Thief's Beginning

Jungle Love

Lola's POV

I sat in silence thinking about Sly, I can't help it he's like a magnet. I thought it'd be easy to move on, I could never hate Sly or dislike him but I figured my heart ache would motivate me to move on, and it did.

But I can never just stop thinking or remembering him and Bentley and Murray. They're nice memories and I miss it, a lot.

I love Sly but I know I can't anymore and that's okay, I'm not ready for him in my life, the fact that he encountered Muggshot as well made me curious as to what he's up to and what he's doing.

But I can't focus on that now, I need to remain on my own mission for the owl. Although it would be nice to have some information on whom we're carrying out these jobs for.

We got to the jungle in Haiti however when we were told Jungle I was expecting tropical lots of life but then again Mz. Ruby is a voodoo priestess and this place was a swamp, and guess who it is that has to travel through it.

I slipped a couple of times but managed to stick to tree roots and vines to help move along, when I got to Mz. Ruby's hideout and I was asked to collect some charms that were hanging round the hideout although most were at her temple, I couldn't see her around so I just grabbed what I could and high tailed it out of there.

Although I did lose a shoe in some mucky pond, luckily for me I have spares in the truck.

I was sitting in the truck looking at all these objects wondering what use they had and why we were allowed to use some weapons and given some of the plans to machines. I still didn't know who this person was and they had yet to reveal anything about my family. I was starting to doubt this mission, but it was too late to back out now.

Our next destination was the Panda King and I was excited about this visit, as I have met the Pana King before, it was a few years ago I met his daughter when I was travelling round China, he allowed me to learn some moves and that's where I became more acrobatic and achieved good balance.

Although I did notice when I visited him that he seemed to have a constant inner turmoil and at times seemed incredibly bi-polar. I last heard that he had pyromania and had turned into a full blown arsonist.

It was a shame really, he was a great teacher.

It was gonna be a long trip, Bess was driving while Penelope was sleeping, and the truck was completely silent except for the sounds of the car.

The silence meant that I had time to think, which of course ended up being about Sly, the scenery reminded me of all the promises we made to see the world together and for fun rather than the purpose of a heist.

We had both been on many worldwide adventures but not together and we never really got time to stop and smell the roses.

I remembered our first official date, it was supposed to be for my birthday but well let's just say that my cake tipped off the table, someone slipped on it and landed on my leg and I ended up in hospital with a broken leg for a birthday present.

We had already become a couple but we hadn't been on a date yet nor had we really spent time together just the two of us and we didn't really act like a couple when we were with Bentley and Murray because we didn't want it to be awkward for them.

Sly kept asking to go on our date but I didn't want to with a broken leg, but once I got a smaller cast I eventually gave in and we went on our first date.

"Come on, you can't back out now you said you'd go." Sly said.

"I know but I mean I get my cast off in a week maybe we should go then, I can't move around as much even with a smaller cast." I replied.

"it doesn't matter besides this was your birthday present and it's been 5 weeks since your birthday and It's not like I'm gonna take you rock climbing."

"Alright lets go, but I better get to sit down." I threatened lightly.

It wasn't anything extravagant just a very simple date, just the way I like it. I'm not always obsessed with expensive things.

We went to a diner that always never had more than a handful of people and yet never came close to bankruptcy. Sly ordered us a huge plate of pancakes with all different toppings and sauces between each pancake; of course it didn't stay well-presented and stacked for long after we got our forks into it.

They had a cute little square near the dinner with a fountain and some small boutique stores and people running little markets. A woman came up to us offering roses.

"Rose for the lady?" She asked.

"Oh she's no lady." Sly joked which rightfully earned him an elbow to the rib.

"On second thought maybe a rose for the lady is a good idea." Sly said.

"I agree."

Sly bought the rose and gave it to me in a chivalrous manner, which was sweet coming from him. We went to a couple of stores and bought some sweets and chocolates which Sly refused to let me pay for, although my grandmother always taught me that the guy pays for the first date I always feel bad having them pay for everything.

After we went for a drive in Murrays van, knowing my condition he allowed us to borrow it although Sly said that he was a bit reluctant to give up the keys.

We camped out in the van for a while Sly and set out a bed in the back and we stayed in there for a while cuddling and feeding each other candies, well throwing them in each other's mouths, before he took me home.

We walked to the door after he helped me out the van.

"Thanks Sly I'm glad we did this and thanks for taking me home." I said.

"Well I would never leave the crippled to make their own way home." Sly teased.

We stared at each other for a while before turning away, we didn't speak and it was getting awkward but we didn't know what to say.

"Look, I've never really done this before so I'm not really sure if this is too forward or not but I mean we've been friends for a while so I think we'll be fine. Anyway I really like being with you and we already established that we have feelings for each other so should we just kiss each other already and end this now, the date I mean." Sly said as he grabbed my shoulders.

He was right we were never awkward around each other and always honest in fact we did more intimate things when we were just friends so it's not like I had anything to be scared about.

"You're right but can we like have a do over otherwise its gonna feel like it will take forever and while we're just standing leaning in it'll be really uncomfortable as we'll just be waiting for it to happen and we'll be more likely to chicken out and pull away and-" Sly cut me off by pulling me towards him and kissing me.

It didn't take long for me to respond, Sly was my first love and my first kiss and boy was it good, I mean I have no comparison but it just felt comfortable.

It wasn't a long kiss but it was one of those kisses that were short but looked like they took a long time.

We pulled away and bid each other good bye both smiling and waving at each other before I headed inside. My grandmother was sitting on the sofa watching TV and she turned to me as I walked in.

"How'd it go?" She had a look like she already knew.

"It was fine, I said adding the rose, I was holding, to one of the vases nearby before walking upstairs.

"So how was the kiss?" I turned towards my grandma shocked but she wasn't looking.

"It was fine." I mumbled now blushing.

I could hear my grandma chuckling quietly.