Since a lot of people were asking for me to continue the story, I finally decided to add a new chapter. The events in this chapter take place after "Cyrus' Bash-Mitzvah," following a time-jump to catch up with the series.
I hope you like it!
Part 3
It's been months now since Buffy and Amber started their secret relationship. A lot has changed. Bex and Andi moved out of Celia's house and are living in their own small, messy apartment. Jonah Beck broke up with Amber and started going out with Andi - sort of. Cyrus briefly dated Iris, before coming out to Buffy, and later Andi, that he has a crush on Jonah Beck. Amber's father lost his job but kept it a secret from his family, leading to constant fights with his wife. To make some cash and also escape her fighting parents, Amber is now working as a waitress at The Spoon Diner. Yes, a lot has changed since then. But one thing hasn't changed: Buffy and Amber's feelings for each other.
Despite all the struggles that Amber is going through, neither she nor Buffy is willing to tell anyone about their secret relationship. In fact, Buffy has grown to become an even harsher critic of Amber in front of Andi and Cyrus. She once called Amber a snake, and a scorpion. A snorpion. She has to put on a brave face and keep acting like she doesn't like Amber. Because if she does let Amber into their little Good Hair Crew circle, she would risk everyone finding out about their relationship. And she can't let it happen. No. They can never find out.
Keeping the secret hasn't been easy on Buffy. It made her lose her friend Marty. Marty wanted to be more than friends but Buffy wanted to remain as friends. She could never let Marty know the real reason why she can't date him. Because if anyone ever found out, then it would mean that Buffy betrayed her best friends by dating their worst enemy. She is not a traitor. She is Buffy. She is the protector of the Good Hair Crew. She can never let them down.
But this is the least of Buffy's concerns. She has a bigger problem now. Her military mother is being transferred, and she wants to move with Buffy. Normally, Buffy would have done anything to live with her mother. But, there's a lot more to lose. Buffy would have to leave her friends and everything she has known behind. Andi and Cyrus don't want her to leave either. But what can she do? Can she really say goodbye to her friends?
The Spoon Diner.
This is all that is running in Buffy's mind as she walks into The Spoon to meet up with Andi and Cyrus. Her friends have been starving waiting for her to join them. Amber, in her waitress uniform, is writing down orders for the customer seated in the adjacent booth.
"Finally! I'm starving!" Andi says as she signals Amber to come and get their orders.
"I hate to state the obvious, but Buffy you've been coming in late a lot lately," Cyrus says.
"If you hate it, then don't state it," Buffy replies making it clear that she's in a bad mood.
"Actually, it's just an expression..." Cyrus tries to explain himself, hoping to make light of the situation.
"Sorry guys, I just have a lot going on," Buffy replies.
"Welcome to my world," Amber says to Buffy as she comes over to take their orders. They feel bad for Amber because of her family drama. So, there's an awkward five seconds of silence.
"We are ready to order," says Andi.
"So, the usual?" asks Amber.
"Baby taters and milkshakes, yes," says Cyrus.
"Can you make it double?" asks Andi. Buffy and Cyrus exchange looks. Andi looks at them and starts to justify herself, "What? I'm starving! I didn't have breakfast this morning. Bex forgot to buy groceries. Again. For the third day in a row."
"You can have mine," Buffy offers.
"What? Why?" asks Andi.
"I just don't feel like eating right now," Buffy responds.
"Why? Is everything okay?" asks Cyrus showing concern. Buffy looks at Amber. Both Andi and Cyrus look at Amber too, giving her the impression that they want her to leave. Amber gets the hint and walks away.
With Amber gone, Buffy starts explaining her situation to Andi and Cyrus. She starts, "You know how my mom was talking about us moving? Now she wants us to move next week."
"But I thought her transfer date wasn't until a couple of months later," Andi says.
"It wasn't. But then it got pushed up, to next week. And now, she wants me to start packing."
"But we don't want you to leave us," Cyrus says in a sad voice.
"I don't want to leave either," Buffy responds. "I don't want to lose you guys. Do you know how hard it is to make new friends?"
"Maybe if you were nicer to people...," Cyrus seizes the opportunity.
"Cyrus, I will break you," Buffy threatens. She then gets serious, "I mean, going to a new school means I have to make new friends, who aren't you guys. I like it here. I like you guys."
"Yes, and the worst part is, once you've just settled, she could be transferred again and then you have to start all over again," adds Andi.
"My life is over," Buffy says.
"Is there something we can do to help?" asks Andi.
"Like what?" asks Buffy pessimistically.
"I don't know. Maybe like a place to stay? You could come live with me and Bex."
"No offense Andi but your tiny little apartment is a little too... what's the word I'm looking for? Tiny!" Cyrus says.
"Cyrus is right," says Buffy. "Besides, Bex is already struggling enough to just to raise you. I wouldn't want to be a burden. Sometimes, she can't even feed you."
"Well, I'm out of options," Andi says.
"I would offer you to come live in our house, but it would be a nightmare living with my shrink parents," Cyrus says then shivers a little. "Sometimes I wish I could just escape and fly free like a baby dragon."
"Thank you, Cyrus. But no," Buffy declines the offer.
"Where is Amber with our baby taters, anyway?" asks Cyrus, changing the subject.
"Let me go check in on her," Buffy volunteers and walks into the kitchen to look for Amber.
"I am so sorry, your order is taking longer," Amber apologizes after seeing Buffy. "One of the chefs is out sick today. So, things are kinda slow."
"It's okay," says Buffy.
"So, what was that back there? Is everything okay?" Amber asks, showing concern.
"Why do you care?" asks Buffy.
"Come on, Buffy. It's just you and me here," Amber says, looking through the counter window. "You can cut the act."
"What act?" asks Buffy. Amber looks at her and smiles. Buffy smiles back. "Fine," Buffy starts to explain. "It's just that my mom is being transferred and wants me to move with her and I don't want to go. But I have nowhere to stay."
"Calm down and take a deep breath," Amber advises as she starts massaging her neck.
"Oh! That feels good," Buffy says as she takes a deep, relaxing breath.
"You know, I've been looking for a place to stay too," Amber says.
"What's wrong with your house?"
"I don't know if I can take it anymore," Amber says and stops massaging Buffy.
"Your parents are still fighting?"
"Yes and it's getting worse. They've started talking about getting a divorce."
"I am so sorry, Amber," says Buffy. "I didn't know it got that bad."
"Maybe we could get an apartment and move in together?"
"I can't tell my friends about us. Remember?"
"Right," Amber says and starts preparing baby taters for Buffy to take back.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Amber says shaking her head.
"It didn't sound like nothing. It sounded as if you are not okay with us keeping this just between us."
"You read all that from 'right'?" Amber asks and continues, "It's just that, I like you. I really do and I wish we could come out and tell everyone about us."
"I like you too. But keeping this a secret was YOUR idea, remember?"
"I was dating Jonah back then. I didn't want him to find out," Amber defends herself.
"And what do you think will happen if my friends found out you were cheating on Jonah Beck... with me?"
"We're doomed," Amber says before yawning.
"Yes we are," Buffy agrees in a resigned tone. She wants to get close to Amber for a small kiss but Andi approaches.
"What's taking so long?" Andi interrupts. Buffy quickly starts taking the baby taters baskets without making eye contact. Luckily, Andi didn't notice anything. She helps Amber and Buffy carry the baby taters back to the table.
Later that Evening. The Fringe.
Bex is about to close The Fringe for the day when she hears a knock on the door. "Just a sec!" she says. She then walks to open the door. It's Amber. In a disappointed tone, Bex says, "Oh, it's just you!"
"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Mack," Amber replies.
"I told you it's MISS Mack," Bex tries to correct her but Amber ignores her and walks inside.
"This is a nice place," Amber says while looking through various items in the shop. "I would love to work as a makeup artist some day."
"Aren't you still in school? And working at the Spoon?" Bex asks passively.
"I could use some extra cash," Amber says. "But then again, this place smells like old socks and bacon. Yuck!"
Bex notices that Amber is just wasting time and not looking for anything in particular. She asks, "What is it that you want?"
"I know you hate me," Amber starts and waits for Bex to say otherwise. Bex is silent. "And I'm really sorry for turning on Andi after the sleepover, but I really need your help."
"What is it?" Bex asks, half-concerned.
"Can I crash here?" Amber asks. Bex doesn't know how to respond. "Just for one night. I swear I won't touch anything. I just need a place to sleep."
Bex becomes fully concerned. She walks closer to Amber and asks, "Amber, is everything okay?"
Amber starts crying and goes to hug Bex, smearing mascara all over her already-dirty shirt. "My parents are getting divorced," Amber says. "They keep fighting all the time. And I just can't keep seeing them like that every day."
"Wouldn't they be concerned if you didn't come home?"
"Oh please! They don't even care about me," Amber cries. "Sometimes they go for days without talking to me. I could be dead and they wouldn't know for weeks."
"Don't say that," Bex tries to comfort Amber. "Of course they care about you!"
"No, they don't!" Amber resists. She sneezes into Bex's shirt. Bex doesn't say anything. Instead she lets Amber vent as much as she needs. "Sometimes, I feel like they hate me. It's like they're getting divorced because of me."
"Look, I don't have room for you in my apartment, but maybe you can sleep at CeCe's house as we figure out what's going on."
"Thank you so much Andi's mom," Amber says. She wipes her tears and starts looking through various makeups.
"You know what can cheer you up? A little makeup," Bex says and picks up a makeup brush.
"You're so good at this," Amber praises Bex.
After a brief makeup session, Bex gives Amber a ride on her motorcycle to CeCe's house. CeCe lets Amber stay in Andi's old room.
