Chapter 3

The next day, Amber was heading for the exit of the high school after a long and hard day of learning. She couldn't wait to get home. It was the only place she really liked being. It also helped that her best friends, Danielle and Kylie, would be coming to her house for the weekend.

"Hey Amber," a bouncing brunette girl stopped next to her.

Amber flinched at the sudden sound. "Oh, hey Toni. What's up?" Toniann Watson has been Amber's best friend since elementary school. Toni was the first human friend she ever made when she moved to New York. Toni was always the more outgoing, party girl while Amber was more of the shy, introverted type. They couldn't be more different if they tried, but that didn't stop them from being friends.

"I just wanted to invite you to a party tonight." Toni told her excitedly, her green eyes sparkling.

Amber gave her an odd look. "Really?" she asked her bouncing friend.

"Yep." Toni answered swiftly. "So how about it?" Toni asked again.

Amber sighed, she really couldn't stand big house parties. They were never her thing the only time she actually went was when she was really desperate and bored or she just couldn't say no to Toni, but this time she would because she had other things to do. "Nah, I can't do that. I'm too busy."

"You're always busy." Toni whined. "What are you doing that's so important?"

"Well, we are seniors now, Toni. I'm kind of focusing on what college I'm going to." was the quick excuse she used.

"You can do that whenever. Take a day off, come and party."

Amber rolled her eyes. Sometimes it's hard being friends with a party girl. "Most of this was supposed to be done last year. I have to get this done soon."

"Fine, I'll just go by myself."

"Okay, you do that."

Toni pouted "Oh, come on. Everyone is going to be there."

"Yeah, everyone except me. I'm sorry T, maybe next time." Amber continued toward the exit with a pouting Toni now right next to her. "Why don't you bring your boyfriend?" Amber suggested.

"Who? Logan?" she questioned.

"Yeah, he is your boyfriend, isn't he?" Amber asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "But I don't want to bring him."

Amber shrugged. "Alright then, I guess you're on your own then tonight."

They got outside and headed downstairs, but before she could make it to the bottom step a boy around her age, rounded the corner and stood in her way.

"Hi Amber." his shaky voice greeted.

Amber stood frozen. "Uh, hi Ryan." Amber greeted as politely as possible. Ryan was another student at her school. Every once in a while he would pop up out of nowhere, block her path and ask her random questions. He had pale skin, messy brown hair and beady little eyes that really creeped her out. No one wanted to talk to this guy so they all tried to avoid him as much as possible. Amber was the only one that really talked to him and even then it wasn't that often. She would always try to be nice to him, but he just gave off these bad vibes that made Amber feel very uncomfortable. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine." he started rubbing his hands together as if nervous about something. His dark eyes darted back and forth between Amber and the people on the busy sidewalk. "What are you doing this weekend?"

"Um, I'll be working." Amber stated vaguely.

"Oh." he said simply. "Well... if your schedule clears up. Maybe you can come with me."

"Uh... come with you where?" she asked and she wasn't really sure why she asked.

He didn't answer and walked away. "Holy crap, that was so weird." Toni said as soon as he was out of ear shot.

"Yeah, how do you think I felt?" she continued down the stairs and started for home.

"Why is he talking to you? What did you say to him?"

"Well, I'm the only one who is not a complete ass to him, so maybe that's the reason."

"Why are you so nice to him?"

"I don't know, it kind of just happened. We have some of the same classes and he sits next to me. He started talking to me, so naturally I started talking to him."

"You haven't gone anywhere with him, have you?" Toni asked cautiously.

"No, and I don't plan on it."

"Good, the last thing I want is for my best friend to end up dead in an alley somewhere."

"I can guarantee you, that will not happen."


Back down in the sewers

Dirk was lying on the couch of their lair with a baby monitor in his hands. He could hear the faint sound of his daughter breathing softly as she napped. Dirk sighed and shut his eyes.

It had been about five months since May got up and walked out of his and Isabelle's life.

Five months ago

Dirk was in the kitchen fixing a bottle for his infant daughter when May walked in.

"Dirk." she called to get his attention.

He turned to see the red haired woman that was his long time girlfriend. "Hey babe." he said with a small smile. "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" she asked and Dirk immediately noticed the sudden serious tone in her voice.

"Um... sure." Dirk sat down at the kitchen table and May followed suit. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't like this feeling.

"Dirk, I can't stay here anymore." she finally said after what felt like hours.

He felt like his heart had been ripped in half. He didn't really hear anything after that, everything sounded muffled. 'Oh my God, she's leaving me. This isn't happening.' he thought.

"Dirk?... Dirk?"

He blinked at the sound of his name. "What?" he asked with slight venom in his voice.

"I think we should take a break." he heard her say.

"Take a break?" Dirk repeated. "Are you kidding me?" he snapped, furious. He loved her and he thought she loved him.

"Come on, Dirk. Don't be like that." May pleaded with him.

"Don't be like what? Upset, angry, frustrated, how about all of the above. I trusted you, I loved you and this is what you do."

"I just feel like my life is moving too fast."

"Too fast? What are you talking about?"

"After your brother and sister got married, I've been feeling pressured by you to do the same."

"When have I ever pressured you into doing anything? All I did was ask if you wanted to get married someday and you avoided the question." he yelled "It's not like if you said yes I would have immediately popped the question right then and there. I knew you weren't ready."

"But with all the marriage talk and the fact that we have a baby now..."

"Wait... are you blaming your own daughter for your unhappiness?" he interrupted. He took a breath to calm his rattled nerves. "Look, sometimes things don't go as planned and Isabelle was definitely not planned, but she's here now."

"I know, but..." she paused trying to think of the words to say. Dirk was ready for any excuse she had. "I just need time to find myself."

Dirk rolled his eyes at the lame excuse. He knew exactly what "I need to find myself" really meant. "Well, you sure picked a hell of a time to do that. You are in a relationship and need I remind you that you have a CHILD! Forget about me, but you can't leave your kid behind."

May was starting to get angry as well. "I know I have a child, but I can do whatever the hell I want." she yelled.

Dirk gave her an odd look then smirked. She was the one leaving, she was abandoning her child, but she was the one getting angry. That was stupid logic, but fighting with her clearly wasn't working. "I've done everything I could for you, I guess it wasn't enough. So fine, leave."

May looked surprised at that. "Go! Go pack all of your stuff and leave. Go ahead and find yourself." he added air quotes around the last part. "Izzy doesn't need a mother like you." He walked over to the bottle warmer, that had most definitely stopped warming at this point, took the bottle out and went to leave the kitchen, but before he actually left he said one more thing. "I expect that you'll be gone in the next few hours."

"Next few hours?" she exclaimed. "That's not enough time."

"That's more than enough time since the only things that you own are your clothes. You can fit all of that in a few suitcases. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a child to take care of." with that he left her alone in the kitchen and headed for the baby's room.

When he got there, Erica, who was watching over little Isabelle and Mya, looked up at him with sad eyes. "I guess you heard that, huh?" he asked.

Erica only stood up and hugged him. "I'm sorry."

Dirk hugged her back. "Don't be sorry, baby sis. I'll be fine." he separated from her and went to sit next to Isabelle. She was playing with blocks and was completely oblivious to what was going on. "Hey Izzy, time to eat." he placed her on his lap and handed her the bottle, with his help, she began to drink. As he watched her, he smiled and silently promised "I won't ever leave you. I swear."

Dirk opened his eyes and looked to see Jessica standing over him. "Hey." she greeted.

"Hey, how are you?"

"I should be asking you that question."

Dirk sat up to make room for her. "I'm fine."

"She still on your mind?" she asked.

"Of course she is." he answered honestly. "She's all think about."

"I don't blame you, I'm sorry about this." Jessie said while placing a hand on his shoulder.

He sighed "Did she ever say anything to you about how she was feeling?" he was kind of hoping that maybe May had said something to her.

"Not at all. I would have said something to you."

Dirk thought for a second then shook his head. "I guess it wouldn't matter anyway, I'm pretty sure if you told me anything it wouldn't change her mind."

"I guess, but it didn't give her a right to just up and leave you and your daughter."

"Well, it happened and there's really nothing I can do." Dirk shrugged. "I'm just glad you guys are here to help me out when I need it."

"Hey, we're family and that's what family does."


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