Vertigo

Ch.6 “Tension”


There was nothing like a nice relaxing message to clear your mind after a small shopping spree. Amber sighed contentedly, closing her eyes as the masseuse worked on the knots in her back. It had been a long week and took a toll on Amber’s neck and back. Amber had insisted that Leigh come with her on her little feel-good day. Leigh instantly said that she would come, needing one herself.

“I don’t know what it is, Amber… but I think that I honestly like this guy” Leigh rattled on. Amber closed her eyes and sighed in response, half listening to her friend about some guy she went on a date with or something.

But Tanner Reid kept popping up in her head. What he said to her that first night she worked at the Homeless shelter about her being a spoiled little rich girl who didn’t know how to cook. It was true, of course but… no one really said things like that to her before and, it had taken her aback for a moment.

Mr. Jones had stopped by last night and they had talked for a good hour or so. Mostly about what had happened that night -Amber decided it was best to leave out what happened between her and Luke. The point was that for the first time, Amber felt like she could trust someone enough to tell them her deepest, darkest secrets and not be judged about them. For a spoiled little rich girl, Amber Michaels had some skeletons in her closet.

Her parole officer also informed Amber that he thought working with Tanner would do her well and she would learn things about herself. Amber was skeptical about it but… she had to work there and would give it a try anyways.

“So what do you think I should do?” Leigh asked, sighing heavily.

Amber’s eyes widened as she panicked for a second. “I think you know what you should do” Amber replied coolly and smiled at her friend.

It was obviously what Leigh wanted to hear because the redhead grinned wickedly and giggled. Leigh then proceeded to go on about how she was going to snare her oh-so-amazing date she had the other night. Amber chuckled and closed her eyes, drifting to sleep as the masseuse worked on a knot in her lower back.

&&&&&&&&&&&

“Sorry I’m late” Amber panted, stopping in the doorway to the kitchen.

Tanner turned towards her and smirked, getting some containers out of the fridge. He always looks so comfortable, Amber thought to herself. She had wised up and was dressed in jeans and a cute but comfortable t-shirt with flats.

“Here” Tanner sighed, handing her an apron and a couple cans of chicken broth. “You can make the chicken noodle soup”

Amber blanched. She looked at Tanner wide-eyed and went slack-jaw. “But… I can’t cook” she stammered, setting the cans down and putting her apron on. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and sighed.

“Look” Tanner grinned, bringing her to the stove; his arm was brushing up against hers “I know it might be a little intimidating, but its just soup” he chuckled.

Amber looked down at the large pot he set out for her and sighed, I could really use some pot right about now, she thought drawing her brows together. She continued to listen intently while Tanner explained to her how to cook the noodles and chicken and the broth as well. He was very patient with her and let her do most of the work.

“So… I’m cooking.” Amber chuckled. “I made chicken noodle soup… if Rae could only see me now”. Amber continued to stir the soup as she spoke softly.

“Who’s Rae?” Tanner asked, chopping something on the other side of the kitchen. It had been a comfortable silence for the past ten or so minutes and caught Amber off guard.

“Oh, she’s my best friend” Amber explained, “Rachel, but we call her Rae”

“I see” Tanner said quietly and stood next to her, placing a pan on the stove.

Amber caught her bottom lip in between her teeth and continued stirring the soup. Sure, Tanner and she had come a ways from the first night, now on friendly terms at least but… she honestly didn’t want to be working at the shelter. She felt uncomfortable and way, way out of her element. On the other hand, she was learning -slowly- how to cook different dishes.

Tanner had been a bit of trouble for her as well, much to her discomfort. Amber had been bothered by the fact that she was somewhat attracted to him. She barely even knew the guy and whenever he smirked or accidentally brushed up against her, a secret thrill ran through her body… and it made her uneasy. At least she knew Luke a good year before they got involved. But that situation was entirely different.

As Amber stirred the soup -completely unsure if she actually had to keep stirring or not- all she could think about was her father, oddly enough. She never liked to disappoint him, one of the reasons she actually tried in school and managed to get perfect grades. And the look he gave her that night… it had almost killed her. She couldn’t remember anytime her father gave her a look like that: total disappointment and sadness. It was awful.

She sighed heavily, glaring at the soup. She couldn’t wait until she could go home.

“You know, glaring at the soup won’t make it taste any better” Tanner chuckled from beside her.

“Me cooking the soup won’t make it taste any better either” she shot back, a small grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Here” Tanner said quietly, reaching across. He was pressed up against Amber and she tensed, a slight tingle erupting in her stomach. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and chuckled, “I’m not gonna bite you” he then handed her a pepper shaker, “you forgot the pepper”

Amber glared at Tanner, taking the pepper shaker and shaking it harshly over the soup.

&&&&&&&&&&&

Amber only hated one thing more than cooking… that one thing was washing the dishes. And fortunately, there wasn’t many tonight but her fingers were getting all pruned and gross. Since she was late, she couldn’t leave until another twenty minutes, and it was getting longer and longer but the second.

As soon as she finished drying the last pan, there was loud yelling, cursing and sounds of sneakers scraping against tile. Amber’s stomach dropped as she spun around, seeing Tanner run out of the kitchen and towards the dining area.

What the hell is going on? Amber thought, drying her hands and taking her apron off. Tanner yelled back to her to stay in the kitchen, but she wanted to know what happened. Her stomach clenched as she stepped quietly into the dining room.

Tanner was pulling a man off of another, who was lying on the floor, bleeding. The other’s were standing around, yelling all at once to Tanner, telling him what happened. Amber gasped as the man who stabbed the man on the floor grabbed Tanner by the back of the neck and threw him into a table.

“Stop!” Amber shouted before she even knew it was coming out of her mouth. No one heard her and her feet ran to Tanner, shoving the man away from him to help him up off the floor.

“What- Amber!” Tanner’s eyes widened, looking around, “get back in the kitchen!” he gently pushed her away, “Go!”

Blurs of color and sounds were surrounding her once more as she was pulled out of the crowd. She saw Tanner pull the man off the other man once more while another held him back. She saw the light blue hallway and the lights above her head.

“Amber!” the old woman from before -Eleanor- called gently, sitting her in a chair in what looked like an office. Amber looked around, breathing heavily.

“What happened?” Amber whispered, looking into the old woman’s dark eyes.

“There was a fight… Tanner told you to stay in the kitchen -why didn’t you?” Eleanor replied, handing Amber a hot cup of coffee.

Amber shrugged, “I… I don’t know. Is Tanner okay?” she asked.

“He will be fine. Just a few bruises and scrapes.” she old woman sighed. “I’m so sorry child; you have to understand though… things happen sometimes”

The door slammed open, making Amber’s head shoot up into the direction of the door. Tanner stood there, his brows drawn together harshly, looking at Amber. A bruise graces his left cheek and there were a few scratches on his arms.

“Tanner-” Eleanor sighed, standing up slowly.

“Could you please give Amber and me a few minutes” he said calmly, stepping out the doorway and into the office.

Eleanor huffed quietly, looking back at Amber, who took a sip of her coffee. “She’s pretty shaken up-”

“Please” Tanner interrupted, obviously trying to keep his calm.

Eleanor raised her brows at the young blond man and walked past him. “…don’t know who he thinks he is…little attitude of his…” could be heard from the old woman as she walked down the hall. Amber grinned slightly.

“What were you thinking?” Tanner sighed, leaning against the desk.

Amber rolled her eyes, “I’m not having this conversation again” she said quietly, suddenly remembering her father asking the same question.

“We’ve never had this conversation… but that’s beside the point. I told you to stay in the kitchen!” Tanner retorted, brushing his hair out of his face.

“But I-” Amber started.

“No! If I tell you something, it’s for a reason!” Tanner shot, his brows returning to their angered position. “You could have -you could have been hurt!”

Amber stood up quickly, putting the coffee cup on the desk and glared harshly at Tanner. Her breathing was heavy and her eyes flashed with annoyance. “I have to go” she ground out.

Tanner grabbed her wrist as she headed out the door and drew her up against him, waiting until she stopped struggling. “I’m sorry” he said quietly, his breath tickling her cheek. Amber bit her lower lip, drawing her brows together, not completely comfortable with the perfect way their bodies molded together.

“I got scared for a second” he continued.

Amber’s wide blue eyes stared into Tanner’s green ones; she felt so small next to him. Tanner lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers, kissing her gently. His fingers caught her chin as he kissed her again, dipping his tongue into her mouth. His kiss was slow and tender as his tongue explored her mouth, earning a quiet moan from the back of her throat.

A thrill ran down Amber’s spine as his fingertips trailed down her arm. It was so different from Luke or anyone else Amber had ever kissed -but it was a good kind of different. Too good.

“I-I have to go” Amber whispered against his lips. She untangled herself from him, her lips still feeling his kiss, and heat was flooding her face.

A/N: Please Review!