C8

Castel stood at the bottom of the steps at the entrance of the school five minutes before the bell went off, he was going to make sure he didn’t miss her. He hoped she wouldn’t run away when she saw him, he definitely knew why she was avoiding him but he didn’t even care about the Rolex or his phone he just wanted to talk to her. Castel couldn’t get her out of his mind no matter how much he tried, she had the most beautiful eyes he had seen, and her smile could make a man forget his name. No wonder she stole from him without his notice. He had been so distracted by her, and of course she didn’t look like a thief.

The sound of the bell brought him out of his thoughts, the doors opened and students filed out in groups. His eyes skimmed the crowd of students, looking for dark curly hair and a crochet top. He waited a few minutes before he spotted her walking out the doors. He exhaled sharply when he felt the pull again, it happened anytime he saw her. He couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. That kind of beauty should be illegal. He thought.

He waited till she got to the bottom step before he approached her.

“Hey beautiful” He called out once he was close enough for her to hear him. She didn’t turn around, she just kept walking. He was very sure she heard him but she probably didn’t know he was talking to her. So he quickened his steps till he was right beside her.

“Hi” he said once he was beside her, hoping she wouldn’t ignore him again.

“Why are you following me?” She asked, still walking. He had completely forgotten about the mouth-watering accent. There were so many fascinating things about her.

“I told you I wanted to talk to you Emerald. Why do you keep running away from me?” He tried to sound calm even if he was feeling a little frustrated. He wasn’t used to struggling with girls, they came to him easily.

“I’m not running boy, I just don’t think I have to talk to you.” Boy? Did she just call him boy? He didn’t know whether to be amused or angry.

“Can you just wait and hear me out?” He asked holding her hand. She stiffened for a second before she turned to look up at him. Those green eyes. She looked down at his hand and looked back up to meet his eyes again.

“I don’t like when people touch me boy.”

“And I don’t like it when people call me boy or steal from me.” He watched the fear creep into her eyes for a split second before her usual challenging look returned.

"Listen pretty boy" she squinted probably trying to look intimidating "If you touch me ever again, I'll cut off your lean manicured fingers." Awww, how cute. He thought. She pulled her hand from his hold.

"You're feisty." He said completely amused by her "I like that"

“What does that even mean?” She groaned in frustration. “I have to go now.”

“Okay, I’ll let you be today, just give me back my watch, you can keep the phone and cash” he actually needed the watch back, he wanted to do one thing right with his family for once, “It’s a family heirloom.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have your watch.” She shrugged looking away from him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go before the bus leaves.”

“Are you serious right now? I could turn you in to the cops for stealing from me” he saw the panic rise in her eyes and her shoulders stiffen but then she visibly relaxed again almost immediately. He couldn’t help but notice she had such good control of her emotions.

“But you won’t, now will you Castel?” Boy! He loved how his name rolled off her tongue. He wouldn’t mind her calling his name in full. His silence was all the answer she needed. “I didn’t think so” she started walking off.

“Just tell me where it is?” he called after her watching the sway of her hips as she walked.

She turned around and gave him the finger.

***

She was daring. He would give her that, but that wouldn't stop him from getting her. Castel couldn’t remember ever wanting something this bad, he had watched her get into the bus from his car and trailed behind, up until now. Stalker. His subconscious mocked him.

He gripped the stirring wheel tighter. "What the hell is wrong with me?" he asked aloud. He didn’t understand what had come over him because he was literally following her bus on an entirely different route from his.

The bus stopped at the next stop and he slowed down behind it. The doors opened and Emerald got off the bus and walked into the next street. He drove into the street when the light turned green. He drove slowly scanning both sides of the street searching for her but he couldn’t spot her. Damn it!

He pulled up in the parking lot of the mini mart on the street and got out of his car. He wanted to grab some food and just head back home since he had no reason for being here anyways. Although he could’ve easily gone to his favorite restaurant on his way home but he was already here. He was about walking into the café downstairs when something caught his eye, it was a big antique shop on the first floor that also sold jewelry. He instinctively decided to go check it out. He was a sucker for good antiques and jewelry maybe he would see something he liked.

He walked into the shop and started looking around, the interior was really nice and he liked how it wasn’t congested like a lot of antique stores he had seen. He walked through the aisles that had wristwatches in the show glass. Then he noticed an elderly man standing at the end of the aisle picking up a Rolex wrist watch, he made his way over there and he noticed a swift movement behind the man but he didn't pay much attention to it though.

"Excuse me sir?" Castel called out when he was finally beside him.

"Yes son?" the man answered turning to look at him

"Can I see that for a second?" Castel asked referring to the watch. It looked a little too familiar to him.

"It's a solid gold Rolex" the man replied handing him the watch.

"You interested in it?" Castel asked the man.

"Not at all, was just appreciating originality. Are you?" the man asked

"Yeah" the surprised look on the man's face made him laugh. "Yeah, I can afford it" he said answering the man's unspoken question.

"Okay son" The man laughed and walked to another aisle.

Castel examined the watch for a while, it was definitely his. He made his way to the cashier to pay for the watch

"How much is this?"

"One grand"

"Hmm... pack it" he said placing it on the counter. Luckily for him 'Lucy-ana'hadn't stolen his cards.

He placed his credit card on the counter glad he wasn’t getting it for the actual price.

"Anything else?" The girl asked smiling charmingly after checking him out. She was pretty.

"Sorry... Uh..."he read her name tag "Vera can I ask something?" He put up his million dollar killer smile.

“If it’s about the watch, it’s cheap cause there’s no receipt for it and it is second hand" She said.

"I guessed as much, but that’s not what I was gonna ask." He was a hundred percent sure the watch was his, he just wanted to find out if Emerald had brought it here herself.

"Oh, what then?" She asked with an expectant smile.

"Tell me about the seller" He asked hoping his charm would work. He knew that kind of information was strictly confidential, but she was the cashier so maybe she had seen something or heard something.

“I’m sorry but I do not have that information.” He expected that response.

“Come on Vera, you must have heard or seen something. I’m just trying to make sure I didn’t just pay for a stolen watch.” He flashed his signature smile and watched as it worked his magic. She turned red instantly ducking her head. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Uh...a girl brought it here. She said it was her dad's and her and her mum were trying to pay up a debt they were owing trying to pay for his cancer treatment" she tucked a lock of her strawberry blond hair behind her ear. "I felt so bad for her you know"

"Latina?" He asked.

"Yeah.” She answered

"Did she have dark hair or green eyes?" He asked further pushing his luck.

"No, auburn hair and brown eyes.” She said smiling.

"Thank you so much Vera" He returned her smile.

"You're very welcome" she smiled enchantingly revealing a set of perfect white teeth.

Her eyes were a deep blue, almost as blue as his. Her lips were pouty and painted a dark red contrasting with the white of her teeth.

Ordinarily,he would go for her but right now he wanted a certain green eyed Latina.

An image of her beautiful face flashed in his eyes and he remembered the wide spread of her hips and her tiny waist. He liked the way her eyes lit up when she smiled and the softness of her skin.

"Do you want anything else?" Vera winked obviously giving him a hint that she was interested.

"Forgive me I was just lost in my thoughts, wondering how a person can be this beautiful" He faked a smile.

He watched the blush creep into her cheeks again. This one would be too easy, he thought. Right now, he was very much interested in a challenge.

"My wallet! It's gone!" Someone yelled, he turned to see it was the same man that had given him the watch.

"I can’t find mine either" Another voice yelled.

"Vera call security" another voice commanded.

And he saw someone slip out and he followed just as quickly. He had a feeling he knew who the culprit was and he had a stronger feeling that she was going to get caught.

He walked to the corner of the store searching for her and he spotted her racing down the stairs. Then he saw the Mart security approach her for questioning. He knew she would be busted if they decided to search her. He walked as fast as he could in their direction, trying not to look suspicious.

"There you are sweetheart" Castel said immediately he was close enough. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”