Her Warrior

Chapter 8

AC's POV

"Yes dad I've been safe," I whine into the phone waiting patiently outside in my dad's rental car that he had me pick up.

"Are you sure? I know you struggle with your mom and brother." He said wearily as a female voice chirps a quick 'yeah!' In the background.

"I swear I'm fine, dad. I've even made some friends!" I say happily into the phone.

"Alright, I see you so pop the trunk and to the back you go kiddo!"

"Okayyyy!"

"I'm really craving Subway!" Amber's voice says loudly as she climbs into the passenger seat with a exhausted sigh and a pout, I chuckle at her behavior as my dad gets into the car with a playful eye roll.

"I told you I'd buy you Subway when we landed, baby. Calm down." My dad said playfully poking Amber's cheek making her instantly smile again.

"You guys are sure something," I say with a laugh making Amber turn to look at me "I mean it in the nicest was possible." I say making Amber laugh along with me while my dad chuckles.

Time skip

"Is she cute?!" Amber practically yells catching everyone's attention in the Subway restaurant, I blush from her being so blunt.

"I-I mean Je-Jenny is very cute... Very." I say nervously fidgeting with my hands.

"Aww that's so cute! Isn't it cute, Luke?!" Amber asks shaking my dad back and forth with a grin spread on her face.

"The most adorable thing ever" dad says playfully to Amber, who if possible smiles bigger happy that she got him to interact in this conversation. The thing you learn quickly about Amber is she's bubbly, loud, sweet, and pretty much always supporting, when I first found out my dad was moving on from my mom I honestly thought the worst of it, like some part of my life was ending because I knew they would never be able to rebuild and maybe love each other again someday but when my dad introduced me to Amber and how she made him smile from simple things like her laughter I couldn't see him with anyone else.

"You've gotta ask her on a date!" Amber yells as the Subway bell rings from the glass door being pushed in.

"James?" Dad asks in a quiet voice, my smile drops from my face and I turn to look up at my one and only brother.

"Oh... Hey dad" James says awkwardly stepping back "How's life been I guess?" He says glaring at Amber, it was clear that the tension and awkwardness was only coming from James, dad had tried many times to get in touch with James but James never gave him the time of day, he said dad left them and didn't deserve any part of their life after that.

"I've been good, Bud. How have you been?" Dad asks with a small smile, it's obvious he misses James but he also respects James wishes and would accept that until James asked for him back in his life, dad grew up without a father figure around and not much of a mother around too so part of him understood why James would act the way he did.

"I've been fine."

"That's good."

"Sure." James shifts to his other foot as his best friend runs into Subway and slaps him on the back.

"Dude what's taking so long?" He says with a smirk.

"Sorry, I was just talking to AC." He says leaving no room for anything more to be said, he turns and walks up to the counter to order his food.

"How's he really been, AC" dad ask with a sad smile as he watches James order, I shrug and look towards Amber who grips dads hand with a frown.

"We're not as close as we used to be. I think he really is fine but he barely looks at me much less acknowledges me as his sister anymore." I say, truth be told I really did miss talks with James on our roof at three am trying to escape mom and dads fights when they were first thinking about getting a divorce. "Sorry dad" I say with a frown, he nods and listens to Amber as she whispers kind words into his ear that make him look away from James and nod sadly.

Time Skip

"Why the long face?" Austin asks happily skipping beside me in the schools hall way.

"Just thinking about my family and some other things" I say honestly as I make my way to the schools driveway. 

"Everything okay?" He questions slowing down to a walk with me, I nod.

"For the most part everything is fine, I just wish I could fix things between us all sometimes" I say lifting my backpack onto my shoulder better "It's just a little lonely at times without them even though they're right here."

"You're really strong." Austin says startling me.

"What?"

"You're really strong." He repeats with a goofy smile "You're really strong because you've dealt with pain no one should feel. You've dealt with feeling lonely and unwanted because you're gay and want to marry a women someday. No one should ever have to feel that way, but people have and I wouldn't wish that on the worst of people. I think you should be allowed to marry anyone you want, with their consent of course." He says looking down at me as we walk out the school doors.

"Thanks, Austin. Whoever you marry one day will be very lucky." I say, he smiles bigger and laughs  

"I think I'll be the lucky one."

"Whoever has the privilege of falling in love and keeping it forever is the lucky one." I say walking towards my bike, Austin follows and nods. 

"That's true."

Author's Note:  I'm sorry if this is a really short and crappy chapter BUT guess who now has WiFi and something to write on??? THIS GIRL. Now that I have that I should be able to update more but I am suffering from writers block so it might take some time. Thank you all for being so understanding and loving/supporting this book! :)