"You're lucky, you know." Mary said, falling in line next to Emma. "A whole weekend without your parents. I'd kill for that."
Emma smiled. "It's not like they left us unsupervised. Quite the contrary, I'm staying with the nuns."
Mary laughed. "As long as you don't turn in to one."
Emma playfully bumped her friend's shoulder. "Never." She smirked. "I wouldn't be accepted." She smiled at her friend, linking their arms together. "Let's enjoy my last parent-free day."
The mood of the two friends darkened once they reached their target.
"I still don't know if we should do this." Mary said. She bit her lip, looking around at the people passing them by.
Emma sighed. She knew they shouldn't do this, but her friend needed help. "Look, I don't have any money with me. And you said your parents would be really angry if you showed up without it." She paused. "I'll go back later, and pay for all the stuff." She hoped that would convince her friend.
Mary sighed heavily, before nodding. "Okay." She said softly. "What will we do?"
Emma shook her head. "Just follow my lead. You're not going to do anything."
The two friends walked into the grocery store. Emma was carrying a big plastic bag. They walked through the rows, keeping an eye on the grocer. When the man was busy serving another client, she quickly grabbed a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread.
Emma smiled at her friend, as they walked to the front of the store. She didn't want to admit it to her friend, but she was quite nervous. Not only about not getting caught by the grocer, but more about what her parents would say should they find out.
Near the front of the store was a fruit stall. Emma looked around, no one was watching the two girls. She quickly reached out and grabbed a handful of small apples, dropping them in the bag with the other items they stole.
Emma confidently walked out of the store, positive they hadn't been seen. She shared a smile with the other girl, both relieved that it was over. They started to walk back to Mary's house.
"Hey you."
Emma turned around at the angry shout. A heavy set man was running after them, his face set in a furious glare.
Emma grabbed hold of the little girl's hand. She dragged Mary along. "Come on." She said. "We have to go."
The little girl was on the brink of tears. "I can't."
Emma stood still, thinking over her options. She looked behind them. The man was gaining ground.
Emma blew out her breath. "Okay." She turned towards her friend. "Run."
"What?"
"You have to run." Emma said, taking off the bag and giving it to her friend. "I'll hold him up. Go home, I'll meet you there as soon as I can."
The little girl looked worried as she hoisted the bag up to her shoulder. "I can't leave you here."
"You can't stay here, either." Emma urged her. "Go."
With one last worried look, the little girl disappeared in to the crowd.
And just in time, because a mere few seconds later, the man reached Emma. He advanced at her, hands raising.
Emma stepped back. She couldn't stop the shiver running up her spine as the man came at her.
The man grabbed hold of Emma's arm. "You're not leaving now."
Emma tried to twist loose, but with no luck.
The man had a firm grip on Emma's arm. "Where's that little friend of yours?"
"What friend?" Emma asked, pretending not to know what he was talking about.
"Never mind." The man said. "I got you, that's all I really need."
Emma kept her face down as she was dragged back to the little shop. She could hear the other people whisper. She hoped no one would recognise her.
"What's going on, here?"
Emma felt her stomach drop. She recognised that voice.
The grocer shook Emma's arm as he spoke. "I caught this scum stealing from my store."
Emma looked up, straight into the face of her uncle.
"Why don't we leave the unpleasantness to the side, and just tell us what happened." Peter said. "And let go of her arm, please."
The grocer grumbled, but let go of Emma's arm.
Emma rubbed at her arm where the grocer had squeezed it, before crossing her arms in front of her chest. She lowered her gaze to the floor, she didn't want to see the disappointment in her uncle's eyes.
The grocer continued. "Her and her friend stole from my store, that's what happened."
"Emma?" Her name was spoken in soft tones.
Emma swallowed hard, but looked up into her uncle Peter's face. She saw nothing but worry. "Yes?"
"Is it true?" Peter continued. "Did you steal from this man?"
Emma didn't want to see the disappointed look on her uncle's face, so she lowered her face. She spoke softly, but everyone still heard. "Yes."
She heard her uncle sigh.
"There were two of them?" He asked the grocer.
The man nodded. "The other girl was younger. She ran off, but I'm sure they were working together."
"What did they steal? I don't see anything."
"The little girl ran off with it." The man said. "It was milk, bread and some apples."
Peter nodded, frowning. "Could you describe the other girl? My colleague will try and find her." He turned to Emma. "I'll take this one home."
Emma winced and couldn't look her uncle in the eye. There was no way to keep it from her parents now.
"I want her taken care of." The grocer said, unwilling to let Emma get away with it. "As long as I get money for it, I won't press charges. But they need to be punished by their parents."
"Don't worry." Peter said, taking out one of his business card. He handed it to the grocer before looking back at his niece. "I'll make sure of it."
Emma swallowed hard.