Orange Sky

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

There was a sharp knock on my door later that day. Hunter was passed out on the couch, ignoring the blare of whatever movie he put on while I tried to study for a history test. I groan and get up, fully expecting Jason to be standing there even though I told him not to disturb me.

I was wrong.

Instead it was Amber, standing there in jeans and a navy blue t-shirt, her hair tied in a sloppy bun.

“What are you doing here?” I say in a tone much harsher than I wanted it to be.

She sniffled and looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy.

“I really need to talk to you. Can we take a walk?”

“Who’s there?” Hunter groans from the couch. I ignore him.

“Yeah of course.”

We walk in silence, Amber looked at the ground. She wanted to talk, otherwise she wouldn’t come to my house, almost bent over in tears.

“How’s your mom?” she asks so quietly even I could barley hear her.

“She’s okay. I think she’s staying away from home lately to keep her mind off my dad.”

Amber nods. “That really sucks, you know, that it would’ve been their 15th wedding university and all.”

“It does.”

Then it was quiet. We continued for a while until I collapsed on a bench in the playground. The air was chilly. Amber sat next to me, biting her lips nervously.

“My dad has another family.” she said finally.

“What do you mean another family?” 

Amber closed her eye as her face became contorted with pain.

“He has a girlfriend. He had kids with that girlfriend. 3. He told my mom he didn’t want another kid because it would be ‘too much work’ and yet he knocks up that whore 3 fucking times.” Amber sobs.

“Oh my god Amber I-I’m so sorry.” I stumble.

I pulled her into a hug, trying to calm her down.

“You know the worst part is that one is 15. He’s a year younger than me. Its been going on for 15 fucking years. I never met him. Apparently he’s dad’s favorite because he’s a straight A student with a talent for soccer. He told me i’m worthless. He said that to my face Aurora.”

Her whole body shakes. I could feel all the stress and anger come in waves, like she had been holding onto this for a long time.

“He’s marrying her. He said he loves her more than my mom and me. He said that i’m not his child, i’m a disgrace to him and that if I ever contact him again he’ll kill me. He doesn’t want me to meet my other siblings. I’m the reason he cheated. Because i’m a failure.”

“No your not Amber. He’s trying to blame you for his actions and mistakes. You are not a mistake. Those kids in California are the mistake. The mistress is a mistake. Not you.” I say, stroking her hair.

She sniffles. “He left already. My mother was screaming and yelling, clinging to him as he tried to leave.. He smacked her straight across the face, so hard that he cut her cheek with his wedding ring. And then when he left he threw it on the floor and stepped on it. He never looked at me once.”

I didn’t know what to say. Saying sorry didn’t fix anything. I know that. I knew it better than anyone else. That day in court when Quinn was pleading “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry I didn't mean it! AUORA PLEASE FORGIVE ME. MR AND MRS MANX PLEASE FORGIVE ME.” and then running up to them, gripping Hunter’s fathers shirt, begging. Sorry didn’t bring back their son. It didn’t erase the memory’s of him taking advantage of me being helpless. It didn’t take away any of the pain he caused.

It didn’t do anything.

“Everything will be okay.” I say.

Amber sobs harder. I only hold her, making sure she knew someone still loved her.

“I’m so sorry for ignoring you Aurora. I was being selfish.”

“No I was ignoring you actually. I was being an idiot.” I whisper.

Amber pulls away, her eyes red and swollen.

“We’re both wrong then. We’re both the idiots who were oblivious.”

“Yes, we are. Now to fix that you’re staying over and eating cookie dough with me until 2 am.”

She smiles and hugs me, still sniffling.

Everything may be okay.