Chapter 37: The rumour

Amber's POV

I went to school on Monday morning with my day planned out.

I would meet Andy as usual at Silver's car and we'd act like nothing happened. If he brought it up, I had two options. Either I'd act like I had no idea what he was talking about. I'd say that I was super drunk and high and I might have said allot of things that I didn't mean and apologize. Or, I'd confess to everything, I'd tell him that I did like him, that I wanted to be more than just friends. I would tell him how much I cared for him and how he made school this amazing place just by existing.

Okay, maybe not that last part, but I might tell him how I felt.

That all depended by how he brought it up. If he seemed freaked out in the worst possible way and was just bringing it up to turn me down then there was no way I was admitting to the truth. If he brought it up seeming hopeful though…well, that would change everything.

I shook my head clear. I had to stop thinking about it. The whole situation was stressing me out and it had to stop. I had a crush on a guy who didn't feel the same way about me. That was a non-important teenage problem, it wasn't a real problem. The war in Afghanistan, that was a problem. Silver's kidnapper still being out there, that was a problem. Compared to those things, I was just a whiny bitch.

That wasn't soothing though.

Sigh.

Silver and I got to school. My heart was doing strange things in my chest as I scanned the parking lot for Andy. I kept imagining him not showing up at all. Maybe he thought I was too weird and he didn't want any part of me. Maybe he realized that I was a bad influence with the drinking and the smoking I'd done at the party. In my defence, I was legal drinking age in Canada and I still had a Canadian mentality. Just because I had been living in the states for over seven months that did not mean I was Americanized. I still said please and thank you at restaurants, I still cursed in French when I stubbed my toe and I still ate my eggs with maple syrup.

Just when I started to panic, I saw them. Seth was walking toward our car with a grin and a box of chocolates in his hands. Behind him, Andy was walking in the same direction. He was shyly looking down at the concrete as if he was fascinated by its pretty colours.

"What's the occasion?" I asked Seth after getting out of the car. I eyed the box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates and licked my lips for emphases.

"No occasion." He pulled Silver into his side and brushed his lips against her forehead. "Just wanted her to know that I loved her. That's all." He said, eyes on my sister. They're relationship was so weird sometimes, I could never get used to it. For a few long seconds, they just looked at each other, smiling and without saying a word.

"Noted. I love you too." She said, kissing his lips and snatching the box of chocolate like a hungry racoon. They didn't look back at me as they walked away, the perfect picture of a happy couple. I didn't want to be jealous, I really didn't, but part of me wondered if I'd ever be that happy with someone else. Could I ever find that?

I looked at Andy. He was also watching Seth and Silver walk away, giggling and kissing. He looked at me and we both opened our mouths to say something. I just wanted to say 'Hey', maybe ask how his weekend went, but the moment I saw he wanted to speak, I shut my mouth and waited. He did the same.

Usually, I would laugh it off and say what I had to say, but today wasn't the usual. I waited for him to speak and when he didn't, I blushed. I couldn't bare the awkwardness so I started walking. Andy followed. My plan had totally exploded in my face. There was no way I could act like I didn't remember. We both knew what happened Saturday night, the question was, who would be brave enough to bring it up?

Andy and I weren't left alone for the entire first half of the day. I wasn't sure if that was or a good thing or not. When we were left alone, Andy made no effort to talk or even look at me. I wanted to know what he thought about it—the kiss, my feelings, us—but if he wasn't into it, putting it off wasn't that bad. But I didn't know if he wasn't into it, so I just wanted to know.

When lunch came and I still hadn't spoken to Andy, I was getting frustrated. I ate my sandwich ferociously while glaring in Andy's direction. I felt like he was avoiding me at this point and that wasn't cool.

"Woh, Amber, chew a little harder and you'll break something." Gaby's voice pulled me out of my day dreaming. She laughed at my shocked expression.

I sighed, "Sorry."

"Partied too hard on Saturday?"

"Guess so." I mumbled.

"You look kind of bummed." Jenny said, concern thick in her voice, "Is it because people are saying you messed around with Frankie? Because no one really believes that rumour. It should blow off by Wednesday—Friday tops."

"What?" I demanded. This was the first time I was hearing about this. So there was a rumour out there saying I'd messed around with Frankie the pot head. Not likely. I looked around the cafeteria to see find Frankie but I had no such luck. I turned and found Andy looking at me. He looked as mad as I was then looked away, cheeks flushed. "Oh, screw this." I grabbed my purse and stalked off to Andy's table.

I stopped behind one of his friends who was facing him and waited for them to notice me. They all turned their heads, slowly, towards me. Andy looked up from his plate of food.

"Hey Amber!" Steve said, not noticing my angry expression. "I didn't see you at the party yesterday."

"I was there." I said, forcing myself to smile, "Do you guys mind if I steal Andy for a minute?"

"Of course not." Steve boomed, pulling me half way onto his lap and shaking me.

"Yeah, do whatever you want with him." Aaron waggled his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes, "Andy?"

"Um, sure." his voice cracked. He scrambled clumsily out of his seat and walked towards me.

I distanced myself from Steve and headed for the exit of the school without looking at Andy. I could hear him following me. The closer we got to the exit, the angrier I got as every second ticked by and he didn't address me or ask me what I wanted. I pulled the door out of my way and stepped outside, Andy on my trail.

It had rained this morning—no surprise there—but it wasn't raining now. The sky was still gray as if it were contemplating whether to pour again or not. Despite the fact that we were approaching spring time, it was still cold and the snow had not melted completely. Goosebumps started rising on my skin but I ignored them.

I spun around to glare at Andy, who still hadn't said a word. He was waiting, hands in his pockets and eyes skimming from my face and away in embarrassment.

"So…your just not talking to me?" I guessed, fighting the tears that were trying to make a surprise appearance. The last thing I wanted was for him to know what power he had over me.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He looked away, shrugging his shoulders. Why was he talking to me like I wasn't me anymore? I knew I'd kissed him but I was still me and according to him, I was too drunk to know what I'd been doing. Then I remembered that stupid rumour.

I sighed and shook my head, "I thought you were different Andy. I never thought you'd really buy it."

"I thought you were different too."

"Is this really about Frankie? Really? Are you kidding me?" I demanded, letting my anger surge through me. I raised my voice and took a step closer to him. I had to fight the urge to keep my hands to myself because there was nothing I wanted more than to just knock some sense into him.

"It doesn't matter." He muttered.

"It does so matter." I disagreed, shouting again. I ran my finger through my hair, trying to keep it out of my face. I wanted to pull it out from the roots, I was that frustrated. "I can't believe you're willing to shun me for what I did with Frankie." I bit my tongue for my stupidity. I didn't want it to sound like I'd done something with Frankie. I so hadn't done anything with Frankie. But it irritated me that Andy would believe such a thing. Was that really what he thought of me?

"I really don't know what you're talking about." He said in a monotone. Not looking at me as if I'd confirmed all his deepest fears with my words.

"I like you Andy. And I'm not drunk right now."

"That doesn't help, Amber. You say that now but if you felt it Saturday night, you wouldn't have…"

"I didn't!" I screamed, "I didn't do a thing and once I'm done yelling at you, I'm going to punch Frankie in the balls."

Andy's eyes widened and he looked at me for what seemed to be the first time in forever. He looked shocked and couldn't speak because of it. I tried waiting for him to talk but my patience was running thin.

"I like you, Andy. Allot." I said much calmer now. My heart was pounding and I could literally feel my cheeks flushing, "I want us to be more than friends and I think you feel the same way and if you don't…" I let myself trail off because I had no idea what we'd do if he didn't. I'd be royally screwed. I was putting all my eggs in this one basket. I had to look away from his eyes that were entirely too focused on me.

"Amber I…"

I laughed at myself. I felt absolutely ridiculous. I wanted to kick myself, punch myself, and throw myself off a cliff. Did I really think so much of myself that I thought I could get any guy I wanted? That didn't say good things about my character. I knew I was pretty—beautiful even—but how far would that get me in life? I wasn't thinking about career wise, I met socially. Maybe I would never be an outcast because of my looks and sure, I had a personality…but some people wanted brains. Andy would want brains. Andy would want a smart girl who knew everything about everything like him, or at least a girl who would pick up a book every once in a while.

Andy would want someone like Silver.

"Okay, this was a mistake." I nodded to myself after several seconds of Andy's constant silence, "We should both just act like none of this happened." I looked at the floor and commenced the walk of shame.

"Amber, wait!" Andy called.

I didn't want the hope to flash on my face but the second he called me, it was there, on every feature of my face. "Yeah?"

He walked up to me and forced his lips to move, "I've always liked you, Amber. Ever since the beginning and I never told you because you were dating that other guy, then you were hurt and afterwards, well, like I had a chance in hell. I never said anything because I didn't want you to think that our friendship was based on my being in love with you."

I didn't show my shock at his use of words my being in love with you, that was a little much but I wasn't going to say anything. I wasn't going to make my discomfort with those little words ruin this moment. He'd said he liked me. That was all that mattered. I smiled.

"I'm so sorry that I believed that stupid Frankie story. I know you're not like that." He apologized, his cheeks reddening.

"It's cool."

"And I'm sorry for giving you the silent treatment." He added.

"Don't worry about it." I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I watched him babble nervously. He was still the cutest thing in the world to me.

"And also—"

"Andy!" I cut him off, giggling, "Not that I don't love this but, um," I felt the heat rise to me cheeks again, "Don't you owe me a kiss?"

Shock again. That expression would never get old. He froze but not for as long as he usually did. He slowly made his way towards me and stopped less than a foot away.

My heart was racing like a jack rabbit and I couldn't hold still. I tried stretching onto my tip toes to reach his lips prematurely but he pulled away slightly. My breathing was getting shallow and I felt light headed. He hadn't even kissed me yet.

His finger sent a shiver down my spine when he touched my chin to bring my face up. My eyes had slid closed a long time ago and now I was doing what I always did with Andy. I waited.

His nose rubbed against mine and his warm breath caressed my lips. This seemed to last forever. It was like heaven.

When his lips touched mine I melted into a puddle. It was like I'd been cold and his lips were a heated blanket. His lips were so soft and gentle as they moved with mine. I'd waited so long for this moment and it was finally here. His hand kept my face secure and my fingers ran up and down his smooth arms.

I don't know how long we stood there kissing but when the bell rang, he started pulling away.

I threw my arms around his neck and held him close. He didn't struggle against my grip. I didn't want this moment to end. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this kind of perfection but I didn't care. Andy was all I could think and feel. Andy was all that mattered. He'd been waiting so long for me and I never saw him, I just saw me and my own personal issues—moping about the move, parties, Embry, food—and all that time, he'd been focusing on me.

A/N: So close to the end. Like 2 chapters or so. Awesome.

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