The Police Ball

And for the next week, Carmelita hitched a ride with Sly to and from work. Every time she got on his motorcycle, she felt butterflies in her stomach increase and increase. Her car was ready; she decided that blow off picking it up until the end of the week. Within that time space, things were getting different. Now seeing the potential of the two inspectors hooking up for the ball, other officers began trying so hard to land one of them before they landed each other. McBride was getting even more furious each time he got a no to the Police Ball from Carmelita, and even more furious each time he saw her grab on to Sly's waist when she got on his motorcycle. And then it was the week of the Ball. Carmelita had gone to pick up her car and had just returned when she ran into Sly.

"Cooper, er…what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Well, y-y- you see," he stuttered. "You probably know about that Police Ball coming up, and I was wondering if, well, umm…if you could…"

"Let me guess," Carmelita interrupted; she was trying so hard to look serious. "Your asking me if I would go to the Police Ball with you, even though you know I turned down every guy who asked me?"

"Well, yes that's it exactly," he said

"Well mister, I got an answer for you," she said seriously; Sly gulped. "What time should you pick me up?" she said with a smile.

A few days later, after keeping the acceptance a secret, it was the night of the ball. Sly pulled up in a car he borrowed. He was in a tuxedo, and when Carmelita looked out her window, she had couldn't help but hop in joy. About a minute later, there was a ring of her doorbell. When Carmelita appeared, Sly tried to so hard not to drop his jaw. She was wearing the same dress she wore at the gala in India where he stole the Clockwerk wings.

"Well, are we gonna go are you just gonna stare at me all night?" she teased.

"Then lets go!"

The two got into the black jaguar he pulled up in, and headed to the ball.

"So where did you get the wheels?" she asked. "Didn't steal it did you?"

"A friend owed me a favor," Sly answered.

They pulled up to a building, which was decorated with a banner saying 'Paris Police Ball'. Sly handed the keys of the jaguar and a twenty-euro bill to a valet. And then the two went inside. Everyone who noticed seemed to go into shock. Inspector Fox; had a date! Even more shocking was that it was Inspector Cooper! The two seated themselves at an empty table, taking no notice to the groups of people who were wide-eyed with surprise.

"I'll grab us some drinks," Sly said, and he left the table and headed for the bar.

McBride appeared, not knowing that Carmelita wasn't alone.

"Look what we have here," he said. "You finally decided to show up."

"Back off McJerk," Carmelita scowled. "I'm with someone."

"Who?" McBride asked, he had a shocked expression on his face.

"Here Carmelita," Sly said, handing her a glass of champagne. "Oh, hey McBride."

Instead of replying, McBride just sulked off. 'How could she go with him? She barely knows him'. Meanwhile Sly had asked Carmelita if she'd like to dance. And boy did they attract attention. When they were done, everyone was cheering, and the two were left gasping for air from the activity. And then Alexia came up and pulled Carmelita over to an alcove.

"Women, you are in love!" Alexia said.

"Say wha?" Carmelita said. "I am not!"

"Then explain why you only went with him," Alexia asked. "And what about blowing off picking up your car for a week so you can get a ride with Cooper. If there's a different answer, then tell explain why you're blushing."

"Hey!" Carmelita replied. "He's just got some class to him, unlike those other pigs."

"Admit it!" Alexia said. "You want Cooper!"

"You know what?" Carmelita said. "I don't have to tell you, not now that is, but now if you excuse me, I need my date to give me ride home."

Carmelita walked away. Alexia, a little stunned, couldn't help but smile. Meanwhile Sly had gone into a neighboring courtyard. He was all by himself, when suddenly three recognizable characters appeared.

"Hey guys!" He said.

"What the," Bentley said. "How did you know it was us? The file on you said that you had amnesia."

"Actually, no." Sly said.

"You mean you faked amnesia?" Penelope asked.

"Of course!" Sly said. "I thought I had fulfilled everything, I had restored the Thievius Raccoonus, I had put an end to a curse that plagued the Cooper line since its beginning, and I even joined my ancestors in the gauntlet of the Cooper vault. But there was still a gap in my life."

"We understand," said Murray. "We all get it. Even I. Your still our pal, after all, we did save your life."

"What?" Sly asked. "You saved my life?"

"Sure," Penelope said. "We couldn't let you die. Tell him Bentley."

"Alright," Bentley caved. "When we heard that you were within an inch of you life and getting closer, we snuck into your ward and I injected this serum. It was meant to get me to walk again, but when we heard of what happened, I decided you needed it more."

"Bentley? You risked not being able to walk, so that I, who didn't have much coming my why, would live?"

"Yes Sly" Bentley answered.

Suddenly, Sly could hear Carmelita coming. He turned around to see her entering the yard, and turned around again to see the gang gone.

"Been looking for you," she said.

"Oh, just been thinking," he replied. "It's getting late, do you want me to take you home?"

"Sure ringtail," Carmelita said, followed by a sudden perk up in her face as she was shocked by what she said. 'Oh no! What if he remembers!'

"That sound familiar, was that my nickname?" Sly asked, trying to sound like an amnesiac.

"Yes," she said, sighing in relief.

Sly dropped Carmelita in front of her apartment. But just as Sly was about to drive off, Carmelita stopped and turned to him.

"Hey, Cooper!" she yelled.

"What?" he asked, wondering if there was anything he had forgotten?

"Would you like to come inside for some coffee?" she asked.

"That would be nice," Sly said.

And so Sly followed Carmelita into her apartment.