to search? I quickly typed the first thing that came to my head, ‘traps for intruders’. There were a lot of booby traps that scared, hurt or killed the intruder, I wanted something to capture him. And hurting people was kind of illegal. I did a few more searches, coming up with similar results.
“They all say cameras, I want traps.” I groaned allowed. I had lost my camera charger during the move among other small things. Maybe I only needed to capture him in the act, and the cops could track him down from there, as far as I could tell, no one had really seen him. I got out my phone and got my camera up. To be honest, it was terrible quality, but it should work, but I would need to have it close by to click it on. A shirt with a pocket would do, now I only really needed to find Twinkles and film him in the act. Luckily for me I wouldn’t have to wait long.
***
That night I walked through the garden to test the fountain lights I had ordered. I plugged it in and submerged the lights into the icy water my hands coming out even more ghostly white. I dried my hands and picked up the manual. So to change the colour I needed to flick the side switch? What side switch? I sat on the ledge of the fountain and reached back into the water in search of the colour switch. The familiar chuckle made me jump almost dropping the light. Looking around in the darkness I looked for Jayce. I flicked the power switch on, the light lit up, blinding me in an orange colour light. I directed it away and found Jayce in his usual dark getup. My hand edged up to my phone ready to flick the video camera on.
“W…what are you doing here?” I asked, my hair blowing across my face. I got the camera rolling. He smiled at me wickedly and leaned closer.
“I thought I’d do a little cleaning,” he mused. Don’t look at his eyes; don’t look at his eyes ok.
“What do you mean?” I asked, taking a sudden interest of the ground. I could hear him get closer as his feet came into view. His warm hand slid under my chin and lifted my face up. Was he always a touchy person, weirdo.
“To clean away some more of those barriers and capture my dear Cameo’s heart,” he stared into my eyes. No why, did I have to see his beautiful tranquilizing eyes. I pushed him away in an attempt to keep my cool.
“Get real,” I scoffed back. He didn’t seem fazed by my actions but continued to remain close. So much for your no contact plan, you idiot. “What did you steal, this time?” I asked hoping for a full confession.
“Maybe something, maybe nothing,” he answered. Just answer the dumb question, stop running rings around me. “Does a thief have to steal everything? Does he have to steal all the time? ” he looked like the old oompa loompas in the orange tinted light.
“So you didn’t steal anything tonight?” I asked.
“Perhaps, but I could easily be lying. You never know,” he flicked a long strand away from his face, both his eyes sparkled in the light.
“Why are you so irritating?” I was annoyed and stood up almost forgetting the fountain light in my lap.
“What’s wrong beautiful, not getting the answers you want on tape?” he leaned back onto one leg as I froze in my spot. “I suppose you are putting some effort in finally, but honestly, the cops really don’t need more video footage, they have all that stuff already. Or is it that you are lonely when I’m away and want a record my beautiful face and voice.” A pulse ran through my hand and fell across his face sounding an echoing smack.
“What do you take me for? If I was lonely, it wouldn’t be because of you!” I flicked the light off and felt my way down the path. If he stole it, I could just buy another. “What do people see in him,” I grumbled back to my cabin. I closed the door and leaned against it and slid down it to the floor. I pulled my phone out and stopped the recording and played it back. It was useless even if he hadn’t known it was there. The quality of both sound and image were so distorted by the darkness and wind.
Your plan failed, yet again. I sighed and closed my eyes. I wasn’t lonely; I have always been like this. Where had the summer gone?
____________
not exactly my favourite chapter but tell me what you think.
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Till the Star Blooms
أدب المراهقينAfter her mum died Cameo is shipped off to the country where she lives at the bottom of the garden of the mansion she is hired to clean. She soon befriends the colourful townsfolk and one night comes face to face with a charming thief Jayce, who cal...
