Guilt.

Despicable, rotten guilt flooded Claire's emotions as she paced the floor of her small farm house, counting down the minutes until ten o clock. Of course, the feeling was inevitable; she had brought this upon herself. But she hadn't expected the so-called "ladies' man" to fall for her. Though, in retrospect, the signs were all there, enough so to make her rethink what she was doing.

But Claire had remained loyal- to the operation, that is. She couldn't risk going back on the plan, because everyone knew that you were lucky to even spot the Phantom Thief, and if you didn't take advantage of the moment, you were lucky if you ever saw him again.

And Claire couldn't risk losing him, especially now, not when she was so close.

Claire glanced up at the clock: 9:53 pm. She chewed her golden locks and began to pace faster. What was wrong with her? She had done this many times before. What made this time any different? Perhaps it was the fact that her victim would be arriving here with high hopes that she would accept his marriage proposal? Yes, that was definitely it.

Claire's hands shook. "Jack!" She wailed. "I can't do this! Not again..." She turned to the dark corner where her brother and partner in crime had been lurking.

"Dammit, Claire!" Jack emerged from the shadows. "What's wrong with you?!"

"I'm sorry, Jack! It's just that... Well, the first time in my life a guy likes me enough to propose to me- PROPOSE, Jack!- and I have to-"

"Don't tell me you actually fallen for that curry-eating bastard!"

"No, no! It isn't that! Jack, you have to understand-"

"You aren't backing out, are you?" Jack's dark tone always intimidated Claire: she never dared to go against his wishes when he used that tone.

Claire hung her head. "No, Jack..."

"And you haven't forgotten the plan?"

"No, Jack."

He smirked. "Good. Try to keep it that way." And without another word, much less a sound, he melted back into the shadows.

Claire had always been scared of her big brother, and for good reasons, too. If she were to mess this con up, one the two of them had spent months planning, Jack was sure to express his anger at the expense of Claire's face. She couldn't afford to cost him something so big; she needed to calm down.

An old method for calming down before a big game, Claire remembered from her days of playing for her junior-high soccer team, was to go over the game plan in your head. Maybe that would work now. Claire closed her eyes, and went back to the beginning: she and Jack were to set up shop in a place called the Forget-Me-Not Valley, a town literally in the middle of nowhere, but was also believed to be the dwelling place of the infamous thief, Phantom Skye. Disguised as farmers, she and Jack were to try to get close to the thief, befriend him, and then rob him blind! Oh, the irony of it all made the siblings tingle with giddiness. Jack, being hostile as always, never did get to know the thief, or anyone in town for that matter. But Claire, oh but Claire. From the minute the thief, or Skye, as he said he liked to be called, laid eyes on the beautiful blonde, he was determined to capture her affections.

It seemed almost too easy. Things were going well. Until Claire made the fatal mistake of falling in love. It was hard to resist him. He always knew how to make her blush with pride, how to make her feel like a sixth grader with her first crush. He made her feel beautiful. The feeling was very unusual, but Claire liked it.

Of course, Claire kept her secret hidden. She couldn't let Jack find her out. So she carried on with her usual business, watering crops and chopping branches, anything to avoid the topic of an unnamed individual with her brother.

Claire became so happy with her life, she had forgotten all about the plans she and Jack had tediously devised. She thought there was nothing in the world that could bring her down.

Of course she was soon proven wrong. The silver-haired love of her life was on his way to a death-trap to confess his love, something Claire had been dying to hear for quite some time. And to make things worse, she had been the one to lead him to his doom.

Claire opened her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was 10:01. He would be here any second now, and Claire was dreading for the moment when he would knock on her door.

Author's note: I'm considering adding one more chapter. I think the plot has potential, but I want to hear from my lovely viewers. You can review the story to give me your opinion, or you can go so far as to PM me. Whatever floats your boat. Thank you for viewing, and Happy Thanksgiving!