Previously on Midway Prep
Episode Sixty-Four
Amber shoved her algebra book into her locker before slamming it shut. She held her hand firmly on the handle to make sure that the door didn't burst open as it had done for her last couple of periods. When no attempt to open was made, she sighed in relief, grabbed her bookbag, and began walking down the hallway to the Commons.
"Hey, Amber," one passing girl ventured to say to her.
"Buzz off," was Amber's sharp, hissing reply. Her eyes remained focused in front of her. She was not to be sidetracked at this moment.
"Okay, so I'll talk to you later!" the girl called after her, ignoring Amber's remark.
Amber rolled her eyes before walking down the steps into the Commons. She threw her books on to one of the tables and plopped down in a chair before burying her head in her arms.
There she remained for several minutes until a nearby, exaggerated cough forced her to lift her head. When she noticed a bright-eyed, dark-haired young man sitting across from her with the biggest, goofiest smile she had ever seen, she broke out into a fit of laughter. She attempted to control herself, but everytime she saw the smile the volume of her laughter increased.
"It's my hair, isn't it?" the guy teased, smoothing down his ultra-greased hair.
"Oh, yeah. That's it," Amber played along, barely containing herself.
"At least it put a smile on that pretty face of yours."
That was enough to cause Amber to stop laughing. "What do you want? I don't have any money."
"No, no, no," the guy waved his hand to show her he didn't require anything for his services. "I'm just glad it brought you out of that gloomy mood you've been in all day."
"It's been more than all day, trust me," Amber groaned, beginning to lower her head back into her arms.
The boy caught Amber's chin with two of his fingers. "Hey, now. What's been its cause?"
"Everything," Amber answered emphatically. "Absolutely everything."
"The Miss Midway contest?"
Amber straightened in surprise. "How did you-"
"You've been on enough flyers for me to know who you are, Amber Hart," the guy laughed, a sound which seemed to soothe Amber's frazzled nerves.
"No fair. You have an advantage over me because you know my name."
The young man stuck out his hand formally, keeping as straight of a face as possible. "Alexander Johannigan Winters at your service, madam."
"Alexander Johannigan?!" Amber choked the words out, breaking out into even more laughter.
"Whoa. Don't make fun of the name. Besides, I go by A.J."
"Ahh," Amber smiled. "That sounds more like it."
"So, Miss Amber Hart, would you allow me to treat you to a coke down at Jax's?"
Amber hesitated, eyeing her crowded backpack. "I don't know. I already have biology and English homework to do..."
"You'll have plenty of time to get it done," A.J. smiled his warmer, less-comical smile at Amber. "Trust me."
And for the first time in as long as she could remember, Amber found herself trusting someone other than herself. Strangely, it was a feeling greater than any other she had felt before.
-The first day of school arrived for the students of MP
December 30, 2001