The Author | Amber X Reader | f(x) Fanfic |

Twenty

I hid my sore face with my hands and ran upstairs when I reached the house.

"Why the fuck is your face so bruised?" Amber slammed the door shut after I ran in.

I couldn't bring up my voice. Tears were choking me up. She dashed over and started inspecting my face.

"Who did this to you?" She shouted in my ear as she pushed back my hair. Eyes fixed on me, she let out an angry sound as soon as I faced her. "Those bitches!"

I hugged her tightly and let the envelope fall to the floor. She held me as I sobbed.

"I'll get you some ice for the swelling." She said calmly and went downstairs after I fell to the bed and formed a cocoon using the blanket.

"Y/N, dinner is ready!" I heard my mother's calls.

"Not hungry today." I shouted back. The door opened and Amber dabbed the ice over my cheeks.

"I'll be downstairs. They'll get suspicious if we both skip dinner." She said before going out the door again.

As the ice cooled down my skin, I brought my knees upto my chest. Empty tears streamed down my face and my eyes closed.

I really wish you were here right now.

I need you here right now.

"Y/N ..." Her gentle voice woke me up. "Hey! Are you going to school today? I'll tell them you're sick if you want to take the day off." Amber whispered while running her hands through my hair.

Her hair covered her puffy eyes as she smiled down at me. The curtains were drawn out and the dim morning sunlight flooded the room.

"No." My voice was nearly gone. "I am not sick. It's okay. We have to do the table read today, the English test, practice- practicals." I corrected myself.

Slowly rising from the comfort of the bed, I made my way to the sink. I caught my reflection in the mirror.

"The swelling is still there. It's gone down a bit but still." Amber commented as I washed my face.

"It's okay... I didn't get to revise yesterday." I changed the topic.

"You studied on Saturday, you'll be fine." Her arm around my shoulders, she smiled. I cracked up and turned back to brush my teeth.

"Y/N, aren't you eating?" My mom asked as I made a beeline for the door.

"No. I am not hungry." I adjusted the black mask with my head down.

I reached an empty class. There were a few early birds walking along the corridor but none paid any attention to me.

My bag unpacked and the script arranged properly in my file, my head hit the bench.

"Good morning!" A shy voice said as the door opened. I turned and froze in my seat.

"Get the fuck away from me." I spoke forcefully.

"I know you're mad at me but please hear me through." She moved towards me through the empty classroom, uncertain in her steps.

"Luna, I ... get away from me, please." I winced when her hands pulled down the mask.

"I wanted to say sorry." Her eyes were red shot. "I didn't think it would go like that."

"I don't want to hear it." My hands gripped her wrists but I couldn't push her away.

"I regret everything that happened yesterday. I wanted to call, to apologise but I couldn't bring myself to face you." She whimpered.

"Please leave me alone. Please." I ripped her hands off me and turned away.

"I am sorry." She said before walking out of the classroom.

......

Applause rung through the room. Our first table read was done. It wasn't perfect, but it was one more step towards our goal.

The door opened and Sulli walked in accompanied by Miss Song. Chatter erupted among the curious students.

"Good evening children! I heard your first table read when well. Good work on the project, it's amazing seeing such creative minds working together." She smiled at everyone.

"Thank you ma'am." The collective response arose.

"I wanted to tell everyone here about an excellent opportunity that has come our way." She paused and looked around the room. "I was able to obtain a few student passes for a film workshop happening a few minutes away from our competition venue during the days right after our competition."

Gasps and excited murmur filled the air.

"The cinematography club has already agreed to accompany me but we still have a few extra passes left. If anyone here is interested in joining us, please stay back after this meeting to give me your names." Her smile reached her eyes.

"That would be amazing." I said under my mask.

"This is what I was talking about earlier." Amber put her hand on mine and squeezed it. I nodded enthusiastically.

The room started to thin out and we joined a line of about four students to give our names.

"Y/N! I am glad to see you taking more interest in writing this year." Miss Song said when I reached her.

"It'll be a golden chance, I cannot miss out." My mask was muffling my voice a little.

"Good! I like the energy. Get well soon." She jotted down my name and we were out the gate.

"My friends are calling me today, they said they want to meet you." Amber told me as we ate snacks on the couch.

"I am sorry, I am not feeling upto it. Maybe next time." I said with remorse.

"Do you think Luna is lying? Want me to find out?" Amber's tone got more serious.

"No. I don't want to bother with her or any of them." I spoke after a long pause.

Hugs and kisses from Cheonsa.