Set Free

Set Free Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

  As I was about to leave the church, I heard my name being called from somewhere behind me.

  "Amber!" someone was yelling after me.

  I turned around and saw it had been Nick yelling, and he was jogging over to me. Justice was hanging onto his arm, pulling him back. I saw him shake her off. "For the last time, leave me alone, Justice!" I heard him tell her. Her mouth dropped open, and she ran away. I smiled as he continued to make his way to me.

  "Amber, hey." he said.

  I gave him a real smile.

  "Hi." I replied.

  "Yeah, hi." He said,

For a minute, he just stood there, running his hand through his hair. He looked like he was trying to think of something to say.

  "So, um, congratulations, about tonight. I mean, I'm really happy for you." He finally said.

  "Thanks." I replied. Then I made a quick decision to ask him about Justice. "So...can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, um, I don't really care or anything, but....."

He nodded firmly, as if he understood.

"I'm just going to say this plainly.....Are you and Justice together?"

"What?! Me, and Justice? No, no, of course not. Why do you ask? No jealous, are you?" He smirked at me playfully.

"No, no, of course not. I just was wondering if there was going to be some kind of change in our friendship, cause, you know, if you had a girlfriend, things wouldn't be the same anymore..." I choked out.

"They wouldn't?"

"Um, you know, just forget I said anything, okay? I should be getting home anyway. It's getting kind of late."

"Well, okay. So," he said, as he turned to leave, "I'll see you, alright?"

  "Yeah, see you." I replied, still smiling. I didn't have anything to worry about. I'm almost postive I didn't. Almost.

  Deciding to push my worries aside for now, I then got into my car and drove home with a smile still plastered on my face.

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On Thursday morning I woke up with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew that was never a good sign. And I couldn't help but feel as though tragedy had struck again while I slept.

"Mom, I'm going out!" I called as I pulled on a jacket and left my house.

I knew something was wrong, or about to be wrong. And it was killing me, that I didn't know what.

I drove around town, letting my instincts guide me, and eventually I ended up at Nick's house. I stopped the car across the road, but I didn't get out.

At first I was confused as to why I had been led there, but then the reason became apparent. Soon Nick, and,--was that Justice?--came into my view. They were walking towards his house together, talking intensely. I watched Justice suddenly spot me,but Nick was oblivious. She was, of course, smiling evily. She turned to Nick and said something to him, and he turned to face her. Then she wrapped her long arms around his neck, and kissed him.

My mouth dropped open, and it took me a few minutes to believe what I was seeing. When I finally did, I immediately started up my car, and drove away as fast as I could. How could he lie to me and say nothing was going on between them when there obviously was?

 What I didn't know, though, was that the minute Nick noticed I was gone, he pushed Justice off of him.