by Ruth Houston
I swear, that pinecone had to be the only pinecone in the park and with my luck I managed to step on it. Oh, the improbability of it all!
Anyway, I stepped on the pinecone and with a cry of surprise, I felt it roll forwards from under my weight, sending me toppling off-balance and crashing into the grass. I lay on my back, staring up at the stars that seemed to be winking with laughter at me while my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Let me help you up." Lucas had appeared, grinning as he helped me to my feet. "Are you OK?"
I took a step back to steady my spinning head before replying with a groan, "I'm used to it."
Lucas laughed. "I must say, that little spill of yours finished off the moment nicely. Maybe if I just ask around for a girl who keeps falling over tomorrow, someone will point me in your direction, huh?"
I couldn't help but smile. "You're better off asking after a girl who embarrasses herself every two seconds." I sighed. "Well, I better be off before this situation gets any worse, huh?"
I saw disappointment shine in Lucas's eyes before he nodded and said, "I better be back off to my prison… I mean, school. See you." He smiled, raising a hand in farewell as he walked off, melting into the darkness.
I sighed. Why is it that every time I meet someone incredibly hot and nice I have to make a complete fool out of myself?
* * *
I couldn't sleep that night. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about nothing and trying to will myself to sleep.
I knew the reason why I had temporary insomnia was because I had gotten up early that morning. Don't ask me why, but it happens.
I finally decided to get a drink of water and a midnight snack – tonight it would be popcorn – but on my way back upstairs from the kitchen my eyes fell on the T.V. in the living room. I smiled, making my way into the room.
My best friend on nights like these, I thought as I settled on the couch with my popcorn and picked up the D.V.D. player remote. I switched on the T.V., turning the sound down so as to not wake up the rest of the house. I turned on the D.V.D. player to see what movie was in it.
The Descent? I thought, wondering what it could be. Looking at the main menu, it looked like a thriller or horror movie. I hesitated…
Well, OK, I have this thing where I get really freaked out by horror films… something about my 'vivid imagination', according to my Mum. Anyway, the last time I watched a horror film was two years ago and I had lay awake the rest of the night, flinching at every shadow and sound. Call me a scaredy-cat, I don't care. It was scary.
I bit my lip. Well, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight anyway, I thought, resigning myself to the movie.
So there I was halfway through the suspenseful movie, cowering on the corner of the lounge, a trembling hand raising a piece of popcorn to my lips with my eyes glued to the T.V. screen. I jumped at the sound of a creaking floorboard, my eyes flicking to the silent doorway but after a moment of stillness, I returned my focus to the screen, whimpering slightly as one of the characters was brutally killed.
Suddenly, the scariest thing happened. It will haunt me for the rest of my life, I swear…
"Ammmberrrr." The hoarse, yet quiet voice seemed to float through the air creepily before reaching my ears and making me squeak with fear.
"Ammmmberrrrrrrrr!" hissed the voice again, this time more insistent.
"W – Who are y – you?" I stammered in a voice little more than a whisper.
"I ammm the Greeaaat Onnne," the voice hissed. "Now, giiive mmmeee some popcornnnn!"
"I… Wait, what?" Somehow, I didn't think monsters/ghosts went for popcorn.
That was when I heard the quiet laughter coming from behind the couch I was sitting on. I turned and leant over the top of the couch, looking down to see none other than Tristan kneeling there, smiling innocently up at me.
"You little –!"
My furious voice was cut off by Tristan's hand covering my mouth.
"Shhh, oh Scared One," Tristan whispered, barely able to contain his mirth as he gestured to the roof. "Your parents are still asleep."
I glared at him and did the only thing I could think of to get his big paw off my mouth… I licked his palm.
"Ew! Gross, Amber," Tristan moaned, releasing my mouth and making a disgusted face.
I grinned wickedly. "It got you off me, didn't it?"
Tristan sighed and leapt over the back of the couch, landing next to me with a soft flump. My skin tingled as I realised how close he was sitting.
Damn, I thought Lucas would help me get over him! I thought angrily.
"Tristan, there is the entire other side of the couch; go move over there," I complained.
"If I did move over there I wouldn't be able to get any popcorn now, would I?" Tristan commented, reaching for some of my delicious snack.
"Who said you'd get any anyway?" I said, jerking the packet out of his reach.
"Come on, Amber, give it here!" Tristan hissed, making a grabbing motion for the packet but missing.
"Nuh-uh! What are the magic words?" I teased.
"Pretty please?" Tristan said, shooting me puppy-dog eyes.
I snorted. "Who would think those were the magic words? Are you really as stupid as you look?"
Tristan narrowed his eyes and suddenly he was on top of me, wrestling me for the popcorn. We rolled around on the couch, me twisting away from his reach while he was trying to pull my arm toward him, both of us laughing but keeping our voices quiet.
Suddenly, Tristan trapped my body completely beneath his and snatched the packet from my hand with a quiet cry of triumph. I glared into his eyes for a moment before I realised just how close his eyes were to mine… His entire body was pressed against me, his lips two inches from mine and his eyes fixed on mine.
"All you had to do was say Abra Kadabra," I murmured in a slightly shaky voice, trying to bring myself out of the trance I had seemed to fall under.
Tristan didn't reply. I guess he didn't have time to before his lips came crashing down on mine…
CHAPTER EIGHT
Yep, that's right. That jerk had the nerve to kiss me! To steal my first ever kiss!
I mean… he was a jerk right? He didn't even ask for my permission to kiss me for the first time ever… and it wasn't even a romantic location! What was his problem?
Oh, right, he's still kissing me. Ahem… Why am I kissing him back?!
Reason caught up to the moment and my eyes flew open. I placed my hands on Tristan's chest and pushed, causing him to roll off me and land on his back on the carpet, the breath rushing out of him with a soft: "Oof!"
"What did you do that for?" Tristan whispered, rubbing his head where he's smacked it on the floor as he raised himself on one elbow.
I sat up, turning to him furiously. I made to yell at him before realizing that some lucky people were tucked up in their beds at this very moment. So, instead I hissed at him like a venomous snake.
"Why the hell did you kiss me?" I hissed, glaring at him angrily.
Tristan looked confused as he sat up. "I… I thought you wanted me to," he said.
"I did… I mean, no! Er… I…" As I struggled for words, Tristan began to smirk.
I finally blurted the first thing that came to my mind, "You had no right to steal my first kiss!"
Despite the situation, Tristan's smirk widened. "You're first kiss?" he repeated.
Heat rushed into my cheeks as I realised what I had just admitted.
"Well then, you're pretty lucky to have such a good kisser give you your first kiss," Tristan said cheekily.
As I watched he rose to his knees so that his face was level with mine, reaching out to tip my face up to his as he leaned down to kiss me again.
"No! What are you doing?" I pushed him away from me again and his hand fell to his side in an almost disappointed way. "What about Veronica?"
"What about Veronica?" Tristan said, frowning.
"What… don't you remember?" I asked.
&n
bsp; "Remember what?" He seemed to be growing frustrated now as I grow more confused.
"Kelly Guardstone's party… Upstairs bedroom… I walked in on you two…" I reminded him step by step.
Tristan seemed to think for a moment before realization lit up his eyes. "That was you?" he whispered.
I rolled my eyes. "No, Veronica just yelled 'Amber' because she felt like it," I said sarcastically.
Tristan shook his head slightly. "Veronica and I were just a one-time thing." He shrugged. "It was her idea, anyway." A smile tugged at his lips. "So, now that we've got that out of the way, how about we get back to where we started?"
I narrowed my eyes in disgust as he leant toward me again, shoving him back on his loser-ass.
"I thought we'd sorted out all our problems," Tristan said angrily, rubbing his butt.
I rose to my feet. "I'm not looking to have a one-time thing with a complete asshole," I snapped before storming from the room.
I didn't see the sad, regretful look Tristan gave me.
* * *
"HE DID WHAT?!"
I winced, immediately regretting confiding in Harry and Georgia in the middle of the school grounds where we sat surrounded by students.
"Georgia, keep your voice down, will you?" I hissed, looking around for any sign of Tristan.
"Oh, right, sorry," Georgia muttered, but the glow in her eyes still told me that she was at a high risk of yelling again. "So, he stole your first kiss in your own living room?"
I nodded.
"How…"
"Unromantic? Improper? Rude? Infuriating?" I attempted to finish Harry's sentence.
"No. I was going to say… how… cute," Harry finished, his eyes glinting.
My jaw dropped and I turned to Georgia, hoping that my other best friend hadn't gone completely nuts either. However, she seemed to have lost it as well as she was nodding in agreement.
"Oh, come on Amber! Don't look at me like that," Georgia whined. "Do you realise how romance-novel you just sounded when you described what happened last night?"
I glowered at her. "No, I didn't. In fact, I recall that I sounded disgusted, annoyed, pissed off when I just described what happened last night!" I exclaimed before casting a weary look around to see if Tristan was near.
Georgia crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at me. "Whatever you say," she said in an overly sweet voice that contradicted her actions to the full.
I looked away from her, afraid that my two best friends knew me so well that they would read straight through my stubborn expression and see that I really did enjoy the kiss last night and… well, I kind of wanted it to happen again.
There, I said it! But that doesn't change the fact that Tristan's an arrogant jerk who is all wrong for me! So that's the reason why I'm extremely against getting into any situations like last night.
"Anyway, changing the subject…"
I was brought out of my trance by Georgia's voice.
"…This Lucas character…" Georgia cocked an eyebrow as a smile lit her features.
I couldn't help but smile sheepishly. I'd forgotten I'd already told them about Lucas and our meeting in the park.
"When are you going to see him again?" Harry asked, grinning.
I shrugged. "I told him that I'd see him whenever… Fate decided to bring us back together," I finished, realizing then how stupid I'd been.
Georgia's jaw dropped. "You didn't even give your number to an incredibly hot, rich guy who is so obviously into you?" She gasped as she took my shoulders and began to shake me. "Amber? Amber! Can you hear me, girl? Are you still in there? Was this alien clone of you that dumb not to give Lucas your phone number?"
I glared at Georgia playfully and shrugged her hands off me. "Oh, shhh. I feel stupid enough as it is," I muttered.
Georgia grinned. "So there's some sense. Finally!"
Harry laughed. "I have to admit, Amber, Georgia has a point. I would have shoved my number and address into Lucas's hand even if he wasn't gay."
I smiled and rolled my eyes slightly. "Harry, you're such a loser," I joked.
Harry pretended to look horrified at my insult. "Wow, Amber," he said, fake tears filling his eyes – well, he was good at these sorts of things, "that really hurt… right down here." He placed a hand over his heart and let out a loud sob.
I laughed. At least with my friends I was able to forget Tristan all together… but what would happen next time we were alone together?
* * *
Six-year-old Amber ran across the park playground and fell in a heap, sobbing.
"Stupid James Harverson! Stupid insults! Stupid lies!" she wailed as tears fell down her face.
"Amber? There you are! I've been… Are you OK?"
Amber looked up through her tears to see Tristan standing in front of her in torn overalls and a dirty shirt. She couldn't help but smile weakly at him. Now that Tristan was here, everything would be alright again.
"No, I'm not alright, Tristan," sniffed Amber, wiping the fallen tears from her cheeks.
"What happened?" Tristan flopped down in the dirt beside her.
"J – J – James Harverson's been making up lies about me!" Amber was overcome with another wave of tears and sat sobbing into her hands.
Next thing she knew, Tristan's small arm was wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her into his body. She lay against him, trying to stop crying and be a brave girl like Mummy always told her to be.
"It's OK, Amber. James is just a twit… don't listen to anything he says," Tristan spoke into Amber's hair comfortingly. "I'm here now…" There was a pause, and then, "Actually, I have something to give you."
Amber pulled away from Tristan and turned to face him, curious as to what the gift may be. Tristan rummaged in his pockets for a few moments before his face brightened and he pulled out a pink plastic ring.
Turning to Amber, Tristan began to smile sheepishly and his cheeks flushed. Amber, however, grinned widely and held out her hand. She'd seen this sort of stuff on movies that Mummy and David liked to watch.
"Er… Amber… will you… um… marry me?" Tristan stammered, a cute smile curling his lips.
Amber nodded furiously and Tristan slipped the ring onto her finger.
"There, see?" Tristan said as Amber inspected the plastic ring with a sparkling smile. "Now no one can hurt you."
Amber smiled at him.
"I'll always protect you, Amber."
CHAPTER NINE
The next few days were fine between Tristan and I. He didn't try anything and I didn't mention that night, even when we were alone.
The only thing wrong with my life was that I hadn't run into Lucas again. Stupid me, forgetting to give him my phone number or email address. I don't know what was going through my head that day.
However, much to my surprise and happiness, I managed to meet Lucas once again at the park on a Sunday afternoon.
I was walking through the park, breathing in the fresh air and happy to be out-and-about instead of studying like Mum wanted me to. I'd been keeping a secretive eye out for Lucas ever since I stepped on the first blade of grass but I hadn't been able to find him, until…
"Amber? Hey, Amber!"
My heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice. I turned and grinned at Lucas as he approached at a jog.
"Hey," I replied when he stopped in front of me. "Look's like that whole Fate thing worked, huh?"
Lucas laughed. "Well it bloody well took its time. I've been hanging around this park for the past week waiting for you."
I felt my cheeks heat up as I smiled at him.
Lucas looked sheepish for a moment before asking, "Hey, do you want to go grab a cup of coffee or something?"
I grinned. "Sure."
* * *
So there we sat in a café just down the road, sitting at my favourite table, waiting for our coffees to arrive.
Surprisingly, we weren't at all awkward with each other. I mean, being me, of course I said a few stupid things, embarrassing
the heck out of myself, but Lucas simply laughed, brushing the moment away in a second.
A blonde waitress walked over to our table with two coffees on her tray. Without even a single glance at me, she gave Lucas a sparkling smile and set the coffees on the table, bending low and giving Lucas a free view of her chest.
I stared at the waitress in confusion. For all she knew, I could be Lucas's long-term girlfriend and here she was flirting with him outrageously just because he was good-looking.
As the waitress sent him flirtatious compliments, Lucas simply replied with a nod or one word, glancing at me every few moments. Finally, the girl seemed to get the hint. She straightened with a simple "Enjoy your coffees" and walked off, swaying her hips. As she returned to the back room she glanced over at me and glared at me. I swear, if looks could kill…
"Well that wasn't awkward," Lucas commented sarcastically.
I shook my head in slight disbelief, my gaze on the waitress who was now going through the same routine with her next victim. The guy was staring openly at the waitress's chest, despite the unhappy red-headed girl sitting opposite him.
When the waitress left and the guy twisted in his seat to get a good look at her swaying hips, the red-head leapt to her feet and yelled at him before storming from the café, leaving the guilty-looking guy behind.
"I just don't get some girls," I muttered, looking back to Lucas as the guy followed the red-head out of the shop.
"I know; it's like they expect me to find their easiness attractive." He shrugged.
"I guess you get that a lot," I stated.
"A bit…" Lucas frowned. "Why would you assume that anyway?"
"'Cause you're hot," I blurted out as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then I realised what I'd said and added, "I mean, to other girls you are… er, you are attractive… um…"
While I was stammering, Lucas was surveying me with a growing grin.
