The Thief Lord (c) Cornelia Funke

A second Prop/Hornet oneshot written for the sixth IU challenge. Prompt used is Nemesis. This is what happens when you watch too much Prosper/Hornet fanvideos. Written for fluff's sake, because ,let's admit, we all love fluff once in a while. XD

Stolen Glances, Hidden Smiles

II. White Lie

Maria Crivelli. Tall, slender and strikingly beautiful Maria Crivelli. The one name that leaves a bitter after taste in Hornet's tongue every time she says her name. Maria Crivelli is the most sought after, most popular girl in school. Almost every girl wants to be like her. Almost every boy wants to be with her. Hornet thinks they are all blind fools.

Behind Maria Crivelli's pretty face is a personality that makes Cinderella's evil stepsisters seem like saints. Sly, manipulative, self-centered and insensitive, Maria is a rich,spoiled brat who doesn't stop until she gets what she wants . Unfortunately, only Hornet is able to see the terrible side of the school sweetheart, for Maria Crivelli is an outstanding actress. To everyone else, she appears like an angel who can never do any wrong. But to Hornet,she bares her horns, her fangs, her tail and her pitchfork.

It's right to say that Maria Crivelli dislikes Hornet as much as Hornet dislikes her. And Hornet knows there is only one reason for the other girl's animosity towards her.

Prosper.

Hornet is not blind, nor is she dense. She knows that Maria Crivellis is extremely, head-over-heels infatuated with Prosper. She can't blame the other girl though. Prosper is a lovingly protective brother to Bo, a loyal friend to his peers, a responsible teenager,despite his young age. He is a truly admirable and remarkable person. And she hasn't even mentioned his physical aspects yet!

Physically, Prosper has grown up to be quite a heartbreaker. Sometimes, even Hornet can't stop herself from staring at him. She is still in awe at how he has changed from a lanky twelve-year-old to an adequately-built and attractive sixteen-year-old. She feels like a mother who's so proud to see that her son has grown up so beautifully.

And Hornet blames this maternal instinct to be the main reason why she's so protective of not only of Bo, but of Prosper as well. She only wants the best for him. And in her opinion, Maria Crivelli is not and will never be it.

Today, Hornet again finds Maria Crivelli in her quest to win Prosper over using her charms. She rolls her eyes in disgust as Maria demurely tucks a lock of blonde hair behind an ear while
giving Prosper one of her signature flirtatious smiles. To Hornet's relief, Prosper seems immune to Maria's advances. He isn't like the rest of the boys in their class who immediately turn into drooling lapdogs the moment Maria smiles at them. But for how long can Prosper resist Maria Crivelli? Hornet swore to herself that she'll never let him fall for Maria's trap. Not while she is around.

Taking a deep breath, she confidently marches towards Maria and reaching them, she gives the startled Maria a big smile before linking her arm around Prosper's own.

"Prop, I've been looking all over for you. Have you forgotten we need to runs some errands for Ida?"

Prosper looks down at her (he is still a head taller than her),confusion clearly written all over his face. "Huh? I don't remem-"

"Oh, you weren't listening during breakfast, were you?" Hornet shakes her head disapprovingly. "The bookbinder! We need to get the books that Ida had given Signore Mortimer to repair." She starts to pull Prosper away from Maria. "Hurry! His shop closes in twenty minutes!" She glances at Maria and gives her a triumphant grin. "Excuse us."

"Sorry, Maria. Maybe some other time," she hears Prosper tell the other girl in a genuinely apologetic tone.

Hornet cringes as Maria gives Prosper a sweet smile. "Okay. Some other time then." Prosper nods and looks up front and Maria's sweet smile turns into a venomous glare, directed to no one but Hornet. And as the cliche goes, if looks could kill Hornet would have disintegrated on the spot. But she could not care less. She has saved Prosper again from the freshly, manicured claws of Maria Crivelli. That's the only thing that matters.

And so with the triumphant smile frozen on her lips, she gives Maria a final look and drags Prosper away from the blonde girl. As she walks to the schoolgate, she senses Prosper's gaze on her. She turns to look at him. He is staring at her fervently as if he is trying to read her mind.

"What?"

He does not answer. Instead, he takes a quick glance to their linked arms before diverting his attention the path ahead. The smile that he has been trying to suppress finally appears on his
lips. Hornet dons a quizzical expression.

"What?" she asks again, her curiosity more obvious in her tone now.

"Nothing," Prosper replies nonchalantly. With the smile still on his lips, he shifts his gaze to the left, away from Hornet's view.

Hornet frowns. Tightening her hold on his arm, she leans closer to his side and gently tugs his sleeve. "Oh, don't fool me, Prop. I know it's not nothing. Come on,tell me what it is."

Prosper looks back and sees an expectant Hornet gazing up at him.

"Well?"

He gives an amused laugh. "I told you, it's nothing."

Hornet rolls her eyes and sighs. "Fine. Keep secrets from me then."

Pouting, she diverts her attention to her right. The frown on her face stays for only a few seconds though. A grin creeps back to her lips as she spots a good-looking, young man waving at her.

Marco Giamatti.

Signore Giamatti is her teacher in Literature, who also happens to be her favorite teacher in the entire school. He has just graduated from the University, making him the youngest member of the faculty. A lot of students love him because he can relate very well with them due to his age, unlike the older, much stricter teachers. Strangely, Prosper doesn't like him that much. Hornet could never get the reason why.

"Just because," he told her one time. What kind of reason was that?

"Caterina!"

Hornet stops and removes her arm from Prosper' time, it's Prosper's turn to frown "I thought we are in a hurry?" he murmurs to her ear in a seemingly vexed tone.

"Oh, just give me a minute,Prop." She glances back at him pleadingly.

Prosper sighs. "Fine."

Mouthing a word of thanks, she diverts her attention up front to greet her teacher with a big,pleasant smile. "Good afternoon, Signore Giamatti."

"Good afternoon to you,too," the man greets back with the same enthusiasm. Then, he looks at the boy behind Hornet. "Hello, Prosper."

Prosper forces a smile. "Hello,Signore."

Marco turns his attention back to Hornet. "Ah, it's a good thing I've seen you."

"Why, Signore?"

"The books that I mentioned to you a week ago have finally arrived in the mail. Would you like to take a look at them?"

Upon hearing the word 'books', Hornet's eyes lit up even more. If there is one thing, she loves in this world aside from her surrogate family and her friends, it's books. A surge of excitement fills her as she imagines what new tales she can read from these new books. She opens her mouth to say 'I'd love to'. But Prosper answers the question for her.

"I'm so sorry, Signore but Caterina and I are on a errand. In fact, we are running late."

Marco's smile fades and he wears an apologetic expression. "Is that so? That's too bad. Well, some other time then?"

Hornet, who seems a bit disoriented with how Prosper turned the tables on her, uncertainly nods her head. "Ah,yes, some other time."

"Good. See you two in class."

"Goodbye,Signore," Prosper tells the other man as he grabs Hornet by her wrist and pulls her towards the school's exit. Hornet longingly looks back at Signore Giamatti. Oh, how she wants to see those books now! Oh her and her lies. But wait...maybe she can still fix this...maybe...

"Prop, I need to tell you something."

She can tell the truth.

"What?"

She gathers all the courage she can muster. "I lied."

Prosper does not stop nor does he looks back. With his hand still holding onto her wrist tightly, he continues to pull her along with him as he heads to the schoolgate.

"Ida didn't really give us any errands to go to Signore Mortimer. I only did that to save you from Maria Crivelli."

This time Prosper halts in his tracks and spins around to face her. "Save me? Why do you think I need saving?"

Hornet is expecting Prosper to sound mad or at least, irritated for her little white lie. But for some strange reason, he isn't. In fact, he sounds...amused? Pleased?

"Because she was all over you!" Hornet exclaims. She feels her cheeks heat up as soon as the words left her lips. "She was flirting with you and she acts so nice around you but she's not like that at all."

Prosper silently stares at her for a few seconds. And then...

"Are you...jealous?"

Her eyes widen at his inquiry. "O-of course not!" She tears her gaze away from him. "S-stop joking , will you? I'm just concerned about you, Prop. I just don't want you to fall for someone like her."

Prosper gives a hearty laugh. "Don't worry. That's impossible."

Hornet glances back at him skeptically.

"I already like someone else, you see."

Hornet feels a tug in her heart upon hearing his words. "Oh. That's... that's nice." She forces a grin on her lips. "As long as it's not Maria Crivelli, you have my full support."

"I'm glad to know that, Hornet," Prosper gives her hand an affectionate squeeze. "Meanwhile. I'm guessing that your sudden decision to tell me the truth has something to do with Signore
Giamatti and his new books?" He furrows his brow.

Hornet, this time, gives a more genuine,albeit sheepish smile. "Well, yes. I'd really like to see those books, Prop. You how I feel when it comes to books."

"I know." He pulls Hornet back towards the direction of the school building.

"Wait...where are we going?"

"We're going to see Signore Giamatti in his office and see those books of his."

Hornet raises an inquiring brow.

"We?"

"Of course. Don't think I'll let you see him alone."

Hornet chuckles. She thinks of this as a great opportunity to get back at Prosper for his earlier teasing. "Oh, is that so? Why, Prop? Are you jealous?"

Hornet expects him to laugh it off. After all, it is nothing but a joke. But Prosper looks back at her and hand moves from her wrist down to her hand and clasps their fingers together. And then, he gives her an answer that simply deleted Signore Giamatti's books off her mind.

"You know what? Maybe, I am."

Fin.

Thank you for reading.