Beyond the Canvas: Blank Slate

“It’s a few weeks!” Amber replied. “What can you all not manage with me for that long.”

“Okay, okay.” Brandon said. “Look, I can provide back up for a few weeks. She's right. She take in a lot to let her take one break…”

“She can’t!” Amber’s mom said. “We need her here!”

“About that” Amber said

---
“So... yeah. I need a place to stay, and I-”

“I’ll work out the details with my parents.” Collin said. “You get yourself into the guestroom.”

“Collin Gabaibel Williams.” Collin’s mom said “You’ll do no such thing.”

“Mom she really doesn’t any—”

“Without making sure she doesn’t have a blanket first.”

---
“So yeah, I'm going. “ Amber said. “That’s really not up for discussion anymore.”

“So just up and leaving?" Amber's dad replied. “Without asking us?”

“You know it’s funny.” Amber said. “They said you say that, and I’ve been wondering so let me ask. Since when exactly did I need your permission to do some art?”

“Amber could we maybe tabled this—”

“No!” Amber said. “You all wanted to “talk about this?” Well let’s talk about this.”

“Okay, okay” Amber’s dad said. “You can go if it’s that important."

“I wasn’t asking.” Amber said. “I’m going. End of little ‘keep Amber in the garage forever’ discussion!” She walked, and slammed the door behind her.

Brandon sighed “I’ll get after her.”

---
Collin looked out onto the skyline. “Maybe I should call.”

“Don’t brother.” Amber said. “This is the hill. Sorry for the wait.”

“Not a problem at all.” Collin replied, and got his phone. Still making a call. “Dad?.. Yeah she just got here… about as well as she thought it might based on her face. She.. umm.”

“I’ll bring what I bring.” Amber said. ““I’ll bring what I bring.” Amber said. “It’s hard to explain why it works that way for me, but I promise to have something done.” 

“Pff.. Yes I know I told you so dad..” Collin said. “Actually umm.. Well she is already gonna stay with us, so could I maybe watch her?... Okay, and yes mom I’ll tell her that.” Collin hung up.

“Watch?” Amber asked.

“It’ just an anti-cheat premeasure.” Collin replied. “We  just wanna make sure indie artists are actually indie artists and such.”

“So you’ll be keeping me close then?~” Amber said. “Liking the sound of that~”

“Amber!?” Brandon said, getting up the hill.

Amber blocked Collin’s mouth. “Just get our ride ready? I’ll handle this.”

You could cut the disgust in Collin's face with a knife, but he nodded, and walked away. He and Brandon stared at each other before he walked down.

“I loved you… had a crush on you since I was 5.” Amber said. “You couldn’t have backed me up at once?”

“Amber, he’s lying to you!” Brandon said.

“Is he?! Because I've been here all my life, and never once had my art talked about.” Amber said.  “And now I have a chance at THOUSANDS of dollars, yet people are worried about what they're gonna do without me?!”

“Your support means a lot.” Brandon said, and got shoved by Amber as walked off.

“Interesting how it means a lot, but not enough to give back.” Amber replied, without looking back.