"Amber, you have to focus if you want to get anything done." I let out an irritated groan, no longer hiding my displeasure at the brunette seated in front of me, currently ignoring her work.
"So-rry. Your room is just really...cold." She shivered, in spite of wearing a thick leather jacket.
"What?" I raised my eyebrows at her. "I have the thermostat turned up to 78 degrees." I cracked a small smile.
"Oh." Amber laughed nervously. "I don't know then, maybe it's just me."
"I could make some hot chocolate, if you want." I offered. Honestly, I had given up on even entertaining the idea that Amber was going to get any homework done. Lindsay was with her other friends, and I knew they thought I was a stuck-up know-it-all.
"Really?" Her blue eyes lit up. "That would be awesome."
I got up and walked towards the kitchen. It was relatively small, but a stove and a microwave was enough for me.
While I was mixing the powdered chocolate and the milk, Amber took the liberty to wander around my dorm, looking at everything.
"I thought you said you lived in Amity?" Her voice rang through the silence.
"I did." I responded curtly. Obviously, she didn't get the hint that I wanted to change the topic.
"So how come you don't have any stuff from there? Not even pictures of your family?" She continued waltzing around, inspecting my bookcase.
If it wasn't so unbearably cold outside, I would've thrown her out right then and there. I took a deep breath before responding, reminding myself that she didn't know. We'd told everyone Danny was messing around with the lab equipment, and didn't watch where he was pointing. It wasn't the best lie, but everyone seemed to believe it. Well, everyone but Tucker and Sam. I would've told them even if they didn't corner me in Casper's halls. I can still see the tears leaking down Sam's cheeks.
"Never got around to putting it out." I shrugged. I sprayed some whipped cream onto the mugs, then brought them out to set on my table. "Enjoy." I managed to smile.
She didn't hear me, however, since she was occupied by something sitting on my desk.
The book!
I ran over, not wanting anything to happen to it. More importantly, I didn't want her to open it up. I didn't want her to think I was a freak. She reached out to touch it, then snapped her hand back like the book had grown teeth and was going to snap at her.
"Your book is shocking me. Literally and figuratively." She chuckled. "Is it like, wired or something?"
"Uh," My cheeks colored. "not that I'm aware of." I can't say I had completely forgotten the fact that I stole that book from the library. Even if it didn't have a call number.
"Weird." Amber picked it up, flinching. "Wait..." Her eyebrows shot up comically. "You speak Esperanto? Damn, I knew you were smart, but not that smart." She shook her head.
"Esperanto?" So that was the name of this language! I considered lying, telling her that I was fluent, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to do it in front of Amber. "Uh, no, actually." I took a sip of my hot chocolate, which really wasn't that hot anymore.
"So you have this book because...?" She pressed. I felt like her eyes were burning into my soul.
I hesitated, turning my sip into more of a gulp. Even if I was to lie, what would I even say? I settled on saying something that was the truth, but not the whole truth. Hopefully it didn't draw her to ask more questions. "It looked interesting."
"Where'd you find it?" She turned it over, tracing the patterns carefully with her nail. I could see her flinch every couple seconds.
"Library." Obviously, I needed to try a new tactic.
"Doesn't have a call number." She smirked.
My mind went blank. What was I supposed to say to that? I stroked my hair, something I always do when I'm nervous.
"Tell you what," Amber leaned in, like we were business partners about to seal a deal. "I'll figure out what's in this book, a translation of sorts, and you tell me the real deal with this book." She bit her lip.
I thought it over. Amber must have some ulterior motive. I knew she did. Her snarky tone, dark makeup, and all-around destructive personality was like the one villains in chapter books usually possessed. Honestly, I was getting the better end of the deal. And what did she mean by 'the real deal'? I wasn't lying. Well, completely. I'd felt drawn to the book, so I took it. Nothing shady or weird. But she didn't have to know that, did she?"
"That works." I gave her a half smile.
"Great!" She looked at her watch, (which I could've sworn wasn't on her wrist before) and scrambled out of her seat. "Oh my God, look at the time! I better get going." She picked up the book and threw her coat on, going over to the door and unlocking it perfectly. "See ya, Jazz." She gave me a devilish grin before sauntering out the door.
It was only fitting, since I felt like I'd made a deal with the devil.
"Uh, Jazz? I've got some bad news." Lindsay didn't bother knocking as she walked into our dorm, disrupting me from reading.
"Okay?" I was a bit surprised at the change from her usually cheery tone, which now sounded like it had been weighed down. I made room for her on the couch, scooting over.
She took a deep breath. "Your uncle is dead." Looking down at the paper in her hand, she added, "Uncle Vlad." The blond moved closer to me, as if already anticipating waterworks.
"Wait, what?" Nevermind the fact that I absolutely cannot stand him, how'd I get the mail in the first place? Had my parents still been in contact with him somehow? My mind raced at these thoughts, until I realized Lindsay was still waiting for an appropriate reaction. "I mean, wow. That's really...horrible." I choked out the last word, having a bitter taste in my tongue for lying. I didn't dwell much on the fact that I probably wouldn't have lied to Amber, had she been in Lindsay's place.
"I'm sorry." She hugged me, squeezing my arms. "The funeral's this weekend. If you want, I could-"
"Yes." I responded.
The two of us cracked up.
"I'm gonna need some backup anyway." I did, but not in the 'shoulder-to-cry-on' sense. Because if I was invited, that meant some other old faces would be too.
Sorry I haven't updated this in forever! I got caught up in other stuff. /: Anyway, I'm seriously digging the way this fic is turning out. Oh, and if y'all were wondering, I'm also working on the second chapter to Wedding to Remember so hopefully it'll get updated tomorrow. Any ideas on how Jazz will react to reconciling with her family? c:
