Chapter 5

Eve and Rins walked around the shopping center, each carrying so many bags that their hands were sore from the strain of the bag handles.

They had stopped at a Juice Mart and rested their aching legs, backs, and hands. Eve contemplated her infatuation with Train which she had been able to cleverly hide. She wondered how long it would take for her to finally tell Train…or whether she ought to tell him at all.

"So," Rins sang, smiling a catlike smile at Eve. "How's school?"

"Good," Eve answered.

Rins frowned. Clearly that wasn't enough. Eve braced herself for the bombardment of questions that were now sure to come.

"Any crushes?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh," Rins said, waving a hand knowingly, a smile playing on her lips. "I happen to be privy to a little secret of yours that even you aren't aware that I know."

Eve tensed. How could she know I'm in love with Train? She asked herself.

"Fess up, kiddo," Rins demanded. "Who's your crush?"

"Rins, please, you can't possibly think that I'd be so trivial that I'd have a crush on somebody," Eve said, working to keep herself from blushing by keeping her face as stoic as possible.

"Honey, it's been obvious since I saw you last. How about I tell you that little secret of yours and if I'm right, you have to answer my question."

Eve blinked. If Rins guessed that the secret she was worried about was that her love interest was Train, then she'd have to admit that it was true. Eve drank her juice and then, after a moment weighing her options, she decided to risk it.

"Fine," Eve said flatly, waving her hand as if she hadn't a care and leaned back in her chair, arms and legs crossed, and defiantly pouting at the older girl.

Rins smirked. "You're in love. What I want to know is who."

Damn, Eve thought. Rins is sharper than I thought. I knew she was always smart, but I didn't think that she'd actually notice THAT!

"Come on, Eve, you agreed: tell me who it is."

Eve sighed, "Train."

Rins let out a high pitched shriek, turning heads and Eve was no longer able to hide her blush. She never told anyone until now and Rins reaction was typical of her personality. "Train! Of all the guys I expected, he was the last! But I can see now that it would be so cute to have you and Train together some day—"

"If you're going to try and convince me to tell him, forget it. I won't do it."

"Who said I was going to try and persuade you to tell him? I'm just freaking out that of all people you'd have a crush on, I was at least expecting that wind bender kid Sven told me about."

"Leon?"

"Yeah."

Eve groaned and refused to meet Rins gaze. She was beyond embarrassed. This was downright humiliating. Eve hid her head under her hand, trying to hide her flushed face.

"Eve."

She peaked at Rins from under her hand, trying to keep her expression cold. But she couldn't do it. "Don't tell me to do something about it. I'll tell him on my own time."

"I wasn't going to tell you what to do," Rins stated, swirling her bubble tea. "I was going to say that I know that you're a responsible young woman and I know that when you're ready, Train will listen. He's a prat sometimes, but he's a good man. I don't think you could find anyone better."

Eve finally lowered her hand. "Just don't tell anyone. Not even Sven."

"What about Tearju? She is your mom," Rins paused and Eve raised an eyebrow. "So to speak."

"Well…"

"Come on! If I can't tell her, than whom can I tell? Besides, she's probably better at keeping secrets than I am."

"Somehow, I doubt that…" Eve muttered. But even she wasn't so sure of that…she didn't know Tearju as well as she did Rins and Annette. "I don't know, Rins. Please, just keep it to yourself? Between us sisters…even though we aren't really sisters?"

Rins blinked, but nodded. "Between us sisters," she agreed, extending her pinkie finger. Eve smiled and wrapped her own pinkie around Rins's.

Soon after, they left the Market and Rins led Eve home. Eve was taciturn as usual but smiled as Rins rambled on.

However, as the crowd thinned around them, Eve began to get anxious. Not that she didn't trust Rins, but that something seemed wrong; it was the way to get home, she knew that, but there were usually more people than this.

Rins stopped and Eve looked at her. She obviously noticed this too.

"Something's wrong here. Did we take a wrong turn?"

"No, we didn't," Eve assured her. "I feel it too." Rins grabbed her gun. Eve transformed her hands into knives.

"Nice to see you again, Ms. Volfied."

Eve turned to the left and braced herself. Bade Diskenth had his hands stuffed into his pockets. He eyed Rins briefly, but with interest before he turned back to Eve.

"I was hoping to meet you again, Eve," Bade said, eying Rins out of the corner of his eye. "But I did not expect to meet the infamous Rinslet Walker," he now addressed Rins. "You're as beautiful as the rumors stated, Ms. Walker."

Rins snarled. Eve tried, and succeeded, to keep from smirking. Anyone who knew Rins well knew that she was engaged to Jenos Hazard, a former Eraser, now a Sweeper like Train and Sven.

Rins raised her pistol at Bade who raised his eyebrow with a half smile.

"Who the hell are you?" Rins demanded.

"Bade Diskenth, Creed's brother," Eve stated.

"Glad to make your acquaintance, Ms. Walker," Bade said with a mock bow, his eyes never left Rins's face. Eve was getting annoyed by the gloating expression he masked his face with.

"You know him, Eve?" Rins asked.

"A couple days ago, I was kidnapped. I escaped yesterday and returned home. This is the man who had me kidnapped."

Eve glanced at Eve and blinked. It was rare for Rins to be calm when angry, yet she was. The only indicator of the thief's fury was her now very pale face and the fiery expression in her eyes.

Bade straitened and crossed his arms. "Well, I'm here to take back what I've rightfully stolen, so if you don't mind, Ms. Walker," he turned to Eve. "We ought to be heading back, Eve."

"Are you insane!?" Rins shouted. "What makes you think that Eve will willingly go with you?"

"She doesn't have a choice. Either she comes or her father dies."

Rins and Eve gasped.

"What did you do to Sven!?" Eve shouted, her nanomachines crackling.

"He's safe. For now. Joaquin is watching him. And you know why I want your help already, Eve."

"One way or another, you'll kill someone close to me!" she screamed. "How can you expect me to chose between Train and Sven?!"

Bade smirked wider. "I just do. Either your father, or your father's partner."

Eve bit her lip, shaking angrily. If she chose Sven, she'd probably loose Train. If she chose Train, she wouldn't forgive herself for letting Sven die. Tears welled into Eve's eyes. How dare he, she thought, breaking down. How dare he!

BANG! BANG!

Bade screamed and grabbed his leg. Eve looked at Rins who was shaking so uncontrollably, it was a miracle that she even hit him.

"You—" Bade started, growling. Rins aimed the gun at his head and he silenced.

"Were you going to call me a bitch?" Rins asked, her eyes flashing. "I beg to differ: I've never seen such a lowly bastard in my whole life, and I've met a lot of bastards." She turned to Eve. "Eve get out of here."

Eve nodded and turned away from them, praying that Rins would be alright. She needed to warn Sven and find Train. With a pang, she wondered if she'd have to tell Train how she felt.

She didn't know if she'd get any other chance if Bade was after her whole family now. As she ran, she battled with herself before reaching a decision: she had to tell Train.

Bumbumbuum...what will happen next? Tune in next chapter for Unlock the Door!

LOL, had to do that ;P I know...this chapter sort of ripped off Red Eye in a way...maybe you didn't notice...