ATTACHMENTS

chapter 3: The Card comes Home.

Amber headed up the stairs, gripping the donut box. Finally, the quiet from the station was gone.

The hallway was barely warmer than outside—the heater was total junk—but it beat the wind. She let her shoulders drop and started humming whatever was in her ears. Her fingers were still busy with the card in her bag, though. She couldn't stop fidgeting with it.

From behind the door, she heard a loud laugh and then Maya yelling, “Ada, don’t touch my hair!”

Amber stopped and just shook her head. She actually smiled.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “Ada’s back.”

“Tomato!” Maya screeched the moment Amber pushed the door wide.

“Oh, Lord... Maya, please, quiet for f**k's sake,” Amber groaned as she pulled her shoes off with the heel of the other leg, holding firmly onto the box of doughnuts.

“Y'all really talk a lot... yh, definitely. Seems I'm going to really miss my London peace,” Ada remarked, sitting up to embrace Amber.

“Sugar... you really smell so sweet. It looks like your mom really wanted to drown you in meals. Your face is so puffy,” Amber teased, rushing to hug Ada.

“I know, right? Mrs. Gladys never agrees that I can take care of myself. She thinks I'm still a minor,” Ada mumbled with a wide smile, burying her face into Amber's chest.

“Oh please, get your head off Amber's chest. Those babies are mine,” Maya mock-scolded with a stern face.

“Think that's the reason you haven't got a man, Maya... don't you think so too, Ambs?”

“I totally agree with you,” Amber chimed in.

They all chuckled.

“Talking about not having a man, I heard someone went two years without any man... and something about it sounds Ada-ish. Don't you think so, Ada?”

“I hate you, Maya!” Ada blasted, trying to contain her laughter.

“I really do hate you, you're so…”

“But it clearly sounds like you,” Amber teased.

“I should have just remained in London!” Ada hissed.

“Girl, at this point we’re basically married. Same faces every damn day.” Maya burst into loud laughter, and Ada immediately joined in.

“Tomato, can you pass the doughnuts?” Maya groaned.

“Wait… what about the apple juice?” Ada queried.

Amber stood mute for a while, turning her head like she’d forgotten it on the doorstep.

“I… I think I forgot it in the food shop,” Ada hissed, covering her face with her palm.

“Oh my… How could you forget, baby? How is…”

“Maya please… let her,” Ada interrupted.

“She’s literally the smartest person I know… so how?” Maya pressed on.

“I’m sorry Maya, I’ll make it up to you. Fred really had me talking.” Amber said.

“Sorry for what, tomato?” Ada cut in.

“I’m the one who asked for the apple juice. I have enough Capri Sun for us all. Enough Maya. Rest, Ambs… we cool.”

“That’ll do!” Maya smiled.

Amber felt relieved and she stretched her weight across the couch.

“By the way, who’s Fred that banged you with his tongue?” Maya leaned in.

“I never said that!” Amber replied in a furious manner.

“Chill baby… chill. You know Maya jokes a lot. You know that already. Please chill.”

“Of course she knows I’m joking. She’s just being defensive for her new boyfriend, whom I have no information on.”

“Maya… we literally met today!”

“And he’s already your boyfriend?” Ada chipped in.

“No… nooo… nooo… come on guys. We just met today and talked a bit.

He’s just a regular guy with his confidence and warmth. Only. Of course, I’ll tell you guys when I’m committed to someone. Isn’t friendship supposed to have no secrets?” Amber asked, in the silent room.

“Yes… It is.” Ada smiled as she opened the box.

“I’m not too confident in your answer, but I trust you.” Maya smiled as she also moved towards the doughnut box.

“Ada, please can you pass me my laptop. It's inside my bag.” Amber is stretching her body to its limits.

Ada reached for Amber's bag as she slipped out the laptop.

“Intellectual growth is a prerequisite for mental maturity.” Ada read aloud, picking up the card that slipped out. Maya’s eyes narrowed as she reduced the volume buzzing from her phone.

Ada leaned in. “23 Emerald Street…?” She flipped it over, reading the handwritten lines on the card.

“Can y'all just stop messing with my stuff?” Amber stood, moving to take the card from Ada.

Maya dragged the card from Ada and stretched her hand, shielding Amber away.

“Professor William A. Hale,” Maya read slowly, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and amusement. “Wait… this is prof. Hale? The Scottish guy?

She looked up at Amber with raised eyebrows. “He’s my professor for Psychology of Crime and Justice. He's one of my Criminology electives. The man is intense.”

“We just had a brief talk today. Psycho of a man!” Amber hissed. Relaxing back into the bed beside her.

“Mm..Two guys on the same day.Not bad ambs..not bad.” Ada added smiling

“It's nothing serious please,” Amber stated.

“Prof. Hales is too composed and commanding, he's just pride in human form.” Maya added.

“But are you gonna really go? And when? Ada asked looking down to Amber who wanted to lay flat on the bed.

“I'm not certain. He's very smart and persistent in what he believes. He's something else. Too smooth with his words that you question your own mind.we did have a tough argument in class though but somehow he just out thought me. I don't know. I feel like I have a lot to learn while still not feeling confident with a thought of him.” Amber sighed as her tone changed. Eyes blinking continually.

Wait…you challenged Mr. Google?” Maya leaned in.

What's with the nickname? Ada stared at Maya

The guy's a genius..don't u think the same Tomato??

“He is. I'll go. But Maya, please, let me take your scooter. That way you can track me. Don't you think?

Maya stared at her , then nodded. “Yeah. Just text me when you get there and when you leave.” She paused. “Are you sure you’re good with this? Hmm..”

Amber didn’t answer right away looking over at Ada like she's expecting a comment from her but Ada didn't quite look happy, she looked away and picked up her phone. She took the card back, running her thumb over the sharp edge. The bold handwriting stared up at her and she sighed.

“I’m not sure,” Amber admitted. “I just feel like it's worth it.I don’t know when he talks, it’s like he already knows where your mind is going. By the way, I got nothing going on this evening so I might as well go. Shouldn't take me the whole night.”

The room went quiet and the sound from the fridge became louder to the ears than it was. For the first time since the lecture, Amber felt the full pull of Professor Hale’s invitation.