Chapter 5: Part 2 -- ...TO ELECTION
"You start tomorrow," Frieda smiled.
Amber shook the plump woman's hand, grinning, heart brimming, and she left the Department of Social Services.
She had just gotten a job.
When she had entered the shabby Department of Social Services, with it's fluorescent lights that flickered on and off and the many that didn't work at all, Amber wasn't too sure about what she was getting herself into. The woman at the entrance of City Hall had said the only positions available where in the Social Services area.
Amber couldn't deny she had been intimidated by the situation. Though the MallRats were responsible for many of the philosophies City Hall based its judicial foundation upon, Amber felt for the first time the extent of the rebuilding. They had really done it. And walking down the long, big hallways with their old wooden floors that shined, but creaked when stepped on, she saw the many doors that led to the different departments, and the windows on the sides of those doors that gave Amber a slight view into the inner machine of the new world.
It was almost calming, but also nerve-racking to think of the people in power. Amber hadn't had too much faith in her peers during school-- with the drinking, partying on weekends, the kids who smoked pot, the ones who led dramatic sex lives, the ones who formed creepy cults and sometimes asked her to join-- after the Virus, she wondered how in the name of God's green earth those people would be able to rebuild something resembling the lives they had once all lead.
But there before her was the result, albeit it being so many years later. It had taken a while, but sh!t had been gotten together. Except, of course, for Aphrodite Stevens with her faulty policies and dishonest character. That could be fixed, but the damage she had inflicted could affect the City for ages to come.
Aphrodite had been at the job interview, but not because Amber was applying. As Amber walked into the department, she heard screaming coming from a small hallway. Sheathed in the darkness of a waiting room with an empty, darkend receptionist's booth (and a very dusty all phone), Amber froze at the burst of light that crept toward her, and at the shriek of the woman who was screaming.
"Jesus Christ, Frieda, how the hell are we supposed to run goddamn Social Service projects if people keep quitting!" The woman screamed. Amber covered her ears slightly, and her nervousness fell away. She cocked her head toward the hallway in curouisty. Someone was mad, and throwing a big fit.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Stevens, but what do you want me to do?" A shaky, less dominating female voice sounded in response.
"I want you to keep people hired! If I have to print any more City Stamps or set up any more Greek Style City Lunches it'll be your job that pays for it, Frieda Garcia. I want you posting ads in the classifieds of The Amulet, at markets, stores-- anywhere people can see. God, if everyone is so nuts about finding a job, why don't they actually look?"
"Right away, Ms. Stevens, I'll write the ad now," Frieda Garcia said, this time flatly. Amber heard typing at a computer.
"Good. And if there isn't at least one applicant in the next two days, you're gone," Aphrodite Stevens whispered.
With a huff, a tall woman dressed in a red business suit came lumbering down the hallway. She had bright red lipstick, a pile of thick fake blonde hair upon herh ead, and boisterious breasts that didn't seem to be constricted with anything but the top of the suit.
Amber froze as Aphrodite's eyes fell upon her head poked into the hallway.
"Oh, I--" Amber threw herself in the path.
Aphrodite looked at her strangely. "Yes...?"
"I want to er-- um, you know-"
A sudden flick of realization exploded in Aphrodite's green eyes. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"
"I wanted to apply-- what?" Amber asked.
"You're Amber Jennings?!" Aphrodite's face became a goofy grin. Her large lips and small teeth made her bony nose look like a cartoon character when she grinned like that.
Amber felt relief spread through her.
"Yes, and you must be Aphrodite Stevens?" Amber smiled gently.
"Correct, correct. How are you doing?" Aphrodite held out her thin, pale hand for Amber to shake.
"Good, and you?" Amber shook it. It was slimy with some type of lotion.
Aphrodite must have noticed the look on Amber's face. Her happiness seemed to fade, and she pulled her hand away firmly.
"Good. So you say you're applying here for a job?" Aphrodite asked, like she could care less, suddenly taking an interest in the ugly shade of maroon her elongated nails were.
"Yes, I heard Social Services was hiring, and I love to serve the people," Amber grinned. She was nervous, and felt like she was being fake. She hated feeling fake.
Aphrodite's smile died on her lips. A suspicious expression tingled through her face.
"You always loved to help the ordinary tribal man or woman," Aphrodite said more in a tone of disgust than in admiration.
"You're right, I did. I always knew the future of this City would be the people. Especially those ordinary tribal people," Amber remarked dryly. Her fake fixture went off. Aphrodite Stevens was definitely a very rude, impudent woman.
"But, Amber, are you sure you want to work in the Department of Social Services? It's not good pay, you get stuck with the worst jobs-- honestly," Aphrodite's face contorted into what Amber tried to identify as concern. But instead of doing it properly, her teeth jutted out at an odd angle, and Amber noticed they had a slightly green quality to them.
"The people are my passion."
"I simply can't stand for it! With your brains like yours you should be helping me in my office!" Aphrodite laughed.
"No, really, it's not a problem," Amber said in a tone that clearly meant she was applying at the Department of Social Services no matter what Aphrodite said.
The blonde stared at her for a moment with narrowed eyes full of questions.
"Alright. Good luck with your interview," Aphrodite said coldly. And before Amber could answer, she walked quickly from the hallway and into the darkness, bumping Amber's shoulder with her bony one. The door to the department opened and shut.
"Hello?" A woman's head popped from the door Aphrodite had emerged from after her yelling episode. She had dark skin and her hair was in a ponytail.
"Oh, hi, I'm Amber Jennings," Amber smiled and quickly walked toward the office. The woman stepped out and held out her hand for Amber to go in.
It was a cold room, the weather outside hadn't been stopped by a faulty heater that putted in the corner. A large window ran the length of the wall behind a fake wooden desk with papers strewn across it, and a computer from the 1980's perched on top. Two yellow chairs sat side by side in front of the desk.
"I'm Frieda Garcia," Frieda shook Amber's hand firmly, a warm smile on her face. Frieda Garcia took a seat in a light maroon swivel chair behind the desk. She was a plump woman who looked like she was in her late 20's, older than Amber. She wore spandex black pants and a black flowing shirt with red flowers growing all over it. On her ears were two silver looped earings. Her lips were painted a luscious red, and her eyes had two thick brushes of black underneath them. The room smelled like many assorted spices.
Amber sat down on one of the yellow chairs.
"What can I do for you, Amber?" Frieda began to type away at her computer. Probably typing the classified notice Aphrodite had barked at her for. Amber felt a pang of pity for the woman.
"Um, I heard you guys were applying?" Amber crossed her legs.
Frieda pushed her keyboard into the desk, and swiveled her chair to face Amber.
"You..you want to apply?" Frieda asked, unsure.
Amber grinned. "Yes, I do."
"Okay, okay," Frieda nodded, the news sinking in. Amber thought maybe she had just saved this woman her job.
"What do you need for me to d--"
"Wait, aren't you Amber Jennings?" Frieda's eyes went wide.
Amber laughed. "That's me."
"Wow, it's an honor to meet you. Why are you applying here?"
"Because I want to help the people," Amber said.
"I'm sure you'd like to work in Aphrodite's office. You'd have a lot more things to do there--"
"I saw Aphrodite just before I came in here, and she offered me a job. I turned it down. I want personal contact with the people."
Frieda Garcia studied Amber suspciously. It must have been extremely odd to find someone who actually wanted to work with the people. Those were dark times at City Hall. Sometimes The Amulet was filled with columns about the soon to be downfall of the City's rebuilding due to Aphrodite's poor leadership skills. Other times, The Amulet was full of columns praising Aphrodite's achievements and her commitment to the City's future.
"Well, I must say that that is very honorable, especially for someone with a past like yours," Frieda smiled.
Despite Aphrodite's yelling, and her quickness to get things done, Amber could tell Frieda was a very confident woman who cared for the people. Unfortunately, the job she loved was in the worst department that should have been the best-- the department for the people.
It was pathetic, and it disgusted Amber.
Faulty leaders, broken promises, tyranny, the comfortable lives of the high class City Council elite (Amber couldn't believe the way some of them dressed and acted when she had first came into City Hall-- like they were gods straight from Aphrodite's Mount Olympus), and the unsanitary of the poor-- it was sickening!
Yes, she was [i]happy[/i] she was working at the Department of Social Services. She was happy she was going to lend her good to the people who needed it most, who the government had turned it's dirty backs on.
"After all of the stuff I've heard about the state of Aphrodite's dealings, and of the City's rebuilding programs-- I want to help the people who need it the most," Amber said truthfully and honestly. Frieda was moved by this woman's obvious dedication to helping others.
"Yes, we have been in a slump, but Ms. Stevens tries her best-"
"Ms. Garcia, I heard Aphrodite yelling at you."
Frieda looked at her computer.
"Aphrodite is destroying the City," Frieda finally said.
"But why are they letting her?" Amber asked, frusterated.
"You mean, her advisors and council? Because they only care about their own lives! Sure they preach about justice, and rebuilding, and equal rights, and laws, but honestly, they don't care at all," Frieda shook her head sadly.
"Dammit, that makes me so angry," Amber rubbed her temples. A pounding started to gain a rythym in her head.
"It makes us all angry. Look around you, Amber! I have a computer that's at least twenty-two years old! I have to call a technician every damn day to fix it. All of this furniture is from the basement because it was from the 1980's, there is barely any electricity in the front office, I'm the only person who works here-- go and look at other departments, especially Aphrodite's offices, and you'll see it is [i]completely[/i] different! The only places like this are the departments for the people. The people, Amber Jennings, are getting [i]f.ucked[/i]."
Amber suddenly admired Frieda Garcia for her silent viligance. She could have transfered to any other department, but she had chosen to stay to help the people. The people. Not herself. And she was so passionate-- Frieda cared! She could be trusted, and most importantly she had a vision for the future.
"My son is enrolled at one of the children's schools, and he's only learning how to read and basic, basic math. I went to lunch yesterday at a new resteraunt, and the place had moldy cheese and dust in their drinks just after the City Inspection!" Amber cried in her anger.
For the next two hours, Amber and Frieda talked about the poor state of the City before their conversation shifted to the topic of their lives. Amber confided to Frieda the situation with Bray, and how badly she needed a job. Frieda was married with two daughters, but they lived in a bad section of town because the bad economy had just got her husband laid off.
At the end of their time together, Amber was hired.
She stepped out of City Hall, and did the buttons of her coat as she walked through the icy wind to Trudy's car.
"Amber!" A voice called out to her as she stuck the key in the locked door. Amber turned around, and stepping down the steps of City Hall was Ebony.
Amber froze slightly. Ebony? What was she doing at City Hall?
"Amber," Ebony said again, this time panting slightly as she stepped into the parking lot.
"Ebony?" Amber's voice broke. She clutched her purse with a deathgrip.
Ebony laughed, "It's me." A soft clipclop noise emitted from high-heels as she finally walked and stood next to Amber.
"How are you?" Ebony smiled.
She had changed. Tall and slender, she wore a salmon-colored business suit with a white ruffled neck, complete with matching high heels. Her hair, still braided, was pulled back and tied behind her head. The only thing Amber fully recognized on her old enemy was the makeup on her face. It was straight out of the Loco times. In fact, it was the same makeup Ebony had worn during that era. The large red phoenix was rather odd for a woman dressed like she was.
"I-- I'm doing good," Amber nodded, her astonishment getting the better of her.
Ebony noticed Amber's nervousness. "That's great. Were you applying for a job here?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Oh, I just heard the receptionist in the front talking about it. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard your name," Ebony folded her arms, the soft satin of her suit gently folding to comply with the action.
"Yeah, I heard they were hiring at the Department of Social Services," Amber said.
A pained looked spread on Ebony's face. "They have been forever. That department loses more people than any other place in the City. Aphrodite sure has done a number on us all."
"Why are you here?" Amber asked suspiciously.
"I'm on the City Council," Ebony stated proudly.
"What?!" Amber didn't bother hiding her surprise.
"Look, Amber, I know you didn't like me when we were kids. But that was a long time ago. We don't even know eachother anymore," Ebony said defensively, rebounding Amber's surprise.
Amber thought about that. It was true. They didn't know eachother at all now.
"I--," Amber took a breath. This was hard for her to say. "I'm sorry, Ebony."
The corners of the City Council woman's mouth went up like a curtain. But this time, not in a manipulative manner. Lex had changed, and if [i]he[/i] could change, why couldn't anyone else? Amber was suddenly filled with optimism that the vindictive Ebony had gone for good.
"It's fine, Amber. Everyone does stupid stuff when they're kids," Ebony said.
"We had to grow up fast," Amber stared at the black pavement below them.
"Yeah, we did."
There was an uncomfortable silence as the women stared at eachother, trying to work through their pasts in a five minute conversation. It just wouldn't work.
"Well, I have to go. I got the job, so I guess I'll be seeing you around," Amber opened her car door, and got in.
"Maybe we can go to lunch sometime?" Ebony said. The women said goodbye and Ebony shut the door of Trudy's car. Amber plugged the ignition with the key, and she left.
~*~
That night Trudy, Salene, Alice, Siva, and Tai-San took Amber out to dinner to celebrate her new job. Trudy had asked Mouse, who was living with Salene while she finished school, to babysit BJ and Brady while they went.
Because of the horrific incident at Ursula's Pizza Cafe, the group decided to eat at a place they were familiar with-- Jia Chou Bu Chinese Buffet.
Amber loved Chinese food. She loved sweet and sour chicken, the awesome taste, the vibrant glow of the red goo under the low hanging lights in the comfortable buffet. She would dig her spoon into the fried rice, bringing up mountains of the white substance drenched in soy sauce, so good she swallowed whole, not bothering to chew.
Jia Chou Bu was one of the best places to eat in the City. It had been approved by City Hall long before Aphrodite became City Leader, so no one suspected to find nasty things in their dinners.
"I forget you didn't know Ebony was on the City Council," Trudy shoved her fork into her mouth, her orange chicken trapped as she closed her lips. She closed her eyes involuntarily as she savored the food.
"I was so surprised!" Amber sipped her beer from a straw.
"Who wouldn't be?" Alice laughed.
"Ebony has changed. She's responsible, good," Tai-San picked at her chicken salad.
"Tai-San's right-- she has changed. When we were kids, she was such a little snot, but now she organizes food drives for poor kids, gives out coats during the winter in the bad parts of town, makes sure teens are keeping out of trouble. It's so unbelievable, me and Java still have to pinch ourselves to believe it," Siva stabbed three pieces of sweet and sour pork at once, and leaned in over her plate as the sauce dribbled.
"I've seen the stuff she's written about youth and laws she's trying to get passed for after school programs. It's really admirable," Salene nodded.
"If Lex can change, Ebony can change," Trudy laughed, swallowing another piece of chicken.
"That's what I thought when Ebony was acting so nice," Amber said.
"But so you heard Aphrodite yelling at your boss?" Alice wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin.
"Yeah, it was so weird. I was walking into the Department of Social Services, and I was kind of stunned because some lights worked, and others didn't, and I was heading down the hallway and I heard shouting. She was yelling at Frieda because no one wanted to work for the department. She said if she didn't get an applicant in the next two days, Frieda was gone," Amber glared at her fried rice. Talking about Aphrodite made anger sizzle through her veins.
"God that's so horrible," Tai-San said.
"I can't believe she threatens people like that," Salene said, a disgruntled look on her face.
"You should see Frieda's passion. I only met her today, but I could just sense it, I knew it, after our conversation. I think that together we'll do it, you guys. We'll make a difference for the people," Amber said, gazing into Siva's drink.
"I hope so, babe," Alice said.
"What's your position anyway?" Trudy asked.
"What will you do there?" Siva joined. She pushed her plate away from her, finished.
"I bet you won't have an official title or do only one thing if two people work in the entire department," Salene said knowingly, finishing the last of her food.
"I think you're right, Sal. Frieda didn't really tell me anything except a lot of people never stayed around, and that I was hired," Amber shrugged. She swallowed the last piece of sweet and sour chicken, her stomach opening up to take the small piece of meat before closing for the night. She was full.
"When do you start?" Tai-San cracked open her fortune cookie.
"Tomorrow," Amber bit her lip. She hoped she wouldn't walk away from the job too. But Frieda had said Amber cared about the people, not in a fake sense, but a real one; and that the people before didn't have the passion she did.
She would stay. Not for Frieda, she would not leave if things got bad-- the people were the highest of importance, and for them and their futures stay Amber would.
"What does it say?" Alice rested her chin in her hands, looking at the paper Tai-San was unfolding.
"Hmmm," Tai-San giggled dramatically, "Good things are yet to come."
"Maybe that means you'll find a man soon," Siva winked.
"I'm happy with my clinic!" Tai-San laughed.
"Last time I heard herbs aren't that wonderful in the sack," Salene teased.
"Last time I heard married women didn't have little crushes on bosses named Dan Johnson," Tai-San shot back, still laughing.
"Funny how this one does," Salene chortled, pointing to herself.
"I want to open mine!" Trudy rummaged through the mess of napkins on the table to find her cookie. She quickly broke the hard shell, and the slip of paper fell onto her plate. She opened it.
"What does it say 'Best friends will leave home soon'?," Amber laughed sarcastically.
"Haha, it says 'Once there was not much, but the future is full of plentiful corn," Trudy rolled her eyes.
"Bad, bad writers..." Siva waved her hands at the table as if to ward off the cliche fortunes.
"I guess I should open mine, as my future is just picking up," Amber took the hard "cookie" off her plate, and broke it. The white slip with pink text unfolded in her hands with the help of her fingers.
"Is it bad?" Alice waited.
Amber felt five pairs of eyes on her as she read the fortune.
"The time is the 2nd one, 2 is for a mother and a child, and combined with that 3 is for a day that will change it all," Amber whispered.
"What that mean?" Salene asked.
"Fortune cookies are fortune cookies," Siva shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess so," Amber smiled.
They left an hour later. As all of her friends dug into their pockets for tip money, Amber secretly slipped her fortune in her purse. She could use all of the good luck she could get.
~*~
Amber's first day at work was chaotic.
Right when she stepped into the darkened front office of the Department of Social Services, Frieda was making noises in an office across from her own.
"Frieda? It's Amber!" Amber called down the hallway, in the same place where she had listened to Aphrodite yell at her new boss.
"This is your office," Frieda stepped from the room. She was panting, sweat dripping down her face.
"What have you been doing?" Amber stepped into the new office.
"Moving all of this in here," Frieda panted.
It was an identical replica of Frieda's office, complete with the 1980's computer and furniture and window-wall, except that all of it was opposite.
"You moved all of this this morning?!" Amber asked, stupified. When she had walked by the office the day before it had been darkened, and she saw through the windows it had been empty.
"Yup," Frieda wiped her forehead with her arm.
"Frieda, I'm so sorry, I should of done all of this," Amber's face etched itself in concern.
A look of shock painted Frieda's. "Amber, it's the least I could do! You're the only geniune person who has ever worked here, or will work here. Believe me, if you knew the idiots who occupied this office in the past, you would thinking nothing of this."
"But-"
"We have to start working. There are pens in your desk to fill out forms with, the computer memo program for memos, and the computer for everything else. Don't worry about wasting ink when you print stuff because we know how to make ink cartridges. Just conserve, conserve, conserve!
Back here you will be a Social Service Administrator. Up front, in the office receptionist booth, you'll be a receptionist and you'll give out City Stamps when people come in, but make sure..."
Frieda explained what seemed like 10,000 different tasks Amber would have to accomplish each day. She would work in the back with Frieda from 8:00 to noon, and than she'd switch off to the receptionist booth from one to five.
As a Social Service Administrator, Amber would configure budget totals for City programs that benefitted places like homeless shelters, and soup programs, and rebuilding projects. She would decide which program needed more money, and which did not.
Then she would go through a list of merchants and call them to see if they would sponser the City Stamps campaign, which substituted stamps instead of money for the people who could not afford food. Amber didn't understand the purpose of City Stamps, because whenever you spent any, at that particular store you would get a bill that you had to pay off in the next three years.
It was a dead end idea. What if some people never did get jobs, and ended up getting into extensive debt? How would that help anyone?
Amber also was to join Frieda to make sure The Education Foundation was properly funding the schools on Inspection tours every four months; she was to deal with families the Police Department brought to Social Services that needed a social worker, and she was to review all Social Policy Unsures-- bills, laws, amendments, anything that could change or had to do with the social system of the City.
As receptionist, Amber would answer phones, hand out City Stamps and keep track of how much families spent via calls from the stores where they purchased items; she was to interview and choose to hire new applicants according to a three page list of qualifications (Amber wondered why Frieda hadn't reviewed her properly to make sure she was qualified), plus answer phones, deal with all people who came into the office, and run memos from Frieda to different departments.
Needless to say, the first day of her job, which was so complicated it had no name, tired her out. When she came home from work that day, she was frusterated, tired, and angry that she had a job originially meant for ten people.
"I'm so tired," Amber whispered as she collapsed on the sofa.
"How was work?" Trudy came from the kitchen, a ladel in her hand, where she was making what smelled like soup and breadsticks.
Amber moved to the kitchen table and told Trudy about her first day. She listed off the many jobs, and the difficult tasks.
"No wonder no one wants to work there," Trudy went back into the kitchen and began stirring a big pot of simmering vegetable soup.
"Tell me about it. I'm so mad, Trudy...this all makes me so mad. While I was taking Bray's fits, Aphrodite was ruining our lives. God," Amber laid her head down on the table.
"It's been a while since she's been in power," Trudy said.
"Hopefully she won't run again," Amber rolled her eyes so hard it hurt her head.
"I have a surprise for you that should get your mind off all that," Trudy grinned as a buzzer went off. She gloved an oven mitt, and reached to open the white box, where she pulled out a tray of breadsticks.
"What? Dinner will be delicious?"
"That, and Lex is coming for it. He was sorry he couldn't make it last night, so he wants to celebrate with you tonight," Trudy blew on the breadsticks hard: a fatal attempt to cool them.
Amber's spirit perked. She hadn't seen Lex for two days. Two days too long.
"Me, Brady, and BJ are going to dinner and a movie so you two can have your little date," Trudy suddenly interjected.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying I'm making you guys a romantic, cozy little dinner so you can get your stuff movin' if ya know what I mean," Trudy giggled viciously. Amber laughed, and went to hug her friend. A night with Lex alone was a treasure.
Amber decided to ward off the stress of work by taking a shower and getting ready.
The serenity of her ritual and looking forward to the dinner, Amber felt relaxed. She dressed in a pink t-shirt with tan khaki pants, and a loose brown belt with a silver buckle that hung over the pants. Instead of straightening her hair, she ratted it to make it curly and full of body.
"Amber? We're leaving, babe! Lex will be here in ten minutes and everything is on the table," Trudy knocked on the bathroom door.
"K, Trude! Thanks so much for doing all of this!" Amber called back.
"No problem! We'll be home later! Good luck!"
"Bye mom!"
"Bye Aunt Amber!"
"Bye kids, love you, have fun!"
The door clicked and shut, and her family was gone.
After she finished doing her hair, she ran to Trudy's room to sprinkle on pinches of perfume and a quick glance in the mirror. She didn't look too formal, or too casual.
But still she felt nervous.
"It's Lex, Amber," She told her mirror image.
"But you kissed that Lex," The mirror image replied.
A knock on the door signaled Lex's arrival.
Quickly patting down her clothes to make sure everything looked perfect, Amber threw herself to the door. She took a large intake of air and opened.
"Hey Amber," Lex grinned.
Standing against a backdrop of stars, dressed in jeans, and a white dress shirt rolled up at the sleeves and unbuttoned at the collar, with his hair hanging loosely down but shimmering in the moonlight-- for lack of a better word because she could find no other, Amber thought Lex looked hot.
"Hey Lex."
Lex stepped inside, and shut the door behind him. Before she could protest or say anything, Lex swept her into a kiss.
"Wow," She whispered when it was over, wiping her lips, still in his arms.
She felt safe there. Good. Not unsure like she was with Bray, not waiting for the monster to come out. Good. Simply, and most definitely.
"Trudy made us dinner?" Lex said softly.
"Yeah, it's on the table," Amber motioned.
Lex took Amber's hand, and lead her to the table. He scooped her up a bowl of vegetable soup and two breadsticks.
"I brought wine," He said as he put Amber's food in front of her. He had set down the bottle when he pulled the woman in for a kiss.
Lex found two wine glasses in Trudy's cabinets, and he poured the liquid down each before lighting three candles on the table.
"This is very romantic," Amber sipped her soup from her spoon.
"We needed to celebrate your job victory," Lex munched a breadstick.
Amber told him about her first day, and about the day before when she had ran into Aphrodite and Ebony. Lex agreed Ebony had changed, and that they still kept in touch. Ebony had heard from Java about Amber and Bray's relationship, and Lex was sure that Ebony went up to Amber to see if she would talk to her about it.
"She needs closure about you guys," Lex said. He clinged his wine against Amber's and they both drank.
"It was so long ago," Amber stared at her soup.
"People hold stuff inside of them," Lex shrugged. Amber noticed he smelled distinctly of Albertson's mens cologne.
"Yeah, they do," She said dryly.
The two finished their delicious meal, and Lex pulled Amber out onto the balcony outside the kitchen. It was a small one, but on a chair was a stereo that Lex clicked on and a small patio table housed a thick red candle burning into the night. "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers started to play softly, and Lex held Amber against him for a dance.
In that moment of perfection, of being loved and loving another, Amber let all of her thoughts and frusterations drain to the street below her. All that mattered than was Lex, and their night.
Because after their dance, they fell into her bedroom. And they made love.
After it was over, Amber suspected Trudy would be home soon with the kids, so the two slightly ruffled lovers watched the evening news.
"Aphrodite Stevens running again for City Leader, coming up when The City News at 10 begins," A newswoman on the screen said. Cheesy music played and the woman appeared again.
"City Leader Aphrodite Stevens announced her canidacy today for the election of City Leader next month. Ms. Stevens has been City Leader for four years, which brings many to wonder why she is running again. Controversey exploded at City Hall during the press conference as angry demonstrators demanded to know why Ms. Stevens' administration changed election laws so that only those with pasts in politics may run. Many of those who planned on running for the position have dropped out."
"Jesus Christ," Lex shook his head in disgust.
"She must have had that after I left," Amber laid her head on Lex's shoulder.
"I wish someone would run against her," Lex grumbled.
Amber suddenly catapulted into the air above Lex, standing over him with shock on her face.
"What? Is something wrong?!"
"No, no! Lex?!"
"What?!"
"I'm going to run for City Leader."
And with that the entire course of rebuilding her life changed.
"You start tomorrow," Frieda smiled.
Amber shook the plump woman's hand, grinning, heart brimming, and she left the Department of Social Services.
She had just gotten a job.
When she had entered the shabby Department of Social Services, with it's fluorescent lights that flickered on and off and the many that didn't work at all, Amber wasn't too sure about what she was getting herself into. The woman at the entrance of City Hall had said the only positions available where in the Social Services area.
Amber couldn't deny she had been intimidated by the situation. Though the MallRats were responsible for many of the philosophies City Hall based its judicial foundation upon, Amber felt for the first time the extent of the rebuilding. They had really done it. And walking down the long, big hallways with their old wooden floors that shined, but creaked when stepped on, she saw the many doors that led to the different departments, and the windows on the sides of those doors that gave Amber a slight view into the inner machine of the new world.
It was almost calming, but also nerve-racking to think of the people in power. Amber hadn't had too much faith in her peers during school-- with the drinking, partying on weekends, the kids who smoked pot, the ones who led dramatic sex lives, the ones who formed creepy cults and sometimes asked her to join-- after the Virus, she wondered how in the name of God's green earth those people would be able to rebuild something resembling the lives they had once all lead.
But there before her was the result, albeit it being so many years later. It had taken a while, but sh!t had been gotten together. Except, of course, for Aphrodite Stevens with her faulty policies and dishonest character. That could be fixed, but the damage she had inflicted could affect the City for ages to come.
Aphrodite had been at the job interview, but not because Amber was applying. As Amber walked into the department, she heard screaming coming from a small hallway. Sheathed in the darkness of a waiting room with an empty, darkend receptionist's booth (and a very dusty all phone), Amber froze at the burst of light that crept toward her, and at the shriek of the woman who was screaming.
"Jesus Christ, Frieda, how the hell are we supposed to run goddamn Social Service projects if people keep quitting!" The woman screamed. Amber covered her ears slightly, and her nervousness fell away. She cocked her head toward the hallway in curouisty. Someone was mad, and throwing a big fit.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Stevens, but what do you want me to do?" A shaky, less dominating female voice sounded in response.
"I want you to keep people hired! If I have to print any more City Stamps or set up any more Greek Style City Lunches it'll be your job that pays for it, Frieda Garcia. I want you posting ads in the classifieds of The Amulet, at markets, stores-- anywhere people can see. God, if everyone is so nuts about finding a job, why don't they actually look?"
"Right away, Ms. Stevens, I'll write the ad now," Frieda Garcia said, this time flatly. Amber heard typing at a computer.
"Good. And if there isn't at least one applicant in the next two days, you're gone," Aphrodite Stevens whispered.
With a huff, a tall woman dressed in a red business suit came lumbering down the hallway. She had bright red lipstick, a pile of thick fake blonde hair upon herh ead, and boisterious breasts that didn't seem to be constricted with anything but the top of the suit.
Amber froze as Aphrodite's eyes fell upon her head poked into the hallway.
"Oh, I--" Amber threw herself in the path.
Aphrodite looked at her strangely. "Yes...?"
"I want to er-- um, you know-"
A sudden flick of realization exploded in Aphrodite's green eyes. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"
"I wanted to apply-- what?" Amber asked.
"You're Amber Jennings?!" Aphrodite's face became a goofy grin. Her large lips and small teeth made her bony nose look like a cartoon character when she grinned like that.
Amber felt relief spread through her.
"Yes, and you must be Aphrodite Stevens?" Amber smiled gently.
"Correct, correct. How are you doing?" Aphrodite held out her thin, pale hand for Amber to shake.
"Good, and you?" Amber shook it. It was slimy with some type of lotion.
Aphrodite must have noticed the look on Amber's face. Her happiness seemed to fade, and she pulled her hand away firmly.
"Good. So you say you're applying here for a job?" Aphrodite asked, like she could care less, suddenly taking an interest in the ugly shade of maroon her elongated nails were.
"Yes, I heard Social Services was hiring, and I love to serve the people," Amber grinned. She was nervous, and felt like she was being fake. She hated feeling fake.
Aphrodite's smile died on her lips. A suspicious expression tingled through her face.
"You always loved to help the ordinary tribal man or woman," Aphrodite said more in a tone of disgust than in admiration.
"You're right, I did. I always knew the future of this City would be the people. Especially those ordinary tribal people," Amber remarked dryly. Her fake fixture went off. Aphrodite Stevens was definitely a very rude, impudent woman.
"But, Amber, are you sure you want to work in the Department of Social Services? It's not good pay, you get stuck with the worst jobs-- honestly," Aphrodite's face contorted into what Amber tried to identify as concern. But instead of doing it properly, her teeth jutted out at an odd angle, and Amber noticed they had a slightly green quality to them.
"The people are my passion."
"I simply can't stand for it! With your brains like yours you should be helping me in my office!" Aphrodite laughed.
"No, really, it's not a problem," Amber said in a tone that clearly meant she was applying at the Department of Social Services no matter what Aphrodite said.
The blonde stared at her for a moment with narrowed eyes full of questions.
"Alright. Good luck with your interview," Aphrodite said coldly. And before Amber could answer, she walked quickly from the hallway and into the darkness, bumping Amber's shoulder with her bony one. The door to the department opened and shut.
"Hello?" A woman's head popped from the door Aphrodite had emerged from after her yelling episode. She had dark skin and her hair was in a ponytail.
"Oh, hi, I'm Amber Jennings," Amber smiled and quickly walked toward the office. The woman stepped out and held out her hand for Amber to go in.
It was a cold room, the weather outside hadn't been stopped by a faulty heater that putted in the corner. A large window ran the length of the wall behind a fake wooden desk with papers strewn across it, and a computer from the 1980's perched on top. Two yellow chairs sat side by side in front of the desk.
"I'm Frieda Garcia," Frieda shook Amber's hand firmly, a warm smile on her face. Frieda Garcia took a seat in a light maroon swivel chair behind the desk. She was a plump woman who looked like she was in her late 20's, older than Amber. She wore spandex black pants and a black flowing shirt with red flowers growing all over it. On her ears were two silver looped earings. Her lips were painted a luscious red, and her eyes had two thick brushes of black underneath them. The room smelled like many assorted spices.
Amber sat down on one of the yellow chairs.
"What can I do for you, Amber?" Frieda began to type away at her computer. Probably typing the classified notice Aphrodite had barked at her for. Amber felt a pang of pity for the woman.
"Um, I heard you guys were applying?" Amber crossed her legs.
Frieda pushed her keyboard into the desk, and swiveled her chair to face Amber.
"You..you want to apply?" Frieda asked, unsure.
Amber grinned. "Yes, I do."
"Okay, okay," Frieda nodded, the news sinking in. Amber thought maybe she had just saved this woman her job.
"What do you need for me to d--"
"Wait, aren't you Amber Jennings?" Frieda's eyes went wide.
Amber laughed. "That's me."
"Wow, it's an honor to meet you. Why are you applying here?"
"Because I want to help the people," Amber said.
"I'm sure you'd like to work in Aphrodite's office. You'd have a lot more things to do there--"
"I saw Aphrodite just before I came in here, and she offered me a job. I turned it down. I want personal contact with the people."
Frieda Garcia studied Amber suspciously. It must have been extremely odd to find someone who actually wanted to work with the people. Those were dark times at City Hall. Sometimes The Amulet was filled with columns about the soon to be downfall of the City's rebuilding due to Aphrodite's poor leadership skills. Other times, The Amulet was full of columns praising Aphrodite's achievements and her commitment to the City's future.
"Well, I must say that that is very honorable, especially for someone with a past like yours," Frieda smiled.
Despite Aphrodite's yelling, and her quickness to get things done, Amber could tell Frieda was a very confident woman who cared for the people. Unfortunately, the job she loved was in the worst department that should have been the best-- the department for the people.
It was pathetic, and it disgusted Amber.
Faulty leaders, broken promises, tyranny, the comfortable lives of the high class City Council elite (Amber couldn't believe the way some of them dressed and acted when she had first came into City Hall-- like they were gods straight from Aphrodite's Mount Olympus), and the unsanitary of the poor-- it was sickening!
Yes, she was [i]happy[/i] she was working at the Department of Social Services. She was happy she was going to lend her good to the people who needed it most, who the government had turned it's dirty backs on.
"After all of the stuff I've heard about the state of Aphrodite's dealings, and of the City's rebuilding programs-- I want to help the people who need it the most," Amber said truthfully and honestly. Frieda was moved by this woman's obvious dedication to helping others.
"Yes, we have been in a slump, but Ms. Stevens tries her best-"
"Ms. Garcia, I heard Aphrodite yelling at you."
Frieda looked at her computer.
"Aphrodite is destroying the City," Frieda finally said.
"But why are they letting her?" Amber asked, frusterated.
"You mean, her advisors and council? Because they only care about their own lives! Sure they preach about justice, and rebuilding, and equal rights, and laws, but honestly, they don't care at all," Frieda shook her head sadly.
"Dammit, that makes me so angry," Amber rubbed her temples. A pounding started to gain a rythym in her head.
"It makes us all angry. Look around you, Amber! I have a computer that's at least twenty-two years old! I have to call a technician every damn day to fix it. All of this furniture is from the basement because it was from the 1980's, there is barely any electricity in the front office, I'm the only person who works here-- go and look at other departments, especially Aphrodite's offices, and you'll see it is [i]completely[/i] different! The only places like this are the departments for the people. The people, Amber Jennings, are getting [i]f.ucked[/i]."
Amber suddenly admired Frieda Garcia for her silent viligance. She could have transfered to any other department, but she had chosen to stay to help the people. The people. Not herself. And she was so passionate-- Frieda cared! She could be trusted, and most importantly she had a vision for the future.
"My son is enrolled at one of the children's schools, and he's only learning how to read and basic, basic math. I went to lunch yesterday at a new resteraunt, and the place had moldy cheese and dust in their drinks just after the City Inspection!" Amber cried in her anger.
For the next two hours, Amber and Frieda talked about the poor state of the City before their conversation shifted to the topic of their lives. Amber confided to Frieda the situation with Bray, and how badly she needed a job. Frieda was married with two daughters, but they lived in a bad section of town because the bad economy had just got her husband laid off.
At the end of their time together, Amber was hired.
She stepped out of City Hall, and did the buttons of her coat as she walked through the icy wind to Trudy's car.
"Amber!" A voice called out to her as she stuck the key in the locked door. Amber turned around, and stepping down the steps of City Hall was Ebony.
Amber froze slightly. Ebony? What was she doing at City Hall?
"Amber," Ebony said again, this time panting slightly as she stepped into the parking lot.
"Ebony?" Amber's voice broke. She clutched her purse with a deathgrip.
Ebony laughed, "It's me." A soft clipclop noise emitted from high-heels as she finally walked and stood next to Amber.
"How are you?" Ebony smiled.
She had changed. Tall and slender, she wore a salmon-colored business suit with a white ruffled neck, complete with matching high heels. Her hair, still braided, was pulled back and tied behind her head. The only thing Amber fully recognized on her old enemy was the makeup on her face. It was straight out of the Loco times. In fact, it was the same makeup Ebony had worn during that era. The large red phoenix was rather odd for a woman dressed like she was.
"I-- I'm doing good," Amber nodded, her astonishment getting the better of her.
Ebony noticed Amber's nervousness. "That's great. Were you applying for a job here?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Oh, I just heard the receptionist in the front talking about it. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard your name," Ebony folded her arms, the soft satin of her suit gently folding to comply with the action.
"Yeah, I heard they were hiring at the Department of Social Services," Amber said.
A pained looked spread on Ebony's face. "They have been forever. That department loses more people than any other place in the City. Aphrodite sure has done a number on us all."
"Why are you here?" Amber asked suspiciously.
"I'm on the City Council," Ebony stated proudly.
"What?!" Amber didn't bother hiding her surprise.
"Look, Amber, I know you didn't like me when we were kids. But that was a long time ago. We don't even know eachother anymore," Ebony said defensively, rebounding Amber's surprise.
Amber thought about that. It was true. They didn't know eachother at all now.
"I--," Amber took a breath. This was hard for her to say. "I'm sorry, Ebony."
The corners of the City Council woman's mouth went up like a curtain. But this time, not in a manipulative manner. Lex had changed, and if [i]he[/i] could change, why couldn't anyone else? Amber was suddenly filled with optimism that the vindictive Ebony had gone for good.
"It's fine, Amber. Everyone does stupid stuff when they're kids," Ebony said.
"We had to grow up fast," Amber stared at the black pavement below them.
"Yeah, we did."
There was an uncomfortable silence as the women stared at eachother, trying to work through their pasts in a five minute conversation. It just wouldn't work.
"Well, I have to go. I got the job, so I guess I'll be seeing you around," Amber opened her car door, and got in.
"Maybe we can go to lunch sometime?" Ebony said. The women said goodbye and Ebony shut the door of Trudy's car. Amber plugged the ignition with the key, and she left.
~*~
That night Trudy, Salene, Alice, Siva, and Tai-San took Amber out to dinner to celebrate her new job. Trudy had asked Mouse, who was living with Salene while she finished school, to babysit BJ and Brady while they went.
Because of the horrific incident at Ursula's Pizza Cafe, the group decided to eat at a place they were familiar with-- Jia Chou Bu Chinese Buffet.
Amber loved Chinese food. She loved sweet and sour chicken, the awesome taste, the vibrant glow of the red goo under the low hanging lights in the comfortable buffet. She would dig her spoon into the fried rice, bringing up mountains of the white substance drenched in soy sauce, so good she swallowed whole, not bothering to chew.
Jia Chou Bu was one of the best places to eat in the City. It had been approved by City Hall long before Aphrodite became City Leader, so no one suspected to find nasty things in their dinners.
"I forget you didn't know Ebony was on the City Council," Trudy shoved her fork into her mouth, her orange chicken trapped as she closed her lips. She closed her eyes involuntarily as she savored the food.
"I was so surprised!" Amber sipped her beer from a straw.
"Who wouldn't be?" Alice laughed.
"Ebony has changed. She's responsible, good," Tai-San picked at her chicken salad.
"Tai-San's right-- she has changed. When we were kids, she was such a little snot, but now she organizes food drives for poor kids, gives out coats during the winter in the bad parts of town, makes sure teens are keeping out of trouble. It's so unbelievable, me and Java still have to pinch ourselves to believe it," Siva stabbed three pieces of sweet and sour pork at once, and leaned in over her plate as the sauce dribbled.
"I've seen the stuff she's written about youth and laws she's trying to get passed for after school programs. It's really admirable," Salene nodded.
"If Lex can change, Ebony can change," Trudy laughed, swallowing another piece of chicken.
"That's what I thought when Ebony was acting so nice," Amber said.
"But so you heard Aphrodite yelling at your boss?" Alice wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin.
"Yeah, it was so weird. I was walking into the Department of Social Services, and I was kind of stunned because some lights worked, and others didn't, and I was heading down the hallway and I heard shouting. She was yelling at Frieda because no one wanted to work for the department. She said if she didn't get an applicant in the next two days, Frieda was gone," Amber glared at her fried rice. Talking about Aphrodite made anger sizzle through her veins.
"God that's so horrible," Tai-San said.
"I can't believe she threatens people like that," Salene said, a disgruntled look on her face.
"You should see Frieda's passion. I only met her today, but I could just sense it, I knew it, after our conversation. I think that together we'll do it, you guys. We'll make a difference for the people," Amber said, gazing into Siva's drink.
"I hope so, babe," Alice said.
"What's your position anyway?" Trudy asked.
"What will you do there?" Siva joined. She pushed her plate away from her, finished.
"I bet you won't have an official title or do only one thing if two people work in the entire department," Salene said knowingly, finishing the last of her food.
"I think you're right, Sal. Frieda didn't really tell me anything except a lot of people never stayed around, and that I was hired," Amber shrugged. She swallowed the last piece of sweet and sour chicken, her stomach opening up to take the small piece of meat before closing for the night. She was full.
"When do you start?" Tai-San cracked open her fortune cookie.
"Tomorrow," Amber bit her lip. She hoped she wouldn't walk away from the job too. But Frieda had said Amber cared about the people, not in a fake sense, but a real one; and that the people before didn't have the passion she did.
She would stay. Not for Frieda, she would not leave if things got bad-- the people were the highest of importance, and for them and their futures stay Amber would.
"What does it say?" Alice rested her chin in her hands, looking at the paper Tai-San was unfolding.
"Hmmm," Tai-San giggled dramatically, "Good things are yet to come."
"Maybe that means you'll find a man soon," Siva winked.
"I'm happy with my clinic!" Tai-San laughed.
"Last time I heard herbs aren't that wonderful in the sack," Salene teased.
"Last time I heard married women didn't have little crushes on bosses named Dan Johnson," Tai-San shot back, still laughing.
"Funny how this one does," Salene chortled, pointing to herself.
"I want to open mine!" Trudy rummaged through the mess of napkins on the table to find her cookie. She quickly broke the hard shell, and the slip of paper fell onto her plate. She opened it.
"What does it say 'Best friends will leave home soon'?," Amber laughed sarcastically.
"Haha, it says 'Once there was not much, but the future is full of plentiful corn," Trudy rolled her eyes.
"Bad, bad writers..." Siva waved her hands at the table as if to ward off the cliche fortunes.
"I guess I should open mine, as my future is just picking up," Amber took the hard "cookie" off her plate, and broke it. The white slip with pink text unfolded in her hands with the help of her fingers.
"Is it bad?" Alice waited.
Amber felt five pairs of eyes on her as she read the fortune.
"The time is the 2nd one, 2 is for a mother and a child, and combined with that 3 is for a day that will change it all," Amber whispered.
"What that mean?" Salene asked.
"Fortune cookies are fortune cookies," Siva shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess so," Amber smiled.
They left an hour later. As all of her friends dug into their pockets for tip money, Amber secretly slipped her fortune in her purse. She could use all of the good luck she could get.
~*~
Amber's first day at work was chaotic.
Right when she stepped into the darkened front office of the Department of Social Services, Frieda was making noises in an office across from her own.
"Frieda? It's Amber!" Amber called down the hallway, in the same place where she had listened to Aphrodite yell at her new boss.
"This is your office," Frieda stepped from the room. She was panting, sweat dripping down her face.
"What have you been doing?" Amber stepped into the new office.
"Moving all of this in here," Frieda panted.
It was an identical replica of Frieda's office, complete with the 1980's computer and furniture and window-wall, except that all of it was opposite.
"You moved all of this this morning?!" Amber asked, stupified. When she had walked by the office the day before it had been darkened, and she saw through the windows it had been empty.
"Yup," Frieda wiped her forehead with her arm.
"Frieda, I'm so sorry, I should of done all of this," Amber's face etched itself in concern.
A look of shock painted Frieda's. "Amber, it's the least I could do! You're the only geniune person who has ever worked here, or will work here. Believe me, if you knew the idiots who occupied this office in the past, you would thinking nothing of this."
"But-"
"We have to start working. There are pens in your desk to fill out forms with, the computer memo program for memos, and the computer for everything else. Don't worry about wasting ink when you print stuff because we know how to make ink cartridges. Just conserve, conserve, conserve!
Back here you will be a Social Service Administrator. Up front, in the office receptionist booth, you'll be a receptionist and you'll give out City Stamps when people come in, but make sure..."
Frieda explained what seemed like 10,000 different tasks Amber would have to accomplish each day. She would work in the back with Frieda from 8:00 to noon, and than she'd switch off to the receptionist booth from one to five.
As a Social Service Administrator, Amber would configure budget totals for City programs that benefitted places like homeless shelters, and soup programs, and rebuilding projects. She would decide which program needed more money, and which did not.
Then she would go through a list of merchants and call them to see if they would sponser the City Stamps campaign, which substituted stamps instead of money for the people who could not afford food. Amber didn't understand the purpose of City Stamps, because whenever you spent any, at that particular store you would get a bill that you had to pay off in the next three years.
It was a dead end idea. What if some people never did get jobs, and ended up getting into extensive debt? How would that help anyone?
Amber also was to join Frieda to make sure The Education Foundation was properly funding the schools on Inspection tours every four months; she was to deal with families the Police Department brought to Social Services that needed a social worker, and she was to review all Social Policy Unsures-- bills, laws, amendments, anything that could change or had to do with the social system of the City.
As receptionist, Amber would answer phones, hand out City Stamps and keep track of how much families spent via calls from the stores where they purchased items; she was to interview and choose to hire new applicants according to a three page list of qualifications (Amber wondered why Frieda hadn't reviewed her properly to make sure she was qualified), plus answer phones, deal with all people who came into the office, and run memos from Frieda to different departments.
Needless to say, the first day of her job, which was so complicated it had no name, tired her out. When she came home from work that day, she was frusterated, tired, and angry that she had a job originially meant for ten people.
"I'm so tired," Amber whispered as she collapsed on the sofa.
"How was work?" Trudy came from the kitchen, a ladel in her hand, where she was making what smelled like soup and breadsticks.
Amber moved to the kitchen table and told Trudy about her first day. She listed off the many jobs, and the difficult tasks.
"No wonder no one wants to work there," Trudy went back into the kitchen and began stirring a big pot of simmering vegetable soup.
"Tell me about it. I'm so mad, Trudy...this all makes me so mad. While I was taking Bray's fits, Aphrodite was ruining our lives. God," Amber laid her head down on the table.
"It's been a while since she's been in power," Trudy said.
"Hopefully she won't run again," Amber rolled her eyes so hard it hurt her head.
"I have a surprise for you that should get your mind off all that," Trudy grinned as a buzzer went off. She gloved an oven mitt, and reached to open the white box, where she pulled out a tray of breadsticks.
"What? Dinner will be delicious?"
"That, and Lex is coming for it. He was sorry he couldn't make it last night, so he wants to celebrate with you tonight," Trudy blew on the breadsticks hard: a fatal attempt to cool them.
Amber's spirit perked. She hadn't seen Lex for two days. Two days too long.
"Me, Brady, and BJ are going to dinner and a movie so you two can have your little date," Trudy suddenly interjected.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying I'm making you guys a romantic, cozy little dinner so you can get your stuff movin' if ya know what I mean," Trudy giggled viciously. Amber laughed, and went to hug her friend. A night with Lex alone was a treasure.
Amber decided to ward off the stress of work by taking a shower and getting ready.
The serenity of her ritual and looking forward to the dinner, Amber felt relaxed. She dressed in a pink t-shirt with tan khaki pants, and a loose brown belt with a silver buckle that hung over the pants. Instead of straightening her hair, she ratted it to make it curly and full of body.
"Amber? We're leaving, babe! Lex will be here in ten minutes and everything is on the table," Trudy knocked on the bathroom door.
"K, Trude! Thanks so much for doing all of this!" Amber called back.
"No problem! We'll be home later! Good luck!"
"Bye mom!"
"Bye Aunt Amber!"
"Bye kids, love you, have fun!"
The door clicked and shut, and her family was gone.
After she finished doing her hair, she ran to Trudy's room to sprinkle on pinches of perfume and a quick glance in the mirror. She didn't look too formal, or too casual.
But still she felt nervous.
"It's Lex, Amber," She told her mirror image.
"But you kissed that Lex," The mirror image replied.
A knock on the door signaled Lex's arrival.
Quickly patting down her clothes to make sure everything looked perfect, Amber threw herself to the door. She took a large intake of air and opened.
"Hey Amber," Lex grinned.
Standing against a backdrop of stars, dressed in jeans, and a white dress shirt rolled up at the sleeves and unbuttoned at the collar, with his hair hanging loosely down but shimmering in the moonlight-- for lack of a better word because she could find no other, Amber thought Lex looked hot.
"Hey Lex."
Lex stepped inside, and shut the door behind him. Before she could protest or say anything, Lex swept her into a kiss.
"Wow," She whispered when it was over, wiping her lips, still in his arms.
She felt safe there. Good. Not unsure like she was with Bray, not waiting for the monster to come out. Good. Simply, and most definitely.
"Trudy made us dinner?" Lex said softly.
"Yeah, it's on the table," Amber motioned.
Lex took Amber's hand, and lead her to the table. He scooped her up a bowl of vegetable soup and two breadsticks.
"I brought wine," He said as he put Amber's food in front of her. He had set down the bottle when he pulled the woman in for a kiss.
Lex found two wine glasses in Trudy's cabinets, and he poured the liquid down each before lighting three candles on the table.
"This is very romantic," Amber sipped her soup from her spoon.
"We needed to celebrate your job victory," Lex munched a breadstick.
Amber told him about her first day, and about the day before when she had ran into Aphrodite and Ebony. Lex agreed Ebony had changed, and that they still kept in touch. Ebony had heard from Java about Amber and Bray's relationship, and Lex was sure that Ebony went up to Amber to see if she would talk to her about it.
"She needs closure about you guys," Lex said. He clinged his wine against Amber's and they both drank.
"It was so long ago," Amber stared at her soup.
"People hold stuff inside of them," Lex shrugged. Amber noticed he smelled distinctly of Albertson's mens cologne.
"Yeah, they do," She said dryly.
The two finished their delicious meal, and Lex pulled Amber out onto the balcony outside the kitchen. It was a small one, but on a chair was a stereo that Lex clicked on and a small patio table housed a thick red candle burning into the night. "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers started to play softly, and Lex held Amber against him for a dance.
In that moment of perfection, of being loved and loving another, Amber let all of her thoughts and frusterations drain to the street below her. All that mattered than was Lex, and their night.
Because after their dance, they fell into her bedroom. And they made love.
After it was over, Amber suspected Trudy would be home soon with the kids, so the two slightly ruffled lovers watched the evening news.
"Aphrodite Stevens running again for City Leader, coming up when The City News at 10 begins," A newswoman on the screen said. Cheesy music played and the woman appeared again.
"City Leader Aphrodite Stevens announced her canidacy today for the election of City Leader next month. Ms. Stevens has been City Leader for four years, which brings many to wonder why she is running again. Controversey exploded at City Hall during the press conference as angry demonstrators demanded to know why Ms. Stevens' administration changed election laws so that only those with pasts in politics may run. Many of those who planned on running for the position have dropped out."
"Jesus Christ," Lex shook his head in disgust.
"She must have had that after I left," Amber laid her head on Lex's shoulder.
"I wish someone would run against her," Lex grumbled.
Amber suddenly catapulted into the air above Lex, standing over him with shock on her face.
"What? Is something wrong?!"
"No, no! Lex?!"
"What?!"
"I'm going to run for City Leader."
And with that the entire course of rebuilding her life changed.