Love Bird. by Emily. Z. (story read aloud TXT) 📕

We were always frantic when Mom started crying. It was always bad when mom started crying.

And suddenly, she was bright again. Pulling her face from her hands, she smiled as if she'd never been crying at all. "Well, that's settled then," She said, wiping her cheeks.

Confused, Logan and I looked at each other, before we were distracted by Jean's boisterous laugh. "They fell for it, Ma!"

I began to fit it together. And I groaned. "This was your plan from the beginning, huh?" I uttered, a smile beginning to pull at my lips.

"Hook, line, and sinker!" Mom patted both of our heads, kissing us on the forehead before pushing back on her chair and standing.

"Now, how about some cake?" She offered.

Logan and I stared at each other, dumbfounded, before a smile twitched at Logan's lips, and we burst out laughing.

That was good. It had been a long time since I'd seen Logan laugh.

We stood, and soon our laughter died. Logan sighed as he rubbed his neck. "Sorry, man. I've been a dick," He muttered.

"A dick you have been," I agreed, earning a glare from him, but I just laughed. "But I, my friend, have also been quite the dick. So let's just accept that we can be dick-wads to each other sometimes and go back to being brothers," I said dryly, holding out my hand. "Deal?"

He hesitated, before grinning and letting go of his neck, reaching down and grabbing my hand in a hearty, rough, but warm shake. "Deal."

Jean suddenly grabbed the backs of our heads, and grinned. "Now kiss."

Breaking away from her grip, Logan and I gagged in disgust.

***

The drive back to my house was filled with the sound of Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way. I remembered once, when Jane recommended this song to me. I'd been in love with it since. It seemed so fitting now.

I stopped at a light, tapping my fingers to the beat, and a small figure in a large hood began making their way across the street. I would have thought nothing of it, if they hadn't laid an envelope on my hood as they passed. 

"Jane?" I fumbled with my seat belt, unbuckling it as I watched her break into a slow jog, glancing back at me. I saw her gleaming, mischievous eyes in my headlights, and her bright smile. She was teasing me. Her eyes clearly told me, Catch me if you can.

"Oh I will, Baby," I uttered, throwing my door open as she disappeared around the corner.

I broke into a run, turning the corner to find her gone. I saw back lights of a car turn the corner down the street, and cursed. She had a getaway car, of course.

I made my way back to the car, glad that the street was empty at this time of night. I grabbed the envelope as I passed. As soon as my door shut, I flipped on the light, and tore it open.

Dear Victor,

I just remembered that you'll need to order a suit for the end of this puzzle. 

Don't worry, I've got a friend whom I called for a favor. Just give him your name and he'll treat you like a king. 

PS: Don't try to tell me you already have a suit. I know that all you have is three fancy ties, a couple of dress shirts and a dark blazer that I assume you've had since you became cheif. Not to mention one pair of black slacks.

Here's the number. 

Love, Jane.

On the bottom she scrawled a number, and drew hearts all around it.

I stared at the letter in confusion. How did she know about my wardrobe? What's more, why did she need me to buy a suit?

Shrugging, I set down the letter and drove the rest of the way home. When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed that my porch light was on, and golden light streamed out from my bedroom window.

Shutting my car down, I reached over and opened the glove compartment, grabbing my gun.

I got out of the car, tucking my gun into the waistband of my jeans and making my way to the door. I tried the handle. It was unlocked.

I cautiously entered, taking stock of my surroundings. 

My house was relatively big. The living room was narrow but long, and a wall seperated it from my spacious kitchen. To my left was a hallway that split both ways. in the opening, straight ahead, was the bathroom. Straight through the left hallway led into my room, and a guest bedroom was what the right led to.

The living room and the kitchen were dark and empty, and the guest bedroom and the bathroom weren't touched. However, when the door swung open in my bedroom, my camera set up on my old tripod was a dead giveaway that someone had been here.

My brow crinkling, I quickly swept the room, checking the closet, where clothes had been moved around and some were on the floor.

I turned back to my camera, and suddenly Jane's letter hit me.

Don't try to tell me you already have a suit. 

So that was it. I thought with a smile. "She broke into my house." I muttered in disbelief.

To think, if I had been here...if I had just stayed home...she probably wouldn't have come, but just letting myself think she would have made my heart ache something fierce. 

"Geez," I muttered, twisting the camera off of it's tripod. "I'm pathetic."

I sat down on the bed, rubbing the back of my neck with one hand while I turned on the camera. I was greeted with the start up music, and the darkness of the screen as the lens rested on my leg. I pressed the review button, and my eyes took in a clear picture of Jane's face, as she grinned at the camera, wearing one of my "Fancy ties" around her neck. She stood just where I did not a minute ago, her hair pulled back with a silly sweatband, as it tumbled over her shoulders. I scrolled forward, eager to see more, and found another picture of her wearing my blazer, a mock stern look on her face as she pointed at the camera, as if scolding the viewer.

My heart pounded as I longed for her to be standing here yet again. I had the urge to go get my blazer to see if it still smelled like her.

I scrolled forward again, and noticed she'd taken a video. Eager, I quickly pressed the play button, and her face appeared, blurry until the camera focused on the close frame. 

She was grinning my favorite mischievous grin as she backed away to a full standing position. "Hello viewers, AKA Victor." She fluttered her fingers in a cute little wave. "For today's show, we're going to have a walk through Victor's closet!"

I watched as she threw open the door behind her, flipping on the light. "Wish me luck!" She blew a kiss, and then disappeared into the closet. A minute later, she came out sporting my black slacks, and a black tie. The slacks were rolled up at the hips, and hardly stayed on her, but I found myself laughing at how adorable she looked.

"The first look is straight from 'Victor's Fashion Boutique,'" She murmured in a smooth voice. "And it's one of my favorites."

After spinning around to show off the look, she went back into the closet, and closed the door. My smile wouldn't leave as I waited for her next look.

She came out in my dress shirt, with nothing else on. It was huge on her, covering everything up, but it still caused heat to bloom in places I didn't need.

"This is something I'm quite fond of," I was too. "It's called the 'Night Line.' And it's something I would love sleeping in." She murmured, spinning around. 

She gave a cheeky smile to the camera, and I knew from the look on her face that she knew how frustrated this video would make me. But still, my smile stayed in place.

She walked back into the closet. It took a minute, but she came back out in my blazer, a dress shirt, and her regular jeans. "This last look is the 'Casual Dressy' style. Victor wears this one the most. It's especially adorable when he tries to keep his hair smooth to keep up with this look, but I make him angry or frustrated, and he always ends up messing it up," She laughed, losing the professional voice as her eyes softened.

I could feel my own face soften as well. I missed her like no other. 

She turned back around and dissapeared into the closet. She left it open this time though. When she came out, she had a shirt clutched in her hands. "I'll be taking this with me. Thank you. I love you, Vic. Goodnight!"

She blew one last kiss to the camera, and she approached it, and smiled at the lens - at me - before the video cut off.

I spent the rest of the night with my lights off, trying to fall asleep as I stared at her smiling face. I fought the urge to grab what she'd worn and try to find her scent. It was useless. She'd only briefly worn them.

I wished that she had left something of her own in exchange for my shirt. But I pushed the thought away. I needed to grow some balls. I'd see her soon enough.

But, strangely, 'Soon enough' is not nearly soon enough. A voice in my head muttered, and I couldn't help my nod of agreement.

It was killing me knowing she was somewhere in this city, but unable to figure out where.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I'd find the next clue, and be that much closer to finding her.

Jane:

I woke up with a groan, feeling heat on my face. I opened my eyes to see that I'd made the mistake of forgetting to close the blinds last night. The sun proudly shone in, causing my eyes to water and squint. I pulled Victor's shirt over my face, using the advantage as a double-win as I inhaled his scent.

"Ah, just the way I remember it." I whispered, feeling a little creepy, but I was having Victor withdrawals. 

I smiled under my make-shift blind as I remembered his face. I don't think he realized it, but there was a sort of smile on his face that accepted my challenge with open arms. He liked this game we were playing as much as I did.

Finally, I pulled the shirt from my face, lifting my hand to shield my eyes from the sun as I looked at the clock. It was seven forty five - which explained why the sun seemed to be about to come through my window - Plenty of time to get to the Tux place to help Daniel plan out Victor's Tuxedo before he called.

If I knew Victor - and I knew him well - he would go looking for the next clue first.

Smiling, I rolled out of my hotel bed, walking over and pulling the curtains over the window, shrouding the room in comfortable, grey darkness.

"Fucking sun almost ruined my morning," I grumbled.

Now, don't get me wrong. I liked the sun. It was very nice when you were trying