Chapter 8

I have not been to Merced for almost 6 months. The last time I had been there was during Amber's birthday. Claire couldn't come because she was visiting her cousin in Chicago. My phone rings. Amber's name is flashing on the screen. I turn the music's volume down and turn on the speaker of my phone.

"Where are you?" she asks from the other side.

"I will be there in 10 minutes" I tell her and hang up.

As I near Amber's house, it's large and beautiful. I have been here many times but every time I make a visit, I love it even more. Amber comes running down the stairs and opens the huge gate. She is beaming . I park my Porsche beside her Maserati and across Claire's Audi. There is a similarity among us and that is driving is our passion.

I get out my car and before I close my door, she comes literally running and gives me a tight hug as if she is planning to crush my bone and choke me.

"Come on, let me breathe some air, you're crushing my bones" I tell smiling.

She finally leaves me but continues to hold my hand. She is as tall as me with a slender body, olive skin and dark brown eyes, thin brown eyebrows and straight brown hair that barely reaches her shoulder. She is wearing gray trousers and pink half-sleeved t-shirt. She is still beaming.

"Look at you, you haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you" she says smiling.

"Really?", I raise an eyebrow and ask her.

She bursts into a laughter and I can't help laughing along with her.

"Where's Claire?" I ask her.

"Oh! she is in my room sleeping" she tells me and together we walk into her house. 

"Have you had breakfast already?" she asks entering the kitchen. 

"No, but I have brought some home made pancakes along" I tell her and follow her inside the kitchen.

"Wow, really?" she squeaks and claps her hand.

I can't control my laughter seeing her expression and she joins.

"I'll make some coffee, you go and wake Claire up" she tells me taking out 3 mugs from the drawer.

Amber's room is in the second floor. I climb the stairs and can hear the sound of the coffee machine coming from the kitchen below. Her dad is an army officer like my dad and her mom is a doctor. She is their only child. She has to stay alone most of the time, so Claire comes and stays with her.

Her room's door is half open, so I push it and enter her room. Claire is fast asleep as I approach Amber's bed. I smile seeing my friend sleeping so peacefully. She is a bit taller than me and Amber. She has a slender body, fair complexion, medium sized dark brown eyebrows and straight ash brown hair. She is wearing black trousers and gray sleeveless t-shirt.

I stand right next to her and bend a little.

"Wake up sleepy head" I tell her and caress her hair. She gives me a sweet smile and slowly opens her eyes. She has beautiful gray eyes. As she notices me, her smile grows.

"Morning Claire" I tell her softly. 

"Moorrrnniiinnggg" she says still smiling.

"Get up, Amber's making coffee and I've brought some home made pancakes" I tell her.

"Pancakes!" she exclaims and jumps out the bed.

"Yes" I say.

She gives me a tight hug and literally runs out of the room.