The Thief

15. Promises

Asher

As I leave the house I find it sad that I'm sneaking out again. It's become a type of therapy for me. I see a problem and think that I can fix it by stealing. I don't let myself linger on these thoughts for long, if I do I'll stop myself.

I don't even know what to take anymore; I've given Katie and Will everything they need. Todd does take it away if he finds it but they have a hidden stash. I go to a random store and throw my hood up before the security cameras can glimpse me. Picking the lock is easy, but I hesitate before actually opening the door.

I can't keep doing this. I can't keep lying to everyone. This will only bring bad things, it will lead me to places I don't want to go in my life.

I click the lock back in place and turn away. I start walking not sure where. I pass my car that is parked a few blocks away and I don't get in. I walk and walk and soon I realize where I'm going. When the rain starts falling I keep going. When I reach the building I climb the fire escape before I can change my mind.

Curtains cover most of the window, but a small crack allows me to see through. A lamp on a desk lights the room. Directly below the window is a bed buried in a mountain of blankets and sprawled across the bed is Evane, her eyes closed and an open book near one of her hands. A furry lump is balled up at the end of the bed, breathing evenly.

I feel bad for waking her, but I need to do this before I lose courage. My first knock is light only stirring her. I knock louder and she opens her eyes. It takes her a minute to register the noise coming from the window.

She gives me a bewildered look then it changes to annoyance. She glances at the clock and shifts to a cross legged position in front of the window, before pushing away the curtains and pulling it open.

She raises her eyebrows. "It's like two in the morning, what are you doing?"

I push my hood away and run a hand through my hair. "I couldn't stop thinking about at the hospital and what you asked and the answer I gave. That's not the real answer. The truth is if you asked Todd he'd say I'm a horrible person. And if you asked my foster siblings they'd say I'm a hero."

She looks at the windowsill. "And what if I asked you?" Her voice is soft, calm.

I look down too. "I don't know." Her face falls. "But I do know that I don't want to be something bad. I'm going to stop."

"So was it you then? The person my brother was looking for?" I nod. She takes a deep breath. "You know I can't lie to him, right?"

"I'm not asking you to."

"So you're going to confess?"

I bite my lip. "I won't lie anymore, but I don't want to go to juvey." She doesn't say anything. "Your dog's not going to wake up right?" I change the subject.

She laughs. "You're asking about my dog?"

I shrug. "What's his name?"

"Paco. He's adorable, but he sleeps like rock." She glances back at him.

"Well I'm glad. I get a feeling if he woke up your brother would be in here in two seconds."

She laughs. "With his gun pointed at your chest." She shakes her head. "He's way too protective."

"That's what big brothers are for," I say thinking of Will and Katie.

"That's why you did it, for them?" I nod. "Do you want to come inside? It's getting pretty wet out there."

I hadn't noticed. "I don't want to ruin your bed and your front door isn't really an option."

She smiles. "You're not cold though?"

"No." It's silent for a moment. "I don't want to leave." I look at my feet.

There's movement on the bed and I look up in time to see Evane fiddling with a record player. Once music is playing softly she puts shoes and a jacket on. She climbs over the bed and out the window.

"Do you want to dance?" She holds out her hand.

"Shouldn't this be the other way around?"

She shrugs. "Who needs gender stereotypes?"

I take her hand and pull her to me. "Yes Evane, I will dance with you on a fire escape at two in the morning in the pouring rain."

She laughs and raises her head to the sky, letting the water drench her features. And when she looks back at me I can't help it. I raise my hands up to her face and slowly bring it closer to mine. Our lips are an inch apart and I can feel her breath catch. I press my lips to hers softly, almost asking permission. She kisses me back and the floating feeling I get has nothing to do with the fact that we're twenty feet in the air.

I pull back and she smiles at me before resting her head against my chest. We sway again as the music crescendos and decrescendos. Too soon the music ends and Paco begins stirring. Someone will realize I'm gone soon. Evane notices too. We break apart.

"I have to go."

She nods. "I know." I begin to step away but she grabs my arm. "You better keep your promises."

I take her hand and raise it to my lips. "I will." I slide down the firescape in a very gentleman like way and almost soar the rest of the way to my car.

Hey everybody! Wow so what do you think? Will Asher be able to keep his promises? Will he get caught? What do you think of the progression of his and Evane's relationship in this chapter? Let me know what you think in the comments and please give this chapter a vote if you like it! Thanks for reading!