The Thief of Hearts - 1. Chapter 1

The Thief of Hearts.

Part 1

His daydreaming was brought to an abrupt halt by a noise from downstairs. He rose from the bed and listened, and again he heard the noise. Micah Anderson made his way down the stairs as noiselessly as possible. First going to the kitchen he found everything in order. He heard the noise again, and this time it was definitely coming from the sitting room. Making his way stealthily to the room, he looked through the crack between the door and the doorpost to see a young boy about eleven or twelve years of age rummaging through their belongings.

“Having fun?”Startled, the boy swung around to face the source of the voice and uttered a solitary word,“Shit!”“Yeah, shit it is, and you’re in it.” Before Micah could utter another syllable the boy made a dash for the open French-windows that led out to the garden. The boy was fast, but not fast enough. Micah caught up with him and before he could get out of the room grabbed him by the arm.

“Let go you cunt,” the boy yelled, and swung one of his legs trying to land a kick in Micah’s groin area.

Micah dodged the kick still managing to hold on to the boy as again he tried another kick. Micah wrapped his arms around the small boy and yelled, “If you don’t stop struggling and kicking I’m going to belt you.”

“Fuck off and let me go arsehole.” He tried to kick out again.

Micah swung one of his hands not with a lot of force and slapped the boy on the face causing the boy’s head to swivel with the impact of the blow.

“You fucking bastard, I’m going to kill you for that,” the boy screamed as he struggled more furiously.

Micah again slapped the boy a bit harder this time, and the boy fell to the floor.

The boy slowly rose, tears streaming down his face and snot flowing from his nose. “Why the fuck did you hit me?”

“Oh, I’m supposed to stand still while you kick me in the goolies?”

The boy sniffed, “What’re you going to do now?”

“What have you taken from the house?”

“Nuthin.” He wiped his nose on the sleeve of his tracksuit top.

“I’ll ask you one more time if I don’t get a truthful answer I’ll call the cops and let them deal with you, what’ve you taken from the house?”

The boy put his hand inside his pockets and withdrew a gold plated pen, thirty pounds in cash, and his mother’s wristwatch, which would have been no great loss as she seldom wore it.

Still sniffing, “That’s it,” he said handing it over to Micah.

He took the items from the boy and put them down on the coffee table. Then he took the boy by the arm and dragged him along with him.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Just shut up, you’re not in a position to ask questions.” Micah dragged the reluctant boy into the kitchen. Inside he tore off a couple of kitchen towels, and handed them to the boy.

“Clean your face and wipe your nose, you look a mess.”

“You fucking caused it didn’t you, you arsehole.”

“Ok I’m sorry, you satisfied?”

“Yeah,” the boy said reluctantly.

“If you want you can wash your face in the sink,” Micah said, “and there’s a hand towel you can use to dry with.”

“Thanks.” The boy washed his face and dried it, then turned to Micah,

“Now what?”

Micah shrugged his shoulders. He felt sorry for the scrawny looking kid. “You want a drink of some sorts?”

“You got a coke?”

“Yeah, in the fridge. Help yourself.”

The boy got his drink, opened it guzzling a mouthful, swallowed and belched.

“Ah that’s nice, what’re you going to do now?”

“No idea. I should report you to the cops, but you’re too young to be locked up.”

“Who the fuck you calling too young, I’m fifteen.”

“What, you must be joking. I thought you were about eleven, twelve at most.”

“Yeah, everybody thinks that,” the boy said with a smirk on his face. “That’s why I get away with doing the things I do.”

“Okay I suppose you’d better get on home, but if you ever break into our house again and I find out it’s you I’ll kick the shit out of you.”

“And how the fuck are you going to find me? You haven’t got a clue about my name or where I live and you’re no Sherlock fucking Holmes.”

Micah looked at the younger boy and smiled. The boy was right. There was no way he could ever find him again when he left the house.

“Okay so I won’t be able to find you again, but just do me a favor and keep out of our house. Come on, I’ll let you out of the front door.”

Micah led the way, then opened the door and stood to one side to let the boy out. As he was about to leave Micah asked, “What’s your name?”

The boy continued his way out of the house when he was outside he turned saying, “Luke, Luke Harrison, what’s yours?”

“Micah Anderson.”

“Micah, what kind of a fucking name is that?”

Micah angrily slammed the door shut in the boys face then walked over to the front window to watch him as he left.

He was still standing in the same place when the door had been slammed shut in his face. Finally, the boy shrugged his shoulders turned and walked down the drive then out into the road and out of sight.

Micah tidied up some of the mess that the boy had made in the sitting room then went upstairs to shower and change. Later that evening as he walked home alone after visiting with some of his friends at their local youth club, he felt as if he was being watched.

Both times he stopped and looked around thinking that someone might be attempting to mug him, but there was no one to be seen. He continued on his way home this time increasing his pace and keeping alert for the slightest sound, but nothing else transpired. He was finally able to enter into the sanctuary of his home.

It was a couple of weeks after the break-in that Micah returned home after school on a Friday looking forward to the long Bank Holiday weekend, and in his case, the half term holiday. He knew the house would be empty since his parents seldom got home from work before five thirty, so he would have time to relax and watch some TV before they did.

He opened the front door stepped inside and nearly screamed with fright. He had to restrain his bowels from emptying into his clothing. The same boy who had broken into the house previously was standing in front of him.

This time the boy wasn’t ransacking the house, he just stood in the hallway looking at Micah.

Closing the door and composing himself Micah looked at the boy and asked, “How the hell did you get into the house, and what do you want?”

“Umm… I came to see you.”

“That’s nice of you, but when you come to visit someone you normally come to the front door and wait till you’re asked in.”

“Okay so I’m out of line, but when I came around and knocked on the door there was no one in. So I went around the back and got in through the French Windows. Your dad should really get something done about them, any idiot can get in through those doors.

“I’ll make it a point of mentioning it to him. It’ll be interesting to see his reaction when I tell him the person who broke into the house twice said so.”

“You’re not going to mention it was me, are you?”

“No, Luke, I won’t.”

“You remembered my name?”

“Yeah, what’s so remarkable about that?”

“Umm I’ve forgotten yours, I know it was something funny and you got fucking annoyed when I asked you about it.”

“It’s Micah and there’s nothing funny about it.”

“Yeah, that’s it. I’ve been doing my nut trying to remember it, what the fuck does it mean?”

“I’ve no idea. Now you know my name, why are you here?”

“Uh, I just wanted to see you again if you don’t want me around I’ll fuck off.”

“You don’t have to leave, but next time for Christ sake don’t break into our house. Just wait outside or come back later, will you?”

“Shit, what’s the big fuss. I haven’t touched a fucking thing. I’ve only been waiting for you to come home.”

“How the Hell! Did you know I’ll be home first, say if one of my parents came home early?”

“I’m not that bloody stupid. I’ve been watching you for the last few days to see what time you came home from school, and I kept an eye out from the front window to see who would come home first just in case.”

“Okay now that you’re inside and you know my name what can we put the honor of this visit down to?”

“I just fucking told you! I wanted to see you again.”

Micah looked at the younger boy. “Luke, can you answer a question without getting all uptight and swearing your head off?”

“I’m not uptight, and this is the way I fucking talk, if you don’t like it hard fucking luck.”

“Okay, Luke, now you’ve seen me, now do you want to leave.”

“I don’t want to fucking leave, but if you’re telling me to piss off I will.”

“You’ve got a mouth like a sewer.”

“Fuck You! I clean my teeth every day.”

“Oh Christ! I wasn’t implying your breath smelled, Luke. It was because of your constant use of swear words in nearly every sentence that you utter.”

“Oh, okay, whatever. So you don’t want me to leave then, huh?”

Micah looked at the small boy it was hard to believe he was fifteen going on sixteen. The boy’s frankness and good looks in a way attracted you to him, and when he applied that pleading look with his striking blue eyes it was very hard not to give in to him.

“I think I need my head examined for standing here and talking to you. I’m going upstairs to get showered and changed, and you can do what you want.”

Micah turned his back on the boy and made his way upstairs only to hear footsteps behind him. He swiveled and looked over his shoulder to see Luke following him. Micah smiled to himself while thinking, ‘what the hell does he want? Why would he risk breaking into their house just to see me?’

When Micah reached his room he told Luke to make himself comfortable. He grabbed a change of clothing and headed for the bathroom.

Ten minutes later he emerged from his shower washed and changed to see Luke lying on his bed with his eyes closed, apparently asleep. He walked over to the boy and slowly removed his trainers and left him to continue his sleep while he made his way downstairs to get something to eat. He made a couple of slices of toast and some tea then carried them over to the breakfast table to partake in his snack. He sat down and was about to start when he looked up to see Luke standing in the doorway.

“So you decided to get up?”

“I was kind of awake when you took my trainers off, but was too comfortable to get up. It was the smell of the toast that did it.”

“You want some?”

“Yep.”

Micah got up put another couple of slices in the toaster and poured another cup of tea. When the toast was done he took it over to the table where Luke had already seated himself and put the food and drink in front of him

“Thanks.”

“Your welcome.” Micah sat down to continue with his snack.

Luke sat and stared at Micah.

“What’s wrong? Why don’t you eat instead of sitting there staring at me?”

“I was just thinking you’re something special.”

“Me, special, why?”

“Well, it’s not very often you would see someone serving toast to a kid who broke into their house twice.”

“Look, just finish your food okay. I’ll polish my halo later.”

Luke laughed and started on his food. Five minutes later they’d finished and were washing and putting away the crockery.

With Micah leading the way they made their entrance into the sitting room. He slumped onto the end seat of the settee and was surprised when Luke dumped himself down beside him.

“So you want to watch some television?” “Micah asked.

“If I wanted to watch the fucking box I’d have stayed at home. I came here to see and talk to you, if you’re not interested in what I have to say just say so and I’ll piss off.”

“God, you’re bloody touchy. Okay, I’m listening. Tell me what’s so important that you have to break into our house to talk to me.”

“I umm I, oh shit I don’t know how to fucking say it to make it sound nice so that you’ll like it.”

“Look, Luke, I understand. You can’t express yourself in the same way as I do, but just say what’s on your mind in the way that you normally talk and don’t try buttering it up, you’ll only make it sound shitty.”

“Okay, from the first time I broke into you’re house and we met and you were nice to me, I sort of fancied you. I’m what you and the rest call queer, but I just couldn’t get you off my mind. I’ve followed you all over the fucking place just to see you, I know the school you go to and the boys that you hang around with and that shitty Boys’ Club you fucking visit with your mates. I’ve had heaps of wanks just thinking about you at night, I know that you might think I’m a fucking weirdo, but I thought I’d better tell you then if you told me to piss off I’d know that you’re not interested, but I’d still like to be your friend.”

Micah was silent for a moment then looking at the boy whose looks and size belied his age, and saw the concern and anxiety on his face, he smiled in the hope that it would put Luke at ease.

“So, are you going to fucking say something? Or just sit there smiling and looking smug?”

Micah, angry at the boy’s sudden outburst, said, “I was smiling to put you at ease you little shit, or can’t you differentiate between the two, but seeing you don’t need putting at ease just piss off then.”

“Oh. Uh, okay,” and Luke stood up his face drawn he looked at the older boy who’d been on his mind for the last couple of weeks. Said, “Bye,” and turned to leave the room.

He’d only taken a step when he was grabbed from behind and pulled back onto the settee next to Micah.

“Not so fast, I’ve still got a few things to say before you go.”

“What for, you just told me to piss off.”

“Yeah, well, you can do that after I’ve said my piece. Firstly, Luke, I’m flattered that you fancy me and I don’t consider you a queer or any other name you can think of to express your homosexuality. I would very much like to have you as a friend, but that’s all, I don’t think I’m into having sex with you, or any other boy for that matter.”

“Have you got a girlfriend?”

“Umm, no. Not at the moment, but that can change very quickly if I meet the right girl.”

“Shit, how old are you?”

“I’ve just turned seventeen.”

“Are you a virgin?”

“Don’t be so bloody personal.”

“Bloody hell, look at the size of you and you’re still a virgin.”

“I didn’t say I was still a virgin and what the hell has size got to do with it?”

“If you weren’t a virgin you’d be only too fucking keen to say so. A guy as big and as good looking as you would have either all the birds sniffing around your crutch or some other boy like myself trying to get to know you. How big are you?”

“I’m six feet plus and weigh 185 lbs.’, and not everyone goes around shouting about their sexual conquests. There are people who keep certain events in their lives private. So whether or not I’m a virgin is my business and what you and anybody else cares to think is irrelevant.

“Do you always fucking talk like that?”

“Uh, what do you mean?”

“All posh and all that shit.”

“And do you always talk like you’ve swallowed some shit?”

“Why do we always end up fucking arguing? I came here to talk to you and see if you could like me as much as I like you.”

“I’m sorry, Luke, it’s just the way that you talk and your incessant swearing that gets to me.”

“Well, if I tried to stop fucking swearing, oops if I tried to stop swearing when I talk will that make it better?”

“I like you, Luke, swearing or not, but I’m not sure that we could be as close as you want to be.”

“Okay it’s a start anyway, maybe when you get to know me better we could become closer, so are we going to kiss and make up.”

“You’re joking?”

“Don’t look so shocked, Micah, what’s a kiss amongst friends?”

“Yeah I’ve heard that before and it can lead to all sorts of things.”

“Come on! Just a small one.”

Micah looked at the pleading face, the boy certainly could put on that little lost look that made you feel it would be a crime to refuse him whatever he asked.

“Oh shit!” He exclaimed then leant forward and pecked the smaller boy on the lips. “Is that alright?” He enquired.

“What the ff uh! What was that supposed to be Micah?”

“You asked for a kiss and you got one, what more do you want?”

“Shhhhhhii! Umm, okay can I give you a kiss now?”

Luke leaned forward and since Micah didn’t object he brought their lips together. His hand went around the back of Micah’s head to hold him. As their lips met Luke’s mouth opened to engulf the older boy’s lips. Then his tongue snaked out to force its way between the other set of lips. His tongue invaded the older boys mouth seeking and finding the others. Tentatively, Luke let his tongue touch and stroke Micah’s. The response was immediate, his tongue was at once engaged and their tongues swirled and danced in a ritual of erotic passion bringing moans of pleasure from both boys. Now Micah’s loins sprang to full erection. He was even more aroused when a hand gently cupped and softly massaged his scrotum. The older boy suddenly broke away.

“Stop, Luke.”

The younger boy saw the look of concern on the older boys face, “I’m sorry, Micah, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have felt you up.”

Micah didn’t say a word. He stood, lifted the boy, and tucked him under his arm. He carried him to the front door, opened it, and set the boy down on his feet on the doorstep.

“I think you’d better go home, Luke, I have to think about what happened just now, and not have you around when I do so.”

“Micah, I’m sorry pleeeease let me stay.”

“No, go home.”

“Can I get my mobile? I left it in the sitting room on the chair.”

“Wait here. I’ll get it.”

Micah returned to the sitting room retrieved the mobile and made his way back to the front door to see the younger boy standing on the doorstep with head bowed. Micah couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. He looked so small and helpless which he knew from experience was not the case. But still his emotions got the better of him. When he reached the boy instead of giving him the phone he grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the house closing the door behind him, and taking him back to the sitting room, where he dumped him on the settee again and handing him the mobile phone.

“You’re a thief Luke,” he said sitting down beside the younger boy.

“I didn’t steal anything when I broke in this time, I promise.”

“No nothing of monetary value, but you’re trying very hard to steal your way into my heart and you’ve very nearly succeeded. I’m not about to let that happen unless I want it to, do you understand?”

Luke grinned, “Okay, Micah, whatever you say.”

“And stop looking so sure of yourself. Otherwise I’ll kick you out again.”

“Sorry, Micah.” The boy hung his head.

“Oh God! Quit it, Luke, you make me feel like some kind of monster every time I tell you off. Actually, come to think of it you’re the bloody monster. You’re twisting me around your little finger.”

Luke looked at the older boy and refrained from grinning, he didn’t want to push his luck too far. Instead putting on his most innocent look, “I’ll do whatever you want me to Micah.”

Micah grinned at Luke’s little performance, “Do you always go into your innocent little boys’ act when you want to get away with things?”

Luke, knowing that Micah had sussed him out, now reverted to norm. “It helps when I get caught doing something I’m not supposed to be doing. So what have you got in mind now?”

“No idea. You tell me, because every time I make a decision to do something somehow you put an end to it.”

“Do you want me to go home to give you time to think things over?”

Micah looked at Luke and Micah saw the seriousness of his face. Gone was the little boy lost look, in its place was the face of a very beautiful young boy with light brown hair who stood no more than five feet two inches in height, and probably weighed about 110lbs. At the moment Micah was concerned about their friendship and which path it would take.

“Luke, can you answer some questions for me please?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Okay and I want an honest answer; do you break into peoples houses often?”

The boy looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, and you don’t have to preach to me how bad people feel when they find their house broken in to I’ve heard it all before in the courts.”

“If you want to be friendly with me that stops as of now, otherwise get lost. I don’t want to be associated with a criminal.”

Luke’s face reddened. He held his tongue and nodded his head.

“What happened to your voice you lose it all of a sudden?”

“I’m leaving. You think you can talk to me in a, in a,” Luke was struggling to find the words then blurted out, “Fuck you!”

He stood up and headed for the front door. He exited the house and walked to the front gate. Luke walked through the gate, which was opened by Micah’s parents who were just returning home. He nodded to them and continued his way out of the premises.

Inside, after greeting his parents, his father asked, “What did that young boy who I saw at the gate want?”

“That was Luke, Dad, he’s like a friend and he’s not so young he’s nearly sixteen.”

“My goodness! He must be the youngest looking sixteen-year-old I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes, he doesn’t look his age. Anyway, Dad, you’d better get something done about our French Windows in the sitting room.”

“Why the concern about those all of a sudden?”

“Dad, you have to promise not to say or do anything if I tell you why you need to get the French Windows made more secure.”

Mr Anderson saw the seriousness of his son’s face. He agreed to his wishes. Micah then relayed the events of the break in two weeks ago and also the second. Informing him that the culprit was the same boy he’d seen leaving the premises.

Mr Anderson thought for a moment then confronted his son, “Micah, why would you want to protect that boy. He’s a thief, and you don’t know how many other peoples houses he’s broken in to.”

“I know that, Dad, but he just sort of got to me and I let him go. Maybe because he looks so young and he feels that what he’s doing is not all that bad. I think he needs someone to talk to him to make him realize the consequences of his actions and to get him to change.”

“And I suppose you think that person could be you.”

“Well, I thought so Dad, but I think I just blew it. I wasn’t very tactful in my approach to the subject that’s why you saw him leaving when you arrived.”

“Well, I won’t take the matter any further as promised on this occasion. But, Micah, any more break-ins in this neighborhood in the future and I’ll tell the police what I know.”

“Okay, Dad.”

A couple of hours later Micah was leaving the house on his way to meet his friends at their youth club. After he’d walked for about five minutes he felt as if he was being followed. He looked around hoping to see Luke, but the streets were empty. He decided to walk a bit faster. When he came to a turn he swung down the street and ducked into the nearest doorway and waited to see if anyone was following him. He waited a minute and nobody appeared he gave it another minute and still no sign of anyone following him, he came out from his position looked around and resumed his walk to the youth club.

Three hours later he came out of the club with his friends and started his walk home. Arriving at the first junction, he made his goodbyes and turned in the direction heading to where he lived. He walked quickly and this time there was no feeling of unease or being watched as he walked along the streets.

Nearing his house he noticed a form sitting on the gate. “Luke.” He recognized the boy at once and he smiled. His heart beat faster and he quickened his pace to confront the form on the gate.

“Hi,” Luke mouthed as he drew near.

“Have you been waiting long?” Micah asked.

“Long enough, you’re fucking hopeless at trying to sus someone out. That move of ducking into a doorway and waiting for someone to appear went out was from fucking dark ages, you’ve been watching too much bloody telly.”

Micah looked at the small form and felt like hitting him, but at the same time he wanted to pick him up and squeeze him into his body, and that is exactly what he did saying, “Shut your shitty little mouth.” He brought their lips together.

As the older boy lifted him off the gate Luke wrapped his legs around Micah’s waist. Their mouths and tongues took them on a ride of enlightenment towards each other. Luke clung onto what to him was a gentle giant of a boy. He had fallen in love during their first meeting.

The kiss ended and their heads drew back so that they could gaze at each other.

“I’m sorry, Luke, for being rude to you earlier.”

“That’s why I fell in love with you. You’re always saying sorry when you really don’t have to. Jeez, Micah, you’re so big and you’re saying sorry to a little runt like me. Plus you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Just drop the subject. Now what are you doing out so late at night?”

“Waiting for you.”

“Oh shit, that was a stupid bloody question. Okay, won’t your parents be concerned that you’re out so late?”

“No, I live in a home for children. I can get in and out whenever I please without them knowing, I don’t have any parents.”

Micah looked at the small boy in his arms leant forward and rubbed their noses together. “You want to come inside?”

He pecked Micah on the lips. “Yeah.”

Lowering Luke to the ground then grabbing him by the hand Micah led him inside the house.