My best friend Amber Wells and I had been friends for about six years. She had been the new girl and I loved her to pieces immediately. We did almost everything together, and I could be myself around her all the time. We were now both in our last year of school, just turned eighteen (our birthdays only a month apart). I'd lived at her house just as much as I had my own over the last six years, but I'd only seen her father a handful of times, as he worked out of state. Amber's mother, Magda, was like a second mother to me, and I loved her just as much. I thought that she would be happier without a husband who was never around, but she exuded cheeriness 24/7, so it can't have been that bad for her.
'So, are you excited about graduating, Dolly?' Magda asked while making us quesadillas.
'I guess. I think I'll miss the way things are now, though.' I replied.
'Is dad going to be here for graduation?' Amber piped up grumpily, flashing her mum a sarcastic look.
'Well, it just so happens that he's coming down for the weekend, so you can ask him then.' Amber's face lit up and she began jumping around the room like a dork. I laughed along with them, though it was more for their joy than his coming home. Amber dragged me off my stool and we danced like idiots, until Magda yelled out that lunch was ready.
I had to admit, Mr. Wells' all consuming job paid off. They had a huge villa with a deep pool, tennis court and even a nice little labyrinth you could stroll through. Inside they had a Jacuzzi, sauna, huge games room and soundproof music room. The house was so immaculate all the time (cleaned by a maid every second day), that at first I'd been afraid to eat or sleep there. After a while of transferring ourselves from my house to hers so often, though my meager residence paled in comparison, I warmed up to it.
When Mr. Wells did come back home, I always felt obliged to stay at my own home and let the Wells be a family, but they insisted I stay whenever I could. I was always nervous around him; to me he was a stranger staying in a house I practically lived in. But of course that was nonsense and he probably thought I was the imposter.
Whenever we found ourselves alone in the living room or dining room, we cleared our throats, searching desperately for something to break the ice, but it never happened. I'd always get so uncomfortable I'd leave the room looking for Amber.
Luckily for me, I was prepared this time. I'd learned a little more about him and my maturity had taught me that conversation comes freely if you just relax. I had grown up a lot throughout mine and Amber's friendship and I hoped he'd see that, and not think of me as a silly child.
I could always see the resemblance of him in Amber, his thick dark hair, his deep brown eyes and full lips. Aside from his great genes, he worked out and it showed. I'd only seen him in the pool once, fleetingly and I was very impressed, though back then it wasn't anything to be worried about. I was still a pimply, nerdy girl who loved boy bands and glitter temp tattoos.
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That weekend I planned to stay home, to keep out of their way, but as per usual they waved off the thought that I was anything but family and almost forced me to stay. I think I only agreed because Magda's cooking improved tenfold when Mr. Wells came home.