The next morning Amber was woken up by the loud buzzing of her alarm clock, she almost picked her clock up in anger and threw it due to the fact she was enjoying her sleep. Her dream almost scared her, she dreamt AJ was in bed with her kissing her and caressing her softly. 'I can't bring myself to go today', thought Amber as she sat up. Her neck hurt, she was tired and all she wanted to do was get back to that dream. 'What am I doing?' she thought,'It's AJ McLean, Alexa would kill me.' But Amber's body took control and she forced herself back into bed. Just as she closed her eyes Alanha popped her head in.

    "Ms.Banks, are you up?"she asked quietly.

    "No need for breakfast Alanha," said Amber into her pillow,"I'm not getting up today, I'm a little sick."

    "Poor thing, I'll bring you some soup later,"said Alanha before closing the door. 'Well that was easy.' thought Amber before her door opened again.

    "Amber sweetheart, Alanha said you weren't feeling well,"said Will Banks, Amber's father coming into the room.

    "Just a head cold,"said Amber,"I'll be fine".

    "Well if you need anything Alanha can get it for you,"said Will kissing his daughter's forehead then leaving. Amber rolled over and sighed, I really shouldn't be doing this. Amber slowly closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep. She was woken up again by a knocking on her door. Amber wiped her eyes and got up, walking to the door and answering it. She was met by Alexa who had a smiled plastered across her face.

    "You missed the best day ever,"gushed Alexa walking into the room.

    "Why, what happened?"asked Amber closing the door and following Alexa to the bed. She sat down cross legged on the bed next to Alexa.

    "Okay, well first Adrian, Bianca and I were skipping second block,"said Alexa. Adrian Fuller was Alexa's twin brother and Bianca was both girls' best friend.

    "So Bianca and I are having a smoke in the parking lot well Adrian's bitching at us about it. Then that AJ McLean guy comes storming into the parking lot following this girl with no fashion sense possible, and they start screaming at each other. What we got out of it, is they were starting to fool around or something and he called her another name,"said Alexa.

    "Who?"asked Amber curious.

    "I dunno, but from what the girl said it was some prep blond bimbo which she obviously has no respect for, but she should. But anyways, he finally admitted to her face he would have rather have been with her than the crazy chick he was with. This makes her go nuts and she attacks him with a knife, so they just start beating the crap out of each other until the principal comes running out and stops them. Then they started at it again, so Mr.Evans called the cops and had them both arrested,"said Alexa.

    "How is that the greatest thing in the world?"asked Amber.

    "Cause every blond haired popular girl is freaking out that it could be her,"said Alexa.

    "Oh, but really, they seriously can't all be going nuts,"said Amber.

    "Well you have blond hair maybe druggie McLean screamed out your name,"said Alexa.

    "Ten bucks says it isn't me,"said Amber, though.........

    "Well anyways you seem to be feeling better,"said Alexa.

    "Yeah, I was just really strained,"said Amber running her hand through her hair. She looked over at Alexa, Alexa was perfect, she was an Elizabeth Hurley look a like. Perky D-cup breasts, long chocolate colored hair, big brown eyes that lit up, her face was perfect too, creamy white skin and pouty red lips that poured down into an hour glass figure.

    "Ouch well I guess we all have to take a day off to collect things,"said Alexa getting up and walking over to Amber's closet,"But on to better things, the Fall Dance is like three weeks away."

    "I know, but really why is it called the Fall Dance in the middle of November, like Fall is almost over,"said Amber pulling herself off the bed.

    "Well I don't care what they call it but you are so going to have to buy a new outfit,"said Alexa.

    "I know,"sighed Amber.

    "You better, I think Adrian is gonna ask you out,"said Alexa.

    "What?"asked Amber turning to her.

    "I dunno, Adrian was hinting about it this morning,"said Alexa,"You two would make the perfect couple, you would look so great together."

    "Adrian, is a sweet guy,"said Amber smiling.

    "Totally, you two are perfect for each other,"said Alexa. Amber walked back over to the bed and sat down.

    "Lexa, I hate to do this cause you are just so sweet, but I'm still a bit out of it,"said Amber.

    "Oh I totally understand, girl. You get tons of sleep and I will see you tomorrow morning,"said Alexa hugging her,"All you need is some rest, things have been piling up with school."

    "Okay, see ya tomorrow,"said Amber softly as Alexa left the room.

    "I wonder whose name he said,"whispered Amber softly,"Oh well probably wasn't me." Amber rolled over and stared at the wall, another knock came at the door and Alanha stuck her head in.

    "Ms. Banks, I brought you some soup,"said Alanha,"Now, please don't argue you haven't eaten all day."

    "Thanks,"said Amber as Alanha brought the tray over to her. Amber sat up as Alanha set the tray on the bed.

    "Feeling better?"asked Alanha.

    "Much,"said Amber,"I suppose all I needed was some sleep."

    "Well, we all need our day in bed,"said Alanha before leaving.

    Amber pulled into the back parking lot of the school and slammed on her brakes as she parked. She got out of her white convertable camero and clicked the alarm on from her key chain. She was dressed in a pair of white jeans and a grey top with a lace up back, Amber opened her umbrella as she walked towards the school. She caught up with Alexa as she ran into the building.

    "Hey girl, good to see you,"said Alexa as they walked to Amber's locker.

    "Yeah, well I feel better this morning,"said Amber,"A lot more refreshed."

    "Good, cause I can't afford to have any of my girls sick this year. It's our final year, we gotta get as much time in before we head off to university,"said Alexa as they rounded the corner to the hallway where Amber's locker was. Amber looked up at her locker and stopped in her tracks, her eyes grew in amazement.

    "What the fuck?"muttered Alexa as she noticed Amber's locker. Both girls walked up to the locker and looked more closely at it, in red marker ink the word 'slut' was written across Amber's locker.

    "Who?"questioned Amber.

    "Oh my fucking god, this just can't work,"said Alexa,"Who the hell would do this? I'm going to go get Mr.Evans, stay here,"said Alexa before turning and heading quickly down the hall. Amber stood looking at her locker, who could have done this? thought Amber, I have no enimies, never have. How could anyone write that?. Amber broke from her trace and looked around, a crowd started forming behind her. Amber hung her head and quickly opened her locker.

    "Amber, Amber who the hell did that?" Amber looked up and seen Adrian Fuller and Jeff Hardley standing next to her.

    "I don't know,"said Amber softly,"I came here this morning and here it was. I never did anything to anyone."

    "Amber, oh god when I find out who did this I'm gonna kill them,"said Adrian.

    "Amber, everyone at this school loves you,"said Jeff,"So it obviously wasn't someone from STM." Amber took her English binder from the locker and shut it behind her. The bell rang dimolissing the group.

    "I'm going to English, I'll see you guys later,"said Amber. She quickly walked off before Jeff or Adrian could argue.

    The next to blocks were a blur to Amber along with lunch, her mind felt heavy and feeling totally fell. Alexa walked with her after lunch to her locker.

    "Don't worry they said they've have them painted after school,"said Alexa,"Then you can just imagine this never ever happened."

    "I know,"said Amber as they approached her locker. A white paper covered Amber's locker with blue writing on it, Amber Banks is not a slut, she is the nicest, sweetest, prettiest girl I have ever known, Adrian Fuller. Amber smiled as she blushed slightly.

    "Oh my god that is so sweet,"gushed Alexa,"You two are now so overly perfect for each other. "

    "It's sweet,"said Amber as she opened her locker,"Cute." Amber pulled her Science binder out then shut her locker.

    "I'll see you later,"said Alexa before she took off down the hall. Amber smiled but the sign didn't make her feel completely better, but it wasn't the 'slut' sign either that was bugging her. Amber walked into the class and took her seat, she looked up and seen AJ walking into the room with Mr. Morris close behind.

    "Don't you leave that seat,"scolded Mr.Morris to AJ as AJ sat in the same seat as he had last time. Amber's attention was quickly distracted by the bell ringing and Ms.Walsh walking into the class.

    "Okay partener up and on to the project,"said Ms.Walsh before sitting down at her desk. Amber grabbed her binder and walked over to the desk next to AJ and placed her binder on the desk and sat down. AJ looked over at Amber as she rested her head on her binder, he waited for her to make some sort of attempt to talk to him or move her desk over to his but she just sat there with her head on her desk. Her blond hair fell over her face covering her as she slowly closed her eyes. AJ was starting to get annoyed her ignorance, so he reached over and grabbed the bar of her desk that connected the chair to the table and pulled her over to him. Amber felt her desk move but she knew who did it and she wasn't in the mood for arguing with him. AJ looked down at her, something was wrong he could tell. He grabbed her shoulder and shook it slightly.

    "Barbie, aren't you suppose to be doing this work or something?"asked AJ. Amber finally lifted her head and looked over at him, she pushed the hair from her face and looked over at him. He had his usual black glasses on, a white wifebeater with a long sleeved black shirt over it and the jeans she had last seen him in.

    "If you are so persistant on having it done why don't you do it,"said Amber shoving her binder over to his desk. AJ looked at her strangly, no girl, especially no prep princess had ever spoken to him like that, he didn't know she had it in her to stand up and lip off to him like that. Amber looked over at AJ then to Ms.Walsh who was watching the scenerio, she gestured for Amber to come to her. Amber sighed and stood up, she walked over to Ms.Walsh's desk and sat in the chair next to it.

    "What's up Amber?"asked Ms.Walsh.

    "I know I haven't been getting the best grades in this class, but I have been working hard. Why put me with him?"asked Amber,"He does nothing but order me to do the work well he sits and stares out the window."

    "The window isn't the only thing he stares at. Look Amber you are a very bright, talented girl, people truly like you. I took a gamble on this one and it seems to be working, Amber I knew AJ was coming into that class at that time and I purposly set it up so you'd have to be with him, now I understand you two come from very different lifestyles but maybe if you show him a bit of this opportunity he has to accomplish something AJ just might start cracking,"said Ms.Walsh,"And they're nothing boys respond more to than a beautiful girl."

    "Ms.Walsh we just clash,"said Amber,"It was a great try, I'll give you that but it just won't work."

    "Amber, AJ wants to do this. He was getting quite ticked off with you because you refused to put your desk anywhere near him and he pulled your desk closer didn't he?" Amber nodded.

    "Well then, go back. Comminucate and work with him,"said Ms.Walsh. Amber stood up and walked back to her desk, she took her binder and started opening it. AJ looked down at her in curiousity, she looks beautiful today thought AJ, Dammit, she's turning the tables on me. First she won't sit with me now she won't talk to me.

    AJ took a deep breathe then said, "Why do you do all this shit?"

    "Pardon?"asked Amber looking up from her binder.

    "Why do you do all this shit, after highschool you're just going to ride on Daddy's meal ticket,"said AJ.

    "Well if that's your theory you better be busting your ass off with this project,"said Amber.

    "God you're a bitch,"muttered AJ. Amber ignored him and started taking notes again. A guilt hit her that her comment hit AJ a little closer than she thought, she looked up at him, he was staring aimlessly as the desk. Amber set down her pencil and looked over at him.

    "I'm sorry, you're right I have been a bitch,"said Amber softly. AJ looked up at her and gave her a confused look, he looked like no one had ever said they were sorry to him.

    "Um, it's cool just leave it,"said AJ nervously. Amber akwardly grinned and went back to her notes. At the end of class Amber closed her binder and stood up as Ms. Walsh approached both desks.

    "How's the project coming along?"asked Ms.Walsh

    "Fine,"said Amber.

    "Well maybe you two need some out of class time to work on it. How about you two get together at Amber's house?"asked Ms.Walsh. Amber shot Ms.Walsh a complaining look well AJ continued to look down at the desk.

    "Amber you can give AJ your address and maybe today,"said Ms.Walsh cornering Amber. Amber sighed and pulled a piece of paper from her binder, she quickly scribbled her address on it . She folded it sharply then set it down on the desk.

    "I'll be home all night,"said Amber before leaving. Ms.Walsh watched Amber leave the room leaving her and AJ alone.

    "AJ I want to talk to you,"said Ms.Walsh,"I know a million people have talked to you, but this is different." AJ looked up at her, he watched carefully as she pulled a chair up and sat across from him.

    "Now look, I've read up on you and I've seen you around the school. You have a big chance here AJ, Amber is a girl you need in your life. I seriously don't think she cares where you come from, or what you've done, she'll be a friend,"said Ms.Walsh.

    "She's just another blond prep chick,"said AJ.

    "Not Amber, or atleast not to you,"said Ms.Walsh,"AJ I've seen a lot in my life time and let some gates open for Amber. Her friends may try to hold her back but Amber's too smart, she'll be there for you when you need to talk. Hell if you need a place to sleep for a night I know she'd let you in but you've got to open to her, I can see you want to."

    "So what am I suppose to do, start crying in her lap and turn into some overly priced teen on a pedistool? Sorry Ms.Walsh but things just don't work like that for foster kids, just cause I become friends with some princess it isn't going to make me a prince,"said AJ before standing up and leaving the room. Ms.Walsh watched him leave the room then sighed, she got up and put her chair back then went to seperating desk, when she came to Amber and AJ's she noticed Amber's address was gone, she looked under the desks and found nothing. Ms.Walsh turned back to the door and smiled.