Conversation

After coming out of her room, Amber follows me to mine. She stands in the middle of the room as I close my door and walk to my chair, taking a seat. I stare at her as she struggles to meet my eye, and I see her shuffling from foot to foot. "Why don't you take a seat?" I gesture to another chair across the room. My eyes follow her as she takes a seat, facing me. She still can't bring herself to look me in the eye. "Amber. I want to let you know you're not in trouble. You can relax." Her eyes dart to mine, but quickly dart away. I exhale slowly. "Talk to me. Tell me the truth. Did you really forget to send me an update, or were you just worried that I would be mad that you brought a friend over?"

I see her take a deep breath before responding. "I meant to text you about her coming over, I promise. I just... forgot. I'm sorry."

"And this girl," 'Do I let on that I now know they're more than just friends, or stay my hand?' "Has she been your friend for a while?" 'Stay it is'

Amber blushes a little, then responds, "She's... um... Well, actually we've... uh... We met when we moved into our dorms. We had a bit of a rocky start, but we're really close now."

"Ah, I see." I watch her eyes dart back to mine. "Well, she seems like a lovely young lady." Amber smiles. "And I'll be sure to tell her parents that when they pick her up tomorrow." Her smile dissolves into a grimace.

"Oh, yeah... about that Dad... I have to, um... tell you something..." Her blush turns from a light strawberry to a deep beet red. "I uh, well, she... Her, uh... About that..."

"Breathe, don't cause yourself a panic attack, honey. What is it?" Maybe I'm being a little petty now, but whatever.

"Well... the thing is... Hanna's going to... be staying with us for a while."

"Ah, like a day or two, that's okay." I smile softly.

"More like," she grimaces again. "Summer break."

I drop my smile and give a longer, tired sigh. "I see..." I cross my arms.

"I'm sorry Dad, I really messed up, I know. It's just that I was sure that I'd cleared it with you and her parents are gone so she has no one at home so-" She stops as I raise my hand. She's breathing heavily and she looks like a tomato.

"Amber, I understand. I'm not about to kick her out to the curb." After she gives a sigh of relief I continue. "I'm still a little mad, I won't lie. We'll discuss further another time. For now, I want to talk with her."

Amber blinks a few times before responding. "What? With-"

"Yes. Send Hanna in and wait in your room." She can tell by the look on my face that our conversation has, for now, ended. I sit and watch as she retreats from my room, then wait for Hanna to arrive.