I sighed as I continued my morning routine. My normal, mediocre life was, to put it plainly, boring. I pulled on my long brown coat, grabbed the messenger bag that I used for school, and walked out the door. My mom had probably gone to work already, and my dad... wasn't important.
I shook the memories out of my head as I headed down the street, checking my watch. It was 6:03. If I hurried, I had time for a short excursion. I walked down the road, thinking about school, and more importantly, the strange things that had been happening to me over the past month. Since October had started, strange things were happening to me. One day after school on my way home, I had the strangest feeling, as if someone was watching me. Another day in the library, I heard footsteps behind me, only to turn around and not see or hear anything. The only place I got away from those strange happenings were the woods, just a short walk away.
As I walked, I sang a song that my dad had taught me before the incident.
Fly like a bird, and run the wind,
waiting for you, forever, I've been
but no more do I have to be afraid,
because now you're here right beside me.
My breaths formed tiny clouds in the air, and I approached the river cutting in between my house and the forest. There always seemed to be a tense atmosphere here, as if there was a constant storm brewing. I jumped across the stones that made a bridge to the forest, and as soon as I hit the mossy dirt, my body relaxed. I always feel as if I'm always alert, ready to run, just like a rabbit. I'm always so tense, I hardly even notice until I come here.
Making calculations in my head, I knew I had already missed the bus. It arrives at my house every day at exactly 6:05. I would have to walk to school, which is what I preferred anyways. I would have to avoid the usual stops and just walk straight through the forest, and I would get to school right on time, 6:30. I gathered my energy, and began my hike. I kept singing, my voice cutting through the silence.
I walked for a good twenty minutes, then emerged from the other side of the forest, just across the street from my school. Bunches of kids stood outside, waiting to be let in. There was a more excited air, because today was the day everyone had been waiting for, it was Halloween.
I walked calmly across the road, only starting to run when I saw a car. My friend Addi was waiting for me at the bench. I sighed when I saw who she was sitting with. Lately, she had gotten to be friends with one of the popular kids at our school, Veronica Goldsmith. Might I add, Veronica wasn't as fond of me as she was Addi. As soon as I saw her glance at me, I knew I was sailing in dangerous waters. She had that triumphant face of victory on, and it was directed at me. Wasn't I the lucky one?
"Oh, Amber!" she called in her fake voice, like the call of a deranged dove, "Come here! I have something I know you'll be delighted to see!" there was an evil glint in her eyes, but I walked over anyway, knowing it was inevitable.
She showed me an image on her phone, and I immediately felt my face turn red, and I balled up my fists. It was a picture of my dad, the same picture that they showed on the newspaper the day he went missing, exactly 7 years ago. "It's a lovely picture, isn't it?" she beamed. She knew she had hit home.
"Amber?" Addi asked, "Are you okay?"
Ignoring her question, I shoved Veronica to the ground, "Where did you get that?" I growled, "You have no business with that."
I felt someone push me away. I fell to the ground, and as I got up, I saw Addi, standing over Veronica, helping her up. A burning sensation filled my chest, and I felt betrayed. "Are you alright?"
"My arm hurts really bad. I might've landed on it."
"I'll take you to the nurse. I'm sorry, I didn't realize she would act that way towards you," Addi shot a glare in my direction, "She won't anymore."
"Thank you!" I heard Veronica's voice, "Ah!" she stumbled as she stood up. The school bell rang, and I caught one final glare from Addi before losing her in the crowd.
My only friend felt like she was miles away, and I had never been lonelier.
I walked through the halls later that day, doing dismally in my classes after I hadn't been able to focus on anything but Addi and my burning hatred of Veronica. I did, however, have a chance to redeem myself this period, the only class I had with Addi. If I could just explain what had happened, I could get her back on Team Amber and off Team Veronica. However, when I walked in, my hopes were crushed. Although Veronica wasn't in this class, all of her "followers" were. I saw Addi, standing in the middle of them, and obviously telling them what had happened. She caught my eye, and gave me a look of pure disgust. I made a gesture for her to come over, and she sighed. She stalked over to me, and snapped, "What do you want?"
"Look," I started, "I'm sorry-"
"No you're not!" Addi scoffed, "You don't feel an ounce of regret."
"Let me talk!" I protested.
"Why should I?" Addi growled, "Let you talk like you let Veronica talk?"
I winced, "No, you don't understa-"
"I think I understand perfectly," Addi said, "You're selfish and insecure so you take it out on innocent people like Veronica."
"Oh, I see where loyalties lie," I was getting cornered, I had to start fighting back, "You would sooner defend someone you hated last week than your best friend for a decade!"
"You can't say anything to me about loyalties!" She shot back, "If you were really loyal to me, you would treat my friends with as much respect as they gave you."
"Veronica doesn't know the meaning of respect!" I yelled back, "Do you know what she did?"
"She showed you a picture!"
"SHE SHOWED ME A PICTURE OF MY DEAD FATHER!" I was crying, "She was mocking me, mocking him, she-"
"I don't care what she did," Addi whispered, "Under no circumstances should you treat a friend like that. I think this is where we say goodbye, Amber."
My heart stopped, I couldn't process what she had just said, "What?"
She gave me one more glance, then turned and walked back to her friends. All I could do was stand there. I collapsed to the ground, sobbing. I heard laughter, and I was filled with a burning passion in my soul. Addi had made a fool of me. My best friend had embarrassed me in front of the entire class.
I stood up, and walked to where she was, talking to her new friends. I waltzed over with my head held high, and slapped her hard. There was a red mark on her face where my hand had hit her. I felt no remorse. My head still high, I walked out of the classroom.
A/N: btw here's a pic of Amber!!!
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