Chapter 4:
Embry
I can't believe I nearly fazed in front of Layna. How could I have risked her safety like that? And over some guy who winked at her?
I'm running through the woods, my mind on Layna, and the way the photographer dude had winked at her. He definitely likes her.
"He definitely doesn't." Bryce's voice filters through my head.
"How do you know?" I growl back.
"Because. He's gay. It's all over his social media. He does a lot with the Pride Alliance."
"He's gay?"
"Yep. Has a boyfriend and everything. He doesn't like Layna. I dropped your car back at your place. Whenever you're done freaking out about it, you can go apologize to her."
I run and faze just outside of Sam's place. I pull on shorts and a shirt, and then shoes. Finally, I head for where Bryce had dropped off my car.
I drive into Forks and begin driving around looking of Layna. Finally, I come across Madison, Bryce's imprint, leaving a restaurant.
"Hey, Madison. I'm Embry. Bryce's friend. I need to find Layna. Do you know where she lives?"
Madison frowns at me, pulling her brown hair back over her shoulders. "I dunno. How do I know you aren't some weird stalker?"
"You can ask Bryce." She nods and types quickly on her phone.
"Okay, fine. Here's the address." She rattles it off and I jot it down in my phone's GPS.
"Thanks, Madison."
"No problem. See you." She jogs off to her car.
Layna's house is a medium-sized two-storey. The front porch has an old wooden swing.
I step up onto the porch and reach for the doorbell. I can hear the TV going, along with a weird grinding noise. Footsteps near the door, and it opens to reveal a woman with curly red hair and blue eyes.
"Can I help you?"
"Is Layna home?" I ask, crossing my fingers that I have the right house.
"Of course. Let me get her. Can I have a name?"
"Embrydd" I reply.
"Okay, give me a second." She steps back into the house and closes the door behind her.
I force myself not to eavesdrop on the conversation inside the house. Instead, I pull out my phone and check my texts. Nothing.
"Come on in. She went to the bathroom. My name's Sharon." The woman steps back, letting me into the house.
Layna's house is warm and inviting. Framed photos line the walls, including some of what I realize are Layna's school pictures. Others show wedding photos from what I guess is Sharon and Layna's dad's wedding. Other photos contain Layna and two little kids that look similar to Sharon.
"My son and daughter." Sharon's gaze has zeroed in on the photo I'm gazing at. "They're at their dad's right now." She leads me into the living room.
A stack of magazines sits on a low coffee table. Legos are scattered across the floor. A container of chocolate ice cream sits on coffee table with a spoon sticking out of it.
"Can I get you anything?" Sharon smiles at me.
"I'm good. Thanks."
"Okay." She leans against the wall next to the TV, drawing my attention to a photo of Layna and her stepsiblings standing over a mixing bowl.
"Ah, yes. That's the only time Layna tried baking with the kids." Sharon's smile lights up her face.
"What happened?" I ask.
"The mixer malfunctioned and threw flour everywhere. The kids loved it and got the bag of flour to start a flour war. Layna got the brunt of it."
"That was a pain to clean up." Layna's voice reaches me before she steps into the living room. Her long brown hair flows over her shoulders, and she's wearing a Harry Potter sweatshirt and sweatpants. "I was finding flour in my hair for days after." Her smile is a mixture of annoyed and fond.
"I'll leave you two alone." Sharon stands from the chair she'd sat in midway through her story and turns to Layna. She shoots her a wink before heading into the kitchen and pulling the door closed behind her.
"What's up?" Layna drops onto the couch and pulls her feet up under her.
"I wanted to apologize."
"For?"
"Storming out on you today."
"Oh. T. It's all good." Layna reaches for the ice cream container and takes a bite. "So long's everything's okay." She shoots me a questioning glance.
"Yeah. Yeah, everything's fine."
"Cool." The silence is awkward.
"So you have stepsiblings?" I ask, trying to change the subject. The smirk she gives me lets me know I've done a poor job of it.
"Yeah. Ryan and Lily. Or as I call them, the Terrible Two. They're the embodiment of chaos." She gives another one of those smiles that is both annoyed and fond. "I love them, but they're a lot." She takes another bite of ice cream.
"I can imagine. I'm an only child."
"I used to be. I'm glad I have siblings now." She pops the top back on the ice cream container and sets it back on the table.
"Well, um, I won't keep you. I just wanted to apologize and ask if you wanted to do something this weekend."
"I'd love that." She smiles and pulls out her phone. She messes with it for a second before passing it over. "Put your number in there so I can text you."
I do so quickly before heading the phone back. Her fingers brush mine as she takes it. A zap of electrically shoots up my arm and I nearly drop her phone.
"You okay?" Layna frowns up at me.
"Yep. All good." I need to get out of here before I make a bigger idiot of myself. "I better go, though. Mom's probably wondering where I am."
"Okay. You want me to walk you out?"
"Sure."
Layna leads me back through the small hallway and to the front door. "See you at school tomorrow." She pulls the door open and flashes me a grin.
"See you, Layna." I step out onto her porch and head for my car.
I glance over my shoulder once before climbing into the car to see Layna standing in the doorway. She's backlit by the light in the hallway, making her look like an angel. She lifts her hand in a wave, which I return, before she steps back inside and closes the door.
A/n: Happy Labor Day for those in the US. For those who aren't, well, happy Monday in general. I am updating on time! I hope you enjoyed Embry's point of view. Let me know! Later.
Lauren.
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MerliaPhoenix: I'm glad you like my story. Layna has Crohn's disease. It's a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Please review and let me know.