Stigma--Billy Hargrove

43 Mississippi

wow crazy long. Hope you guys like this chapter!

not edited

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Today was Halloween, always a weird time of the year. Time seemed to fly after Halloween, but it was Amber's favorite holiday and she couldn't wait to see Dustin all dressed up. She got up for school and put on a dark blue pair of high waisted mom jeans and a black turtle neck, and her red converse. She frowned at her blue cast, it definitely ruined her outfit.

"Hey, Dustin?" Amber asked as she walked to the kitchen, an orange scrunchy in her hand, "this is gonna sound weird, but I need you to put my hair up in a ponytail."

Dustin turned to face her in his seat. He was dressed in a Ghostbusters costume, and he grinned, "I can try!"

Amber sat down and winced as Dustin pulled her hair harshly to get it in a high ponytail. He stuck his hand in front of her face, wanting the scrunchy so he could tie it off. Amber handed him her scrunched and winced again when he pulled harder, "oh, dude, that hurts."

He shrugged, "sorry, but it's done, what do you think?" he asked, very proud of himself.

Amber looked in the mirror and he actually did do a good job, it was pretty much a perfect messy ponytail, "I gotta say, I'm surprised that you're this good with hair."

Dustin chuckled and sat down and grabbed his spoon, "with a mane of hair like mine I had to learn how to get it perfect." he said and scoped some cereal in his mouth.

Amber raised an eyebrow, "you're full of secrets Dustin, you wanna spill some?"

Dustin shrugged feeling a little bit smug and puffed his chest out, "this is great cereal, what brand is this?" he asked looking at the box in front of them

"You didn't answer my question, kid," she said and sipped her water.

Dustin slumped back down in his seat, "You know, I don't really remember any secrets, oh hey look at the time. Don't want to be late to class, bye!" he said and shot out of the kitchen and then out of the house.

Amber tilted her head. He was acting so weird, plus he forgot to brush his teeth. She shrugged and went back to brush hers and prepared herself for the long, it wasn't that long, walk to school.

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Amber slid into her assigned seat next to Steve and pulled out her homework. The older boy turned to face her a sheepish grin on his face.

"Hey, Amber," he said and trailed off.

She looked at him with raised eyebrows, "what do you want, Steve?"

"Listen I forgot to do my homework and Mr. Tan would kill me if I didn't turn anything in for the third day in a row," he said and ran a hand through his thick hair.

Amber pursed her lips and then smiled at it, "only because I like you," she said and handed him her bio homework.

Steve rapidly copied her answers and handed her paper back to her, "Hey there's a Halloween party tonight if you want to come. I mean I guess we're good enough friends," he teased and elbowed her side lightly.

"Oh shut up, Harrington," she said her cheeks a little red. She honestly didn't think Steve saw her as that much of a friend. Plus she could probably drag Charlie with her since that girl loves to party. "I guess I'll come, where's it at?"

Steve dug a flyer out of his backpack, "it's on the Culdesac on Maple. You'll know it when you see it."

Amber nodded, "thanks, it sounds fun!"