Quantum Entanglement ~ Tamber

Chapter 11

It hadn't started as a plan to kill everyone or make a movie. It hadn't even started as some stupid plan to attack their love interest. No, their friendship had started in the same way a dozen of her other friendships had: with snark and a shared interest. In this case, that interest had been trolling the Stab Reddit boards.

When Richie first reached out to her, she hadn't thought much of it. She regularly got private messages from people who were either pissed off that she made fun of their shit fan theories or guys who were just weird and horny. Her profile picture was one of herself in a Ghostface mask. Sure, her face was obscured, but you could clearly tell that she was a young, attractive woman. Plus, she had superior takes to anyone else on that subreddit, so she had a lot going for her.

Richie had been a refreshing surprise. He didn't reveal his intentions to her right away. If he had, she never would have answered his message. But the first time he wrote, it wasn't to berate her or tell her she was hot. No, the first time he wrote was to actually agree with her and compliment how she just seemed to 'get' the films in a way that only the most serious fans did. It felt nice to be appreciated, especially after a day filled with Tara ignoring her to entertain Wes Hicks' ten-thousandth advance on her. She wasn't sure why she gave him the time of day or why it pissed Amber off as much as it did. Maybe because it hurts to be ignored by the girl who you would die for – just a guess.

She started exchanging messages with Richie slowly at first. He would send her messages complimenting her take on some random post or trying to get her opinion on a controversial casting decision for Stab 8. She would respond curtly, and he would praise her as some genius. It felt nice to be noticed and appreciated, especially at a time when she felt fucking confused and ignored by the rest of the world.

Amber Freeman was in love with Tara Carpenter, and it was slowly killing her. She knew she'd never have a chance with her best friend. Because, in reality, that's all they were: best friends. As hard as she tried, there wasn't anything she could do to make Tara see her any differently. She was the one who listened to her cry and held her, rubbing circles on her back the way that lulled her to sleep every night. She sang her lullabies and stayed over during thunderstorms, because loud noises scared her. Were these things only best friends did? She wasn't sure, because she didn't do them to get Tara's appreciation; she did them because she was head over heels in love with the girl and wanted to shout it off mountain tops.

It still would have been nice to be noticed.

If she could have killed Wes Hicks and gotten away with it, she would have wiped him out the first time she saw him make eyes at Tara with that dopey lovesick grin. He didn't deserve her attention, yet he got it. And sure, the girl wasn't hers, but she fucking should have been. Tara Carpenter deserved much better than Wes Hicks or whatever number of idiots tried to flirt with her best friend, especially since the poor girl was too oblivious to see that's what they were doing – oblivious or too damn nice.

As such, it was Amber's job to protect her. She had to, because she was small and beautiful and precious, and there are some terrible people in the world who might take advantage of her. No one would get to Tara without going through her, and Amber wasn't opening up the gate for anyone. She may never get her love, but she sure wasn't letting anyone else get it either.

On a particularly rough day at school where Tara blew her off to politely help Wes with his homework, she sought refuge in the one place that provided her with shelter and understanding where there was otherwise none: Richie Kirsch, or as she knew him at the time, stabfanboy69420.

"Bro, love sucks." She remembered typing. She wasn't sure why she even did it; it's not like they were even that close. They'd certainly never discussed anything that personal before. She guessed it was because she didn't have anyone else. No one in her group knew she was desperately aching to kiss her best friend for the rest of both of their lives, so it's not like she could bitch about it to them. She just needed to get it off her chest.