Exposure • Tamber

Chapter 11: Golden

"You guys make it home before the scientist lost their lunch?" Amber asked, packing up her art supplies.

Anikas head popped up quickly. Was Amber finally speaking to her again?

"Oh. Yes. But just barely." She frowned, "I had to clean the bathroom at least four times yesterday, the poor thing."

Amber just nodded before throwing her bag over her shoulder and standing awkwardly waiting for Anika to finish packing up her things. She was terrible with apologies, and honestly wasn't sure she needed to offer Anika one. But she had returned the silent treatment at the carnival and knew she was one of Tara's best friends and didn't want the girl hurting her chances with Tara. She felt like they were already pretty slim to begin with.

"Did you- did you have a good time?" Anika grabbed her own bag and smiled hesitantly at Amber. "At the carnival I mean."

A small smile lifted the corners of Amber's lips and she ducked her head a bit to try and hide it. The memory of the carnival had the tendency to do that. Butterflies and shy smiles.

"Yeah, actually." She finally nodded and turned towards the door, "You?"

It was small talk and Amber hated small talk but it was better than nothing. And it seemed Anika was just as done with the whole not getting along thing as much as she was.

"Amber?" Anika spoke softly.

It was the tone you would use on a child when you had to admit you were wrong about something. It was sincere and apologetic without the words I'm sorry even being spoken yet.

"I'm sorry about before." She followed up as they walked out of the building. "I was terrible and you didn't deserve that and I just wanted you to know-"

"I'm going to stop you right there Kayoko." Amber turned to her and grabbed the straps of her bag over her shoulders, "I don't do this whole feelings, bonding and shit." Somehow she was managing to look bored with the whole thing while conveying an easy forgiveness at the same time. "Let's just call it good and move on, yeah?"

She raised her eyebrows and nodded at Anika waiting for a confirmation they could put this all behind them and go back to being whatever strange version of friends they were.

Anika smiled immediately and nodded in return, "that sounds wonderful."

"Great." Amber turned and headed towards the coffee cart in the quad, "and to prove our mutual agreement on the matter I'm going to let you buy me coffee."

"That sounds fair." Anika chirped and followed after her quickly with a smile, relieved things were already right back to normal.

They were standing in line for coffee when Amber spotted a familiar girl with dark brown hair making her way towards them. She didn't even care to hide the smile spreading across her face when she noticed the girl was wearing her leather jacket.

"Hey guys." Tara greeted them both as soon as she got close enough, but her eyes never left Amber's.

The realization that she did in fact have a crush on her tutor was messing with her ability to think or act normally. She had spent the entirety of Sunday debating if she could text Amber. To return her shirt? Or her jacket? Or maybe to ask a psych question? Or ask if there was maybe a chance she had a giant crush on her back? Cause that would make things so much easier.

But instead she had buried herself in homework and a Harry Potter marathon and tried to not think too much about it. That lasted until about the 3rd Harry Potter movie, then she had an idea.

Dragging Mindy and Anika to the nearest grocery store she made a purchase and spent the rest of the Harry Potter movies sorting through colors.

So now here she was, seeking Amber out on a Monday because it would be torture to have to wait till Tuesday to see her. And instead of returning her jacket, she was wearing it. And her idea to act cool and try to figure out if her crush was one sided was failing miserably as she smiled at her like a dope while they stood in the quad.