Steal My Heart

Steal My Heart (13)

I was starting to love spending time alone with Casey. We were never alone during the day, since everyone was out and about and it would have been difficult to be alone. For the most part, I was always handcuffed to Casey, only being handcuffed to Isis when Casey was busy, like when him and some of the other members were out robbing a bank.

For some reason, ever since Casey and Isis had seen me helping Jeremy with his math homework, I hadn't been handcuffed to him. I didn't know why, but I wasn't going to question it, since it didn't really matter in the long run.

Nighttime was my favorite. That was when Casey and I were able to be alone, because the other Bandits were either asleep or doing their own thing. We'd sit outside on the porch in the backyard, just the two of us together. It seemed to have been something Casey had always done to relax, even before I came along, but now that he was letting me join him, I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach.

It was always so simple. We just sat side by side, looking out into the dark backyard as if it was some sort of exhibit. Usually we spoke to each other, but sometimes we just sat in comfortable silence. It was the first time I could ever sit in silence with someone and not feel awkward about it.

"You know what I'm in the mood for?" Casey suddenly asked after a few moments of silence together, and I knew it was a rhetorical question so I didn't answer. "I'm in the mood for some tea. Do you want any?"

I couldn't help but smile at him. "That sounds great."

I thought nothing of it as he reached over to unlock the handcuff from his wrist. He then got up, making his way back toward the house, and I sat there, waiting patiently for his return.

These nights out here with him had become what I looked forward to most in the day. Spending time with him gave me feelings I'd never felt before, especially when the two of us were alone together.

That's when I realized it. I looked down at my wrists to see that they were completely free, no handcuffs to bind me to another person or object. I was completely untethered, completely free.

I could've run. I could've escaped. There was no one outside with me, no one to stop me from going anywhere. But I didn't move. Not because I was afraid, or because I thought this was a test. But because I genuinely didn't want to get up. I didn't want to try to run. I felt... so at peace here. I felt safe. And I... didn't want to leave Casey's side.

Maybe I was crazy. Maybe this was a big mistake. But I didn't care. I wanted to stay there... with him.

These feelings I had were new, and strange, and excited. I'd never felt them before. I'd used to live such a normal, structured life. I was sheltered from any blemishes in the world because of my policeman father and doting mother. What I was doing now was risky, and bold, and maybe even dumb. But I was loving every second of it.

Casey showed me that life wasn't always perfect and structured the way my parents wanted me to believe it was. Casey showed me what it was like to live life. Casey brought out a new part of me, a part I didn't want to run away from.

So I didn't move. I sat there, patiently waiting for Casey to come back with our drinks. It only took him about ten minutes before he returned, two mugs in hand. He moved to hand one to me, and I reached over for it.

Casey seemed to realize that the handcuffs were hanging from my wrist, unattached to anything, once he saw me move or the cup of tea. He just stared at me, completely flabbergasted by the fact that I had been completely free, yet chose to stay anyway. Even I was a little shocked.

"You... didn't run," was all he was able to say, completely dumbfounded as he stared at the open handcuffs. "I left you out here alone, and you... stayed."