𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 | the 100

23 | Unity Day

"You know I don't hate you, right?"

‧ ✩ ｡ ✭ ° ☆ ･ _______ ･ ☆ ° ✭ ｡ ✩ ‧

Both Ant and Raven notice that something is wrong when Amber and Jules return to camp, but Amber ignores their long stares just like she ignores Jules. Unity Day falls a day after their falling out, so despite the festive energy in camp, Amber can't do anything but sulk in the background.

"You shut up, Miller," Raven snaps when someone scoffs at chancellor Jaha as he delivers a ceremonial speech of unity and peace through the screen they've set up at camp. Raven's voice snatches Amber out of her thoughts. "No one's forcing you to watch."

Even now, as Raven finishes speaking, she takes the opportunity to throw a glance at Amber. The blonde stands up. The constant check-ins Raven and Ant make on her is too much, so she marches away from the group.

"Whoo!" someone shouts. Jasper, goggles on, emerges from a tent with a large container held over his head. "Yeah! Monty strikes again!"

To unanimous cheers, he hurries down a slope towards the heart of camp, the delinquent quickly swarming to him like bees to honey.

"Call this batch Unity Juice! Who's thirsty?" he yells, and removes his goggles as he pours the container's liquid into the first cup that's extended to him.

Amber pauses to consider them. She can't imagine herself drinking and having fun with anyone in camp when none of them have any idea or care about what happens to Murphy, but something keeps her from walking away.

She feels him more now that he's gone, his absence heavier on her heart than his presence ever was, and thoughts of him invade every quiet moment with what-ifs until she interrupts them with the sharp pain of fingernails piercing skin. In just two days without him, she's been forced to confront the severity of his impact on her. He was no longer merely her salvation or redemption—he was her friend. She had started to like the time she spent with him. She had started to like him.

Liking him in the way you might like an aggressive, injured cat that's too stubborn to admit that they need you.

And now she can do nothing to help him, he's on his own and so is she. She's alone.

"Yeah, Amber, that's what I'm talking about," Jasper cheers when she promptly walks up to him, gripping a steel cup in her hand. Without wasting a second, she holds it out for him and once he's filled it with Monty's moonshine, she raises it.

"Happy Unity Day," she declares before tipping the cup to her lips, ignoring how the sticky scent pricks her nostrils. The alcohol burns her throat and she swallows every drop with a grimace.

"That's the spirit," Jasper chuckles as she doubles over to wait for the awful taste to settle.

"Shit," she mutters, wiping her mouth. "Monty really is something."

"He's my best friend for a reason," Jasper jokes, then gives her an immediate refill before turning to the next person. Amber looks at the splashing liquid and thinks about downing it right away a second time.

"You look like a lost puppy."

Amber turns around to Harper's kind smile.

"Yeah, thanks." Amber sighs. "I feel like one too."

"Good thing we've got something for that," she responds and raises her own cup of moonshine. Amber raises hers in response, then lets the other girl take her under her arm and lead her away.