Kept you waiting huh?

Sorry for the long wait, School is a cruel bitch. Now back to our scheduled fanfiction.

Chapter 3: Orientation day

Bentley was waiting out the front of the school underneath the shade of a tree. Out of sight from the school's cameras. Somewhere stoners would have gladly taken over, but they're scared of Murray so they stay at bay for the time being. The Cooper Gang is going to be pushed out of the school by the end of the term anyway and Bentley knows this better than anyone, collecting information over the holidays on his adopted brother; Arpeggio. As Sly, Carmelita and Murray walked in coolly, Bentley hurried over, his panic showing. Living a town over, living outside of cell reception and being unable to drive means that Bentley must rely on waiting for either Sly or Murray coming over to his house every now and then, just so he can tell them Arpeggio's dictatorial like schemes for the school. And now, Sly and Murray are all chummy with Carmelita for some reason. "What the hell Sly?!" Bentley shouted at Sly, causing a few awkward stares from the new students. "What do you mean Bentley?" Sly said defensively "Carmelita is with us now, after a cluster fuck with Rajan last night." Trying to justify his actions.
"Rajan? the spice dealer? Rajan? The member of the Klaww Gang? Rajan? The one who's going to spearhead an attack on every one of us in the Cooper Gang?" Bentley blurted out, cutting Sly off. "Oh, yeah Arpeggio, the feathered freak, want's us expelled within the term. So, they can take over the school and turn everyone into Basic Bitches and Fuck boys."
"That's seriously unbelievably stupid." Sly said trying to think of a motive behind that. "Arpeggio hates those kinds of people… Why make more?"
"It's a Government Conspiracy! Guys, 'The Man' want's society dumbed down so they can push their totally evil agenda further and take over the world." Murray blurted.
"I don't think that's it Murray." Said Carmelita, wanting to get a piece in. Bentley has no right to be mad at her.
"Who asked you? You… Vixen… Thing." Bentley accusingly asked Carmelita.
"People who can walk and come up with decent comebacks you soft-shelled toad." With passion behind her eyes that Sly couldn't help but love. "Woah, that's not very nice Carmelita…" Murray said, a little upset with tears slowly welling up in his eyes.
"You okay big guy?" Sly asked Murray, rubbing his back gently. "I know, she doesn't understand what we've been through with family… You don't have to worry, she didn't mean to be mean to Bentley." Sly said while looking apologetically at Carmelita.
"Damn right she doesn't know! Look at her, she's wanted by half of the school. She's perfect, way too perfect to be hanging around with us. What's your angle Lady?" Bentley said, still grilling into Carmelita. All of the bad memories returning to him in vivid detail. Carmelita, trying to be somewhat defensive of herself verbally. "Are you suggesting that I have ulterior motives Bentley?" Sounding slightly offended "That's quite shallow of you, hmph, you're no better than the fuck boys you supposedly hate so much." Stunning Bentley for a second before he came back to his senses, remembering what he needed to tell Sly and Murray. "So, guys… The Klaww Gang want to get us out of the school before the term is over and I guess… That also includes you Carmelita, considering Rajan wouldn't be too… Happy with you right now, going off with Sly I presume, he's like that." Filling the crew in on as much information as he possibly could before the bell rings for the new comers ceremony. Everything during that day was a blur, new kids needed touring and the seniors needed to select their courses for the year to come. After the whole ordeal of sorting classes was over the gang regrouped at the tree. "Okay guys, Hayden said he's on our side if a gang war breaks out during school." Sly said to the group, he was trying to get as many people in the senior year on his side as possible during the day. "Well, that's it… we've got no one else but Hayden then." Bentley said sadly but slowly he started to plan out their best course of action. The first week consisted of 3 days the seniors 'had' to be there, the Thursday and Friday were teacher only days. And then they had the long weekend to look forwards to, due to their city area anniversary. "So… When do you think, we can all hang out again?" Asked Murray with the thought of skipping out on school for the next two days so he could get more of a holiday. "Maybe tomorrow instead of going to school? I mean, if you guys have finished course conformation that is…" Sly said with the same intention in mind as Murray. Bentley, would have been left at school alone against the imposing threat of The Klaww gang kicking them out of school somehow. "Mom's going to make me come anyway… And Arpeggio is going to know if you guys aren't there. So, They'll probably try and fuck with me." Bentley said nervously.
"You could always bring a change of clothes and meet up with us at Murrays place." Sly said, devising a counter plan to the Klaww Gang's theoretical Bentley trap.
"Yeah, I'll do that actually, that works pretty well for me." Bentley said slightly less nerve racked.
"What about me? They'll come for me too, they've seen me with you." Carmelita said. Unsure of her current situation with the Klaww gang. "I've gotten pissed off texts from Rajan all day. And the Klaww gang's going to have it out for me from that plus plenty more motivation against us."
"Us? As in the Cooper Gang or US, Us?" Asked Sly with a quizzical look on his face.
"Both, I mean… If I knew you better I'd date you… But I manly meant the Cooper Gang." Replied Carmelita with a flattered look on her face. "Now I must be off home, my dad's a drunk asshole and gets cranky if I'm home too late." She continued, wanting to get home before her dad went on another drunken rant at her mom. "Would you like me to accompany you Miss Fox? For well... Security reasons." Sly asked hoping that she lived somewhat close to him.

This made Carmelita pause, thinking about whether to let him join her or not. Finally deciding upon letting him join her. "Sure, I do live in 'The Dark-side' and company's always nice, I don't think that anyone who I used to call friend wants to be seen with me… So, yeah, come along… Ringtail." She said to Sly flirtatiously.
"You don't need to tell me twice Mon Beau." Sly said, trying to act cool but also charm her. No one made him feel the way he did to Carmelita ever before. Like he could be himself without restriction. A truly good feeling, he knew nothing else like it. Murray and Bentley could read it all over him. Ever since they were young they'd never seen him act the way he was now with her. It was as if this was held in for far too long. Neyla never made Sly this happy.

Mon Beau – My Beautiful. (French)

"You two should get going instead of being looked at menacingly by Rajans friends over there, then. And besides you're making Bentley feel bad." Murray pointed out to the two who were more concerned as to the fact that Rajans cronies were staring at them. Bentley had started to turn away, trying not to throw up at all the mushy emotions being displayed. "Okay then big guy, we'll make our leave and let you and Bentley be. See you at the safe house later tonight?" Sly said going in for a high-five.
"Sure thing man. See you then!" Murray replied while slamming his hand into Sly's much smaller hand, flinging it back but making a satisfying 'pop' sound. Before Sly and Carmelita turned to leave out the front gate. Avoiding eye contact with the Klaww Gang Cronies. Sly grabbed Carmelita's hand and started to walk trying to avoid trouble as much as possible, he didn't need this conflict on the first day. "So, do you plan on holding my hand for the rest of the walk home?" Carmelita asked with a small smirk growing on her face knowing the answer. They turned left at the front of the gate. Passing a small crowd at the pedestrian crossing being manned by the assistant principals.

"Yeah I do." Sly replied as he pulled her hand up to his lips, kissing her hand gently. "Is that a problem?" A slight smirk of his own started because he already knew her answer. As a natural feeling over swept him, like he didn't have to care about anything but her. "Well Mon Beau, tell me about yourself… Music taste, Movies, Foods, Colors, T.V. shows… I want to know how good we'll all get along if you properly joined the gang instead of being associated with us… Well, mainly me but aside from that… Yeah."
"Well, where do I start? I like Emo bands I guess? Like 21 pilots and State Champs. Favorite movie genre is superhero movies, Batman's my favorite." As she was saying this, Sly started to smile. "I like spicy food, salty food, sour food and sweet food. But not Tomatoes by themselves, not Avocado at all, not Beetroot even though it's sweet." This made Sly smirk, cooking for Carmelita would be exactly like cooking for his adopted family. "I like Black but I don't wear it too much. I like anything animated except anime or anime styled stuff, it just reminds me of hentai, it's weird. Is that all you want to know?" As she finished listing she noticed how much sly was smiling at her. "Is there something you want to tell me Ringtail?" Confused as to why he'd be happy to know these things.

"Well, Mon Beau… You're welcome to hang out with the gang anytime. Maybe we'd disagree on some bands here and there and same with animation styles… But nonetheless, yeah we're going to get along quite well." Sly said with a satisfied perk to his tone.
"You keep saying Mon Beau, what does it mean?" Carmelita inquired, as she didn't quite understand why he used it or why she liked him saying it.

"It means, my beautiful, in French… My Mom and Dad, my real Mom and Dad, taught it to me when I was younger along with English." Sly said, with a hint of pain in his voice. He missed them both, sure his adopted family were nice but they just adopted him for a higher paycheck. They didn't really love him like their own, sure he was treated well but he knew that they didn't really care about him. That's why he stayed with Murray more than with them. Murray is his older goofier brother from another mother. Giving Bentley and Sly someone to actually call brother, because they don't have anyone else to care for them. And now, hopefully if everything turns out well later on tonight, Murray would accept Carmelita into this circle of closeness that he had with Sly and Bentley. They crossed to the other side of the road which was less crowded.

"Oh? Sly, you're flattering me… I don't think that I'm that beautiful…" Carmelita said with her head down. Turning the corner heading towards Slys house.
"What?! No! You're beautiful in so many ways! Like how you're not afraid to peak your mind and like… like…" Sly was at loss for words for the first time, truly stumped by her beauty, to him she was the definition of the word; ineffable. Indescribable, a truly beautiful girl.

"Like… like what Sly?" She asked him, looking deep into his dark brown eyes only to find that her heart was beating much louder than what it usually does and that he was looking back into hers.

"Your pupils… they're like… massive." Sly said trying to continue the conversation, with his composure regained.

"My… Oh! Umm, yeah… That happens to people when they see something they like." Carmelita said trying to break away from Sly's hypnotic gaze.

"Oh? So, you like me is what you're trying to say right?" Sly broke his gaze, remembering that she didn't know him too well.

"Well you're not wrong. I like you so far, you seem like a really great guy." Carmelita said, reassuring Sly making him feel at ease. With this uplifting energy surging through him, Sly straightened himself up as they passed the public library and crossed over to the Pizza hut parking lot and strolling into the main street.

"So, Sly… Tell me what I need to know about you." Carmelita said with the curiosity in her voice peaked.

"What do you want to know about me? I'm a god damn orphan who's only real family is his two best friends who were my fellow orphans and quite possibly someone who I'm planning on spending some time with throughout this year. I like metal music, Kung Fu movies, videogames, not really too sure of t.v. shows but I like game of thrones." Sly said surprising Carmelita. She had no idea what to say about any of that. Sly carried himself quite proudly ever since the incident.

"I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way."
"Don't be, it's how things have been for over half my life, I'm used to it."
"That's kind of sad to hear."
"Well it's the truth, there's no real point in lying to you, it doesn't benefit me in anyway whatsoever."
"Thank you for your honesty Sly, I'm so used to guys lying to me about everything."
"Well then, get used to the truth from me. It's going to be 100% honesty town whenever I'm around."
They passed a packed-out McDonalds and KFC, glad that they weren't sardined in those greasy unsanitary walls. Crossing the road to a BP station and local super market nearly on Sly's street.
"So, I never knew you lived on the rough side of town… I thought that you'd have lived up on Cape hill or something." Sly said with his respect for Carmelita's integrity as a woman growing more and more as they walked and talked.
"Well it's not something that I'm proud of really, I'm kind of insecure about where I live for some reason."
"Well that's something really shitty to be ashamed of."
"Oh, I know. I'm just worried about what people would think of me because of just, the area."
"I know the feeling." Sly said as they passed under a powerline with a pair of battered old shoes dangling overhead. "I know that feeling all to well."
"Because you're adopted?"
"Well that's a reason but no, how my family name is portrayed internationally, even legally. I'm proud to be who I am. But I'm also kind of ashamed of being associated with… My father's business I suppose."

"Was he involved in a big company?"
"Umm yeah, in the finance and legal departments… for an underground thief ring that he ran. That my family has run for generations even." Sly said embarrassed and looking for a way out of the conversation.
"Oh, so the rumors are true?" Carmelita asked innocently.
"What rumors?" Sly retorted. His interest peaked.
"The rumor that your family was assassinated over some shady business." Carmelita said as honestly as she could, trying not to offend Sly in the act.
"Well, yeah… I saw my Mom get cut down in front of me and my Dad get his neck snapped as they fought to protect me." The events unfolding in gruesome detail behind Slys eyes as tears began to form. Wiping them away he continued. "But it was all over my family heirloom which teaches whoever reads it to become a master thief, according to my father of course."
"Is it like… Magic or something?" Carmelita asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Well probably I don't know, I didn't get to read that much of it." Sly said straight faced.
"So, you survived an assassination on your family over a magic book at 8 years old?"
"yeah that's the story. My life - by Sly James Cooper." Sly said holding out his hands as if imagining the title font floating in front of him.
"You're a god damn goofball… A cute one too." Carmelita said with a small grin starting back up.
"Miss Fox! Did I just hear you right? Did you just call me a 'Cute goofball'?"
"Don't let it get to your head Ringtail." She said playfully.
"I'm making no promises." Sly said equally as playful. What was she doing? She had just not even 24 hours ago gotten out of a relationship, a bad relationship but still a relationship nonetheless. But it was easy talking to Sly about everything that they had. It seemed so natural and it made her feel so happy with her life. Something no one was anywhere near capable of being able to do for months. Carmelita was going through some things with her family. Receding her into a depression and putting her into a rebellious phase. Being with Sly had made her feel something she hadn't felt in 5 months, happiness, a true emotion. Even now, with him still holding her hand, not even a block away from her house. She felt safe, completely at ease with someone who she should have paid more attention to from the beginning. She felt her heart nearly skip a beat as Sly asked her. "So, I live pretty close by like an 18-minute walk to here… do you think we could walk to 'school' tomorrow? Oh, and by 'school' I mean Murrays place." They rounded a corner and Carmelita came to a stop.
"This is my house and… Yes I accept." She said to him trying to keep her cool.
"Oh… that's actually a really nice house that you've got there." Sly said cheerfully. "So I'll meet you here at like… 8 Tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah, that'll be great. See you then." Carmelita replied barely holding in her excitement.
"Awww Hell yeah!" Sly said as he punched his fist into the air. Making Carmelita giggle as she walked up her drive way. Sly started to head home to get some more things before going back to the safehouse.