CAPTURE THIS (Updating regularly)

Chapter 21

"What is it, Zo?" Amber asked curiously, feeling her heart pick up its pace as she sensed Zora would say something she didn't want to hear. 

"Don't get me wrong, I know how happy you are with Prince Charming but..." She took a deep breath to gain the courage to say what she had to say next. "I was a bit relieved when you and him broke up. He's our teacher, Ambs. We've been supportive but we still feel it's a bit wrong." 

Amber gaped at her friends in disbelief, who were all avoiding her gaze in discomfort. "You all feel this way?" 

"Amber, please, we're just looking out for you," Zora pleaded, reaching out to take Amber's hand but deciding against it when Amber flashed her a hurt glance. 

"Wow, I don't know what to say," she mumbled. "I know it's..." She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "It's risky. I know that, but we leave sixth form in a couple of months and he won't be my teacher any more. All I'm asking is that you keep my secret for a few more months."

Matty shrugged. "It's fine by me. I don't go to your school so it's not so much a big deal as it is for the other two." 

Saf still looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded. "We've kept it between us for four months, what's another couple of months? Right, Zo?" 

They all fixed their gazes on Zora who looked pretty unconvinced. "Look, it's not the secret that's bothering me. It's him. He's twenty-three years old and he says he's in love with an eighteen year old. Did he have to go prowling for a girlfriend in his classroom?" 

The silence that had once merely been uncomfortable was now like a noxious gas cutting off their oxygen supply. 

Zora instantly seemed to regret her words as her tone softened and she opened her mouth to speak again. "Amber, I -" 

"No. It's my turn to speak," Amber replied coldly. "First of all, he wasn't 'prowling', we bumped into each other in a freaking forest! He saved me from bleeding out in a forest by myself. Don't talk about him like he's some kind of predator. Secondly, it's only a four year age gap. If I was a few years older, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Thirdly, don't make it sound like he's just pretending to love me. In fact, I don't give a damn about whether you think our relationship is real or not. I know that I love him and it's not some teenage romance like your relationship. You focus on yours and I'll focus on mine." 

Zora said nothing but nodded in defeat. Amber knew that she had hurt her but it only seemed fair considering how she had made Amber feel. 

"Look, I'm not mad at you guys. You're worried about me, I get it. But things are serious between me and Alex. Breaking things off only hurts both of us," Amber explained calmly with a sigh. "I told Alex I'd meet him at his flat. Matty, could you drop me off?" 

"Sure." 

Zora  sat frostily with here gaze fixed out the window and said nothing for the rest of the journey. 

***

Amber had barely made it through the door when she was back in Alex's arms in a flurry of desperate kisses. Alex's shirt found its way to the floor and her dress was unbuttoned down to her belly button. 

Before her dress could follow Alex's shirt to the floor, Amber placed a steadying hand on Alex's bare chest. 

"Alex, wait." 

Alex gazed at her worriedly, he pushed a strand of her hair out of her face. "Are we going too fast? Sorry, I kind of lost myself in the moment." 

Amber felt a blush rise to her cheeks and Alex's face broke into a smile as he stroked her warm cheeks fondly. 

"I've missed your blushes."