by Ruth Houston
But everyone has to do the wrong thing every once in a while, right?
I took out my mobile and hesitated, staring at the screen whilst biting my lip. Before I knew what was happening, my fingers were flying across the keypad, typing:
Sorry babe. Can't make Saturday. School stuff has come up. So sorry… I'll meet your parents some other time. Sorry again.
I pressed send and watched as the words 'Message Sent' flashed across the screen.
So that's how I ended up here, walking up Tristan's front path. I stared at the large house as I approached as though afraid it would explode.
I stepped onto the front porch and hesitated. Taking a deep breath, I reached up and knocked three times.
The door almost immediately flew open and there stood Tristan, wearing jeans, a brown shirt and a warm smile. Oh yes, that's right. He was smiling, not smirking. And did he have a great smile or what?
"Amber, hey," Tristan said almost breathlessly, grinning.
"Hi," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck nervously.
We stood there in silence for a few moments before Tristan said, "Oh, right, come in!"
I shot him a brief smile before stepping past him into the front hall. "Uh, nice house," I commented, gesturing around at the expensive-looking furniture.
"Thanks," Tristan replied, closing the front door. "Do you want a drink?"
"Yeah… water, please."
"Follow me."
I walked down the hall after Tristan. When we reached the kitchen, I slid onto a stool and watched Tristan as he filled a glass with water.
"So, where is everyone?" I asked, suddenly becoming aware of the unusually-quiet atmosphere of the house.
"Mum took Gabby out to the zoo, I think," Tristan replied, setting the glass of water in front of me. "They won't be back until really late so we'll have the house to ourselves for most of the night."
My stomach exploded with butterflies. I took a large gulp of water to distract myself, only resulting in choking and spraying the majority of the liquid all over the floor and bench top.
"S – Sorry," I spluttered, coughing.
"That's OK," laughed Tristan, grabbing a roll of paper towels. "Heaps of people can't… uh… drink without choking themselves."
I stuck my tongue out at him before helping him clean up the water. After throwing the soaking paper towels into the bin I followed Tristan into the living room where we sat down beside each other on the three-seat lounge.
I found myself cramming myself tightly into the corner of the lounge, as far as way as possible from Tristan. I didn't want any temptations… even though there wasn't supposed to be any temptation. I had a boyfriend after all. But still: better safe than sorry.
Opening the backpack I had brought with me, I pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper and spread it over the small table in front of us. I set a box of pens and other such stationary in the middle of the table so that Tristan would be able to reach them as well.
"OK, so, any ideas?" I asked once everything was set up.
"Isn't there a theme?" said Tristan.
"Yeah. Don't you listen in class?" Even as I asked, I knew it was a pointless question.
Tristan raised an eyebrow at me before saying sarcastically, "Oh yeah. All the time. I take notes and everything."
I laughed. "Well, the theme is 'a life'," I told him.
"Oh, so all we need is some couples making out, drugs, alcohol and parties," Tristan said brightly, making to grab a pen.
"No, it's not that simple," I laughed. "Besides, not everyone's lives revolve around those particular things."
Tristan snorted with disbelief but allowed me to continue.
"So, I was thinking that we could draw small pictures to depict the journey through life," I began.
"Such as…?" Tristan prompted.
"Such as… uh, a pregnant woman and a cross – to represent a hospital – to signify child birth," I explained.
Tristan laughed. "Yeah, I think you can just tell me what to do and I'll draw," he said, chuckling.
"OK, well, you can start by drawing a pregnant lady," I said. "I'll help."
Before I knew what was happening, both of us had reached for the box of pens at the same time, resulting in his fingers closing around mine. Let's just say the spark was electrifying.
"Whoa," Tristan whispered underneath his breath from beside me, so soft that I only just caught it.
I stared at his hand on mine for a few moments before clearing my throat hastily and jerking my hand away. I ran my fingers threw my hair and began to rant on about the assignment again.
I tried not to notice the plain look of disappointment on Tristan's face and what it might mean.
* * *
"What time is it?"
"I don't know and I can't be bothered to get up and check it."
"Well, I guess we can say it's time to do our assignment again," I said, laughing.
"Awww, no, not yet. Come on, we have two and a half weeks to do the assignment. I'm having too much fun," Tristan complained.
I sighed.
Tristan and I had been lying on a bed of pillows on the lounge room floor for what seemed like ten hours, just talking about completely random topics. I had lost all sense of time after we had stopped doing the assignment at sundown. My best guess would be that it was around ten o'clock.
"Fine," I relented, relaxing against the pillows.
"Yes!" Tristan cried, punching his hands in the air in triumph. To do this, however, he had to reach up straight in front of him, causing him to look like a complete idiot.
I laughed. "You are such a bad influence on me, you know?"
"Don't you love it?" Tristan grinned, winking at me.
I rolled my eyes, laughing again.
We lapsed into a comfortable silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's quiet company. I stared up at the shadows flickering across the ceiling above me. We hadn't bothered to turn on the lights but my eyes had adjusted to the dim moonlight that filtered in through the window behind me long ago.
"Why did you keep the ring?" I was surprised to find that it was my soft voice that had uttered those quiet words.
I felt rather than saw Tristan stiffen beside me though I kept my eyes on the ceiling, not wanting to embarrass him.
Why did I even mention it? I scolded myself. You've probably just ruined a perfectly good night. Good on you, loser.
Tristan let out a long sigh and I saw his body lose its tension as though he was letting down some sort of emotional walls. I snuck a quick glance at him to see that he was frowning up at the ceiling, chewing his bottom lip in a thoughtful way.
As I returned my gaze to the shadows flittering above me, he finally spoke.
"I guess that when I moved away I had to keep a part of you with me. That ring was ideal. Since then, I've never really been able to throw it away," Tristan explained in a soft voice. "It was in my locker because I was thinking about giving it to you but then the whole poster thing happened and, well, I think I just forgot that it was in there."
Silence reigned for a few moments as I had delved deep inside myself, trying to gather my suspended thoughts.
"I bet you think that was really stupid and immature of me," Tristan muttered.
"What?" I cried, surprised. "Not at all! I was just shocked that you, of all people, would do something like that."
"Well, even though we were so young, I really did…" Tristan paused for a moment or two before continuing, "I really did love you."
OK, that did it.
I tore my eyes away from the shadows and let my gaze slid onto his face. His deep green eyes glinted at me through the dark. My breath caught in my throat as he rose himself on one elbow and I became aware of how close we were.
He seemed to hesitate slightly before leaning down toward me. I titled my chin toward him, causing our noses to brush slightly…
"I can't believe they didn't have tigers!"
Tristan and I pulled apar
t from our near-kiss so quickly I felt my neck click painfully. The light flicked on and the sudden brightness temporarily blinded me.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were still here, Amber," Aunt Marie apologized quickly.
"It's OK," I said quickly, sitting up. "I actually have to go to the bathroom."
"Second door on the left down the hall," I heard Tristan mutter. I glanced at him to see that a slight red tinge had appeared in his cheeks.
"Thanks." I hurried past a smiling Aunt Marie and Gabrielle and entered the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
I leant against the bathroom wall and slowly slid down to the floor, breathing deeply with my eyes closed. I wrapped my arms around my torso and hugged myself, diving into my thoughts.
I can't believe that just happened, I thought. I have a freaking boyfriend! Those situations aren't supposed to come up! Especially with Tristan.
Oh, come on, said a voice in my head, you've always known there's been a risk with becoming friends with Tristan. You knew that coming over here wasn't the best idea if you wanted to remain faithful to Lucas.
No! Don't even say that! It isn't true, I argued with myself mentally.
Don't lie to me, Amber. I don't even know why you're trying. It's like arguing with yourself whilst knowing the truth. I am your subconscious after all, said the annoying little voice.
I sighed and found myself pulling out my mobile from my pocket. I sent the following text message to Lucas:
Hey. Do you want to come to the school dance with me this Friday? It would mean a lot.
I stared at the message as it was sent before sighing, shoving the phone into my pocket. I leant forward, pressing my forehead against my knees and closing my eyes.
I wanted to escape the confusion… the unease.
Lucas… or Tristan?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I refrained from sleeping over Tristan's that night. Even though part of me – or a lot of me, rather – wanted to, the majority knew that it would just be even more confusing for myself.
After inviting Lucas to the dance, my mind seemed clear of a few more problems. I didn't have to worry about feeling guilty about Lucas anymore and now I could focus on how happy I would be that I was going with him…
…and how it won't matter one bit that Tristan is going with Ashley Everton. After all, it's not like it's any of my business.
Anyway, speaking of the dance: it was approaching faster than I had anticipated. My week before the dance looked like the following:
Monday: Decorations committee meeting for last-minute ideas.
Tuesday: Shopping trip with Georgia for bright clothing and flashing jewellery.
Wednesday: Work on project with Tristan.
Thursday: Last minute shopping trip with Georgia after forgetting glow sticks on Tuesday.
Friday: Very last minute decorations committee meeting/ putting up of the decorations.
So, after that extremely hectic week, I could be found sprawled on Georgia's bedspread on Friday night, clad in my gear and 'ready and rearing to go'.
Uh, not.
I stifled a yawn and struggled to keep my eyes open as I snuggled into Georgia's soft pillows. Even though the decorations committee was granted the day off school today, Rachel had still forced us to arrive at the gym at six o'clock in the morning, which meant a five o'clock start for me. This had turned out to be a good thing to do on Rachel's behalf because we had only just finished setting up everything at five o'clock this afternoon.
Georgia, unlike me, was used to very early mornings and so was now bouncing around her room, adding random glow sticks to her outfit. She was already wearing bright yellow skinny jeans, a white top and hundreds of multi coloured glowing sticks.
I was wearing a white shirt with 'Live Bright' written across it in lime green, denim short shorts with glow sticks taped to the stitching for effect and bright white boots. Glow sticks had been twisted into my hair and I had even bought glow stick earrings for the occasion as well as the hundreds on my wrists.
"Come on, Amber, are you going to lie there all night?" Georgia complained.
"If that means not having to go to the dance, then yes," I muttered into the pillow, hoping that she didn't hear me.
But of course, Georgia having Georgia's hearing, did hear me.
"Why? What happened?" she asked, sitting next to me on the bed.
I sat up, hugging my pillow. "Nothing," I mumbled. "Well, a lot of things… but it's just too confusing…"
"Does it have something to do with Lucas?" Georgia asked wisely.
"How did you know?"
"Well, he's not picking you up tonight like regular dates would," she commented.
I sighed. "Yeah, I know. I just… wanted to go with you and Harry. Georgia, I'm afraid I'm leading him on."
"Why?" Georgia asked, frowning.
I then proceeded to tell her everything that had been bouncing around my head for the past few days.
Did I like Tristan? Should I break up with Lucas? Should I stay with Lucas and hope that my hidden, climbing attraction to Tristan would just… go away?
Finally, Georgia sat back on her pillow and let out a long sigh. "I think…" she began after a long, thoughtful silence, "I think… you should go with your heart."
I groaned. "I knew you were going to say something all wise and stuff like that."
Georgia smiled slightly down at me. Suddenly, a car horn sounded from the street below her bedroom window.
"Harry's here," she said after sliding off her bed and going to the window.
I sighed, still unsure whether or not I should go.
"I think you should come," Georgia said as if reading my thoughts. "It'll be good to get out and clear your head. You can even hang out with Zach, Harry, Henry and me if you don't want to spend the night alone with Lucas."
"It's not that I don't want to be alone with him! It's just…" I paused, not knowing how to go on. "Oh, I don't know what it is," I moaned.
"Come on, go to the dance with us," Georgia prompted.
I let out a long breath and nodded.
* * *
I stood outside Black Ridge High fifteen minutes later, biting my lip and hugging myself against the cold. Georgia, Harry and Henry chatted beside me as we waited for both Zach and Lucas to arrive.
Behind me, hundreds of people were streaming into the school, from which pumping dance music was pouring. I wanted so much to join them, but I knew that it would only cause more problems if I ditched Lucas even before he arrived. I knew that he would be insecure about coming to a Black Ridge dance in the first place owing to our previous treatment of Wilson's boys.
Finally, after a few more minutes of waiting in the cold night air, I saw headlights approaching down the road. The car pulled up in front of us and Lucas and Zach climbed out.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late," Zach said, smiling shyly at me before walking straight over to Georgia and planting a wet one on her.
Lucas waved to Harry and Henry before leaning over to me to give me a kiss. Just before he did, however, I felt an icy sensation in my stomach and turned my face so his lips landed on my cheeks.
When he pulled away with a confused expression on his face, I simply gave him a weak smile.
"Let's go in," I said suddenly, grabbing Lucas's hand and tugging him toward the school.
"Is everything OK?" Lucas asked me as we stepped into the school.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?" I was extremely surprised and embarrassed at the unnatural high pitch my voice took as I said this.
I led my friends into the gym and stopped, staring and grinning at the transformation.
"We did well, didn't we?" Georgia said.
"Yep," replied Harry proudly.
"Aw, did you do this honey?" Henry asked. "That's so cute!" I heard distinctive slurping noises from behind me and refused to look.
The gym would have been pitch black if not for the crazy, multi coloured lights that
flashed around the packed dance floor. Not one person in the gathered population wasn't dancing to the music. It was excellent.
"Can we talk?" I heard Lucas murmur in my ear.
Feigning deafness, I called loudly over the music, "Let's dance!"
I hurried into the middle of the jumping bodies with our group and began to dance. All the confusion and tenseness that had whirled around inside me only a few moments before was soon let go in the music and dancing.
I guess Georgia was right, I thought happily. This dance was definitely worth it.
Let's just say I wouldn't be thinking the same thing soon enough…
I soon lost track of time but somewhere in between the dancing and the singing along to the blaring music, I began to get very thirsty.
"I'm going to get some water!" I shouted to Georgia, who nodded once, too immersed in Zach's eyes to take any more notice of me than that.
Laughing slightly to myself, I hurried over to the drinks table and joined the line. I looked around as I waited to be served, watching various people dancing and laughing at the ones that looked like they were having a fit.
"What would you like?" one of the girls serving yelled over the music.
"Water please," I replied in an equally-as-loud voice.
As I watched the girl scurry around trying to get the beverage as fast as she could, I vaguely thought how happy I was not to be on the food and drinks committee. Once I had my water, I walked to the back of the hall to drink it in peace before returning to the dance floor.
I unscrewed the lid of the bottle and raised it to my lips. Just as I was about to sip the water, however, something – or rather someone – stilled my hand.
Tristan had just walked into my line of vision with none other than Ashley. Hmm… turns out he wasn't lying when he told me he was going with her. That one part of me that was hoping he was pulling my leg had just shriveled up and died.
I glared over my bottle at the pair as they began to dance. After a few minutes, their bodies became closer and closer together until finally Ashley was practically undressing Tristan. What a slut!
Angry and frustrated at the storm of feelings raging around inside me, I took a large gulp of water. I choked as the liquid raced down my throat however, as Tristan leant toward Ashley and kissed her.
