Bonnie Petrova had always hated spending her summer in a small town, but she hated babysitting her younger sister for the entirety of it even more. Especially when aliens and evil Russians become involved ...
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CHAPTER FOUR
best translator in town.
The endless bickering that filled the backroom of the parlor didn't make focusing on the recording and the thick accents they spoke in any easier for Bonnie. She had tried to drown them out, but that only worked for the first few words before the secret code became background noise as well.
Bonnie's brows furrow when she takes the headphones off, placing them around her neck as she pauses the recording. She had translated the secret code in less than an hour but was still none the wiser about what it meant. She replays it once more before finally writing it down. Still doubtful of their meaning.
"Are you fucking with us?" She asks as she reads over the words scrambled on the paper before throwing an annoyed glance Dustin's way. Before she can even say another word, he scrambles from his seat to rip the paper from Bonnie's grasp.
"It makes absolutely no sense," Bonnie mumbles to herself as she repeats the words over and over again.
In the meantime, Robin had already gone to get Steve from behind the register, probably saving him from the further embarrassment his horrible flirting caused him.
"Bonnie's done translating."
"Already?" He asks as he nods his head slightly, impressed, but what else had he expected from Bonnie?
"She's the best in town. What did I tell you." Robin adds with a proud smile before she goes back inside, Steve following behind her.
"So what does it say?" Robin asks impatiently.
"The week is long the silver cat feeds when blue meets yellow in the west," Bonnie mumbles the words as she writes down the first sentence on the whiteboard. "A trip to China sounds nice if you tread lightly." She adds with a frown before turning around again.
"Are you sure?" Dustin asks as he tilts his head slightly, rereading the words written on the whiteboard. "It doesn't seem right."
"Maybe your code's bullshit?" Bonnie states as she folds her arms over her chest, slightly offended by the mere insinuation. "You think you can do any better? Go right ahead."
"Maybe your Russian isn't as good as-" Dustin's remark dies down quickly as Steve shoves him, annoyance written all over his features as he shakes his head. But when he turns to Bonnie, that scowl seems to melt away.
"Why don't Bonnie and I try and figure this out? It's your turn anyway, Robin. Dustin, why don't you go and join her? Get some fresh air for once." Steve offers with a slight smile as he holds open the door for them. He caught a warning glance from Robin on her way out, but closed the door before she could throw one of her teasing remarks his way.
"I think you did a great job," Steve admits as Bonnie scoffs before she sits down again, a bit more defeated than she was ten minutes ago.
"Thank you," Bonnie mumbles as she focuses on the paper in front of her for what felt like the hundredth time that hour. What had she gotten herself dragged into? If only she knew this would be the least of it.
Bonnie caught him looking at her, but he didn't look away instead he went to sit down beside her. His smile only widens as Bonnie looks away, flustered.But all Steve could think about was how he liked the way her eyes softened as they met his. It was all he could ever think about.
"Any thoughts, Steve?" Bonnie finally asks after a few minutes, looking up to meet his gaze again with a raised brow and a teasing glint hidden in her dark brown eyes.
"You free tonight?" Steve asks as he leans in closer, pretending to read the russian code over her shoulder. Bonnie rolls her eyes before her attention returns to the paper in front of them.
"Not the kind of thoughts I was looking for," Bonnie says as she narrows her eyes playfully at him. As flustered smiles decorate both their faces.
"It's the only kind I got," Steve admits.
"Oh really?" Bonnie asks slowly, her voice low as she looks away from the page and meets Steve's eyes again. She could feel his arms and knees press against hers, but neither of them seem to mind. Neither of them seems too keen on moving either.
Steve made her more nervous than she'd ever been around anyone before. Maybe it was the way he stared at her, or maybe it was because of how pretty he was. It might have been a mix of both.
"Really," Steve states with a boyish grin. His grin widens as Bonnie once again rolls her eyes at his advances. He noticed the way she couldn't help but smile at his words, even if she tried so hard to hide it.
He could stay like this for hours and not mind it one bit, but as always, faith had other plans for the both of them. Once again, the window opened, revealing a ruffled Robin Buckley. Her brows furrow into an even deeper grimace at the sight of them, but for some reason, she keeps whatever snarky remark came to mind to herself.
"Hey, Bonnie? Darling sister of yours is here."
"I'll be right there." Bonnie sighs as she begins to gather her things hastily. "Can't keep the little monsters waiting now, can I?"
"I'm not free tonight. Not gonna be for a little while," Bonnie began as she stood from her seat. She noticed Steve's smile falter at her words. "But this week's my last week of babysitting. So why don't w-" She couldn't even finish her sentence before Claire had stormed into the backroom.
"Oh, now I get why you spend all your time here," Claire states with a teasing smile as she looks up at her older sister. "Shut up," Bonnie mutters as she pushes Claire out the door, following behind her hastily. If there was ever a moment Bonnie Petrova wished to be an only child, it was this one.
