Chapter3
On the backstreets of Venice, filled of deserted, crumbling buildings, narrow alleyways, broken streetlights and nameless streets that seemed to go around in circles, was an empty deli shop. Only those who had lived in this area during its, well, better times would have known it was a deli shop, but that was long ago. To most people it was just a dead building, and would have never expected anyone to be sitting inside it.
Jaymie sat with her back to the greasy wall, knees pulled up to her chest. She had been sitting like that for hours, waiting, waiting. She was always waiting it seemed, her whole life, even before she and Gabriella had run away from home.
"Oh Gabriella," Jaymie's voice came out in such a low whisper that if someone were to be sitting next to her, they wouldn't have been able to understand. But the only person who would have been sitting next to her wasn't.
Gabriella had never returned.
Jaymie had debated on and off whether she should go out looking for her. No doubt she was with some gang like she always was. And yet, Jaymie never moved from her position. The longer she sat there the guiltier she felt about not going after her, but she still never moved.
Just at the moment, the door to the deli shop opened. All the windows to the building had been boarded up, and the light that poured in blinded Jaymie. She jumped to her feet. "Gabriella?" her voice wobbled.
"Hey Jaymie," the familiar voice sang through the small room, bouncing off the room and relieving Jaymie. But she still couldn't help the anger that began filtering through her veins.
"What the hell is wrong you?" she burst, "You promised you were going to be back last night but never showed up. Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? You could have been killed by those gangs you're always flirting with –"
"Shut up," Gabriella shot back, "you're overreacting. If you really cared about me you would be out on the streets looking for me instead of cowering in the dark."
Jaymie swallowed. "Look, all I'm asking is for you to keep your promise and get back on time."
"Don't tell me what to do. Just because you're older doesn't mean you can act like…" Gabriella's voice faded. She and Jaymie both knew she was going to say the word mom. She had stopped herself though, because their mom had never been concerned about them. "You don't have to act like you're the boss all the time." She finally mumbled.
Folding her thin arms across her chest, Jaymie rolled her eyes only to catch a figure behind Gabriella. Startled, she gasped. Before she could say anything, Gabriella cleared her throat.
"Oh yeah, this is Scipio."
Scipio stepped further into the dark room, trying to get a better look at Jaymie. She was taller than Gabriella, but just as skinny with red wavy hair. She had the same grey eyes as Gabriella, but while hers sparkled playfully, Jaymie's flashed with anger. The longer he took her in, the longer he felt like he had seen her before.
"Erm… hi Jaymie."
"What's wrong with you Gabriella?" shouted Jaymie, "Who is this? You actually showed him where we live? How could you be so stupid to bring some boy from a gang with you?"
Gabriella just placed her hands on her hips. "He's not from any gang. I met him on the streets today. He says he's the Thief Lord." As she spoke, a dream-like smile spread across her lips almost as if she could hardly believe it.
Hearing that Scipio was the Thief Lord didn't seem to make the situation any better as Jaymie's face darkened. "You actually believe he's the Thief Lord?" she asked coldly.
"Sure. He helped me get away from the Bloodhound Gang and he even has that cool mask I heard about -"
Jaymie's face suddenly changed to a look of shock, maybe even slightly terrified. "You were with the Bloodhound Gang?" The smirk was wiped of Gabriella's face as she realized she had exposed her secret. "What were you doing with them? Gabriella, do you know how dangerous those boys are?"
"Calm down would you?" Gabriella shook her head in disbelief as she reached her hands into the different pockets, picking up the wallets and throwing them on the ground. Scipio counted five. "I know what I'm doing when I'm with them," she said sternly, "because unlike you I actually try to get us money."
The anger from Jaymie's face suddenly melted away, making her look extremely exhausted. It seemed as if she were about to cry. Gabriella looked as if she were going to be sick. "I'm out of here," she said, "see you in a few hours."
With that she stormed out of the building, leaving Jaymie and Scipio alone. Jaymie slid back down the wall into a little ball. Scipio stood awkwardly on the spot. "Maybe I should go after her…" he mumbled pathetically.
"This is all your fault," Jaymie glowered at Scipio.
Scipio snapped back to his normal self. "Hey, don't blame this on me. It's not my fault that Gabriella is doing what she can to get by."
"Yes it is! The reason why we're here on the streets is partially your fault. Gabriella heard about the Thief Lord and thought for sure life would be better being a thief. I had to come with her or else she would do something stupid!"
Scipio stared at her for a moment. "So this is partially my fault? Then what's the other reason you're out here?"
Jaymie's grey eyes were suddenly saucer plates as if he had asked her something personal, like how much she weighed. But then again, wasn't the reason anyone was on the street personal? Scipio held up his hands defensively, "Forget it, I don't even care." That was a lie, but it would have to do.
A heavy silence followed, making the scene more uncomfortable. Jaymie sat on the floor, head in her hands. Scipio continued to stand, wondering if he should sit on the ground as well or make a bolt for it.
"So if Gabriella steals wallets," Scipio asked at last, "what do you do?"
Lifting her head, Jaymie raised her eyebrows at him as if she were surprised he cared. "Me? I'm trying to make a living by singing."
So that was where he had seen her before! Jaymie was the girl who stood at the edge of the market singing, a hat on the ground in front of her hoping to be filled with spare change. Scipio had passed her a number of times when he was an adult and each time he thought to himself, Wow, what a great voice. And yet, never once had he bothered to give her any change.
"I suppose you better stay," Jaymie told him, "because Gabriella probably fancies you as you're her hero or something. You'll be the only thing that'll make her come back if you stay."
Scipio nodded twice, taking this as a cue to sit down. As he did, he muttered, "I'm sorry."
Saying this had said this surprised him. What was he sorry about? The fact that he had never given her, the singing girl, money; the fact that the sisters were in a fight; the fact that he was now stuck in a claustrophobic room with a girl who hated his guts? Nonetheless, Jaymie nodded.
"I'm sorry, too." Her whisper was the last sound either of them made for the next few hours, forcing them to sit through the deafening silence.
Hey!! So here is another one of my fanfics! I would love some reviews. Questions, comments, concerns, whatever, it'll be nice to know someone's reading my story. x0
Vintage88