“You’re being awfully quiet today,” Amber said, leaning down over her laptop to try to get a better look at one of the photos they’d taken.

They were up in Krystal’s room after a day of driving around and taking photos, trying to narrow down their selections to ones they could edit for the final project, which was due for presentation in a week.

Krystal shrugged. How could she explain the lethargic feeling that had come over her? She couldn’t even pinpoint exactly what had caused it.

Amber elbowed her lightly, making her waver on the arm she’d propped herself up on. She sighed and laid her head down on her desk. Amber grinned and pushed the laptop back so she could mimic her and they were face to face.

“Talk to me?”

Krystal was surprised that the simple words made tears spring to her eyes. If there was anyone she could tell anything to, it was Amber. Not only was she very understanding, but she was open-minded, kind, and a good listener. Something Krystal had never thought she’d have in a friend, but Amber had suddenly come into her life with all of those qualities, but soon their project would be over and she wouldn’t have an excuse to spend as much alone time with her.

It was one of the reasons she’d hoped to incorporate Amber into the social lives of more kids at school, but that had been a complete failure. No one would give Amber a chance and both Amber and the other students got upset when she’d continued to try. They didn’t like Amber and she wasn’t going to force herself onto people who didn’t want her. So when this project ended, what excuse could she make to her parents to keep the person who was fast becoming her best friend around?

She closed her eyes when she felt Amber gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“Are you okay?”

“You’re really not coming on the ski trip?” She asked, rather than saying what she really wanted to say.

Amber sat up and Krystal missed feeling her gently breathe against her face. “You’re the only person who would be there who doesn’t hate me. It’s exhausting enough dealing with it everywhere I go in this stupid town. I’m not going to head off to the mountains to feel it in isolation too. Don’t ask me again.”

Krystal gritted her teeth and sat up as well, pulling their computers back toward them so they could get back to work. She tried to focus, but she could hear Amber crumbling to herself at her side. Suddenly she felt a hand on top of hers.

Amber told her softly and apologetically. “I know you want me there. I know…well. Thank you, but it’s just too much, okay?”

Krystal gripped Amber’s fingers lightly. It wasn’t the first time they’d held hands. Sometimes Amber held onto her as they wandered through the woods to take photos in an attempt to save them both from turned ankles. It was the first time they’d done it for no reason other than the connection.

“It was for selfish reasons too. Yeah, I wish you had more friends here, but I’m glad sometimes that I can have you to m