The Boys

sky full of stars

IThe next time I saw Amber, she and I were in school together. It was English and I was bored out of my mind, still a little fragile from the past few days. I admit that I have not really slept and more or less cried a lot. But as soon as I saw Amber in class, as soon as she smiled her perfect smile at me, my heart melted and the past few days disappeared faster than the dying bee population. 

"We're going to hang out together after school today." Amber greeted me. I hugged her tight, missing her a lot more than I thought I should do. "Hey there, Miss Alcoholic, what's up?" She rubbed my back a little, more confused and concerned than happy to see me. 

"I have missed you so much." I muttered against her shoulder and soon moved away before I started crying again. 

"Whoa, you look like shit. I mean, you're beautiful but man, you have seen some better days." Amber gave me her best smile. My heart skipped a beat. She called me beautiful. I am nowhere near beautiful but to have someone like her, someone so special to me, tell me that made me feel like Andromeda constellation was enveloping me in a hug and whispering the tales of love in my ear. 

"Yeah... the past few days haven't been the best but I am back and I'm ready to face this comprehensive trash all over again." I laughed a little to myself, thinking back to the discussions between my friends about this place. 

"Dude, I'm comprehensive trash, just you remember that." She joked, making herself laugh a little this time. "Why did you go back home anyway?" 

"Well... my mum... she died last week and it was her funeral..." I managed to say without crying. 

"Oh, baby!" Amber exclaimed and hugged me again tight, swaying us a little and made sure I was safe. I felt so safe in her arms, the safest I have been in a year. She feels so right to be around even when I feel so down and annoyed at everything, she is the person I want to be with. 

"I'm fine, I've had time to get over it." I laughed a little, dry laugh that did not fool anyone. 

"Shut your sweet little mouth, Eve. A week is not enough time to get over this." She muttered into my shoulder, squeezing my thin frame harder. "You and I are gonna get some coffee or some shit after school today and we're going to go to my house or the park if it isn't raining. And I'm going to let you cry on my shoulder and I won't care if my clothes are getting wet because you need this. You need a good cry and a shitty coffee. Deal?" She pulled us apart and rested her hand on my shoulders. 

"I don't have any money." I shrugged, her hands warming my entire body up in this ice prison. I have been given all my mother's money but I cannot access that until I am 18 and I want all of that to go straight to university fees. If I do Cambridge or Oxford to study whatever, then I need the money for it. London is an expensive place to live in and as I am suddenly in care, I don't have many funds. 

"My treat, babe. Now, unlike you, I have some work to do this lesson because I've not done this before." She laughed a little and gave me another quick hug before returning to her work. 

The next two lessons were the longest lessons of my life, to be fair. I was as cold as I could possibly be even in my coat. I swear I have been putting on weight but I am still cold constantly. I cannot wait to be healthy again and hopefully a little happier. Being healthy and happy are two of the things I have not been entirely this past year and it is time for change.

Amber and I wait 15 minutes after school for everyone to leave the area before we can go. Having no one around calms me. I am able to think clearer in my stressful episodes. Amber doesn't hesitate to keep her arm around me while we took a trip over to the coffee shop. Helena and Robert won't expect me until they get home anyway so I have an hour and a bit, maybe a little longer.