Why did I come? Amber wondered as she stood in the doorway of Gavin’s home, trying to maintain eye contact with his parents.

“Uhm, I didn’t know if I should bring anything or not. My mom and I baked cookies so…” she extended the tray toward the hard-eyed adults, wondering if they would let her inside or her keep her trapped on the welcome mat.

“Amber?”

Relief hit her like a wall when she heard Krystal’s voice approaching down the hall. “Yeah,” her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears.

“Mr. and Mrs. Smyth, this is Amber Liu, the girl I told you was coming over. She’s working on the art project with me,” she said, edging herself between the pair who didn’t look like they were softening anytime soon.

Krystal reached out and took Amber’s hand, tugging her slightly so Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were forced to move a bit out of the way.

“Uhm…so…”

“The living room is this way,” Krystal said, still holding Amber’s hand as she guided her through the three story, tastefully decorated house. The living room as large and took up most of the first floor along with what she could see of a dining room and a kitchen through an open archway. There were about ten other kids in the room, all from the paper or the youth group.

Amber snatched her hand out of Krystal’s, not wanting anyone to think something they shouldn’t.

Curious eyes turned toward them and Amber lifted her hand in an awkward wave. “Hi.”

Gavin stood and made his way over to them. He looked at Krystal, then back at Amber.

“Glad you could make it.”

Her lips pinched. “Thanks for inviting me.” I’m going to start looking as sour as some of the older church ladies if I keep living in this town.

“Krystal made me.”

Her cheeks patched in pale and red embarrassment when he said it loud enough for the entire room to hear. She knew she wasn’t wanted, did he have to reinforce it? She grit her teeth. “Next time just leave me out then,” she snapped.

He scoffed. “I can’t believe she said you were nice. You can’t be grateful that someone wanted to be kind to you? We’re trying to reach out and you’re nipping like a wild animal.”

She in a sharp breath, then felt Krystal’s hand on her back. She tried to reign in her temper slightly. “You know what,” she said. “I’m just going to find a spot on the sofa to watch the movie.”

She shuffled across the dense carpet, then dropped into a corner of one of the sectionals lining the living room. She hoped no one would try to talk to her for the rest of the night because her mood had gone from a hopeful 2 down to a -5.

“Sorry I’m late!” Someone called, rushing in and taking the spot beside Amber before Krystal could get there. “My parents didn’t get home til late so I couldn’t leave my baby sister. What are we watching?”

Everyone settled in, the girl seeming not to care she was in Amber’s personal space, her long brown hair constantly slapping Amber in the face as she shifted