All American Senior Year: Volume One

"Two Weeks," (Part Three)

The lunch bell rang when Olivia exited through the gates of Beverly High. Nothing made her happier than leaving school. Tuesdays were her earlier days where she'd only have class till about lunchtime. With no after-school club meetings, she'd been free for the rest of the day. She exhaled deeply, hoping to go home, take a long hot shower, and get into bed. She was running on five hours of sleep in total from the past few days and it was taking a toll on her. It was hard for her to concentrate during class. All Olivia wanted to do was to shut off her mind for a few hours to catch up on sleep.

Making her way through the parking lot, Olivia saw a familiar face up in the distance. Slowing to a stop just ten feet away from her, their gaze met when Olivia's mouth parted. Partly in shock, partly annoyed to see the girl standing before her. Olivia rolled her eyes, bothered by what she'd been doing at her school, now following her. Amber stood by her car, parked next to Olivia's. With ten feet in between them, she heard Olivia grunt the moment she walked over to her car. Unlocking it hoping to escape when Amber cleared her throat stopping Olivia in her tracks. She turned back to Amber standing across from her.

"Very cute are you following me now?" Olivia snapped. Amber shrugged her shoulders as her blue eyes pierced through Olivia's. "If that's what you need then yes, I'll follow you. I just want to help," Amber said when Olivia let out a small laugh. "A recovering addict helping another. That doesn't sound like a recipe for a disaster, at all,".

"Why haven't I seen you at the meetings?" Amber continued. Olivia sighed crossing her arms. "I've been going to the early morning meetings. You know some of us have a life. I was also kidding before, but now I know you really are stalking me aren't you?". Amber stayed quiet when Olivia shook her head. "Unbelievable. You don't even know me. Why does it matter what I do with my life?" Olivia continued. "Because I've been there. I've walked the same road. I've been in your shoes. Did you forget that Leslie abandoned me too?" Amber asked when Olivia shrugged. "I'm sure Leslie had many people she helped. I still don't know how it applies to me?" Olivia asked when Amber sighed.

"Because I care Olivia. I know you're a stranger to me... and maybe that's better. You barely know me, yet you confessed to me that you started to drink again a couple of weeks ago. It won't be long until you start thinking about taking pills again. Olivia...I just want to help," Amber said when Olivia shook her head. Opening her car door, she stopped for a moment before turning back towards Amber. "Why do you want to help me? So you could feel better about your own sobriety that you've been doing so well on? Congratulations you want a gold star?" Olivia asked when she let out a laugh. "No, because I've lied to," Amber said. Olivia stopped laughing when she met Amber's gaze.

"If you like it or not Olivia I'm like you. I'm in the same boat. I've walked the same road. I...fell off thinking one drink wouldn't hurt. I could start fresh the next day and erase yesterday like nothing ever happened. But that's not how it works and that's not how it happened to me. I get it your alone, you're stressed. Trust me I'm alone too. My mothers a defense attorney and my fathers a judge. Although I may not be in the same spotlight as you. I'm still in a spotlight where my flaws are out for the entire world to see. How is daddy going to react when his honors student is shooting up in the bathroom, taking shots at a party, and overdosing on the front lawn?" Amber said.

Her crystal blue eyes turned to a hue of grey as the tears she held back fell down her cheeks slowly. Quickly wiping them away, Olivia turned back to her giving her a long sigh. "Look...I'm sorry". Amber cut her off. "I didn't tell you my story for you to feel bad for me. I told you so you could realize that your addiction is the one in control. I just want a friend that I can relate to. Someone who has walked in my shoes, and knows my struggles. Not someone who tries to understands them and walk around me like I'm made out of glass. I want us to come to terms that Leslie is not coming back" Amber said.