by Ruth Houston
"What happened?" Tristan asked after few moments of me glaring at the ground.
"It's a long story," I muttered as I pushed my books back into my bag.
"Where are you going?" Tristan asked, disappointment lacing his words.
I rose to my feet. "The library. You should get back to your girlfriend before she burns permanent holes in my head," I stated before swinging my bag over my shoulder and storming off toward the school.
* * *
Amber sat alone in the unfamiliar playground, her arms wrapped around her small body as she gazed around at the groups of kids playing around her. Everyone had already gained new friends in the first day of Year One… everyone but her.
Wrinkling her nose, Amber pulled at her ponytails angrily. Her Mummy had made her wear her hair up in the stupid bands instead of hanging around her shoulders like she usually wanted. She had said she wanted Amber to make a 'good first impression', whatever that meant.
All Amber knew was that her hair was annoying her and the itchy new green clothing that Mummy had forced her into was embarrassing to wear. Every other kid in the playground wore the same thing as she did and she felt like she was invisible.
Suddenly, the sound of sobs reached Amber's ears. Curious, Amber swung her head around, trying to catch sight of the crying person. This caused one of her ponytails to land in her mouth.
Brushing away the hair angrily, Amber's eyes fell on the huddled form of a crying girl. Pity softened her heart as Amber watched the girl sob into her hands, her face red with emotion.
Biting her lip, Amber wondered what to do. Every other girl she had approached today had warded her off with a snotty insult or refused to play with her. But something about this girl seemed to pull Amber toward her.
Making up her mind, Amber jumped to her feet and stumbled toward the girl, her new shoes hindering her walking abilities. She finally reached the girl and found herself frozen with nerves. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.
It was then that the crying girl glanced up at Amber, a mixture of tears and snot running down her face as she gulped tearfully, "What – What do you w – want?"
"I – I was wondering if you were OK," Amber said nervously.
"I'm fine! Now go away!" wailed the girl, burying her face into her hands once more.
"I'm sorry," Amber said, now settling down in the dirt beside the girl, "but Mummy always told me to comfort people who are upset."
There was a silence that was only broken by the girl's sniffles and sobs.
"Um… Why are you crying?" Amber finally drew the courage to ask.
Instead of telling her to go away again, the girl simply raised her head and surveyed Amber with puffy eyes. Her bottom lip trembled as she sobbed, "My friends won't p – play with me anymore and I don't know what I d – did!"
Amber laid a small, comforting hand on the girl's shaking shoulder. "Don't worry; my only friend in the whole wide world bullied me with three other mean boys just before he left!"
The girl's eyes widened. "That's horrible!" she said.
Amber nodded solemnly before her eyes brightened with a new idea. "I'm Amber," she said suddenly. "What's your name?"
The girl's tears dried slightly and her sobs sobered up enough for her to say softly, "Ashley."
Amber beamed down at Ashley, now earning a toothless grin back.
"I'll be your new best friend, Ashley."
* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Art was becoming my favourite lesson. Want to know why? Well, it just so happened to be that Ashley wasn't in it, which left me with an hour sitting up the back of the classroom with Tristan. This also happened to be the only time I hung out with Tristan.
However, that was about to change with nine small words from Mrs. See.
"Remember guys, your projects are due in three days."
I stiffened. How could I have forgotten?
"Oh crap," Tristan groaned and by that tone I could definitely say that he'd forgotten all about it as well.
"What are we going to do?" I asked, propping my elbows on the desk and massaging my temples. "I don't exactly feel like staying at school all night."
Tristan bit his lip in thought.
"I guess we're just going to have to have a hardcore project session," I said with a sigh. "My house, four o'clock… Can you make it?"
Tristan rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know…" he said quietly, frowning slightly. "Ashley wanted me to go see this stupid chick flick with her tonight."
I laughed. "Well, if it's so 'stupid', tell her you're sick and come over my house. I think school is more important than a date with your…" I struggled to spit out the word, "Er… your girl-who-is-a-friend."
Tristan chuckled. "I'm glad you approve of my girl-who-is-my-friend," he grinned.
"Look, I won't tell if you don't," I said.
Tristan thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "Deal."
* * *
'Ding, dong.'
I sprang off the bottom step of the staircase at the sound of the doorbell, my heart racing. It was him.
I hurried over to the door and paused to look at my reflection in the hall mirror. I straightened my top, fluffed up my hair and checked my teeth.
What do you care if you look like crap? He has a girlfriend, remember? the little voice in my head reminded me.
No, he doesn't.
What does he have then?
A girl-who-is-a-friend.
God, you're a knob.
I stuck my tongue out at my reflection before realizing how childish I was being and turning to the front door. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I placed my hand on the doorknob, hitched a massive smile on my face and pulled the door open.
Tristan's fist was raised to knock on the front door. He smiled when he saw me and let his hand fall to his side.
"Took you long enough," he joked.
I pouted at him and teased, "Maybe I was busy."
Oh God, oh God, oh God. I'm flirting with Ashley's boy-who-is-a-friend.
BOYFRIEND! Grow up and say it, Amber, you twot!
Never, you… you… you silly inner voice.
Wow, Amber, that really stung.
"Shut up, smartass!"
Tristan frowned. "Er… All I asked was if I could come in. How is that being a smartass?" he said.
"Wha -?" My eyes widened with comprehension. "Oh golly; was I thinking out loud again?"
Tristan's nodded, his lip quirking with amusement. "'Golly', Amber? How very old fashioned of you," he chuckled.
"Why thank you, Sir Tristan. Would you please continue through to the lounge room, O' Good Sir?" I mocked, curtseying low and sweeping my arm as Tristan stepped into the hall.
"Thank you very much, Peasant," Tristan said in a snobby voice.
"Hang on, why do I have to be a peasant?" I cried in mock-anger.
"Hush now and take my shoes," Tristan ordered, pointing to his feet.
"Ha! You wish, O' Bigheaded Loser," I laughed, pushing Tristan's shoulder and strutting into the lounger room, tossing my hair.
I heard Tristan laugh quietly as I sat down on the couch and straightened the stationary and paper on the coffee table. Tristan walked in and sat next to me, a little too close for comfort.
The annoying little voice in my head told me to shuffle along the couch a little bit. But something stopped me. After all, we were just friends, right?
"Well, I think we should start –," I began to say but I was cut off by footsteps approaching the lounge room door.
Oh crap, I forgot about her.
Suddenly Veronica was standing in the doorframe. Her eyes swept the lounge room and stopped when she saw Tristan and I, sitting side-by-side. I immediately scooted to my end of the couch, smiling nervously up at my step-sister.
"Oh, don't let me ruin the party," Veronica said with a slight, fake giggle. "I just heard voices and thought I'd come and investigate."
I nodded, wondering why sh
e didn't just leave.
"Well, anyway, I'm sure Ashley… oh, I mean Mum wouldn't mind you having Tristan over." Veronica smirked. "Speaking of Ashley, I'm heading over her place now. You two darlings have fun."
"Oh, er, say 'hi' to Ashley for me," Tristan spoke out nervously.
"Of course." Veronica twinkled her fingers in goodbye, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she turned and strutted out.
I heard the front door close behind her and let out a long breath. "Oh man, Tristan, I didn't even think she'd be here," I groaned, smacking my forehead. "Stupid."
"Don't worry about it," laughed Tristan. "It doesn't matter. Ashley's not that hard of a hitter and believe me, I know." He chuckled as he turned back to the project but I saw a glint of regret in his eyes.
I bit my lip. "Not that it's any of my business or anything, but… why do you stay with her?" I asked.
Tristan shrugged. "There's just something about her, you know?" he said pathetically.
"What? Like the fact that she's a heinous bitch?" I said, only half-joking.
Tristan laughed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me.
Oh God, his eyes are gorgeous.
Oh, that's appropriate to think when he's leaning toward you…
Er… what? Crap, he's not going to kiss me, is he?
Nah, maybe he's just trying to tell you that you have food on your face,the little voice said sarcastically.
But I haven't eaten.
Jesus, you're a loser.
I swallowed, staring up into Tristan's eyes as he leaned toward me, his hand reaching up towards me chin. His touch seemed to jerk me out of my haze.
"Uh, I have to water," I blurted out suddenly.
Tristan stopped, his lips inches from mine. "You have to… water?" he said, one eyebrow raised.
"Er… drink, water… cup… uh…" I stammered out an excuse as I rose from the couch and fled into the kitchen.
I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water out. Before I closed the door, I closed my eyes and let the cool air blow against my face, seeming to clear my thoughts.
I closed the fridge door with a sigh and straightened, unscrewing the cap on the water bottle. I turned… and walked straight into something solid.
"AH!"
I fell back, landing on the floor and jarring my tailbone as cold water from my bottle splashed over my shirt.
"Damn it!" I cried, setting the water bottle aside as I tried and failed to wipe away the liquid that was spreading over my chest.
"I'm sorry, Amber," a laughing voice told me that it was Tristan I had run into.
I looked up with a mock glare set on my face. "You better be," I teased, poking my tongue out at him. "And you better help me up."
Tristan laughed quietly but held out his hand. I caught it and he pulled my to my feet… except I stumbled and grabbed the front of his shirt to steady myself.
This resulted in him staggering under my sudden lurch and pushing me up against the cupboard's doors. I stared up at Tristan from where I stood pressed up against the cupboard, slightly breathless.
"Sorry again," Tristan murmured.
I felt him make to take a step back but I still had my hands clenched against his shirt, holding him in place. With my mind completely blank with the shock of the situation, I had no little voice to scream at me as I stood on my toes and pressed my lips against Tristan's.
Tristan made a strange noise in his throat, whether with longing or regret, I didn't know nor did I care. All I was focused on was his lips against mine.
I slid an arm around his neck, deepening the kiss. He encircled his arms around my waist and drew me into his torso.
Finally, we pulled apart, breathing heavily.
I stared up into his sparkling eyes until the weight of the situation seemed to crash down upon me. The volume of my little inner voice seemed to finally rise incredibly.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND
I gasped and pushed Tristan from me. He walked back a few steps, his fingers trailing his lips.
"That was –"
"– Wrong," I finished for him.
Tristan frowned down at me. "Well, that wasn't exactly what I was going to say…" he said.
"It should have been," I said, starting to rub my temples. "You have a girlfriend! Crap, crap, shit! I'm sorry, Tristan. I shouldn't have kissed you." Yeah, I was in rambling panic mode.
"It's OK," Tristan said softly.
"No, it's not," I seemed to be muttering to myself at this point. I took a deep breath. "I think you should leave," I finally said in a surprisingly steady voice.
Tristan hesitated, his eyes hooded so that I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Finally, he nodded and walked out of the kitchen with a quiet, "Goodbye."
The door slammed as he left the house. I walked to the window over the kitchen sink and watched as his car took off down the road.
I placed my hands on the edge of the sink and closed my eyes, taking a deep but shaky breath.
What had I just done?
You kissed Tristan, Ashley's boyfriend. That's what you just did.
Yes, thank you, smartass. Oh, God, what am I turning into?
A girl who kisses other girls' boyfriends?
SHUT UP! I don't need your input to make me feel any worse!
OK, OK. Consider this my last conversation with you, cranky pants.
I sighed, turning and sliding down the wall to sit on the floor. I cradled my head on my knees, letting out a long breath that I didn't know I had been holding.
Was I turning into Ashley?
* * *
Amber walked into the Year Eight classroom, her eyes sweeping the many faces of the students assembled there, looking for her best friend. Ah! There she was, sitting up the back, as always.
Amber tossed her hair over her shoulder and strutted through the rows of her classmates. She made sure to sway her hips just a little more as Ashley had told her to.
Sure enough, she felt all the guys' eyes on her – or more specifically – her butt, as she walked. This was helped along by the extremely short mini skirt she had donned that morning.
Smirking to herself, Amber reached Ashley and slid into the seat beside her best friend, leaning over the desk so as to flash the males a small glimpse of her growing chest. Thank you puberty!
It was then that Mr. Jackson entered the room, his ugly, bright yellow vest catching the eyes of everyone in the classroom. As the guys' eyes left Amber, she felt a little disappointed but hitched a bright smile on her face as she turned to Ashley.
"It worked!" she whispered excitedly. "Did you see them all looking at me?"
Ashley smiled back, her chin held high in the air with unabashed confidence in herself. "See? Didn't I tell you, darling? We'll have you made into a Class One Hottie soon enough."
Amber grinned, looking back to the board. It was then that she realised someone was watching her… or rather, someone was glaring at her.
Frowning slightly, Amber glanced over to the front of the class to see Georgia Parkinson glaring at her. Instead of looking away as many other girls would when they knew they were caught out, Georgia simply gave Amber the dirtiest look imaginable and turned away.
Amber swallowed hard. She'd always been on good terms with Georgia and she had no idea what could have turned the girl on her. It was then that she remembered Georgia didn't like 'hot' girls.
Amber pouted. She's just jealous, she assured herself, straightening her skirt.
Suddenly, the door open and the class's attention was drawn away from Mr. Jackson. Amber looked toward the newcomer and her breath caught in her throat.
There, in the doorway of her English class, stood the most unbelievably hot guy Amber had ever seen. His curly black hair swept across his forehead in a fringe, bringing out his blue-green eyes brilliantly.
"Hi, I'm Will. I'm the new guy." Even his voice was hot… for a thirteen-year-old.
Amber tapped Ashley, who was too busy ins
pecting her nails to notice the new guy. Ashley looked up, frowning, but Amber was too struck dumb to say anything, so she simply gestured at Will.
Ashley smiled. "Nice… new man candy. Well spotted, Amber." She went back to her nails.
Amber watched breathlessly as Will walked toward his seat in the middle of the classroom, his hair bouncing as he walked.
He glanced up and caught Amber's dreamy eyes staring at him as he turned to sit down. A cute, dimpled smile spread across his face as he looked at her.
"Hey," he mouthed.
"Hi," Amber mouthed back, trying her hardest to contain a giggle as her cheeks flushed.
Will grinned and sat down.
Amber was too caught up in her day dreams to notice Ashley giving her a steady death-glare.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I went to school the next day hoping that I didn't run into Tristan. I didn't want an awkwardness to come between us and I had a feeling that time would help prevent that.
After Tristan had left the house the night before, I had finished the project by myself. It just seemed easier that way.
Much to my delight, even though the day passed slowly, I didn't bump into Tristan at all. My first three classes were normal enough and when lunch came I was happy just to sit down with Georgia and Harry.
I followed the crowd of students outside into the sunshine, looking around for Harry and Georgia. My eyes found them lounging underneath a large, shady tree. It was then that guilt and unease gripped my heart and I realised I still hadn't told them about the kiss.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the tree and settled down next to Georgia.
"Hey," I said rather breathlessly, sweeping a stray strand of hair behind my ear and smiling at my friends.
"Hey," Georgia replied.
"Oh, so now you've made time to talk to us? All studied out, then?" Harry suddenly commented.
I stared at him for a few moments. Despite his harsh tone, I knew that he wasn't actually angry with me, just hurt.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," I mumbled. "I shouldn't have done that to you guys."
"That's right; you shouldn't have," Harry snapped. "I think you –"
