First the colours.

Then the humans.

That's usually how I see things.

Or at least, how I try.

- HERE IS A SMALL FACT-

Liesel Meminger was completely in love with her best friend.

"Don't be ridiculous, Liesel!" Gisela chastised her good friend. She did not know she was speaking to a thief. Liesel was spending her weekend in the most unimaginative way of imagination. It didn't require much strength for her to do so. Her beloved book was sorrowful as well; Abandoned and unwanted.

Seeing that her words did not move her friend, she sighed tiredly and suggested, "Perhaps you should stop dampening the mood of this room and enjoy the beautiful day."

"I don't understand!"

Gisela scoffed and replied, "Me, neither."

Liesel slammed her hands on her desk and was out the door, slipping her coat on. The frown on her face was the harshest I had ever seen. She trudged through the dry leaves that crushed and sounded under her each step. Her eyes asked questions such as 'how could a boy distract her so badly from her books?' or 'why him?'. I had to laugh at that. The book thief was conflicted.

I asked a different question: why not him?

Rudy Steiner was a handsome young man with great experience. Sigrid Weber was also experienced in other ways. The fact that she had always been envious of Liesel Meminger, she still couldn't comprehend why. Most people relate envy with green, but I really must protest. Envy was rather the colour of spilled blood. Deadly it was and terrifyingly unforgiving.

"You were so brave," she complimented him sweetly. "My mother's birthday is tomorrow. My brothers would be delighted to hear your story. Would you care to join us for dinner?"

He thought for a short moment and nodded his head. She squealed happily and threw her arms around his neck like a snake. He drew back and kept her at arms-length. She cleared her throat with a shy smile, her cheeks red as a cherry. "See you tomorrow night!" She bid him and walked away.

He, on the other hand, had another plan in mind.

-THE BOOK THIEF'S LECTURE-

Dinner went pleasantly well.

"Why on earth would you drag me here?!"

"Sshh!"

"Rud-"

The door opened and revealed a smiling Sigrid. Her smile dropped like the setting sun. Liesel Meminger stood beside Rudy Steiner looking rather annoyed. It was safe to say that things were going unexpectedly for her. She covered her surprise with politeness. It took her a lot of strength to let her mortal enemy in.

"Liesel, I wasn't expecting you," she swallowed thickly.

The book thief threw a glare at her best friend and replied, "Thank you for inviting us."

The word 'us' stung a little more than it should have. She nodded and guided them to the dinner table. Her two younger brothers were enthusiastic when they saw him at the entry. I was too.

The book thief looked strikingly beautiful in her dark emerald green gown. It contrasted with her light skin and blonde hair. Her arm was linked with Rudy's as they walked in. A part of me knew that she was overjoyed to be with him. Perhaps the way he approached her was too sudden. They sat beside each other at the table and Herr Weber was even awestruck.

"What's the purpose?" Liesel whispered.

He leaned in and said, "No purpose."

"You forced me to come with you!"

"No one can force you to do anything. Not even death could force me to die in that war."

His answer pierced her heart. She stared into his eyes, reminding once more of the reason why he had survived. Under the table his hand found hers and grasped it tightly as if his life depended on it. At one time, it actually did. I was moved at how deep his love for her was. He really did love the girl. Not even I could stop him from doing so. He was right than ever.

Sigrid glanced between the two. She obviously knew she did not stand a chance. The book thief had her own charms and skills. She cleared her throat loudly which broke the two guests apart.

"Rudy, these are my two brothers I was talking about the other day. This is Heinz and Helmut. They would to know more about you," she introduced.

She pretended Liesel was not in her home and that Rudy was the only guest.

Her mother, Herr Weber, was an old woman with ailing health. She greeted her two guests warmly. "Thank you for coming. Sigrid worked very hard, preparing our dinner tonight."

The book thief's heart softened at the sight of the old woman. She smiled gently and said, "There is no need to thank us, Herr Weber. We appreciate your kind invitation and Sigrid's diligence."

Dinner went by like a gust of wind. The two friends were out the door and on their way back home. However, the young man never let her hand go. She turned to him and said, "It was cruel of you to drag me all the way to my nemesis's home and worse, converse with her."

He laughed and said, "I'm sorry, Saumensch. I never meant to torment you."

She rolled her eyes at him. "As if, Saukerl! I would appreciate it if you had told me where you were taking me."

"And if I did, you wouldn't have come, would you?"

She sucked in a deep breath and bit her lip. He stopped walking and looked at her. "Ever since I got back, you just seem mad all the time. Are you not pleased with my return?" he asked.

Her heart sank into the bottomless pit of her chest. With her old hands, she reached up and grasped his face with great gentleness. "That's not true. I never wanted you to leave in the first place," she said softly. Her voice was as of the wind whispering into his ears when he was held at gunpoint. All he heard was her name and what he saw beyond the soldier was her face. He lived for no one else, except her.

She knew that she owed him something she had never thought of giving to anyone else. Everything around them had dimmed down. She looked him and reached to the very tip of her toes. Her soft lips brushed over his temporarily before closing the space between them. This was the closest they had ever been to each other.

And so it was; Rudy Steiner finally got the book thief's kiss.

His arms rested at her waist as he relished in the feeling of being kissed by the one girl he had always loved. He would steal as many books as he could just be like this with her. Obviously the kiss lasted longer than what Liesel had in mind. Never had she thought him as an alluring temptation.