A/N: feel free to hate me. i've been VERY bad with updating. but thank you to everyone who kept pushing me to write. i've posted two longer chapters just to make up for the extreme delay. a big plot is to come, so make sure to watch out for it.

thanks again for sticking with me, despite my evil and wicked ways of making everyone wait so long. reviews would be fantastic!

CHAPTER ELEVEN - Masquerade

The engine hummed quietly and I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the Hoobastank tune playing on my car stereo. I was parked in front of Walgreen's as Amber was inside, purchasing a box of red hair dye. Needing much distraction, I was staying the night and we were going to hang-out and probably consume tons of junk food. Feeling so distant from my friends, I was happy to at least feel somewhat connected to someone who could actually still stand being around me and my mopey self.

I let out a deep breath and leaned back on my seat. Hurry up, Amber, I thought, getting impatient. I gasped and clutched my hand to my chest as someone loudly tapped the window next to me. I looked up and saw Haley, grinning and waving. She was in her work uniform, her blonde hair tied neatly in a bun. I suppressed a grimace and rolled down the window.

"Hi," I said, practically gritting my teeth, but still hoping my apprehension didn't show through. "Heading off to work?" The restaurant was just a few stores away.

"Actually just got off," she replied, still smiling, unperturbed. "I'm waiting for Byron to pick me up." His name from her lips made my heart ache. "Are you waiting for someone?" She looked towards the pharmacy.

"Amber," I replied curtly. Haley flashed me an anxious look, but her smile didn't falter.

"Cool.." she trailed off, nodding. Our awkward silence was filled by the music and I cleared my throat, extremely grateful as I saw Amber head out through the doors, plastic bag in hand. She gave Haley a wary look but nodded in greeting as she slipped into the seat next to me.

"See you guys later," Haley said, stepping away from the car. She raised her hand to wave and I said good-bye as I pulled out of the parking spot.

"So, that's the girl who stole Byron?" Amber asked, turning around in her seat to look back at Haley. I stared at Haley in my rearview mirror and actually found myself feeling guilty.

"She didn't steal him, Amber," I sighed. "I wasn't with him, so it doesn't count. She probably didn't even know anything happened between me and Byron." I took my eyes off her and concentrated on the road.

"Well, if you don't hate her, can I still despise her for your benefit?" Amber asked smugly.

"Oh, trust me," I replied, smirking. "I have enough bitterness in me for the both of us."

-

I made a face as I dropped the pair of gooey plastic gloves in the trash: a gleam of scarlet red, much like blood, in the white bin. Dismal thoughts would pop into my head out of nowhere and it was starting to scare me. I didn't like who I was becoming.

Amber snapped me out of my thoughts. "Hey, air head!" she called out. "Can you pass me the box, please?"

"First you insult me and then have the nerve to ask for a favour?" I asked in mock offence. "I'm so glad I have such a good friend like you." I tossed her the box and she smiled brightly.

"I tend to have that effect on people," she said simply. I playfully pushed her and walked out of the adjoining bathroom and into her room where I picked up the latest Teen Vogue and started flipping through it.

"Can you get me another face towel, si'l vous plait?" Amber loudly called out from the bathroom. I rolled my eyes, smiling as I walked over to her bureau drawer.

"Which one?" I yelled back.

"The second from the –" A rush of water drowned out the rest of her sentence. I shrugged and pulled open the second drawer from the top, rummaging through the clothes. I pulled my hand back when I felt my bracelet getting caught on something.

"Shit." I took my hand out completely from the drawer and realized that it had snagged onto a tiny Ziploc bag. "What the – " I furrowed my eyebrows and looked closer. What I found completely shocked me.

Inside were three joints and a small bag of weed.

"Hey Char, what's taking – " Amber stepped out of the bathroom and stopped mid-sentence as she saw me holding the bag in my hands. She rushed over and ripped it from my hands. "What the fuck?" she cried. "Why the hell are you going through my stuff?"

"I-I thought," I sputtered, still bewildered. "I thought you said second from the top. I didn't mean to..." Amber looked at me warily.

"Look," she sighed. "Don't think I'm like some druggie okay? The last thing I need is for that to be going around school. Not again."

"Again?" I asked, flustered. It was like this completely different person was standing in front of me. I felt like I knew nothing about her.

Amber closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She severed any eye contact for the next five minutes as she rambled on her confession.

"I-I was the reason my family moved to Stoneybrook," she started. "We lived in Minneapolis and my parents wanted to move to a quaint little town in Connecticut to help me... adjust. I had – problems back where we lived. I was pretty much a good kid til about ninth grade when I started hanging out with the wrong crowd just to be cool.

I started drinking, partying, doing all kinds of crap. I ran away from home a couple of times and my parents finally decided they'd had enough. They sent me to this detention facility to go through drug treatment and just to basically change who I was. The thing is -- I didn't like who I was either. I tried so hard to change and I think I actually did. I feel totally different now. Happier, I think. It's just... old habits are hard to break, y'know? Not like I do this shit every day. Just when... times are low." She finally looked into my eyes and gave me a strained smile.

"So you totally hate me for lying to you, huh? I just wanted everyone to know the new me and not the screwed up kid back in Minnesota. I'm sorry for lying. I know I would've told you anyway... just not so soon. You're my best friend here, Char. I'd hate it if you walked out on me, but I think I'd understand."

I let out a shaky breath, searching for what to say. "Is there anything else?" I asked quietly. Amber anxiously bit the bottom of her lip.

"Yeah. I have three nipples."

"What!" I sputtered, choking on a laugh. A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth and she looked at me helplessly.

"I thought I'd lighten up the conversation?" she said uncertainly. I gave her a half smile and moved to give her a hug, wet hair and all. She pulled back and looked at me anxiously.

"You surprise me."

"Well, I get it," I said matter-of-factly. "Everyone hides the darkest part of themselves, hoping that it'll somehow disappear. I stand guilty of that myself. It's just... weird because you've always seemed so sure of yourself, always so confident and happy. But there's no way I'm turning my back on you when you've been there for me through everything." Amber let out an audible sigh of relief. "Just... no more secrets, okay? And you gotta stop doing that crap." I nodded my head to the baggy in her hand.

"I'm guessing you've never tried?" I raised my eyebrow and shook my head slowly. "Like I said, I don't do this shit every day. I'm trying to stop, okay?"

I shrugged. "Whatever. Just try harder then." Amber made a face as I grabbed the small Ziploc bag from her and stuffed it into the back pocket of my jeans. "No temptation."

"Oh, God," Amber groaned. "You sound like my mom." I laughed and draped my arm over her shoulder while we walked back to the bathroom.

"We only care so much about you, dearie," I teased, pinching her cheek.