By contrast, Amber knew where Frost was from the moment he walked into the building.

He looked so normal. Like any other day. She had to wonder if he felt as separated from their classmates as she did. She didn’t see it in his face. Amber watched, unsure what she was looking for. Something, some kind of sign. Did he blame himself after all? How did he feel about her? The first time he turned her way she ducked behind the corner, surprised at her shortness of breath. No one had ever disrupted her cool before. No, she corrected herself, no one but him.

She couldn’t decide if she wanted to see him. Amber hoped, and dreaded that he was trying to find her. She wasn’t ready, Amber told herself, to find out. So she avoided his gaze and attended her classes. And watched him in the halls every chance in between.

Exhaustion crept up on her. Amber had not anticipated how seeing him without being seen nearly every break on top of the lack of sleep would tax her. Maddeningly, she was no closer to any idea what to do than she had been pacing her room that morning.

Slamming her locker shut in frustration Amber settled her things in her arms and started for the exit. Barely down the hall she heard a call from behind. Felt it to the soles of her feet. Frost, calling to her. In tired frustration, her concentration had slipped. She hadn’t noticed him beelining for her locker at the end bell. How did he even know what locker was hers - right, cheer captain. What would he say? What would he do? What could she say? No, she wailed silently, I’m not ready for this!

“Hey!”

Frost's hail went unacknowledged. Granted, cat calls would not be new to someone like Amber.

“Hey, Amber!” That got a pause in stride and what might have been a shiver. The girl kept walking. Frost resisted his own urge to turn and run the other way.

“Wait up a second!” This had the opposite effect as she sped her steps. Frost knew this was making things look worse as he jogged down the hall. People backed out of his way. They didn’t say anything, yet, but there were stares aplenty. Reaching out he very gently caught at her elbow.

Notebook and papers cascaded to the floor as Amber turned on him. Nails scratched down his forearm as she batted his hand away. Sudden warmth said she’d drawn blood.

“Hey-!” He clamped the other hand over the scratches and looked at the girl. She glared back. A few loose strands of hair stood out from her head and she was breathing fast, feet wide apart and her arms out to the sides, fingers curled like claws. Then her eyes closed, fingers unbending as the girl shuddered and relaxed her stance.

“What do you want from me?” The hurt in her voice tugged at his heart, making him blink. Amber’s arms dropped as she slid her feet together, shoulders sagging. Then in conscious effort she straightened to look him in the eye. Tears hovered at the corners of pale green eyes still narrow in anger.

“I,” he fumbled for words. “I wanted to ask if you’d go to homecoming with me.”

The silence in the hall was profound. Her anger was replaced by shock. Frost felt the many eyes focused on them. He stood straighter and let his own gaze traverse the crowd. Stares wilted and attention diverted as the on-lookers all found something else to pay attention to. Or at least pretend to.

“What?”

“I said,” He very slowly took a half-step closer, trying to look as friendly as possible. He leaned in, still holding pressure on his forearm with the other hand. “Will you go with me to homecoming? Please.”

Amber stepped back, head darting side to side. Fearing she’d bolt, Frost knelt and started gathering papers back into a stack. He had to be careful not to let any blood touch her things. Amber hadn’t moved appreciably as he stood, holding out the stack.

She stared at it for awhile, then carefully curled her hands around the sides. He waited until she took the weight and let his hand drop. He gave a small smile.

“Yes, no, maybe?”

“Uh,” She clutched the stack to her chest, looking everywhere but at him. “I, I’ll check with my dad.”

“Oh,” huh. Well that was unexpectedly normal. Hard to argue with that. “That’s cool. Let me know tomorrow?”

Eyes went to his face and he watched her brow knit as she stared like he was a puzzle needing a solution. She didn’t waver when his eyes met hers. Was she wearing contacts? He was sure those eyes had been more yellow back at the park. Must have been a trick of the yellow street light.

“Y-yeah,” she shuffled her feet, “Maybe.”

“Thanks Amber. Here’s hoping. Have a good afternoon.” Frost smiled once more. Then with his usual wave he turned to go back the other way, grateful to follow the desire to be away.

Frost was all the way down the hall before he started kicking himself. The best he could hope was that he hadn’t scared her straight out of school. No, wait. Scared her into getting him kicked out seemed more likely. He checked his arm. They felt pretty deep when it happened, but the scratches had already stopped bleeding, almost disappeared. Huh. There was blood drying on his palm and around the fading scars, so the scratches definitely happened. Any minute now the shock would wear off and somebody would be asking-

“Hey, Frost!” James, one of his track buddies, dropped into step next to him. “Where’d that come from?”

“She’s smart,” he had thought this all through, “and pretty. Who wouldn’t ask the new cheer captain? You seen those legs?” As he said it, he felt a twinge of guilt. He was not one to talk up girls. He could already feel dad’s disapproving stare burn between his shoulders.

“Huh. But you don’t ask Amber. No one does. Chick tells you you’re taking her to a dance, if you’re taking her. Everybody knows that, since she got here.” Frost couldn’t help wincing at the term ‘chick.’ “You decide you needed to get turned down for once?”

“That’s not a thing,” Frost tried to make his chuckle natural. “Last homecoming man. It’s a free country, neh?”

“Sure, sure.” James waved that away, “but you know,” he emphasized the word. Pointing out he was pointing out the obvious, “people are already talking. You didn’t go last year. Or ever, you ‘not caring about football.’ The few dances you attend are cuz someone pushed you to ask one of the wallflowers.” The air quotes were a bit much. “I still think all the broken hearts are why we lost last year.”

“Ha! Just because they were crazy enough to invite who they did-“

“I’m just saying, Frosty. You know I’m only the first one whose gonna ask. Seriously, why Amber?”

Frost sighed, “I know. And I knew that before I asked her.”

“That’s not answering the question.”

Frost’s breath caught, hoping he covered it fast enough to escape notice. That way lay danger. “Maybe I decided to try something different. It is senior year.”

“Your funeral. At least you shouldn’t lack consolation offers after she shuts you down.”