Page 91 of Pages of Amber

“What is she doing here?”

They jolted as the door slammed open. Lexi stomped in, her eyes darting accusingly at Amber.

The director stood, a hard frown on her face. “What are you doing here? And did you forget whose office you just burst into that way?”

Lexi was unfazed by the warning in Director Meusall’s voice. “You called for me.”

“Yes. Two hours ago.” The director narrowed her eyes. “You took your sweet time to get here.”

Lexi scoffed, her hand pushing her hair behind her ear. Amber didn’t miss how hard her hands shook as she waved them in the air. “What was I supposed to do when I heard she was here?” She pointed at Amber. “For all I know, she might be trying to steal my role. You can’t have it, Amber. I won it fair and square.”

Amber didn’t think tripping her on purpose and causing her to injure her ankle counted as fair and square.

“You mean the role that isn’t yours anymore?” Director Meusall raised her brow. “I would have bothered to put this more delicately, but you’ve disrespected me too many times. As of this moment, you are no longer a dancer in the Don Quixote production and you will be sent on immediate suspension for the next three weeks.”

“What?” Lexi’s shriek echoed in the room. Amber shot out of her seat as Lexi turned a hateful glare on her. “This is because of you, isn’t it? You’re ruining my life!”

Amber opened her mouth to defend herself but Director Meusall stepped between them. “That is enough. Amber, you can leave. This is between me and my student.”

Amber murmured a goodbye as she edged toward the door. This Lexi was unrecognizable, her irises blown wide, her hair standing on end. Her hands shook by her sides and she kept fidgeting. What had happened to her friend?

“Lexi, I only came to–”

“Save it.” Lexi hissed. “You always get what you want without caring about anyone else. You’ve blinded everyone, even the director herself.”

“Lexi.” Director Meusall rebuked. “I said that’s enough.”

But Lexi wasn’t done. Leaning closer, she whispered a threat that sent shivers down Amber’s arms.

“I won’t let you get away with it, Amber. Over my dead body.”

“You should add aliens. That would be fun.”

“We asked for bright ideas, Emmett. I think your brain lightbulb is dead.”

Emmett stuck out his tongue. “You’re nearly at the end, right? Give them some kind of epic finish. Readers would love that.”

“And you’re some kind of expert on what readers like?” Noah raised a brow at his friend, his fingers pausing on the page of his book. Amber hid her laugh as she nudged Noah’s shoulder from her perch on his bed. He and the twins were sprawled on the rug, their books strewn everywhere.

“Okay, I’m not talking if you’re gonna keep attacking everything I say.”

“Thank God,” Evelyn muttered, which earned her a hit from her brother. She kicked him, her leg flailing where she laid on her belly on the rug. Their tussle was interrupted when Mrs. Rhodes opened the door to Noah’s room. She shot the twins a glare, then raised a questioning brow at Amber and the laptop beside her.

“You’re supposed to be studying for your last paper tomorrow.”

“We were, but our brains are tired.” Evelyn groaned. “We need sustenance, Mrs. R.”

Noah’s mom chuckled. “Then I guess you’re lucky that dinner is ready and waiting.”

The words had barely escaped her when Evelyn and Emmett flew from the room, shoving each other as they raced downstairs. She and Noah moved much slower. Amber saved her progress and shut the laptop, taking Noah’s offered hand to pull herself up.

Mrs. Rhodes sent a look at their joined hands, her smile wide but she didn’t address it. “How’s the book going?” she asked instead, indicating to her laptop which she had borrowed Amber to transfer her work into. Amber still struggled with understanding the woman’s kindness toward her, but she had stopped trying to question it. She accepted it as much as she could, hoping that she would be able to pass on the same to someone else someday.

“Great. We’re figuring out the ending.”

“I can’t wait to see what happens next,” she gushed. “You left off at a cliffhanger.”

“Maybe I want the ending to be a surprise.” Amber giggled.

---