Piper and Peter got into the park with ease. At least compared to what she thought they'd go through. She didn't know that it was the fault of a certain South Italian.
The two delinquents found Rob's cart, their faces hidden behind their hoodies. The awning was down, and the stand was locked up with metal blinds. For a second Piper thought 'For people like us.', but shook it away when Peter began pulling out the supplies. She pushed off her hood and grabbed her paintbrush and paint.
"You take the left, I'll take the right." Peter nodded and grabbed a can of spray paint.
They worked on it for around half an hour. Piper thought her painting was coming out very well; she was almost proud of it. Peter continued spray painting, but stopped abruptly when he heard an odd noise. He couldn't quite figure out what it was. It sounded almost like a remote-controlled truck.
Piper looked at her cousin when the spraying sound ceased.
"Are you done?" She asked, her eyebrows knitted. He couldn't possibly be done yet. Not with something suitable painted.
"No... I think I hear something." Peter hushed his voice. Piper listened closely. It sounded like... wheels? Her eyes widened.
"Quick! Pack!" She lidded her paint and slung it in his bag along with the paintbrush.
"C'mon! Hurry." She tugged his backpack on her back and darted across the pathway and behind a bush. Peter hurried after her.
The noise was getting much closer. Piper could almost make out a voice now.
"Ve...! Ludwig, this is scary! Why do we have night shift?" A male voice whined.
"Feliciano, would you stop being such a coward?" A much deeper voice. Sounded German. They sounded as if they were right on the two kids.
"But- What if there are murderers, Luddy? Or worse- PIGEONS!"
The sources of the voices walked right past the bush that Piper and Peter were hiding in. Pete gasped; Piper clapped her hand over his mouth.
"Nonsense, you fool." The burly German said. He was wearing a guard uniform and was walking in pace with a more scrawny guard (He sounded Italian now that Pipes thought about it) that was on a Segway. The lanky guy looked silly on that two-wheeled contraption.
"You remember what happened last time I came across pigeons!" Feliciano said.
"You shouldn't have had pasta in your-" Ludwig paused. "What the Hell?"
"What is it Ludwig? Is it murderers?" Feli turned around in a sharp circle on his Segway.
"No. Just shut up, Feliciano." The German made his way over to Rob's cart. "It's been vandalized..." He frowned at the cuddly looking koalas painted on one side.
"Ve...? Who would spray paint PET? That's kind of silly."
On one side of the stand, there were different Australian animals painted intricately. The colors were beautiful and precise. On the other side the three letters "PET" were written on in graffiti. Piper shot her cousin a sharp glare. She felt him smile behind her hand.
Ludwig wiped his finger across a koala's face, smearing it. Piper almost screamed.
"The paint's wet; they couldn't have gotten far. Damn that Lovino. Couldn't he stay awake just long enough to notice the people sneak in? It even looks like kids did this." He shook his head and hurried down the pathway, away from the entrance to give Feliciano's brother a word.
"VE! Ludwig, Waaait!" Feliciano rolled frantically after the German.
As soon as the two were out of sight, Piper released Peter's mouth. She groaned. A trail of saliva swung sloppily from her palm. She wiped her hand on the back of Peter's hoodie.
"Sorry Piper." He grinned. She rolled her eyes and pulled his hood over his head, then threw on her own.
"Let's go. Run."
They darted for the exit and narrowly escaped being caught by Ludwig. He had nearly circled the park, but not quite in time to catch the two.
"This is unacceptable." Mr. Edelstein snapped at the people in the room. He was the 'head of Epcot' if you would. Even though the Austrian was chewing out the guards, Rob flinched along with them.
"You allowed children to sneak into my park and vandalize property?" He looked at the three guards menacingly. Ludwig stood firm.
"Sir, I can assure you that neither Feliciano nor I are to blame." The German's deep voice never wavered.
"Then who do you blame? Lovino?" Everyone in the room turned to look at the Italian in the corner. He was silently chewing a tomato.
"What?" He snapped. "Wasn't my damn fault!"
"Lovi, you were asleep on duty..." Feli said nervously.
"SHUT UP, FELICIANO!"
"VE! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He flailed and hid behind Roderick.
"Get away from me, you fool!"
"You weren't supposed to tell him that, you bastard!" Lovi yelled.
"I'm sorry, Lovino!"
"Don't apologize to him, Feliciano." Ludwig ordered.
"SHUT UP, POTATO BASTARD!"
The New Zealander frowned and watched as everyone in the room began yelling at one another. He still had no clue as to why he was here. Something to do with his stand, apparently. He was called to work hours early to discuss this.
"Um, Sir-" Rob started.
"If you'd learn to share the blankets, maybe I WOULD love you, Feli!"
"D-don't say things like that, Loviiii!"
"Could I just-" The blonde tried again.
"Would you shut your mouths before I fire you both?"
"You wouldn't do that, Roderick! Elizabeta would have your head on a stick and you know it, you dick."
"Please, just-" Another failed attempt.
"Stop being so mean, Lovino!"
"I thought I told you to shut your mouth, Feli!"
"Why don't you both shut your idiotic mouths?"
"No way, cock sucker-"
"WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY STAND?" Robert yelled above everyone.
They all went quiet and turned to look at him. He flushed a little.
"Ah, yes. Mr. Fischer. We're very sorry about that." The Austrian calmed himself and straightened the stack of papers in front of him.
"I'm not!" Lovino said. Ludwig elbowed him.
"Th-thanks." Rob cleared his throat. "I would like to know why I was asked to come so early." Mr. Edelstein nodded.
"Last night two vandals broke into the park and decided to paint your cart. We've been forced to double security in case they try something again. Do you have any clue who would do this?" Roderick's purple eyes bore into Rob's green ones.
"No, sir. I don't think I do." He frowned, thinking. He didn't do anything to make anyone mad lately, did he?
"Ah. I see. Please tell me if you can think of anyone that may be responsible." Edelstein said. Robert nodded.
"Of course."
"Oh, and another thing." Roderick clasped his hands together in front of him.
"Yes, sir?" Rob asked cautiously. He didn't like that motion.
"Until the vandals are found, you will be responsible for paying the one-hundred and fifty dollars that will be needed to replace that stand."
Rob's mouth hung open.
"Y-yes, sir."
"Wonderful." Roderick stood up and walked to the door of his office. He paused before turning the doorknob. "I'll expect the money before you move, Mr. Fischer." Roderick said. Robert nodded, still speechless.
The Austrian left, and the three guards filed out behind him. Feliciano mentioned something about pasta and started off another uproar of conversation.
Robert sank into the couch, not ready to leave his boss's office. How was he supposed to afford that? He was already broke from paying for plane tickets back home to New Zealand, and his mother would freak if he asked for more money. She was already paying for his college in America, but since that failed miserably, he had to find school somewhere closer to home. He sighed loudly.
"Oh? Robert!" A heavily accented voice called from the doorway. Rob looked up at the woman and smiled.
"Eliza!" The bubbly woman took a seat beside him.
"It is wonderful seeing you here! It's unfortunate why you are here, though." She frowned sympathetically. He nodded.
"Yeah, I'm pretty stressed." Robert knitted his eyebrows. "I seriously have no way of paying by the deadline he wants. Unless I find out who did it, that is, but what's the chance of that happening?" Elizabeta frowned sadly.
"I'm sure I can get my Roddy to extend the deadline." She didn't even bother saying forget the debt. Every employee at the park knows how money-happy that man is.
"No, no. It's okay, Lizzy." He sighed, but allowed a small smile on his face.
"So... I met a guy." He grinned brightly when Eliza squealed with joy. She tackled him in a hug.
"Who is he? Is he cute? Where's he from?" She asked him questions rapidfire.
"He's Jack; he's freakin' hot, and he's from Australia."
Another chorus of squeals and giggles. More questions.
"Will you see him again?" Her bright eyes saddened when his face fell.
"I told him to come see me again, but I kinda doubt he will. He was really embarrassed by his sister..."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll find you again. If you're meant to be, he will. I promise." Elizabeta smiled brightly once more. He smiled with her.
"I guess you're right, Lizzy. But I have to go. I really want to check out the damage on my stand." Eliza grabbed his hand before he got up.
"I have pictures on my phone! No need in leaving just yet."
She flipped through her phone until she found the ones she had taken on her way to bringing her Roddy his breakfast. When she saw the cart, she (the gossip that she is) needed pictures.
"Have a look." Eliza handed her his phone.
He nearly dropped the pink device when he saw the fashion in which his cart was "vandalized". The PET was one clue. But the koalas were what gave it away.
"Eliza. I have to go."
Jack was brushing his teeth when the maid service rapped on the door. Piper was really cranky for some reason. Apparently her stomach hurt and she was sleepy. Peter was in the living room blasting Spongebob as loud as possible, attempting to sing along to the Campfire Song song. Jack frowned. He knew neither kid would get the door, so he walked out of the bathroom to open it, toothbrush in hand.
"Yeah, you guys can just take out the trash for now, and- Peter, would you turn down that damn TV?"
"YOU."
Jack turned to the person at the door, an eyebrow raised. Then his fingers loosened their grip on the toothbrush. It hit the ground with a dull squishy thud.
"Rob?" His mouth fell open.
"We need to talk, Jack." Robert pushed himself inside the Aussie's room, proud of the fact he didn't snicker when Jack dropped his toothbrush.
A/N: Chapter two up in one day! I'm proud of myself. I hope you guys enjoyed. Reviews warm my soul!
