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Amber Freeman lounged on a couch, surrounded by Chad and a few football players. The haze of smoke mingled with the pulsing bass of the music, creating a heady atmosphere. Amber’s eyes drifted lazily around the room until a comment from one of the players caught her attention.
“She’s bad though,” he said, nodding toward a figure standing near the edge of the room.
Amber’s curiosity was piqued. She followed their gaze and saw Tara Carpenter standing alone, her striking presence starkly contrasting with the party’s frenetic energy.
The conversation continued around Amber, but her focus was on Tara. “No way, Wes is hitting that,” someone added.
Amber’s laughter burst out, genuine and surprised. “Wes, who?” She looked around at the straight faces staring back at her, her laughter trailing off as she registered their seriousness. “No way.”
Her laughter shifted to a smirk as she stood up, her gaze locked on Tara. The bustling noise of the party seemed to dim as Amber navigated through the crowd, her steps purposeful and confident.
When Amber finally reached Tara, the space between them felt charged with unspoken intrigue. The room's vibrant chaos seemed to recede, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of sudden intensity.
“Hey,” Amber said, her voice low and warm, leaning slightly against the wall beside Tara. “Enjoying the party?”
Tara looked at Amber, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. “Trying to,” she replied, her voice calm but with an edge of curiosity.
Amber’s smile widened, the energy between them crackling with potential. In that moment, amidst the backdrop of the chaotic party, something new and unexpected began to unfold.
Amber grinned. “I’m Amber, by the way.”
Tara’s smile widened, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She raised an eyebrow and said, “I know.”
Amber blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “And you are...?”
Tara’s eyebrow remained raised, her tone lightly tinged with playfulness. “We have three classes together…”
Amber’s eyes widened in realization, and she chuckled, a bit embarrassed. “Oh, right. I guess I didn’t make the connection.”
Tara’s eyebrow remained raised. “Right, I guess you didn’t. And you also borrowed one of my led pencils and never gave it back.”
Amber laughed. “I’m so sorry,” she said in the least apologetic tone ever.
Tara rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you are.”
When she looked back, Amber had stopped laughing and was biting her lip while looking down at Tara. The look made Tara feel flustered, and she had to look away.
“So,” Amber asked quizzically, almost daring Tara to lie, “did you come with a boyfriend or something?”
Tara hummed, still avoiding eye contact. “I came with friends…”
Amber's eyebrows shot up, a smirk on her lips, until Tara continued, “and a boyfriend,” she finished with a sigh.
Amber hummed. “So, where is he?”
Tara sighed, about to answer when Chad yelled from the kitchen, “Amby! We’re all out!”
Amber jolted up in irritation, while Tara tried to hide her genuine amusement. Amber yelled back, “Okay!”
As the noise resumed, Amber squinted at Tara. “Funny, huh?”
Tara looked up and said, “Just a little.”
“Well, would you go with me?” Amber asked.
Tara looked around for a moment before saying, “Yeah, why not,” gesturing for Amber to walk in front of her.
As they walked through the kitchen past Chad and the football players, Tara noticed the smug looks exchanged between Amber and the players. She was quickly distracted when Chad wrapped an arm around her neck, saying, “Is she good company, T?”
Tara smiled and shrugged. “Not even a little,” she said, while Amber looked puzzled by their closeness.
“I’m working on it. Come on, this way,” Amber said, grabbing Tara’s wrist. Tara liked the feeling and let herself be pulled along.
When they reached a door in the corner of the kitchen, Tara was puzzled as Amber stopped and pulled out her phone to turn on the flashlight. “Ladies first,” Amber said.
Tara scoffed. “So you can push me down the steps? I’m good.”
“Why would I do that?” Amber asked, opening the door and starting down the stairs.
“You just give that vibe,” Tara replied, following her into the basement as Amber turned on the light.
“What vibe?” Amber turned around, curious.
“That crazy look in your eye, like a psycho murderer,” Tara laughed, and Amber joined in.
“Please, you’re more likely the psycho murderer. You won’t even tell me your name,” Amber teased.
Tara clicked her tongue. “I can’t believe you’d steal a pencil from someone and not care to remember their name.”
"Steal is a strong word," Amber said, settling onto a loud gray couch.
"What do you call it, then?" Tara asked.
Amber dodged the question, saying, "Chad called you T, right?"
Tara nodded with an amused hum.
Amber tapped her head dramatically. "Is it Tanya?"
Tara’s annoyance was palpable. “Where’s the cooler?” she asked, her eyes scanning the dimly lit basement.
Amber, avoiding her gaze, pointed to the far corner and muttered, “Over there.”
Tara let out a frustrated sigh and made her way across the basement. The sound of her footsteps on the concrete was faint but deliberate. As she reached the cooler and grabbed what she needed, Amber’s attention remained on her, feeling a mix of unease and curiosity.
When Tara returned and sat down abruptly on the couch beside Amber, the sudden proximity made Amber’s heart skip a beat. The atmosphere was charged with unspoken tension as Tara’s presence seemed to fill the space around them, leaving Amber momentarily stunned.
“How do you know Chad?” Amber asked, her curiosity piqued.
Tara turned to her with a warm smile. “We literally grew up together. My sister used to babysit him and Mindy.”
Amber’s eyes widened slightly. “I didn’t know that.”
Tara’s smile deepened, a touch of amusement in her voice. “Why would you?”
As Tara tilted her head slightly, her fingers played with a strand of her hair. “How do you know him?”
Amber gave her a knowing look, the party’s lively hum around them seeming to fade. “I throw really good parties.”
Tara laughed softly, the sound mingling with the distant music. “Right.”
“Why, Wes?” Amber asked, her voice carrying a hint of genuine curiosity as she leaned forward slightly.
Tara’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why Wes what?”
Amber’s eyes scanned Tara with a mixture of intrigue and disbelief. “I mean, you’re pretty, you hang out with Chad, so you must be popular. Why the sheriff’s son?”
The question lingered in the air, adding a moment of tension between them. Tara's expression shifted from surprise to contemplation, the noise of the party around them seeming to grow distant as she considered Amber’s words.
After a moment of silence, Tara finally said, “We grew up together too.”
Amber raised her eyebrows, waiting for more, but Tara fell silent. Noticing Tara’s hesitation, Amber reached out, to push the strand of hair Tara was playing with away from her face, her touch both deliberate and tender, making sure she could see Tara better.
Amber's eyes held a soft curiosity as she waited for Tara to continue, the ambient noise of the party fading into the background as the moment between them grew more intimate.
Tara looked at Amber as she gently maneuvered her hand to the back of Tara’s neck. The touch made Tara look down at her own lap, feeling the subtle pressure and warmth of Amber’s hand.
Amber moved closer, her breath brushing Tara’s ear as she whispered, “What do you think Wes is doing right now?”
Tara tilted her head in confusion, but Amber’s hand remained firm on the back of her neck. “You haven’t seen him since you got here, have you?” Amber continued, inching even closer.
Tara felt a pang of realization. Although she knew Wes would never cheat on her, the argument they had and his sudden disappearance made Amber’s insinuation seem more plausible. The closeness and Amber’s insinuation weighed on her, and in a moment of impulsive clarity, Tara turned her head and kissed Amber.
Amber’s reaction was almost comical—she let out a moan of surprise, as if she hadn’t expected Tara to respond that way or as if it wasn’t what she truly wanted.
Amber’s reaction made Tara feel like a pro, a mix of amusement and confidence settling over her. It was surprising to be this aroused over a kiss, especially after being in a relationship as long as she had
Amber’s breathing grew heavier as she took control. One hand remained at the back of Tara’s neck, grounding her, while the other began to roam over Tara’s waist with a purposeful touch. The sensation of Amber’s hands on her—one firm and possessive, the other exploring—heightened the tension between them. The atmosphere around them seemed to pulse with an electric charge, each touch amplifying the intensity of the moment.
The moment felt electric, almost too good, until a loud voice cut through the intensity. “Amby, the beer!”
Tara jumped away from Amber in a flash, her heart racing. Amber groaned and rolled her eyes, visibly annoyed. As Amber stood up, she glanced over at Tara, who was hastily fixing her clothes and smoothing her hair with a frustrated sigh.
Amber couldn’t help but smirk slightly, finding Tara’s flustered attempt to compose herself both amusing and endearing.
Amber gestured for Tara to walk ahead, her eyes lingering appreciatively on Tara’s figure. Noticing Chad doing the same, a flicker of irritation passed over her.
So she flicked Chad’s head sharply. “Get your own beer, idiot.”
Chad winced, rubbing his head. “You said you were going to!”
Amber shot him a piercing look, her smirk returning as she turned away, following Tara with a possessive edge, leaving Chad to his own devices.
It took Amber a while to find Tara again, making her suspect Tara might not have wanted to be found. But this was Amber’s party, at her house—if Tara truly didn’t want to be found, she’d have left.
“But why do you want to leave?” one of the girls asked, her voice curious. Tara groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Amber stood silently behind Tara, her presence unnoticed at first. The air was tense with unspoken questions.
Mindy finally looked up, eyes widening. “Hi?” she said, her tone a mix of surprise and curiosity.
The girl Mindy has her arms around squints at Amber, her expression a mix of confusion and irritation. Amber, feeling the weight of the moment, lets out a soft laugh, trying to defuse the tension. “Hello,” she says, her voice warm but slightly nervous.
Tara jolts upright, her eyes widening as she turns around, clearly startled.
“You stole my friend’s pencil,” the other girl, Anika, says with a hint of annoyance.
Tara groans, shaking her head in exasperation. “Anika.”
Amber steps closer, her gaze steady and sincere. “I was hoping I could return it right now,” she says, her voice carrying a note of apology as she looks directly at Tara.
“Aww, she’s not like what you and Chad say at all then,” Anika remarks to Mindy, her tone laced with surprise. Amber’s eyebrows furrow in confusion.
Mindy merely shakes her head, dismissing the comment.
Tara, slightly flustered, extends her hands toward Amber. Amber looks at her quizzically before breaking into a smile. “Oh, no, it’s upstairs… in my room.”
Tara clears her throat, trying to maintain composure. “It’s fine, you can keep it.”
Amber's eyes widen with exaggerated offense. “What? Of course not. You’ve been complaining about it all night. I’d hate for you to think me a thief or something.” She says dramatically, causing Mindy and Anika to stifle their laughter.
Tara shot a look of annoyance at Mindy and Anika, who quickly stopped laughing under her gaze. Amber, noticing the shift, gestured for Tara to go up the steps first.
Tara sighed but complied, climbing the stairs ahead of Amber. When they reached the top, Amber pointed towards her room. Tara made her way there, and once she was inside, Amber closed the door behind them, the soft click echoing in the quiet room.
Amber let Tara take in her room while she walked over to her desk and sat down in the chair. “You were just going to leave without your pencil?” Amber asked, a teasing edge in her voice.
Tara sighed and settled on the bed. “I have a boyfriend,” she replied, a hint of frustration in her tone.
Amber rolled her eyes. “I don’t know him.”
Tara laughed, shaking her head. “That doesn’t mean I don’t have one.”
“And you don’t even know me either, obviously,” Tara said, a touch of irritation creeping in.
Amber turned the chair away from Tara, moving some papers around on her desk before standing up and joining Tara on the bed. “Tanya,” Amber said playfully.
Tara’s frustration peaked, and she started to rise from the bed. “Tara is close enough—it’s practically the same thing.”
Amber gently pulled Tara back down by her hand while holding up a pencil with Tara’s name engraved on it. “See? I told you I’d return it.”
Tara took the pencil with a barely concealed smirk, placing it on the bed beside her. She looked at Amber and said, “Thank you.”
Amber practically preened, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. “You’re welcome. You were only hassling me about it the whole time.”
Tara chuckled, her amusement evident.
Tara a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry for that, then.”
Amber hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t know, it really hurt my feelings when you called me a thief.”
Tara scoffed, trying to lighten the mood. “How can I make it up to you?” she asked with a laugh.
Amber’s gaze shifted to Tara’s lips, causing Tara to stop laughing and look back at Amber. A moment of tension lingered between them.
Tara stood up from the bed, beginning to speak. “Amber, I—”
Amber gently interrupted, her voice soft but firm. “Tara, I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. You have your pencil. You can leave.”
Tara stared at the pencil for a moment, then back at Amber. With a deep breath, she sat back down next to her.
Amber’s gaze remained fixed ahead. “Do you even—” she began, but her words trailed off as Tara leaned in to kiss her.
Amber quickly responded, her lips meeting Tara’s with eagerness. As the kiss deepened, Amber’s hand moved to cradle Tara’s face. Tara noticed Amber’s habit of guiding the kiss and, feeling a surge of confidence, gently pushed Amber down onto the bed while maintaining the kiss.
Amber’s hands instinctively returned to Tara’s waist, her grip firm and possessive. Tara couldn’t help but move her hips in response, feeling the intensity of Amber’s need for control through her tight hold. The kiss became a passionate struggle for dominance, each of them caught in a dance of desire and control.
As Tara grew bolder, her kisses traveled down Amber’s neck. Amber’s breath hitched, the sounds of her growing pleasure becoming more apparent. When Tara’s lips found a sensitive spot and she bit down gently, Amber’s nails dug into Tara’s skin, accompanied by a low, breathy “fuck” right in Tara’s ear. In that moment, Tara felt a rush of exhilaration, realizing just how much effect she was having on Amber.
Just as Tara was about to deepen the kiss again, a knock echoed from the door. Tara started to pull away, but Amber’s hand gripped her ass firmly, giving it a light smack. “They’ll go away,” Amber murmured.
Tara hesitated, then turned back to Amber, her lips almost meeting hers again. But before they could continue, the door swung open, and Mindy’s voice rang out. “Ohhhh!” She exclaimed, quickly covering her eyes with a dramatic flourish.
“Wes is ready to go!” Mindy says peeking through her fingers
Amber furrows her eyebrows in disbelief as she says “So?”
Tara keeps her head as Mindy replies “he’s her ride…and her boyfriend” Mindy says the last part very quickly.
Mindy leaves the room, and Tara reluctantly gets off Amber, sitting on the edge of the bed. The room feels suddenly quiet, tension lingering in the air.
Tara sighed deeply, her gaze falling to the floor. “I’m probably going to break up with him tonight.”
Amber’s eyebrows furrowed, confusion evident. “Probably?”
Tara looked up, her expression a mix of determination and vulnerability. “I’m going to break up with him tonight or tomorrow.”
Amber's response was a soft, “Okay,” her tone gentle but with a hint of concern.
Tara rose from the bed, a sigh escaping her lips. “I hope we can be friends… I mean, me and you.”
Amber’s face softened into a warm, genuine smile. She laughed softly. “Hey, you let me borrow your pencil. I thought we were friends this whole time.”
Tara laughed as well, the weight of the moment lightening. “I guess.”
And then Tara opened the door, stepping into the hallway. Amber, quick on her feet, followed her down the stairs. As they descended, Amber noticed the entire group preparing to leave, Chad among them. For the first time that night, Amber saw Wes, and his glare was unmistakable.
Amber met Wes’s gaze, holding it for a moment. A smirk played on her lips as she thought about how much better she felt—after all, she wouldn’t have left Tara alone at a party. The sight of Wes’s failed attempt to kiss Tara and her quick dodge only bolstered her sense of satisfaction.
Amber watched as the group lined up to leave. Once they had finally departed, she waited precisely four minutes before turning to the remaining guests, ushering them out with a decisive tone. The party ended on her terms, and the night felt like a small victory.