Amber shivered; the temperature had dropped drastically over the weekend, and it was snowing heavily. School was out since Christmas was in a few days. It seemed that there was holiday spirit all around. And although the Sullivan household was attempting to be festive, Amber actually wasn't looking forward to Christmas much. She wasn't expecting many presents, and Christmas would probably be a quiet affair, anyway.

Amber was sitting outside on her porch, contemplating the meaning of life. Corey and she had taken some tests at the hospital a month ago, and the results had arrived yesterday. The statistics confirmed the Sullivans' worst fears, and this made the holiday season a little more strained than usual. Amber hated that her life was such a nightmare, and she wished she could run away from it all.

Amber thought back to when Mr. Sullivan was still a part of the family. Although Amber had disliked him then, she had to admit that he had made life so much easier. He was the one with the full-time job, and it was his income that supported the family. Because of this, as soon as he left, things got a lot tougher. Mrs. Sullivan couldn't get a full-time job, and so, the family income was much reduced. Amber had had to give up many luxuries.

It was hard for Corey, too. It was tough for him in the first place, but Corey couldn't figure out where Mr. Sullivan had gone. One day, he had been there; the next, he wasn't.

It was toughest of all for Mrs. Sullivan. She had enjoyed a quiet, peaceful life. Then, it was rudely interrupted. She had had to adapt to a new lifestyle, and she was given the responsibility of raising two kids by herself. Not to mention that one of them was having problems. Mrs. Sullivan had been faced with many difficult choices, and she wasn't entirely sure that she had made the wisest decisions. But, in a way, this fear drove her life.

Amber looked across the street and saw three kids playing in the snow. They were making snowmen, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and just having fun in general.

Amber saw the many snow angels the kids had made, and wished one of the angels could come to life and save her.

Jimmy was nodding his head to the music he was listening to, and he let his mind wander. He was thinking about basketball, which, in turn, somehow got him thinking about Amber. She was a nice enough girl, and he could tell that she had it bad for him. He thought about that for a while...He hadn't had a girlfriend in a long time...

Craig sat at the dinner table, poking at his food with his fork. He had already arranged the food in several mounds on his plate, and now, he was poking holes into the small hills of food.

Angela was telling Joey about her 'boyfriend' that she had met at the playground. Craig thought, I have the most rotten luck in the world. Even Angela managed to get a boyfriend she likes! Why can't I get Amber to like me? I'm a lot older than Angela, and she has a more successful love life than I do! What is up with that?

Craig dropped his fork onto his plate with a clank, and excused himself from the table.

Craig went up to his room, and took out the picture of Amber and the boy.

What was the boy doing at Amber's house? But then again, if the boy was her boyfriend, it'd be sort of natural. What had Amber said to the boy? Oh yes.

Go inside, dear. I'll be back inside in just a second.

Dear. Nobody said 'dear' nowadays, but the way Amber said it made Craig wish that she had been calling him dear.

Amber was the only person that he'd ever allow to call him 'dear.'

Amber was in the bathroom, looking at her mirror image. She detested her boring brown hair, her small, slightly turned-up nose, and her pale pink mouth. She didn't think she was beautiful in any way, and she thought, No wonder I've never had a boyfriend. No wonder guys don't like me at all.

Corey came into the bathroom to see what Amber was doing.

Amber hated his reflection, too. She knew that he would never go to Tenth Grade with a girlfriend by his side. Amber whispered to him, "I'm sorry you have to lead such a horrible life."

Corey didn't reply. He just walked out of the bathroom and left Amber alone.