Chapter 5
Slade Princeton searched through a box of his high school items in search of some of Amber Rhode's secrets. Even in the letters that they had passed back and forth, there were no foul classified thought or deeds of Amber. He had nothing on the magazine editor. You would think that I would have known something from being her best friend until the age of twenty and I dated her for three years, and I have no dirt on her. Damn, I never paid close enough attention swore Slade miserably. He had to get the dirt on her before it was too late. He found a business card in the bottom of the box. Slade looked at the business card. It was Amber's Manager who gave away information to certain clients. It can't hurt to call thought Slade. He dialed the number expecting a secretary.
"Hello," said an awakened Atticus Rhodes. It was three a.m and Atticus had just gone to sleep after hanging out with Jasmine.
"Are you Amber's manager?" asked Slade confused. The person he was on the phone with sounded too much like a teenager.
"I control the public relations, if that's what you mean," Atticus replied with a yawn and unsure of whom he was speaking to, "So what company do you work for and what do you need to know?"
"I need to know all of Amber's dirtiest secrets," replied Slade. He felt hopeless as Atticus sighed.
Atticus said with his tired tone, "That's really hard, the most I know she has actually gotten trouble is for all those detentions in high school for disrupting class with her views on animal rights, world unification, the economy, poverty, orphans, and that sort of stuff." Slade felt more agitation surge through his cold-blooded veins. He knew that! He witnessed that. He needed to start on the easy topics then get into the deep dark abyss of Amber-ness.
"Okay who has she dated before?" asked Slade. He knew he was the only answer, but the manager didn't know that and Slade didn't know that he was talking to Atticus.
"Jagger and Slade Princeton, she dated Slade for three years and then dumped him for being an asshole and kind of changing into Satan. She went out with Jagger a year and a half after she broke up with Slade. Two months later they broke up on mutual terms because Jagger couldn't hurt his brother, and Amber still wasn't over Slade and it wasn't fair to Slade," Atticus responded. Slade could feel the air rush from his lungs. Did she really date his brother? He knew that Jagger and Amber had been friends, but he had no idea about them ever dating. Slade felt deeply betrayed.
"So how far did she go with either of them?" choked Slade. He didn't want to know what she did with Jagger, but then again, he probably should know. Slade never did get too far with Amber just make-out.
"Just kiss simply, Amber likes to take things slowly," Atticus said. A wave of relief washed over Slade. Why do you care? It's only Amber the queen of the hippies and bitches wondered the businessman. Atticus asked, "Need to know anything else?"
"Has she ever gotten drunk and did something stupid?" Slade asked. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for a reply.
Atticus retorted, "Who do you think she is? No, she has drunk alcohol like wine and champagne, but did something stupid, no. That's not her style, well she did drink some whisky a week after the breakup with Slade and tried to commit suicide but ended up crying and Ally took care of her." Slade didn't believe it. How was it possible that the breakup had a larger impact on Amber than on him? He was the one who was dumped, but then again, he only did hurt her.
"Why?" asked Slade.
"She loved him and hated herself for leaving her best friend and boyfriend, but there wasn't a way to end the pain she caused. She blamed herself for the changes Slade made, and I don't know anything else," replied Atticus casually. Slade thought I don't want to know much more of her life now. Why would I care that she fucked up her life he thought.
"What else has she done?" Slade demanded making Atticus sit up straight in his bed. Somehow, Amber's younger brother was beginning to get annoyed with this guy. Why did he have to wake me up to ask personal sob stories about Amber wondered the future idol.
"Ummm…let me think, she snuck out of the house a couple of times, she was sent to jail for protesting animal testing, she practically adopted every animal in the pound, she boycotts Wal-Mart, and what else would you need to know? She is one of those people whose beliefs are their story," Atticus elaborated. I should have known that thought Slade, maybe there was something. He just had to remember.
"Thanks, Mr…" Slade said fed up with the lack of information. What kind of person was he on the phone with?
"It's Mr. Rhodes, Atticus Rhodes," Atticus said chipper, "How are you doing, Slade?" Slade fell to the floor. Oh damn, not him anything but him. No wonder I didn't get any sufficient information Slade's brain roared. Atticus continued, " So, I am going to go hit the hay. Nitey night!" Slade was infuriated as Amber's younger brunette brother hung up the phone. Slade shuddered as he remembered meeting the young lad and the irony of their first conversation.
Flashback
Slade slipped through Amber's window again. It was daily or nightly ritual. Since Amber was usually grounded, he had to visit her somehow. Slade landed on Amber's carpeted floor once again but saw a young boy around the age of ten standing above him.
"You have bad hair," Atticus said simply flipping his brown hair behind his shoulder, "You need a different type of shampoo."
The seventeen-year old Slade responded, "Who taught you about hair you little punk?" Atticus frowned as he looked at himself in the mirror and smiled in satisfaction. He looked back at the older boy.
"My older sister Amber did. Why are you in her room? Do you stalk her? Do you like her? I could hook you guys up if you want," Atticus said rapidly and without air. Slade looked taken aback. Most young boys weren't interested in their elder sister's love lives.
"I'll pass," growled Slade Princeton unhappily, "Why would you think I stalk her? I'm more mature than that." Atticus shrugged and started to brush his hair with Amber's glittery pink hairbrush.
Atticus replied, "You seem like the guy who would do anything to find out everything about her. It's not beneficial at all, I mean, no one would turn their back on Ambie." Slade secretly agreed with Atticus. Her views were completely different, but no one could possibly hurt her without pain take over them.
"No," retorted Slade, "I'm not like that at all." Atticus laughed and jumped off the bed and straightened his clothing.
"Maybe not now," said Atticus slyly, "but more than likely, you will turn out that way. I can sense it. I'm that kind of person." Slade rolled his eyes in displeasure. This kid was definitely annoying him more than ever.
"No, I won't. Don't you believe me?" demanded Slade.
"No, I don't. Now, I have to go get some food. You should go home, if mommy and daddy find you here, then you'll get into some serious trouble for stalking Ambie," Atticus said skipping away leaving Slade wondering if all the Rhodes had a tendency of being displeasing by being controversial.
End of Flashback
Slade groaned unhappily. Was the Atticus from nine years ago right? It sure seemed that way in the eldest Princeton's eyes, but Slade refused to give up on destroying Amber's reputation and saving his own. He never had luck with the public relations department, but now just proved it. What to do Slade wondered. He then realized that he could find so much more if he looked in the danger zone known as Amber's room…or should Slade say…lair. Slade who was pleased with this idea then wondered if that was a good idea. That definitely was stalker-ish of him, but what else could he do? Atticus was insufficient, and Slade was in an unfavorable position. Slade decided he was going to take the risk.
Mew Kazurinu: Well, we can definitely imply that Slade is very determined in a sense. Thanks again to Rurouni Shadow for the Atticus idea. It really helped. I am so sorry it took me awhile to upload this chapter, but it's done now at least. Be prepared for Chapter 6 coming up as soon as possible.