An image of a girl leaning over the misty bridge bridge was permenantly etched in his mind.
" A… a what?" Dash said bewildered and hoping that she had misheard Dodger.
" Well, I guess if you don't want this back." Dodger said doubtfully as he took the pocket-watch and pretended to put it back in his pocket.
" No no no! I'll do it! I'll do it!" Dash said to appease Dodger and tried to appeal to his better nature.
Dodger refused to admit, but there was some spark about Dash that attracted him to her. He honestly did not think Dash would consent to that request. The pocket-watch must have meant a lot to her- going through so much just to retrieve it.
Dash approached Dodger slowly, mentally preparing herself for the… the kiss. She was unwilling but she had to get the pocket-watch back at any cost, even if it meant kissing someone that had irked her so bad.
She stood right in front of Dodger, who looked at her steadily, not letting his eyes off her. Dodger felt his heart palpitating with each step she took towards him. As she came nearer to him, he noticed features on her face that he had never observed before.
Finally, she took a deep breath and leaned towards him. Dodger dared not to close his eyes. He thought he was a man, but he was merely a 15 year old boy. He felt weak all of a sudden, as he was not strong enough to face her and his feelings.
When her face was a few centimetres away from his, another feeling took control of him.
He felt too weak inside.
He used his might and pushed her back with sheer force, pushing Dash against the ledge of the bridge. He just could not face up to emotions.
Then he grabbed the pocket-watch by its chain and flung it into the river.
Rendered speechless by his actions, she watched helplessly as he flung her precious family heirloom into the river. She scrambled up to her feet and gripped the ledge of the bridge as she saw the pocket-watch fall into the river.
Splash!
Ripples began to form at the spot where the pocket-watch fell into the water.
" Hah! Fooled ya!" Dodger exclaimed. He deceived himself that he had tricked her, but the truth was, he wanted it, he did. However, he was afraid. This feeling was new to him. He just could not explain it. She was different from anyone he had known. She was not the normal rich girl he saw on the streets, nor was she a loose girl like Nancy and Bet were. She was… Dash.
" NO!" she yelled hopelessly, "What'cha do that for! You promised!"
" I didn't promise you a thing. You did." Dodger said with a smirk on his face.
" No…no…it's gone…" Dash stared at the ripples on the surface of the water.
" This should teach you never to mess around with The Artful Dodger again."
Dash leaned limply against the ledge of the bridge, staring blankly into the water. Disappointment hung over her lean frame like a shadow. Dodger looked at her once more before turning to retire for the night. The days crimes had rendered him weary.
As he walked away from London Bridge, he felt guilt creep into his heart and it slowly began to consume him. His mind told him not to return to make an apology. It would be too embarrassing for him, The Artful Dodger to be seen apologising to some girl... He pushed that disturbing thought out of his head, but the guilt lingered.
An image of a girl leaning over the misty bridge was permenantly etched in his mind.
Charley ducked into an alley as he saw Dodger approaching. If Dodger caught him out of the house, Fagin would most certainly dispose of him without any qualms. He pressed himself against the slick-stained walls and held his breath. A shadow crossed the alley and passed by briskly. The night had not been very eventful as he could not observe Dodger's every movement from afar, except that there was another soul on the bridge. London Bridge had been shrouded with mist that night. Just as he was about to detatch himself from the slick-stained wall, another shadow crossed his path. He held his breath as the footsteps neared, but quickly drew in air as the sound grew fainter. Charley's suspicion of Dodger grew stronger as he figured that the other shadow was the other person on the bridge.
Charley trembling jolted him to his senses. He shivered in the chilly night air and remembered that he had to return home before Dodger did. Then he sprinted along the dark alley, climbing across some walls, before disappearing into the dark.
Hope you liked this chapter! Please review! I would most certainly appreciate it. And good thing my examinations are coming to an end, which means I can get to the really interesting part soon. (:
Oh, and somebody tell me, whether I'm supposed to put the Disclaimer at the start of my story?
Cheero