A/N: Hey guys, next chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it. Please review. I also want to thank you guys for my 180th review!

For a fraction of a moment, Liesel's vision turned blurry, then refocused back to the scene.

Sweat lathered onto both of her hands. "What?" she exclaimed.

Her feet were 20 steps ahead of her mind- and suddenly she was standing inside the library.

Coldness blanketed around her and the blood in her slowly halted from a consistent flow.

Why was the library so cold?

Because she had left the window open.

How did the book thief get in?

Because she left the window open.

Because she left the damn window open.

Her heart thumped against her chest- very loudly but slowly. She felt every inch of it vibrate through her veins.

Liesel looked around around the library. Another entire shelf had lost his belongings because of her.

Ilsa's books.

"-books were valuable, and were the exclusive editions. Some of them were the first published copies," the mayor said.

Liesel heard the officer speak. "I know, sir. And I understand. But we do not have a lead on the case there is not much we can do just yet."

"No, what you mean is you don't think the books are valuable enough."

It was silent.

"Mayor Hermann," the officer announced. "My colleagues and I shall inform you if we obtain a plausible lead on this case."

The mayor sighed. "Well, what about the stolen watch?"

Stolen watch?

"We shall add that to our investigation, too. Good day, sir."

The mayor breathed in heavily. "To you, too."

Liesel listened for the heavy door to shut. She slowly creeped out of the library.

Mayor Hermann was standing in front of the door and aimlessly looking out the window. His face was slightly red, but his his eyes were sunken in to his face. Ilsa had disappeared from the scene.

"Your watch, too?" Liesel asked.

The mayor jumped when he heard Liesel speak. He turned and faced her. "I didn't see you coming," he said.

Liesel fidgeted with her fingers.

"Yes, my watch, too. But it's nothing to worry about. Everything is going to be fine."

Liesel nodded, and for a second she even considered telling him about what actually happened.

But instead she said, "Is there anything I could do to help?"

The mayor smiled- something he rarely did. "I'll let you know," he said softly. "Go enjoy your day, Liesel."

And with that said he turned around and walked into his study.

And feeling at most guilty, Liesel rushed out the door.

"So you didn't hear anything," Rudy asked.

Liesel shook her head. The air was slightly warm instead of chilly. The sky was cloudless.

"Nein," she said. "Nothing at all."

A small breeze blew the grass that they were laying on. Liesel could feel her hair tangling above the grass.

Rudy turned his head towards her. "So what's the polizei doing?"

Liesel sighed. "Not much. The books are not valuable enough."

Rudy scoffed. "Of course they aren't. To them they are just books."

Liesel couldn't help but agree. Of course they were just books to them.

"I just wish I hadn't left the window open," she said.

Rudy sat up on the field. He ran his hands through hair until the blades of grass had fallen out.

He looked a little tense- but Liesel did not ask.

"Liesel, we can only hope that the books are returned."

Liesel sat up and nudged closer to her. She wrapped her fingers in his.

"Is everything okay?"

Rudy took a deep breath in. "We need to talk, Liesel."

Liesel bit her lip. "About what?"

Rudy sighed. "School ends in a week. And we've been avoiding talking about this for so long."

Liesel smiled sadly. "What are we going to do this fall?"

Rudy's eyes floated to the ground. He nodded.

"Are you still going to Humboldt?"

Rudy looked up at her. The blue in his eyes was swarming with emotion. "I wish you would go with me."

Liesel let out a small laugh. "I could not get in even if Herr Hermann was the chancellor."

"I don't think I can even go this fall," Rudy said solely. "Not enough money." Rudy started to pluck the blades of the grass.

"I'm sorry, Rudy," she said. But Liesel couldn't help but feel a little happy that he wasn't going.

"Next fall," he told her. But in a way it sounded like he was just trying to convince himself.

"What about you?" Rudy asked.

Liesel looked over at him. "Me?" she asked.

Rudy nodded.

Liesel closed her eyes. "I don't know," she breathed. "I don't think school is right for me just yet. I found an advanced writing program in the heart of Munich," Liesel said. "And I'll be working with young kids. But I won't be leaving home."

Rudy frowned. "You won't"

Liesel shook her head. "No," she said. " It's a "leave in the morning- come back in the evening" program."

"Nice," Rudy said, though he did not look that impressed. "I guess I won't see you as much, then."

"Of course you will. What are you planning on doing until next year?"

Rudy's shoulder dropped. "Working," he said gloomily. "Saving up money so I can even think about going to Humboldt the next year."

Liesel patted Rudy on his hand. "That's great, Saukerl. Did you even apply for this fall?

Rudy's eyes sank back to the grass. "I did," he said weakly. "Just got my letter this morning."

Liesel's heart stopped. "And?"

He looked straight into her eyes- as if he was trying to say something else when he told her, "I got in."

Though joy filled Liesel, she couldn't be more happier that Rudy was staying close by her.

She kissed him on the cheek.

"I just have to inform then that I'll attend next year," he said, though he sounded a little bitter.

"That's great, Rudy," Liesel said- and she truly meant it. She squeezed his hand tighter. "And we'll get to see each other everyday."

"Everyday."

Liesel patted his head and stood up.

"Where are you going, Liesel?" Rudy asked.

"Come on, Saukerl," she said. "There's someone I've been dying for you to meet."

"I think you're hallucinating," Rudy said.

Liesel kicked the dirt on the ground. "Don't be ridiculous, Rudy. I'm not stupid."

"Actually you are-"

"Shh," she scolded Rudy.

Rudy rolled his eyes. "I can't believe we are waiting in front of a tree for for," he crinkled his nose, "Leo?"

"THEOO," she admonished him. "His name is Theo and he's a really good friend of mine."

"What?" Rudy said. "He's a really good friend of yours?"

Liesel nodded.

The sneer on Rudy's face dissolved in the lines of his eyes. "Oh I see," he said.

"See what?"

"You're trying to make me jealous, huh aren't you. Well listen-"

"Shh- quiet Rudy he's coming!"

Liesel stood on the tip of her toes and waved. A figure started to approach them with a bag in his hand.

And when Theo got closer, Liesel thought he would be quite happy to see Liesel- but instead he had a frown on his face.

Dressed in a plaid shirt and dark pants he asked who the blondie standing behind Liesel was.

"Oh, right!" Liesel exclaimed. "You haven't meet Rudy."

She tugged on Rudy's shirt so he would get closer. "Rudy, this is Theo Dietrich. And Theo, this is Rudy Steiner."

Were they going to shake hands?

Of course not.

Rudy grinned, obviously a fake one. "Hey, man," he said.

Theo's eyes were glued to the ground. "Hi," he said.

And after a moment of awkward silence, Liesel decided to break it.

"Theo goes to same school as us, Rudy."

Rudy nodded, but he didn't look impressed. I've seen you before," he said. "Aren't you the one who made Sister Alice quit her job?"

Theo looked up- his eyes glittered. "I did," he said. "A lot of work was put into that, though."

Rudy grinned. "I cannot thank you enough.'

They laughed.

"So what's in the bag, Theo?"

"Oh this, yes!" he said as if he just remembered he was holding it. "You remember how I was selling my stuff to get to Berlin, right?"

Liesel nodded. Rudy looked uncomfortable.

"I've got most of my money- I just need to get more for my train ticket."

"Okay," she said. "So what's in the bag?"

Theo walked towards the tree and leaned against it. "The stuff that didn't sell at all."

For a fraction of a moment, Liesel's vision turned blurry, then refocused back to the scene.

Sweat lathered onto both of her hands. "What?" she exclaimed.

Her feet were 20 steps ahead of her mind- and suddenly she was standing inside the library.

Coldness blanketed around her and the blood in her slowly halted from a consistent flow.

But it was probably the last couple days they would see each other before he left to Berlin.

She looked at Rudy. "Do want to come too, Rudy?"

Rudy looked at her as if she was insane. You psychopath, he mouthed to her.

"You know what," he said out loud. "I have a ton of work to do at home. But you guys go ahead. I'll catch you later." He kissed Liesel on the cheek and walked back into Green Strasse, looking so relieved he found a way out of it.

"He seems cool," said Theo.

Liesel nodded. "A little." She smiled at him. "Let's go."

They walked into the city.

"Another robbery?" Theo asked. "That's crazy."

A wave of dread wrapped over Liesel. "But it's all my fault," she said. "I was stupid enough to leave the window open."

Theo sighed. "That was a free ticket for the theif, Liesel."

Liesel shook her head. "I know. I know."

"Anything special taken?"

They were walking through the heart of Molching. The city was buzzing with life.

"Books, and the mayor's watch."

Theo shook his head. "And what did the polizei say? Are they sending guards in front of your house?"

Liesel chuckled. "Guards?"

Theo nodded. "Considering the importance of the mayor, why not?"

Liesel rubbed her hands together. Having police in front of the house would not bring the books back. "Apparently they have other issues to worry about than stolen books."

"But your foster father is the mayor."

"Well, not to them I suppose," Liesel said. "Are we here yet?"

Theo nodded. "Yes." He took a deep breath in. They turned into the next street. "I hope your prepared."

Though Liesel could admit she was a bit nervous, she smiled. "I'm sure your mother is not that bad."

Theo halted infront of a large house with bright yellow roof. Trees and bushes covered the entrance. "Then why do you think I live in a tree."

Theo slowly turned the knob of the front door. The squeak of the door could have woken up the entire neighborhood during a dead silent night.

And as soon as they stepped in, a medium sized glass object came hurdling at them and hit the wall adjacent to them.

Liesel's heart stopped.

She looked down at the shards of the broken glass- an empty beer bottle.

A low voice grumbled.

"Oh it's just you," it said, relieved. And when Liesel looked up, she saw a small man with an unshaven grey beard sitting on a chair next to the dining table. His eyes could barry open. His head was bald and his teeth were yellow.

He was obviously drunk.

"Theodore," he said. "I thought you were an intruder. He stood up and walked towards the kichen adjacent to the dining room. "Don't you know to knock?"

Liesel looked over at Theo, his face was as stiff as a rock.

"Is that your step-dad?" Liesel whispered.

Theo nodded.

"Elize!" the man shouted. His voice was cracked and uneven. "The boy's here!"

Theo spoke for the first time since they got there. His voice was contained. "There's no need to call her," he said. " I just needed to pick up some stuff from my room."

Liesel and Theo walked straight out of the living. The house was big-not as big as the Hermann's of course, but was certainly messy. No wonder Theo had left.

They stepped carefully around the mess of the living room. Clothes lay all around the floor. There was unopened mail and empty beer bottles scattered all over the wood.

They quietly made their way into a narrow walk way at the end of the house. Theo's room was at the end of the corridor.

He pushed opened the door, and Liesel saw that his room was medium sized with a small bed that had not been touched, and a table stacked with books.

And it was like he had never been there.

Liesel glanced at his table. She saw the books the school gave them stacked in a neat pile on the top.

"What do you do for school work?" Liesel asked Theo.

"I go over to a friends house to do it."

And in a small corner in the side there were toys, dolls, action figures, and everything a child could want. Theo started rummaging through the pile and picking out what he wanted and throwing them in the bag.

"How much money have you already made?" Liesel inquired.

Theo shrugged and stopped throwing stuff into the white bag. He looked underneath his bed. "Im not sure," he said. "About a couple hundred."

Liesel frowned. "Just from selling the toys?"

Theo chuckled. "You'd be surprised. And if it's just between you and me, I've also been selling some of that idiot's alcohol."

"To who?" Liesel asked.

"Well who do you think?" Theo said, as it was obvious. "Minors."

Liesel sighed and shook her head. "Don't you think you're crossing the line?"

Theo stood up and looked straight at her. His eyes were begging. "Liesel," he whispered. "I need the money." He pointed towards the living room. "Did you see that man that my mother married? If I stay here, that's what I would have to deal with," he said. "And I can't live in a tree forever." His cheeks started getting red. "And the bottle chucked at us, that wasn't anything. You should see the stuff he does," he shook his head. " And if you did, you even would have gone without the money."

He came closer and wrapped his hand around Liesel's fingers, "Please," he said quietly. "Please, understand."

Tears burned in Liesel's eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She squeezed Theo's hand and let them go. She knew she had to help him get out of here.

No matter the costs.

Theo looked around. "I think that's it's," he breathed. "Come on, let's get out before something else comes chucking at us."

And as soon as they were going to leave, a lady's voice was heard.

And she sounded disgusted.

"Theodore," Theo's mother said. "Who is this?"

Theo turned around. His eyes narrowed into the lady's face. "A friend," he said sharply. We were just about to leave."

He grabbed Liesel's arm and dragged her through the doorway.

"Wait," she called out.

Theo stopped. "What?"

Liesel turned around to see a woman who was an exact replica of Theo. Tall and slender, she wore her brown curly hair in a ponytail and dark eyeliner around her green eyes. Her face was rounded and her ears curled around the sides of her face. And to see such a beautiful visage, how could Liesel think she was such a devil that Theo described her to be.

"Where are you staying?" she inquired.

A look of horror blanketed Theo's face. "Why do you care?"

The lady's tone turned cutting. "Just incase the government came by to ask me where you were I need to know-"

"The government is not going to, okay?" Theo shot back. "Come on, Liesel," he said. They walked the rest of the way through the house and dashed out the front door. As soon as they were far enough from the sight of the house, Theo took a deep breath in.

"I'm sorry you had to see any of that," he said. " Usually when go there I don't see either of them."

Liesel patted his arm. "No, it's okay," she said. "I'm glad I came with you."

They walked in silence.

"Hey, Theo," Liesel said after a couple minutes.

"Yes."

"Your mom doesn't seem so bad."

"Your kidding, right?" he said.

"She looked like she genuinely cared about where you were-"

"Right," he said with bitterness in his voice. "And that makes up for the times she would throw stuff at me, kick me out, and yell at me drunk?"

A cold breeze blew across their necks.

"I didn't know how bad you had it."

Theo shook his head. His voice was much more calmer. "It's okay," he said. "You don't need to know how bad I have it," he turned and looked at her. "But I hope you know how good you do."

Liesel bit her lip. Theo was right. She did have it pretty good.

"Thanks for coming, though," Theo said. "But I need to return the favor."

"No you don't," said Liesel. "I like hanging out with you."

"That's great, but I am going to return the favor. You said you needed someone to watch your house for the their, right?"

Liesel frowned. "Well-"

Theo threw his hands in the air. "I'll do it!" he exclaimed. "I'll be a look out for you."

"I hope your kidding because I'm not letting you," Liesel said. "But, I appreciate the offer."

"Well guess what, Liesel," Theo shot back at her. He was surprisingly in a good mood again. "I'm still doing it," he said. "You haven't heard of the amazing things I can do."

Liesel chucked. "Oh yeah," she said. "Like what?"

"Have I ever told you the story about how I made Sister Maria quit her job?"

Liesel crossed her arms. "No," she said. "But I have a feeling you're going to tell me."

"That's right!" Theo exclaimed. "Okay, where do I start-"

And giddily they walked back home from a day filled with laughter, surprises, anger, hurt, but happiness.

A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reading. PLEASE REVIEW… THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE CHAPTER LEFT!

-Emma