Amber

17| a reluctant out

10 years ago

"What should I do with it, mommy?"

"Hide it." she whispers softly. "And when your father asks for it, tell him it wasn't you. I'll cover for you, okay?" She says pushing the wad of cash into my arms.

"But I don't wanna steal from dad, mommy."

She hushes me, "It's not stealing if he doesn't find out. Hide it well, okay? Then come tell mommy where you put it."

Present

"......I love it so much and I really wish you were here to see it." June sighs over the phone before taking the teddy bear out the frame and putting it back on her.

I smile softly, "I'm happy for you, Raven. Ryan is really good for you"

I put my phone down to pour my coffee into my mug. "I know he is." I hear her groan from the phone speaker and I take a sip of my coffee. "This teddy bear is so comfy."

Hastily, I grab for my phone, "Okay, that's it now. Goodbye. I'll call you later." Her abrupt laugh puts a smile on my face and I end the call, pressing the red button on the screen.

I take another sip of my coffee, and let out a silent breath.

It's later in the afternoon now and I'm sitting on my bed with my laptop opened in front of me. Though having looked for him, I haven't seen Ashton since our awkward encounter from earlier. I personally didn't see anything wrong with June or Lucy, so I don't see where he is coming from. But then again, what did I know? It's only my first day of school.

I sigh again, for what feels like the umpteenth time today, before shifting my attention back to my laptop screen. A history video plays on the screen, but it's not what holds my attention. My thoughts run wild in my head, ideas of what June and Lucy could've possibly done to Ashton to encourage such a reaction from him.

I will have to ask them about it later, I think to myself before forcing my mind to change its direction of thought, and focus on the video playing before me. In response to my concerns about History, Zahra had earlier sent me a video that she would usually use in her days of high school. She describes the video as 'interesting' and 'cool', but all I can do as I watch the video is try my best not to fall asleep. And apparently, I do a terrible job at it because before I know it, I'm yawning and succumbing to sleep.

It's dark when I wake up again. Eight-thirty p.m. I stretch my limbs in tiredness and stare into nothingness. It takes me a second but I register that I'm hungry and I frown at the wall before forcing myself to get up and get something to eat. My mini fridge is practically empty, so I just take a snack and mentally make a note to get some food from the cafeteria tomorrow.

The ringing of my phone interrupts my thoughts and I stumble back over to my bed to answer it. I'm shocked when I see it's Lucy who's calling and frown in confusion. "Hello?" I call into the mic.

"Hey, Amber!" She all but yells into the phone. Music booms in her background and I can only guess that she's at a party. "Are you here yet?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask in confusion.

She explains, "My college boyfriend is throwing a party. I sent you an invite like three hours ago!"

"I'm sorry, Lucy. I fell asleep. It's fine, I can stay in my dorm and catch up with you guys later." I try to say.

"What nonsense!" She dismisses. "I sent you the address, Amber. Be here in twenty."

Before I have the chance to object any further, she already hangs up the call and I groan loudly. "There's no way this is happening right now."

With great reluctance, ten minutes later, I'm dressed in the most college party-appropriate dress I could find in my suitcase—which happens to only be a green one-shoulder midi dress. Every functioning part of my brain is telling me what a bad idea this is, but the desire to have Lucy approve of me gets the best of me and I'm soon leaving my dorm with a sweater on so I can at least attempt to hide the fact that I'm going somewhere that I probably shouldn't be from the other students.

I remember Professor Stone's warning about leaving the compound without informing a member of staff and I knock on his door, only entering when his voice signals it.

"Good evening, Miss Peterson. I was just packing up to leave, what brings you here?" He eyes me with suspicion.

"My cousin is having a party. Today's her birthday." I lie. "I promise to be back before eleven." I tell him.

He sighs in understanding. "Usually this isn't allowed, but I'll make an exception just because you look like you could really use an out."

A reluctant out, I mutter to myself guiltily.

He warns me pointedly, "Make sure that at ten fifty-nine on the dot, you're in your dorm and asleep. I don't need to remind you what happens if you don't comply with the rule?"

I shake my head quickly, before we exchange our goodbyes and I exit the room.

a/n: little miss updates every 3 months

i hate this chapter sm :(

do you feel like i'm moving too quickly or like too much is happening? 

thank you so much for all the support on this book over the past couple of months. i haven't been able to keep up with my notifications anymore so i'll just say a general thanks to everyone :)

a very late merry christmas btw

see u in another 2 years??