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Ivy was horribly confused. She didn't know what to do anymore.
Joshua, the guy she had been dating —her boyfriend, she reminded to herself— was sweet and caring, everything she thought she wanted. But when she turned of the lights at night, it wasn’t him she thought about.
It was Carmen.
Carmen, the most wanted thief in the world. Carmen, who had stolen her heart without even trying.
They’d clashed plenty of times during her games, but lately, it was different. Ivy couldn’t help but feel—know— there was something more between them.
Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. It was Joshua.
"Ivy," Joshua’s voice was warm and comforting. "You’ve been so distant lately. Is something wrong?" when his girlfriend didn't answered, he asked "Are you okay?"
Ivy squeezed her eyes for a second, her mind going back to the last time she saw Carmen. Their 'meeting' had been more than just a chase. There was something there that wasn’t supposed to be.
"Yeah, Joshua," she replied, her voice quieter than she meant it to be. "I’m fine. Just... work stuff, you know?"
He didn't believe it. He could tell something was up, he always could.
“Well, if you ever wanna talk, I’m here," he said with a soft voice.
"Thanks," she replied with the same tone. The call ended soon, leaving her with a strange feeling she couldn’t shake off.
Inevitably, her mind returned to Carmen. She made her feel like she was the only one who truly understood her. Was that even real?
Carmen wasn't looking for her, she thought, but she couldn't stop the chase.
.......
The next day, she found Carmen on a rooftop, where their meetings often ended in a standoff. But this time, it was different.
Carmen didn’t turn around when Ivy walked up, but she had noticed her.
"Why do you always run away from me?" Ivy asked, her frustration was palpable in her words.
Carmen finally turned to face her. "I don’t run from anything," she replied. "I just don’t play by anyone’s rules. Least of all yours."
"You could..." Ivy whispered, taking a step closer. "You could stop running."
For just a second, Carmen’s expression faltered before she returned to her usual, calm indifference. "I won't be your midnight love," she said. Her voice cracked at the end, letting know everything her face didn't.
Ivy felt the weight of those words into her. She always blamed Carmen for that game, but it was obvious that the thief also had her own feelings.
"Why not?" Ivy whispered. "Why can’t you... be mine?"
"Because I’m not your second choice," Carmen said, her voice cold now. "I’m not your consolation prize. I will never be."
Those words felt like a slap for Ivy. Her heart shattered like it was glass.
"Go back to Joshua," Carmen added, her voice softer than before. "He’s the one who can be there for you when you need someone."
But Ivy didn’t walk away. She looked straight at Carmen eyes and took a deep breath, then took a step closer to her.
"I won't" she whispered fiercely, the words barely escaping before her lips pressed against Carmen’s in a kiss that was also a promise.
Carmen froze for a moment before Ivy felt the slow shift; the way Carmen’s lips softened against hers, because she wanted that, too.
"I fucking love you, you know that?"