Risen Suspicions

The words froze Amber on the spot.

The cold look in Doe's eyes was enough to tell her that she had noticed. That she knew something.

She swallowed now, her heart ferociously within her chest. Doe still glazed at her, unmoving but her eyes still devouring her.

Faced with the question, she simply shook her head. Flashing out a weak smile afterwards. She could not afford to bring in Doe into the mess that she was into.

At least, not yet.

She wished to say those words to her. But they would not come out of her mouth. Her tongue stuck to the top of her mouth, refusing to make the sounds necessary. Like a statue, she watched, looking as Doe pulled back her hand from Her shoulder and then walked a step forward.

Then stopped.

"I need to know. Amber. You know how I do my things. I like to maintain a a low profile in eveything. If you doing anything suspicious, then I think you should better tell me what it is. At least… for my own safety." Doe said, lookkng over her shoulder.

Amber flashed another smile. Her heart sank as she watched, the gaze of her friend still eating her up.

She did not like to have to put others in her business. But unlike Doe, she as a little too inclusive. Perhaps, this was why she had been involved in the mess that she had in the first place. Maybe if she had just kept to herself from the first place, like her friend here, then this whole scenario would not have come up.

Regardless, it has happened. The best she could do now was try to make sure that Doe did not get involved in it. Even if it meant telling lies to her.

At least, Doe could not know now. She would hate her for it. Even though what she did, she did it evacuee she had no other option but that.

She sighed softly, twisting her lips to the slide. She placed her hands by her waist now, inhaling as she took a step forward. Then hugged Doe from behind.

"I know how you do your things. That is why I won't bother you on what is not your concern. I mean it in a good way."

"Amber, as long as you are in my house, what concerns you evoke my concern. I don't want you to jeopardize things for me. Don't make me have to send you away from my house." Doe said.

"Who…" Amber pulled back jangly, her lips curving into a sad smile. She exhaled, her breath shaky as she tried to speak.

"Come on, it's not like that. You are taking this too over the top. Is it beaf she of what I said about your shoes? I am sorry. You should not take that to heart. You know that…"

"Spare me the bullshit!" Doe turned around in an instant, her eyes red with rage.

She raised a pointer finger to Amber, her lips twisted in rage.

"You know what would be good for me?" Doe asked her . "What could be good for me is, to know that you are telling the truth. You are lying. It is not fair." She cried out, throwing her hands tk the side.

"Have I ever done anything that makes you want to do something to me? I mean, I keep up with your tantrums even though you arr all grown up. I try to bail you whenever you get so neck deep in… debt.." She shrugged. "I just can't get it. I don't know what you would want to have you associate with those people. What are they selling you on?" She asked.

"What are you saying? What people ?" Amber shook her head, shrugging.

"I saw them. You don't have to lie to me."

"I told you. I just came out tk get some fest air. That is all. Why can't you believe me? Actually, why is it that you are always so guarded? Since I came to your house, I feel like I am living like a…. Like I'm caged or something." Amber retorted.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I don't know what it isn't hat you are hiding but you do act like you hit some shady things going on. It doesn't make sense if you ask me. Even me, you don't want to trust me. And honestly, it hurts." Amber lashed out more.

"How can I trust you?" Doe slapped her hands against her side. "If you can't even tell me what actually happened? You have a life Amber. I don't try to probe. I don't try to ask around what you don't tell me. Give me the same respect. And at least when it concerns me, let me know what is up." Doe said.

"You didn't go to get fresh air. I saw what happened. I saw how frightened you got. You stepped out like there was something fishy about you and those guys. I would have come to learn what was happening but the attendant needed my attention on the payment." Doe said to her, her eyes glistening.

"I don't like having people in my personal circle. But you… you defied things and stuck around." Doe ranted on. "The least you could do is to let me know what is up about my life. And my business. And just so you know , as long as you are here, you are my business. And I would not have mysterious looking figures gathering around you."

Doe said and then turned around, her eyes pouring out water.

Her heart stung. Bitterly.

She had always had a dodgy spot for Amber. So far, Amber had stuck to her like a stubborn fly. Unwilling to be cut off. And now, in the moment of the friendship that they had, she had shown Amber just a bit of how much she ass vested in tech.

She taught her how to track phone Cals. A mistake which she clearly regretted right now.

Maybe if she had been stingy with her attention, finances, like how she had always been, then this would not happen.

But it was happening right now. There were the people that smelt trouble all over them. And form what she had observed, they were really trouble.

It frightened her.

Anything that would bring her to the public light for any reason, she wanted to avoid it. It was how she had always been staying off the grid, staying afloat of the police and the feds.

Now, with Amber around. With what she had done or whatever it was that she did, who knew how long until her whole castle came crashing down?

Was she becoming too soft? Was she becoming too soft enough that Amber could come in to ruin her life?

She was supposed to be cold. To be really cold that nobody could have any spot in her life. She was supposed to be like that.

To uphold what her father had always told her to do. But with Amber, she had disregarded what her father told her.

Right before he died.

Was she being punished for her disobedience?