Chapter 9
Amber relaxed on her small couch that Wednesday evening. She smiled in peaceful bliss knowing that she technically had the house to herself while Ally was upstairs in her room writing a vampire story on the computer. The editor of a world awareness magazine turned on the news. She always enjoyed watching the news although it seemed to be seriously biased. It gave her research to complete and more articles to put in her magazine.
She stared in amazement as they did a report on Slade Princeton as the news reported that he was going to a charity event. "Well, it's about time," she smirked happily. Maybe there was some sort of hope for her ex-boyfriend. She frowned as she saw on the television a girl on his arm.
"What the hell?" Amber screamed clutching a maroon velvet pillow to her chest. Of course, it was some fashion model from Vogue. Well, you couldn't have expected to stay single forever her brain rationalized to her emotions. She shook her head in disbelief. Maybe Slade just needed a date. Amber prayed that was the case for some reason or another, but the businessman was unpredictable. What I don't get is how he would've been invited she thought but soon realized that he was merely accompanying the model.
She slunk into her seat attempting not to scream as the phone rang. "Hello, Rhodes residence," she said miserably keeping her attention on the screen. So, Slade why are you with her? Do you love her? Is she everything you wanted? These questions rolled through her head as she simply assumed that they were together.
"Hey, Miss Ambie, it's Wolverine Hassleberry from high school," said the young military captain that she had known from high school. He heard a slight sigh in the midst of the news playing in the background of the other line.
She replied attempting to bring up her spirits. Why is he calling? Well I better be polite although I don't feel like talking the editor said to her. "Oh hi, I haven't heard from you in quite some time. How are you?" she replied emotionlessly as she watched Slade lead the young woman into the auditorium.
"I'm great. I just came back to the home front recently. So I heard you are running a magazine. I knew you could do it because you always had the perfect strategies for getting information across to other soldiers," Wolverine said enthusiastically as he heard the weatherman telling about how the weather was supposed to warm their country.
The woman replied, "Yes, well, the endangered polar bears need their untold story announced to the world besides the starving children in third world countries need food shipped to them." She rolled her eyes as her statement let the elder Hassleberry let out a loud chuckled. Right now, she would be pleased if Brandon called needing help with the assignment although he was an astounding reporter.
"You haven't changed one bit," the military soldier said grinning. Maybe Slade is right, maybe she could love me. It never hurt to give it a shot he thought happily. Besides, his younger brother needed a maternal figure in his life.
Amber responded as she turned off the television, "Well, someone has to have the bravery and resolve to do my job. Well, I better make dinner for my younger sister and I so I'll talk to you later since you obviously remember my phone number." That's rather frightening now that I think about it she shuddered as the idea ran through her mind. She had no clue why he would even call her in the first place except for Slade who tried to get them together during their junior year.
"Okay," he answered, "hey, would you like to do something sometime later. I know a great steak…"
The irritated Amber quickly cut him off, "I'm a vegan. How could you possibly forget that?" She knew there was a good reason that they never dated, and that was the mere fact that he never paid attention to the most obvious details.
"Sorry, I forgot," he quickly apologized hoping that he didn't offend her too much. "Okay then, would you like to get some coffee some time?" Although he didn't like coffee shops, he wanted to succeed what he failed at when he was much younger, but then again, the only thing that had ever blocked his path to the oldest Rhodes's heart was the eldest Princeton.
"I'll have to check my schedule," she answered casually, "I'll call you when I can, okay?" She knew that he would more than likely forget that he asked her for coffee, and he would more than likely forget that she would call him back so she figured she was safe.
"Sure," he said, "well, I'll let you get to cook your dinner. Bye." He smiled as his imagination ran wild mainly because the woman had technically accepted to go on a date with him.
"Bye," she said hanging up the phone as fast as she could. She looked at the television and sighed. What did you do to me, Slade? I only have you to blame for all of this drama she thought wondering if he could secretly read her mind.
Ally came downstairs and yawned, "Who were you talking to, Ambs?" She sat down at the table as her older sister got out the ingredients to make vegan enchiladas. She noticed her sister's hesitation to answer the question. "Did Slade call?" asked the worried younger sibling.
"No, it was Wolverine," replied Amber as she started cooking the soy chicken, "You know, the guy who took me to junior prom." She watched as her sister gave a blank stare in either disbelief or disgust.
"I never did like him," the younger girl said quietly, "He was annoying." Her older sister gave a slight giggle.
"He still is," responded Amber without any sort of hesitation. She could never be with any young gentleman from the army or whatever service of the armed forces that he belonged to. "He wants to go out for coffee."
"Are you going to go?" asked Ally curiously as her sister started making her own enchilada sauce. She always wanted to try to figure out her sister's motives for her actions.
"I'm not sure," the editor replied. "I haven't exactly decided." As much as she didn't like Wolverine, an idea that included the southern accented man filled her brain. As far as she knew, the Hassleberry and the oldest Princeton were still very close companions. She could possibly get revenge for all the pain he put her through. Maybe she should go with him. Somehow, this reminded her of the last time she ended up jealous of some girl Slade was with.
Flashback
Amber was walking home alone once more. She had no idea where her best friend had run off to after school. It seemed that he was around her less and less. Maybe, it was time to go on an adventure to find Slade. As soon as she reached home, she ran upstairs to put away her book bag and then she jumped from her window to attempt to find the eldest Princeton. On the way to aimlessly looking for her friend, she bumped into Jagger.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Jagger. I didn't see you there. Hey, have you seen Slade lately?" she asked as she quickly apologized. Jagger smiled sadly as he reluctantly put an arm around her.
"Umm… well, I know this is going to be hard for you to hear," he began making Amber rather worried and curious, "But he's with a girl." He noticed a spark of anger flicker with jealously in her eyes. He knew that Slade had been keeping this a secret from his closest friend for some unknown reason.
Amber choked, "He has a girlfriend? Why didn't he tell me?" She wanted to beat the shit out of the girl who was with her best friend. Nobody in the world was allowed to keep her friends hostage.
"Well," Jagger whispered, "It's not official yet. He's at the nearest Starbucks at the moment." She nodded and gave him a quick hug.
"Thanks," she said running off, "I owe you one." She knew what she had to do. It was in her nature to be as confrontational as possible. She ran on the sidewalk until she reached the building. She wasn't in favor of major businesses such as Starbucks and usually boycotted them, but she was willing to go in just once to tell the almost couple off.
"What the hell?" she demanded from Slade as she entered. The teenagers who were drinking lattes looked at her in amazement. "First, you don't tell me about her," Amber said pointing to the girl accompanying her friend, "But then, you avoid me. I'm your best friend! Tell me why!" For some reason, she thought that at any second, the tears would start raining from her eyes.
Slade responded, "I'm sorry, Amber. I didn't know you cared so much." The tone of you-know-you-are-so-jealous made the liberal want to spill the coffee over his smooth shoulder-length hair.
"I don't!" she snapped, "I just don't understand why you didn't tell me." He raised an eyebrow at her in curiosity. He watched his date rise from her seat.
"I need to go," she said leaving the shop from the awkwardness of the situation. Slade shook his head from the fact that his friend had scared off a girl that he could've gotten with.
"I don't know, I just didn't," he retorted, "Why do you care? I know you do." Amber shook her head. How could she explain all the negative emotion that she didn't feel like sharing?
Amber replied as she began to get weak in the knees, "I just do, okay. I know I just ruined it and everything, but Slade don't you trust me? I thought that…" She was cut off by Slade handing her a napkin to wipe away her tears. He patted her on the head.
"Don't worry about it," he replied, "I understand. If I were you, I probably would've done the same thing."
End of Flashback
Amber sighed as she put the vegan enchiladas in the oven, what happened to her former self. Was the whole Wolverine plan going to do as well as just confronting him? Still, she couldn't confront him as an ex-girlfriend. Somehow, she had put herself in an awful predicament.
Mew Kazurinu: I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. What will they all do next? Well, thanks for reading. I hope you continue to the next chapter.