XXXmas Party: Leah Mingles with Amber

Leah saw Amber, the school’s secretary and loyal if oblivious servant of Mr. Howard smoking outside. Something she normally hid from all the students and even faculty when she could. She was an older lady and had started the habbit a while ago. Amber and Leah always got on well, even if seeing Amber had meant generally seeing Mr. Howard who would demand his payment for silence. Leah shivered from more than the cold as she thought of it all.

But Amber’s warm face glowed like the end of her cigarette and Leah approached her for some small talk.

"Hey Amber, how's it going?" Leah said trying to make small talk as she sipped her punch. The **** warmed her mouth and inside, a respite from the cold albiet fresh air.

"Oh hey there Leah, just needed to get some fresh air." Amber said with a chuckle, ironically waving her cigarette around. "The party is getting rowdy inside." She took a long drag on her cancer stick and exhaled smoke into the cold night air.

"I know, right? It's supposed to be a work event but it feels like it's more of an excuse to get wasted." Leah said jokingly as she shifted from one foot to the other, trying to keep warm.

“Remember Leah—its an ‘unofficial’ event.” Amber said in air-quotes. They both laughed. They chit-chatted a bit more before Amber threw in the towel.

“Okay, I am about to freeze out here. I’m going inside.” she said as she headed inside leaving Leah alone outside on the patio area.