After school, without being planned and as if it was destined, the two met again but this time at the bus stop located at the junction near to their school. It was raining so heavily and it's already late evening. Fortunately, not so many students stayed back at school until evening and the bus stop wasn't packed as usual. Amber sat there while waiting for the rain to stop before she went back home. To her surprise, Henry also stayed back and was just about to go home when the rain poured down more heavily. He ran to the bus stop and also stayed there, waiting for the rain to stop.
"We meet again..." He greeted Amber who just nodded and smiled at him.
"You are just about to go home?" Henry asked. This time he was more comfortable having a chat with Amber than last time.
"Yeah... the club meeting started late, so I was happened to coming home late today... just my luck that it was raining." She replied while her foot softly tapping on the poodle. "How about you?" She asked.
"We were having a little party. Because my team won the recent sports event at the next neighbourhood. You know... basketball and all..." He replied. Not excited but not blunt. Amber nodded and continued to look down.
"Are you alright? You look a bit...down..." Henry asked carefully.
"Not really... it just that today in class, someone borrowed my notebook and he lent it to another person." She replied and let out a sigh.
"Your crush? He borrowed your notebook and gave it to his crush? The one from the basketball team?" He asked further. He himself didn't know if that's because he was interested or he just wanted to help her like how she did with him yesterday.
"Bullseye," Amber replied amused that Henry actually remembered that. Henry chuckled.
"I am actually known as a fortune-teller. Last time, I predicted that our school will be competing with the all-boys school from the west..." He said.
"and your guess is correct?" Amber asked, more like assuming that was actually happening.
"No. Not at all. Our school can't even go to compete because the event got cancelled." He replied casually.
"What? Why were you a fortune-teller then..." She laughed for the absurdity. Henry watched her as she laughed her heart out for that stupid little story. He was glad that he got to make her smile on her low. Guess they are even now.
Suddenly, a car horn made both of them look in its direction.
"Come on, get in!" Grace called from the car.
"You know her?" Amber asked Henry with her eyes still on the car.
"She's my friend." He replied.
"Too bad, you have a crush on her." She stated.
Henry looked at Amber who was also looking at him. Their eyes were locked together though there's no romantic feeling at all they can feel some sort of connection as if they were silently talking to each other in their mind. Henry turned to look at Grace who was still waiting for them.
"I'm bringing my girlfriend. Do you mind?" He shouted to make sure Grace heard him clearly over the pouring rain. Amber was a little shocked but then she played along knowing what his heart actually desires.
"I don't. Just get in already." Grace replied also shouting from the car.
"Please do me a favour," Henry spoke slowly to Amber as he took out a hand for Amber to reach.
"Anything mister. But with payment later." She replied jokingly and grabbed Henry's hand before getting in the car.
They were on the way to pick Caleb up. Caleb had to go to the dentist earlier and Grace had to pick his brother up from school. After that, they decided to go out on a date and since Grace came across the two at the school's bus stop, she stopped by and thought it was better to have a double date.
So here they were, all four were silent in the car and the faint sound of the music was the only thing they could hear. Grace cleared her throat signalling for someone to speak up while her eyes were still glued to the road.
Caleb and Henry picked that up fast as they both knew Grace so well and they spoke at the same time.
"Do you..."
"Are we..."
The two boys looked at each other from the mirror and Amber noticed that Caleb's gaze was slightly different from when he looked at Henry and when he was looking at her. Grace was obviously too busy driving to notice the tension between the two. Amber quickly thought of something and dragged Henry's attention away from the mirror.
"Do you have my chapstick with you?" She asked. Henry looked down at her. He was processing what Amber had just said to him.
"Oh, I forgot to bring it. Sorry..." He apologised with his pleading eyes even though it was just a made-up excuse. Amber almost burst out laughing.
"No, it's okay. I think I brought another one." She replied. smiling to hide her laughter while taking out her real chapstick and use it.
"Henry used to help me to put on chapstick on my lips," Grace said out of nowhere.
"What?" Caleb was more shocked to hear that than the fake girlfriend sitting in the back seat. Amber just looked up to Grace with the least jealous expression but instead just pure surprised. She looked at Henry who had his head down.
"Babe, what did you just say?" Caleb asked again. Grace looked at Amber from the rearview mirror.
"I'm just kidding, okay. Guess that doesn't make you jealous at all." Grace chuckled and parked the car. Amber was dumbfounded and was afraid that she was caught lying. She looked at Henry who was still interested in his sneakers more than the conversation.
"Is it really just a joke?" Caleb still asking since Grace didn't answer him. Grace got off of the car and entered the cafe while Caleb still questioning her. Amber and Henry soon followed them from behind.
Then they dine in together and talked a little about each other. Amber was glad that their cover wasn't blown up yet and Grace still thought that they were a couple.
"So, your first meet was during the match between our school? You were there? I didn't notice you at all!" Grace excitedly asked and Amber chucked while replying.
"We even wore the same jacket. I remember it clearly. I saw you at the other bleacher." Amber replied. Grace was still astonished by the story. Half made-up obviously.
Then, Grace excused herself to go to the bathroom and Henry were forced to pay for the meal by Grace. That left Amber and Caleb alone at the table.
"You are not his girlfriend." He said out of nowhere.
"What?" Amber was confused.
"You guys just don't look like a couple to me. Grace might not see through that because she was obviously excited as you can see. But you can't fool me and I don't want to lie to her." He said.
Amber took a deep breath before retorting.
"I know you know Henry has feelings for Grace." She said and Caleb remained silent which she guess her statement is correct. So, she continued. "Listen, if Henry ever wanted to take Grace, he could but he knows better where Grace's happiness lies. So he will never cross the line. But, I believe you also didn't want to see Grace disappointed. It doesn't matter if you think we are real or not, but I just want to warn you. Even if I wasn't Henry's girlfriend, if you ever try to harm him, you are up for hell." She said then flashing her angelic smile.
Caleb remained silent and soon Henry was back at the table. They were still waiting for Grace before they decided to go home. Amber thought of something to test and tease Caleb a little about how he will react to see them acting like the fake couple in front of him.
"Can we get ice cream before we go home later?" She asked cutely.
"Sure... is there any flavours you wanted to try?" Henry replied naturally with his cheery voice.
"Hmm... no. I think I'm addicted to cookies and cream flavour now since it is your favourite." She replied.
"Are you trying to sweet talk to me?" Henry squinted his eyes towards Amber. This was his first time to see this side of Amber. She was cute and at the same time flirtatious.
"I'm not. Didn't I always this sweet?" She teased. She looked in Caleb's direction and smirked at his confused expression. Then she turned to Henry who was looking at her also with a teasing expression as if he knew what is Amber up to.
"I'm not telling you that. What should remain between us, should remain between us." He replied.