Page 27A tiny kiss

The first thing I did was grab my bag and check if it was all in there. It was. She'd put it back neatly and I may not have noticed if she hadn't told me. So, why did she read in it but then tell me at the earliest possible moment. I wasn't sure if I was afraid she'd found out or angry that she read it.

She interrupted me just when I wanted to speak. "I only read the last page, to check if you weren't a cop."

I blinked. My anger momentarily overtaken by my curiosity. "What? A cop? Why?"

She fiddled with her hands for a moment. "Let's go back to your room."

The only small detour we took was to put the towel away. The thought of washing clothes flared up and died within me. It wasn't the moment for that. While I was angry at Esmeralda for reading my diary, the reason why was a bit... Odd. I had the feeling it had to do with the things she said last night. We walked back up to my room and closed it firmly behind us after I'd lit two candles. I was glad that Esmeralda didn't ask me how I'd gotten up without lighting any candles.

But other things were on her mind. "I'm really, really sorry, but I had to know if you weren't an undercover cop. Not that they come in your age, as far as I know."

I looked at her. "Go on." I decided to let the anger rest for just a moment. Curiosity had gotten the better of me.

"It's like this. I have a fairly good recollection of things I've said, even when drunk. And the questions you asked and things you said could have brought me a lot of trouble if you were connected to the police somehow."

I doubted that knowing a detective would count as that. "So?"

"Well, I read the last page of your diary, hoping that it would only contain things that we'd done and talked about last night so I wouldn't read anything that wasn't about me."

"That doesn't make it right."

"No, and though you are a bit odd with not wanting to be waked, you know, it's fairly well written. You've really got talent for writing."

I was relieved. Very relieved. She had no idea what I was but I didn't want her to make a habit out of it. In fact, it made it clear to me that I had to find some way of preventing this happening again. The bag was waterproof, wasn't it? I could take it with me into showers easily. I would just hang it away from the water itself. That should be enough.

The anger and disappointment wasn't gone completely though. "Flattery won't make it right either."

"I know. And I will apologize for doing it, but it was needed for me. To ask this question, kind of..."

"What question."

She looked me deep in the eyes. "Are you a thief?"

Was I a thief? I'd stolen money of the guy but did that make me one? Besides that, and the book... And other things... We'll now that I thought about it, I'd taken quite some things. But I wasn't a thief by heart. "I don't think so."

She smiled. "We've all stolen bits and pieces, that doesn't make us a thief. But now the real question; Would you like to be?"

The answer escaped my lips before I could think about it. "Yes."

As I heard myself say it, I realized it was true. I didn't want to steal from people, as such, but I wanted to be a thief. I wanted to be able to walk in places where people shouldn't. To take things to know I could. To have a purpose. One I could do at night. But, I decided now, I would only go where no one would be hurt directly.

So, no taking candy of a baby.

I repeated it, both for her as well as myself. "Yes, I'd like to be."

"You're a weird girl, Amy. But I like you."

I blushed then I realized why we were here. "I still want proper apologies." Not that I really, really wanted them, but getting the subject away from being liked was preferable now.

"I'm sorry for reading in your diary. I will not do it again without your explicit permission."

"Okay. You're forgiven. For now. And why did you ask me if I'd like to be?"

She smiled. "Because I can help. Can you climb well?"

I smiled. "I suppose. How can you help?"

"Well, not directly, but I know someone who could show you how locks work. It's very useful. Do you know Jack?"

I blinked. "The store? Yeah, I got the backpack there."

Esmeralda looked at it again. "It must have cost a fair bit then. It will help you well. Just go there and ask the owner for 'A toolkit'. If he asks you what type, just tell him you don't know and need some training. He'll give you a very very hard time before he gives it though. Have you got any money left?"

I nodded, mesmerized by the whole idea. "About seventy."

She frowned. "Not a lot. Ask him if you can do some work for him in the store as well. It's lucky you're this pretty, as he might let you and you'd get to know a all the tools of the trade."

I blinked and smiled. A thought just occurred to me. "Jack of all Trades? Is that what it stands for?"

Esmeralda grinned. "I think so, but the owner never tells anyone if it's true. All we know he's not named Jack. A few people know his real name, but I don't."

I had to ask. "How do you know all this and why are you telling me?"

She blushed a little, it was cute. "Ex boyfriend and... eh... I really like you."

I suppose this was the moment where I really forgave her for what she'd done. I didn't answer her feelings the way she expressed them. But it probably wasn't love either. She reminded me a little of Anka, a sort of freedom with lust and love that few people had. Anka... I wondered what she was up to. I remembered the first night I saw her and what she did to me. And how Esmeralda had practically done the same. Time for payback.

I kissed her.

This time it was really me. And I was enjoying it fully. I kissed her deeply, caressing her neck with my hand and flirting with her tongue. Her surprise was almost better to my senses than her taste, her lips. I bit gently on her tongue and realized a drop of her blood fell into my throat.

It almost went wrong.

Not her blood, not now. I sucked on her tongue for just a moment, enjoying the taste of her blood and cutting my own tongue to heal it before she would find out what happened. My heart beat so fast, almost in sync with hers. With all the willpower I had, I pulled back, still savouring those single drops I'd tasted.

She had no idea what happened.

She can be so erotic. The candles keep me company here and make me wish for her presence once more. But it will probably be a long time before anyone will speak with me again.