Chapter Text
Amber felt despair. It wasn’t an emotion she was used to. She hadn’t felt this way since her ex ended things with her a long time ago. Now, after watching Fang get with Janet– Janet, of all people–, she felt as if she were falling down a never-ending hole, moving farther and farther from finding love. Under all that despair, though, there was a glimmer of hope. Fang could be hers if Janet didn’t make it so difficult. Yes– it was all because of Janet! If only she were out of the equation. She should’ve known from the moment she saw them sitting together in the front row of her show that Janet had set her eyes on the same guy. If it weren’t for Janet, Fang would’ve come running for Amber, she just knew it! What a strange combination of emotions she was feeling– despair, hope, and rage.
At that moment, Amber was waiting in line at Piper’s bakery. She didn’t know exactly what brought her there; she just knew that Fang worked there sometimes. Maybe she would make some conversation with him and casually bring up Janet and see if he was really into her. She hadn’t planned it all out, but she would figure it out.
Amber finally reached the front of the line.
“How can I help you, honey?” Piper asked with her usual sunny smile.
“Um, is Fang here? I heard he works here sometimes.”
“No, sorry. The movie he’s in started shooting, so he won’t be doing any shifts until it’s done.”
Wait. Wasn’t he starring in some kung fu musical film with Janet? Not her again! Was there a single hour of the day when the two weren’t together?
Amber tried to give Piper a smile, but it probably looked more like a grimace. “Oh. Okay, then,” she said, starting to walk away.
“Wait!” Piper called. “Aren’t you gonna buy something?”
“No, I’m good. I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
Where was she going now? Amber walked through the marketplace back in the direction she came from. She would head home now, probably. As she approached the entrance that separated the marketplace from Retropolis, she heard someone call her name.
“Amber! Wait up!”
She turned around. It was her friend Max, running toward her at full speed. Her brownish-blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore a tight-fitting jacket over a t-shirt, showing off her skinny figure.
“Oh, hey, Max! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be saving Super City?”
“Not today! Surge and Meg insisted I take the day off. They’ll cover for me, they said. I said no– how can those two manage without me? Then, they took away all my Max Energy drinks– the audacity! Surge said he would withhold them until tomorrow so I have to take the day off.” Max sighed. “Without those drinks, I am nothing! So here I am, strolling around Starr Park. I’m glad I ran into you! You free now? We’ll have to do something lowkey, though, since I’m low on energy.”
Max did not look low on energy. She looked as hyper and excited as always, talking a mile a minute as usual.
“Yeah, I’m free,” Amber responded.
“Amber, you look like you have a lot on your mind. Let’s get you some lunch, huh? We’ll talk about whatever you’re thinking over food. Since we’re almost at Retropolis, let’s go to Bull’s.” Max wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders, and, without waiting for a response, walked her into Retropolis toward the diner.