Summary: The group meets a few new individuals such as Anika Kayoko, but more importantly Quinn Bailey (Kirsch), the black sheep of the Kirsch family aka Richie's younger sister.
⚠: Mentions of favoritism and physical abuse.
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The classroom feels heavy with monotony as the professor's voice drones on, a low hum barely cutting through the collective boredom hanging in the air. Students sit scattered across the lecture hall, some scribbling notes with half-hearted effort, others staring blankly ahead or fidgeting in their seats. A few are outright zoned out, gazing at the walls or ceiling, their minds far removed from the subject at hand.
Among them is Amber, her sharp gaze uncharacteristically dulled, fixed on nothing in particular. Her notebook lies closed on her desk, her pen idle. She rests her chin on her palm, her face set in a neutral mask, waiting for the inevitable end of this endless lecture.
When the professor finally dismisses the class, there's a collective sigh of relief. Chairs screech against the floor, and students shuffle toward the exits in a disorganized stream. Amber rises slowly, methodically packing her notebook and pen into her backpack before slinging it over one shoulder. She blends into the moving crowd, her mind as blank as her expression, until she steps outside and the fresh air jolts her awake.
The campus is buzzing with life, students weaving around each other like ants on a mission. Amber lets herself be carried by the flow, her feet moving without much thought until she finds herself standing outside the on-campus bookstore.
She hesitates for a moment, then pushes the door open. A small bell chimes as she steps inside, and the scent of new books fills her senses. The bookstore is quiet, the muffled hum of campus life reduced to a comforting stillness.
Amber wanders aimlessly through the aisles, her fingers brushing against the spines of books as she searches for something to catch her attention. She's about to pick up a thriller novel when a force slams into her from behind, knocking the air from her lungs as she crashes to the carpeted floor. Her backpack lands with a dull thud beside her, and her palms sting from breaking the fall.
"What the hell?!" she hisses, flipping onto her back with fire in her eyes.
But her anger falters when she sees Mindy grinning mischievously down at her, unapologetic as ever.
"Sorry, Ambs!" Mindy teases, her tone anything but apologetic. Amber's jaw tightens at the nickname—one she only tolerates from Tara.
"Why did you tackle me?" Amber snaps, sitting up and brushing herself off.
Mindy shrugs, unfazed. "I was trying to get your attention," she says breezily, stepping aside to reveal Liv, Wes, and a girl Amber doesn't recognize standing nearby.
Liv rolls her eyes and swats Mindy on the back of the head. "Min, we've talked about this. You can't just tackle people like some overgrown puppy," she chides, though there's a hint of amusement in her voice.
Amber's sharp gaze shifts to the unfamiliar girl. She looks around their age, with a warm, approachable demeanor that contrasts sharply with the chaos Mindy brings. The girl steps forward, holding out Amber's fallen backpack.
"Sorry about that," she says with an apologetic smile. "Here, I think this is yours."
Amber takes the backpack, her expression softening slightly. "Thanks," she mutters, slinging it back over her shoulder.
The girl introduces herself with a sheepish laugh. "I'm Anika, Mindy's roommate. Didn't know she was this...enthusiastic."
"Enthusiastic is one way to put it," Amber says dryly, her lips twitching into a faint smirk.
YOU ARE READING
Entanglement of Time
Fanfiction⚠Note:⚠ This story is not suitable for young audiences or people who are easily squeezy from depictions of violence. Read at your own risk, there's some fucked up shit in this story. ______________________________________ The Core 4 and two others...
