CHAPTER THREE
Dark clouds covered the sky over Rosewood. The rain hit the windows of their car, as they drove through the small town. Amber's eyes looked out of the window, not really in the mood to talk. Jason and their mother sat in silence in the front of her, while she sat in the backseat. Jessica wanted Jason to drive since he could look for a parking spot while she could already go inside. She never said anything about Amber, since she knew that she would not go along with her. The mother knew that Amber heard the conversation, without Jason breaking his promise. In the moment her son told her, that her, now only, daughter did not want to go home with her, it broke her heart. She knew it was all her fault and there was nothing she could do. It would take time to regain Amber's trust. Jessica hoped that Amber would come home with her one day again.
Jason stopped in the front of the school for Jessica to exit the car. The older woman stepped out and turned to her daughter. "You don't have to look with Jason," Jason turned to look at his sister as their mother spoke. Amber shook her head and smiled slightly at her, "It's okay." Jessica returned the smile, before nodding at her son. Once the door closed, Jason turned on the motor again. They drove for a few minutes, and much to their surprise, they found a good parking spot. Jason took an umbrella, jumped out of the car and sprinted to his sister's door. Like a gentleman, he opened the door and the umbrella for her. Amber giggled as she took a grip on the umbrella. "Like a true gentleman." Jason laughed and bowed a bit.
People were staring at them while they walked to and in the building. The siblings stayed close to each other since the murder of their sister was still out there. Amber took deep breaths while trying to ignore the stares and the whispers. Jason glared at them, which caused them to look away, but they did not stop talking. Amber brushed her hand softly against her brother's, trying to show him that everything was okay.
The room was filled with a lot of people and a huge stage was in the middle. Loud music was drowning the voices, taking a weight off Amber's shoulder. Many faces were familiar, but the face that caught her attention was Toby Cavanaugh's. Amber turned to her brother slightly and sort-of lied, "I will look for Mum." Jason hesitated before nodding. "I will wait by our seats." Amber gave him a gentle smile before walking towards the boy. Toby's lips were curled and did not faint as he saw Amber, but his eyes widen. "Amber, hey." He said, coming closer to the girl. She gave him the same smile, she gave Jason. "Hey. Haven't seen you in a while." Toby chuckled, "Yeah, it's been awhile." They stood there in silence while people walked past them.
"How are you? I mean are you better?" Toby asked carefully, trying not to run her over with questions. "Well, it has been worse. But thank you." Toby looked at her with confusion, "Thank you for what?" Amber's smile widened at his confusion, "Thank you for not looking at me like I am a dinosaur and talk about me like I am not here." Toby placed one of his hands on her shoulder and squeezed it. "You did not stare at me or talked about me when everyone else did as well. So, we are even." Her smile dropped and she suddenly wrapped her arms around Toby. "We will never be even, not after what my family has done to you." Toby froze but wrapped his arms around the girl as well. They stayed like this for a few seconds, ignoring the stares. When they heard Jason call for her, she pulled away. "Looks like it is show time," Amber said, her eyes a bit watery. The boy nodded and smiled, "If you need me, just come to me afterward or call me." The blonde murmured softly a thank you, before walking towards her family.
Amber walked through a maze of people. Her mother was already sitting on her chair, while Jason stood there and watched her. He raised an eyebrow as his sister stood next to him. "You know Toby?" The girl nodded and sat down next to her mother, while Jason sat down on the other side. "Everyone knows everyone in Rosewood. Did you already forget that?" Jason snorted and moved his gaze towards the stage.
The girls, including Hannah, Spencer, Aria, and Emily, began to walk down the catwalk. It was kind of boring for Amber since she was not that into fashion, but she tried to look like she was interested. Once all outfits were shown, the lights dimmed and a voice began to talk, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Rosewood High Student Committee would like to take a moment to pay tribute to one of their own, Alison DiLaurentis." While pictures were produced, through a beamer, on the wall and the girls began to reenter the stage, Jessica gripped her daughter's hand. It was a silent act of grief and comfort. People clapped, while the four girls walking down in couples.
Everyone took in the moment as the girls stood in the middle of the stage. But suddenly, out of nowhere, loud rock music began to play, and the picture of Alison began to 'burn'. Everyone turned to the slideshow and stopped their movements. A chaos broke out and Amber felt how her mother tightened the grip on her hand. Hannah and Emily left the stage, Aria just stood there and Spencer ran over to Noel, who was trying to turn it off. Spencer ripped out the wires and everything went silent. The red light was still on, but it did not stop Jessica to let go of Amber and leaving without another word. Amber and Jason shared a glance, before following their mother.
The three of them were just about to enter their home when Jessica's phone began to ring. The mother turned to her daughter and gave her the cell phone. "Could you please take it?" Jason was about to interrupt when Amber nodded, "Yeah." She took the phone while taking a few steps away from the front door. Jason's eyes stayed on her for a while before leading their mother to the kitchen. Amber accepted the call and moved the phone to her ear, "Hello?" A sigh of relief was on the other end, "Amber is that you?" Spencer. The blonde sat down on the steps of her porch. "Yeah, it's me."
"How is your mother?" Spencer asked. "She is really upset. Well, too upset to talk." She could imagine Spencer nodding on the other side, before asking, "How are you?" How was she? Angry? Sad? She actually did not know how to feel. Alison may not have been her favorite person in the whole world, but she was her sister and what just happened, was horrible. "I didn't figure out my feelings yet, but I can say that I don't feel less upset as my mother." There was a moment of silence before she continued, "I should probably be with my family right now, but maybe we will see the each other in the next days."
"You are staying in town?" Spencer asked the surprise in her voice was clear. "Yeah, not sure how long, but yeah, I am staying. I really have to go now, Spencer. Bye." Amber did not wait for an answer and dialed. This was a conversation she did not want to have with anyone right now. "Amber?" Her mother's voice called. She stood up and brushed off the dirt on her dress. "I am coming!" She walked into her house, closing the door gently, before following her family's path into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting on a chair while Jason stood next to her with the car key in the hand. "I have to go back and get the dresses, would you stay here with Mum so long?" An unfamiliar feeling of fear rose in her chest, but she nodded anyway. Jason walked closer to her, so their mother heard nothing. "If something happens, just call me, okay?" Amber did not say anything but nodded again. Her brother kissed the side of her head and left the kitchen. In the moment she heard the front door close, she laid down her purse and the umbrella.
Her mother continued to stare down at her hands. "Do you want some tea?" Amber asked as she looked for the teapot. Jessica gave out an almost not audible answer, but Amber just heard it. It took a few minutes until the tea was finish, but the mother gave her daughter a thankful glance as she put down the cup next to her. Amber sat down on a chair as well but said nothing. She did not want to make it worse. "You know I love you, Amber, right?" Her mother asked in a weak tone. Did she? Amber just stared at her mother, who looked more tired as usual. "I know that you heard what I said yesterday, and I also know it is unforgivable, but I still hope that you can look me into the eyes one day, without thinking about it."
Amber sighed and moved her hand over her mother's, which had a tight grip on the cup. "I know that one day, this is the smallest thing we fight about, but I need time. I am never going to stop being your daughter, but you need help Mum. Not only because of your rocky relationship with Dad and Jason, but also because of the grief." Her mother nodded and was thankful for her daughter's word. Little did Amber and Jessica know, that nothing would be like it used to be. Jessica was losing the control over her daughter's action and words.