Checkmate
"Hiya Doll!" Dak yelled, tackling Amber.
"Dak!" She yelled, "I'm on duty so get off!" Dak obediantly stopped sitting on her.
"Does that mean I can sit on you when your shift's over?" He asked hopefully.
"No, but I'll tell you what you can do. You can go to-"
"Amber!" Chase yelled. Amber jumped to her feet.
"Yeah Chase?" Chase grinned at her evilly.
"Remember, the customer is always right!" Heck, Jake, and Dak all burst out laughing. Amber glared at Chase and stuck her tounge out at him, going back to work.
"So what do you want?" She asked Jake. Jake smiled slyly. Since Amber was his girlfriend, she'd get him whatever he wanted.
"Gimme a Corona." he demanded. Amber nodded.
"Okay, one Coke."
"Rum and Coke? Fine by me."
"Right. One Virgin Coca Cola." Jake looked up at her.
"WHAT?! But Amber, honey, I want some booze! C'mon, just one?" Amber smiled at him.
"And lose my paycheck? Better luck next time, Sweetie." Heck and Dak laughed again.
"Laugh it up." Jake growled, "At least I've got a girlfriend rather than chasing after every waitress I see."
"You?!" Heck said in shock, "A girlfriend?! NEVER!!! Why, that's impossible! You, the one who NEVER dates, who refuses to even look at girls! You, the one-"
"-who suddenly gets up enough nerve to hit on an uppity flat girl who is ALSO a waitress!" Dak finished for Heck. Jake glared at him.
"She's not flat." he muttered. Heck laughed and punched Jake in the arm.
"We're just teasin' you, Buddy. Amber never minds it when we tease her."
"Besides," Dak said leaning back in his chair, "I ALMOST got a waitress once!"
"Dak," Jake said, rolling his eyes, "Don't you remember? We found out later that she was a drag queen."
"Yeah," Dak muttered angrily, "And a drunk one too... and STILL he thought he was too good for me! THERE'S NO JUSTICE ON THIS PLANET!!!" The three boys laughed. Amber walked back to the table with a Coke and handed it to Jake.
"Hey Jakey," she said, nudging him gently, "Meet me behind the counter after my shift, okay?" Jake grinned widely in response. Amber walked off to serve another table.
"Damn, I'm having a good day!" Jake muttered happily. Around a half hour later, Chase walked out of the kitchen to mix himself a drink. As he walked behind the bar, Chase tripped over Amber and Jake, both in the process of necking. Chase glared at them angrily.
"How many times have I told you two, no hanky panky behind the counter!" he yelled, "If Duke ever caught you..." Jake panicked at that, "Oh please Chase, you won't tell him, will you?" Chase sighed, "No, but I should!" Jake gave a sigh of relief, "Thanks Chase." And with that, he began to kiss Amber again. Amber shoved him away, "Jake!" she said uncomfortably. "What?!" he demanded. "Now, no more of that, understood?" Chase said sternly. Jake nodded, helping Amber up. They both walked out of the restaurant together. "Here," said Jake, "Let's go to your stable." Amber resisted, "Look Jake, Chase said he didn't want us doing that, and neither does Duke." "So?" Asked Jake pulling her along, "Not like they're ever gonna find out." Amber snatched her hand away from him, "I'm just not sure I'm comfortable with this, that's all." Jake sighed, "But Amber, we've got the night off! C'mon, I've been waiting for this since forever! Just once wouldn't hurt, would it? You like me, don't you?" "Of course I do," she murmured, nearly defeated, "But I really don't..." Amber trailed off, looking at Jake. "Oh, fine." Jake smiled at her happily, "I knew you'd see it my way!" "On one condition!" Amber yelled sternly. "Oh?" asked Jake, "And what's that?" "I want you to meet my sister." Jake went pale, "Your sister?" Amber nodded. Jake sat down on the sidewalk in disbelief, "You're kidding. You can't be serious." "But Jake-" "Amber!" he yelled, "She's the Lady Smuggler! She'll kill me! I mean, we're practically worst enemies! I can't meet her! Besides, she's a witch!" Amber turned away from him, wounded. Jake suddenly felt very ashamed of himself, "Sorry Amber," he said quietly, "I didn't mean it... I'm being a real asshole." "I noticed." Amber muttered, turning back to him. "Forgive me?" he sqeaked. Amber smiled and laughed, "Only if you promise to meet her. I can't wait to prove you wrong!" Jake shook his head playfully, "Man, I make one slip up and you're ready to send me to my death! Fine...when?" "Tomorrow." said Amber, "It's Friday. Lestat can drive us over...he's got a mad crush on her, y'know." "He must be blind." Jake muttered as a joke. Amber elbowed him in the ribs. "You'll be laughing out the other side of your ass tomorrow!" She yelled happily. Jake shook his head again. "Lestat's fucking gonna kill me over this one... now, c'mon, let's head over to that barn of yours." Amber shook her head slightly, looking at her watch. "Uno problemo mi amigo, I can't." Jake looked up at her with amazement. "WHAT?! WHY THE FUCK NOT?!" Amber stepped back in fear. "I have foaling duty... one slip up and I could injure not only a foal, but my paycheck." "But Amber, it's your day off..." Jake advanced towards Amber who stepped back again. "I can't." Jake looked down again. "I guess I'll see you at Chase's Place tommorrow then?" Amber looked down as Jake slumped off. She had completely forgotten about her foaling duty and Jake's sudden change of attitude frightened her. She walked off, hearing one of the mares whinnying. Jake slowly walked back to the BOTB. He had made an ass of himself by getting refused, but maybe Amber was right. Knocking a guy off of his skateboard, Jake immediately took off. He avoided the yells and shouts behind him, taking to the alley ways. Leaving the board, Jake hopped over a wall and turned towards the back entrance of the headquarters. Jake sighed, concerned. He was going to meet the Lady Smuggler at last... Jake was positive he would never see the light of day again. The next day, Jake paced in front of his table, trying to think of an excuse to give to Amber. He pulled anxiously on his jeans. Due to the occaision, Jake had changed out of his baggy jeans and gotten rid of his chains. He actually looked fairly respectable..."Hey you!" Jake quickly spun around to see Lestat looking at him. "So THERE's lover boy!" Jake rolled his eyes, "Hi Lestat." "I understand I'm supposed to take you to meet Amb's sister." Jake went pale, "Uh huh." Lestat laughed, "Calm down now. She's not a monster, you know." "That's one man's opinion." Jake muttered. Lestat put a hand on his shoulder, "I'm serious Jake. She's actually pretty nice." "Why should I trust you?!" Jake snapped, "You got crush on her, dammit!" He sighed and sat down. " Sorry Lestat, haven't been myself lately." Lestat nodded, sitting beside him, "So Amber tells me. What is it?" Jake put his head in his hands, "Withdrawal." He muttered quietly. Lestat nodded sympathetically, He'd heard about Jake's drug problems from Duke several times. "Ah, I see. Well, you're making an effort!" Jake nodded, "I guess." "Oh, c'omn now," Lestat said cheerfully, "The worst she could do is rip your heart out and crush your pathetic skull into a thousand pieces." "Thank you, Lestat, that's makes me feel tons better!" he yelled sarcastically. Amber walked up to them, "Hey Lestat. Hiya Cutie." She kissed Jake on the cheek. "Ooooh," said Lestat, "Amber's gettin' wild!" Amber smacked him gently, "Shut up, you. My shift's over so let's get goin'!" Jake reluctantly followed Amber and Lestat out the door. For a moment he turned back around to look at Chase's Place, wondering if he'd ever see it again. "Hey! Are you coming or not?!" Lestat yelled, driving up to him in Cool Shoes. Jake noddedm "Yeah, I'm coming." Jake hopped in the back of the car with Amber. After twenty minutes, Amber poked him, "Hey Jake, are you alright?" Jake nodded, "Yeah, sure. Why?" "You haven't said anything for the past twenty minutes. We're almost there now, y'know." Jake nodded, "I know." While in the Brotherhood's service, Jake had gotten the chance to study the Guild's maps of Baconus, complete with all the jurisdictions of the Guild's prominent gangs. The Black Rose had a very large amount of territory, equal to the Brotherhood's. And now Jake was in the heart of it. Lestat parked the car at the corner of a dingy, old apartment building. Jake looked about nervously as they ascended the stair case. Amber looked back at him and sighed, "I wish you weren't so nervous. She doesn't even know we're coming." Jake nodded, "Yeah I know it's just...well, like the first time I met Duke. I was scared to death of him." Jake laughed, "I remember, I was so embarassed when I found out what he was really like... I'm not even sure-" "Why you were afraid of him in the first place?" Amber finished for him. Jake nodded, deep in thought. "Touche." He said quietly. Finally, they all reached the fifth floor. Lestat quickly looked down at his clothes. "Guess you're not the only nervous one, Jakey." Amber said, teasing Lestat. "Why you little-" "Lestat! What the hell do you think you're doin', comin' up here and beatin' small children to death on the doorstep?!" Jake looked at the fierce lady at the door. She was...purple. Well, her hair was at any rate. She seemed to have a pure ghetto attitude about her. Jake knew immeaditately that this wasn't the Lady Smuggler. "If you're gonna kill the imp, come in and do it so we can ALL watch!" Laughter erupted from inside the room. "Very funny, Max!" Amber yelled. "Well now, what's this?" Maxine asked, looking at Jake. "This is my boyfriend." Amber said happily. "Jacob." Jake added quietly. "Ooh!" Max sqealed, "You hooked yourself a cutie! I'm so proud of you! And bringing him over just so we can scare him off, you shouldn't have!" Amber shoved Maxine out of the way, "Lemme in!" Amber walked in with Lestat and Jake trailing behind her. "So, where's Mara?" asked Lestat. "Wouldn't you like to know." Max replied with a snide grin. Lestat glared at her. "Oh, she's around." Jake turned to hear a very thick French (or the Puckworld equivalent of French) accent, "What have we have now, why! Tis a pretty little girlie with her pretty little friends, come to stay as dinner, non?" "Non." Amber snapped, rolling her eyes at Riff. "Why not?" he whined in his normal voice, "I'm hungry, dammit!" Jake smiled a little, this guy really reminded him of Hector. Max glared at him, "Riff, you idiot, notice something unusual?" Riff stared at her, "Yes. I've been in this room for over ten seconds and you haven't slapped me yet." Maxine slapped him. "Ah, that's better!" he exclaimed. "That's not what I meant!" Max snapped, "Lil' Amby's got her boyfriend with her!" Riff's eyes lit up. "So wait a sec, why wouldn't you let me put him in the oven then?" Everyone laughed, even Jake. "Lestat!" Riff yelled, "Where the hell've you been, ya pirate?!" Riff slapped him five. "Oh, down by Chase's Place." Riff stuck his tounge out at him, "Traitor!" "Nyeah," Maxine muttered, "I don't see how you could be friends with Brotherhood scum." Jake shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Lestat shrugged, "Yeah, well they ask me how I could be friends with Black Rose scum." "Easy!" said Riff, "We knew ya first! Besides...we're glow in the dark scum!!" Maxine laughed, "We're just foolin ya, Lestat. Say, are you still single?" Lestat nodded suspiciously, "Yeah, why?" Maxine shrugged, "Well, if you ever get over Mara call me." Riff snickered. Lestat threw a pillow at Max, "Shut up! She might hear you." Riff shook his head, "I dunno why she can't see it." "Yeah," Amber muttered, "You sure do make it obvious enough." Lestat folded his arms, pouting. Jake smiled, this was a lot better than he'd thought...he was actually having fun! "So Kid," Riff said to Jake, "What's yer name?" "Jacob." Riff slapped his hand in greeting, "Poor guy, What'd you do wrong to end up with Spooky junior over here?" "More than you know." Jake replied. Max and Riff laughed while Amber glared at him. "Nice one, Kid." Max said with a smile. "Yeah, I like him. He's got no taste in girls, but I like him!" Riff said optimistically. Amber tackled him. Riff immeadiately began to yell, "Help! Help! She's crushing me with her massive fifteen pounds of body weight! Help!" More laughter followed. Jake turned to hear another voice singing in a different room. "Yeah, what I need is a good defense, 'cause I'm feeling like a criminal..." Jake recognized the song as Fiona Apple's Criminal (oops, I'm humanizing again). Whoever the singer was, Jake thought that she definitely did the song credit. After a few moments more of Fiona Apple, a lady stepped out from an adjoining room. After she realized that she wasn't alone anymore, she stopped singing. Putting her hands on her hips, the woman carefully looked around, "So what's this? A convention?" she asked sarcastically. Jake smiled; she was funny...and very pretty in a mysterious kind of way. She walked into the room with a heavy theatrical sigh, "All my years of labor and toil and look how I turned out...a slave in my own apartment!" Everyone laughed. As she stepped through the shadows and into the light, Jake noticed that her eyes were a glowing shade of green. He also noticed that she had the same lonely look about her that he'd noticed in Duke when they'd first met. She looked around at everyone carefully, stopping at Lestat. "Hi Lestat," She said with a smile, "What are you doing here?" Lestat's face went a little red as he smiled back. "Uh, hi. I, uh, I was just, I mean, um..." Jake stared at Lestat in amazement. He'd never seen him this flustered before. The lady laughed, "C'mon now, spit it out." Lestat continued, "Just dropping Amber off." The lady turned on her heel to see Amber, "Amber!" she exclaimed, walking over to hug her, "What are you doing here?! Oh, I'm so happy to see you!" Amber giggled, "Suprise." "You little gnome, what's the big idea, scaring me like this? What, do you think you can just drop by whenever you want?!" Amber glared at her, "You said I could." The lady shrugged, "And when did I ever tell you to believe everything I said?" "Last Thursday." Amber replied. More laughter. "Yeah well, who can remember all the way to last Thursday? Seems like ages since the last time you came to visit your poor old sister." Amber rolled her eyes, "You ALWAYS say that!"
"Well then,. let's cut to the chase. What do you want, my dear?" Amber took her by the hand, "Mara, I want you to meet my boyfirend, Jacob." Jake looked up in suprise, staring at Mara. "You?" he whispered hoarsely, "But...y-you don't look anything like..." Max and Riff looked at each other and laughed, "What'd I tell ya Mara? We gotta get you a mask..." Rif said shaking his head. Mara blushed a little, smiling kindly at Jake, "Well, I'm sorry if you're dissappointed." Jake shook his head quickly, murmuring, "No, no, not at all." Mara laughed, "Well Amber, congratulations. He certainly is lively." Amber laughed, "He's scared of you." Mara looked up in shock, "What?! He is? I can't believe it! Scared of me? How absurd...why I could just kill you for suggesting that I'm the least bit threatening..." Jake laughed, "Well, in that case..." Snickering, Lestat said, "See Mara? He gets better once you get to know him." Mara nodded, sitting next to Lestat so she could see both Amber and Jake. Lestat sat on the edge of the couch nervously, practically staring at her. "Oh, my little sister's finally dating...how cute. And a thief, too." Jake looked up nervously, "Huh?" Mara shook her head, "Don't bother denying it, it's practically written on your forehead. I assume you're in the Guild then, if Amber can see you enough to date you...and since you met at Chase's." Jake nodded slowly, getting a little nervous. Max looked up sharply, "You go to Chase's Place?" "There's nothing wrong with Chase's Place." Mara said calmly. "Except that the Brotherhood goes there." Riff pointed out. Mara shrugged, "There's nothing wrong with the Brotherhood. I don't see what you're problem is, we've never even met them!" Max nodded, "Yeah, I know. You've only told me that about a million times. Old predjudices are hard to give up, that's all." Mara turned back to Jake. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't teach Amber anything...about stealing, I mean." She said quietly. Jake nodded, "I understand, and I think you're absolutely right." Mara smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you." Amber stuck her tounge out at them both. "Mean people...limiting my career path." Max got up and stretched, "The kid's starting to bitch again, that's my cue to leave. See ya later, Mara. Bye Lestat. Nice meeting ya, Jacob. Say Amber..." Max leaned in towards her momentarily in a confidential manner, "If I were you, I'd keep him." Amber smiled at her, "I plan to." Maxine walked out, Riff following right on her tail. Mara got up and looked back at Jake, "Don't mind Riff, he always follows her out. Says he's violently in love with her or some such thing...do any of you want something to drink? I don't have any alcohol, not since Riff's little drinking escapade, so you're out of luck there." Lestat nodded, "Throw me a Coke, Mari." A Coke went flying towards his head with frightening accuracy. Lestat ducked (get it? 'Ducked'? HA!!! I kill me!) out of the way just in time. "I told you not to call me that!" Mara snapped. Lestat smiled, "Yeah, I know. That's what makes it fun." "I hate when people call me that." Mara muttered, sitting down. "So, did I get you?" Lestat shook his head. "Damn Guild reflex training." Mara mumbled. Lestat grinned confidently, "You don't mean that." "Oh yes I do!" Mara said happily, walking back into the kitchen. He laughed, "You liar! The one time you actually DID hit me, you were so upset you made me sleep on the couch all night. I remember, you wouldn't leave my side for five hours." "What is it with you people and your good memories?" Mara mumbled, handing Jake a Coke, "What? Do you purposely remember everything I say just so you can use it against me at a later date?" "No, not at all!" Lestat said soothingly, "Amber does, but I certainly don't!" Jake laughed happily. "Oh, so you think we're funny, do you?" Mara said with mild amusement. Jake nodded, "Yes Mistress." "Call me Mara." she said gently, "we're not at the Guild now. Oh, and don't worry about Lestat telling on you either, I know how to shut HIM up." Jake smiled brightly, "Really? Can you show me?" Mara laughed. "Oh Jake, lemme show you the rest of the apartment." Amber said, grabbing his hand. Jake allowed himself to be pulled along into the next room. "So?" Lestat asked, "Whaddya think of him?" "Nice boy," Mara said quietly, "he's got a bit of a twich that's uncommon for a thief...does he mess around with drugs?" Lestat squirmed in his seat. She always had a way of guessing at things a bit closer to the truth than he was comfortable with...and she knew it. "I wish you wouldn't do that." he muttered. "So he does." Mara said gravely. "He's quitting." Lestat said firmly. She nodded at him, "Well, I hope so for his sake...that shit could really screw up his coordination for good." "He knows it." Lestat replied, "Smart kid." Mara giggled a little, "He really was frightened of me, wasn't he?" "Well, I don't blame him. You know how the Brotherhood is, some of them talk just like Max...I don't blame him for getting the wrong impression about you." Mara paused, "The Brotherhood?" she asked quietly. Lestat nodded, "Yeah. Who would've thought that your little sister would end up dating Jake DeCharmante?" Mara went pale, "Master L'Orange's apprentice..." Lestat looked at her, "Mara? What's-" He paused, suddenly realizing that Amber must not have told her who he really was. "Oh no..." Mara murmured. Lestat cursed to himself, why couldn't he keep his mouth shut? "Mara, I-" "What am I going to do?" Mara asked him quietly. Lestat knew what she meant...she wanted to break them up. "Poor Amber." Mara continued, getting up from her chair, "Should I tell her that I know?" she asked Lestat nervously. Lestat paused and looked up at her, "What?" Mara sat down next to him, "If Jake finds out that I know who he is, he may get scared and dump her...Amber'd be heart broken!" Lestat stared at her. Okay, maybe he DIDN'T know what she meant. "So, you're not going to make her dump him?" Lestat asked. Mara looked at him, bewildered, "Of course not! Why should I? Stop asking me crazy questions and HELP! What should I do?!" Lestat smiled to himself, the thought of separating them hadn't even entered her mind, and now SHE was asking HIM for help. "well..." said Lestat, "You should probably tell them. Jake cares too much about Amber to dump her just because you know who he is." "You really think so?" Mara asked gently. Lestat nodded, "I know so." Mara hugged him happily, "Oh, thank you Lestat!" Lestat smiled dreamily, "Sure, anytime..." Jake was slightly more relaxed as Amber led him around the apartment. It was nice, compared to the other living conditions that most of the smugglers knew. The Lady Smuggler didn't even seem that bad. Jake smiled as Amber led him back to the main room. Amber quickly looked at her watch. "Hey guys, I gotta go!!! I have to feed the horses and muck out stalls again!" Mara smiled kindly at Jake, "Don't you feel like she cares more about the horses than you?" Jake smiled back at her warmly and nodded. Amber walked out in disgust, "I'll be back in time for dinner." Jake began to get up to follow her out, but Mara stopped him, "Please, stay. She'll be back soon, and I promise, I won't bite." Jake nodded, "Sure, why not?" He looked around the room again and noticed the small chess set in the corner for the first time. Jake admired it from where he sat. Noticing his intrest, Mara asked him, "Do you like chess?" Jake looked at her, "Huh? Oh! Yes, I do, actually. I play it with...uh, one of my friends." Jake said quietly, careful not to mention Duke's name. "Well?" asked Mara, "Would you care to play?" Jake looked up at her. "Sure...but I feel like we're leaving Lestat out." "Good point." Mara murmured. She smiled at Lestat sweetly, "Would you like to play?" Lestat shook his head, his eyes never leaving her face, "No, no, that's okay. I'll just watch you...play, I mean." Mara nodded, sitting down at the chess set. Sitting across from her, Jake busied himself with putting the pieces in their correct positions. "I made this set you know." Mara said quietly. "Really?" Jake asked in amazement. Mara nodded, "When I was ten. There was a nice old shop keeper that used to trade wood with me for bubble gum." Jake smiled at her, "It looks a bit like cedar." "It is," Mara said with a smile, making the first move on the chess board, " You have quite an eye for one so young." Jake shrugged, "I kinda like to over compensate for not going to school." "Many people in your situation do." Mara replied, moving another pawn. Jake thought a moment and made a counter move. After ten more minutes of chess, Jake mentioned, "You know, you really don't seem much like Amber." "We're only half sisters," Mara explained, "so I guess we just both took after our fathers." "You don't mind me going out with her, do you?" he asked nervously. "Not at all!" Mara exclaimed, "I was actually worried that you'd have a bit more of a problem with her when you found out who her sister was." "Why should I?" asked Jake. Mara was very careful to gauge his reaction when she replied, "Well, the Black Rose Society and the Brotherhood of the Blade aren't exactly on friendly terms." Total silence followed. Mara made another move. "Checkmate." she said quietly, looking up at Jake. Jake looked at Mara with fear written across his face. Quickly, he jumped up, igniting his saber. Mara smiled at him easily, "Sit back down." Jake kept his stance. Mara sighed, looking back up at Jake, "You aren't gonna dump her because of me... are you?" Jake looked confused as he watched Mara. "What?" "I mean, she likes you so much..." "You mean you aren't gonna kill me?" Mara laughed, "Of course not." Jake smiled and put his saber away. "I'll take good care of Amber." Mara smiled again, "Thank you." Jake couldn't believe it. Of all the things Jake had expected to happen, this is how the meeting turned out..."So, does Amber know that you know?" Mara shook her head with a smile. "What say we give her a scare, DeCharmante?" Jake nodded evilly. This day was just getting better and better. "Hey guys, I'm back!" Amber walked into the apartment. "AHHHHH!!! Help!" Jake ran past Amber and slid behind the couch. Before Amber could ask what was going on, Mara ran out, saber ignited. "Amber! I'm glad you're here." Mara said, scanning the room, "I just found out that your 'boyfriend' is from the BOTB...help me find the rat, would you?" Amber went pale, "What?" she whispered. "Come out, come out wherever you are, Brotherhood scum!" Mara said walking around the room. Jake stuck a hand out and tripped her. He quickly ran into the kitchen, holding up his saber. "Come and get me, Witch!" he yelled. Amber shook her head, "No! Wait, please, don't fight!" Jake and Mara didn't seem to hear her. They continued to fight in the kitchen, until Mara had him pressed up against the window. With a flick of her saber she opened the window and Jake toppled out. Amber screamed, running over. Mara smiled, "too bad rats can't fly, huh Amby?" Amber stuck her head out the window, but she couldn't see Jake anywhere. All of a sudden, he popped his head out of the next window over. Amber gasped in amazement, "But, how...you, I saw you..." Mara and Jake smiled at her. "Gotcha." They said simultaneously. Amber sat down feeling weak-kneed. Amber looked up at Mara, "You know that he's..." Mara nodded, "Yes Honey, I know he's Jake DeCharmante." "And you don't mind that I'm-" "Not if you like him, no." Mara cut her off with a smile, "If you ever get tired of him, tell me and I'll kill him for you." Jake glared at her, "I'd like to see you try!" Mara raised an eyebrow at him, "Oh would you?" Jake pretended to shrink away a little and Mara laughed. "So the whole fighting thing was a joke?" Jake nodded. "Why?!" Amber shrieked, "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Mara smiled at her darkly, "To remind you that keeping secrets from your sister isn't nice." Amber laughed a little, "Yeah, I guess you have a point...maybe." They all sat down together. "Oh Lestat!" Mara called out, "Come in here and eat something!" Lestat poked his head out the door. "She's had the heart attack then?" Everyone laughed, "Yeah, she got it alright!" Jake said with a grin. Amber kicked him under the table. Lestat walked out and took a seat next to Mara. "Oh, and by the way Jake," Mara mentioned, "don't pay any attention to what the others say about the Brotherhood...they're just blowing off steam, that's all." Jake nodded, comforted by that. After they ate, Jake and Amber got up, "I think it's about time for us to leave." Amber said, stretching. Jake nodded, "It's getting late. Duke's gonna be wondering what happened to me." Mara frowned, "Oh alright, fine. Go ahead and leave me here all alone! It's okay, I don't mind. I'll learn to bear the solitude..." Amber rolled her eyes, "Oh please!" she said sarcastically. Mara smiled at her, "It's your own fault." "Why?" Amber demanded. Mara shrugged, "Because I say it's your fault and I'm always right." Amber stood behind Mara's chair and put her arms around Mara's neck, hanging on her. "You're conceited!" Mara shook her head. "Am not." "Are too!" "Am not!" "Alright then, prove it!" Amber said. "Easy." Mara replied, "I can't be conceited because conceit is an imperfection and I am perfect." Everyone laughed. "Goodbye Amber my darling. Come back and visit me soon! And bring that lovely boyfriend of yours with you." Amber nodded, "Buh bye Mara, I'll miss you!" Amber kissed her on the forehead and walked towards the door. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Jake." Mara said with a smile. Jake nodded, "You too, Mara." Jake felt himself smile as he walked to Amber, knowing that he'd actually meant it. "Bye Lestat." Mara turned her head to look at him as he walked out the door. "See you soon!" Lestat nodded eagerly, "Yeah, I hope so...I mean, sure!" The next day, Jake crept up behind Amber at Chase's. He quickly covered her eyes, "Guess who?" "My ex-boyfriend." "Nope." "Well you WILL be if you don't get off!" she said happily. Jake laughed and let her go, kissing her quickly on the cheek. "So, what do ya wanna do when you get off today?" He asked happily. Amber smiled playfully, "Let's go visit my sister." Jake smiled, "Sure, okay!" Amber looked at him in suprise, "Are you serious?! I thought you were scared of her!" Jake shrugged, "What's there to be scared of?" *THE END*
Wow...and I thought MY inlaws were scary!
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