CAPTURE THIS (Updating regularly)

Chapter 5

"Amber, I did a bad thing. A stupid thing. I really need you to call me," his voice was filled with anguish and panic. Amber could faintly hear the sound of music. "I don't know where you are, Ambs but I really need you. Call me." 

Amber listened to the dial tone for a minute in shock. She the dread settled into her stomach like lead sinking to the bottom of the sea. After a few minutes, she snapped out of her gaze and glanced at her phone. If she didn't leave the house soon, she would be late for school. 

Without wasting another second, she hopped around her room without her crutches, gathering her books for school and hurriedly applying her make up. She didn't have any time to do anything with her hair, so she ran a brush through it and placed it into a high pony tail. She glanced at herself in the mirror but didn't have the time to ponder over her insecurities.

She was wearing a comfortable pair of skinny jeans for school and a flowing dark plum coloured blouse, paired with a gold watch and a golden necklace her father bought her for her fifteenth birthday, which spelt out her name. 

She slung her bag over her shoulder and limped over to Annette's room. She swiftly scribbled a note on a scrap piece of paper she found on Ann's desk.

I had to leave early for school, I'm sorry. You get into that taxi with your head held high, Ann. You're going to beg him to let you stay at home but don't. You can do this. Call me if you need me. Be safe x

Amber decided to leave the note on the pillow beside Ann's. Then, as carefully as she could, she crept out of the room. 

Getting to school was a lot harder than she had anticipated. The step from the pavement to the bus was particularly hard. The driver got out of his seat to help her. 

"There you go, love," he said as he helped her into a seat. 

"Thank you," she replied gratefully. 

When she had settled into her seat, she decided it would be a good time to call Matty. He would be getting ready to head to the gallery now. 

"Hello?" He answered, sounding sleepy. 

"Hey," she replied nervously. "So, I got your messages."

"It's about time," he snapped, which was uncharacteristic of Matty. "Where the hell have you been?" 

Amber opened her mouth to explain everything that happened last night but decided against it. This conversation wasn't about her. 

"It doesn't matter. I just couldn't answer my phone," she answered vaguely. "Just tell me what happened, Matty." 

She listened as he launched into a story starting from the middle of the day before, when Lindsey had burst into tears whilst on the phone with her mother. He complained how unfair she was handling her insecurity and taking it out on him. Amber dreaded what was coming after that. 

"It didn't mean anything... I... I think I broke up with Lindsey?" He said it so uncertainly that Amber was confused. 

"You don't know?" Amber questioned, frowning involuntarily. 

Matty paused for a minute. She heard him take a deep breath. 

"One minute we were arguing, and the next, I was telling her to leave." He sounded tearful. 

Amber exhaled a small breath. "Oh Matty, it's going to be okay. You just need to talk to her and tell her what happened."

She could hear the anguish in his voice. She imagined him pacing their living room, trying to keep his gaze off of the many pictures of him and Lindsey that would be surrounding him. "I don't think talking to her will solve it. I... I said some pretty hurtful things. Maybe we just need some space."