one night stand.

five

Back in East Hills, Her exes Laurent and Daniel still reside there. The two have both dated Amber but have different stories with her. Daniel was her high school sweetheart and the man who was her first everything. He taught her how what she needed to during sex and was the man her family approved of but behind the scenes, he was a wild child. Daniel used to party like there was no tomorrow and believed sex was the answer to everything. Leading to Amber moving onto Laurent, The boy who had rough edges and constantly in trouble. Legal trouble where he depended on her and his crew, He always promised that they'd get married and have a beautiful house on the beach side. Thankfully he didn't try to have a baby on her. Amber was in for the thrill but got sick of the constant bailing him out and holding him down, She wanted just a normal relationship without the trouble. She left him to rot in jail until he recently got out on probation with good behavior. Amber would visit East Hills once every blue moon for her mom's side of the family but only with the approval of her father.

His approval went a long way, Without it she'd be stuck in the city working in his gallery. Her friends and family was out there, Her childhood, The hood where Chyna and her grew up in before they became adults. Just two rebellious fast teens wanting more.

"Amber, How many times do we have to have this conversation? The answer is no." Her father objected "You'll get yourself in trouble and cause issues to the gallery."

"What are you talking about? Mom passed away and suddenly I'm the reason your gallery will burn to hell." A teen Amber argued as she crossed her arms and stood blocking his way.

"We're not doing this again, Remove yourself and go study." He warned her.

Amber grunted and stomped her feet out the building, She stomped down the sidewalk to the shared apartment her dad and she owned at the time. Throwing herself to the bed, She pulled her Ipod out and began blasting music through her headphones as she screamed into a pillow.

The times where she should've listened to her father took a toll on her as she grown, All the times he was just protecting her and she took it as a lack of freedom. Amber learned to disciplined herself as the time went by since no one else would. She had dreams like everybody else but she buried them deep in her mind due to her thinking it was silly and how she'd never achieve them. In the future, She did. Amber had the large scale apartment, A high paying job, and a business so successful that she has celebrity clients now. Her, Chyna, and Anthony stayed friends like they always wanted, Everything had fell into place as she believed in herself.

Unfortunately for her, Both of them would find a way to contact her. Her recent visit to East Hills wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Pulling up to her aunt's house, She's welcomed to her baby cousins running up to her car waiting for her to come out. Oh how Amber missed their little faces, They reminded her of herself when she was very little. Bright and full of energy when around others and the imagination of a unicorn. She stepped out of the car and hugged the nearest one to her and swung them around like a carousel.

"Oh my god, You've grown so big!" She squealed as she took a look at the girl's purple princess dress. "How's auntie doing?"

"She's yellow." The girl giggled as she dragged Amber inside the small home of hers.

Her aunt Vanessa was in the kitchen cooking up a mean Sunday feast for the return of Amber. The menu consisted of Collard Greens, Buttered Rolls, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Candied Yams, and Ham. The thought of the dinner made her mouth water to the edge and her stomach growling with hunger as she watched the food be plated.

"You're just in time, I had finished dinner a little early since I was told you were coming by." She recalled while handing Amber an empty plate and utensils.

"Thank god I haven't eaten yet, I've been on the road for hours." Amber pleaded.

"Can't believe Heaven is going to kindergarten." Aunt Vanessa celebrated "I remember when she was just a baby the other day. Glad to you are able to see her as she grows."

"It's a blessing truly, Without her I wouldn't have inspiration for my art." Amber mentioned as she watch her cousin struggle trying to scoop food onto her plate.

Amber offered a hand and helped Heaven fill her plate up before she made hers, The simple gesture of an adult. She remembered when her mom used to put little bows in her hair and send her to school in the cutest outfits. Just like her own personal princess before Amber grew too old and had to dress for herself while her mom fought sickness and gave her all. She remembered watching her mom struggle in the hallway of their old home, Her mother had fell to her knees begging for help but her treatment slowly killed her as she watched Amber stand there in shock. If only she had helped her mom, She beats herself up for it every time. How her mom could've survived and been here, but she let nature take its time and take care of her mother while she cried for mercy.

Tears slid down her face as she kept replaying that moment in her head until she snapped back into reality.

"Is everything alright? We almost lost you there." Her aunt worried as she handed Amber a napkin to wipe her face.

"Yeah, I just had a thought about something. Sorry for scaring ya'll." Amber stuttered while flashing a smile at everybody and quickly fixing her plate.

She sat at the table admiring the sunset and its beautiful color group, The purple and oranges saturating into each other as the sky fell behind it. Reminded her of the times she shared and the people she met along the way. Like a scar of age, Amber's brown eyes shined in the sun as it brightened her up. She felt right at home in that leather dining room chair, Just like the old times when she'd eat dinner by the window and listen to her mom's old records.

"I'll take the dishes when everyone's done." Amber announced as she began filling the sink with soapy water and tossing her plate inside.

The warm water brushed against her skin as she scrubbed the plate and continued staring out the window watching the sunset. Something about the sun made her feel closer to the universe. Her mom was the sun and she was the moon while the rest of her family were the stars.