Love Will Find a Way

Ambra hated  confrontation. It was easy to say she was one of the least argumentative people, well, ever. In fact, it was a true sign of friendship if Ambra managed to raise her voice in front of someone - if that person was even able to bring themselves to be rude to her.

Which was why she stood, arms folded protectively against her chest and her head bowed low, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes at Malik loomed above her, face twisted in a frown so unlike his usual gorgeous grin. Just that simple look was enough for Ambra to shrink in on herself, the first bubble of anger simmering underneath her peach skin.

"I just don't see the point in you going on this stupid trip! You'll be gone for two weeks when you can do your studies just as well here. You could have at least told me before applying to go."

Ambra's lips curled. " I want to go! It'll be fun, and it's a bit of extra credit towards my studies. Why wouldn't I go?" Dark eyes flickered upward, locking onto Malik's amber ones for only a brief second before dropping back to the ground. "It's only two weeks, it isn't as if I'm moving across the country."

Malik's broad fists clenched, whole body stiffening as if it was causing him physical pain to think about. With his lips tightly pursed, thick brows furrowed in a deep scowl, Ambra had never seen him like this. "That isn't the point! We've barely been apart since we got together and you just drop this bomb on me without warning? You didn't think hey, maybe this is something I should discuss first? This is unbelievable!"

She let out a shuddering breath, and the tears fell freely then - hot droplets splashing against her cheeks and she didn't even bother to wipe them away. Why was he being like this? Couldn't he understand how much she wanted to go? "I just-"

"No." Malik took a deep breath, eyes slipping closed. When he spoke again, his voice was deathly calm. "You should have told me. You can't just expect me to be fine with you leaving for two weeks."

"And you can't expect me to let you tell me what I can and can't do," Ambra shot back. Anger simmered in her gut, hot and threatening to overflow. He was so ignorant, so damn frustrating and he didn't even see it. "You can't control me, Malik. I'm not going to cancel this college trip because you say so."

His eyes narrowed until there was only a sliver of vibrant gold left. He took a step forward, then another, until in only a few long strides he had closed the distance between them. He was so close Ambra smelled his breath - peppermint gum and over-sugared tea. "I'm not trying to control you, Ambra. But if you go on this trip, maybe I won't be here when you get back."

Her eyes widened, heart hammering in her chest with such force it made her feel sick. "You don't mean that." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"If you don't think I'm important enough to discuss things with, maybe you don't really want me around anyway."

Ambra felt her heart shatter in that moment. Tears dripped onto her blouse but she didn't even notice them soaking through the fabric, or the little grey marks they left on her cheeks as her mascara dissolved into the little droplets. All she saw was Malik's face, his cold, hard eyes and lips curled back. 

Suddenly, everything became crystal clear. "If you're willing to break up with me over this," she stated, and he hated how her voice wobbled but it was too late to back down, "then fine. I'm going on that trip, and you can do as you please."

His face cleared, golden eyes widening as surprise took over his features. Just like that the fight left him, whole body collapsing as he took a step from Ambra. "Wait, I - I didn't mean it. Ambra, please-"

"You're the one that said it," she replied, and when she reached up to swipe away her tears she noticed Malik's own eyes were damp. "Live with the consequences." She spun on her heel, tan flats clicking against the wooden floor as she strode toward the door. Small hands reached out to yank it open - and then cool air hit her face as she slammed it closed behind her.

Out in the evening breeze, hair floating around her head as wind caressed her, it was almost as if none of that had even happened.

---

When Ambra stepped into her little living room for the first time in two weeks, it took all of her self restraint not to collapse onto the sofa and pass out. Who would have thought a Math camp would be so tiring? Her back ached, her brain felt numb, and she was pretty sure she hadn't had a decent nights sleep the whole trip.

Dumping her bag by the front door, Ambra beelined for the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. The cool glass against her hands felt nice, and for a moment she just stood there, smiling softly.

Until her phone buzzed, deep within the pockets of her cardigan, and she fumbled to grab it.

Notifications. She had turned them off after the first three texts - but now that she was home, she might as well take a look.

Fourteen texts. Nine missed calls. Five facebook messages. Three voicemails. Two snapchats.

Her fingers hovered above the little voicemail icon, but instead of listening she clicked delete. Two whole weeks without thinking about him, and as soon as she turned her notifications back on she got this. Did he not understand she didn't want to talk? This was his own fault anyway.

Ambra abandoned her phone on the kitchen table, drink forgotten. Her legs felt like lead as she trudged into the living room - then collapsed unceremoniously onto the sofa with a groan. A quick nap, that's what she needed.

No sooner had her eyes slipped closed when sharp, urgent thudding startled her out of her thoughts. Bolting upright her eyes snapped to the - still unlocked - front door. Then a muffled voice on the other side called, "Ambra, it's me. Can I come in?"

Malik. The sudden urge to kick something rose in her, the desire to throw something at the door and tell him to fuck off. Instead she shoved down the fire spreading in her chest, marching to the door and swinging it wide open.

Malik looked a mess - more dishevelled than she had ever seen him. His gorgeous white hair was an unbrushed frizz framing his tired face. He looked as if he'd slept even worse than her these last two weeks, dark circles under his eyes like none she had seen before.

Ambra wanted to feel smug - to be proud of the fact she was dealing with this better than he was - but instead she just felt hollow. Guilt curled around her heart, and there was no satisfaction when she looked at his pleading expression.

"You didn't answer any of my calls or texts," Malik spoke, his voice so small she almost couldn't hear, "I thought... I don't know what I thought. I just want you to know I'm so sorry." He smiled then, a shy little quirk of his lips that made him look so sweet, so hopeful that the anger drained from Ambra in a second. So much for being strong.

"You should be sorry," Ambra stated - but her voice was soft. Sighing, she continued, "you had no right to try and stop me going on that trip. But," she paused, eyes dipping to the floor and God, this was so much more difficult than she had imagined, "I should have at least asked you if it was okay first. So I'm sorry too."

That shy little smile widened and Ambra melted. She had been so angry - angrier than she had ever been in her life. And then she had been so scared she almost couldn't bring herself to leave for the trip. But now, with her dark chocolate eyes locked on Malik's, everything felt right.

"I love you," Ambra stated softly, voice a whisper as she leaned to take Malik's large hand in hers, "and I'm sorry we fought. I'm sorry I got to defensive and pushed you away."

"I'm sorry I lost my temper - and tried to stop you from doing something you love."

A grin spread across Ambra's face as she placed a gentle kiss to his lips, then let it trail down to his jaw. "Can we start again? Pretend like this never happened. I really missed you."

"I missed you too," Malik whispered, and his breath tickled against her neck.

Ambra leaned away to look at him, lips tilting into a frown when she saw just how tired he really was. "Why don't you come in? I can order takeout, put on a cheesy horror movie. It'll be just like it was."

Relief flooded him in an instant, the smile on his face so bright it took her breath away. "I'd love that. Thank you."

She stepped aside to let him in, gaze soft as she watched him perched on the sofa. He looked so awkward, so out of place in a room that had once been a second home to him - but when Ambra settled down beside him, resting her head against his shoulder, he relaxed instantly.

Maybe, she thought, everything will turn out okay.