Spinel the Great Umbrella Thief

Chapter 1

It was a dark and dreary day outside. Rain was pouring, thunder was roaring, and naught but two figures stood silhouetted against the bleak night sky.

Pink Pearl stood quietly in the rain and noticed the shorter gem huddled in the corner, shivering slightly.

She could tell the gem was cold and held out her umbrella. Spinel lifted her head up slowly. For but a split second an expression of awe and bewilderment showed on her face. Then without warning, a mischievous smirk scrawled across her features and she snatched the umbrella. Before Pink Pearl could blink, the other gem was gone.

Pink Pearl was taken offguard at first, but all she could do was stare after the dark mysterious stranger.

Those deep dark eyes that peered into her very soul, that small slender figure with opposable limbs, the way her boots squeaked angrily as she stomped through the mud...

"My goodness..." Pink Pearl pondered. "Could this be love?"

The next day Pink Pearl patiently waited in line to pay for her groceries. But once it got to her turn, the cashier closed up the register.

"Lunch break, sorry."

Pink Pearl gasped in surprise. Was that? She took a closer look at the cashier before following her away from the register. It was!

Spinel sat down and started chomping aggressively on a high fructose confectionary treat. She didn't particularly care if it poisoned her insides. A snack was a snack. As long as it satisfied her aching taste buds she couldn't complain.

"Oh miss! Please wait!" Pink Pearl called after her.

"What do ya want?!" Just then Spinel realized who Pink Pearl was..."wait a minute...look girlie, if you're here for your umbrella ya ain't gettin' it back, sorry."

"Oh not at all! I've got a handful at home after all."

Spinel scoffed under her breath. Of course she did. One look at the pearl's clothes could tell you she was better off than most.

Well then...what did she want?!

Pink Pearl only stood there with a helpless expression Spinel couldn't read.

"Well? Off with ya! I ain't got all day ya know!"

Oh! Pardon me!" Pink Pearl muttered bashfully and fidgeted a bit. Spinel bit her lip in agony, if only to stop herself from exploding at her indecisive "customer."

Spinel sucked in her cheeks and slapped her face. What was she getting so flustered for? She dealt with stupider customers on the daily. It wasn't like this Pearl was any worse than those people. But for some reason, she in particular, really got on Spinel's nerves. Oh would the imbecile just make up her mind already?

Spinel cleared her throat when Pink Pearl got lost in thought, "Can I help you?!"

"If it wouldn't be too much of a bother..." Pink Pearl took out a slip of paper and continued fidgeting. "Do call me."

Spinel nearly coughed up a lung. "Excuse you?!"

"Please call me!" Pink Pearl exclaimed loud and proud, without a care in the world.

Spinel could hardly contain her laughter. This was simply too much. Once she was finished, she sarcastically remarked, "Sorry, love. I don't have a phone."

"Oh my..." Pink Pearl covered her face in embarrassment.

"Now then. If you'd excuse me I ought to get back to work."