Thief(6)

“I know!” she beams, letting me know it was indeed the right thing to say. “I want him to kiss me. It will have to be in the car before he walks me to my door, because Dash will come out with that death stare of his, trying to intimidate Tom.”

I wonder if Dash will come out of his house bare-chested.

“Vi, let’s go,” Max says, walking in front of a very red-faced Tom. I can only imagine what happened there.

“Bye,” I say to Sierra and Tom then follow Max to his car. “What did you say to him?”

“Just told him to take her straight home, and Dash will be messaging me when they get home, so we’ll know exactly how long they took to get there,” he explains.

“Jesus,” I whisper, sliding into his black Honda. “That’s pretty rough.”

“I know,” Max says, grinning.

“I think the power is getting to your head, Max,” I say, my forehead furrowing. “Can we get something to eat on the way home?”

“Yeah, I’m starving,” he says, reversing the car. “What do you feel like?”

“Fries,” I say, squinting. “Lots and lots of fries.”

We’re ordering our food, when Max checks his phone. “Sierra is home. Mission complete.”

“You’re such a goofball, Max,” I tell him, smiling widely. “And I thought you were bringing alcohol?” I tease.

“I have a game tomorrow,” he says, rubbing his palm on his chest. “The best player can’t rock up hung over, now can he?”

“Dash isn’t going to be hung over though,” I say, smirking.

Max throws me over his shoulder, right in the middle of the diner, my arms flailing in the air.

“What did you say, Vi?”

“Nothing,” I say. “Oh, my God, put me down, Max! Everyone is staring!”

“First, tell me what I want to hear,” he says cheerfully then starts to tickle my ribs.

“You’re the best basketball player ever,” I say quickly, rushing out all the words.

He puts me down and I fix my hair, which is all over my face. “Jerk face.”

He steps toward me again, so I quickly retreat.

“You two are a very cute couple,” the lady in front of us in line says.

My cheeks heat, but Max just brushes it off like he always does and wraps his arm around me. “Thank you, ma’am. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s mine.”

The lady giggles and then faces forward.

I glance up at Max.

He looks down.

We both smile.

*****

When Dash doesn’t come to school Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, my teacher asks me if Dash and I are good enough friends that I could drop his work off for him, so he doesn’t fall behind. I’ve never been to his house, but Max showed me where it was one day, so I know how to get there. Papers in hand, I park in his empty driveway and walk to the front door, knocking three times. The door opens a few seconds later, and Dash stands there, bare-chested, just like he always opened the front door in my imagination. He had a lean, toned, athletic body, one that is definitely better in person than what my mind had come up with, and his skin is smooth and tanned.

“Viola, what are you doing here?” he asks, scowling down at me.

I raise my eyes to his. “Oh. Right. I was asked to drop this off for you. Is everything okay? Are you sick or something?”

I hear someone coughing loudly from inside the house.

“I’m fine,” he says, taking the papers from my hand. “My youngest sisters are sick and my mum has to work, so…” He shrugs it off, but he also avoids eye contact.

His sisters are sick, so he has to miss school to look after them? What kind of bullshit is that? What about his education? Or the fact they aren’t his children? I school my expression, not wanting to show the anger I feel on his behalf.

“I can get something from the pharmacy or get some soup for them if you want me to,” I offer, thinking I could at least do something to help his situation out. A cute dark-haired girl walks to the door and stands next to her brother. She looks to be about nine years old. Her nose is red and her face is pale; she definitely isn’t feeling too well.

“I love chicken soup.” She looks at Dash with baby blue puppy dog eyes. It looks like Dash is the only one with the violet eyes, although there is still one sister I haven’t seen.

“This is Marigold,” Dash says, smiling down at her. “Or Mari, as we call her. Savannah is asleep.”

“Nice to meet you, Mari,” I say to her, grinning. “I can definitely get you some chicken soup. Is there anything else you’d like to make you feel better?”

“You don’t have to—” Dash starts, but is cut off.

“Some candy might make me feel better,” Marigold says with a serious face.

I laugh and stand up straight, looking back to Dash. “I’ll be back with soup and candy, and then I’ll keep the girls occupied while you finish your schoolwork.”

Without waiting for his answer, I turn around and walk back to my car. I can feel his gaze on me, but I ignore it. I get chicken soup, food for Dash, medicine, and candy, spending my weekly allowance from my parents, and then head back to his house with all the goods. Mari opens the door for me, and I walk inside their house and into the living room, where Dash is sitting with who has to be Savannah.