AJ sat on Amber's bed as she got ready for her graduation ceremony, she wore a light blue slip dress with her hair in massive curls. It was the first time since the memorial AJ had seen Amber, she hadn't returned his phone calls, when he came over she just disappeared, Kevin didn't know anything and at school she was too busy talking to Alexa and Bianca to bother with him, she just grew distant and withdrawn.

    Amber applied a coat of lipstick then turned and picked up her cap and gown, she carefully put on her gown then fixed her cap so it was centered and her hair looked good.

    "Do I look alright?"asked Amber.

    "You look beautiful,"said AJ smiling.

    "Thank you,"said Amber as she grabbed and her purse and jacket from beside AJ. AJ leaned over and turned her face to his, he took a look deep into her eyes as he moved closer to her to kiss her. Amber quickly pulled away and stood up straight, "We have to go, we can't be late." AJ stood up and looked at her strangely as she did everything to avoid his stare.

    "What has been up with you lately?"asked AJ.

    "Nothing,"said Amber looking at him. AJ sighed and looked at her with an annoyed stare,"Yes there is, you have been acting like I've got some sort of illness. Like if you touch me you'll die, what is with you? Why are you like this?"

    "Can we talk about this later? After the ceremonies?"asked Amber. AJ sighed again and let Amber walk out of the room, he followed her down to the main doors were Will, Alanha and Kevin were waiting for her. Will was video taping her and Alanha was taking pictures.

    "You look so beautiful,"said Alanha as Amber walked over to them.

    "You do look beautiful baby,"said Will kissing her cheek as he turned off the camera.

    "Thank you,"said Amber smiling. She opened the door and walked out to the drive way,"I'll see you all there, I have to be there early."

    "Bye sweetheart,"called Alanha.

    "Bye baby,"said Will. Amber smiled and waved goodbye as she got into her car. AJ dug his hands into his pockets and stood next to Kevin.

    "You cool dude?"asked Kevin turning to him.

    "Yeah, I'm fine,"said AJ nodding

    Amber sat in the front row of the grads as awards were handed out to Valid Victorian and on. She could see Alanha crying in the third row with Will, Kevin and AJ. She herself was almost in tears, it was bittersweet, it was hard to actually believe she was graduation without Jeff. Picture of him, David and Will sat in the seat that they should be sitting in, earlier speeches were given about them giving praise to they wonderful people they were.

    "To accept Athelete of the Year award on behave of Jeff Willows and the Willows family, Amber Banks,"said the principal solemly. Amber stood up and walked up to the podeium with her head bowed down. She accepted the award and set it in front of her, she looked over the aduience, a calmness came over the crowd.

    "I don't want to accept this,"said Amber as tears flowed down her face,"It should be Jeff acceptting this. He was amazing and I know the first words out of his mouth would be, thank you. For as long as I've known Jeff he was all for sports, he loved them, to the point he spent seven months straight trying to teach me football and I'm the worst person at sports. Myself and everyone here have so much to say about Jeff, to Jeff and to the other men who died. I'd like to thank the student body, for every game they came out, to the Willows' family for supporting Jeff since day one, to the facuality for allowing Jeff to progress in life and to Jeff, for giving myself and everyone at this school a reason to cheer, a reason to smile and bringing a light to our lives." Amber wiped her tears as the crowd started clapping, the principal, Mr.Evans hugged her slightly before she walked back to her seat.

    An hour later the ceremony was over and the grads had gathered on the football field for a photo, Amber Bianca and Alexa were all standing in the middle of the crowd at the front. Parents and friend were all gathered behind the photographer as the whole grade twelve class possed.

    "Okay everyone, say cheese,"said the photographer. A loud and out of unison "cheese" came from the crowd as the flash blinked. Afterwards every stood around hugging and discussing what they were going to do in September.

    "So Amber what are you doing now that we're outta here?"asked someone at random.

    "Leaving for LA in a week,"said Amber smiling,"You are looking at UCLA's newest Canadian."

    "Why are you leaving so early?"asked Bianca.

    "Well my dad bought me a condo down there and I want to get set up for the school season,"said Amber.

    "You guys, this is going to so suck. We're all going to different schools,"said Alexa.

    "Yeah but Bia is only an hour drive from you, and I'm just down in LA,"said Amber,"We can see each all the time, it's not like we can't afford it."

    "True, true,"said Bianca nodding.

    "Okay you guys, I'm gonna go jet with my Dad and Alanha but call me later,"said Amber hugging them both.

    "Sure,"said Alexa nodding.

    "Bye,"said Bianca before Amber started walking back over to where AJ, Will, Kevin and Alanha were standing.

    "Oh I can't believe it baby, it's finalized you're a graduate,"said Will hugging her,"That was a beautiful speech you made about Jeff."

    "Thanks,"said Amber smiling,"So can we get home? I so need some sleep, I haven't been up this early in two weeks."

    "Sure honey,"said Alanha,"Aren't you going to stay with your friends?"

    "Most of us are going home, we're all dead tired and we're all going to do something tonight,"said Amber as they started walking out to the parking lot.

    "Okay honey, we'll see you at home,"said Will before walking towards the vistor parking lot with Kevin and Alanha. AJ hung around with Amber and started walking with her to the student parking lot.

    "You coming with me?"asked Amber.

    "Yeah you mind?"asked AJ.

    "Nope,"said Amber as they entered the parking lot full of new top of the line model cars that were given as presents. As they got to Amber's car she took off her cap and gown and set them in the backseat then got into the driver's seat.

    They were driving back to Amber's house when AJ spoke up.

    "Why are you being so distant?"asked AJ bluntly. Amber sighed and kept her eyes on the road.

    "I'm still shaken about Jeff and the others,"said Amber with little emotion in her tone.

    "That's bullshit, you're all Miss Happy and Cheery with everyone else except me, you act like you don't even want to be around me,"said AJ.

    "I do not,"said Amber defensivly.

    "You won't talk to me, you won't touch me, you avoid me as much as possible and you ignore me when we are together,"said AJ.

    "Look AJ back off,"said Amber as she took a corner.

    "And when were you planning on telling me you were moving to LA in a week?"asked AJ,"The day you leave? Just another point you ignore me."

    "I didn't know how to tell you, I've had a lot on my mind and I wasn't really thinking about it. How'd you find out anyways?"asked Amber.

    "Kevin told me. Now just tell me did I do something?"asked AJ. Amber was quiet as she blinked back tears never letting her gaze move over to AJ.

    "What did I do?"pleaded AJ,"Just tell me please."

    "Nothing,"muttered Amber. AJ groaned and leaned back,"Goddamit Amber just fucking tell me." Amber harshly pulled over to the side of the road.

    "Ya wanna know what you did?"said Amber loudly turning to AJ,"You let him drive drunk, you were in the car. Jeff died, one of my closest friends since I could remember died, he's never coming back." AJ sat there stunned for a moment well Amber's words made their effect on him.

    "So you're mad I didn't die?"asked AJ quietly.

    "No, it's just, you could've stopped him. All you had to do was say no, sure you would've looked like a loser, but God AJ, none of this would've happened,"yelled Amber.

    "How was I suppose to know?"AJ yelled back at her,"It wasn't my fucking fault." Amber blinked back tears as she pulled back on to the road. They were silent as they drove back to Amber's house.

    She pulled into the driveway and got out of the car as she shut off the engine. AJ followed her up to the front door, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

    "No,"shouted Amber as AJ grabbed her arm to stop her from walking.

    "So what you're just going to throw everything away?"asked AJ.

    "I'm begining to think I should,"said Amber,"Because you're obviously not going to take any responsiblity in what happened."

    "I am, but you just want to blame it all on me,"said AJ. Amber just broke the grasp he had on her arm and walked back to the house. Just as she was to open the door AJ grabbed her arm again and pulled her around to face his and he pressed his lips against hers. Amber stood in shock for a moment then started responding to him and slowly her arms went around his neck pulling him closer. As they parted she rested her forehead on his chest and closed her eyes.

    "What are we going to do?"AJ whispered in to her hair as he held her warm body to his.

    "I've gotta go to LA,"said Amber.

    "I know Barbie, I don't want to hold you back,"said AJ.

    A week later stood in the airport with AJ she held a small carry on bag in one hand and a large teddy bear in the other from AJ. They both stood in silence as they waited for the first class section to board.

    "I'm gonna miss you,"AJ whispered linking his arms around her waist from behind.

    "I'm gonna miss you too,"said Amber crying softly as she hugged the teddy bear.

    "Don't worry Babrie, you can visit on holidays and who knows maybe Nick and I will have another road trip,"said Nick.

    "I know,"said Amber,"But I want you there with me."

    "I can't,"said AJ.

    "Business Class on Flight seven eighty two is now boarding," Amber turned and hugged AJ tightly.

    "That's you Barbie,"said AJ.

    "I know,"said Amber softly before kissing him. He slowly let go of her and walked her to the gate.

    "I guess this is good bye for now,"said Amber.

    "Yeah,"said AJ softly.

    "I love you,"said Amber.

    "I love you too,"said AJ.

    "Miss we need you board now,"said the flight attendant. Amber looked over at her and handed her the ticket, she leaned over and kissed AJ as the attendant took the information from the ticket.

    "Here you are Miss,"said the attendant handing her back her boarding pass and ticket. Amber gave AJ one last kiss before walking down the board ramp, tears were streaming down her eyes as she stood in another line to get onto the plane. She stood in line hugging the teddy bear as she moved closer to the plane, just as she was second in line she turned and walked back up to the boarding gate. Looking out she tried to find AJ well looking over the attendants who were trying to get her back on the plane, if she could just see him she'd know she'd have to stay but he was no where in sight. He's probably going home, thought Amber,where I should be, with him.. Slowly Amber turned and walked back to the plane.

    AJ walked through the crowds back to the exit to the parking lot, slowly he had the urge to turn and go back, to catch one glimse or maybe she decided not to go and was waiting for him to come back. He turned and quickly started walking back to the gate. Pushing his way through people he made it back to find the gate area empty and the attendants closing the gate doors. Slowly he walked over to the window and watched as the plane slowly made it's way to the run way and within minutes was in the air.

    "Bye bye Barbie, I love you."

    The End

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