12. Offers

Amber ended up coming back day after day. Every time I woke up in the morning, I walked down the stairs to find her sitting with more kids, listening to their pointless stories as they all ate. She would help people get to their rooms, cut food, make food, and read stories to the little ones at night. Amber seemed to always be doing something when she was here. There was only one time I saw her fall asleep on one of the love seats. It was that one time I put a blanket over her gently, so she wouldn't get chilled during the night. That was the only kind act I had towards her, and she never knew.

We never talked much. Just a simple 'hello' or 'what's up?'. Nothing too special or enough to make a conversation. And really I didn't want to talk with her. There was no point. I couldn't sleep with her, and I didn't want to be friends, so I found no reason to socialize much with Amber.

Though, not to much surprise, she kept her word. When I passed the halls at school, there wasn't a whisper about where I live. People still assumed I lived with my family, that I had a rock star life, when really I was living in the dumps somewhere in Dayton. I felt a small sense of gratitude that she didn't cause a week or two of chaos for my already chaotic life.

Then it hit me that she felt sorry for me again. Well I didn't need her pity. I didn't need anyone, especially not my family. I could do this myself, no help from the outside world, no one to trust but myself. And sometimes, I couldn't even do that.

"Dude, what's on your mind?" Christopher waved his bottle of beer in front of me. I hadn't realized I completely zoned out until now. There was just so much racing through my mind. So much that even a vampire mind had trouble keeping it all together.

We were sitting in an alley, alone, drinking Bud light and having blast, seeing how many we can have before we even get buzzed. This might take a while.

"Nothing," was my automatic response.

"Yeah, right, I know that look. You're concentrating on something."

I looked over at him after taking a swig of my own beer. "Since when do you know my looks?"

"You make that face a lot." answer Christopher. Such a simple answer, I was starting to wonder whether he gave any long monologues or anything. On second thought, I'd rather not know.

"I guess I do. I just always have a lot on my mind."

"How old are you, like forty? Enjoy your prime of life." he smiled.

I snorted in my drink, laughing. Sometimes Chris was just too darn funny. Sometimes he would crack jokes only we understood, and others just looked at us blankly. Some though, laughed a fake laugh, trying to be cool like us. Yeah right.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice mocking something intense.

My face was serious when I spoke. "Amber."

"That one hot chick?"

I grinned. "Yeah, that one."

I took another drink, before throwing the bottle in the road and grabbed another one.

"Tell me all about her." Christopher winked, making some sort of a humping motion. I chuckled at the sight of it, spewing more of my drink at him.

"Not like that. She's daddy's little girl, little goody two shoes."

He just winked again and took another drink. Or more like a chug.

We sat there like that in silence for more than two hours, going through beers, until Chris finally passed out. I was still fine for a few more six packs, but I decided that I should drive Chris home.

After gathering up all my courage, I walked straight up the path and right over the lighted bridge. I rapped on the door twice and then walked right away, going over a human's sprinting pace. I wasn't afraid, more like cautious. I really didn't need a fight right now. Once I saw that two figures dragged the guy inside, I drove off without a parting glance.

I parked in the same spot, thinking I might be driving a hole from how usual my day goes. Once I got out and up the long ramp, my arms feeling like dumbbells, I managed to open the door, and guess who's the first person I see? Amber flippin' Bay. Woo.

She smiled and started to make her way towards me. This ought to interesting.

"Hello, Jonathan." she smiled calmly.

"Amber." I jerked a nod and continued to walk up the stairs as she followed.

"Listen, I was talking to my dad the other night, and he was thinking that you shouldn't live here."

"Yeah I keep telling myself that, but I'm too stupid to listen." I just kept on walking until I finally got to my room. I put one hand on the handle and turned to face the beautiful girl standing right behind me, her sight taking my breath away like always.

"I don't believe that." Amber said.

"Believe what?"

"That you're stupid."

I snorted and opened the door, leaving it there for her to come in too. "Well I guess you're the first then."

She hesitated, looking around the room, as if someone was going to jump her if she entered. She looked at me and I put my hands up.

"I'm not in the mood to try anything funny, and frankly, even if I was, I wouldn't with you." I told her. She put her hands on her hips and gave me some sort of look.

"Am I not good enough for you?"

"Far from. I just know a lost cause when I see one. You don't strike me as the skanky type."

Amber rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks."

"I mean unless you want to…" I teased, smiling for the first time in hours.

"I'll pass."

"Okay so what were you and your dad talking about?" I asked, scooting over on the bed. "You can sit down if you want. I don't bite." not much anyway.

She smiled wryly, making me wonder what she was thinking for a moment before she took a seat next to me, not very relaxed. "Well he said that you shouldn't live here and he said you could live with us for a while. If you want to at least."

Yes! Of course I'll move in with you! I love you! The thought caught me so off guard that I lost my breathing for a moment, causing me to choke. I didn't love her. I don't love anyone, and she sure didn't love me. It was more like a lustful crush. I just wanted her body, not her.

But the offer was appealing. I could live with her, earn her trust, and then we could have sex. The plan seemed to full proof for a second, but some part of me said no.

I wanted to live with her, I did, but for some reason I told her no right then and there. I didn't know why or how I came up with that answer when every other part of me was screaming yes, all I knew is that she left that day with a no, and a slightly shocked face.

She hadn't expected the answer of course, and neither had I. she thought I would jump on the opportunity and then try to flirt with her and then sleep with her. She knew how I would play it out, and that's why she was hesitant when she asked, yet still sincere, and that's the part that got me. After thirty years of life, I still didn't understand females, and I doubt I ever will.

The next day at school, Friday, thank god, I sat with Liam and Chris at lunch. The day had gone normal and boring. Mallory was probably crying in the bathroom when word spread about Sarah, but no one was surprised. My family was sitting over on the far side of the room with Jason the only one actually eating. Then as I looked around I spotted a figure coming towards me, or us I should say.

"Hey." Amber smiled, taking a seat across from me, setting her tray of food down.

"Hey?" I replied, giving her a questioning look. "What's up?"

"I thought I'd sit with Liam today."

Something about the way she said that, made me doubt it. Her face and body language told me she was here for something else. It looked more like she was on a mission.

"Actually, that's a lie." Amber tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Can I talk to you?" it took my a second to make me realize she was talking to me.

Unable to find any words, I got up and followed her through the cafeteria. I heard a soft whistle coming from Skylar as I passed, but I was in too much shock to grin.

Amber stopped and turned around. "My dad won't take no for an answer, Jonathan."

I glared. "I don't want or need your pity, Amber. I'm fine."

She rolled her eyes. "Somehow I doubt that. There's something bigger in you that makes you depressed, I don't know what, but something's happen to make you like this."

"Oh now you know my life?" I started sarcastically. "Tell me, oh great one, what's wrong with me because I'm happy with my life."

Lies. All lies.

"Again, you're a bad liar and I don't believe you."

"I don't need you to." I spat at her, leaning closer in her face until she stepped back. I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. "This conversation is over."

"What's your problem?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice down from rising like mine.

"Right now? You. Leave me alone."

"I don't get you, you know that?" she sounded upset and sad. She sounded like this was all my fault, but I didn't even know what I did wrong.

"I'm not a book people read. They know you, then they trample all over you."

"You think I would do that?" her voice was so tender, so soft. I turned and looked straight into Amber's golden eyes and found myself swimming in honey.

I answered truthfully. "No."

She smiled. "Exactly. It's not good to keep things bottled up."

I snorted, relaxing my tensed muscles. "You sound like a therapist."

"Maybe you need one." Amber countered. Then she spoke again. "Maybe one day we can just hang out…and just talk."

"I'd like that."

"I know." she took out a pen from her purse and a piece of paper. She started scribbling something on it, folded it, and then handed it to me. "See you later." she turned to talk away, long brown hair blowing behind her. Amber was a real piece of work.

I felt myself standing there for a long time until Liam finally dragged my butt back to the table to talk.

I couldn't believe it. I hadn't expected anything like that. But it didn't mean anything. Of course it didn't…right?

"What'd she say?" Chris asked, leaning forward.

Chelly was whispering to Tony's girlfriend about Amber, but I was too lost in thought to really make out the words.

"I…I-"

"Spit it out." Liam urged.

The words didn't sound right in my own head, but I think it just happened. "I think I just got asked out on a date."