Amber finds out Sunny is Shayla’s bff

 

Amber bounced on the balls of her feet, her phone buzzing with a text from Sunny. "Meet you at the usual spot after school?" it read. Amber grinned and replied with a happy thumbs-up emoji. The "usual spot" was their favorite bench in the park, overlooking the duck pond. It was their sanctuary, a place for sharing secrets, giggling about boys, and dissecting the latest drama at Northwood High. 

Amber considered Sunny more than just a friend. They were practically sisters, bonded by a shared love for cheesy rom-coms, graphic novels, and making fun of Mr. Henderson’s perpetually-awkward attempts at wit in history class. 

But something had been… off lately. Sunny seemed distracted, almost secretive. She’d cut their conversations short, often claiming she had to “help her mom with something.” Amber, being a good friend, tried not to pry, but a niggling feeling of unease had started to creep in That feeling intensified as she walked into the school cafeteria. Her eyes scanned the crowded room, finally landing on Sunny near the salad bar. But Sunny wasn’t alone. She was laughing, her head thrown back, her usual sunny smile radiating… at Shayla freaking Matthews.

Shayla Matthews was, to put it mildly, Amber’s nemesis. She was the queen bee of Northwood High, beautiful, popular, and absolutely, undeniably, vile. Shayla had made it her personal mission to make Amber's life miserable ever since Amber had accidentally spilled her smoothie on Shayla's pristine white designer purse in freshman year.

Amber’s heart leaped into her throat. This couldn't be happening.

As she watched, Shayla reached out and playfully shoved Sunny's shoulder. Sunny retaliated with a mock-glare before erupting in another fit of laughter. They looked… comfortable. They looked… like best friends The world seemed to tilt on its axis.

Amber stumbled back, knocking over a tray of mashed potatoes. A chorus of disgusted groans erupted around her. Red-faced, she mumbled an apology and hurried out of the cafeteria, her stomach churning.

She skipped the rest of her classes, unable to face the possibility of seeing Sunny and Shayla together again. Instead, she went to their bench in the park, hoping against hope it was all some bizarre misunderstanding.

Sunny arrived an hour later, her face falling as she saw Amber sitting there, her shoulders slumped.

"Amber? What's wrong?" Sunny asked, her brow furrowed in concern Amber took a deep breath. "You tell me, Sunny. What's going on with you and Shayla?"

Sunny shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Amber's gaze. "Um… well…" She stammered, picking at a loose thread on her jeans. "We've been… hanging out."

"Hanging out?" Amber repeated, her voice rising. "Hanging out? Sunny, you're best friends with my nemesis! She’s been making my life a living hell for three years! And you… you're laughing with her in the cafeteria?"

Sunny’s eyes welled up. "It's not like that, Amber. Look, Shayla and I… we've actually known each other since we were little. Our moms are in the same book club. We just… reconnected recently."

"Reconnected?" Amber was incredulous. "So you're telling me you've been keeping this a secret from me? All this time? While she's been actively trying to ruin my life?"

"I was going to tell you," Sunny said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I was afraid you'd be mad. And, honestly, Shayla's been… different lately. She's actually been really nice. She even apologized for the smoothie thing."

Amber scoffed. "That's what she wants you to think! She's playing you, Sunny! She's using you to get to me!"

"That's not true!" Sunny insisted, her voice gaining strength. "You don't even know her anymore, Amber. You just see her as this one-dimensional evil queen. Maybe she's changed The argument escalated, words flying back and forth like poisoned darts. Accusations, hurt feelings, and years of unspoken anxieties bubbled to the surface. Finally, Amber stood up, tears streaming down her face.

"I can't believe you, Sunny," she choked out. "I thought we were best friends. But I guess I was wrong. You choose her over me? Over everything we've built?"

Sunny looked at her, her own eyes brimming with tears. "Amber…"

But Amber didn't wait to hear what she had to say. She turned and ran, leaving Sunny alone on their bench, the duck pond reflecting her shattered heart. The usual spot suddenly felt terribly lonely. The sanctuary was gone, replaced by a gaping wound in their friendship, a wound that Amber wasn't sure could ever heal. She knew, with a sickening certainty, that things would never be the same again. And she wasn't sure if Sunny was worth fighting for anymore