Coming Home

Chapter 3 - Suprise?

Luke's P.O.V. (Whaaaat?!)

            "Mom, I'm home!" Amber shouted up the stairs from beside me. The last two-and-a-half hours have been... interesting. Amber is a really entertaining person. She knows a lot about cars and music, especially the Beatles. I think I have a slight crush on her. Uh oh. James would kill me. I'm just going to push that thought away for now.

            Mrs. Harding came bouncing down the stairs with a large grin on her face. She has a flat package wrapped in sheet music wrapping paper with a red bow in her hand.

            "Bambi, you're home!" She hugged her daughter. "And you must be James' friend, Luke." She smiled and hugged me. I hugged back awkwardly, mumbling a quick 'hi' as I did so.

            "What's that," Amber asks, reaching for the gift. "A coming home present?" She winks and me and I feel my face get hot. Ingnoring the intense blush on my face, I smile at her and return her wink.

            "No, it's your birthday present," her mom said slowly.

            "Birthday?" Amber questioned. "Mine's not until the nineteenth. Wait..." she trailed off, counting. I almost say something about not thinking too hard, but my phone buzzes in my pocket, distracting me. I pull out my phone and check the notifications, and note that I have a message from James. I click 'open message' and read what he sent.

From: James

            Hey man, get mom to bring y'all up here. I got Bambi her dream guitar. Loook!

-Attached Photo-

            I smirked at his enthusiasm, and clicked on the picture. I gaped at the beautiful red-tinted guitar. I immediately knew what kind of guitar it was: a cherry-wine Gibson acoustic - Amber's dream guitar. Gibson has once again outdone themselves (okay, so even though I fought in the war, I'm still a music nerd). I wanted so badly to tell Amber about the guitar. Instead, I spoke up about James' whereabouts.

            "So, Mrs. Harding, is James in his room?" I didn't specify on whether or not he was dead or alive. Not to mention I kept a casual tone, and a straight face. Ha, nailed it.

            "Oh please, call me Delilah, and yes he is." She faked a sad tone in her voice to keep the secret hidden from her daughter. "Follow me." She turned on her heel and led us up the stairs.

            "Wait here for a moment." Delilah says as we reach the door at the end of the hallway. She slips inside, leaving Amber and me out in the hall.

            I stare at the door for a few moments before turning to take a glance at Amber. She's wearing a black t-shirt that has a lacey front on it. Her hair is loose and straight. She's so pretty. I find myself smiling at her, thinking about asking her on a date. Date? We just met today. No dates. No, just no.

            "What are you starin' at?" Amber's southern drawl peaks out as she smirks at me, somehow making me blush again. She's so beautiful.

            "You," I blurt. "I mean, uh, I like your... shoes?" Shoes? Really? That's the best you could come up with? Not to mention, it sounded like a question. Ugh, you're so stupid. I mentally scolded myself.

            "Thanks. Don't you get hot wearing all that gear?" She motioned to my uniform.

            "Yeah, but not right now. Wait, yes I do get hot in it sometimes, but I'm not hot in it at the moment." I'm rambling now. Stop talking, Luke, I tell myself.