Stolen

Summary: James and Cara share a cute moment while on a church retreat. That camera, the one that one of the boys took their picture with, actually did get stolen on another church retreat.

. . . . . . . .

“Hey,” she said, entering into the boys’ room in the hotel, and stepping over some of the obstacles in the way.

“Hey,” he replied, staring at the TV.

“Are you the only one here?” she asked, looking around the room.

“Yup,” he replied, changing the channel.

“Cool,” she replied, “can I sit?” She gestured to the couch. He grunted softly at something on the television and then nodded, scooting over slightly to give her room.

“So,” she said, sitting next to him so that their legs were touching, “What’re we watching?”

“Nothing,” he responded and she had to sigh. She hadn’t known this boy for long, but he didn’t have to give her the cold shoulder.

“Oh,” she responded, watching with feigned interest as he flipped through the channels. An uncomfortable silence soon settled over the two of them and she sighed again.

“Do you not like me or something?” She asked, staring at the side of his slightly tan face.

“Or something,” he responded with a smirk.

“I walked right into that one,” she mumbled.

“Not technically,” he said and she raised an eyebrow at him, “You can’t walk into something you set up.”

“Sure you can,” she responded, “I do it all the time; literally and figuratively.”

“That’s you,” he said, “it isn’t the rest of the world.”

“Did you hear?” she asked, “I am the rest of the world.” He smirked again and allowed his eyes to sweep over her body.

“I don’t doubt that.”

“Was that a fat joke?”

“Did you want it to be?”

“You’re infuriating.”

“Ohh,” he said, mockingly, “you used a big word, I’m so proud.”

“You’re mean,” she responded.

“And you’re not?” he asked.

“Touche.”

“Right.”

“You do realize that this is the longest conversation we’ve ever had.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Right.”

“Tv?” he asked, motioning towards the television with the remote.

“Yes,” she replied, “anything to get you to shut up.” She grinned at him and he smirked back, leaning into the couch. She followed suit as the two of them gazed at the television set and sat there mindlessly.

. . . . . . . .

“Hey, James, dude,” a young boy with dark brown hair and tan skin called as he entered the boy’s hotel room, “we’re back.”

No response.

“James?” he asked, walking back to the back where the big TV and couch were located and he couldn’t help but smile.

James had curled up against one of the other boy’s—Ben to be exact—sisters and had dozed off leaning against her shoulder. He stared back at the other occupants of the room that were filing in behind him and put a finger to his lips to silence them.

“Anybody got a camera?” He asked in a whisper, making a movement with his hand that slightly resembled taking a picture. One of the other boys nodded and tossed him a red camera. He smirked again, turning around and sneaking around to the front of the two of them, blocking the television.

He snapped the picture.

“Mm,” the girl muttered, twitching slightly as the flash went off. She felt someone move beside her and she jumped, startled.

“What happened?” she heard James ask and she opened her eyes, yawning and stretching.

“I dunno,” she responded, finally catching James’ brother standing in front of the television and holding a camera. She raised an eyebrow at him, obviously curious as to why he was smirking.

“What’cha doin’ Josh?” she asked, standing up and walking over to him slowly. The younger boy didn’t answer. Instead he tossed the camera back to one of the other boys and tried to muster his best innocent smile.

“Josh,” James, his older brother began, standing up, “what did you take a picture of?”

“The ocean,” he replied, a little too quickly. Both James and the girl turned to look at the sliding glass door that led to a beautiful ocean view; the door was unopened.

“Show me,” he responded, walking towards the boy that now held the camera.

“Can’t do that, James,” the boy responded, tossing it back to Josh.

“Why not?” he asked, getting annoyed now.

“It’s…a secret,” Josh answered from behind him.

“A secret picture of the ocean?” He asked.

“Exactly.”

“Right,” the girl said, “I’m just gonna…go.”

“Good idea,” the boy that held the camera responded. The girl nodded and smiled, walking towards the group of boys who moved out of her way as she exited.

“Thanks, James,” she said, turning around once she had made it through the sea of boys, “I had a nice time talking with you.”

“Yeah,” he responded, “me too.”