Goodbye Girl

Amber swallowed hard when she got her text from James. He was out front so it meant their date was about to start. She looked herself over once more. She had a maroon blouse on, with blue skinny jeans, and brown, heeled, ankle boots. Her hair was straight and her make up was light. She walked out of her room, turning her light off behind her.

Alex walked out of her room at the same time. The two roommates, who were still not on speaking terms, stared at each other. Amber didn't know what she was to do. Alex gave her a small nod, to let her know she looked good, and walked into the living room.

Amber got out of the apartment as quickly as she could. She walked out of the building and found James leaning against his car. His hands were in his pant pockets, ankles crossed. He was in a dress shirt with a blazer over it. He smiled when he saw Amber.

"I feel under dressed." She announced as she approached him.
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"You look great." He chimed, as he walked with her to the passenger's side to open her door.

"Wow. This is different." She teased.

"I might have forgotten to mention you're paying for dinner." He shrugged before closing the door.

Amber rolled her eyes. He climbed into the driver's side. They drove in silence until he clicked his tongue. She cocked a brow at him.

"The DJ is doing a terrible job." He shook his head.

"Woah, I usually get yelled at when I play DJ." She argued.

"Wouldn't need you to play DJ if I had my CD." He stated.

Dinner went well. James didn't actually make Amber pay. They went to a cozy little restaurant, where Amber filled him in on her crazy life back in Nova Scotia, while he made passes at her every chance he could get. It was now nearing five, and James had to head to the arena. They pulled into his designated parking spot.

He grabbed something from the back. "I have a present for you." He explained as he sat it on her lap.

"Oh my god, I have one for you too!" She exclaimed.

"What's my present?" He perked up.

"My presence." She grinned.

He rolled his eyes, letting out a growl. "Open your gift."

Amber laughed while she untied the bow. She pulled the lid of the box off. The Penguins logo peered up at her. She rolled her eyes and pulled the jersey out. The back had an 18 with James's last name above it. She shook her head at it.

"You were really that bitter to me having Sid's name over yours?" She asked.

"Hell yeah! Sid wouldn't want his girl wearing my number." James yelped.

"You say 'his' girl as if I'm your girl." She cocked a brow.

"You are. Well, soon to be." He gave her a toothy smile.

"This is our first date, you're pushing it." She warned.

"What date do you fuck on?" He polled.

"James!" She gasped, shoving him. "Don't be an ass."

"It's hard to not make comments when you're as pretty as you are." He hummed.

Amber rolled her eyes before bursting into laughter. "Easy, Lover Boy. You're gonna give yourself a hernia." She mocked, collecting her 'gift'.

"You're probably right. You're kinda ugly anyways." He teased as he opened his car door.

"Yeah, feeling's mutual." She agreed and climbed out of the car. She looked at him over the car. "Maybe, if I'm lucky, Beau'll see me in this ugly jersey and try to pick me up, just like you did."

James fake laughed at her. She grinned while she walked over to him. He threw an arm around her as they walked into the arena. She carried her jersey in her arms. James looked down and smiled.

He loved seeing her with his jersey. In the short amount of time he knew her, James loved being around Amber. She was fun. She knew how to handle his shit as well as give it right back. He felt like she was the piece he needed for a really long time. The time between his heart being broken and now. He was happy. And the reason was entirely Amber.

The game went well. They beat the Islanders 4-3. James had a two point night. That was usually something he wouldn't be too please about but all he could think about was how Amber was going to mock him about the game. He couldn't wait.

James walked out after he changed and talked with his team. Amber was standing where she always waited. Her hair pooled around her face while she looked down at her phone. She felt his eyes on her and looked up. He gave her a smile smile before he noticed the frown on her face. He rushed over.

"Hey," His arm wrapped around her shoulders. "What's up?"

"I feel bad for Beau. He's gonna be out on his birthday. That's so shitty." She huffed, leaning her head on James.

"He'll be fine. We'll get him back in no time." James attempted to cheer her up.

"Good game tonight." She sighed as she pulled away. "I don't mean to be an asshole, but could you take me home? I'm feeling really,"

"Yeah. Of course." He cut her off.

He walked ahead of her before extended a hand back. She took it and they walked to his car. There was silence. The entire drive, Amber was silent. James couldn't figure out why she was so upset about Beau being hurt. Maybe she was just that caring?

"I'm sorry." She spoke. He looked at her. "I just ruined your night and I didn't me,"

"You didn't ruin it. You were the only good part of it." He stated.

She took a deep breath. "I just get really down sometimes and I can't cover it up." She explained.

He placed a hand on her knee, giving it a squeeze. "It's completely fine." He said as they pulled up out front of her building.

She frowned at him. "I'll see you soon? I mean if you want to get together aga,"

"Amber, I like hanging out with you." James boomed. "Please don't think differently. I don't care about any problems you think you have, I think you're cool." She gave him a small smile. "I play in Montreal tomorrow and,"

"Boston on Monday." Amber cut him off. He chuckled lightly. "But then you're here for like a day and a half." She piped up.
"And then to Florida for three days." He finished, letting out a long sigh. "At the Islanders on the third, up for it?"

"Yes. Are you kidding?" She yelped.

"Okay. I'll call you after the game tomorrow, if that's okay?" He felt smitten.

Amber gave him a warm smile. "Of course. I'll talk to you then." She leaned forward and pecked his cheek.

He watched her every move from then on out. Her climbing out of the car, waving to him as she walked towards her building doors. He watched until he couldn't see her in the lobby any longer. He shook his head at him self as her pulled out of park.

James couldn't believe how hung up he was on a girl he had just met. Usually, he'd sleep with a girl, set her up with tickets, sleep with her again, and then lose her number. He didn't want that with Amber. He wanted, well, Amber. He loved how she made him feel.

Amber walked into her apartment. Alex looked up from her spot on the couch. She saw Amber and stood up, walking to her room. The door slammed. Amber squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

She took of her jacket and shoes before she went to her room and changed. Once she was in pajamas, she turned on the TV in her room, watching whatever was on due to her remote being MIA. It was E!News or something like that.

"New couple alert! Dallas Stars' new centre, Tyler Seguin, was spotted with a female this week. Rumours say, it's Pittsburgh Penguins' forward, James Neal's long term, now ex, girlfriend, Emily Vellucci. Can't wait for that match up in January." The reporter spoke.

Emily rolled her eyes before she turned the TV off. She was home alone. The boys were gone for their game in Columbus the next day. She sighed, scrolling through twitter. All she saw was a conversation between James and his teammates about his 'new girl'.

Emily was mad about Amber. She knew she had to moved on before James had, but she didn't like that he had. It was selfish of her, but James had been selfish their entire relationship.

Emily was also mad at herself. She had Tyler but her mind was constantly on how James was doing. The feelings that she told everyone had gone away, were nowhere close to gone. She felt wrong being with Tyler when her heart wasn't in it, but she'd feel worse without him.

In a sense, she was technically using him. She did care about him, but not nearly as much as she cared about James. She wasn't going to act on her thoughts of James, but she wasn't completely positive something wouldn't happen. She wasn't always in control.

She was pulled from her crazy ex-girlfriend thoughts by a text. She grabbed her phone. Jamie sent her a text, simply stating they got there safe. Tyler's was a whole different story.

Never wanna sit beside Jamie on a plane again. Didn't shut up once, even when he was sleeping! Asides from that, I miss u :( I hope ur well and I hope ur thinking of me ;)

Emily smiled. Tyler was sweet. He was so sweet. What she was doing to him wasn't fair. She set a plan in her mind that she would cut him off once he was back. She knew it was what she had to do.

Notes