Like a knife in the heart [Amber/Jason]

[Amber Craze James]

Dear Amber,
How are you doing? I haven't heard from you in three years, since you went to camp.
I've really missed you, and I was thinking maybe I could get you for your birthday this year? I could take you to Disney World, I know how much you love amusement parks. Over here it's been really hectic, I got a new job in computer software! It makes a lot of money, so I might be able to have the trip to England like I've wanted. I could take you with me, I mean, I know how you would like to see the world and all. I would take Josh, but you know how he hates that kind of stuff. You are more of the interested type; just like me.
Now I'm rambling again, but I'll let you get back to your camp.
Love,
Dad.

Amber stared at the note. Her cheeks got red with anger. How dare he try to bribe her into loving him again by offering her this. He was not her dad. He never would be, and he never was. He was some idiot who had tread on her family, he had cheated on her and her brother and her mom for thirteen years. Thirteen years. How could you get past that? It just didn't compute how she could forgive him. In a rush of rage, she crumpled up the note and threw it on the ground. She placed a hand on her mouth to stop a choke from escaping. All those camper running for a goodnight hug by there best friend or sweetheart where around her. All those people that where now filling into their cabins, running up from the beach because they took a nap there and everything else. The point was that she couldn't cry right here! She couldn't face telling them about her dad. She just couldn't. So, naturally, she ran. Ran away from everyone and everything.

A scarlet drop of sun pushed down past half-blood hill. It was almost time for them to be in bed. Or else the cleaning Harpies would come out. But when your 'dad' sends you a letter for the first time in three years, those types of things become insignificant.

As she ran, she pushed past someone--Jason, she thought--but she didn't really care. She just ran. A hand still held firmly on her mouth, she kept running. She didn't stop until she hit the woods. She ran inside far enough so no one could see her, then plopped down on a tree stump. A solitary tear traced down her cheek. Amber choked back the croaking sobs, she just kept her eyes on the ground in front of her. She hated that he called her ''daughter'' because he totally was not her dad. He was her stepdad that might as well drive a stake through her heart with as much pain as he had caused her.

She let herself croak out a gasp to get air in, thinking she was alone... Oh, but she wasn't.

There was a lurker standing there watching her. But not the mean kind of lurker, like a stalker. Just someone that meant no harm and wanted to help her. He was a very nice boy who Amber thought highly of. He was actually one of the only boys who didn't mind if she blurted out something random, or used epic amounts of hyperbole. He was without a doubt, the nicest(or at least one of the nicest)Guys here at camp that Amber had met... Or, at least that was Amber's opinion.

But of course, Amber wasn't in good enough shape to acknowledged his presence

[Jason Elliot Corcoran]

Night lay across the camp in a heavy cloak, the only light that was emitted was by the moon, and even that wasn't much. It was way past curfew, but for a few people, that didn't make them any less eager to stay out and mess around with friends at the beach or in the woods, or for the thrill of rebelling against the rules, even if the many threats of the cleaning harpies were lingering around.

But for one boy, he wasn't out to mess around, or to be a rebel, he was outside to chillax after a stressful day of chasing his overly-hyper twin around. They were both opposites. She was the bubbly one, and he was the relaxed one. Sometimes he needed a break from her, he couldn't be around her 24/7. Not to mention the fight that she'd gotten into trying to annoy the Ares cabin this morning. He had to help her to the infirmary.

Being a cabin leader didn't help either. Jason had to run around and organize things. Like the timetables for his cabin, shower times, and even who to partner up with for Capture the Flag. Sometimes he had to fight for the best spots. Literally.

So here he was, standing near the woods, enjoying the quiet and stress-free privacy that he was receiving from the nature. The wind tasseled his hair about, entwining it's fingers through his messy locks. Not a single sound ran through his ears apart from the whistling wind running through the close-by trees. He could smell the scent of strawberries, which helped to calm him down. He wished that every night would be like this, but no matter wherever he went something would find him. Sometimes he wouldn't mind, and keep up the calm facade, but sometimes he would snap easily and storm off. That seemed to happen a lot with Samantha.

Jason thought he was alone until something pushed past him, almost sending him tumbling to the floor. He swore he could hear the almost silent sound of sobbing, and looking back the direction where the figure had ran, he swore that he saw light blonde hair, that looked mysteriously familiar.

Being a curious person, he ran after the figure until it stopped to sit down. Shadows covered the feminine silhouette as it let out strangled sobs and close to a state of hyperventilation. Hiding behind a bush, he curiously took a step closer to get a look at her. It was Amber, a child of Apollo which he sometimes hung out with, were they friends? Yeah, he'd say so. But he couldn't hide the nagging feeling that he wanted to be a little bit more then friends.

She looked deep in thought, and very upset, it made him sad to see her this way. Usually she was the mirror of his sister. Bubbly and hard to make upset or to the point of tears. Despite that, in a way she was different, she wouldn't annoy him like his sister would. He furrowed his eyebrows, and contemplated stepping out to confront her, and ask her what was wrong.

Letting her be, after a few minutes he stepped out and walked over to her position on the tree stump, letting himself be known. He knelt down to her level and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What's the matter Amber?" Concern was easily shown on his face for her well-being, and he wanted to help her in any way that he could.

[Amber Craze James]

"What's the matter Amber?"

Amber looked up at the tall teenager. Cuss words fluttered in her mind. Of all the people that came around, it had to be her crush. CRUSH! I mean, couldn't she catch a break for five minutes? Sure she had crushes all the time, but that didn't make the nervous cushy feeling in the pit of her stomach go away.

Amber didn't even bother looking away, she just stared at the ground. She didn't bother making up some stupid lie, or even wiping her few tears. She just sat there. After a moment of courage, she replied. ''My 'dad'.''[/color] She used air quotes around 'dad'. I've been at camp for three years, then my dad chooses to write me for no apparent reason. He's trying to bribe me into liking him. I mean, Disney World can't replace all the hurt my dear stepfather has caused me.'' Then she realized that he probably had no idea what she was talking about.

''H-he cheated on my mom. For thirteen years. At the time, I didn't even know he was my stepdad.''[/color] She confessed. Every word was true. ''Jeffery might as well drive a knife through my heart.''[/color] She had called her dad 'Jeffery' ever since the divorce. And she had every right to.

Without even thinking about it, Amber laid her head on Jason's shoulder. Her heart jumped with the thinking of love, but she was sure he didn't feel the same way, so she ignored it. He was a friend. Friend. Friend. She just needed to convince herself. And Aries just realized how dramatic this post is O.O Okay, now Aries is getting off topic and talking in the third person. BACK TO THE POST----

Amber turned her head slightly so she was looking at the ground again, to ashamed of her stepfather to even look at Jason. And why wouldn't she be ashamed?

[Jason Elliot Corcoran]

Jason stared at the younger teenager, her face downcast and he could almost see her brain working 300 miles per second. Blushing slightly, he raised his hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks, wanting her to return back to her bubbly self that he knew. Suddently she spoke after what seemed like hours,

''My 'dad'.'' She used air quotes around 'dad'."I've been at camp for three years, then my dad chooses to write me for no apparent reason. He's trying to bribe me into liking him. I mean, Disney World can't replace all the hurt my dear stepfather has caused me."

He noticed a look on her face that made her seem like she had no idea what she was talking about, but it all made sense to him. It looked as though all of the weight was being lifted off of her shoulders whilst speaking.

''H-he cheated on my mom. For thirteen years. At the time, I didn't even know he was my stepdad. Jeffery might as well drive a knife through my heart.''

His eye brows furrowed as she said the last bit, before getting lost in his thoughts, thinking about what she had just told him. He snapped out of his remeniscing of his own past when a weight suddenly appeared on his shoulder. Amber had laid her head on his shoulder. He adjusted his weight to make himself more comfortable before gently laying his head on hers. Placing his hand on her back, he tried to calm her down by rubbing her back. Jason decided it would be best if he stayed quiet for a while.

[Amber Craze James]

His knuckle came up and wiped the tears off her cheek. She then realized how stupid she must seem. Crying over a letter... I mean, who does that? Amber the Loser, that's who. Amber the Loser... Seems about right. I mean, she's sitting in the woods on a stump crying about a letter. In front of her crush, no less! Realizing this, she tightly closed her eyes, working up the courage to say something. After was seemed like hours of an eerie silence, she spoke.

''Sorry...''[/color] She blurted out stupidly. ''I mean, for being so emotional about something that probably seems so stupid to you, and for making you late for bed and...''[/color] She let her voice trail off. Then she gave a small, sad laugh. ''I talk way to much.''[/color]

So maybe it was stupid, but Amber saw it like this: This guy was her dad. She grew up with him, she loved him and he sort of loved her. Then he abandons her, and a stranger comes trying to get her to like him. That stranger is anything but her father, because a father doesn't run around with other women while he has a family to look out for. So naturally, he was just a guy who made himself think that he was loved.

Amber felt his hand on her back, rubbing it sort of. It was kind of awkward but ignored that. She thought it was sweet that he didn't just ignore her pain and walk away. Because that's what most kids do. Espesically the dyonisis kids, they act like they never saw you. But Jason was different. He was that quiet guy in the corner that you think nothing of, then you have a problem and he's right there. Where as Amber was that girl that you never can't notice. No matter what mood your in Amber's right there, shouting something in your face.

The sad Apollo child lifted her head off of his shoulder and instead leaned back against a tree behind her. After another moment, there was something that made Amber jump.

Thump!

A heavy pound broke the scilence. Thump! Thump! Thump! They got louder the more that happened. Fear welded up inside Amber, it was a monster. A big one, at that. And they both had absolutely nothing to protect themselves with. Louder and louder, before it was in eyeshot. A huge black three-headed dog stared right at them as it ran.

Amber yelped and scrambled to get up and run. Dang it! She had pulled Jason in this with her! Man, he's gonna get mauled with me![/i] She thought. There was nothing she could do. Nothing. The thing was way to huge to outrun, so they would have to think of something else.

You know, soon. Like, before they both die.