Even though Blake is somewhat a friend now, it still doesn't mean I'll be fine with him having Goldy to himself.

But more pressingly, it seems that neither of us might get Amber back. The stranger sitting at the head of the Sterling table is just a hollow shell of the girl I'm sure both Blake and I love. And her name is Rebma.

I watch Blake saying something to Rebma. She looks concerned and skeptic, but then nods her head and smiles at the rest of us as she stands. Quickly, everyone that's been too preoccupied with their wine and food has their attention captured by the demanding presence of the true Sterling leader.

"It seems I have business to attend. Enjoy the food and wine," Goldy says and leaves the dining room. She hasn't touched her food, but I don't  say anything about it. 

"What business?" I ask Blake.

"Sorry, Owen. It seems I'm in the lead," Blake replies with a cocky smirk.

"You can't ever be in the lead when it comes to that girl," Sean points out. He takes a sip of his wine and looks at us from under his dark bangs. I'm glad some people didn't change too much. If Sean isn't pessimistic, he's probably sick or dying.

"I'd have to agree with our driver over here. Goldy's just going to play you like a pawn in a game chess," I chuckle. It's true though. Here I thought I was one of Tygerwell's biggest players. Turns out Goldy was the bloody coach all along.

"And what are you supposed to be? A fucking knight?" Blake challenges.

"I'm grounded. I'd consider myself a castle," I reply with honesty. With Goldy as queen, I don't think there'd be such a thing as a king chess-piece. She just won't allow anyone to be superior to her. Especially now that she's Sterling's leader.

"If life was a chess game, I'd be the chess board, because people walk all over me," Sean sighs.

Blake and I look at Sean for a  moment. He looks back.

And then we all start chuckling. I'm surprised to be so relaxed about Blake and Goldy going out for the night. Probably because I know it can only end bad for Blake. He's not dealing with Amber tonight. He's dealing with Rebma. 

"You're so depressing," Blake laughs at Sean.

"There are things much worse to be," Sean smiles back.

"Like?"

"You."

"Whatever," Blake replies with a chuckle.

"I guess being Xavier could also rank at the top of worst things to be," I chirp in.

"Agreed," Blake and Sean replies.

I take a sip of my wine and let my smile stay there for a few seconds. Realizing that Xavier wasn't actually related to the previous Northern leaders got me thinking. Maybe Xavier killed his leader in order to gain power. Maybe the Northern leaders didn't actually die in a fire as Miss Sauvage had put it a month ago at the docks...

Whoever Xavier's real parents are, must probably feel awful for bringing the literal reincarnation of Satan into this world. He's brought nothing but death to Tygerwell. Hell, to the country. And that's coming from someone who's killed people before as well.

A thought suddenly comes to mind.

"Hey, Blake?" I ask and take another sip of my wine.

"Yeah?" Blake responds.

"Remember how much we hated each other after y'know, the gang shooting that made West and East officially want each other dead?" ask.

Blake's silver eyes turn hard when he looks back at me. "Yes, I do," he replies and takes a bite of his food.

"Well, did you also get a visit from Xavier after that? Going on about how it was the South and that we should set aside our differences to defeat the South?" I ask.

Blake scoffs and takes a swig of his wine before replying: "Got more than just a visit. He was basically face spamming me."

"Face spamming?" I ask.

"Yeah. Like he kept showing up at my door."

"Face spamming?"

"It's just a phrase."

"Face fucking spamming?" I ask again and Blake's annoyed expression has me sent into a fit of laughter. Damn, that guy should not be Goldy's brains. I'm not a genius or anything, but you don't see me running around, saying someone face spammed me.

I quiet down and find myself thinking about how things could've turned out if we perhaps listened to Xavier all those years ago. I'm still not sure if it's actually the South's that behind all this. It could just be Xavier's way of trying to gain Goldy's favor. Gain her hand in marriage...

"You think if we listened, Matt and Calvin wouldn't have died?" I suddenly ask with a lowered voice. I still feel my chest tighten up whenever I think about my best friend... my second in command... dead.

"Perhaps," Blake answers in monotone.

Feeling like thinking about Matt too much will send me in a fit again, I get up and leave the dining room. I use the opportunity to check in with Goldy before she takes off for the night. Blake's right. He's in the lead and if I don't up my game soon, I'll be dropped faster than a hot potato. 

I go up to Amber's room, knock and then walk in just as Amber gets a purse from her bag. Her legs are a lot less tanned than they used to be, but she still looks good in that short black dress of hers.

"Where are you going?" I ask Goldy.

"Out," she answers, "I'm going out and as much as I'd enjoy your presence, I have a deal to pay up on. Blake won a challenge."

"Oh," I answer - not sure what to say next. I decide to go with: "You look really good in that dress."

"Tell me something I don't know," Goldy says with a smirk.

"You know why I always wear coats?" I ask with my own smile. Getting Amber back is all about Baby steps. Little moments.

"Why?" Goldy asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Because it's made of boyfriend material," I say with a wink.

Goldy snorts. The closest thing to a proper laugh that I'll be getting. "That was beyond cheesy," Goldy responds.

"I wasn't that cheesy," I defend.

"On a scale of one to ten on the cheesiness board, it was the child of Cheddar and Gouda," Goldy responds.

"Whatever," I grumble, "I can be deep if I want to be."

"Owen, Honey, I've found puddles deeper than you," Goldy fires back. 

I laugh out loud while Goldy resorts to a small smile. It's good enough for now. I look down at her heals. Her exposed toes and the toe-ring that's still on. Amber is still in there somewhere and I still have a chance at getting her back.  

"Have you forgotten about our Jane Austen battle?" I ask and refer to the night of the Northern ball last year - where we had a battle of who can quote Jane Austen the most. I still find myself wide awake at night, thinking about how awesome it was.

"No, I haven't," Goldy says.

I smile contently at my leader. Hoping the girl I've fallen in love with can see me through the cold shell she's in. 

"I want to go boxing again sometime. Meet up with my parents. Since you're my leader and all, I guess I'll need your permission," I say. Goldy opens her purse and stuffs it with her phone and wallet.

"Of course you can see your parents, Owen. You're not some kind of prisoner. You have freedom," Goldy responds and takes a look over in the mirror. I feel relieved when she doesn't put lipstick on or something. She's not trying to impress Blake.

"Will you come with?" I ask - taking a chance. 

Perhaps getting Amber back is showing her how her life could be. That she can still have a family. She doesn't need death to surround her all the time. If she'd just let Blake and I take care of the killing and messy parts of being in a gang, she can still be her golden self. She doesn't have to be in the battle to be a leader. She can't take it. She's too pure to handle it.

Goldy turns to me. Something I can't recognize is carved onto her expression. "Sure," she answers and I get my hopes up before she adds: "I need to speak to your dad about profit shares in anyway."

"Right..." I reply and before I know it, Goldy walks past me.

Before she can disappear, she stops in her tracks and turns towards me. "On one condition though," she says.

"Anything," I answer without thinking.

Behind her dull blue eyes, Goldy looks mischievous. Like she's trying really hard to show me some of the girl I fell in love with. "I get to put flower decorations on your fabulous bathrobe for the match," she says and before I can argue, she's rushing down the stairs.

I stand there. Speechless. 

Amber's still in there... And however small it was, I got a glimmer of hope. If getting her back, means her decorating my boxing robe, I'd allow it without a second thought. Hell, she can decorate it with Barbie for all I care. I want my golden girl back.

I rush downstairs just as Blake straightens his leather jacket. The sight of him next to Goldy makes my anger flare for a second before I remind myself we're in the same gang and on the same mission. We both want Amber back. 

"So where to is it?" I ask them, because I just have to know.

"Just some club," Blake answers.

"Well, you beter keep your eyes open. The devil is still in the city," I remind Goldy.

Goldy is no short from basically letting out steam from her ears. The very mention of Xavier has her temper flaring like a bull seeing red. Seeing maroon, to be more specific. "I swear to God, if I see that piece of shit, I will rip his limbs off," Goldy growls and I almost take a step back in shock. It's the most emotion she's shown the last month. Nothing like the usually still ocean in her eyes ever since she woke up. She looks wild.

"Well, I'm not stopping you," Blake smirks.

"I have never hated someone as much as I've hated that guy. I swear he makes me so mad! His logic is shit. His ego needs more than just a trim. And he deserves a dagger in the back for every person he's killed," Goldy rants.

"I agree one hundred percent," I say with a nervous chuckle.

"If only that bastard could've just told us about the South like a normal person! If he just warned us like any sane human, nobody would've had to die!" Goldy says and I don't miss how she clenches her fists. She probably has a gun strapped somewhere in that tight black dress of hers for in case she actually runs into Xavier.

"Am I right?" Goldy ask frustrated.

Blake and I share a look. 

"Yeah," we reply at the same time.

"He could've just tried reasoning with us," Blake adds.

"Instead he ordered his men to kill Matt and Calvin," I say.

Before Goldy can start breaking things out of anger, Blake leads her outside and there's already a car waiting for them to head to whatever club they're going to. Nothing will happen, I try to convince myself. It's Rebma that's out with Blake tonight. Not Amber. Noting will happen between Goldy and Blake. I'm just going to sit here and wait for them to get back. I will not interfere. It'll be a fair game.

I stand there for a few seconds. 

Who am I kidding?

"Sean," I call when I hear Goldy and Blake speed off.

"Yeah?" Tygerwell's best driver asks.

"We're going out," I say and pull off my coat. The party of Sterling members are still being jolly in the dining room. I'm sure they'll be fine on their own. But with the glimmer of Amber I just saw, I know Goldy won't be as fine with Blake as I've been hoping for. Blake's without a doubt going to try something crazy tonight. That guy is sneaky.

"Out where?" Sean asks with a bored sigh and gets his jacket.

I let Sean follow me to where Goldy's garage is. Once there, I switch the lights on and Sean is seconds away from drooling at all the sports cars filling the insanely large garage. This right here, this is his dream.

"We're going wherever Goldy and Bowmen are heading," I answer and grab the Lamborghini keys before chucking them at Sean. He catches it without so much as even blinking. "You think you can catch up to them in this?" I ask.

Sean clicks the unlock button and the white Lamborghini's doors spring open.

Sean has this crazy, adrenaline-filled look when he turns to me, "You bet I can," he answers.

"Good," I reply, "Because we're crashing that date."

Hey goldies!

Yeah, yeah, I'm insanely late. With the hate I was getting AND the fact that I was on a theater tour, I just couldn't update. I wasn't really at WiFi. I'm going on another tour at the end of the week, so I'll try getting a few chapters out before then.

So, I'm still reading comments about how you miss the old Goldy and all that. Guys. Relax. Rebma isn't permanent. Enjoy the plot while you wait for the romance to kick it up a notch, because trust me, things are going to get interesting at Club Cube.

~ Holly Shmit