Super Volume 2

One More Minute

Flashback

Amber's POV
"Wake up! Amy wake up!" A little boy shoved me out of my bed. I groaned as I climbed back onto the bed. I wrapped the blanket back around me and curled up again. "Amy! Stella is leaving! Someone's adopted her!" He exclaimed. My eyes shot open and I bounced off of the bed. The kid led me to the front door, where all the others had gathered to see Stella off. She was sixteen, and had been here longer than anyone. "Wasn't she your friend, Amy?" The boy asked. "It's Amber, and yes. She was." I sighed. "That's sad. Are you sad Amy?" He asked. "Ok, who are you?! Get out of my face!" I spat, and he scurried away. "Amber!" I heard. I turned around and saw Ms. Forrester standing in the hall. She was my therapist. "Can I see you for a moment, please?" She asked. I frowned and slumped over to her as the other kids oohed at me.

I sank back into the beanbag chair in the corner of her office. "I understand that seeing your friend leave is hard, but there's no need to snap at the younger children." Ms. Forrester explained. "He called me Amy and pushed me off my bed." I spat. "And we will talk to him about that. For now though, how are you feeling about this?" She asked. I huffed and crossed my arms. "I'm feeling angry, but it's not about Stella." I spat. "Then what is it about?" She asked. "You know. How could you not know? Ten homes in thirteen years and where am I? I'm right back where I started here in Tennessee. Even if that weren't such a big deal to me, I can't even go out and do things! The other kids my age are allowed to have extracurriculars and real friends, but YOU keep me trapped in here like some dog at the pound!" I snapped. Ms. Forrester just stared at me for a second. "I understand that this is difficult, but we can't allow you to have any outside activities after last time. You ran away, Amber. That's a big deal!" She explained. "Spare me the lecture. I remember every word." I raised my hand to stop her. She sighed and dropped her head. "Amber, I've known you for longer than everyone else here. You think I don't want those things for you? I want you to be happy and have friends, but I can't risk you trying to run again." She explained. I groaned and stood up. "All I want... is for time to stop. Just for a minute! So that maybe I won't have to find my forever home at sixteen." I groaned. Her eyes softened. "Stopping time won't fix that." She replied. I crossed my arms again. "Then with all due respect, stop trying to help me. Stop worrying. I'm not worth the hassle." I shrugged and walked out.

After school the next day, I didn't get on the bus. I ran out to the park and sat down on a bench to read my book. Unfortunately, not five minutes later did I hear someone walk up behind me. "You're getting quicker at this." I noted. "At what?" A girl leaned over the back of the bench and I jumped. "Oh! I'm sorry, I thought you were- nevermind." I shook my head. "No problem. I'm Ember." She giggled. I smiled at her. "I'm Amber." I replied. "Oh cool! We practically have the same name! I've never seen you around before." She noted. "I don't get out much." I shrugged. "I work out here every Monday. I was just jogging. Do you want to come with me?" She asked. "I hardly know you." I chuckled. Ember hopped over the bench to stand in front of me. "No one does. That's what happens when you go to a private school that no one's ever heard of! I really need friends. Please! Please come with me!" She got on her knees and pleaded. Then she rested her head on my knees and my face grew warm. "Ok! Ok, I'll go with you." I agreed. She looked up at me stunned. "Really?!" She shrieked. "As long as you're not gonna kill me." I joked. Ember smiled and stood up. I got up and put my book back in my bag. "Here. I can hold it for you." Ember swung my bag over her shoulder and my face grew even warmer. "Thank you." I smiled. Just then, we heard a honking beside us and looked over. It was the bus for the home, and Ms. Forrester was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. "Again?" She yelled. I looked back at Ember sadly. She shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Maybe I'll catch you next week." She sighed. My eyes widened and I shook my head. "No! No, I don't want to go. I want to go with you! God! Why is it always me?! I just needed one more minute!" I exclaimed. Ember raised an eyebrow and reached her hand out to me. I gripped my hair. "One minute! And I wouldn't be forced to choose! One minute and I could have everything! I just need time to stop!" I shouted, and Ember grabbed my shoulder. As soon as my eyes met hers, everything slowed around us. Ember didn't notice, and just stared at me in concern. "Are you alright?" She asked. I looked around in shock. Ms. Forrester was mid-step on the stairs in the bus, but she didn't move. The cars on the road had stopped, and the wind quit blowing. Not a sound was heard except for Ember and I's breathing. Finally, Ember noticed and glanced around. "What did you do?" She whispered in awe. "I didn't! I'm only human!" I exclaimed. "It seems to me like you got your wish. Now let's go before that 'minute' wears off." Ember grabbed my hand and we ran off.