Once the words were out loud and said, it struck Amber that she may have gone too far; she half-expected House to break into a gleeful sneer and fire her. What was it with her, that she couldn't control what she said? Blurting out that she loved Eric (not to mention all the other tidbits she'd thrown at him in the heat of the moment), telling off her boss.... Amber had always been one to speak her mind, but she'd learned to be cautious, too. Seemed like she was unlearning that lesson. She gritted her teeth as if to put a leash on herself; she'd go no further, baited or not.

House didn't sneer, or smile; he just frowned, eyes going unfocused in that way he did when they were in a middle of a diagnosis he'd deigned to participate in. He was processing. Amber found herself crossing her arms, nervous, tempted to start tapping her foot. She wouldn't let him fire her-- she'd find a way around it, if he did. Kutner came back from the other side and she could too; she was better, she was.

All she got was, Not like I'm your boss or anything and him knocking into her shoulder as he strode out. Amber's arms dropped to either side of her as she sighed and looked up at the ceiling, annoyed. What had just happened? Nothing she said seemed to really affect House; so much for hurting him. If anything, he seemed ultimately pleased by what she'd said. It wasn't worth even trying. What good could come of it, anyway? She'd seen how trigger-happy House was when it came to firing, that first day on the job. She wasn't sure if goading him right back was the right answer. Maybe later she could ask Eric what he thought, since he had more experience with House; it’d hurt her pride, needing help, but she was always willing to get information wherever possible.

Once she heard the door swing shut, Amber opened up her locker again. Might as well reapply her makeup now and feel at least better prepared physical for whatever was coming.