Before you all attack me with pitchforks and torches, I want to say how sorry I am. These past couple of months have consisted of applying to a private high school, studying for tests, and juggling sports with studies. Over summer I've had to do summer work for high school, sports tryouts and practices, and family crises. I am so sorry I left you all. I'm going to do my best to repay all of you for all the kind reviews of encouragement and love. This chapter is fluffy and holds a message I hope all of you will take to heart. I love you all so please enjoy:)
Amber was many things. She was strong, intelligent, clever, loyal, creative, agile, and many more wonderful traits. When it came to the Winx, she would do anything to make them happy. And that exactly what she was doing.
"Darling, you have to try this on!"
Amber closed her eyes and groaned inwardly. It had been hours since she and the Winx first arrived at the mall, and while the fairy of time and dreams enjoyed spending time with her new found friends, shopping was not something she liked to do in her free time. Stella was making her try on outfit after outfit, having the Winx give either their yay or nay. The outfits that were approved were bought by Stella, with much squealing on a Stella's part and words of gratitude from Amber.
Amber stepped out of the dressing stall dressed in black skinny jeans, a red, one shouldered top, and black boots that go to halfway up her shin. She let her hair fall around her face, successfully concealing it's blushed condition from the excited, squealing Winx.
"Oh my sun! You look fantabulous!" Stella screamed, jumping up and down slightly.
Bloom put her hands on Stella's shoulders, trying to clam the overly energetic fairy. "Calm yourself, Stella. They're just clothes." She turned to where Amber was awkwardly standing, bashful and embarrassed by all the attention. "But Stella is right. You do look amazing."
Amber nodded her head slightly in thanks. Layla giggled at her friend's bashfulness. "All those who approve, say aye!"
"Aye!" Bloom smiled.
"Aye!" Musa said, a smirk forming on her face,
"Aye!" Tecna nodded.
"Aye!" Flora smiled warmly.
"Aye!" Layla cheered.
"Aye! Aye! Aye!" Stella screeched.
"I think that settles it," Tecna said happily, "Amber you can now take those clothes off and change back into your original ones. We'll add the clothes to the purchase pile."
Amber nodded and practically ran back into the stall. She stripped off the clothes, ones that she actually liked, and put back on her old blue shorts and white T-shirt. She grabbed the clothes and walked out of the stall. As soon as she came back into view, Stella grabbed the clothes out of Amber's hands and rushed over to the cash register. The rest of the Winx followed behind, chatting and giggling about nothing in particular.
Amber trailed behind slightly, not wanting to interrupt the Winx's jovial chatter and, even if she did want to, Amber couldn't muster the energy to participate. She walked slowly brushing a hand over the soft fabrics of the clothes, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time.
Layla laughed at a joke Musa just told. She looked around and noticed the other Winx laughing as well, but one person was missing. Layla looked around the store carefully, trying to spot the elusive blonde haired, gray-blue eyed fairy. It took her several moments, but eventually Layla caught sight of Amber, who was moving lithely around the stands of clothes. Layla slowed down until the Winx were several yards ahead of her and Amber was only a few feet behind her.
"Hey," Layla said softly reaching to take Amber's hand. The fairy of Time and Dreams jumped slightly at the contact, but relaxed once more when she saw it was Layla. Amber smiled and Layla, indicating the brown haired fairy had her attention. "Are you okay? You seem a little sad."
Amber smiled warmly at Layla, a genuine one she hadn't given in a long time. "I'm fine, just a little tired. Shopping with Stella takes a lot of energy," Amber responded, blinking slowly. "But I'm having a really good time. Despite having to try on shirt after shirt, I'm having a lot of fun."
Layla grinned widely, overjoyed that Amber was have fun with the Winx. "Well I'm glad to hear it." Layla paused, listening to the sound of Musa and Stella arguing. "By the sound of it, I think Musa's trying to convince Stella to take a break from shopping and go get some food. Thank magic for that, I'm starved. What about you? You up for some food?"
Amber nodded. "A little bit. Dinner would be a nice break from hours of shopping," Amber laughed, amusement shining in her eyes. Layla laughed as well, and she noticed the hidden sparkle that tried to hide itself behind the walls in her eyes. Though it saddened Layla that Amber felt she had to hide her feelings, it also made her happy that Amber was letting her guard down enough for Layla to read her.
"Guys, come on! We're going to get some food, now, unless you want to keep shopping with Stella?" Bloom called out. Layla and Amber looked at each other, sharing playful expressions of fear at the thought of more shopping. The two fairies all but sprinted over to where their friends stood, waiting for them to catch up.
Once Layla and Amber met up with the rest of the Winx, the girls all headed towards a nearby café. They ate good food and talked like normal fairies. Even Amber was becoming more open and adding her two cents every now and again.
"You guys think you had it bad?" Amber asked incredulously. "Trudging through the Black swamp is not even close to bad! Running from razorback horses, through a jungle, while it was raining, is bad."
The Winx burst out in laughter at the outrageous story. In their fit of laughter, all but Amber didn't notice the waiter coming over to their table. While the girls were distracted, Amber turned her attention to the waiter. "Can I help you?"
"Yes," the waiter said nervously, "We're about to close up. I'm afraid I have to ask you to pay and leave." He held out the bill for Amber to take.
Amber nodded and reached for the bill while rummaging through her pockets. She pulled out a black leather wallet with an infinity sign carved on it. She pulled out the few measly credits out of the wallet, the last of her money. She placed the money on the bill and handed it back got he waiter, who scurried away.
"Hey Amber, what did the dude want?" Musa asked.
Amber shrugged and stood up. "He just needed to tell us that we have to leave since the café's about to close."
"Don't we still need to pay the bill?" Tecna questioned.
Amber shook her head, a small smile playing its way into her face. "I already took care of it. My thanks to you guys for getting me the clothes."
The Winx immediately protested. Amber waited patiently for the girls to quiet down before continuing, "You have been buying me clothes all day, probably spending a fortune. The least I can do is pay for dinner."
Grudgingly, the girls accepted Amber's payment and thanked her. Amber shrugged and gave them a half smile as if to say 'your welcome'. Amber led the way out of the restaurant and back to Alfea, the Winx laughing and talking beside her.
They arrived at their dormitory in a fit of laughter. All seven girls collapsed on the couch and chairs in the living room, still giggling over some joke. "Girls, I think it's time to initiate Amber into the club," Layla stated, a smile growing wide on her face.
The Winx exchanged looks of excitement. Amber stared at the six other girls in concealed confusion. "Initiation?" Amber said in a questioning tone.
"Sleep over!" Stella screeched, excitement and enthusiasm leaking into her shrill voice.
Amber raised her eyebrows. She shot Flora a confused look and leaned over to whisper, "Um, Flora? What's a sleep over?"
Flora looked at Amber, sympathy written all over her face. Normally, Amber would have scorned at anyone who gave her look like that, but when it came from someone as empathetic and innocent as Flora, Amber felt ashamed. Ashamed that she was so different and strange from someone who even had a remotely normal life.
Flora must have picked up on Amber's shame because she leaned over and gave the mysterious girl a one armed hug. "Oh sweetie, don't feel bad. A sleep over is when two or more friends stay at someone's house and they hang out together all night."
Amber gave the Nature Fairy a confused look. "Don't we do that every day?"
Flora chuckled lightly. "Yes, we do. The only difference with our sleep overs and what we do every day, is that we rarely sleep. We try to stay up all night doing mindless things."
Amber nodded slowly, still somewhat confused. She turned her attention back to the conversation between the rest of the Winx. "I still say we should do makeovers first," Stella huffed, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well before we do anything, we should get in some pj's," Bloom said.
The rest of the girls nodded in agreement and each girl walked toward her room. Only Amber was left, standing in the living room wondering what to do. She made her way over to where bags of her new clothes sat. She shuffled through them trying to find something comfortable to wear. Unfortunately, she and the Winx never got around to buying anything pajama related. So she sat on the couch, patiently waiting for her friends to return.
Layla walked out of her and Flora's room dressed in loose shorts and a baggy shirt. She noticed Amber sitting on couch still dressed in her normal attire. "Aren't you going to change?" Layla asked the Fairy of Time and dreams.
Amber shrugged in response. "I don't have any clothes to change into. I normally just sleep in my same clothes."
Layla walked over to Amber and pulled the mysterious girl up. When she felt Amber resist slightly, Layla said, "Come on, you can borrow some of mine. They might be a little loose on you, but I think they'll work."
Layla pulled Amber into her room and sat the blonde on her bed. While Layla was rummaging through her drawers, Amber looked around the room, spotting a variety of plants, courtesy of Flora. Amber examined a plant close to her and tested herself with how much she knew about it.
Layla threw some clothes at Amber, which the Fairy of Time and Dreams caught easily. "Here you go. They might be a little big on you, but they're the smallest I have. You can change in here if you want. I'll go make sure the others haven't destroyed the living room yet." Layla flashed Amber a joking smile before striding out of the room.
Hesitantly, Amber undressed herself and pulled the mid thigh shorts on and the tank top over her head. She walked over to the wall mirror, slightly scared at what she would see. Amber gasped quietly and gazed at the image in forlorn.
Scares ran up at down her skin. He arms and legs were littered with them, some small and barely noticeable, others large and gruesome. She turned around slowly and twisted her head so she could see her back. Her back was as bad as the rest of her were body, if not worse. Lines criss crossed in a cruel design, marring her once smooth skin. Amber held her hands in front of her face. The bandages that wrapped them were beginning to fall off, revealing traces of angry, red scars.
Amber muttered a spell and instantly the bandages began to mend and rewrap themselves up her forearms. Smiling in satisfactory, Amber began to perform another spell to hide her scars, but before any effects took place, a knock on the door resounded through the room.
The door swung open and closed quietly. Amber whirled around, ready to face whoever was going to attack her.
No one was going to attack her. Instead of a figure poised to kill her, Flora stood in front of the closed door, her soft features twisted in concern and sorrow. Amber looked down in shame, seeing as there was no way to hide her scars.
"I'm sorry you have to see this," Amber said, her voice quiet and deep with sadness.
Flora crossed the room to where her newfound friend stood. Flora took Amber's bandage covered hands in her own warm ones. "Oh, sweetie," Flora spoke softly, tilting her head so she could look into the blonde's expressive eyes. They were filled with darkness, pain, sorrow, and betrayal. Flora shuddered internally, but kept her eyes still.
Amber looked away, shame washing over her. "I usually have a spell to cover them, to make me beautiful."
"Sweetie," Flora gasped, pity for the girl striking her heart violently. "You are beautiful. You're more beautiful than anyone I've ever met. Not just because you physically are pretty, but you're also beautiful on the inside. You have a heart of gold and a soul of purity. These scars, they don't take away any of that. If anything, they enhance your beauty. They tell stories that words could never hope to express."
Amber brushed some tears from her eyes, smiling softly. "You always were one for emotional words." Amber chuckled softly and wiped away more tears that tracked her cheeks. "You even tore down my walls."
Flora smiled. "That's what I'm here for." Flora started walking towards the door, pulling Amber gently behind her. "Now come on. You don't need to hide from the girls. Let's show off your beauty."
The last part with Flora and Amber is dedicated to anyone who doesn't feel like they're good enough; to anyone who doesn't like what they see in the mirror, who feels the lies and hate from others, who can't see how much they're really worth. You are beautiful no matter what anyone says. Everything about you makes you, you. You're beautiful, inside and out. Neve let anyone tell you anything different. You are unique and special in all the right ways. Shine on
-Forever Courage