A rainy Monday, huh? Great. My least favourite day and weather.
After I fed my animals I decided to go see Muffy.
When I entered the bar I saw her and Griffin standing behind the counter looking at a piece of paper. I cleared my throat to get their attention.
"Oh, hi, Claire. You came at a good time." Muffy said.
"Huh?" I said.
"We just received a notice from Phantom Skye." She replied.
"'I'm going to bless your bar with my presence at midnight for a drink. Phantom Skye'. He certainly loves himself." Griffin said.
"And sending a notice ahead of time makes me think he's quite confident. I kind of like that." Muffy said.
Griffin looked annoyed.
"Anyway, he is a thief, so we gotta corner him."
"That's right! We'll make him pay gold for that drink!" Muffy declared.
"That's not what I meant."
"I'm kidding! Do you have some time tonight, Claire? We could really use your help to catch that arrogant thief."
"I'd be glad to help out." Nobody steals from my friends. No matter how cute they are.
They both seemed pretty happy with my response.
"Thank you, Claire. We're depending on you." She said.
"I hope you don't mind. I appreciate it. We need you here from 10 to 12 tonight."
"Alright. I'll see you then." I said.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house. I got to the bar at 10 pm. When I went inside, Muffy and Griffin were already waiting for me.
"Oh, Claire. So good of you to come!" Muffy said.
I looked around quickly.
"The Phantom's not here yet." Griffin explained.
"Alright." I said.
"Mmm-mmm... Why do I smell curry?" Muffy said.
I shrugged.
"Yes... That smells so good!" Griffin said.
Then they went outside to investigate, leaving me alone inside the bar. They had barely been gone a minute when the door opened. Phantom Skye came in.
"He he. We meet again, my darling Claire. Do you believe that fate has drawn us together?" He said.
"Could it be fate?" I said.
He laughed.
"It makes me happy to hear that from a beautiful maiden." He blushed bright pink.
"Anyway, I wonder if you could just hold still for a moment. CHICK-BEAM... FIRE!"
I couldn't move! What exactly did he do!?
"Just relax. You'll be able to move again in a while."
What the actual fuck. "Calm down". What a jerk! Maybe if I keep him talking long enough Muffy and Griffin will come back.
He seemed to be searching the bar's liquor cabinets. Finally I spoke up.
"Why are you a thief?" I asked.
"I don't know why." He answered.
"It's just for fun?"
"That might be it. And that might not be it."
"If not, why?"
"You want to know more about me, don't you...?"
"But if I simply tell you, it'll take the mystique out of our relationship. I know, Claire. If you can catch me, I'll tell you anything you want."
Just then I heard Muffy and Griffin talking. They were finally coming back!
"Sorry, but I'm a bit pressed for time. Gotta jet! See you around, Claire." He said.
Then he left. He'd only been gone for less than a minute when Muffy and Griffin came back inside. I told them what had happened.
"What? The Phantom was here!" Muffy said.
She checked the wine rack.
"It's true! The Okuhattan is gone!"
"Are you okay, Claire?" Griffin asked.
"Wait! You were paralysed by the Phantom's magic spell!" She cried out.
"... That's the Phantom for you. His gears are always turning."
"I'm sorry, Claire. I just left you all alone." Muffy said, looking close to tears.
"Don't worry about it. For all you knew, this was Rock's idea of a 'brilliant' prank." I said.
"And I'm really, really sorry. Thanks for the help tonight. Get a good night's rest."
A few days later I saw him at the Goddess Pond again.
"Hello beautiful. It must be fate, meeting on a fine night like this. Don't you agree?" He said.
"Evening. I don't know that much about fate, to be honest." I shrugged.
"What's that wonderful smell?"
"I tried my hand at making some finest curry. Want to try?"
"I'd love to. But how did you know I liked curry?"
"You did use it as a distraction when you robbed the bar. I figured you liked curry."
"You're a smart girl. I like that."
Before I could say something stupid, I pulled the dish out of my bag and handed it to him.
"Here. Please tell me what you think."
He pulled back the wrap and tried a small bite. I looked down at the water so he couldn't see me blush.
After a moment he finally spoke up.
"This is very good! You are an amazing chef."
"I'm glad it turned out okay." I mumbled.
After a moment he put his hand on my cheek.
"Thank you for spending time with me." He said.
I looked up at him. He was blushing softly.
"I'll see you around, my little angel."
"I'm sorry, but I have to go home now!" I said before I ran home. I didn't see his expression.
The next day I was walking around the Valley when I saw Flora and Carter standing outside their tent.
"Hey guys." I said casually.
"You came at a good time, Claire." Cater said.
I'm starting to get a sense of Deja-vu here.
"Hm?"
"A note came from Phantom Skye."
Carter handed it to me.
"At midnight, I'll be helping myself to the valuables in your tent. Phantom Skye."
"That two-bit, good-for-nothing snake-in-the-grass of a thief." He snapped.
"We'll be set back for days if he takes our artifacts!" Flora said.
"I have a plan! If you lend us a hand, you can help us catch that thief! What do you say?"
"Of course I'll help!"
"Thank, you Clair. Thank you so much!"
"Glad to hear it. We'll be waiting in the tent. Come see us between 10 and 12 tonight."
That night...
"Thanks for coming. The thief isn't here yet. We'll have to wait a little longer." Carter said.
So we waited.
"Phantom Skye still hasn't shown up. Maybe he forgot about that not he sent." Flora said.
"That dirty thief! He could be stealing goods from the dig site at this very moment!" Carter yelled.
I didn't think of that!
"Let's move, Flora! Claire, we need you to stay here just in case." He said before they left.
As if he had some way of knowing I was alone, Phantom Skye was suddenly in the tent!
"I had a feeling we'd meet tonight."He said reassuringly.
I didn't say anything.
"Don't be nervous. I won't use my magic here."
"I won't let you steal these artifacts!"
"I sent a note today, but I'm not here to steal anything. I came to see you, Claire."
"What?" I asked.
"And I was hoping you'd spend some time with me."
"I'd love to." I said.
"Thank you."
"Why don't we go somewhere else. Those other two could be back any minute."
So we went to the beach...
"The ocean is especially beautiful tonight, isn't it? Maybe it's because you're by my side, Claire."
I looked at him. He seemed serious.
"You know, I pride myself in making curry. And I work hard at it day after day. I gather various ingredients and taste curry made by many different people. But I can never seem to make the curry I'm aiming for. I've got the right flavour and all, but it still seems to miss something important. What do you think it is?"
"You aren't cooking with love." I said.
"Love, huh? You may be right. I've been so focused on flavour that I never thought about it. I hope you'll try my curry the next time I make some. Thanks for spending time with me tonight. I'd like to walk you back, but a nice girl like you shouldn't be caught out with a thief. Good luck with your work Claire."
I went back to the tent.
After a few minutes Carter and Flora returned.
"Did the thief come by?" He asked.
"No, he didn't." I said.
"There's no trace of anything missing at the dig site."
"Well, case closed then. Thanks for your help, Claire."
"No problem."
Next time on Second Love, Claire has a moral dilemma and Skye's last two events happen. And stuff.