Kids In the Dark

Business

James' P.O.V.

Breathe. In. And out.

BANG

I jump out of my meditating position and grab my scimitar off my night table. When I notice nothing is in my room, I sheath my sword and check the clock.

"Bit early for them to be making trouble already." I think as I rub my hands over my face.

I go to my dresser and pull out a black button-up shirt and a pair of tan pants. As I finish buttoning up my shirt, I hear a knock on my door. I open the door to a bouncy and excited Tatum.

"Assignments from Shannon on our newest mission!" She says excitedly.

I take the messy stack of paper from her and slowly close my door while she bounces down the hall to Patrick's room. Shuffling through the papers, I'm not surprised with the role I got. Again. I lay the papers down on my dresser and open the window. I climb out onto the sill and look at the city around me. Then I step forward. And land on the fire escape. I look up at the sun splattered sky. Then down at the crowded streets, even though it's only 6 am.

"The shop should be opening soon." I think as the wind ruffles through my hair.

I glance up at the second story, contemplating whether or not too wake up the girls. I snicker thinking of how hard Shannon would punch me, especially since she's been working since 5. Chloe would probably throw something at me, either a pillow or one of her many stuffed animals. I start to climb the stairs ever so carefully, making sure nothing creaks when I do. When I get to Chloe's window, I bang on it. No one answers, so I move along the ledge to Shannon's. I adjust my footing so that I don't fall, when I look into her window. When I do, I see the most beautiful girl I've ever seen laughing with Shannon. She had hair the color of a strawberry dipped in honey, and her eyes had a certain glow to them which accentuated their amber shade. I stared, gaping at her until I caught eyes with Shannon. In my scramble to get away from the window, I slip and nearly fall, until suddenly there's a hand on clutching my collar. I look up with one hand on the railing, right into the squinting brown eyes of our leader. She's holding me with one hand while the gorgeous blonde peaks from behind her. I smile nervously and wave with my free hand.

"I could drop you ya know!" Shannon shouts threateningly.

The girl behind her reaches out her hand as if to stop her. "No! It's okay, really. It was only a matter of time before someone found out. You were gonna introduce me to the rest, weren't you?

Shannon pulls me up and scowls at me.

"Ugh, fine. I didn't want to this early, but whatever." She sighs deeply, then turns to the girl.

She walks over to the girl and puts her arm around the girls waist. "This is my girlfriend, Rose." She says smiling at the rosy cheeked girl.

"Girlfriend. Girl...friend?" I think as the world goes black around me.