Swept Away (5 page)

Amber couldn’t look at Brittany. She had too many thoughts running through her mind, and she feared her emotions would show. How had she crept so far away from God that simple old songs could make her feel so lost and needy?

The song ended, and Pete took the microphone from its stand. “I see you all appreciate those songs much like I do. Do you realize, in a few short verses of some old songs, we heard about the grace of God that saves sinners like all of us, the gift of Jesus who came to heal us, forgive us, and love us, the promise that Jesus will be with us through the trials of life, and the blessed assurance of our eternal future with God? It gets to me every time.”

He paused and closed his eyes for a brief moment before he opened them to make piercing eye contact. “We’re going to continue with our concert in a moment, but first I want to give you each an opportunity to respond to the Holy Spirit if He’s knocking on your heart’s door.”

He looked up and down the rows, engaging as many as he could. “Maybe you’re hearing this for the first time and you’d like to know more, or maybe you’ve wandered away from the God you knew in your youth. Whatever your circumstances, if you’re touched by what you’veheard tonight and you’d like to pray about what you’ve heard, stand to your feet and come forward.”

Pete waited. “I want you to come to the front of this stage where you’ll be met by one of our prayer counselors.” Teenagers streamed into the aisles of the dark auditorium.

Amber’s feet rooted her in position. She wanted to respond—needed to respond—but she couldn’t move. She watched as people went forward for prayer. A magnificent sight. She knew they felt changed. She wanted that experience, too, but she stood paralyzed. Praying by herself worked just as well, right? Then why didn’t it feel just as good?

As quickly as the opportunity presented itself, it ended. The concert resumed with an upbeat rock song Amber recognized from the Christian radio station. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and tried to get into the concert again. After the song ended, she finally dared to look at Brittany, who stared back at her, searching with her eyes. How long had she been watching?

Amber just smiled. What else could she do?

Brittany returned the smile, but she couldn’t mask the hint of disappointment in her expression.

She’ll see. I’ll find my way back on my own. She’ll see
.

Sandpaper in her throat, a hammer pounding on her head, Amber drew the covers tight around her shivering body. Was there a window open? The room felt like a freezer. She tried to roll over, but every muscle in her body ached. Even her toes screamed their soreness. She opened one eye to peer at the clock. Five minutes until the alarm went off. She pulled the covers over her head and willed herself to feel better.

For every second of those five minutes, she didn’t move a muscle, but then the alarm went off and she had to reach out from the covers to hit the snooze button. That tiny movement exposed her body to the cool air and sent her into another fit of trembling. Her shoulder ached from the reach, and her fingertips tingled when she touched the clock. She needed medicine, but it was so far away.

Amber stumbled to the bathroom and fumbled through the cabinet. Feeling weak, she leaned against the counter and reached for the Tylenol, knocking over a few other bottles. Just then, Mom came around the corner and saw her.

“What on earth is wrong with you? You look horrible!” She hurried to Amber’s side and felt her forehead. “Sweetie, you’re burning up. Go on. Climb in bed, and I’ll bring you some water.”

“No way, Mom. I have to go to school.” She stood up straighter, preparing herself for battle.

Understanding dawned on her mom’s face. “Oh no. You’re not going to school like this. You need to be in bed—maybe even at the doctor’s office. You’re sick, honey.”

“Yes. I’ve been sick before, and I’ll be sick again. Mom, you can’t make me give up this contest. Not now. Not after how hard I’ve worked.” Amber sat on the edge of the bathtub, tears burning her feverish eyes. “Besides, Mom, it’s Friday. If I can get through today, then I can sleep all weekend.”

Mom sighed. “Okay. Make sure you use lots of sanitizer and wash your hands often. You don’t want to start an epidemic. And you have to promise if you get any worse, you’ll call me to come get you. Oh, but your dad will have the car. He has an interview.” She left the bathroom shaking her head and muttering. “I don’t like this one bit.”

Amber reached for the shower knob and then decided soaking in a hot tub would feel much better on her freezing skin. While the tub filled, she brushed her teeth. The thought of the long day looming ahead of her made her shiver again. Her skin tingled and her stomach churned as she climbed into the water. Thankfully, the Tylenol had started to take the edge off the headache, but the flames in her throat just burned hotter.

She sank lower into the bath and closed her eyes. A few minutes passed and she sat up, startled—she must have drifted off to sleep. Hurrying out of the tub as fast as her sick body would allow, she checked the time. Only fifteen minutes left until she had to leave for school or risk being late. Looking pretty didn’t matter, but late was not an option. Amber threw on a sweat suit and went to the kitchen at the speed of a dying turtle, the best she could do.

Mom had some dry toast and juice ready. The toast looked good but her throat refused it. She’d have to do without.
Just make it through the day. One day
.

“Come on. I’ll drive you.” Mom bit her lip and shook her head.

Amber eyed her mom on the drive to school.
I hope she doesn’t decide to
make
me stay home. I need to win this car
.
We
need it
. Trying to save her strength, she put her head back on the headrest and dozed until they pulled into the carpool lane at school.

“Baby, I’m going to be praying for you today.” Mom patted her arm.

Amber climbed from the car and winced at the weight of her book-bag strap on her shoulder. “Thanks, Mom. I’m going to need it.” She trudged up the stairs to the school entrance and made her way to class, bones aching and creaking with every step.

The bell rang for first period. Second period. Third period. The day passed in a fog. Amber navigated the halls and attended each class, but she remembered none of it as thoughts of her bed danced in her head.

The school day finally over, Amber lumbered into her house and poured herself into bed. Mom popped her head in and asked her a few questions … she thought. Amber mumbled her answers … she hoped. But she could concentrate on nothing but her pillow. She laid her head on its cool surface, her feverish skin tingling at the brush of her long eyelashes on her cheek. She fell asleep instantly and dreamed of nothing as her body healed.

“Britt, winter’s going to be over before we know it.” Amber gestured out the dining room window at the receding snow. “Well, I take that back. Winter’s been near its end for a while. It’s ski season that I’m worried about.” She craned her neck to try to see up the mountains beyond her backyard. “We’ve only been three times this whole winter. There’s still good skiing up there, I hear. We should go this weekend.”

“Hmm?” Brittany put down the pencil she’d been gnawing. “Ski? Is that what you said?” She closed her book and stood from the table. She stretched her arms far above her head and leaned deeply to each side. “We could go tomorrow, I guess.”

“Saturdays are busy on the mountain, but I think it’s worth it. Let’s do it.” Amber went to her closet. “I got this new ski outfit back at Christmas—they bought it before Dad lost his job—and I’ve only worn it once.” She pulled out an eggplant, green, and cream three-in-one jacket and off-white ski pants and held them to her body while she swooshed in the mirror. “Besides, like Mom said, we might not have season passes next year. I’ve got to get one more use of this.”

“Oh, I have my same old ski stuff from last year. I’ll probably have to wear that for another couple of years.” Brittany stood in front of the mirror and turned to look at her body sideways.

“I’m sure if you just asked, you’d have a whole new wardrobe before you could snap your fingers.”

“It’s not like my parents are willing to throw money away.” Brittany shook her head. “Even they would say the old one fits fine and I should get more use out of it.”

“Yeah, right. Whatever.” Amber rolled her eyes. “Guess you’ll have to wear what you’ve got, poor girl.” She winked at Britt, zipped her new jacket, and preened in the mirror. Not exactly top of the line, but the color made her eyes pop and the fit showed off her figure.
Nice
.

Swoosh. Swoosh
.

Amber kept her skis in a perfect parallel as she gracefully swished her feet from side to side. Nearing the end of the run, after the last steep grade, she tucked her poles behind her hips and brought her body in tight and low to gather speed for the long stretch to the bottom of the mountain. She pushed off with her right ski and then her left, enough to gain momentum for a strong finish. The wind whipped through her hair while the snowflakes pelted her cheeks and clung to her eyelashes as she whizzed past the trees and wove between the other skiers.

Ah, freedom. Speed
.

Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, she swiped her feet to the side, whipped her skis ninety degrees to the left, and then dug them into the snow for a complete stop. She turned to look up the fluffy, white mountain for Brittany.

There
. A brand-new, top-of-the-line pink snowball taking her time to come down the mountain. Amber shook her head.
Guess I was right. All she had to do to get a new outfit was ask
. Amber liked her own outerwear better, even though it cost about a third of what Brittany wore.
Why did cost even matter, though?
Brittany looked adorable, but Amber knew she did, too. Why couldn’t she be happy for her friend?

Brittany gracefully made her way down the mountain. Amber smiled at her hesitant style. She arrived near the spot where Amber waited and slowed to a safe and steady stop.

“One more time, then lunch?” Amber didn’t want to quit yet.

“Sure, I’m up for another run. But I am getting hungry.” Brittany shook the snow off her cap and put it back on her silky head.

They waited in line for the ski lift and then sank onto the bench as it came up behind them and pressed against the backs of their thighs. It carried them high above the treetops as they made their way slowly up the mountain. So serene—yet powerful—to be up above the trees, looking down on the snow-covered evergreens. The snow started to fall again, lightly at first and then big heavy flakes that absorbed the sound all around them. Like a fairy tale.

“It feels so good not to be thinking about school,” Brittany whispered, closing her eyes.

Well, it had. Amber wished Brittany hadn’t brought it up. But since she had … “Speaking of school, Britt, I’ve been thinking.” She hesitated and scraped the snow from one ski with therazor-sharp bottom of the other. “We really don’t need to push ourselves this hard.” She waited, hoping Brittany would catch on without making Amber actually say it.

“How could we not? We need to do the best we possibly can.” Brittany’s eyebrows raised in the middle as the outsides furrowed in confusion.

“Well … I mean … yeah, we do need to do our best unless … Oh, never mind.”

Brittany turned on the seat as much as she could without falling, and looked at Amber. “No. What were you getting at? Tell me.”

“Oh, I was just thinking … you know … you don’t really need a car … oh, forget it, really, never mind. Really.”
Please let it go
. Amber could feel her cheeks turning red. She should never have even thought about suggesting Brittany let her win. Why had she opened her big mouth?
How awkward
. Amber stared at Brittany, willing her to let it go.