Thieving Florida

chapter 3

I woke up to the sound of thunder booming. Rain drops started to pelt my face. I looked around at the unfamiliar place I was at. It took me a couple of minutes to remember what had happened last night.

Despite the thunder, I heard hushed voices. I looked next to me; two empty sleeping bags. Eden and Xander must be the voices I'm hearing. I didn't want to be rude and eavesdrop, but I was curious as to what they were talking about. I focused hard on their voices.

"Why the hell is she even here?" I heard Eden whisper. I thought it was her at least.

"Because I saved her from a potential rapist? And didn't want to show up at her house where there might be police?"

"Well she's leaving! Do you realize the kind of danger she could be risking us?" Eden said. How am I dangerous? "Her stupid rich friends will be searching the city for her. If they see her with us, it could be the end of you and I. Why are you risking it?"

"Look, I'll take her to some spot that she's familiar with and let her walk the rest of the way home. Deal?" Xander said. There was some sort of tone in his voice, I couldn't quite place it though.

I didn't bother to listen to the rest of the conversation. I rolled over in my sleeping bag and was thinking. Xander had saved me from a potential rapist or murderer. For all I know, I could be chopped pieces of Jes right now. I gave myself a mental note to thank him again.

Light was starting to fill the sky, despite the storm clouds. The rain had slowed significantly from pouring to a light mist. I decided to finally step out of my sleeping bag. I started folding it up like I was taught in girl scouts. I thought back to those memories. Camping out in the "wild", or more better known as another girl's yard. I thought about one of my friends who I knew from scouts. Her name was on the tip of my tongue. Maria? Melissa? Something like that...

Not that it mattered. Eden noticed that I got up and gave me a scowl. "Morning. Now that you're finally up you can start making your way home with my brother. Don't want your upper-class girlfriends to break a nail looking for you," she said bitterly. Xander turned to look at me, then scowled back at his sister. She just shrugged in response.

"We can eat before we leave. It's a fairly long walk back to her part of town," Xander said. When Eden started protesting Xander silenced her with a glare.

"No, it's fine. I can eat when I get home," I said.

"See Alexander? She agrees with me," Eden gloated.

"Whatever suits you," was all Xander said. Eden grabbed a loaf of Wonder bread and threw Xander a slice. He was making his way down the latter that I was dreading to encounter.

Five minutes later I was jogging to keep pace with Xander's long strides.

"Walk a little slower won't you?" I said. He sighed and slowed down slightly, enough for me to catch up and stop jogging.

"Your sister didn't like me much, did she?" I said rather quietly.

"Yeah. She's not exactly a people person. She lacks my good charisma and somewhat friendly personality. It doesn't do her much good when trying to get food or money," he said. "Not that it really matters to you whether she likes you or not. You never have to see our faces again."

"W-well I still want her to like me. Normally people like me..."

"Boy are you annoying," Xander said. I glared at him. Then I remembered I was going to thank him again. I decided once was enough.

No one was outside yet. It was hardly five thirty. I didn't want to be up this early. Only three hours of sleep does not equal a happy Jes.

Twenty minutes later I was familiar with my surroundings. I realized we were probably only four or so miles away from my house back on the roof top. I mentally cursed my parents for buying a house so close to a shady area of Destin.