DISCLAIMER: I do not own Glee. All credit goes to the writers of that TV show.

Amber raced around Mr. and Mrs. Sallings house trying to make sure everything was perfect. Her heels clicked harshly as she made her way across the hard wood floors. Chris was there and couldn't help but be amused, he knew that Amber always got this way when she was nervous. She would start pacing back and forth until her feet burned a hole into the floor, then she would absent mindlessly start biting her finger nails. A habit she didn't know she even had.

She looked around the house making sure all the decorations were up. Over the fireplace there was a birthday sign that simply read "Happy Birthday Mark!" She knew he would never see this coming but all of his friends were here, people he'd worked with over the years, he'd love it. Well Amber hoped he would, she was willing to do anything to make this day special for him. When Chris had finally had enough of her, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the kitchen.

"Sweetie, would you please calm down?"

She placed a shaking had onto her forehead, trying to calm her nerves as asked. She sighed before speaking, "I'm sorry boo, tonight is going to be amazing, for him and me. I can feel it."

Chris looked at his friend with loving eyes, he knew Amber better than anyone else. She sometimes refused to see the truth in things, he never wanted to see her hurt but it was times like these when he wished that she could see reality for what it was. They were both silent until Amber made a sudden outburst,

"Oh, no! The Doritos! I forgot the Cool Ranch Doritos!"

Chris huffed knowing the reason for the panic, of course cool ranch Doritos were his favorite.

"Relax," he said grabbing his car keys from his back pocket "I'll run to the store."

"Really? Oh thank you!" she smiled.

Yes, Chris didn't like Mark very much but Amber was his best friend and frankly, he would do anything to make her smile.

Amber decided that everything looked perfect after one last look around the house. Mr. and Mrs. Salling had lived here for years. She could still remember when they moved into the neighborhood. She was a bit sad when she found they had no daughters of her own age to play around with, only two sons just a bit older than her. She was, however, thankful that Naya would visit them almost every week, quickly becoming her first best friend. Amber and Chris hadn't met until her freshmen year of college. She remembers the day well, she wore her favorite zebra print jacket when out of nowhere he appeared telling her it was hideous.

She would've been offended if she hadn't looked down at it for a few moments before deciding that it truly was. She promised him and herself to never wear it again. She stopped for a moment knowing that every time she thought about her past, she would most likely end up crying. There was just one person missing that would have made this day even more special.

Before she could think about him any further, Chris rushed back into the house with 3 family sized bags of cool ranch Doritos.

"Naya and Mark are here!" he shouted.

All the nerves that had left her came rushing back as she had the guests to quickly hush and gather in the living room. She was thankful that Naya was able to get him over here, Amber was sure that he had asked plenty of questions and also that Naya would easily be annoyed by them.

"Okay everyone!" she semi-shouted "He's here, places, places!"

Only moments after people had settled down and the lights were off, Mark came through the door.

"Surprise!" every one yelled together. The look on his face made Amber laugh out loud, a habit she knew she had and hated. Her laugh would make others come to a halt, it was embarrassing.

"I knew you had something planned." Mark smiled.

"What can I say? I'm the bomb."

Well of course Amber didn't expect Mark to put all of his attention on her that night but she did expect some. After all, she was the one to plan this, and him showing a little appreciation towards her would have been greatly excepted. But no, he stood in the middle of the room with one of his ex-coworkers. She couldn't help but watch them as Naya whispered in her hear.

"Who invited Dianna?"

"I did." She whispered back.

Naya shook her head, "I don't think that was a good idea babe."

Amber looked on as she saw Mark tuck a piece of loose hair behind Dianna's ear.

"It's harmless." She whispered once again before grabbing a camera from her bag.

Instead of letting it get to her, she just thought that once every one left, it'd be the perfect time for them to spend some time together. Maybe he'll give me a little surprise myself, she thought.

"How about a family picture?" Amber asked

Naya, Mark, Mr. and Mrs. Salling all gathered around in front of the fire place. She smiled fondly at the family, they were all so loving.

"Chord should be here." Naya suddenly said. Amber froze just by hearing his name.

Mark huffed in frustration just by hearing Chord. "Yeah, but he's not so let's move on."

She stood there with the camera in her hands, ready to snap the picture until Naya called her,

"Amber, you should be in this too."

She smiled stepping forward before being stopped by Mark. "No, she should just take the picture."

Amber gave a weak smile pushing away the hurt she felt wash over her. Chris sipped his drink, he already killed Mark about 10 times in his head, Naya snarled his way but he just smiled.

Later after everyone was leaving, Chris and Naya each hugged Amber tightly.

"We'll get together later." She spoke, "hopefully we'll be talking about wedding details!"

With a kiss on each side of her cheek, they were gone. She instantly felt arms wrap around her waist once the door was closed. Mark's parents had gone upstairs once most of the guests were gone due to them having work in the morning. She was left to clean the dishes and put leftovers away.

"Anymore of those Doritos?" he whispered in her ear.

"Hmm depends on what you're willing to do to get them." She winked.

Amber stood against the counter watching as Mark drank a bottle of beer. A smile spread across her face.

"What are you smiling about?"

"I was just thinking…after marriage, the kids, the house, the nice cars, what's left?"

He chuckled "I don't know since I'm still working on the cars and house."

She rolled her eyes and nervously said, "What about us?"

"What are you getting at? What about us?

Clearing her throat, she knew that she now needed to lay it on the line, she could wait no longer. Mark and her had known one another for 8 years, 5 of which they were simply good friends. A lot of people would say that she was still young and had plenty of time for marriage and children, but she loved him and wanted to take that next step.

"Well," she said slowly, "how do you see us in the future?"

"I haven't given us any consideration." He simply said, he didn't know how badly that affected her, but she pressed on, only wanting the answer she'd told her mind was the only one she would accept.

"No consideration? Because I've given our future plenty! I want the house, I want the car, and I want the damn chocolate Labrador named Coco! And I want the kids!"

Mark let out a deep sigh. "Look Amber I love you, I really do, but I just have too much going on right now for all of that."

"Bullshit Mark!" she yelled, she knew that his parents were upstairs but this was important to her. Her life had been planned around him. Didn't he see that?

"How does a guy that has every part of his life organized not give his future any thought?"

"I've given my future plenty of thought and consideration! It just never included any with you!"

And just like that-Amber's heart had shattered.

Hi! Yes, this is a Chord/Amber story, trust me. Even though it didn't seem like it.

But I will tell you, that when you read my writings, you should pay close attention to even the little things. :P