Layla and Quil had went through the drive-thru at Taco Bell, ordering enough food for 6 people. Quil decided it would be a great idea to take Layla to the highest point in Forks so they could enjoy a great view while eating. Quil parked the Escalade at a hotel just off the side of the road and picked Layla up shifting her to his back while he grabbed the bags. He started hiking up hill, never breaking a sweat. Layla rested her head against his shoulder as she held on, giggling at everything that popped into her head. In no time, Quil had made it to the top of the mountain, to the overlook that stood over top of the town of Forks. He gently set Layla down on one of the rocks and plopped beside her, divvying up their food. Layla took a bite of her taco, loving how wonderful it tasted.
Layla's phone rang half an hour later while she and Quil were laying on the rock, Layla resting the majority of her injured body on his so the rock wouldn't hurt her further. She didn't immediately recognize the number, but she answered anyway.
"Hello and thank you for calling Movie Fone!" Layla said, pushing the accept call button.
"Where in the hell are you? Is Quil with you?" Sam asked, clearly upset.
"You'll never believe this, but I'm mostly on Quil. Like, not his dick." Layla said, giggling. "Do you even know how good food is?" she asked seriously.
"Layla...can I talk to Quil? Please?" Sam asked, figuring he was getting no where with Layla.
Layla handed the phone to Quil and started singing. "Someone's in trooubbblleee!"
Quil grinned and grabbed the phone. "Yes, mother?" he said, making Layla laugh even harder.
"Where in the hell are you?!" Sam asked, getting even madder. "I told you two to stay here and let her rest and we come back here and you're gone, she's gone!" Sam shouted. "The pack's all over the rez looking for you two!" he said.
"We were hungry. And she's never been to Overlook Rock." Quil explained.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Sam asked. "Hold on. Seth! Tell the others they're safe, they're at Overlook Rock!" he yelled, away from the phone. "You get her home right now. There might be others out there and you wouldn't be able to protect her and yourself."
Quil groaned and acquiesced to Sam's order before hanging up. He gave the phone back to Layla. "Sit up. We've got to go back to the rez before that vein in Sam's head gets any bigger." Quil said.
Layla sighed loudly and dramatically before sitting up. Quil got up, dusting himself off. He pulled Layla to stand up and then up on his back. They made their way back to her Escalade at the bottom of the mountain. It took nearly twice as long as Layla nearly cried with every jagged step Quil went over, the pain medication completely worn off. Quil kept apologizing with every step he took.
"We're almost there. Just hold on. I'm sorry." Quil said, seeing the Escalade.
Layla whined softly, laying her head on his shoulder. "Quil? What's love feel like?" she asked.
"I'm sure it's different for everyone. For me, it's this feeling that, like, everyday is Saturday and I get to sleep late and then you have a great dream and then you wake up to find out food has no calories and the bank is giving away cash." he said. "That kind of just sheer happiness that, if you found out you had to go through hell, it'd be okay because you knew that at the end of hell, the one you love the most would be there."
Layla smiled softly, wondering if she would ever find love like that, love that the world would stop and sit still for. Quil unlocked the Escalade and laid the passenger seat to recline before setting Layla on it gently then buckling her in. He walked over to the drivers seat, starting the vehicle, and heading back for the reservation. Twenty minutes passed and Quil pulled into the driveway at Eric's house. Sam, Seth, Leah, Jake, and Embry were all waiting outside. Quil got out of the vehicle and was immediately taken to the side by Sam, who had a heated discussion with him. Embry beat the others to the passenger door, unbuckling Layla and picking her up bridal style. Layla cried out, arching her back.
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry." Embry said. "Have you taken your medicine?" he asked.
Seth walked over to them and pulled Layla from Embry's arms, holding her with her facing him, her arms and legs around him. Embry wanted nothing more than to punch him and take Layla back, and nearly did.
"Hey, shorty. How you feeling? You and Quil have fun?" Leah asked.
"Mhm. So much fun. You and Jakey been doing the lust and thrust? Park the beef bus? Part the pink sea?" Layla asked, her voice soft and tired but full of humor.
"The lust and thrust?" Jake asked, laughing. "I'm going to have to remember that. And, yes."
"Oh, gross!" Seth whined.
Layla looked over Seth's shoulder, seeing Embry staring sadly at them. Her heart felt like it was breaking just looking at him.
"Embry? Will you take me inside?" Layla asked.
Embry nearly jumped at the chance, gladly taking her from Seth and walking inside before he could try to take her away again. He headed for the bed but Layla stopped him.
"Bathroom. I smell. I laid on Quil and he was hot, too, and I feel sweaty." Layla said. "You can send Leah in here, she can help me wash off."
"No...no, I can do it." Embry insisted. "I'm going to get your medicine first, though."
Embry sat Layla on the edge of the sink and quickly walked across the hall, bringing the two pill bottles to Layla and the bottle of water on her nightstand. He shook out one pill from each and held them out to Layla, who downed them with a gulp of water. He turned the shower on, adjusting the temperature to what he thought she would be comfortable with.
"I can't shower." she whined.
Embry pulled the little plastic chair into the shower before stripping down. Layla's jaw nearly dropped. She'd almost completely forgotten what he looked like naked. The last time she had seen him like that, she was high. He walked over to her, completely comfortable with being naked around her.
"Can I?" he asked, gesturing to her clothes.
Layla nodded, and Embry began pulling her clothes off, being as gentle as he could. He picked her up, both of them completely in the nude. Layla shivered at how warm he was, feeling like she could melt into him. He stepped into the shower and turned so the water hit his back. He moved the plastic chair so he could sit sideways. He leaned Layla at an angle, holding her up easily with one arm while she squeezed shampoo into his free hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck so he could use both hands to scrub her head.
"Oh, this. Keep doing this forever." Layla said, completely relaxing.
Embry nearly preened under her words, gently scratching her scalp as he washed her hair. He angled her so her hair could get rinsed, but not hit any of her injuries. He massaged leave in conditioner into her hair then let her rest her head on his shoulder and held her gently.
"Do you want to wash yourself, or..." Embry asked. Layla shook her head, too tired to do anything except sit there.
Embry leaned over to get the body wash and wash cloth. He went over the non-injured parts of her body, his attention completely focused on not hurting her. Layla smiled and gently pulled his hair until it was a long curtain around the both of them, making Embry smiled.
"It's like we're in a cave." Layla whispered. "A raining cave."
"It is." Embry agreed.
Layla squeezed some shampoo into her hands, scrubbing Embry's hair and scalp as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His eyes closed and he, like Layla, rested his forehead against her shoulder. Layla soaped up his long hair, going back up to scratch his scalp. She rinsed his head and then massaged her leave in conditioner into his hair.
She not-so-subtly glanced down between them to see if any of it had made him hard. Embry noticed she had stilled her hands and opened his eyes, following where she was looking.
"You're not turned on?" she asked, confused. Didn't stuff like this always turn guys on?
"Should I be?" he asked.
"Aren't guys always horny? Like...I'm naked, you washed me, I'm sitting here, in your lap, naked. The last time I got hurt, it didn't even matter that I wasn't naked. He was still hard and kept trying to fuck me." Layla said, frowning.
"You're hurt. I'm not going to take advantage of you. I can handle my body. I'm not like those other guys." Embry said.
Layla watched him for a few more moments. Embry looked at her as she studied his body. Had she not known kindness like this? He leaned over to turn the water off and grab the towel, gently patting her body dry before his own. He climbed out of the shower, holding Layla so gently, folding the towel and placing it on the closed toilet lid before lowering Layla down gently to it.
"Do you use any lotion or anything?" Embry asked, kneeling.
"Love Spell. It's under the sink." Layla said, watching him.
Embry grabbed the bottle, putting some in his hands and rubbing it on her body, avoiding the injured areas. He stood again, picking Layla up and then the towel, covering her backside as he held her to him. He carried her to his bedroom where Layla, Jake, Sam, and a scowling Seth sat, waiting.
"You were naked in there with her?!" Seth cried out, standing.
Sam turned away, as did Jake after Leah playfully smacked him on the leg. Layla stiffened against Embry when she heard his accusation. Embry held her closer, making sure the towel was covering what he couldn't.
"Turn your back, Seth, jeez!" Leah said.
"But they're both...he was in there, naked, touching her!" Seth whined.
"I'm not an animal." Embry said, incredulous. Leah grinned, trying not to laugh. He kind of was.
Embry's cell phone rang, breaking the silence between he and Seth. He held Layla with one arm and dug around in his pants until he found it, answering it.
"Embry, baby! I've been waiting for an hour! I need you, baby..." Audrey whined.
Layla heard her and pulled away. What was he doing here with her when it was obvious his girlfriend was waiting on him. She looked at Embry, hurt pouring from her face.
"Leah? Will you get me some pajamas? They're in the third drawer. I just want to go to bed." Layla said.
Leah went to the dresser, pulling out a long night shirt. Since the others had turned their back, Leah slipped the shirt over Layla's head and took her from Embry, who still had Audrey whining on the phone.
"Just go." Layla said, looking over at Embry.
Embry sighed, grabbing the towel and wrapping it around his waist before slipping his pants on.
"I'm sorry, I got a little tied up." Embry said, walking out of the room.
"Doing what, baby?" Audrey whined.
"Nothing, don't worry about it. I'm on my way over there." Embry replied, walking out of the house.
Leah gently lay Layla in her bed, sitting on the edge next to her.
"How you feeling, kid?" Sam asked, sitting opposite of Leah on Layla's bed.
"Tired. Where's Quil?" Layla asked.
"He had to go babysit. He said to tell you he had a great time and loved hanging out with you." Sam said.
Layla curled on her side in the bed. Leah lay down beside of her, knowing the look on Layla's face was one she knew all too well. Rejection, sadness, and jealousy.
"I'm going to chill here with Layla tonight, Jake. She's got school in the morning and I want to make sure she goes to sleep in time." Leah said.
"I can stay instead." Seth offered.
Leah shook her head. "I don't think so. Mom's pissed that you got detention." she said.
"Tell her I'm sorry...I hope she doesn't hate me. It wasn't even big PDA." Layla said.
"Oh, she loves you. She blames Seth." Leah said, grinning.
"Fine. Can we ride to school with you tomorrow?" Seth asked. "Riding up to the school, the music blasting."
"Mmmhmm." Layla whispered, having nodded off.
"She'll be fine, here." Leah said.
"I'm going to find out what the hell Embry is trying to pull." Sam whispered.
Jake bent over to kiss Leah goodnight and Leah smiled happily. Sam bent over to kiss Layla on the top of the head, hearing the growl from Jake and avoiding doing the same to Leah. Jake, out of a need to show his dominance, bent over to kiss Leah again, even deeper.
"He didn't mean anything, Jake. You know there's nothing between Sam and I anymore." she whispered.
Jake finally nodded and took Seth with him, turning the light off. Layla curled up against Leah, soaking in the warmth she gave off. Her dreams were filled with images of the big wolf that protected her from Paul's anger.