Chapter 40

AMBER'S POV
'Are you sure he was talking about Frankie?" I asked as I glanced from Maddie to Mel. What was going on with my son? Ever since he failed the promotion exams and had to repeat a class, he had changed completely and now, I am being called to the school?
Maddie looked at me like I was on drugs, 'He's the only Franklin Swift in Oxford Oaks, mom. Of course it's him" she said as she sat down next to Mel on the bed. I couldn't sit still, I started pacing,
'Do you have any idea what he must have done?" I saw the look Maddie gave me but I was too occupied in my head to decipher it.
Frankie had been born two minutes before Danny and then Maddie followed about three minutes later. My triplets were the best thing that had ever happened to me if you remove my status as Cheer captain and one of the popular girls back then in Oxford Oaks.
My baby was very sweet growing up, he always clung to me, followed me everywhere I went. It was odd cause Maddie was the last and only girl so it was expected of her to be clingy and all cute but Frankie took that spot in my life and I was happy, very happy.
'I don't know, mum. Stacey might have an idea, they're in the same class anyways" Maddie said as she shrugged. What was I expecting? Frankie had not only disassociated himself from me, he had pushed his siblings aside also.
Mel spoke up for the first time, 'Stacey didn't make any mention of an incident to me" she said looking at Maddie. 'But it could also be because she hasn't been talking to me for quite awhile" she added and I wanted to ask what was going on with Stacey but that could wait.
They weren't even teenagers yet and I was having so much issues with them, what was I going to do when they eventually get to that stage in life? Step by step, that's how I've been handling things with them. But for now, I had to find out what Frankie had done before seeing principal sterling the next day.
Maddie had suggested I do a little investigation which involved talking to Stacey but I knew how reserved and shy Stacey was and since Mel had not heard anything from Stacey, I felt she had no idea about the whole situation, so I left her alone.
I decided it was better to hear from the horse's mouth as I called out for Frankie. Whatever grievances he had, he was going to air them all out because there was no way I was going to settle and clean up his mess if he didn't take full responsibility for...
JAY'S POV
If I thought Amber's house looked cozy the last time I got there, this time, I realized I was a jerk for being envious of them. It still looked cozy, mind you, but in the bright light of day, it looked entirely different. It wasn't exactly bright but the sun hadn't set yet and I was getting a good view of the house, from the outside though.
10 minutes after my arrival, I was still sitting in the car performing summoning jutsu to enable me pull through with my newly assigned mission to myself. Back when I was in California, I literally paid someone to think for me, asides Noah that is, which was both weird and a stupid waste of money but I wasn't exactly poor so it didn't matter.
But being back in Los Angeles had got me doing things I usually didn't do and it didn't just feel strange, I realized it was hard as hell to do those things I thought were easy. Since I was still doing the jutsu, I decided to reach out to Daniel who I was upset with, by the way.
'Hey, man" he blurted out after the third ring and a frown spread across my face. How could he be sounding so pleased to hear from me when he hadn't called me since the reunion.
I made sure to express my annoyance, 'You went MIA dude, that's not fair at all. This isn't California where we get to see each other whenever, why didn't you call?" I heard him chuckle and I felt silly for throwing words at him like were were in a relationship.
Daniel laughed heartily as he replied, 'There has been a lot going on since the reunion party happened and I was working on that project with Ken Duke" he pointed out and to be honest, I had forgotten all about the deal we had been trying to finalize since the year started.
'Jesus, I've totally forgotten about the deal. I've been busy with the company and things had been weird with Eve, the twins, Amber. Then my mu..."
'Did I hear you say Amber?" I heard the switch in his tone and I tried to picture the expression on his face as I confirmed it,
'Yes, Amber. What's up?" I tried to sound placid about it but Daniel Fletcher had known me for over a decade, it wasn't easy to fool him.
'Amber, as in, Amber Swift, your ultimate crush in like forever? How did it happen?" He asked enthusiastically and I shook my head. How could he switch from a grown up man to a teenager in so little time?
'Focus, Danny. How's the project coming up? Is Ken handling things well? I heard he's back in Los Angeles. I didn't even know he lived here at all" I said but it was obvious Daniel's attention was somewhere else as he repeated his questions,
'How did you end up meeting Amber? And don't even think about leaving any stuff out, I'm sure you've seen her more than once" he said with so much conviction I couldn't help but laugh.
'Yeah, it's going to be the second time as soon as I can muster enough courage to go ring her door bell" I muttered and I could practically feel Daniel's excitement from across the line.