"The Sketcher." (A Jacksepticeye Story.)

Trust Me

"Please, just keep on fighting."
- Sean William McLoughlin

Chapter Four

This time, Amber ended up waking before her alarm did. Amber one, alarm clock zero. She rubbed her face, willing herself to get up. Last night she tossed and turned, not being able to fall asleep easily. She looked with tired eyes around her bedroom, dreading going to school. Day number two.
She jumped a little as her dog, Sam, jumped up on the bed. Her golden retriever barked at her and licked her face. She had managed to opened her door with her snout and rush inside.
She giggled and hugged her companion, running her fingers through his soft fur. She kissed his wet nose and stared into his eyes for a moment or two. Sam had been with Amber since she was a baby. He was her best friend, someone who she could talk to all the time. He was a good listener and always gave the best cuddles.

"I don't want to go to school today." Amber told the dog, watching his ears perk and his eyes look into hers.

   He whined and pawed her leg, making her laugh. After a kiss on the head, Amber got out and started to get ready. She searched through her drawers until she found a pair of blue jeans and a green and black flannel.
She let her hair fall down her back, brushing her teeth and grabbing her things. She patted the dog on the way out, gripping her sketchbook in her arms. She walked down the stairs, hearing someone in the kitchen. When she turned the corner, she saw her mother standing at the stove.
When she turned around, they both exchanged smiles. Her mother had her blonde hair in a messy bun, streaks of gray showing through. Her mother had a soft smile, kind green eyes, and a bubbly laugh.
Amber's mother was shorter than her and her daughter made sure to remind her of this constantly. She had lost a little of that shine she used to have in her eyes, and the bubble in her laugh. Amber has been trying to make her happy again after her father.

"Do you want breakfast, honey?" Her mother asked sweetly, playing with a lock of Amber's hair.

   She smiled at her mother but politely declined, kissing her mother's cheek and heading out the door. Her mother watched her from the window, waving. Amber sighed and headed up to school, her smile slowly melting.
Ten minutes later she arrived, heading straight to her locker. She put her stuff away, now concentrated on untangling her headphones. Suddenly, a hand rested on the locker near her. She turned her head, seeing one of the jocks that knocked her books from her seat the other day.

"Hey there." He said, smiling cheekily at her.

   She returned it with a polite smile and returned back to her headphones. She could feel his burning stare on her face. She turned back to him, feeling a bit annoyed. What was his problem?

"Since you're the new kid, I just wanted to introduce myself. Hi, I'm Luke. Luke Hall."

   He stuck out his hand, letting her shake hands with him. He winked at her, causing her to blush a little. He chuckled and looked down the hall when a group of his friends started appearing.

"Looks like this is my que to go. Hope to talk again soon...Amber."

Amber sighed in frustration. Her hands tried again and again to untangle the stupid things, but it ended up in failure. Amber grunted and threw her headphones to the ground.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she just stood there. She heard footsteps leading towards her. Please don't be Luke, Please don't be Luke. When she looked up, it was Jack. Her heart pounded when their eyes locked. He instantly started smiling at her.
He bent down and swiftly picked up the headphones. He expertly untangled them and handed them back after a couple minutes. Amber thanked him and grabbed the rest of her stuff. He didn't walk away, but stayed. So, in sheer awkwardness, Amber turned and started going the other way when Jack followed to meet up with her.
"Wait! I just want to talk to you, like I was wanting to yesterday. Again, sorry about them. They are real jerks sometimes." Jack said, chuckling as he shoved a thumb in Luke's direction.

   Amber was amazed by his confidence and only wished she had that too. He smiled warmly at her, causing her to blush. She tended to blush easily. Suddenly, she felt angry. Maybe this really was just all a joke. With Luke being so sarcastic and snarky, he could've set this whole thing up.

"Is this a joke?" Amber said quietly, glaring at him.

   He seemed genuinely surprised and shook his head. Amber's heart pounded in her ears as his reaction halted her anger. Did he really just want to talk? Why would he do that?

"Why? Do I smell or something? You don't seem to want to be around me. I wore cologne, I swear." He said, sniffing his arm and gripping his shirt to smell.

   Amber covered her mouth and let out a chuckle. Her anger had completely dissolved. Jack smiled, convincing Amber to sit with him on a set of stairs at the end of the hallway.
Amber looked down at the sketchbook, feeling the awkward silence grow. She couldn't understand why she felt drawn to this boy. This was only her second day and she's barely even had conversation with him. He seemed genuinely interested in taking her. To be honest, she wanted to know about him too.

"Your so shy..even your hands don't want to be seen by the world." Jack said, pointing towards her hands.

   She looked down, seeing her fingertips gripping the sleeves, hiding them even more. Amber blushed harder, clearing her throat. Jack looked over at her sketchbook that was held in her arms.

"Would you mind showing me your drawings? I honestly think they are really good. I can hardly draw a stick person." He asked, making Amber smile a little.

Amber seemed hesitant but reluctantly opened her book to the first page. It was a drawing of her mother. She was sitting by the window, staring out at the scenery outside. The sun shined on her skin, and her beautiful smile was etched onto her face. Jack took a couple moments to study it.
This drawing had a story behind it. It was during the summer last year when her family wasn't broken apart yet. It was a sunny day and her mother decided to sun herself in the window sill. She was secretly watching your father tend to the garden outside. It was a beautiful moment she wanted to capture.

"Wow." He breathed, taking in the drawing.

   Amber was secretly loving this moment. Nobody gave her the time to see the talent she had. Drawing was her passion, something she couldn't live without. Having someone acknowledge it as more than just a drawing, was something she desperately has been waiting for.

"What's this?" He asked, snapping Amber out of her moment.

   He pointed to a page sticking out from the book. Her heart dropped as he grabbed it and started to open it. Before she could stop him, he had opened and smooth it out in front of him. He looked at it, surprise written on his face. Jack looked at Amber, and then back at the page.

"Is this a drawing of...me?"