JillxSkye: To Catch A Thief 17

Chapter 17 – What if I Told You

I peered around the land, scanning the trees around the Turtle Pond. My steps were slow and quiet. "Skye?" I whispered, feeling ridiculous as I crept around looking for him. "Skye!" I said, slightly louder.

Suddenly an arm wrapped around my waist. I gasped and was about to scream when a hand covered my mouth. I was pulled backwards, and I struggled in vain against the strong grip. "You, my lovely Jill, would make a terrible thief," Skye murmured in my ear softly. The thrumming in my chest picked up at the sound of his voice. He kept his lips at the tip of my ear. I shivered with pleasure as the hand at my mouth slipped down to my waist. He hugged me against him tightly.

"Skye," I forced out. I reluctantly pulled out of his arms, turning to face him. The disappointment was clearly etched on his face, but it was quickly replaced with his usual dazzling smile. "What happened tonight?"

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself over," Skye waved me off.

"Yes! It is something I need to concern myself over!" I said, stamping my foot.

He chuckled. "Oh? You have concern for me, is that what I hear?" Skye asked, a smug grin creeping onto his face.

Blush burned in my cheeks, and I was thankful for the near darkness of night. "N-no! I just want to know what you did! If it was really awful, then I'll... I'll-!"

"You'll what?" Skye asked, leaning closer to me. My brain lost function almost instantly, with his face so close to mine. I felt myself leaning towards him for a moment before I snapped out of it.

Pushing him back, I crossed my arms. "I'll turn you in to the mob."

Skye narrowed his eyes. "Liar," he said, calling my bluff, "You're far too interested in me to see this beautiful face behind bars. Aren't you?"

I swore inside, but I couldn't give in so easily. "Try me."

He sighed, shaking his head. "You received my note, didn't you? I was just going to teach Rock a lesson, but it didn't go quite as planned, that's all. Those friends of yours were quite determined to catch me. But I'm always one step ahead, don't you worry." He winked.

I scoffed. "I wasn't worried." I bit my lip. I barely even convinced myself that was the truth.

Skye stepped closer to me again. "I don't believe you," he said quietly. "Because I told you to stay away, and you came. However, you were not with that mob that was after me. You hid me from them. I'm not entirely sure why though. You had the perfect opportunity to catch me, but you let me get away. Why, Jill?"

His eyes were locked with mine while he said this. His hands reached out and gripped my arms gently. My lip trembled as he leaned closer to me. His face was mere inches from mine when I finally said, "It's nothing you need to concern yourself over." He stared at me before he let out a small laugh. He pulled away from me and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.

The sounds of the mob from earlier reached my ears. My eyes widened with fear for Skye. The voices were coming from the west side of the area. I searched my mind for a plan, but before I could even think, Skye had my hand in his and was pulling me to the rocky area on the eastern side.

He stopped and pulled me to the ground quickly, but not roughly. He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me into a small crevice behind some large rocks. The voices grew louder until they were right next to us. Skye put a finger to my lips. I was sure one of them would notice us, but the darkness kept us hidden. They all sounded tired of looking around, and Ruby suggested they just call it a night and head home. The others agreed, reluctantly, and left after some time. The few minutes they had been here were more stressful than hours of farm work.

When I was sure they were gone, I sighed with relief. It was then that I completely took in my position. Skye was on the ground below me, his silver hair swept off of his face. He was gazing in the direction the others had left in. His arms were holding me in place. I was resting almost entirely on top of him. I squeaked a little in surprise, and attempted to get up.

"Hm?" Skye murmured, looking back at me. "Oh yes, hello there, Jill." He hesitated before he let go of me. I stood up quickly, brushing off my clothes.

"I don't see why we couldn't have just kept running," I muttered.

"Because, Jill," Skye cooed, suddenly behind me. His hands found my shoulders and he circled his thumbs lightly as he continued, "We've already covered this. You'd make a terrible thief. You can run, yes, but you cannot run quietly. That is a skill reserved to only the finest thieves, like myself."

I rolled my eyes and pulled away from him. I started to walk home. "Fine, whatever. I'm going home. Goodnight!" I called over my shoulder, waving. My face was still burning from embarrassment. I couldn't believe I was just laying on him! And he acted like it was perfectly normal!

He caught my hand and forced me to look at him. "Is something wrong, Jill?" His eyes suddenly looked sincere again. He was looking at me with genuine concern.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine," I said, "It's not your fault, I just, I can't..." My voice trailed off as I tried to figure out how to finish the sentence.

"Can't what?" Skye's hand reached up to stroke my cheek, but I ducked out of reach.

"Nothing, um," I said, "I… I can't stay here. It's been a long night. I just want to get home. So, if you'd just…" I tried to pull my hand free from his, but Skye only tightened his grip.

"Far too dangerous for a beauty like yourself to walk home alone, you know," he said, a slight smile dancing on his lips.

"So I've heard. Wouldn't want a thief to steal me away," I teased. He chuckled.

We walked back to my home in silence. Skye kept his hand entwined with mine, squeezing it occasionally and glancing at me to see how I'd react. Outside I was a textbook example of stoicism, but inside I was a whirlpool of emotions.

I couldn't deny that I felt something for him. I did, and that's what I was afraid of. Falling for this guy, I thought, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, what will it do to me? I've already let him escape time and time again because of these feelings I have for him.

But I'm nothing to him. I'm just a girl he knows, and that's all. He's a charmer. It's all an act. Every motion and word and look that he gives a girl, everything is fake. And I'm no exception. It's part of that competition. He plans to steal my heart, but I won't let him. I refuse to let that ever happen.

The problem is that he may already have. Because there's this part of me that hopes that what he does isn't all an act. That night on the beach when he talked about his passion, the time that jealousy burned in his eyes when he saw me with Marlin, and yesterday in the forest; he always does something incredible that makes me fall for him more.

We had reached my farm. Skye had let go of my hand and pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for tonight, Jill. You've never looked lovelier." I felt a surge of euphoria flow through me when he said that, immediately followed by a tightening in my stomach. This conflict, it keeps getting worse. He keeps making me fall for him.

I've been trying to fool myself all this time that I haven't. I can't deny it, but I can't accept it. I stole a quick glance out of the corner of my eye. I'm stupid enough to have fallen for this guy and to have thought that I could catch him. He's an expert at this. He can make his entire act feel real for a girl like me and get her to fall hopelessly in love with him. That's what he did. And yet, I still can't hate him, because there will always be that part of me that believes it is real. I want it to be real, so badly, but I know it's not. So why can't I just move on?

"Why?!" I suddenly yelled. I blushed when Skye turned to look at me questioningly.

"Why what, Jill?" he asked. I looked at the door and desperately wished that I could just disappear inside my house and never have to see Skye again. Because every time I saw him, it would only get worse.

"I…" I began.

"What?" Skye said, looking at me, eyes searching my face. I couldn't think straight with his eyes on me like that.

"Why can't I catch you? I have had endless opportunities, but I just… don't. Why?" I said angrily, more to myself than him. "Why do I feel like this around you? I know you're a womanizer, and I know how to deal with them. So why, WHY can't I deal with you? Why can't I see past your façade? Why do I keeping falling more and more in-" I stopped with a gasp when I realized what I was saying. And I was saying in straight to the man that I was so confused about. He would only use this to his advantage, now that he knew my feelings.

My lip trembled and I felt like I might cry. No, I wouldn't. Not because of him. "And why won't you leave me alone?!" I screamed before pulling away from him. I ran to my door and was about to open it when Skye spun me around and pushed me against the door. He held my shoulders and looked at me almost angrily.

"What are you saying, Jill?" he said softly, "Do you really feel that way? You think this… is all an act?"

My voice shook when I said, "I know it is." But I wished it wasn't.

"Jill, I don't know how you can think that," Skye murmured, almost to himself.

"Skye, I think you should leave. But not just for tonight," I choked out, "I need you to leave me alone for good. I won't fall for you, but I won't catch you either. Just go, please." My voice was monotonous, steady, but inside I was falling apart.

Skye didn't seem much better. He dropped his head a little, eyes narrowed in pain. He shook a little, hands tightening around my shoulders. "Jill…" his voice lacked its normal charm and ease. "What if I told you… that I was falling for you?" He looked up at me, emerald eyes trying to convince my eyes to soften. I had to look away and shake my head to keep strong. I felt him lean closer, and I shrunk back. "Jill…"

"Just go!" I screamed. His hands gripped my shoulders and I felt his lips press roughly on my forehead. Then his touch was gone. When I opened my eyes, he was gone, too.