A/N: Sorry for the lateness! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"Hey Amber! You should try on this witch costume!" Turquoise said, rather loudly.
"Okay!" the gem ran to her friend, "It looks really nice, are you sure I should try it on?"
"You should try it on, I am sure you will look great in it," Luca smiled, "We can buy decorations for the house, but I am setting up a budget. Five hundred dollars is enough for three costumes and a couple decorations."
"Alright," Turquoise said, "Luca, you are going to wear this witch dress too!"
"What? I am a guy and wearing a dress is not my thing," Luca responded, "How about you wear the yellow and orange witch dress."
"Fine by me, but we have to find something for you!" Turquoise said, cheerfully.
"Is a witch only female?" Amber asked.
"Yeah," Luca paused, "The male version is a wizard."
"Okay, then how about this?" Amber picked up a long cloak with a pointy black hat, "Is this good?"
"Yes, actually," Luca smiled, "Let's go try on our outfits and meet back out here."
After they had finished trying on their outfits, the group met up to decide whether or not the costumes were keepers. Turquoise's witch costume suited her as it complemented her light blue skin. Amber's witch costume ended up floating her boat, as it was silky and pretty. Luca's was fine enough to make the other two girls happy. They got into their regular clothes and Amber and Turquoise looked for decorations. Twenty minutes later, the gems had finished picking things out. When Luca paid for everything, he noticed that the girls hadn't spent his entire budget, only $375.87. He decided to save the rest for a treat for the two later. The gems ended up carrying three of the bags each, Luca only having to carry one.
They had barely gotten through the door when the caretaker rushed to greet them. He smiled at the seven bags, but frowned when he looked to Luca.
"Something came for you today…" the uncle said slowly, "Can you two go into the back room for a couple minutes?"
"Yes," Amber said, walking to the back of the house followed by Turquoise.
"So what came?" Luca asked carefully.
"Nothing came, I just wanted to talk to you alone," the uncle's eyes drifted away from Luca, "Wendy still has the key to our house… I think she stole some money… We are missing ten thousand dollars."
"Oh my," Luca was shocked, "Why would Wendy do that?"
"I don't know, maybe she is jealous of Amber," the uncle replied, "Are you dating her?"
Luca thought about the previous events at Steven's house, "No and I am not going to."
"Alright," the uncle said, "Well, you should talk to Wendy and see if she actually stole the money…"
"Okay," Luca replied, he regretted having to talk to the girl, but knew he had to do so, "I will go get the gems."
Luca walked off as the uncle sighed and sat down. They had brought home a lot of decorations to add to the already existing small supply. Within hours, the house had been turned into a Halloween zone on the inside and the out. Amber, Luca, and Turquoise smiled at the masterpiece they had created and the uncle was amazed at how well the house was decorated.
Luca ate his lunch of a tuna sandwich and chips, Amber and Turquoise messing around outside. After he finished, he walked outside to find that the two gems had gotten themselves onto the roof.
"Need another friend?" Luca jokingly called up to Amber.
"No!" Amber replied as Turquoise giggled at Luca.
"Okay," Luca said, "I will be right back!"
"Fine," Amber said, continuing to converse with Turquoise.
When Luca got inside, he walked to his uncle, "I am going to see Wendy now."
"Alright, be careful and good luck," the uncle said.
The door closed and Luca walked up the street a few blocks. He braced himself at Wendy's acacia door and knocked several times.
An old woman with gray hair answered, "Hello Luca, are you here to see Wendy?"
"Yeah," Luca said, Wendy's mother was a kind lady who always understood things.
She invited him in and he walked through the threshold to see Wendy sitting on the couch. He sat next to her and placed his hand on hers.
"Hey Wendy, do you still have the key to our house?" Luca asked as Wendy's mom walked off.
"Yeah, I went to your house a bit ago and took what was mine. I didn't know you had other women with you," Wendy said, "You are a cruel little boy!"
"My friend is actually a magical being and not really a woman… I hardly knew her back then," Luca tried to smile, "Can I have the money back?"
"Sure," Wendy smiled, "Can you tell me more about this magical girl?"
"Well, her name is Amber and she is hostile when she first meets someone, but is actually very friendly," Luca said thoughtfully, "She is a good friend."
"You love her don't you?" Wendy asked, "I can tell by the way you talk about her."
"I don't know if I do…" Luca replied.
"Okay, here is all of the money," Wendy smiled, handing him the green paper from her pocket.
"Thanks, can I also have the key?" Luca asked.
"Come back next week and you can have it back," Wendy smiled.
"Alright, I will be taking my leave," Luca said, standing up.
He walked to the door and closed it, walking faster back to his house. Wendy always gave off weird vibes when she was angry.
When Luca arrived home, his uncle immediately greeted him. He handed the money quietly over and told him that Wendy didn't want to give up the key. Luca walked outside and looked up on the roof, the gems were still there.
"Are you sure you don't want an extra friend up there?" he shouted.
"If you can get up, you can stay with us!" Amber said back.
Turquoise looked down on Luca, "I don't think he is going to be able to get up with just one arm…"
"If he can drive eleven hours, he can climb up," Amber replied.
Luca struggled for several minutes, trying to carry the ladder over. He leaned it against the roof and quickly climbed up the rungs. At last, he was with the gems. Turquoise patted the spot next to her and Luca obliged, Amber scooting closer to him.
"What are you two doing up here?" he asked, looking at some blue prints, hidden by Amber's leg.
"You weren't supposed to get up here!" Amber said, "But now that you are, we were drawing stuff on a piece of paper."
"Can I see?" Luca pondered.
"Nope," Turquoise smiled, "They are a surprise for you."
"Ack! Don't tell him!" Amber said.
"Alright, I guess that is what a surprise is…" Turquoise leaned on Luca and communicated to him, "Isn't she darling, she is making you something wonderful."
"Yeah," Luca communicated back.
The three hung out for a couple hours, coming down when the caretaker called them in for dinner. Luca and his uncle ate pasta with marinara sauce while Amber and Turquoise drank tea.
"We have school tomorrow, Amber," Luca smiled, "Turquoise doesn't go though, I don't know why."
"I like to stay here with your uncle and help out on the farm," the light blue gem smiled.
"There we go," Luca grinned, "Anyways, we are going to have to deal with Alex tomorrow."
Amber winced, "Okay."
"On the bright side, Halloween is next week!" Luca said.
"Hooray!" Turquoise said.
"Yeah…" Amber frowned; thinking about Alex was the last thing she wanted to do.
After dinner, the group decided an early night was best and went to their beds. Turquoise and Amber slept together under the covers of Amber's blue bed.
In the morning, Amber couldn't find Turquoise in the house. She went outside to check and found her friend humming to herself. Amber snuck up behind her and hugged her from behind.
"How are you doing?" Amber asked.
"Fine," Turquoise responded, "Look at the sunrise."
"It's beautiful," Amber, said, awestruck at the way the golden clouds caressed the sky.
On the way to school, Amber and Luca saw Alex. The tan gem got closer to Luca and wrapped her arm around his. They walked faster to class as the first bell rang.
The seats had changed and Luca was now sitting diagonal from Amber in the middle of the classroom. Amber heard rumors about herself coming from around the room, but didn't care much. She diligently did her math, and when the class was over, she said goodbye to Luca and walked to her second class.
Rita frowned at her, but she didn't care and sat next to the girl.
"Hey, how are you?" Amber smiled.
"I am doing great!" Rita said, "My grades are still much better than yours."
"Okay," Amber said, looking to her book, "Oh wow! I remember a lot of this stuff."
Rita looked away, she still felt slightly guilty about what she indirectly did to Amber, "Hey, about the note I gave you…"
"It's okay, I forgive you," Amber said, "How about you be my study buddy?"
"I didn't apologize! But okay," the red haired girl was secretly happy.
The class went on with Rita helping Amber with learning about history. Amber liked Rita's non-hostile personality and the two became quick friends over the class period.
After class, Amber ran off looking for Luca in the lunchroom. She sat next to him and stared at his food that he had gotten from the cafeteria.
"Can I have some?" Amber asked as Luca pulled out a second fork and placed it in her hand, "Thanks. Oh guess what? I made friends with Rita!"
"You are very welcome," Luca put down his fork, "Wait what?"
"Yeah, she is going to be my study buddy!" Amber said, getting a mouthful of peas and carrots.
"Hmm, are you sure about being her friend?" Luca asked, "Don't you remember how she tricked you into seeing Alex?"
"That's okay, she felt really bad about it, plus Alex won't be bothering us again," Amber smiled, taking another mouthful and feeling full.
"Are you done eating?" Luca asked.
"Yeah," Amber replied, "Want to go to class early?"
"Sure," Luca said, finishing his tray.
The two walked to their classroom and sat down in front of the room next to each other. Amber was apparently placed next to Luca on the seating chart so they didn't have to move when the teacher walked in.
Class started, but someone was missing, Alex. He was late as he walked into the classroom, but didn't hesitate to walk over to Amber's desk.
"Hey hot stuff, want to meet in back of the building again?" he said, about to touch Amber.
Luca smacked his hand away, "Alex, keep your hands off her. You almost performed a horrible act with a girl last month. You should have been suspended, but the school took mercy on you."
"Oh well, I am dating your ex by the way…" Alex smiled crookedly, "You should let me have your girl already."
Amber frowned, "What's that in your pocket?"
"Oh, this?" Alex said evilly pulling out a familiar object, "Wendy gave it to me."
The tan gem stood up, "Who is Wendy?"
"Luca's ex girlfriend," Alex said slowly.
"Alex can you sit down? Class has already started," the teacher almost pleaded.
"No, I have to expose Amber for what she really is!" Alex pointed the device at the gem.
"P-Please no, I haven't done anything wrong for a while now!" Amber said, taking a few steps back.
All of a sudden, Amber could only feel pain as her vision turned to white, "Luca, help me!"
Luca grabbed the device, "What, you like my destabilizer, Luca? You can use it if you like."
The students and teacher watched as Amber's body fell apart. Luca let go of the destabilizer and caught Amber's gem, holding it in his hands.
"I got you, I am so sorry Amber," Luca hugged her gem to his chest.
Alex pointed the destabilizer at Luca, but it didn't affect him at all, "See, he is human and this device doesn't work on humans. It only works on alien life forms."
Luca sat down and hid the golden teardrop in his shirt pocket. He regretted not being able to protect her.
"Alex, don't ever hurt another student like that again. Okay class, let's resume doing what schools are meant to do, teach kids like you," the teacher felt pity and looked to Luca, "Is your friend going to be okay?"
"Yes…" Luca said as he heard whispers around the classroom.
After an hour and a half, Amber's gem started to glow. Luca struggled to pull her out of his shirt pocket as her light glowed through his pocket. She floated in front of the class and her mannequin formed, slowly giving her characteristics.
"Stop what you are doing Alex!" Amber said, dropping to the ground and suddenly realizing he was not in front of her, "Uh hi everyone."
"Welcome back, Amber," the teacher said, "Alex, you owe her an apology."
"But she isn't human, she doesn't matter," Alex said, walking up to Amber, "Her whole body is light, she can't feel pain! Just watch."
Alex took a pen and stabbed it into Amber's stomach as she doubled in pain, "Why do you humans keep on destroying my form?"
"Does it hurt though?" Alex asked.
"Yes! Very much so!" Amber said, "Luca can I end his stupid life?"
"Sadly you can't, but I can send him to the principal's office," the teacher said, "Go on, Alex, that's your call."
Alex stomped off to the office, slamming the door. Amber felt her stomach, the pen was still there, thankfully it had missed her gem. She looked to the class as loud talking started to surround her.
"Yes, I am a gem, my gem is an amber, most obviously," Amber said as the talking silenced, "That's why I am wearing this strange outfit and why my body is made of light. Homeworld rejected me so I am going to stay here. I hope you all will let me stay."
The class murmured until a girl called out, "You are cool, you can stay!"
Amber bowed and the teacher spoke, "Of course you can stay, I knew you were a gem all along."
Bowing hurt her stomach, but she held it for a little while until the applause stopped. When she stood up straight, Amber almost collapsed, but was halted by Luca's arm. The bell rang three times and class was over as students poured out saying goodbye to Amber and Luca.
"I got you," he said, picking her up with one arm, "Let's go home now, okay?"
"O-Kay," Amber said, "I am going to rest for a bit…"
"Hey teacher? Can you call my uncle for me?" Luca asked.
"Yeah, sure," the teacher did so and the uncle was going to pick the two up, "Hey Luca? I know a couple of gems around here, if you see them, can you give the tall yellow one this?"
"Sure, teach," Luca said, "Well, we are off."
"Bye!" the teacher said, waving.
Luca got into his uncle's car after laying Amber in the back of the car. After they got home, Turquoise was astounded to see the damage. The pen was still in the wound, so Luca pulled it out quickly, eliciting a groan.
"Amber, it's me Turquoise, we are going to staple your wound together," Turquoise stroked her friend's hair, "You are really brave, okay?"
The tan gem yelped several times as she was stapled in three places. Her body went limp after the pain became too much to bear.
Several hours later, Amber woke up in her bed. She touched her stomach; it was completely healed. Turquoise sat next to her and placed her hand on Amber's forehead.
"You look much better, Luca is at work right now," Turquoise smiled, "The caretaker made you some soup."
"Delicious," Amber sat herself up, "Where did the staples go?"
"We took them out after your body regenerated," Turquoise said.
"Let's go to the kitchen then," Amber said, getting up and walking out the door with Turquoise.
The caretaker was brewing up something that smelled like chicken, but Amber was forbidden to see it. She sat down at the table next to Turquoise and messed around with her spoon.
"Thanks for saving me guys," Amber said slowly.
A bowl was placed on the table and soup was slowly poured in, the steam circling it like a hawk.
"You are very welcome, now enjoy this," the caretaker said, sitting down next to Amber.
The tan gem dipped her spoon and pulled out the golden liquid, "This looks nice."
She tried the soup and quickly finished it, not leaving a drop behind. For some reason, the gem enjoyed food even though her race technically didn't need it to survive anymore. Amber thanked the caretaker for the meal and waited for Luca to get home.
When he returned, the first thing he saw was Amber. She jumped onto him, hugging him to the ground. He hugged her back as she closed her eyes as his warmth surrounded her. So many things had been cleared today in school, Alex had been probably been suspended, the class accepted her, and she made friends with Rita. Overall, it had been a good day for the tan gem.
