Never As It Seems

Chapter 12

Sat at breakfast the next morning, Amber was feeling so many different emotions. It was Sunday so her family were all home, Mum included and it felt nice to have them as a distraction from the multiple feelings that were churning around inside her. She was aware every so often of her father gazing at her and she knew he wanted to ask about last night. She was fine with that but she really didn't know what to tell him. For the thousandth time in the last half hour, her mind turned to Jay and every time it did, her heart did a flip. She was scared of her feelings because they were deeper than anything she'd felt before and they had emerged so quickly! She was scared of what was going to happen. Her confidence from last night, that everything would be okay had waned with every hour Jay had not been beside her. He had seemed so torn and she was aware he could easily still decide they should go their separate ways. She wasn't sure she could accept that now but knew she wouldn't have the choice. Every time her mind landed on the possibility that Jay might not contact her again, she blocked it. It was a possibility she couldn't entertain because she feared the pain that would go with it. Her phone, which was switched to 'silent' lit up. Again Amber's heart flipped. She picked it up, holding her breath until she saw the message was from 'Call Me'. She couldn't suppress the smile this elicited and she was aware her father, who was once again watching her, noticed.

"Good morning." She read and her smile grew.

"Hi." She typed back and then gave in to her father's stares.

"What Dad!?" She asked, still trying to hold the smile at bay.

He looked away quickly, picking up his coffee. "What? Nothing." He said as he went back to studying his newspaper.

"Ah come on!" Erin exclaimed. "He wants to know what happened last night. And so do I!" She almost bounced in her chair.

Their mother placed more toast on the table. "Oh good. I need to catch up on this whole thing. So...."

All eyes were on Amber and Callum nudged her in the side from his seat next to her.

"So you've all been talking about me then." Amber said, amused.

"I don't think she needs to tell us anything." Dad piped up. "Look at her... She can't stop smiling!"

"Dad!" She lightheartedly rebuked him and then tried, with everything in her, to control her facial muscles. She then tried to hide her mouth behind her cup. It didn't work and with all eyes on her, she put the cup down and hid her face in her hands as a blush appeared on her cheeks. Everyone laughed still waiting for her to divulge. When she had composed herself, Amber gave in.

"There's not a lot to tell right now but as soon as there is, you'll all be the first to know... Maybe."

Erin sighed dramatically but the others seemed satisfied with that for now and all went about finishing up breakfast. Amber looked at her phone again and opened the waiting message.

"Can I see you today?" It read.

She got up from the table and headed up the stairs, while thinking of a reply. When she got to her bedroom, she stood in the doorway and responded.

"You can. I have Church this morning but will be free from lunch time. Shall I come to you?"

She pulled her shoes on and grabbed a jacket. Heading downstairs with an excited feeling in her stomach, she piled into the car with her family and read the new message from Jay.

"No I'll come and get you. Let me know when you're free."

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Amber's nerves were getting the better of her as she stood outside the warehouse where her Church met, waiting for Jay to pick her up. It was going to be a warm afternoon. She moved to her left a few paces so she was standing in the shade of a big tree. When the familiar car came into view, she did her best to look relaxed, which made her feel even more awkward. As she sat in the car though and looked across at a beaming Jay, she relaxed and smiled back.