Mom sighed. “Okay. Make sure you use lots of sanitizer and wash your hands often. You don’t want to start an epidemic. And you have to promise if you get any worse, you’ll call me to come get you. Oh, but your dad will have the car. He has an interview.” She left the bathroom shaking her head and muttering. “I don’t like this one bit.”
Amber reached for the shower knob and then decided soaking in a hot tub would feel much better on her freezing skin. While the tub filled, she brushed her teeth. The thought of the long day looming ahead of her made her shiver again. Her skin tingled and her stomach churned as she climbed into the water. Thankfully, the Tylenol had started to take the edge off the headache, but the flames in her throat just burned hotter.
She sank lower into the bath and closed her eyes. A few minutes passed and she sat up, startled—she must have drifted off to sleep. Hurrying out of the tub as fast as her sick body would allow, she checked the time. Only fifteen minutes left until she had to leave for school or risk being late. Looking pretty didn’t matter, but late was not an option. Amber threw on a sweat suit and went to the kitchen at the speed of a dying turtle, the best she could do.
Mom had some dry toast and juice ready. The toast looked good but her throat refused it. She’d have to do without. Just make it through the day. One day.
“Come on. I’ll drive you.” Mom bit her lip and shook her head.
Amber eyed her mom on the drive to school. I hope she doesn’t decide to make me stay home. I need to win this car. We need it. Trying to save her strength, she put her head back on the headrest and dozed until they pulled into the carpool lane at school.
“Baby, I’m going to be praying for you today.” Mom patted her arm.
Amber climbed from the car and winced at the weight of her book-bag strap on her shoulder. “Thanks, Mom. I’m going to need it.” She trudged up the stairs to the school entrance and made her way to class, bones aching and creaking with every step.
The bell rang for first period. Second period. Third period. The day passed in a fog. Amber navigated the halls and attended each class, but she remembered none of it as thoughts of her bed danced in her head.
The school day finally over, Amber lumbered into her house and poured herself into bed. Mom popped her head in and asked her a few questions … she thought. Amber mumbled her answers … she hoped. But she could concentrate on nothing but her pillow. She laid her head on its cool surface, her feverish skin tingling at the brush of her long eyelashes on her cheek. She fell asleep instantly and dreamed of nothing as her body healed.
Chapter 5
A BIG FAVOR
“Britt, winter’s going to be over before we know it.” Amber gestured out the dining room window at the receding snow. “Well, I take that back. Winter’s been near its end for a while. It’s ski season that I’m worried about.” She craned her neck to try to see up the mountains beyond her backyard. “We’ve only been three times this whole winter. There’s still good skiing up there, I hear. We should go this weekend.”
“Hmm?” Brittany put down the pencil she’d been gnawing. “Ski? Is that what you said?” She closed her book and stood from the table. She stretched her arms far above her head and leaned deeply to each side. “We could go tomorrow, I guess.”
“Saturdays are busy on the mountain, but I think it’s worth it. Let’s do it.” Amber went to her closet. “I got this new ski outfit back at Christmas—they bought it before Dad lost his job—and I’ve only worn it once.” She pulled out an eggplant, green, and cream three-in-one jacket and off-white ski pants and held them to her body while she swooshed in the mirror. “Besides, like Mom said, we might not have season passes next year. I’ve got to get one more use of this.”
“Oh, I have my same old ski stuff from last year. I’ll probably have to wear that for another couple of years.” Brittany stood in front of the mirror and turned to look at her body sideways.
“I’m sure if you just asked, you’d have a whole new wardrobe before you could snap your fingers.”
“It’s not like my parents are willing to throw money away.” Brittany shook her head. “Even they would say the old one fits fine and I should get more use out of it.”
“Yeah, right. Whatever.” Amber rolled her eyes. “Guess you’ll have to wear what you’ve got, poor girl.” She winked at Britt, zipped her new jacket, and preened in the mirror. Not exactly top of the line, but the color made her eyes pop and the fit showed off her figure. Nice.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
Amber kept her skis in a perfect parallel as she gracefully swished her feet from side to side. Nearing the end of the run, after the last steep grade, she tucked her poles behind her hips and brought her body in tight and low to gather speed for the long stretch to the bottom of the mountain. She pushed off with her right ski and then her left, enough to gain momentum for a strong finish. The wind whipped through her hair while the snowflakes pelted her cheeks and clung to her eyelashes as she whizzed past the trees and wove between the other skiers.
Ah, freedom. Speed.
Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, she swiped her feet to the side, whipped her skis ninety degrees to the left, and then dug them into the snow for a complete stop. She turned to look up the fluffy, white mountain for Brittany.
There. A brand-new, top-of-the-line pink snowball taking her time to come down the mountain. Amber shook her head. Guess I was right. All she had to do to get a new outfit was ask. Amber liked her own outerwear better, even though it cost about a third of what Brittany wore. Why did cost even matter, though? Brittany looked adorable, but Amber knew she did, too. Why couldn’t she be happy for her friend?
Brittany gracefully made her way down the mountain. Amber smiled at her hesitant style. She arrived near the spot where Amber waited and slowed to a safe and steady stop.
“One more time, then lunch?” Amber didn’t want to quit yet.
“Sure, I’m up for another run. But I am getting hungry.” Brittany shook the snow off her cap and put it back on her silky head.
They waited in line for the ski lift and then sank onto the bench as it came up behind them and pressed against the backs of their thighs. It carried them high above the treetops as they made their way slowly up the mountain. So serene—yet powerful—to be up above the trees, looking down on the snow-covered evergreens. The snow started to fall again, lightly at first and then big heavy flakes that absorbed the sound all around them. Like a fairy tale.
“It feels so good not to be thinking about school,” Brittany whispered, closing her eyes.
Well, it had. Amber wished Brittany hadn’t brought it up. But since she had … “Speaking of school, Britt, I’ve been thinking.” She hesitated and scraped the snow from one ski with therazor-sharp bottom of the other. “We really don’t need to push ourselves this hard.” She waited, hoping Brittany would catch on without making Amber actually say it.
“How could we not? We need to do the best we possibly can.” Brittany’s eyebrows raised in the middle as the outsides furrowed in confusion.
“Well … I mean … yeah, we do need to do our best unless … Oh, never mind.”
Brittany turned on the seat as much as she could without falling, and looked at Amber. “No. What were you getting at? Tell me.”
“Oh, I was just thinking … you know … you don’t really need a car … oh, forget it, really, never mind. Really.” Please let it go. Amber could feel her cheeks turning red. She should never have even thought about suggesting Brittany let her win. Why had she opened her big mouth? How awkward. Amber stared at Brittany, willing her to let it go.
Brittany stared back for a moment, still confused, and then the light dawned on her face. She averted her eyes and adjusted her gloves. When she turned back, she graciously let Amber back out of her fumble. “Well, you can quit studying if you want to. But I wouldn’t suggest it.” She winked.
Relieved, Amber said, “Okay, then. Game on.”
They arrived at the top of
the mountain. Amber adjusted her goggles, then they skied off the lift. The snow had picked up, and the run down the mountain felt much more frigid than the one before. Lunch would be a welcome reprieve.
They skied silently. Amber decided to stick with Brittany on this run rather than tear off ahead and wait at the bottom. When they reached the bottom of the mountain, they clicked off their skis and set them against the ski rack. On their way into the lodge, they unzipped their jackets and tucked their hats into the pockets. Right away, the warm damp air of the lodge became too much for them, and they started peeling off layers. They clomped over to a wooden table and staked their spot with a pile of coats, sweaters, goggles, and face masks, then headed over to the cafeteria line.
All without a word.
Clo-clomp, clo-clomp, clo-clomp. Their ski boots pounded an unsteady rhythm on the painted concrete floor. Stepping in line, they scanned the menu board and hungrily waited to order. Cheeseburgers and fries for both of them—two burgers for Brittany. “Seriously?”
Amber laughed, breaking the awkward tension. “You’re going to eat two cheeseburgers?”
“Sure! I’m famished!” Brittany forced her flat stomach into an imaginary potbelly and rubbed it.
Phew. Everything had returned to normal. For the moment.
“Come here.” An unseen assailant pulled Amber into an empty classroom on Friday afternoon.
She stumbled through the doorway and struggled to regain her footing. “Hey!” She spun around to face her attacker. “Oh. Kyle. It’s only you.”
Kyle opened his mouth wide in feigned horror, exposing his shiny new braces—replaced as a second attempt after he wouldn’t wear a retainer the first time. “Wait a minute. You looked like you were going to kill someone when you turned around. Now you look disappointed. What do you mean only me?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it.” She brushed him off with a wave of her hand. “I just meant … oh, never mind. What’s up, anyway? Is there a reason for this attack?”
“I need to talk to you.” Kyle poked his head out of the classroom and peered in both directions down the hallway like a spy in a movie. “Before I say anything, though, I need to make sure you’re cool. I mean, I know you’re cool—you are my cousin after all.” He nervously ran his fingers through his chestnut, shoulder-length waves, then stuck his hands in the front pockets of his khaki cargo pants. “But, you know …”
“No. Not really. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Amber lifted her wrist and spun her silver watch around so she could read the time. “My bus leaves in ten minutes. You better make it quick.”
“Okay. Fact is, I want you to win that car—I think I can help.”
“How can you help? I’m already studying more than humanly possible.” She sighed. “But so is Britt.”
“That’s the thing. You need an edge.” Kyle looked expectant, waiting for agreement, perhaps. When none came, he shrugged then continued. “You need something your competition”—he wiggled two quotation-mark fingers on each side of his head—”doesn’t have.”
Why did she feel grateful he kept it impersonal by not using Brittany’s name? Something didn’t feel right. “What did you have in mind?” Amber crossed her arms on her chest as if to ward off the possibilities.
“I’ve been working in the computer lab lately. I’m reprogramming some of the older computers in a last effort to salvage the old systems before the school has to replace them.”
“Right, in exchange for some extra credit. I know all that. What does it have it do with me?” She pulled her arms tighter.
“You pretty much know I’m a computer genius. Right?” Kyle’s blue eyes twinkled from behind the stringy hair hanging in his face.
“Yeah, everyone knows that. You’re seriously going to have to move this along. I’ve got to go.” She held her watch up to Kyle’s face. “I’m about to miss my bus.”
“Okay.” Kyle shot a quick glance toward the door, then lowered his voice to a whisper. “Deal is, I can get you copies of your midterms. You can study right off the tests themselves, and—”
“Whoa. Whoa. Stop right there.” Amber held up a hand and started to back out the door. “I want no part of anything like that. Brittany’s my friend, and cheating is wrong. That’s not how I want to win.” Amber turned to hurry away. “I’m going to pretend we didn’t have this conversation.”
Kyle grabbed her arm as she stepped through the door. “Just remember my offer. She can’t be too much of a friend if she’s willing to fight so hard to take something you clearly need way more than she does. Think about it.”
Hmm. Could he be right?
Chapter 6
HEARING VOICES
“Well, well. Don’t you look lovely?” Mom sipped from her coffee cup, leaning forward carefully so she wouldn’t spill on her church clothes—JC Penney knit separates in coordinating mauve and olive green.
Why doesn’t she get new clothes? Amber wondered, shaking her head at her mom’s dated and over-worn outfit. Visions of an eggplant ski bunny swooshed in her head. She could have had three outfits for the price of my new ski clothes.
Dad came into the kitchen as Amber spread butter onto her almost-burnt toast. He winked at Amber. “What’s the occasion?”
“I’m going to church.” She held up her hand to ward off the onslaught of questions and squeals of excitement. “Brittany’s church.”
Mom deflated a bit, but almost immediately perked up. “That’s great, honey. What brought this on?”
“I just decided to go. No big deal.”
“Sounds good, sweetie. Have a good time.” Mom put her cup in the sink and grabbed her out-of-season-and-style white purse.
“Have fun.” Dad tucked his Bible under his arm and held the door to the garage for his wife.
That’s it? Shocked they let it go, Amber hurried to the dining-room window where she could see into the open garage. Her mom and dad stood beside the car giving each other big grins and a huge high-five. Dad made two fists and clenched tightly. Amber could read the Yes! on his lips.
So predictable. With a smile, Amber returned to the kitchen, shaking her head while she poured cereal into a bowl and added milk.
She hoped the service wouldn’t be too painful and would pass quickly—they planned to go shopping afterward. Brittany had originally offered to pick her up after church for the shopping part. Why hadn’t she agreed to do it that way? She could have slept in and avoided the whole church thing.
She must be feeling guilty for almost cheating.
No! Why would she feel guilty? She told Kyle no, and she meant it. But I considered it.
Nope! Amber shook her head to clear it of the raging inner battle.
Glancing at the clock on the microwave, she dumped her milk into the sink and rinsed out her bowl. She dried her hands on the towel next to the sink and glanced out the kitchen window just in time to see the silver Lexus pull into the driveway. The horn lightly sounded. She grabbed her purse and pulled the door shut behind her, checking to make sure she’d locked it.
She slid into the backseat next to Brittany. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Kim. Thanks for picking me up.”
“Is our pleasure, Amber.” Mrs. Kim looked into the backseat and smiled warmly. “We go to church, then Brittany take us home so you go shopping. We take a nap.”
Mr. Kim laughed along with his wife and turned on the radio. What nice people.
Amber finally turned her attention to Brittany, adorable in a new black cashmere sweater with a tiny turtle pattern. She also had a hot-pink scarf draped across her shoulders—it looked long enough to reach her knees—and a matching pink, black, and green slouchy hat over her silky hair. She had on the coolestjeans—stylish and nondescript, but Amber could tell by the perfect fit and the luxurious denim they were just as pricey as the rest of her outfit. Brittany always found the cutest clothes in those specialty boutiques she went to with her mom.
“Love the scarf.” Amber reached over and p
icked up one end and flung it over Brittany’s other shoulder.
“Thanks. It’s new.” Brittany laughed and repositioned the drape. She opened her slouchy, bright green Balenciaga bag and turned it discreetly toward Amber, and motioned for her to look in.
Amber leaned over so she could see inside the bag. Right on top laid two credit cards. The gold one sparkled. She looked up at Brittany. Huh?
Brittany pointed at Amber and back at herself. “Sky’s the limit,” she whispered and pointed both thumbs to the sky. “Dad got another raise.”
“Congratulations.” Amber tried to look happy for Brittany. She didn’t want Brittany to do without just because she had to—did she? And really, what did she have to do without anyway? Visions of her mom in her decade-old knit separates flashed through her mind.
“So, we have the gold card and permission touse it freely.” Brittany grinned, still whispering.
“We’ll see.” Amber didn’t like the idea of using Mr. and Mrs. Kim’s credit card for things her parents couldn’t buy her. How would Mom and Dad feel about that? But maybe they didn’t even have to know about it.
They arrived at the church for the contemporary English service even though there was a Korean service immediately following it. The Kims thought it helped them with their own English, and they enjoyed the music—they called it worship.
Amber considered her parents’ church. It didn’t have music, and the service reminded her more of a ninety-minute Bible study. What’s the word? Stifling. Much of it rose above her head, and she couldn’t be bothered trying to figure out all of the Greek mumbo-jumbo. At least Brittany’s church broke things up with music, soloists, instruments, and sometimes even little skits. Kept things interesting—as interesting as church could be, anyway.
As they walked into the sanctuary and found seats, Amber wondered if she could find God somewhere other than at church. There had to be other ways. She gazed around the auditorium and wondered what church looked like back when Jesus walked the earth. They probably didn’t have volleyball and basketball teams. Pretty sure there weren’t potluck dinners and Christmas plays. But what if this was the only way now? Scary thought.
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