Crushing on the Wrong Joshua (3 page)

“It went well, we're meeting again on Monday. Though I'm pretty sure I've nailed this contract for the next two years,” he grinned.

“That's freakin' awesome!” Amber grinned.

“I'll be doing new logos and maybe even the voice-over for their commercial for prime time television,” he laughed.

“They have voice actors for that, Dad, stick to the design and advertising,” Amber giggled, “I'll see you at home.”

“Be careful walking home, kiddo,” he called as she walked away.

“I will, Dad, promise,” she called back over her shoulder.

She didn't take her usual scenic route, which allowed her to look through her favorite book shelves. Amber headed straight for the study area to work on her math homework. Something kept drawing her attention away from her work and she it unnerved her, mostly because she couldn't figure out what it was. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and Amber gripped her pencil tightly, snapping it into two pieces and splinters.

“Have you brought the book back yet?” the librarian asked.

“No!” Amber shouted, because the older woman had startled her.

“No need to shout in the library, dear,” the older woman chuckled.

“Then don't startle me when I'm trying to do my math homework, okay?” Amber said and slammed the book shut before tucking it under her arm and storming away.

“Sorry, dear,” the librarian called after her.

Amber had only managed to finish half her math work and she knew that she would never be able to concentrate with the creepy librarian standing over her like she was going to shove books down her pants and make a mad dash for the door.

On the way home Amber stopped by the discount and bought two candles. The woman at the register looked at her oddly when she scanned the bar code of the black one.

“It's for a friend,” Amber said, telling another half-lie-half-truth, “It's his favorite color.”

“Goth kid?” the cashier asked.

“Not really, black and green are the colors of his basketball jersey,” Amber said.

“Oh,” the cashier said, “Eight sixty two is your total.”

Amber cringed at the price of just two candles, because it cut into her clothes money. She handed over the money quickly before she could lose her nerve.

“Here's your receipt, Have a great evening,” the cashier said.

“You too,” Amber said, hurrying out of the store.

Amber's heart raced as she walked the familiar route home. She feared that she would arrive home to find her father's truck parked in the driveway and she wouldn't be able to cast the spell.

“What will I do then?” she asked herself, “Maybe I could do it in the bathroom and tell him I'm soaking in the tub? Would he smell the candles burning? Is it okay to cast spells in the bathroom? Should I do it outside? No, I can't do it outside! What would the neighbors think? Mrs. Harrison would see the tiny flames and call the fire department.”

Amber let out a long sigh of relief when she found the driveway empty. She ran up the steps and quickly unlocked the door. Fifteen minutes later she sat on her bedroom floor with the candles, matches she snatched from her dad's collection, and a pen. She took a deep breath and took the book out of her bag.

She opened the book to page one hundred seven.

“The candle that represents you must be closer to you than the one that represents the object of your desire.”
Amber read,
“The candles should be approximately six inches apart. Before setting your candles up, inscribe your first name into the candle of your color choice and the name of the other party onto the candle that represents their favorite color. The writing utensil comes in handy for this part.”

Amber uncapped her ballpoint pen and carved her name into the green candle. She carved it deep and deliberately before turning her attention to the black candle and carving the letters slower and more deeply. She didn't want to know what would happen if she messed up a letter. All the warnings in the book…

J O S H U A

Amber's hand was cramping when she completed the task.

“Set up your candle and then place the other six inches away from it. Carefully light the candle inscribed with your name FIRST. Next light the other candle. For best results light both candles with the same match.”

Amber carefully struck the match against the rough patch on the pack and nearly dropped it when the flame danced too close to her fingers. She quickly lit the green candle and then the black one and blew out the match.

“Say the following incantation three times. Move the second candle closer to the first after each time. When you finish the candles should be touching at the bases. Allow the candles to burn down and bury them to bind the spell.”

“I am here! See me! See me!

I am here! Look at me! Look at me!

You're eyes are drawn to me!

Notice me! Notice me!”

As Amber spoke the spell for the first time she could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up and goosebumps rising on her flesh. She said each word deliberately and moved the candle closer without letting go of the sensation that was building in her chest.

She repeated the spell and moved the candle closer. The last time she recited the spell, she added one word. What could it hurt?

“I am here! See me! See me!

I am here! Look at me! Look at me!

You're eyes are drawn to me!

Notice me, Joshua! Notice me!”

Amber moved the black candle so that its side brushed against the green candle and watched their flames dance together. She imagined that every movement of the flame brought her more attention from Joshua. She would definitely be going to the dance with him. For the first time in her life, she was certain that Joshua was going to notice. How could he not?

The candles burnt out just in time for Abby to bury them under the bushes where they would remain undisturbed, before her dad arrived home.

Chapter Three

Tamara knocked on the door at exactly eleven-thirty the next morning. Amber was still trying to decide between her blue skirt and white top and her green sundress. Tamara was always teasing her about how often she wore the sundress, so she decided on the blue skirt.

“Can you get that, Dad?” she called downstairs.

“Yeah,” he called back up and Amber heard him head towards the door.

Her hair and makeup were already done so she quickly changed clothes before sprinting down the stairs. Tamara's mother had left the girls behind more than once, when they had taken to long too get ready. Amber slid across the hardwood floor with her bare feet before coming to a stop and stepping into her sandals.

“You're going to break your neck one day, doing that, Amber,” her dad scolded.

“Nah, more likely an ankle,” she said, “Hey, Tamara, I just need to grab my purse and I'll be ready.”

“Well, hurry up, today's double coupon day at the grocery store and Mom wants to beat the crowds. We're lucky she's taking us at all,” Tamara said.

“I'm ready, I'm ready,” Amber sighed, slinging her cute black purse over her shoulder.

“Good let's go,” Tamara said, opening the door.

“See you girls later,” Amber's dad called out, “Be safe, have fun, and if you see Joshua Nelson tell him I said hi.”

Amber and Tamara sprinted down the drive laughing.

“You're dad can be pretty funny sometimes,” Tamara said as they got into the car.

“Yeah, but only sometimes,” Amber laughed, “Hi, Mrs. Page.”

“Hi, Amber,” Mrs. Page said, “Are you girls buckled up? I have a coupon for two dollars off my favorite ice cream! With it being double coupon day, my ice cream is going to taste even better free. I just need to get there before the other heifers buy it all out.”

Tamara looked back at Amber who nodded that she was buckled up and ready to hit the road.

“We're ready, Mom,” Tamara said.

“Hang tight, girls,” Mrs. Page said as she sped out of the driveway, her long blonde weave flowing behind her head, nearly hitting Amber in the face.

“Nice weave, Mrs. Page,” Amber laughed.

“Tamara doesn't like it,” she said, “I on the other hand think it looks sexified!”

“That's not a real word, Mom,” Tamara said and rolled her eyes.

“Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady, you can hate on my weave all you want, but don't be rude,” Mrs. Page scolded.

“Sorry, Mom,” Tamara said.

“And for your FYI, I'll invent new words whenever I want to,” Mrs. Page laughed.

“I think it looks great,” Amber said.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Page smiled at her in the rear-view mirror, “At least your friend has style, Tamara.”

“Out you go, girls, hurry it up!” Mrs. Page said, “I can hear my ice cream screaming my name now. Have fun, you two, and remember Tamara don't spend more than seventy five dollars on your dress. Even that's too much to really spend on a dress you'll wear once, maybe twice. If you don't find one you like we can order you one from that penny auction site! It'd be a lot cheaper!”

“No thanks, Mom,” Tamara said, but her mother was already driving away.

“Just so you know, Amber, we won't be leaving this mall until I find something. I refuse to encourage her with that stupid penny auction website!” Tamara said.

The girls stopped and checked their reflections in the mall windows before going inside. Amber frowned at her hair. It was frizzed out beyond belief and wouldn't lay down no matter what she did with it.

“You look fine, girl,” Tamara said.

“Thanks, you too,” Amber answered.

“Where are we headed first? I thought we'd start with the dresses since it's the main object of our shopping mission today,” Tamara said.

“You're starting to sound like your mom,” Amber laughed.

“Shut up and follow me,” Tamara said, rolling her eyes and speed walking off.

Amber had to take long quick strides to keep up with her BFF. Stores, kiosks, and other shoppers blurred by until Tamara finally came to a stop in front Katie's. Tamara always wanted to begin their search at Katie's, because her family knew the owner and she could usually get them a decent deal.

“Hey, Mary!” Amber smiled at the lady behind the counter.

Mary was the store owner. She named the store after her young daughter who had lost her battle with childhood leukemia.

“Hey, girls!” Mary called back brightly, “Here to get your dresses for the dance, early?”

“I'm in a fashion emergency, girl, one like you wouldn't understand. I have seventy five dollars to spend on a dress. If I don't find one today Mom is threatening to make me shop the penny auctions,” Tamara said before Amber had a chance to answer.

“We'll find you something hot,” Mary laughed, “Although I have ordered some of my supplies from that website your mom told me about.”

“Not you, too,” Tamara rolled her eyes.

“Don't roll your eyes, Tamara,” Mary said, “It's not an attractive thing for a young girl to do. You girls go ahead and take a look around. Let me know if you find something you like and we'll see if we can work out a deal.”

“Thanks, Mary,” Amber said.

Tamara grabbed her wrist and Amber allowed herself to be led to the back of the store.

“Always start in the back of the store,” Tamara said, “That's where…”

“They always hide the good deals,” Amber sighed, “I know! You've said it a million times.”

“Uh? I never thought you paid attention to my shopping lectures,” Tamara laughed.

“How can I not? They echo around my skull,” Amber laughed.

“What do you think of this one?” Tamara asked and held up a light blue knee length dress. It had a v-neck cut and a ruffled bottom.”

“It might look good on you,” Amber said.

“I was thinking for you,” Tamara said.

“I don't wear ruffles,” Amber said and began to look through the rack of dresses to her right.

“You should,” Tamara said, “Here, go try it on.”

“I don't wanna,” Amber said.

“Take it and go!” Tamara ordered, shoving the dress in her hand and swatting her butt playfully.

“Fine,” Amber sighed and stalked away into the dressing room.

“And I wanna see it before you take it off!” Tamara called after her.

A few minutes later Amber stood in front of the mirror wearing the dress Tamara had chosen. She loved the color, but the ruffles killed it. Not that it mattered what she thought, because her dad would never allow her to leave the house with a v-neck dress, cut that low.

“Dad wouldn't let me out of my bedroom wearing this,” Amber sighed and stepped out of the dressing room.

“That's a damn shame,” Tamara said shaking her head, “Because it looks epically hot!”

“I know, I don't like the ruffles. Although the top actually makes me feel like I have boobs!” Amber whined.

“Go take it off, we'll find something. If it comes down to it, you could wear an old dress to the dance and change into this one when we got there,” Tamara suggested.

“Wouldn't work,” Amber sighed, “Dad gave me money for a new dress and if I spend the money he's going to want to see the dress.”

“True,” Tamara sighed, “You look around for something else. I'm going to go try this baby on.”

Amber watched as Tamara sauntered off carrying a floor length strapless lavender dress.

“Wish I could pull that color off. I'm just too pale for it. It would make me look like a ghost!” Amber sighed and turned her attention back to the racks.

Tamara soon returned swinging her hips like she was dominating a catwalk.

“Lookin' good,” Amber smiled, “It looks perfect on you! You have to get it!”

“I would, but it's almost two hundred dollars,” Tamara said, “There's no way, Mary's going to give me a discount
that
big!”

“True, maybe I could help. We'll see what she'll do,” Amber said and looked down at a long red dress. It was stunning, but her father would die of an aneurysm if she brought it home, “Dad would kill me!”

“For buying it, yeah he would,” Tamara said, “He isn't here, girl, so go try it on!”

Amber did try on the red dress and found out the shade clashed with her hair. She and Tamara spent most of the morning trying on dresses. Amber tried on a teal, baby blue, purple, and white one. She only modeled the white dress because Tamara nagged her into it.

“I can't find anything!” Amber said throwing up her hands.

“We're only half way through the store,” Tamara said.

“You're right,” Amber sighed, “Let's keep looking.”

“What about a black one?” Tamara asked, “Maybe a sexy little number like this?”

Tamara held up a short black dress, just long enough to fall below Amber's knees. It had a boat-cut top and three-quarter sleeves.

“I know it looks a little plain, but with some tights and cute shoes, it'd be epic!” Tamara said.

“I'll go try it on,” Amber sighed.

Amber scrutinized her appearance in the mirror. The dress didn't draw as much attention to her cleavage as the first dress. It didn't minimize her assets either. She ran her hands down her sides and over her hips. The dress definitely showed off her curvy hips.

“What do you think, Tam?” she asked stepping out into the store.

Tamara's mouth dropped open and Amber turned back to the dressing room with a sigh.

“I'll find another one.”

“No, it's perfect! It looks beautiful!” Tamara said.

“Really?” Amber asked skeptically.

“Mary, come look at her!” Tamara called out.

“Oh, Amber! You look so pretty!” Mary said, hugging her.

Was this normal? If her mother was still alive would she hug her because she looked pretty in the dress she wanted to buy? Was Mary trying to fill that spot for her or was she merely wishing it was Katie standing in her spot?

“Thanks, Mary,” Amber smiled, “I think this is the one I want. If I can afford it.”

“If you can't. I'll give it to you,” Mary laughed, “It fits you perfectly!”

“Do you think this will make Joshua Nelson notice me?” Amber asked, timidly.

“Girl, you need to quit worrying about that boy!” Tamara rolled her eyes.

“Honey, if he doesn't notice you in this, he's blind!” Mary laughed.

Amber glanced at the price tag attached to the sleeve. The dress was only priced at seventy-five dollars. Maybe she could pay for Tamara's and Tamara could pay for hers. No, she couldn't lie to her dad like that.

“It's okay, I can afford it,” Amber smiled, “It's only seventy-five bucks.”