𝐈𝐅 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 → 𝖩𝖠𝖢𝖪 𝖣𝖴𝖭𝖪𝖫𝖤𝖬𝖠𝖭

𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄

Amber stood with Emily and Mason. "What's the deal with you and Dunkerman?" Mason questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing. He's my bestfriend." Amber mumbled to him, rolling her eyes.

Emily furrowed her eyebrows. "You're asking your girlfriend what's up with her and her bestfriend? What a weird boyfriend you are!"

Mason shrugged. "It's just..." his eyes land on Jack Dunkleman and Liz, Kimmy's bestfriend. "You guys act like a couple. I was only asking because better you tell me yourself and me find out through someone like Kimmy or Stig, even. Y'know, I wouldn't be surprised if you liked him."

Amber faked a smile. "I don't like him. Not anymore. I like you now, okay?" She admitted, and maybe it was the truth.

Maybe, just maybe, she's moving on from Jack Dunkleman, and maybe it's for the better.

Emily left the couple to themselves and wandered off into the marching band and started dancing alongside Fareeda.

Kimmy walked up to the couple and smirked. "We're all going to the escape room on Friday and Jack wanted me to invite you guys."

Amber smiled apologetically. "We have plans. Also, I'm very sorry about..." She trailed off, looking at the fading bruise of Kimmy's cheek.

Kimmy smiled at her. "It's fine. Y'know, I once thought we would be bestfriends. The first day of school and you picked Jodi, Jack and Fareeda over me. I was actually upset, but I guess I can forgive you."

Mason smiled watching them. Amber nodded. "I'd like that." Kimmy pulled Amber into a hug, before frowning once she winced.

"Are you okay?" Kimmy questioned. Amber faked another smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why'd you ask?"

Kimmy shook her head. "I just thought.... never mind. Well, I've got to go, toodles!"

××××

Amber closed her eyes, staring at the picture of her and Jack.

A million thoughts in my head
Should I let my heart keep listening
'Cause up 'til now I've walked the line
Nothing lost but something missing

I can't decide
What's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go

If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh, yeah
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh, if only
If only
If only

Every step, every word
With every hour I am falling in
To something new, something brave
To someone I, I have never been

I can't decide
What's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go

If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh, yeah
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh, if only
Yeah

Am I crazy? Maybe we could happen
Yeah
Will you still be with me when the magic's all run out?

If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling
Is this just a dream?
Ah oh
If only I could read the signs in front of me
I could find the way to who I'm meant to be
Ah oh

If only, yeah
If only, yeah
If only, yeah
If only, yeah

If only
If only

She turned her head, hearing clapping. Harper. She smiled at Harper who smiled back.

And that's when Amber lost it. All her emotions she's been bottling up, she let it all out.

Something she's been longing to do for a long time. Harper rushed towards her and didn't care about getting her outfit wet, in that moment she just wanted to make sure her sister was okay.

There was no talking. Harper just letting Amber let her emotions out, something Harper knew Amber had left bottled up.

Once Amber had calmed down, Harper stroked her hair. "What's wrong?"

Amber made eye contact with Harper, and seeing Harper smile sadly at the girl, she knew she had to tell her.

So she told her everything. About her parents, her feelings, Mason.

××××

Amber stood outside her house, watching as the police arrested her parents. They had given her a blanket to wrap up in, a glass of hot chocolate and now they were waiting for her real family.

Everyone was watching the commotion by now, even the ones who had just got back from the escape room.

They were all going to hang out at Dunkleman's... Well, most of them were.

Amber bit her lip, looking down at her lap as Harper sat with her and rubbed her back.

"So, about the homecoming. I'm announcing king and queen, and I want you to sing for their first dance. And possibly all the songs there?" Harper offered, hoping to make the girl smile.

Amber gave her a blank stare and nodded. Her father and mother gave her death stares as they walked past her, her mother even had the audacity to slap her across the face.

Everyone but Amber and her parents gasped. "Are you okay?" Harper whispered, pulling the girl in for a hug.

Amber covered her mouth, dropped the hot chocolate making the glass cup smash and blanket and ran into her house towards her bathroom.

She leaned over the toilet and threw up. "Harper can't deal with... sick, so she sent me." Jack muttered, rubbing the girl's back.

Amber leaned into hug him and he wrapped her in a hug. She turned back to the toilet and threw up. Jack tied her hair up and rubbed her back.

××××

Jack picked her up and carried her out of the house. The second she was back on her feet, Helaine and Richie were pulling the girl into a hug.

"Have you packed your stuff?" Richie questioned and the purple haired nodded. "Good, get in the car."

"Wait. First she has to eat something." Harper exclaimed, passing the girl a sandwich.

Hesitantly, Amber took the sandwich. Slowly, she took a bite. "Eat it all, Amber." Jack instructed, using her full name.