It felt good, like a storm breaking out after a week of threatening clouds, to watch Eric go from sullen to livid, his frown lines sharpening, all because of a few carefully chose words on her part. Amber watched the results of her win. The joy of a victory was ruined by the twisting in her gut, screaming at her that they was going to break.
If they broke-- if they couldn't even last a day together-- then they weren't meant to be. Amber turned sharply to the window, for the first time since they'd gotten in the car to hide her expression from him. She should've known. There was no way someone could care for her, once they saw the real her. Eric had liked her, sure, but out of context. Back in a day-to-day setting, he'd realized what she represented and was backing off as fast as his feet could carry him. Amber stared out at the cars that sped by but registered none of them, unseeing.
"Pity," Amber said hollowly, still not looking back at Eric. "It's an effective technique." It had spared her a few speeding tickets, low grades, high prices, and far too many other things to count or remember. And here he was, his cutting tone criticizing her calculative tears and all her other schemes.
She finally faced him again. Her fury and disappointment had shoved her off the board of emotions, and, hearing his bitter laughter, all Amber could feel was a blissful numbness. They were thinking the same thing again, but what a terrible thought. Amber's heart and throat throbbed. She wanted him still. Wanted him so much she hurt with the longing. But if he didn't, then what could she do? This wasn't a surly waiter or a building guard she could bully into doing what she wanted. If Eric decided he couldn't stand her, Do What It Takes Amber Volakis, then nothing short of a personality transplant would change his feelings. Not even the tears he’d censured would do any good. "I don't know, you tell me." As much as she hated it, their future was up to Eric; talk about not having control over the situation.
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If they broke-- if they couldn't even last a day together-- then they weren't meant to be. Amber turned sharply to the window, for the first time since they'd gotten in the car to hide her expression from him. She should've known. There was no way someone could care for her, once they saw the real her. Eric had liked her, sure, but out of context. Back in a day-to-day setting, he'd realized what she represented and was backing off as fast as his feet could carry him. Amber stared out at the cars that sped by but registered none of them, unseeing.
"Pity," Amber said hollowly, still not looking back at Eric. "It's an effective technique." It had spared her a few speeding tickets, low grades, high prices, and far too many other things to count or remember. And here he was, his cutting tone criticizing her calculative tears and all her other schemes.
She finally faced him again. Her fury and disappointment had shoved her off the board of emotions, and, hearing his bitter laughter, all Amber could feel was a blissful numbness. They were thinking the same thing again, but what a terrible thought. Amber's heart and throat throbbed. She wanted him still. Wanted him so much she hurt with the longing. But if he didn't, then what could she do? This wasn't a surly waiter or a building guard she could bully into doing what she wanted. If Eric decided he couldn't stand her, Do What It Takes Amber Volakis, then nothing short of a personality transplant would change his feelings. Not even the tears he’d censured would do any good. "I don't know, you tell me." As much as she hated it, their future was up to Eric; talk about not having control over the situation.