All I need for christmas (part 3)

Alicia and Amber sat on the sofa, Amber could still feel her tears fresh on the fabric. Alicia put her hand on Amber's and sighed. Amber look up at Alicia.1

"I'm so sorry" Amber whispered, looking at the scratches on Alicia's face.2

Alicia shook her head and clenched Amber's hands. 3

"Please don't go back to him, you can do better" Alicia said, in a hushed voice. 4

Amber bit her lip and shook her own head, her red locks tumbling over her shoulders. 5

"But I can't. Carl has a good job, he can be so loving. Just recently, he's been so stressed with work, i figure if I forgive him and make life  relaxing then he will...."6

"Men like him don't change. You can't stay with him just because He's a  safety net"7

"No one loves me, no one thinks I'm beautiful." Amber sobbed, putting her head in her hands.8

"No" Alicia said, pointing in the direction of Jake's kitchen, "That man loves you!"9

Amber  jerked her head up and stared into the kitchen. She could just about see Jake sweeping up the broken mug. Amber was speechless for a moment.10

"Jake? No way, he's my friend."11

"Are you insane Ambs? That guy in there is mad about you!" Alicia plead, standing up.12

"How can you be so sure."13

"The way he can't listen to anything else when you come close, the way he stares at you whenever you speak, the way he holds you when you hug him, the way he looks at you and seems to pray he'll never let you go. He loves you!" 14

Amber couldn't believe it. Now it all seemed so clear, the way Jake blushed so much, the way he stammered and couldn't look at Amber straight in the eye. Everything seemed to slot into place. 15

Suddenly, Amber's mobile phone rang. Amber jumped back into life and answered her phone. Alicia knew who it was, she knew who it was from the way Amber's hazel eyes filled with tears, they way her hand's shook.16

" Carl, please, I'm sorry"17

"No Amber, I'm sorry. I'm just so tense from working. I was wrong."18

"Oh Carl"19

"So your coming home"20

" Yeah, well..."21

"Amber? What are you on about?"22

"I'm at Jake's and well, seems rude to just run out!"23

"Oh sorry, didn't know you were at your boyfriends house!"24

"Carl, it's not like that!"25

"So, why don't you come home. If you love me"26

There was a nerve breaking pause.27

"I'll be there."28

Amber hung up and stared into space. Alicia grabbed her hand.29

"You know what you have to do Amber."30

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~31

Carl stood in the centre of the Mall, scanning the area in sight of Amber. As he saw her approaching, he noticed she carried two suitcases. As she came closer Carl headed up to her and went to kiss her.32

Amber pulled away.33

"No more" Amber snarled.34

"Amber, what are you on about, what's with the cases?" Carl asked, in desperate confusion.35

"This end's now Carl. I won't take it any more, here." Amber said, placing a key in Carl's hand. Carl looked at they key as if it would explain what's going on.36

"Your flat key Carl. I won't be using it anymore."37

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The rain spat from the sky. Jake was just about to sit down for a glass of wine and a movie. Just as he took his place on the sofa, the doorbell called. Jake sighed, putting his wine down, he dragged himself to the door. As he pulled it open, Amber stood there. She stood right up close to him and placed a finger on his lips.38

"It took this to make me see. I didn't wanna believe it. but it's true Jake. I love you"39

Amber kissed Jake on the lips, they stood on his door step, in the rain, at last letting destiny takes its course.40