Spinel the Great Umbrella Thief

Chapter 2

It was a cold and stormy day that night. The kind that Spinel was all too used to. Sure it was dreadfully cold, and abysmally dark, but somehow the sound of the raindrops splashing relentlessly against the concrete felt a bit comforting. The raindrops were a lullaby, the darkness was her cradle. She could rest easy in their company.

Yes, things were perfect just as they were. There was no need for change. Spinel was happy being a lone wolf. Never relying on anyone. Never telling any secrets. Never getting stabbed in the back. Her demons were the only friends she needed.

Those were the words she constantly repeated to herself. Words she had always believed to be true. So why?

Why did she have to interfere with that?

Spinel shivered from the cold but she tried desperately to brave through it. She was a tough gem. A little wind and rain wasn't enough to knock her down.

And then it happened. Suddenly. No warning. The lone hand of a kind stranger stretched towards her...Spinel shook her head before she got any wild ideas. Tch. I've fallen for that cheap trick one time too many. People were never kind for anyone else's sake. And when they were they were only naive idiots waiting to get taken advantage of. It was a dog eat dog world. And Spinel was not about to get caught on the receiving end of that bargain.

It was easier to hurt someone else than to deal with her own pain. Besides it would teach the sucker a little lesson about giving out trust in the long run.

So when the tall gem held out an umbrella to her, Spinel decided to take advantage of the opportunity hoping to make her miserable in exchange. Give her a little taste of the real world. Unfortunately to her dismay, that plan fell flat on it's face.

That gem was so annoying. Always flaunting around her glitz and glam like a gaudy overpriced accessory doll.

Spinel didn't even know her name. But still she insisted on chatting her up any chance she got.

"G'day Spinel!"

"Eh? Who told you my name?!"

"Oh goodness me! It's on your nametag, darling!"

"Oh, right."

"Oh do pardon my manners. I haven't told you my name yet, have I?"

"What gave you the hint?"

"Pink Pearl at your service!" the Pearl held out her hand but Spinel snatched hers away before Pinky could taint it with those perfect pink fingernails.

"What's that? Some sort of lame joke?"

"Oh yes...a joke of course," Pink Pearl muttered to herself awkwardly.

"But this..." Pinky rummaged through her little pink purse, "isn't."

"Wha?"

Pink Pearl dropped a small pink device in Spinel's hands.

"What's this?"

"Oh! Well you said you didn't have a phone so you see...I bought you one."

Spinel was flabbergasted. How much money was this woman made of?!

"Now we can exchange numbers!"

Spinel shuddered. This gem played dirty. She would not let her sink those pearly white teeth into her.

"I don't need it."

"What was that?"

"I don't need your fancy pink cellphone. You can't win me over with extravagant gifts. And I'm not calling you, capiche?"

"Sure! But it's there if you change your mind!"

Spinel clenched her teeth. It didn't matter what she said. Her rough words and sharp tongue had failed her.

As soon as her shift was over Spinel made her way back to her tiny one-bedroom apartment.

The sky was pink tonight. She abruptly closed to curtains.

She silently flopped onto the bed and glanced at the little pink cellphone. She told herself she was going to throw it out. When the phone buzzed suddenly she panicked and hid it under her pillow. Spinel breathed steadily. What was she even doing? It was just a dumb phone. She would throw it away in the morning.