After everything that's happened, Amber tries to rebuild her relationship with her brother. Reconnecting is hard, but the bond isn't irreparably broken.
She sees her brother often, but they don't speak much. A polite word in the hall, a few sentences if class necessitates it; they talk but they don't talk.
They haven't even bickered lately. What she wouldn't give for some petty little thing to come between them, anything, just to get him to act like he used to. She can't feel mad at him for his detachment. Why would he want anything to do with any part of his family after everything that's happened?
And besides, she hasn't made much an effort to engage with him either. What's she supposed to say? How can she face him ? There are no magic words that'll fix everything and make life like it was before... not that things weren't broken back then, she just wasn't aware of it. She knew she was the golden child, she knew he took a lot of flak from their parents, but everything else...
They say ignorance is bliss but Amber knows all too well that when the truth outs, on top of the pain and anger, there's this constant voice whispering in your ears, "How were you so blind ?" How did it go on for so long without her realising, how did-
She's not going to get sucked into self pity. Not when she got off so lightly, all her childhood she's been getting off light. And if she's this full of fury, how must Nathaniel be feeling ?
"Talk to him," Charlotte says upon catching Amber staring at him in the school hallway, mulling over what she should do. "The longer you leave it, the harder it's going to be. Talk to him today."
Charlotte's eyebrows furrow, she looks stern, authoritative even, but her voice is uncharacteristically sweet. She can be kind when she wants to.
Amber knows Charlotte's right but how's she supposed to strike up a conversation with him ? What do you say in a time like this ? And Amber tells her just as much; it's easy for Charlotte to sit back and dish out advice but it's another thing to follow through with it.
Li sighs watching them, Amber isn't the type to listen to advice, she's far too stubborn for that. Instead, she's the type of person that needs a bit of a push now and then. It shouldn't be up to Li to take the initiative, but someone has to do it.
Li sees Nathaniel carrying his books from his locker and recognises it as a perfect opportunity. She quickly manoeuvres through the hallway and darts in front of him, dodging the students in her way. She pauses a few steps ahead of Nathaniel, giving him time to catch up to her, and begins rifling through her bag. Just as he steps behind her, she hurriedly pulls her hand mirror out, draws her arm back, and elbows him in the arm. She sends his books scattering across the floor, just as intended.
"I'm so, so sorry," she says, her voice drawing out every syllable to kill time.
Charlotte, seeing what Li has done, whispers in Amber's ear, "Now's your chance, go help him."
With a nudge from Charlotte, Amber goes running to his aid. "Hey Nathaniel," she quickly swallows. It was never this hard to talk to her brother before. "Let me help you with that."
She bends down, avoiding eye contact, and gathers the books in her arms. Most are schoolbooks, French, History, and the like, but there are other assorted oddities there. The eight instalment of crime fiction series he seems to love so much, a furniture catalogue, a leaflet for a local corner market. She tries not to pry and stacks the rest.
She hands over the pile and Nathaniel turns to walk away. If she doesn't say something fast to keep him there, she mightn't get another chance for a while.
"So, I haven't seen your new place yet." That was too much too soon. What was she expecting, an invite ? If he's hesitant to speak to her he'd hardly want her hanging around his home.
"I mean," she quickly elaborates, "I'm totally lost with my Geography homework now that I don't have you around to copy from." She takes a breath, "You think we could meet up and you could help me out ?"
"Em," he avoids eye contact, "I'm not sure, I've been busy lately and-"
"Even for, like, a half an hour," she interrupts, not giving him a chance to deny her, "In the café or somewhere ? I'm swamped with homework too, but I could really use your help."
Nathaniel sighs, "I suppose I could spare some time tomorrow afternoon. What is it you're stuck on ?"
Amber pauses, she's almost entirely sure she has at least a basic understanding of the entire syllabus, but what sounds like something she could plausibly have difficulty with ? "Uh, like all of it, I guess."
Nathaniel has this silly, slightly exasperated grin on his face, "You're hopeless, you know. It'll take hours to run through all the basic concepts."
"I know, but I'm totally desperate," Amber says, hoping puppy dog eyes still work on him.
He sighs, "Ok, fine. But coffee is on you, deal ?
"Deal."
