CHAPTER XIV

Aidan looks at his sheet. Practices are mostly carried out after school hours and weekends. Some of the practices clash with his working hours at the Retirement Home. Aidan approaches Amber to ask this. "Amber, can we talk for a bit about this practice schedule?"

"Sure." Amber leaves the drama club members who were talking to her. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Look, I have a part-time job, Monday to Wednesday. So, it seems like I can’t do Tuesday practices."

"Ouch, that is tricky. The performance is only a month away. I can't possibly cut back on the practices schedule." Amber looks at Aidan, waiting for the young man's opinion. She has no plan to let Aidan skip their practices.

“You know, I never asked to be the lead. Maybe you can replace me with someone else, who can be more dedicated with this the schedule,” says Aidan a little annoyed.

“I never wanted to trouble you, really. However, this is a once-a-year show, and this is our last year at Mountain Side High. Can’t you manage your time for the practices?" says Amber with a pleading face.

Amber's round eyes and sweet begging face make Aidan unable to resist. Aidan sighs in resignation. “Okay, maybe I'll have Josh fill my shift at the Retirement Home. However, I can't promise because I don't know yet whether Josh will help me or not."

"But, he's your best friend, right? He will definitely help you, won’t he? Or, do I need to talk to him too?"

"No, no. I'll talk to him." If Amber talks directly to Josh, it could get worse. His friend will definitely tease him endlessly.

"Er, how about this?" Amber frowns thoughtfully. “I can ask Noah to play your role you in Tuesday practices. However, that is only if your friend doesn't want to help. I much prefer you to come to all practices."

Aidan thinks about all the worst case scenarios if he were to ask Josh to fill his shift for a month. The most likely scenario

is Josh's demands on lunch menu. Apparently, he has to ask his mother for making extra menus for lunch. "Well, I guess I can ask Josh to fill out my schedule at the Retirement Home."

"Er, he seems like a good friend, huh?" Amber asks, looking at her shoes, avoiding Aidan from seeing her blushing face.

There is something in Amber's tone that makes Aidan smiling a little. "Yeah, although annoying at times and a little bit of a fool, he's the best friend I have."

"A little bit of a fool?" asks Amber, surprised.

Aidan chuckles. "Yeah, he likes to do things as he pleases so, yeah. You understand, right, what I mean?"

"I think I do," replies Amber hesitantly. “Have you ever gotten into fights? Sorry, because I see you always together. You've never been seen with anyone except Joshua and neither has he."

"Yes, of course. We also have different thoughts. But you'd be surprised how many people Josh knows in this town," Aidan chuckles. “Most of his friends are not from Mountain Side High, though."

"What about you?"

"I, on the other hand, have few friends, maybe just some seniors at the Retirement Home."

"I could be your friend," says Amber, smiling broadly.

"That would be fun."

"Good" Amber grabs Aidan's arm and leads him away from the drama club members who are still gathered there. “I heard that Joshua's parents left him when he was a kid to join a cult. Is that true?"

"What? Where did you hear such a thing?"

“That is the rumor, and it is said that he is being raised by an old man who practices wizardry. Hence, we find him weird."

"What?" Aidan really couldn't believe what he heard. “Wow, Josh should hear the gossip circulating about him. He must be very happy. According to Uncle Zac, the old man who raises Josh, Josh's parents both died in an accident. Josh has been an orphan ever since. It is Uncle Zac who takes care of him after his parents died. Josh's father is Uncle Zac's nephew and he's not a wizard, he just sells medicinal herbs."

"Oh, I see? That's bad. I really had no idea." Amber feels guilty for believing a fake story about Josh. "I feel bad for believing the rumors."

“Don't worry, Josh does not care about those things. He would laugh at the rumors and find them amusing. You really want to know about Josh, huh?" asks Aidan, teasing Amber.

Hearing that question, Amber's face immediately turns red. "Not really." She immediately lets go of Aidan's arm and stands awkwardly, as if she wants to get away from Aidan. "Er, I think that’s it, I have to go back to the others."

Aidan chuckles seeing Amber embarrassed and hurriedly left him. So, that is how it actually is. The girl turns out to be attracted to Josh.