The Color Pink 2

Chapter 2

I woke up to my alarm feeling rumpled and grumpy, and for a second I couldn't remember why my head felt stuffy and congested. Then I remembered, and the weight of it crushed my chest.

Cancer.

The word felt like a ton of rocks, or a small elephant sitting on my chest. I heard my mom clattering around the kitchen and slipped my legs out of bed. My toes curled on rag rug that my grandmother had sent me after they had moved to Georgia. It was the color of the sand beaches that surrounded their house where we had spent morning after morning walking and collecting treasures to take home. I looked up at the map that hung above my desk, marked with a handful of pins for the places I had been, and even more for the places I wanted to go. It was a block of blue and green on a sea of red. I had convinced my mom to let me paint my walls a bright poppy red informing her that it was a motivating sort of color. Now it just looked like blood.

I pulled on my school uniform and shoved all of my school things into my bag, ignoring the fact that besides the small amount of math that I had gotten done before my parents came home, all of my homework was incomplete.

The wood of the hallway felt cold on my feet as I made my way towards the noise in the kitchen. My mom was already dressed and ready for the day. She turned around as I came in.

"Dad and I have another Doctors appointment this morning, and then we are flying to Huston to see a specialist. Tory will be staying with you, and we will be back on Friday." She came over and pulled be into her arms..

"You don't have to go to school today if you don't want to." She said, "I can call the school"

"No, its alright. I need to go."

This wasn't necessarily true. I just couldn't stand the idea of sitting at home doing nothing.

"Alright, but if you change your mind, call me."

I nodded against her shoulder.

"Do the boys know?" I asked.

"No. We should have a plan by the time we get home on Friday, and the boys will be back Saturday morning. We will tell them then."

I held onto her, and we both ignored the chime of the toaster. Finally I let my arms drop.

"Do you want some breakfast?" She asked as she moved to retrieve her toast.

I shook my head, my appetite usually small in the morning was nonexistent. But at a warning look from my mom, I grabbed an orange from the bowl on the counter. The clock in the hallway chimed and my mom gave me a quick squeeze as we both left the kitchen.

"I love you." she said kissing the top of my head.

"Love you too."

I got to school late, going straight to class having already missed Morning Prayer. The school day went by in a blur. I turned in what homework I had done, then stared out the windows through the remainder of the classes. It wasn't until after lunch that Kadee cornered me in our Art class.

"What is up with you?" She asked.

"Nothing, I didn't sleep well last night."

"Did you have fun shopping with your mom?"

"We didn't go. My mom and dad didn't get home till later." I lied shrugging my shoulders. I had forgotten about shopping, our plans felt a life time away.

"Hmmm." She said, and her questioning was cut off by the blaring of Jazz music, which signaled the start of class.

Unable to talk over the raging piano, we got our projects out. I stared at my painting. I liked art because as long as you got your projects finished on time, and didn't bother the other students, Professor Willow didn't mind how we spent our time in her class. She often encouraged what she termed "Personal Time" with our projects, so I didn't bother to look very productive, knowing that I would be left alone. At the end of class Nick met her outside the door and we walked back to the main part of the campus. Kadee didn't bug me while Nick was around, but she shot me a worried look as we separated to finish the day. The rest of the school was a daze. I left right after the bell rang, not even bothering to go to my locker.

Later that night the door bell chimed. I ignored the noise, thinking that Tory would grab it. But as it rang again, I rolled off my bed and went to answer it. I opened the door to find Kadee her arms full of a pillow and her over night bag.

"Where are you going?"

"I am spending the night." She stated firmly. "You shouldn't be alone"

"I'm not alone." I replied

"I love Tory," she said, "But sometimes you just need your best friend."

"Wait,"I said, my foggy brain trying to catch up. "How did you..."

"My dad told me when he got home." She said as she pulled me into a hug.

Kadee's dad had been our family's doctor as long as I could remember. The twins had idolized him ever sense he had given them their casts. I stood aside as she came in, and closed the door behind us. We made our way to the Play Room where we had spent most of our days playing and building blanket forts, although the boxes of toys had sense been replaced with a TV and comfortable couches. As we sat, I grabbed a pillow and hugged it to my chest.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kadee asked sounding hurt.

"I didn't know what to say." I said to the pillow in my lap. "I still don't."

Honor of a Thief - Aiden 2

She had packed all of her clothing on top of them in an effort to hide them from her parents, who said she spent way too much time with her nose between the pages of a book. He had still not answered her questions. Confused she asked "Well....?" Turning away from her he called for two of his men. Immediately two appeared, their faces masked like his. One of them called him "Your Majesty"... he that one told to stay and watch her, but he was not to touch her, then he and the other man left. He moved with a cat like grace. Who was this man? He didn't look much older than she was. And why was he called "your majesty"? Surly this man wasn't a king. She felt trunks being lifted from the rack on the end of the carriage. Her books! She must keep them away from them! What if he took them? What would she do while she was stuck at court without anything to distract her? She would go stark raving mad, that's what. All of the Balls, and social functions, she would go crazy. She had to stop him. She would not be able to survive with out her books.

Without stopping to think, she gathered up her skirts and all of the courage she could muster, and got out. Completely ignoring her "guard" Aiden walked straight backed with her chin held high, coming around the back she saw his "majesty" getting ready to hand down her worn trunks to another. "Don't you dare touch those." She told him, trying to put a commanding tone to her voice. "And why would I do that?" He responded. He was laughing at her! She heard it in his voice! "Because," She told him, "those cases are mine, and I don't want you poking through them." Please let him go, take anything but leave the books please! What would he do? Would he take them just because she asked him not to? What could she do if he did? She would not grovel in front of this man... but if it might save her books...She looked into his almost familiar green eyes, and saw laughter, not malice. "Well lads, I do believe we can afford to leave these ones to the lady." These words sent waves of relief flooding through her. She watched as the men loaded her trunks back onto the rack, and followed the man with the laughing eyes back to the carriage door. He opened it for her with a ridiculously extravagant bow, and as she got in, she tried to convey her gratitude without words. He and the other man walked away, leaving the younger one to once again stand outside her door. She gazed out the window, trying to figure out where she had seen eyes like his. About a quarter of an hour later, her guard disappeared, and was soon replaced by her nervous driver. She looked out of the small window, but saw no sign of the thieves. All up and down the line, the merchants were getting back behind their teams, a few looking a little ruffled. Her carriage started driving with a jolt; she sat back and continued to wonder at the man with the laughing eyes. Who was he, and why did he leave her trunks alone when he could have taken everything? She would have to ask some of her friends in merchant and guard guilds about him when she got to the capitol.

Honor of a Thief Ch2

He woke as usual with the rising of the sun and started warming up. Will ran through the kicks and jabs of hand to hand fighting, flowing seamlessly from one to the next in a deadly dance. After finishing, he washed and pulled on his clothes and his favorite boots. He had had them made specially and they made no noise as he walked down stairs. The tavern known as the Raven was the palace for the Tricksters Court, and home to the Sly One. Down in the main room, some of his band was getting ready to meet the caravan with Will. "Morning, Majesty" mumbled a few sleepy voices as he entered. Most of his foke were not morning people, preferring to do their work under the cover of night. Will's ears picked up the tread of soft feet coming around the back of the tall chair that he used as his throne. Slipping his hand to his side, and removing a thin blade he waited for the person who was going through such a great effort to be silent. He suddenly recognized the sent of aloe mixed with lavender coming from the hiding person, and called softly "Morning Gabrielle." She came gliding out from behind him, "Darn you!" her pretty face showing her frustration, "How did you know it was me?!? I was being so quiet this time!" Will just smiled, and let her pout as she sauntered down to her place at the table.

As he stood, silence fell across the room. All faces turned towards him, waiting for their assignments. After he had given everyone their instructions, they finished getting ready. The thieves rapped long bits of cloth around their heads, leaving only their eyes visible and saddling up their horses along with one team pulling a cart. Will mounting his black mare named shadow, led the way out of town. As they reached the appointed spot, the band disappeared silently into the forest on either side of the road, tying their horses a way back, and creeping up to hide in the undergrowth, waiting.

The sounds of many hooves and wagon wheels reached their ears. Will checked all of his blades, and balanced himself on the balls of his feet, waiting for the merchants to draw nearer. As the head of the caravan drew level with him, Will launched himself at the man's big horse, dragging him off. The others attacked, some grabbing the reigns of the horses, while others tackled the drivers, and pulling them over to the side of the road tying them to the sturdy trees on the side of the road. A few were roughed up; if they caused too much trouble, but none were killed those were the orders from the King.

The first vehicle in the caravan was a coach with a single passenger. The thieves looked to Will questioning, the driver had been taken care of, but what was to be done with the young lady sitting inside? Will glanced inside, noting the finely adorned interior and searched the girls face. She had high cheek bones, blue eyes, and a stubborn chin. All framed by masses of brown hair so dark it almost looked black. Sensing his gaze, the young woman turned to look at Will. Her penetrating glare took in every thing, from his covered face down to his well worn leather boots. "Who are you and what do you want?" She asked in clipped tones. Will stared not knowing what to make of her. He smiled under his mask, amused at this sprightly young merchant's daughter. There was no way she was a noble, what kind of father would let his well bred daughter out on a country road without any guards or supervision? Even a baron would have more care than that. "Well..?" She prompted. Will turned away, not bothering to answer her questions and called Jon and Evan over to him. "Evan, I want you to stay here, and make sure this one doesn't get into any trouble, but don't touch her." He said, nodding towards the young girl. Evan nodded turned to stand in front of the carriage door. Jon followed Will as he walked around to the back of the carriage, and helping unload the trunks off of the back.

All down the line, the thieves were unloading carts, and finding anything that might be of value, although they would leave enough for the merchants to not be completely ruined. Jon and Will started into the trunks going through the caravan leader's personal trunk, and starting to hand down finely worked leather caring cases, that had to be the young girls. In a swirl of silk, the merchant's daughter came around the back followed by a harried looking Evan. "Don't you dare touch those." She said her steely eyes flashing. "And why would I do that?" Will responded, amazed by her audacity. "Because," She stated, "those cases are mine, and I don't want you poking through them." His green eyes dancing, he turned to Jon and Evan trying to keep the laughter out of his voice, "Well lads, I do believe we can afford to leave these ones to the lady." Grinning, he and Jon hefted the trunks back on to the carriage. Gesturing for Evan and the girl to follow, he walked around to the door of the carriage, and with an elaborate bow he helped her back inside, leaving Evan to once again guard the door. After the little incident with the spunky young woman, the rest of the raid went smoothly. When they were done, they untied the caravan, and sent them on their way, not much worse for the morning's events. After they had loaded up their cart with all the goods, so kindly given by the caravan, they started back to the Raven where they would divide up their goods.