So, I've wanted to write about the friendship that Amber and Tammy share for a while now. I have them where they've been friends for years now, since childhood, and I think that it's a very nice friendship. Also, of course, you'll notice that Shelley's in here, because Amber and Shelley sort of treat Tammy as a younger sister. Quite the... functional family, right? ;) As always, I must thank Tracy for the immense help that she gave me with this. She is Amber; and I'm always making sure that I'm writing her Amber just right. :) I love you, baby! Enjoy!
"Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
you had my heart,
and we'll never be world apart,
maybe in magazines,
but you'll still be my star.
baby, 'cause in the dark,
you can't see shiny cars,
and that's when you need me there,
with you i'll always share…
From behind the closed door of Amber Von Tussle's bedroom, erupted an onset of giggles. Inside, Amber was busy keeling over from the sight of what a purposefully badly applied makeover had done to her best friend, Tammy Smith. Tammy, too, was giggling and laughing as she looked at her dark and overdone look.
"Mama would kill me!" Tammy giggled again as she did a little twirl, causing her forest green dress to fan out slightly.
"Oh, come on," Amber, after she had finally regained her ability to breathe—much less speak, waved her fingertips encouragingly at Tammy. "You look—"
"Silly?" Tammy finished, before grinning at Amber knowingly. They had had an absolute blast applying the make-up. Dark red lipstick, fire red lip liner, bright green eye shadow, heavy eyeliner, clown-red rouge, and so much mascara that Tammy could barely blink were certainly not a very flattering combination.
"Fender would definitely go for that," The pretty blonde joked, somewhat sarcastically, as she placed her hands on her best friend's shoulders. "and you know it."
Tammy's face flushed, and she bit her lip softly, causing Amber to smirk almost immediately.
"Tammy, I'm just playing with you," Amber reminded her, after a brief moment of silence.
"I know, Amber," Tammy assured, before turning to the mirror again. "I look like a clown," The brunette spoke through giggles, and then plopped down in the chair before Amber's large, pink vanity.
"Well, of course," Her friend concluded, a sly smirk curling upon her rosy lips. "Wasn't that what we were going for?"
"Obviously," Tammy smiled to her via the mirror, and then glanced toward Amber's door. "I guess I'd better go wash all of this off, huh?" She asked the other girl, however rhetorically. Amber snickered once, and then folded her hands against her own hips. She didn't answer Tammy; she merely smirked at her in a sort of silent understanding that both of them were certainly familiar with by now.
Tammy returned the smile, and then pushed herself up from the chair. As she began toward Amber's door, just as her hand was poised to turn and open it, Amber turned to look at her.
"I told Mother that you were staying over tonight," Amber said, with a smirk that, though Tammy could not see it, the brunette knew was present.
"Amber," Tammy turned around to face her. "You know that I have a date with—"
"Fender," Amber made a gracious point not to blatantly roll her eyes. "Yes, I know."
"I can't just stand him up," Her hesitance was more than just obvious. The only thing that was more obvious was the fear that was rising in her eyes. Amber sighed and frowned.
"Actually, you can," Amber crossed her arms over her chest. "It's easy. Just don't go."
"Amber, that's awful," Tammy pursed her lips together tightly. "I could never do that to anyone. That's so mean."
Amber let her shoulders fall somewhat suddenly. Here they went again about him.
"Oh, and he hasn't done that to you before?" She wondered tartly, her eyes narrowed in annoyance at the thought. "Saying that he's going out with his friends, saying that he's babysitting his little brother, saying that his grandmother is over—really, Tammy? You are so much better than that."
"Amber, it's not like that," Tammy insisted, knowing that even she didn't sound convinced.
"He treats you like—"
"He treats me just fine, Amber," She had always felt so uncomfortable about this subject, if only because it was a definite sore spot.
Amber ran her tongue over her dry lips, and then sighed once again. She really didn't know what to say anymore. This had not been the first time that Tammy and she had been through this. Fender treated her like a desperate and disposable third wheel. It seemed as though everyone but Tammy knew about his lecherous and repetitive rendezvous with girl after girl.
Sure, Fender was nice enough to Tammy. It was difficult for almost anyone to offer Tammy anything but kindness. However, he had made it all too clear what went on behind the seemingly clueless girl's back. He bragged to virtually every council boy, and Amber, among many others, had—unfortunately—heard more than enough details. It made Amber sick to her stomach, at times, knowing that Tammy was allowing herself to be used like that when she deserved so much better.
"All right," Amber conceded, her expression bland. "But, just stay. It's only one, little date," As Amber saw that Tammy was about to protest, she quickly continued. "I'll take care of everything."
Tammy faltered over her thoughts. She knew that she never wanted to make anyone, much less her supposed 'boyfriend' feel abandoned, but she felt obliged to stay with Amber. She was her best friend; they had known each other for many years, whereas Tammy had only known Fender since he had joined the Council. The brunette parted her lips, and then sighed quietly.
"I'll stay, if… that's okay, Amber," She managed a tiny smile. Amber watched her silently for a moment, and then walked over to her vanity, where she picked up a clean rag that they had brought in here earlier.
"Good," Amber said simply as she handed the rag over to Tammy, who spoke a quiet 'thank you,' prior to retreating down the hallway to the bathroom to wash up.
Amber knew that she could only protect her friend for so long, and that she could only give out unused advice for as long as Tammy would listen. Yet, she knew full well that 'for so long' had a knack for catching up far more quickly than anyone would have ever intended.
when the sun shines, we'll shine together.
told you i'll be here forever,
said i'll always your friend,
took an oath i'ma stick it out 'til the end.
"He's so horrible," chirped Lou Ann, as she talked animatedly to Becky and Amber. "I saw him with Brenda again yesterday."
"I thought it was Vicki?" Becky countered, before beginning to pick at her sandwich aimlessly.
"That was a couple of days ago," Lou Ann waved her hand dismissively. "He's dreadful, Amber, absolutely dreadful."
Amber remained quiet while her blue eyes lingered absentmindedly on where Tammy and Fender appeared to be talking quietly by the schoolyard fence. A certain flare of anger rose in the pit of Amber's stomach, but she kept it at bay, for the time being.
"Amber?" Lou Ann narrowed her eyes questionably at her. "What's wrong with you?"
"What?" Amber blinked her eyes once. "Nothing, Lou Ann. It's nothing."
"Right. Well. Did you hear what I said?"
"Of course," Amber replied plainly. Clearly, she had not. Just as Lou Ann was about to plow forward with the subject again, Amber realized that a shadow had abruptly befallen their particular lunch table.
"Amber," Shelley spoke monotonously, causing all three girls to glance up at her. Lou Ann tried to hide her disgust; Becky simply glanced away and continued to debate whether or not she actually wished to eat her sorry excuse of a sandwich; and Amber's eyes immediately reduced to slits.
"What do you want, Shelley?" Amber replied to her offhandedly, as she let her eyes wander pointlessly to the lunch table for a moment before glancing back to the redhead.
"Get up, and come here. I have to talk to you," She told her impatiently, as she propped her right hand against her hip. She made it seem as though it was an immense chore to even stand in the same vicinity as Amber and her pitiful group of 'friends.'
Lou Ann scoffed in disapproval and lightly knocked her hand against the table in front of Becky to finally get her attention.
"It's fine, Lou Ann," Amber sighed irritably at Shelley as she willed herself to stand. "This won't take long. I'm sure it's nothing important," Her eyes were locked with Shelley's momentarily before moving back to Becky and Lou Ann. "Just stay here, girls."
Despite her obvious aversion for the situation, Lou Ann just rolled her eyes and remained where she was, instantly reverting back to a conversation with Becky just as Amber and Shelley moved away from the general lunch area.
"Shelley, what the hell is going on?" Amber demanded, once they were safely away from their classmates.
"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't pull you over here to talk about you," Shelley withheld an annoyed scoff. "It's about Tammy."
"Ugh!" Amber rolled her eyes again. "I really don't want to hear about it. I've heard enough."
Shelley glared at her fiercely.
"Shut up, and just listen to me," She warned the other girl, her eyes dark with an unvoiced challenged. "As difficult as it is to claim Brenda as a friend, at times, we've finally heard it straight from the horse's mouth."
"You mean whore's?" Amber snapped back bitterly. "What are you talking about?"
"Fender and she have been at it for nearly four months now," Shelley folded her arms across her chest. "Tammy and he are through, Amber. She needs to understand that. There's not much else that we can do for her anymore."
"How do you know that? Brenda's known for stretching the truth about her sexual pedigree."
"I highly doubt that anyone would lie about any experience pertaining to a church's janitor's closet during mass, Amber."
"You would," Amber replied smoothly, a light smirk appearing on her features. Shelley simply rolled her eyes, and dropped her hands to her sides.
"Whatever," Shelley hissed frigidly as she began to turn to leave. "Don't you dare come running to me when everything winds up crashing down on her, Amber. I did my part." With one last glance over her shoulder, Shelley left Amber to stand there, glaring intensely at her back.
Amber scoffed quietly, and then bit down lightly on her bottom lip. She turned slightly and soon found her eyes on Fender and Tammy's conversation near the fence again. Her friend looked happy, but Amber knew that wouldn't be for long, should Fender have his way—as he always did.
now that it's raining more than ever,
know that we'll still have each other.
you can stand under my umbrella.
It was Friday, two days since Shelley had brought the obvious to Amber's attention—two days until Amber realized just how much of a ticking time bomb that Fender actually was. Amber had no plans tonight. Link was doing something or another with someone, and Amber did not honestly care what or with whom. Tammy was spending time with Fender. Lou Ann was out with her family. And only God knew what Becky was doing.
Amber sighed quietly, and then brushed a stray bit of her blond hair from her forehead. Velma was out, of course, thus leaving her to decide on her own just what to do by herself. Amber didn't appear to mind. In fact, the beckoning silence was rather nice. The house was quiet, and the rain outside was more soothing than she would have expected it to be.
Though, at the sound of the doorbell, that all changed. Groaning in irritation, Amber reluctantly pushed herself up from her vanity's chair, and then made her way to her front door. She knew that she would immediately be met with the unsatisfactory feeling of the humidity upon her skin and hair, but she also knew that she did not have much of a choice. Pursing her lips, she unlocked the door, and then carefully swung it open.
Her eyebrows instantly furrowed. Before her stood Shelley with Tammy standing next to her. Tammy looked like an absolute, sopping mess. It was only by Shelley's umbrella that Tammy had evaded becoming even more drenched from the rain. Amber opened her mouth to speak, though she hadn't the faintest idea what to say.
"Wha—"
"Are you going to let us in, or just stand there like an idiot?" Shelley asked dryly, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes," Amber's eyes fell on Tammy, who was presently biting her lip. "Sure," She replied blankly to Shelley.
Making certain that she did not get any water on herself, Shelley very cautiously closed the umbrella, walked inside of Amber's house, and then hung it on a nearby hat rack. Once Tammy had followed Shelley inside, and then Amber slowly shut the door.
"What's going on?" Amber wondered finally, her gaze floating between Shelley and Tammy.
"I was out with my mother," Shelley began, her arms habitually moving to cross over her chest as her pale gaze fell upon Tammy. "and I saw her outside by herself."
"I was just walking home," Tammy added quietly.
"In the rain," Shelley included, with a palpable amount of revulsion toward the concept.
Amber glanced between the two, and then to Tammy.
"What happened?" She knew that she didn't even have to ask; and the bothered look on Shelley's face when she did only furthered her belief.
"I was just visiting someone," Tammy ran her tongue over her lips distractedly, and then stared at the floor.
"Fender," Shelley finished for her, with a roll of her eyes. "I brought her here, because I thought that perhaps you could talk some sense into her, as I have already tried."
Amber propped her hands against her hips and studied Tammy quietly. She could practically see her friend's heart breaking into a million pieces right in front of her. The blonde sighed and moved so that she was standing closer to Tammy.
"Are you all right, Tammy?" Amber thought it was best to ask anyway, in spite of the blatancy of the situation.
Tammy bit her lip and glanced up at her friend. Her eyes were already brimming with tears, and Amber was moderately taken aback by the sight. Tammy had always been so strong. Amber had always wondered how Tammy took all of this. She was constantly being used and taken advantage of, if not by boys that she liked, then by others who were aware that she was willing to help anyone in any way that she possibly could.
"Of course I am, Amber," Tammy forced the smallest of smiles. "Everything is fine; it's just like it always is."
Shelley found herself staring at Tammy, her eyes narrowed with irritated astonishment. She bit her tongue, however, for possibly the first time in her life. Tammy was her friend, as well, and she knew that now was not the time to reprimand her, yet again, for her horrible choices in boys.
"Tammy, he used you," Amber reminded her softly, her eyes thinning with sympathy.
"No, he didn't," Tammy shook her head. "He just… didn't want to hurt me. So, he—"
"Let you go easily before he could do even more damage?" Shelley proposed sardonically, as she leaned against the nearby wall, her arms still crossed over her chest.
"Shelley," Amber's voice was reduced to a menacing hiss.
"It's okay, Amber," Tammy shrugged her shoulders, still attempting to smile a little. "Fender's not a bad guy, and I know it. I really believe that."
Shelley turned her head so that she could freely roll her eyes. She honestly wished that she could make Tammy understand that she had been used, that there was a bad side to everyone, and not just a 'good' one.
Amber, however, watched her best friend with narrowed eyes. She felt horribly for her, but, at the same time, she knew that Tammy would be just fine. She was always so strong. All she needed was a little push and attention, and she would be just fine. Still, Amber couldn't help but worry for her, just as she knew that Shelley—somewhere in the midst of her brain—was, as well.
"Hey, Tammy," Amber smiled and placed her hand on the other girl's shoulder. "You know everything's going to be okay, right? I mean, Shelley and I are still here for you, you know."
Tammy inhaled and exhaled heavily, her eyes still shining with unshed tears as she continued to stare at the floor. Amber glanced over at Shelley, somewhat worriedly, but Shelley was clearly leaving the situation to Amber.
"Tammy."
"You're right, Amber," Tammy replied, unexpectedly, as she glanced up to her blond friend. "It just hurts right now."
"Of course it does," Amber kept her hand on Tammy's shoulder for another moment before slowly pulling it away and allowing it to move back down to her side. "But, it doesn't hurt forever."
"I know," The brunette assured both Amber and Shelley, her voice quiet. "Thanks, you guys." She said softly, yet gratefully, as she looked between the other two girls.
Amber moved her hands onto her hips and nodded to Tammy, who immediately willed a tiny smile to her features as she looked toward the front door.
"Well… I'll just go home now," Tammy added, her smile suddenly timid. "I don't want to be a bother."
"No, stay," Amber insisted, as she moved in front of Tammy to block any sort of exit. "And you're not bothering anyone. You never have."
"But I know that you two said that you had plans tonight."
Shelley found her thinned eyes on Amber as Tammy spoke. She had no idea that Tammy knew of their plans.
"Our plans can wait," Amber went on to say coolly, her eyes briefly challenging Shelley to protest before glancing back to Tammy. "Besides, I was thinking how amazing your nails would look if I painted them that really soft, pink color," She paused to place her gaze on Shelley again. "Don't you think, Shelley?"
Shelley straightened her posture, and then dropped her arms to her sides.
"Of course," She replied, somewhat unenthusiastically, but with veiled affection that even Tammy could detect. Tammy smiled a bit more.
"Do you really mean it?"
"Yes," Amber asserted with playful irritation, as she reached out and grasped Tammy's slender wrist. "Come on. Tonight's the perfect night for a girls' night in."
Tammy paused for another moment, and then smiled, much more brightly than before. Something about being in the company of two of her closest friends made her feel significantly better. She knew that everything was all right. She wasn't about to be robbed of her happiness just because of some boy.
"Thank you," Tammy spoke again, her eyes gleaming appreciatively.
"You're welcome," Amber replied, a teasing grin on her face. "You know that we'll always be here for you. No matter what."
"Even if you refuse to listen to our advice," Shelley added, with a good-natured roll of her eyes yet again.
"Thanks, Shelley," Tammy giggled and grinned over to her other friend, as they all made their way up to Amber's room.
these fancy things will never come in between.
you're part of my entity, here for infinity.
when the war has took its part,
when the world has dealt its cards,
if the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart.