Chapter 32: My weird new friend

Amber's POV

I had to admit to myself that flirting with Hunter was allot of fun. It was the most fun I'd ever had. I felt like it wasn't Hunter though, Hunter wasn't special to me. It was me. Ihad changed. Now that I had experienced the worst kind of pain and had it taken away by my sister's return, I couldn'tbe unhappy. I couldn't notbe giddy when a cute boy flirted with me.

I didn't want Hunter's number because I really wasn't looking for a long term relationship—I wasn't even looking for a date. But he insisted on taking my number and I wasn't able to wrestle my cell phone away so he wouldn't call me and have my number on his phone.

I failed.

He had my number.

I he was probably going to call me. Sigh.

The next morning, I woke up early for school and got dressed. I could hear Silver's alarm clock ringing from the bathroom and she turned it off a few seconds later. She was up.

I didn't straighten my hair and I didn't put on makeup. I just tied my hair in a ponytail and headed up stairs. I just didn't feel like putting on makeup. It wasn't because I was depressed or something. I just didn't have time to put on makeup since I wanted to make Silver breakfast.

My phone was having seizures with hundreds of texts messages I was receiving texts from schoolmates. They all wanted to know if Silver and I were coming to school.

I was stressed with all the phone calls and texts messages that I thought I would throw something when there was a knock at the door. It was way too early for anyone to be visiting anyone, even on a school day.

I wasn't surprised to find Seth at our door with his bright grin. It was too early for me to be smiling, "Are you serious?" I demanded, "Are you seriously here?"

His grin turned sheepish and he shrugged.

"You are waytoo clingy." I said turning my back on him. I didn't slam the door in his face. Even if he reallywasn't my type and I couldn't really see what Silver saw in him, he did make her excessively happy.

He invited himself into our house and sat at the dining table. We casually spoke as I made our breakfast. I didn't have to focus much. Seth kind of talked allot for a guy. I made enough eggs for four and started toasting some bagels.

I wasn't aware of Silver's presents till I found her crying at the staircase.

"What's wrong, Silver?" I cried, "I made you breakfast."

Silver shook her head, "Nothing." she mumbled, "It's just that...Nahuel used to make me eggs." she forced the words out of her mouth. I wanted to hold her and apologize a million times for bringing back memories she didn't want to think about but I was frozen at the sound of his name that did not escape her lips as a hiss but as an embrace.

Silver ate her eggs without complaining and we went to school.

I think we were all kind of excited for this part. Today, we were bombarded with questions of where had Silver been and all the jazz. Rumours had spread all around school because Silver disappearance was at the same time as Nahuel's and Seth's. All the rumours were crazy made up story but it was ridiculous how close they were to what actually happened. What actually happened wasn't something that happened every day but still.

I reluctantly let Silver out of my sight so she could go to class and as I fidgeted in the rain and watched her walk away with her knight in shining armour I couldn't help but let a few tears shed. There was no particular reason for me to cry this time. They weren't tears of happiness but I wasn't sad either. I kind of felt like I was watching my five year old go to her first day of school.

"Are you okay, Amber?" A hand rested on my shoulder.

I gasped and jumped forward. I spun around to glare at the person who startled me.

Andy stood behind me just as startled.

"Damn it, Andy. Don't sneak up on me like that."

Andy inhaled from his asthma inhaler. I didn't even know he had asthma.

I bit my lips and stifled a giggle, "You're such a dork." I rolled my eyes.

He was just too commercial. He was really one of those dorky nerds that were nervous around girls and had asthma attacks when taken by surprise. It wasn't his asthma that I found funny, it was the fact that he really needed his inhaler in case he was too shocked.

"Sorry," he apologized breathlessly.

I smiled, "It's cool. Let's go to class. English, right?" I looked at him, waiting for an answer. I wasn't really sure what classes I had at all. I was pretty much guessing that we had English at first hour. I had only glanced at my schedule once this morning.

It took Andy a few seconds to reply. It was probably an aftershock from his asthma attack or whatever that was. I put my hand on his shoulder to make sure he wouldn't collapse or something.

"Yeah, English." He nodded, a grin spreading on his face.

We were both quiet for a few seconds, "Want to go to my locker so we can go to class together?"

"Sure!" he beamed.

I rolled my eyes at my weird new friend. I had to admit that I had a soft spot for this dweeb, I wasn't the only one. He was a part of Steve's gang and he was nothing like the other senior boys that he hung out with but there was something about Andy that made him stand out from the other losers. He was sort of special.

He'd been there for me in my hour of need especially. While Silver was gone, I hadn't spoken to much people but when I did speak, it was to Andy and when he did visit, he made me feel a little bit of hope.

"You never told me how we did in our book report project thingy."

"Oh! The Outsiders." He corrected me and I rolled my eyes, "We passed, don't worry."

"Thanks for doing all the work."

"I'm used to it." He nodded.

"Don't worry, next time, I'll help with the project. I promise." I patted his arm and we headed for class.

Today was having a great start. My English teacher didn't show up to class so we were in need of a substitute. Since his absence was uncalled for, we didn't have work to do.

I surprised to see that Andy was welcome in my group of friends. When he came to sit with us it was as if he belonged there. No one had the why is he sitting with us look. It made me wonder what had I missed out on. I hadn't missed that much school…

Apparently I had, because I'd missed out on allot. Andy being a part of my English class group was the smallest of my adjustments. People had broken up and gotten together, virginities had been rued and lost, parents had fought and kids blamed themselves.

My friends took it upon themselves to make me aware of the other students business—not minding the interruptions by some curious students who wanted to know about Silver. It wasn't hard to pay attention or listen to my friends. Even though I really didn't care that Tanya practically dry humped some guy at Caroline's gathering and she almost got in huge trouble so now Vanessa and Pam aren't talking to Tanya.

I listened though, and I laughed at the bizarre things Christina a Gaby and my other friends had to say. Life was officially back to normal. I was officially back to normal. At least, I felt normal. Maybe there was a part of me that was still scarred. I felt good now though, I felt better than good, I was almost happy.

My first day of school was pretty good. Silver didn't have the same thing to say about her own. People bombarded her with all types of questions and she felt as though the next day was going to be the same.

The next day, Andy's car showed up in the full parking lot at the same time as Silver and I arrived.

"Hey, look, your little friend is talking to Seth." Silver said pointing at her boyfriend who was doing the prop high-five handshake thing with Andy.

Silver was smiling. Her eyes were still full of that gross, lovey dovey stuff she always had when she looked at Seth. Seth spotted her staring and waved at her eagerly like a complete dork.

I snorted.

"Hi!" she squeaked and waved at him with the same eagerness.

I rolled my eyes and jumped out of the car.

Andy was walking towards our car with Seth by his side and I grinned at him.

"Hey, guys." I greeted both of them, "Come on, Andy, were too cool for those dorks." I held on to one of his arms and dragged him along, "How are you?"

"I'm…okay. Bad actually. I have gym at first hour." He pretended his hand was a gun and shot himself in the mouth, "Freaking nightmare."

"Why aren't I surprised that you're not good in sports?" I raised an eyebrow feeling more and more like myself again. I felt chipper. I actually felt like skipping and jumping and being my giddy self again but I decided to listen to Andy.

"It's not that I'm bad at sports," he told me, "It's just that I don't—wait. Why wouldn't I be good in sport?" his eyebrows narrowed in reaction to my earlier diss.

I grinned wider, "No reason." I quickened my pace and muffled my laughter with my hand that wasn't carrying my books. Andy wasn't following me so I stopped to look at him.

He seemed to walked so slow. I speculated whether he was even aware that I was walking with him. His pace did not quicken.

"Are you coming?" I asked, waving him over to me.

The shocked expression on his face was priceless. He took big steps with his long skinny legs and reached me in seconds.

"Oh you!" I ruffle his dark curly hair. "I love having you as a friend now. I can't believe it took us so long to get acquainted."

Andy blushed causing me to laugh.