Old and unique

Amber had not seen Emma staring at her that way so she asked her, “What?”

Emma’s expression immediately changed and she subtly smiled. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

Amber walked up to her and they both went back to the classroom, but her mind was not settled. She needed to know the reason behind the way Emma looked at her because that will be the first time she would do that, so she asked again when they sat down.

“Are you really sure it’s nothing?” she stared into her brown eyes. “I mean, we are both friends and I don’t see why we need to hide anything from each other.”

Emma broke into a smile and said, “Actually, there is something, but I first thought you might think I am crazy so I acted like it was nothing. It isn’t something serious though.”

Amber nods her head and Emma continued, “What an anger! Such fierceness I see in you,” she demonstrated with her hand and Amber arched her brows at her.

“What?” she asked and Emma dropped her hand to the side.

“Okay look, I was surprised at what you did back there. I mean, the anger and the way you slapped that junior, and not to talk of when you stopped me from interfering. I guess you wanted to deal with the matter yourself but hey, I haven’t seen you that angry before. I admit it’s cool though,” Emma giggled and Amber blinked twice at the last statement she made.

“You know, you can be crazy sometimes.”

“I know. That’s why I said it isn’t something serious,” Emma said and smiled widely.

“Because how can you call that cool. Anger is cool? Seriously?” Amber huffed and shook her head.

“Come on. It was as if something triggered you back there and from the look on the junior’s face, one can tell he was shocked. And by the way, what does he mean by ‘the whole school knows you are incapable of handling a guy?’ huh?”

“Ugh! Mirabel doings,” Amber groaned as she leaned her back and Emma clicked her tongue.

“Mm-mm, I know right? Well, that would remind him that you can handle a guy better but Amber, you need to be careful,” Emma warned.

Amber arched her brows and asked, “Why did you say I need to be careful?” she sat up and fixed her eyes on her.

“I mean, he can be someone who will not back down because he got slapped by a girl, not regarding the senior title though. You know those juniors can be demons sometimes. You can be walking alone one day and he and his gang might just attack you from behind or he can try to set you up on something you didn’t do. That would be a horrible thing to do though but don’t worry, you’ve got me,” Emma offered her a smile and patted her shoulder.

“Wait, what?” Amber’s expression turned into shock as she thought on what Emma said. “Are you saying that he-he is going to do those things to me? You know I haven’t crossed paths with juniors and this is my first so is that what they do? That is what they’ll do to me? Wait, wait, if he attacks me, will I—die?” Amber expressed her worry with her eyes wide and when Emma saw how scared her friend looked, she busted into laughter.

Amber looked at her with a face that says ‘this is not a joke.’

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” Emma apologized and cleared her throat before saying, “That is not what I mean. You are not going to die so you don’t have to worry about that. If he attempts anything, we can report it immediately and he will have to serve detention. Simple!”

Amber thought about it and pursed her lips. “No,” she suddenly said. “He won’t serve detention.”

“And why won’t he?” Emma gave her a questioning look.

“Did you suddenly forget that we have exams next week? He can’t be serving detention while we write exams.”

“Oh! Then he can be suspended, right? Great!” Emma said with a smile.

“Ugh!” Amber groaned and rolled her eyes before she leaned her head back. She doubted if he would be suspended since they would be out of school soon and she brushed it off. “Sometimes you can be so difficult to understand,” she said and Emma hummed in response as she also leaned back.

“But you are the only one who still understands me better,” Emma said and Amber agreed with her. She also hummed in response before drifting into her own thoughts.

It was true that she understands Emma better and vice versa, so whenever the thought about making new friends and trying to blend in when Emma leaves crosses her mind, it pained her. It was because no one can replace her best friend and somehow, it hurts her so badly that she wonders if Emma has ever thought about not leaving.

She moved her hand from where she placed it to reach for Emma’s own. Holding it in hers, she said, “I just want to finish my exams, graduate and start anew in the university, without having to worry about Mirabel or Kevin or any of this shitty place.”

“Me too,” Emma said, “but what about prom?” she asked and Amber looked at her.

“I don’t care,” she answered and Emma started laughing.

Amber soon joined her in the laugh and in her mind, she said, “Yeah, fuck prom.”

When school ended, they both decided to explore some places because Amber suggested it and Emma agreed right away. The reason Amber suggested it was because she wanted to clear her thoughts and act like everything was normal, after the way her mother reacted the day before, about the thought of Emma leaving and then Kevin, though she worried less about him now but she still feels bad for him. And also, something doesn’t feel right with her.

“I love admiring beautiful things even though I know I am not going to buy them or because I don’t have the money for now.” That was Amber’s response when Emma asked and both of them walked out of the school and went around the near shops to their home in Cinder.

They walked into different shops where they had to pretend like they were actually going to buy something and then got chased out by the shop owner when they realized they were not going to buy anything, while some of the small shops owner were kind enough to allow them get in and check what they had.

After spending most of their day out in the small city, the light in the sky had brightened down and now had shades of orange in it, still, Amber insisted on visiting one last shop.

They came to stand in front of a book shop and they realized it was closed. Emma let out a sigh and said, “Amber, it’s late. I really should get going. My aunt will be worried if she doesn’t see me and it’s really late.”

“Just one more, please,” Amber pleaded.

“I’m sorry but I can’t. I need to go now and you should also go back home. We’ve stayed out too late without informing anyone and you don’t want your mother looking for you in the night, do you?”

“Ugh fine! You go ahead. I will go home very soon.”

Emma gave her a hug and when she released herself, she said, “I am serious. Don’t be late outside, okay?”

Amber used the finger sign and nodded her head with a smile. “Goodnight Emma.”

“Goodnight. See you in school tomorrow.” She winked at her and waved before running ahead.

When she had gone out of sight, Amber looked up at the sky and realized that it would soon get dark but there was still some time left before that and she moved her eyes to look inside the book shop.

She would have gone home like Emma said but there was something about the shop that caught her interest. It looked old and unique, compared to the rest of the shops she had seen and she had the urge to check what was inside.

As she thought of what to do, her eyes moved to the side of the glass where some words were written on it and she moved closer to check it. She read, “Let the books take you into the world of the unknown.”

Amber was thrilled by the words and she wanted to explore it. When her eyes looked inside the glass, she noticed a candle light burning, which she had not seen earlier and she guessed that someone was inside.

“Hello,” she called but received no response and a frown came to form on her face. She knocked on the wooden door and she heard it creak before slowly opening itself like someone was pulling it back from the inside.

She looked inside and she saw no one in sight except for the shelves that held books in it. Bracing herself, she took a step in.