January 9, 2004
Venice, Italy
2:34 PM
"Murray...help...." I laid on the ground, staring up at my best friend that I hadn't seen in almost 2 years. He hadn't wanted to fight, since it would mess with his spiritual training "Dreamtime", but Octavio was too fast and too strong. He had knocked me out of my chair, and he would severely hurt me and Sly if we tried anything. Murray was the only one tough enough. Octavio moved closer to me, and I winced, trying not to think of the pain he could deliver.
"That does it!! I'll floss my teeth with your spine!!" Before Ocatvio came close enough to hurt me, Murray jumped next to me and uppercut him across the plaza. "The Murray is back!!"
..........................
We stayed in our Italian safehouse, blowing off some steam as I started working on the plans to reach the Cooper vault and get past Dr. M. Over the past two years, me and Sly had been traveling and pulling small gigs, hoping to eventually run into Murray. I didn't need to talk Sly into waiting to open the vault until all three of us were together, so I hadn't even bothered research yet. But once I did, I realized the guy was a genius.
I tried to get Sly to recount anything he knew about Dr. M. All he knew was that he was in the gang with his dad and McSweeny. He had never actually meet the man. His dad just always said things had "happened" and that he would tell Sly when he was older. It made me wonder how this man could have so much hatred for the Cooper gang when he had once done what I do. It was hard to imagine Sly doing something to make me that angry.
..............................
February 29, 2004
Paris, France
7:33 PM
After we had gotten both Murray and the Guru to agree to help, I spent weeks, finally found someone on my level of knowledge that could help us open the vault. We needed someone with better RC skills then me, and I founded the perfect candidate. Unfortunately, the girl, Penelope, had declined. But as I was working on finding some other nominees for the job a few days later, a message came from Penelope as a continuation from our previous talk.
Air_Heart_Babe: hey Spex_guy?
I read Penelope's message, wondering if possible that she changed her mind.
Spex_Guy: Whaaaaaaaaaaaatsupppppp?
Air_Heart_Babe: Do you still need my help?
Finally, the world was starting to help me out a bit.
Spex_Guy: YES!!!
Air_Heart_Babe: Well...I want to see what u and ur team are really made of!!!
Spex_Guy: im listening...
Air_Heart_Babe: The ACES completion is coming up!!!
Air_Heart_Babe: Think your gang can beat my boss, the B.B. at his own game?
Air_Heart_Babe: If you win, I'll know your not a pack of jokers and worth my time heehee : )
I thought it over, doing my own quick research, but came up with an idea to win the ACES Competition and beat the Black Baron. After asking everyone else, they seemed good with the idea. It gave us only a month to build a plane and get to Holland where the tournament was at, but it was worth it if she agreed to join the gang.
Spex_Guy: OK!!! It's on!!! Your challenge is accepted. We're on our way
Air_Heart_Babe: Really??? Good luck...your gonna need it!!!
Spex_Guy: BTW, you got a pic?
Air_Heart_Babe: Sure, uploading now
Now, imagine the hottest girl you have ever seen. Add a even smaller waist, bigger hips and breasts, and long flowing blonde hair, and you might come close to imagining her. It was unbelievable that she was a mechanic and extremely smart. I mean, I did doctored my picture a little, but it doesn't mean she did...hopefully.
"Jeez, Bentley. What did I say about internet porn?" Sly said jokingly and everyone started to laugh. I placed my hand to my lips, noticing I had indeed been drooling. Rolling my eyes, I turned the monitor towards them, and they all stopped and started.
"She will be working with us if we manage to beat the Black Baron." As soon as I said it, they all got up. The guru muttered something. Murray left to go lift some more weights, and Sly went into our room, probably trying to get rid of anything that the "hot girl" might find offensive under his bed. I chuckled to myself. Then dread hit me.
If we won, she would see me, the real me. Not the doctored photo I had put up. I tried not to think about it too much over the next few days. We need to win. We need her help.
.......................................
April 2, 2004
Kinderdijk, Holland
9:12 AM
Sly had won. He had beat the Black Baron. As the plane landed, Sly and half of the Black Baron jumped off the wing. The other half, was this tiny blonde mouse with white fur. She lead Sly, who called the rest of us over, and handed him the winner's trophy.
"So we are done with the whole Black Baron thing finally?" A sloth walked over to the girl/Black Baron. He was pretty tall with light brown fur, with short, curly brown hair and these blue eyes just like the girl. And just like Penelope.....
That was when it finally donned on me. "Finally!" Penelope yelled with a laugh, taking the last of her disguise off, leaving her in a pair of overalls and a yellow shirt underneath.
"So," the sloth started, looking at all of us, "where is Bentley?" the gang looked confused, and realized Penelope wasn't the only one to change her picture a little.
Murray pointed to me. "He's Bentley. And your Penelope?" She nodded while both her and the sloth were staring at me. I could only stare back, as well. I felt so stupid.
"Wow, and I thought I really exaggerated with your picture!" The curly-haired boy said, doubling over laughing until she kicked him, making him fall off the stage.
After a few more moments of confused stares between the two of us, I asked, "We, uhhh, would still love you to join us, if you still want to of course."
"Hey, I said you had to beat the Baron. It wasn't fair or normal the way you did it, but still, you beat me, so of course I will." She said with a smile. She turned to look at the rest of the gang thankfully, because I think I blushed a lot. She was still really pretty.
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June 23, 2004
Somewhere in China
1:32 AM
"Are you sure your okay?" I asked worried, as we flew through China, trying to escape the wrath of Tsao.
"For the millionth time mother, I am fine." Penelope said sourly. Sly started laughing, until I glared at him to shut up. All he did was muffled his laugh. I sighed, turning my attention to the driver.
"We should only be a few hours from Panda King's sister's house. You good with driving, buddy?"
"This is no problem for, The Murray!" I nodded, and started to review the mission. So many errors had happened tonight, the dragon being only one of many snags in my planning. I need to come up with better plans. I yawned, trying to think. Across from me, Sly was starting to nod off. Next to him, Jing was asleep in her fathers arms. Panda King was also sleeping, but had his fireworks at hand. Across from those two, the Guru sat in a meditative pose buy the van's back doors. Competing the circle, Penelope sat between me and The Guru. She was also nodding off. I looked back at Sly, when I felt something bewildering.
Sly was wide awake now, holding back laughs. I knew behind all that fur, he was turning blue from lack of air. Murray turned his head, almost going off the cliff. He tried holding back laughter, and managed somehow. Any other time, I would have turned bright red and feel embarrassed, but I just felt...I was not even sure how to explain it.
After almost being eaten by a dragon, she must have been exhausted. And it would make sense for her just to fall over once we were safe. But on my shoulder?
Happy? Overwhelmed? Overjoyed? Pleased? Even ecstatic was too modest to explain how amazing I felt. Her head laid perfectly on my shoulder, her hair smelling like...raspberries. She was in a deep sleep, her head rising and falling as she breathed.
"Lucky you." Sly snickered.
"What?" I asked softly, trying not to wake her.
"No offence, but she is a bit on the stalker side. I swear, she says the weirdest things, and always stares at me." Murray chuckled up in the driver seat.
"That is true. When your not around, she is normal, Sly. Curse you and your lovable personality." Murray said with a snicker.
"She isn't...that bad..." I started, knowing lies were just coming out of my mouth.
"Yeah, she is." Sly said. I glared at him, not happy how he was talking about her. Of course she liked him; What girl didn't? "She's a nerdy creep. I will not be paying attention, and there she is, standing next to me with a book. If I ask her anything, she would immediately say yes. Penelope, please go get me a soda. Penelope, please destroy your RC car. Penelope, please suck my..."
"SLY!" Murray yelled, making Panda King stir in his sleep. We were quiet for a few moments. "That was going way to far." He hissed quietly. Sly shrugged, and tried falling asleep. He didn't notice the way I glared at him, my eyes replaced with daggers. Murray looked back at me. "You okay, pal? Your aura is not feeling too good."
"I am perfectly fine, Murray. I just need some sleep." I said sharply, ending the conversation. He kept his eyes on the road, not asking me anything else. Knowing this could end badly, I lifted her head, tilting it onto the other side. I sighed, knowing it had been perfect. Her head had fit perfectly on my shell. Now if only I could tell her/convince her.
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July 3, 2004
Budapest, Hungary
12:57 AM
I dove into the motel pool, feeling the cool water splash me. We were driving back to Paris in the newly acquired van, and stopped at a motel with a pool in the back. After everyone had fallen asleep, I snuck out. Sly and Murray didn't like the fact I still swam in my "condition". Other then rolling around in my chair, it was the only exercise I could do. I relaxed, making myself float in the water. I stayed like that, just looking at the stars. Not as pretty as they were on the boat, but still brilliant.
As I came up, intending to some laps, I saw her. "Sorry to stare. I saw you come out here, and I wasn't sure what you were planning on doing. Then you jumped into the pool, and I got scared."
Using my arms, I reached the side, crossing my arms over the ledge so I could talk to her. "Really? And you didn't go get Sly or Murray?"
Penelope came over and sat across from me on the cement Indian-style. "Well, I knew they didn't like you swimming, but I wasn't sure how well you were at it. I wasn't going to wake them up just so they could yell at you swimming perfectly..." She added a smile.
"Thanks for that. They rather hate me swimming. So you happy actually sleeping on a bed lately?"
"It is nice having my own bathroom in the room, but I miss the couch in the Paris safehouse. It is rather comfortable." I smiled along with her. She tilted her head to the side a bit, looking at my eyes. "Just wondering, but where did you find glasses like that?"
"I'm not sure. Sly and Murray got them and the red bowtie for me to keep my identity a 'secret'. I just got so used to wearing them. Sorry if the freak you out." Already, the Panda King had yelled at me for having my head looking towards Jing, and him not being able to see where my eyes were looking. Sometimes these mirror-like glasses got me in a lot of trouble.
She laughed, clearly remembering when Panda King had yelled at me. "No, they are just very original. I was just wondering." We just kinda looked at each other in an awkward silence.
"Wanna come swimming. It is a bit cold, but really refreshing." She immediately shook her head, offering only a two word excuse.
"No swimsuit."
"Oh...I guess your going to go back in then?"
"Yeah..." She started to get up and turn around to go back to the motel when she turned around sharply. "I really do want to go swimming. Would you mind if I were to borrow your shirt?" I laughed at her question. She seemed to get red when I did.
"I'm sorry. Just, well, I'm not sure why I laughed. You can of course borrow it." I just looked at her as she started to take off her boots. She stared at me, and then I realized why she wanted the shirt. I quickly turned away. I clinged to the edge as she got undressed into nothing but her undergarments and slipping into the black, long-sleeve button-down shirt. It was one of those really immature moments you really just wanted to turn around and point and laugh while yelling 'Ha-ha, your only in your underwear!!'. That was when I realized I was spending way to much time with Sly and Murray.
A big splash hit me, and I turned around to see her in what seemed nothing more then a baggy shirt and her round glasses. She was soaking wet and looked freezing. "I thought you said 'It is a bit cold, but really refreshing'. It is freezing!!" She laughed as she splashed me and I splashed her back. As she got used to the water, we started to race back and forth. She was surprisingly fast, and even using only her arms, she still beat me.
After her fifth straight win, I asked her how she swam so well.
"Me and my brother spent all year swimming in the pool in our backyard for years. It was just a way to blow of steam."
"I didn't know you had a brother." She blushed deeply at my comment.
"Yeah....he is about your age. His name is Peter." Changing the subject quickly, she asked me, "So how do you swim so well? You keep up really well." She said with a giggle.
"The only reason why I passed Physical Education was because of archery and my amazing accuracy, swimming which somehow I did fine at, and as long as I was quarterback in American Football..."
"American Football?"
"Yes. I'm British...we call it 'American Football'." I said the two words with as much disgust as possible. I laughed again as she splashed me.
"You just disgraced one of the two all-American pastimes." She said in fake anger while laughing.
"Have you eaten every single slice of apple pie you ever saw or even watch one football game."
"No, I hate both of them." both of us had to cling to the edge to make sure we didn't drown from laughing too much. "So what is with that necklace? Do you play guitar? I always see you fidgeting with it." I looked down at the green guitar pick that was wrapped around my neck.
"Oh, it is just something I just always wear." Always have and always will, I thought.
After about an hour, the water was just too much for both of us. She used her arms to pull her out of the water, rather then going over to the ladder. The wet shirt clung to her, showing off her very slim figure. Every time I had seen her, my eyes immediately went to her eyes. They were such this brilliant blue that they distracted me all the time, making me just stare. I groaned as I thought of all the reasons I would stare at her now for. I'm am such a pervert...
She grabbed my chair by the edge of the pool, holding it steady for me as I got in and handed me my towel. "Thanks, but don't you want to use it first." I said, offering it to her, making sure I kept eye contact as I pushed my glasses farther up my nose.
"Nah. I'll just dry off when I get back to my room. Thanks for the shirt by the way. I'll get it cleaned for you." She grabbed her clothes, and we parted our different ways. I rolled into the room me and Sly were sharing, wonder if I would ever find someone with him stealing the hearts of every girl we meet.
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September 2, 2004
Kapaau, Hawaii
2:34 PM
I rolled out of the room I had been working in, and saw her reading on the couch. The book was bigger then her, but she seemed extremely into it. I moved myself from the chair, to her side on the couch. As if I were built just for her, she maneuvered her body right into mine, resting her head on my chest. She just fit there perfectly, as I placed my arms around her. She placed the book down, and started to talk. "So handsome, how are the plans going?"
"Fine." I smiled down at her, burrowing my head into her long hair, engulfing myself in the smell of raspberries. I hated lying to her. My answer wasn't the truth, but it wasn't exactly a lie either. I had finished the plans, by had no clue how to tell her. That after only a few weeks of being together, we would most likely go our own ways, never to see each other again. I refused to let that happen. But what if she wanted to leave?
I decided to talk to Murray and Sly about it later. They knew girls and stuff. They could tell me what to do. I never knew this would have come out of it.
..........................................
Hours later, I rolled into the kitchen. Penelope had disappeared, making it the perfect chance to talk to the guys. Sly was sitting on the counter, eating an apple. I showed him the plans.
"It's done. Perfectly safe, and if god truly hates us, I have enough back-up plans and I know the place inside-out to get anyone out of trouble when they need it."
"Bentley! You're a genius!" he took the plans, looking them over as Murray walked in, fresh out of the shower from his work-out.
"What is going on guys?" Murray asked, looking around at the two of us.
"We are ready to finally open the Cooper Vault!" Sly said excitedly.
"That's great buddy!" Both looked at me, seeing me clearly worried about something. "What's wrong, Ben?"
"Well, it is just that I'm not sure what to do, about Penelope and me." I said, staring at my feet.
"I'm going to guess you end up becoming awesome thieves, get married, and have evil genius kids." Sly said jokingly.
"I'm serious! We have been together...what, a month and a half tops? What if she rather move on. Remember that guy at the ACES tournament? What if..."
"You mean Frankie, her gay best friend?" Murray said cutting me off.
"What?"
"Dude, he is gay. Didn't you get the memo?"
"Well...she talked about him and how they meet up. But nothing about him being gay." I thought it over, thinking back to when I had meet him.
"There, problem solved. Now you can go back to your happy little life with your girlfriend that will end up staying with you until doomsday." Sly said sourly.
"What is your problem?" I asked, never seeing him act this way in a long time. Not since we first meet had he had this hatred towards me.
"Your paranoid about everything! She clearly loves you, and there are no problems with you being with each other!" he said, eyes glowing with anger and frustration. I glared back.
"Sorry if I finally found someone! Not everyone can find someone when running away from the cops!"
"Excuse me?! Do you think it is easy for me and her. I love her, yet there is no way a thief and a cop can be together!"
"You think it was easy? For the past FOUR months, she had a crush on YOU!!"
"GUYS!!" we both turned to see Murray, yelling at us.
"WHAT??" We both yelled at the same time, and turned to glare at each other some more.
"Murray, when was the last time you even had a girlfriend? Zeya back when you were 18? Your 25 now, a grown-up. Maybe you should try to find someone." Sly said, keeping his eyes glued to mine.
"What do you mean by that?" Murray asked, truly confused at what was happening.
"Both of us are in serious relationships with girls that we love very much. You aren't. It is just another thing you wouldn't understand." I said off-handedly, trying to figure out why Sly had become so pissed at me.
"At least I don't need a lot of toys to make myself feel important." Murray grumbled which made me tear away from Sly to look at Murray.
"Excuse me?"
"You make me sound like such an idiot compared to the 'Almighty Bentley!!'. At least I can do stuff without worry if they have a ramp for my chair. And you," he turned to Sly, growing redder and redder as he spoke. "If you like her so much, stop being a thief. You worry more about that damn Cooper Vault then her!
"What!" Both of us yelled at him.
"Anyway Sly, why would you bring her into this. You have people constantly trying to kill us! Your parents weren't..."
"Don't you dare go there Murray!" Sly yelled, wanting him to shut up.
"It is true. Why if you family is so powerful, you're the last one! Your just being selfish pulling Carmelita into it, sighing her own death wish!" I yelled at Sly.
"My family may not be here, but they would be proud! I have learned from their mistakes and I will protect any girl I love!" Sly yelled at us.
"Please, your family is proud of what you have done? Hiring the same guy that killed two of them to help open the Cooper Vault?" I yelled at Sly. He just stood their in shock, not believing I had just said that.
"Well, at least he knows who his family is. Your parents already knew what a screw-up you were going to be and ditch you on the steps of the nearest orphanage." Murray yelled at me.
It stunned me, but I muttered back, "At least my parents didn't drive off a cliff to get away from me." next thing I knew, a giant fist came down on my head. Sly jumped up with his cane, and him an Murray got into a fight, putting each other in a headlock. I positioned my self out of the chair onto the kitchen counter, so when the two moved over to me, I punched Murray right in the nose. After several moments, we all stood in our own corners of the room. Sly started for the open window, and I went for the front door.
I had no clue where I was heading. All my mind could think about was what these douche bags did to me. The nerve they had to say those things to me. I ended up on the beach, just as it started to rain. People started running each and everyway, trying to get out the storm. I just sat there, thinking how one simple question had turned out this way. Then I felt someone next to me, as they sat down next to my chair, I noticed the blonde hair of Penelope. I just stared, trying to figure out what to say.
"I guess you talked to the other two?" I just stared out into the ocean, knowing I couldn't make eye contact with her. Did she hate me for what I had done to my best friends?
"Mhm."
"I'm a horrible friend."
"No, you are not."
"I'm a horrible boyfriend."
"You defiantly are not."
"I said such mean things."
"Yes, you did." I quiet for a few minutes, just to gather courage to say what I needed. Something that if I had just done it earlier, all of this would have been avoided.
"Where are you going after the gig?"
"I dunno. I'm sure Canada so I can show my boyfriend off. After that, where ever you want to go."
"Why?"
"Because I love you...a lot."
"What about Antarctica?"
"I'll buy a parka."
"Jamaica?"
"I'll buy sun block for me and your big bald head."
"I'm a crippled."
"Really?"
"I might not be able to have children."
"The two of us having a child might not be the best idea. It would be smart enough to take over the world...when it's three." I turned to look at her. I could feel the warm tears running down my eyes as the cold rain pounded against us. I started fidgeting with the necklace again, trying to figure out to word it correctly. I just took it off, holding it in my hand.
"When me and Sly were 12, and Murray was 13, the person who took care of us, Miss. Megan, gave us these. They were so cool, and we loved them. Murray's was pink, and Sly's was blue. It was how we come up with our costume colors. She was a bit odd, instead of giving us...uh...protection, she gave us these. She told us we were going to meet a lot of pretty girls. And before doing anything that could be life changing, look at her and give her the necklace. If we were ready to give up something we loved for a girl, then she wasn't all that bad. Sly gave his away when he was 15 to some girl under the school bleachers. Murray had this really nice and sweet girlfriend when he was 17, and gave it to her. I never had anyone, but I'm not ready to do anything more drastic then cuddling, but if you were to...uh....live with me?" I said the last three words awkwardly, not totally sure how to put it. I gulped, and her face went expressionless again. My hand started shaking, and I knew I was sweating a lot. She grabbed the chain out of my hand, placing over her head. She stood up and fell into my chair. I looked at her in disbelief.
She loved me enough to deal with all the problems I had surrounding me. That she loved me more then enough to not even second guess herself about traveling alone with me around the world, with of course two other guys.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and mine followed suit as I encased her. I pulled her head in closer, kissing her so deeply, so passionately. We stayed like that for hours....
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Hey...so I got a little side-tracked...it ended up being all about Penelope and Ben...oops
So what....how you guys are enjoying....and please write comments!!!
.....anonymously or even a PM, I want to hear the readers options.....