A Thief in the Night [Ch. 13]

Chapter 13: The Ask

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An hour before...

She didn't even know if he would be back before the ball. She needed time. Way more time than what she already thought she had.

Kara paced in her room, reciting anything and everything that came out as one giant jumbled mess. Something like this should've been way easier. Oh, who was she kidding?

Eden said he'd say 'Yes'. How she knew was the magic of it all. Or was she that confident in her?

The blonde felt like she was going to deflate. Turning on her heels, she wandered out of her bedroom and made her way down the stairs. It wasn't that late, so she knew where Eden would be.

Her hair bounced as she skipped some steps on the way down. Fresh pink highlights danced in the light, then came back to frame her face. She got to the office in no time flat. Her hand was already on the door handle before she remembered to knock. She could hear a shift, but she chalked it up to the ruffling of papers Eden was filing through.

"Hey, Eden, you have a minute?" Kara's fingers found the tips of her hair to fiddle with. She knew she had to stop bothering her sister for every life problem, but she didn't know how to talk like she did. Or, well, be so calm and collected with literally everything thrown her way.

"Of course, but could you shut the door?"

Without question, the door was pushed to a click, and then a shadow emerged from a window curtain.

Kara's mouth went dry. How? When--?

"Hey, you want me to leave while you two talk?" the thief asked. He didn't want to intrude.

Eden stood up, then tapped the papers she had on her desk to straighten them before placing them in the manila folder.

"It is your call, Kara. Kick him out?"

She looked from X to Eden, then back to X.

"No, you can stay. It... it was nothing."

X tilted his head slightly with a brow raise.

"You sure?"

"Mhmm," Kara responded, trying her best not to seem awkward at all. "So you're back. That's good." She smiled, finding her way over to them.

"Yeah, I don't have any jobs currently, so I'm free to do whatever."

"Free to annoy other people, you mean." Eden jabbed at him while typing on her computer.

Oh, were they still going to play this?

X crossed his arms and sat on the front edge of the desk, then smirked at her.

"Not my fault you chose to work a 9 to 7."

Her fox eyes shifted to him as her computer screen darkened.

"Beats being a criminal."

His grin widened, but he caught himself. He couldn't say what he wanted with Kara in the room.

Click.

X practically dove for his life out of the line of sight of the opening door. However, when he saw Conner's big head, he got up from behind the desk.

Eden's eyes trailed to Kara, and at that instant, Kara knew what was about to happen. Her heart jumped in her chest when Eden promised she'd be back. No, no, no! Eden, don't leave her!

Click.

"..."

There was a long silence, but it probably only lasted for twenty seconds.

"So, how's school?"

Kara turned to face him. She was glad he gave her an easy topic to speak on.

"Oh, everyone is super nice. My roommate is a total charm junkie. She got me into it, and look." She held up her wrist. Two bangles were full of kawaii animals and emojicons--each different in their own right, yet still within the theme colors.

"That's real cute."

She smiled, then lowered her arm.

"I have two more years to go." She sighed lightly with a happy hum. "Then hopefully Broadway~"

Wheeeew~

X whistled.

"A singer, dancer, and actor? Don't forget me when you get larger."

She giggled.

"Of course not."

"You're definitely going to get there. Don't let anyone tell you you can't. But if they do, give me their name."

Kara laughed.

"Please don't hurt anyone. I'll be alright." She held up her arms and balled her hands into fists. "I got tougher the last time you saw me."

The thief chuckled.

"Alright, alright."

"So, how've you been?"

"Ahh, same ol', same ol'. Nothing much changes with me."

"Mmm..." She wasn't sure how to read that, but she left it alone. "Uhh... so..."

"The masquerade ball is hosted here, right?"

Kara held her breath, but let it flow out her mouth before she spoke.

"Mhmm. Eden is working hard. She wants to take Dad's insurance company and convert it to a full tech company. She needs more money to buy a building, so that's why she's auctioning off most of his private collection," she explained. "She also wants to put some of the money toward charity, so this was a nice twist to get people to come."

She played with her hair a little bit and looked away from him.

"Are you going to come?"

"Uhh... well. I have a suit, but I don't really have a date." He hinted at the possibility. "So maybe... not?"

"Umm... I don't... I have a dress. I've worked on it for months, when Eden first came up with the idea." She began to rant.

"Oh? What's it look like?"

"Well, it's white with soft yellow frills that are feathers. I wanted to do a bird theme. Like a reverse Black Swan almost." She began to rant.

"I'd love to see it."

Her cheeks became flushed, and she glanced up at him.

"Then did you... You want to go... go together with me?" She practically squeaked the last part.

"Hmmm... I guess I should get a feather cape, too. Since we're going together."

Kara beamed, somewhat forgetting she was going to die two seconds ago from asking him to go with her.

"Really? What color are you wearing?"

"... Black." Now that sounded awful. He should've put more thought into it.

"Hmm... maybe a crow or--oh! A raven. The purple won't be too bright, but it'd add a nice accent. And the same can be for your mask!" She caught herself. "That is, if you want."

"Kara." He took her hands in his. "Make me masquerade-worthy. I'm in your hands."