Stray

by Solveig Yrsa

  Layla continued to remove the tags from her clothes as she listened to his apology. “I don’t understand, why do I have to wash these? They’re new, aren’t they clean?”

  Landon thought for a moment, trying to figure out what she was talking about. “Oh, no, they usually have dye and harmful chemicals in them that can irritate your skin, plus other people may have tried them on, so you want to wash them first.”

  Layla laughed while she threw her new wardrobe into the hampers. “You honestly have no idea what my life has been like, do you?”

  ***

  Spencer stood in the doorway of his mother’s bedroom and watched her slumbering figure. He glared at the photo she held in her hands. The photo was of her and his father, Matthew. He felt fire run through his veins; it wasn’t fair to his mother that her husband wouldn’t come home. He grabbed a throw cover off Catherine’s chaise and covered her up, before turning off the lights and leaving the room. Once outside of the room, he grabbed his phone and touched his father’s contact.

  After a couple of rings, a male voice mumbled a greeting.

  “When are you coming home?” Spencer’s voice was stern. He was tired of this, and his mother was sick and needed her husband.

  “Spencer? Son, it’s three in the morning here. What’s going on? Is your mother alright?”

  “No, Matthew, she’s not. She’s sick and needs you to come home.”

  “No, what I need to do is continue to make money so we can continue to get her the best treatment, and what you need to do is mind your business!”

  “Mind my business? Are you insane? Who takes care of her?” Spencer yelled through the phone. Why did he even call him? He should’ve known better.

  “The one signing the god damned checks!” His father’s voice was getting equally loud.

  “No, Matthew! It’s the one taking her to her appointments, giving her the medication, taking care of her when she’s sick after chemo, that’s the one taking care of her.” There was a pause on the other end of the line before Matthew spoke again. “Would you rather I come home and spend all day with her? Shut down the company and just hope this all works out.”

  “You know that Bryson could’ve handled that without you. You’re just along for the ride. I’d have more respect for you if you would just man up and say you’re scared to be alone with her.”

  The response he got was what he had expected; his father hung up on him. Spencer gripped his phone tightly before throwing it into the wall, causing it to shatter. He stormed down the stairs, brushing past Layla and Landon before going down a hallway.

  Spencer walked into a large room and shut the door behind him. He flipped on the light switch and the room brightened up, showing a large, fully stocked bar, a pool table, and a large leather sectional. The room was only used when his older brother, Bryson, would come home and throw a party. Walking behind the bar, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a glass.

  “Good ol’ Jack,” he muttered as he poured himself a glass. He walked over to the mantel and looked at the pictures sitting on it. His eyes stopped on one photo in particular. The photo was of his family from years ago. His mother, before she became ill, sat in the middle of a plush couch. She wore a dark green robe and had a giant red gift bow on her head. She had her arms around a sandy-haired teenager who was Bryson, and a twelve-year-old Spencer. Both of them were in their pajamas and had matching bows on their heads. Behind them was his large, powerful father with a proud grin on his face. Everyone looked so genuinely happy that Christmas. It felt like forever ago, back when his father stayed around, his mother was healthy and loving life, and he and his brother were told they could be anything they wanted.

  Spencer went to take a drink from his glass, but noticed it was empty. He looked at the bottle and noticed it too was missing a substantial amount of alcohol. “What the?” He stumbled over to the couch. How long had he been staring at that picture?

  ***

  Layla sighed. “Landon, fine, alright, I forgive you! Now please, can I go to sleep?”

  Landon smiled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace. “Oh, thank you! I just don’t what to lose our friendship before it really blossoms. Alright, I’ll let you be, have pleasant dreams.”

  Once Landon was gone, Layla headed to her room, closed her door, and let out a huge sigh. The last few days had been mentally exhausting. She went to her dresser and pulled out a pair of pink and white striped pajama shorts and a white tank top, then grabbed a shopping bag that was filled with bathroom supplies before heading down the hall to the shower.

  She walked into Spencer’s bathroom and locked the door. She hadn’t showered alone yet, only in Catherine’s bathroom. But she just wanted some alone time for a few moments. She stripped her clothes off and walked to the shower. “Okay,” she mumbled while looking at the shower handle. “Red means hot, blue means cold.” She turned the shower on and spent a few minutes adjusting it to the right temperature, before stepping in and letting the hot water hit her body.

  She stood there under the water with her eyes closed, remembering the old couple from earlier today. That was her only a few days ago, now she was here. This life was more than she could’ve hoped, and she was so grateful for it, but there were so many unknowns. Life on the street was simpler, not easier, but definitely simpler. She would wake up with one objective; get money or food, that was it.

  Now there was just so much to do, and it all seemed, pointless. Spending so much money on clothes and makeup and hair, why? She couldn’t even comprehend the amount that was spent on her today. She had no idea what the totals meant. All she knew was, when she saw that old man today, she felt ashamed.

  She looked at the bottles of shampoo and conditioner that she had brought with her. “Okay, the one with the lid on the bottom goes on after this one.” She grabbed the shampoo and worked her hair into a lather before rinsing and applying the conditioner. She then grabbed her body wash and a loofa. Looking at her skin, she loved how soft it was now. She flexed her fingers and looked at her nail polish. She had picked a dark purple, which apparently wasn’t very ‘spring time’, but she liked it.

  She finished washing herself and rinsing her hair, before stepping out of the shower. She dried herself off and wrapped a towel around her slight frame as she pulled the skincare products out of the bag. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember what order the woman told her they went in. She then placed them in a line and began to cleanse her face.

  She finished her face, moisturized, and combed out her hair, before getting dressed and then cleaning up Spencer’s bathroom. She couldn’t believe how many steps there were to getting clean. “If those people knew how long I had gone without a shower, they would’ve died,” she snickered as she placed her stuff back in her room. She peered out of her room and noticed that Spencer’s door was still open with the lights off. He seemed really upset earlier. Maybe I should go check on him.

  Layla walked down the steps, and went down the hall she remembered him storming down before. She came to a door and pushed it open gently. “Spencer?” she called out softly as she walked into the room. She didn’t get a response. She saw him on the couch, then saw the bottle of whiskey sitting on his lap, and she rolled her eyes. She placed her small hands on top of his, and gently pried his fingers off of the bottle, sitting it on the table. He stirred for a moment but fell back asleep. She sighed and looked around the room. Her eyes fell to the photos on the mantle. She maneuvered around Spencer and walked over to get a better look.

  She looked at all the pictures and smiled. She saw pictures of Spencer and, who she assumed was his brother, at various ages. Both had the same big cheesy smile. She looked at the most recent photos of them. Spencer was apparently never clean-shaven. He always had his messy black hair and scruff. His brother, however, had short sandy-colored hair that was perfectly styled, his round face was clean and free of any facial hair. While Spencer was on the muscular side, his brother was more average bu
ilt. They honestly looked like complete opposites, except for one striking detail, they both had those emerald green eyes, just like their mother.

  Layla continued down the mantel. She stopped at one of the last photos that must’ve been taken recently. There stood Spencer with his arm around Rachel’s small waist while her hands were placed on his broad chest. Cocking her head to one side, she felt as though the picture looked fake. She looked back at his smile on the other photos, how it was big and cheesy and his eyes seemed to dance. She looked back at the Rachel photo, and noticed how rigid he looked.

  “What are you doing in here?” Layla jumped and spun around when Spencer spoke.

  “I was making sure you were alright,” she breathed, placing a hand on her chest to calm her pounding heart. “Then I found that you were half a bottle deep into booze.” She gestured to the bottle of whiskey. Spencer rolled his eyes.

  “Please, I can drink half that and get drunk.”

  Layla raised a brow. “That made absolutely no sense.”

  “Do you like him?” Spencer slurred while looking over at the small girl.

  “Like who?” she asked while walking over to the couch.

  “Him,” Spencer emphasized.

  Layla thought for a moment. “Are you talking about Landon?”

  “HA! So you do like him!” Spencer said, pointing a finger at her.

  “What? No, I don’t!”

  “Oh, really? Then how did you know I was talking about him?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Spencer, it’s not hard to figure out, I only know you, Liam, Jensen, and Landon.”

  Spencer slumped against the couch and sighed, “I see how you look at him.”

  “Spencer, I like Landon as a friend. I really don’t know him, so whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong. I’m just trying to figure everything out. So much has changed so fast, and I feel lost and scared.”

  Spencer looked at the girl and tried to sober up the best he could for her. “Don’t be scared, I’ll be here for you.”

  Layla smiled softly. “You know, you really shouldn’t drink so much.”

  He glared at her. “Oh so now you’re going to get on me about drinking too?”

  Layla shook her head. “No, you’re an adult, do whatever you want. I’ve just seen what it does to people, not to mention how bad some of them feel in the morning.”

  Spencer stuck his tongue out at her, making her giggle. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. “But you look beautiful. Not that you were ugly or anything before.”

  She laughed. “Thanks, but I’m almost positive that you called me ugly several times on the street.”

  “I did,” he mumbled, as he started falling asleep. “But I was lying.” Layla’s breath caught in her throat and she felt her cheeks heat up.

  “Spencer,” she whispered, “Can I stay with you?” Spencer gave her a small nod, and Layla smiled as she closed her eyes.

  “Goodnight, Spencer.”

  “Goodnight, Layla.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Catherine sighed in frustration as she walked around the main floor of the house. She hadn’t been able to find Spencer or Layla, which wouldn’t concern her too much, except her husband had called saying that he and Spencer had had a fight.

  She headed down the hallway and entered Bryson’s bar room. She rolled her eyes and shook her head when she saw the half empty bottle of whiskey on the table. She glanced over and gasped lightly at the couple on the couch sleeping. Spencer laid on the couch with Layla laying between his legs, her head on his chest, and Spencer had his arm wrapped around her small body.

  “Spencer, Layla, wake up,” Catherine said, clapping her hands.

  Layla popped right up and looked around frantically. She noticed the position she was in and blushed before moving quickly. Spencer opened his eyes and groaned before closing them again and rolling over.

  “I think…” he whispered. “I’m going to die.”

  Catherine shook her head disapprovingly while placing her hands on her hips. “Well, maybe you will think next time before sneaking in here and raiding your brother’s bar!” She looked over at the still blushing Layla. “Did you drink?”

  “N-no ma’am!” Layla blurted. “I don’t drink. I’ve seen what that does to people.”

  Catherine nodded, while Spencer groaned and waved the women off. “Enough with the after school special. Just let me die in peace.”

  Catherine sighed before turning back to Layla. “Alright, Layla, Get dressed, and we will leave for the dentist.” Layla nodded and quickly left the room.

  Catherine looked down at her son before she grabbed a pillow off the couch and smacked him in the head.

  “OW! Mom! That’s abuse!”

  “I did not raise you to act this way, young man! What were you thinking? I understand that you are an adult and that you drink, but half a bottle?”

  “I was having a bad night, sorry,” he growled, and tried to lie back down.

  Catherine smacked him with the pillow again. “Spencer Matthew, I am not finished yet! We need to talk about Layla and the position I just found you two in! I let it go, the last couple nights, you two sleeping in the same room, because I would peer in and one of you would be on the floor. But Spencer! You have a girlfriend! I may dislike Rachel with every fiber of my being, but you do not treat any woman in such a disrespecting manner, either of them! Layla is scared and impressionable! You like Layla? Fine, end things with Rachel and then pursue her.”

  “Mom, I don’t like Layla that way. I was drunk and asleep. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Spencer whispered.

  “See that it doesn’t,” she warned before walking out of the room.

  ***

  Layla couldn’t stop smiling as she looked in the vanity mirror in the limo. She kept looking at her bright white teeth and wanted to cry.

  “I told you, you would be happy,” Catherine smiled while patting the young girl's leg. “Now, those are temporary, your real ones will look much nicer and will be custom to your mouth. They call these temporary crowns, they aren’t as strong as your implants but you should do fine with them. We have to let your jaw heal from the extractions and the implants so it will be a few months before we go back to get your permanent set. But this was the hard part, and you did so well. Your pain tolerance amazed the doctor. Honestly, it amazed me too.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Layla said, fighting the tears. “This is truly the greatest thing I’ve ever gotten. I just, I can’t believe I have a pretty smile! And I promise, I’m fine. It’s sore, but it’s not bad. I just feel tight on my jaw.”

  Catherine nodded. “Yes, you will probably be a little bruised and swollen, just make sure you ice your face and take your medication, and you will be fine.”

  As Catherine and Layla got out of the limo, Layla looked at Catherine before awkwardly giving her a hug. Layla wasn’t comfortable getting really close to people, but she didn’t know how else to thank her. Catherine smiled and hugged her back. “My dear, you are most welcome.”

  As they walked up the steps, they heard laughing and splashing. “Sounds like everyone is around back in the pool,” Catherine smiled. “Why don’t you join them? I’m going to go lay down for a bit.”

  Layla nodded and ran around the house to the Olympic sized in-ground swimming pool, with a large water slide that Liam was currently going down. Layla saw at the other end was Samantha and Rachel in inner tubes, watching Spencer, Landon, Jensen, and Liam goof around.

  As soon as Layla spotted Rachel, she turned to leave. But it was too late, Samantha had already seen her.

  “Lay! Hey girl!” Layla froze and turned around. Now everyone, besides Rachel, was staring at her.

  “Um… hi,” she said awkwardly. Samantha pulled herself out of the pool and ran over to her. Layla couldn’t help but notice Samantha’s body, and felt a bit of jealously. Samantha was tall and curvy. Her large breasts were covered by a da
rk purple haltered tankini top, and she had on a pair of short, black swimming shorts. This was the first time she’d seen Samantha’s bare arms. She noticed that half her right arm was covered in a beautiful tattoo that had pink roses and lace wrapped around her arm from her shoulder to her elbow.

  “Come on,” Samantha smiled. “I brought your bathing suit out. It’s in the pool house.”

  Layla smiled uncomfortably and shook her head. “No, that’s okay, I just came from the dentist.” But it was too late, Samantha was already dragging the brunette to the pool house.

  Once inside, Samantha sighed. “Thank God you’re back. Rachel is driving me crazy. If I hear one more wise-crack about my weight or the fact that ‘Chunky girls shouldn’t show their belly.’ I’m going to punch her.”

  Layla furrowed her brows. “Rachel said you were chunky?”

  Samantha laughed. “Well, I’m not the thinnest girl out there, Lay.” She wiggled her thighs as if to prove a point.

  “I think you’re really pretty. I wish I looked like you. You look healthy and strong.” Layla blushed as she looked at her own thin body.

  “Hey, we don’t body shame in this family. You’re gorgeous, I’m gorgeous. Rachel is… well, she’s pretty on the outside.” Layla laughed as she disrobed and put on her bathing suit.

  They came out of the pool house a few minutes later. Layla had a similar suit to Samantha, except hers was a red top with black shorts. Samantha stood behind her and helped her put her hair up in a messy bun and handed her a pair of sunglasses. “Thanks, I promise I’ll figure this hair thing out eventually.”

  Samantha chuckled, “No worries, now come on and get in.” Layla watched as Samantha ran and jumped into the pool.

  Layla slowly made her way to the edge of the pool and carefully sat down to dip her legs into the water.

  She watched as Spencer swam over to her. “Hey, are you getting in?”

  Layla blushed and shook her head. “I can’t swim,” she whispered. Spencer could see how uncomfortable she was and decided not to press her, so instead he changed the subject.