**Chapter 11: Intruder**
Vanessa Hobden saw a boy barely older than her weeping on the floor. She didn't know what to do.
' Who are you?' She demanded in a harsh tone. The boy didn't answer. She saw that he had slept in the bed in the spare room. She also saw that someone had slept in *her* bed. She narrowed her eyes. That was *her* bedroom. No one was allowed but her and her little sister ,Rosie.
' Who slept in my bed?' She questioned. The boy was a wreck, she should be nicer. ' Why don't you come down, and we can discuss it on the sofa?' She said in a light tone. But still the boy stayed silently.
She saw that he was staring at something... The frying pan! ' Oh.' She put down the frying pan and the boy stood up, but backed away.
' Don't be scared, I just want to ask some questions, that's all.' she was starting to get annoyed. He was in her house refusing to do as she said. She was tempted to wack him with the pan.
' Who you talking too?' asked little Rosie, looking up the stairs. Vanessa ignored her.
Vanessa gestured that the boy follow her and she went down the stairs. He slowly followed.
Rosie took one look at the boy and screamed. She was like that. She didn't like strangers.
Vanessa led him to the couch, she settled in but he stayed at the edge and kept on darting looks at the door.
'Now tell me why you're here.' It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He looked at her and opened his mouth.
' We came to visit. We thought the house was empty.' Vanessa looked puzzled, why would you visit somewhere if you came from the same town. Unless he came from the lake.
' Are you from the lake.' He nodded. ' Who are you with?' she asked. He didn't answer. He just kept darting looks at the door.
' Is that person coming?' He shrugged. ' Who are you?' she thought out loud.
' Roger, The Artful Roger.' He looked down at the ground.
She'd heard that name somewhere before.
' Look, Van'sa, look look!' shouted Rosie, running ,in a voice so high it should be banned. Rosie gave Vanessa a sheet of paper with a bad drawing of a Pony on. Rosie held a pencil. Vanessa frowned. Pencils were a rarity.
' Where did you get that pencil?' Asked Vanessa in a confused tone. Roger looked up.
' Hey, that's mine!' said Roger angrily, getting emotional. Vanessa didn't approve of breaking and entering. But she didn't approve of stealing either, and Rosie had to learn.
' Give the boy his pencil back.' said Vanessa to Rosie. Rosie looked reluctant. ' Now.' Urged Vanessa. Grudgingly Rosie handed Roger the pencil.
' Thank you.' Said Roger, taking the pencil and shielding it from harm. Vanessa went to put the paper down when she noticed writing on the top, she read out loud.
'Be back soon, babe. Gone for a stroll. Love you, heart.' Roger smiled at the mention of his nickname. Vanessa looked up.
' Someone brought a lover.' Vanessa teased. Roger looked down like he was ashamed. Vanessa frowned once more. She stood up and walked to the table where Roger's backpack and his girlfriend's backpack were. She picked the up and gave them to Roger.
She was harsh, yet merciful,' Get out, before I make you.' She walked him to the door and said bye before she ran upstairs and checked he hadn't stolen anything from her bedroom.
Nothing was taken from her, but she nearly puked at the gift he'd left. A durex wrapped and a used condom lying on the floor.
She left them and walked to the window. She could see Roger stuck in the middle of the road, not knowing which way to go. She was about to open the window and shout 'Whore!' but the sight of someone running up to Roger and taking the other backpack was breathtaking. It was Roger's lover.
It was Edilio.
'About time too.' said Roger, handing Edilio his backpack.
' What happened?' asked Edilio, worried.
' Turns out the house we were in was owned.' Roger said annoyed. ' She drew a pony with my pencil. A rubbish pony.' Edilio laughed at Roger.
' Sorry, c'mon let's go home.'
They walked through town in each-other's arms. When they reached the crop fields, they stopped.
Edilio stared of into the distance and Roger couldn't see what he was looking at.
' What is it 'Dilio?' asked Roger, curiously.
' I don't know. There's a commotion over there, see, in the melon field.' Roger looked and saw about a dozen people arguing and standing round something. It was a good 150 meters away but that didn't stop Edilio.
'Come on, lets go see what it is.' said Edilio. Roger didn't seem to have the option of declining. Edilio was in business mode. It made Roger on edge, but unwillingly, he followed.
They walked through and artichoke field and onto the melon field until they got to the group of supposedly, melon pickers. They looked up reassuringly at Edilio like he would have the answer, but he didn't even know what was going on.
'Why have you stopped working?' Edilio asked one of the older boys. He looked at a slightly smaller boy that Edilio thought was called Turbo.
Turbo nodded and said, 'It's Jonese, he's, well... A fish.' Turbo turned and pointed to a large peculiar looking grey oval on the ground. Not a fish he'd ever seen.
Edilio swore under his breath and Roger made a little yelp sound.
'Tell Caine.' said Edilio, the boys stood around awkwardly.'Now!' Two of them branched of from the rest and ran for town.
'I'm gonna go now, but you need to carry on picking.' Edilio said. the rest of the workers looked upset, but they reluctantly went of in separate ways to pick their crops.
Edilio walked back to the road with Roger behind him. They walked on for a bit, but when Edilio was sure they weren't in plain sight, he span round and kissed Roger hard on the lips. Roger was stunned but welcomed his lips.
'Sorry for making you go through that.' said Edilio softly.
Roger looked dazzled, but smiled and said,'Can I go through it again?'