Stray

by Solveig Yrsa

  “Way to cock block me, Spence,” Landon huffed before getting up.

  “If you kiss her, I swear to God, I will kill you,” Spencer warned.

  Landon laughed. “Don’t be upset she likes me and not you. Besides, you have a girl, remember?”

  “Landon, we all know what you do, do not do it to her. I’m warning you.” Spencer didn’t wait for an answer, he turned and walked away.

  Layla sat on her bed in her room. She couldn’t believe what had almost happened. “I don’t even like him. Why was I going to kiss him?” She sighed and laid back on her bed. “Life was simpler on the streets,” she muttered.

  Layla looked up when she saw Spencer open the door. “Are you okay?” he asked as he walked in.

  She nodded as she laid back down. “Yeah, just tired.” And mortified. She sat up as Spencer sat on the edge of her bed.

  He was quiet for several long seconds before he finally turned to look at her and speak. “I thought you liked him as a friend.”

  Layla shifted uncomfortably. “I… I do.”

  “So why did I walk in on you about to kiss him? Why him? What makes him so special?” Layla winced at Spencer’s tone.

  “I… I don’t know what you want me to say, Spencer. It just sort of happened.”

  “Why him?”

  “Well, who else would it be, Spencer?” Layla growled while standing up. She was getting frustrated at the way he was interrogating her. “The only other men I know are Liam and Jensen, who you said both like men. So that leaves Landon and you.”

  She looked at his face. His powerful jaw was clenched, his dark brows were furrowed, and his green eyes were burning holes into the floor. She looked at him standing there, his large hands clenching and unclenching into fists. Was he? He couldn’t be. She walked up to him and looked him in the eyes.

  “Spencer,” she said softly. “Are… are you jealous? I mean that’s just, stupid right? Why would you be jealous?”

  Spencer’s eyes widened as he looked at her. He once again underestimated her, he didn’t expect her to pick up on that. How was he going to play this off? He tried to think of a lie, but his mind was blank. He watched as she inched closer to him until there was no room left between them. He felt his heart pounding. What was she doing? He watched as she put her small hands on either side of his face. He noticed how badly they were trembling. Why was she so nervous? Then, before he could react, she pulled his face towards hers as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her soft, full lips against his. He was in such shock, he couldn’t move or think. The kiss was so soft and quick that if his eyes hadn’t been wide open, he may have missed it.

  She stepped back, her cheeks fire engine red and her hands still shaking. Spencer still stood there, mouth agape, still unable to think of one intelligent this to say.

  “I wanted to say thank you,” Layla finally broke the silence. “You’ve done so much for me and asked for nothing in return. I really appreciate that, and you really are my best friend, Spencer.”

  There it was, friend. Spencer felt his heart drop to his stomach. She gave him a kiss before throwing his ass into the friend-zone. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Listen, Landon is not a great guy, okay. I know you don’t see it because he’s putting on the charm, but he will hurt you if you get to close. I’m just trying to protect you, Layla. I don’t want you to give him something and then him stomp on your heart when he is bored.”

  Layla smiled and headed to the door. “I understand, Spencer. I’ll keep my guard up I promise. And don’t worry, I have nothing to give to Landon.”

  Spencer rolled his eyes as he headed out of the room. “Yeah well, you looked like you were just about to give him something when I walked in.”

  Layla shrugged as she headed towards the steps while Spencer turned to go to his room. “Well,” she said, stopping mid step. “If that’s what you’re talking about, I ended up giving it to you.”

  And with that she continued down the stairs while Spencer froze in the hallway. Was… was that her first kiss?

  ***

  Samantha smiled in satisfaction as she looked at Layla in the mirror.

  “I swear you have the most amazing hair,” she gushed, while loosening the long brown curls.

  Layla looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a white, haltered, button-down sundress with a sweetheart neckline, and a thick black belt. She loved it because the way the dress was fitted, and thanks to Samantha showing her how to wear a push up bra, Layla looked like she had curves.

  “I feel so pretty,” she said, looking at the amazon in front of her. Samantha wore black leggings with a purple spaghetti-strapped tunic. She had on nude high heels that made her even taller. Her hair was back in a high ponytail with a pompadour. Layla loved when Samantha showed her arms, all her tattoos were gorgeous.

  She looked at Samantha putting in large silver hoop earrings in. “Doesn’t that hurt?” Layla asked.

  Samantha looked at her. “Oh no, they healed up a long time ago. If you want to get yours done, I can take you sometime. Then we can both wear hoops and piss off Rachel.” Layla laughed at her friend as she put on her white strappy wedges. Samantha had been hesitant about letting Layla wear heels, but the girl had amazing balance in them, and Layla seemed to like being a little taller.

  “What I would really like is that,” Layla said, pointing at Samantha’s arm.

  Samantha chuckled. “Well, one day we will go do that too!”

  Layla looked from her friend, out the bedroom window, and sighed as she saw the party going on. “Do I have to go out there? I really don’t feel good.”

  Samantha laughed. “Yeah, I got news for you, I’m on my period too so if I have to go, your ass is going with me. You are not leaving me at this party alone.”

  Layla groaned as she followed the girl out of her room and down the stairs. She was a little nervous about seeing Spencer. She hadn’t seen him since the night before when she kissed him. She felt like such an idiot. He had a girlfriend, she should’ve never done that. She had no idea how she was going to face him after that, especially since she really wanted to kiss him again.

  They walked out to the courtyard, where the large area was covered in gold and pale pink decorations. There were large buffet tables filled with food, and waiters walking around offering champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Behind the pool, there was a stage with a band playing some kind of music, that Layla honestly didn’t like.

  Layla saw Spencer standing near the table of towering gifts, her heart skipped a beat, he was stunning. His usually messy hair was styled back very neatly, his gruff, rugged scruff was shaved off, showing the sharp angles of his jaw. He wore a well-fitted charcoal gray suit with a white dress shirt. She had just about summoned the courage to walk over to him when she saw Rachel walking towards him. Layla blinked a few times. Rachel’s dress was… fancy. The gown was very pink with a V neckline that crossed in the front. The trumpet silhouette clung to her every curve as she walked, with a small glittering train trailing behind her. Her long blonde hair was curled and pinned in an up do, with a jeweled flower pin that was beaming from the sunlight. She watched as Rachel gracefully walked over to Spencer, who put an arm around her waist and gave her a delicate peck on the lips.

  Layla couldn’t shake the jealousy she felt. She jumped when she saw the flashes. People were taking Rachel and Spencer’s photos. Deciding now wasn’t the time, Layla tried to sneak off, but Samantha grabbed her. “Oh no you don’t, you are going to go over there and say Happy Birthday with me and get it over with, then we won’t have to talk to her the rest of the night.” Samantha pushed Layla to the couple, and once the photographers left, they walked over.

  “Hi Rachel!” Samantha said, with enthusiasm faker than the smile plastered on her face. “Happy Birthday!”

  Rachel gave her an equally fake smile. “Thanks, love! I’m so glad that you and your brother could make it. Oh, and you’re wearing pants. Well, I guess you didn’t have time
to have one of Catherine’s dresses let out, did you?” Spencer cleared his throat and squeezed Rachel’s hand, telling her to stop.

  “Oh,” Rachel looked behind Samantha to Layla. “And you’re here too, huh?”

  Spencer looked at Layla, and wished he hadn’t because he didn’t know how he was going to look away, he couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked in that dress.

  “Happy Birthday, Rachel,” Layla said softly, rubbing her arm nervously.

  Rachel raised a perfectly arched brow. “Thanks, so you can put my gift on the table behind Spencer.”

  Layla lost the color in her face as she looked over at Spencer, slightly panicked. “I um… I’m sorry, I didn’t know everyone was supposed to bring gifts.”

  Rachel laughed loudly, causing Layla to blush. “Stupid girl, it’s my birthday party, of course you all bring me gifts. Did your friends and family not love you enough to give you gifts on your birthday?”

  Layla choked for a moment, she was so embarrassed. “I’m really sorry. I’m going to go.” Layla brushed her way passed Rachel and Spencer. Samantha glared at Rachel as she stormed off to catch up to the girl.

  “Why in the hell is she here?” Rachel whined, causing Spencer to sigh and roll his eyes.

  “Rach, come on, she lives here, she’s trying to be nice, you could try a little too.”

  Rachel huffed. “It’s my birthday! She’s going to steal all the attention, I just know it!”

  Spencer bent down and kissed her lips. “You look perfect, no one could steal the attention away from you.”

  Rachel sighed. “I know I do. Alright, I’ll try my best to be pleasant, even though this is my day and I shouldn’t have to do anything.”

  Layla sighed as she grabbed a bottle of water from the copper bucket filled with ice and bottled beverages. She wanted to run away but knew she couldn’t leave Samantha alone, especially with the way Rachel treated her. She sat down next to her auburn-haired friend, who was drinking from her water bottle, and looked at her. “Why do you let her talk to you like that?” Layla asked.

  Samantha shrugged. “I know what I am, and I know who I am. Her opinions have little effect on me. I know I’m not the skinniest. I’m definitely one of those people that works out but enjoys pizzas and tacos, and that’s okay. I mean, so I have some jiggle in my thighs and my belly is soft, I don’t let that stuff define me. I’m healthy and, for the most part, I’m happy. I have great friends, my brother is going to be an amazing doctor, so I just look at it as, what she says about me reflects more so on her than it does me.”

  Layla nodded while taking a drink. “I wish I could think that way. Every time she talks to me, I either want to cry or hit her.”

  Samantha laughed. “Well, Rachel has that effect on people. Here’s what you do, think of the people that matter most to you, those are your family, those are the people whose opinions of you should matter the most to you. As long as they are happy with you and proud of you, screw what anyone else thinks.”

  Layla smiled at her. “Are you… happy with me? Or proud of me?”

  Samantha stopped mid-drink, does she consider me that close to her?

  Samantha smiled warmly at the girl. “Lay, I could not be more proud of you. You are an amazing person, and in the short time I’ve known you, you’ve made a huge impact.”

  Layla smiled and hugged the girl. “Thank you,” she whispered. The girls’ moment was short-lived when Layla saw Rachel walking up to them.

  “Just remember what I said,” Samantha mumbled.

  Once Rachel made her way to the girls, she looked down at them and smiled. “We are going to start dancing, you girls want to come? I’m sure there are some men around here willing to dance with you two.”

  Layla looked over at the dance floor and wrinkled her nose. “No thanks, I can’t dance and I can’t swim, so being that close to the water wouldn’t be a good idea.” Layla then turned her attention back to Samantha and asked her about her shoes. Rachel stood there for a moment, stunned that she was blown off, before spinning around and storming off.

  Samantha started cracking up and playfully shoved Layla. “You are freaking amazing.”

  It was some time later that the band stopped playing and people were told to have a seat. Layla and Samantha joined up with Jensen and Liam who, up until the announcement, had been trying to hide Spencer from Rachel. Layla sat next to Jensen and rubbed one of her feet. “You okay?” he asked.

  She sighed and nodded. “My feet are killing me, I think it’s the shoes.”

  Jensen chuckled. “Take them off if they’re hurting you, silly.”

  Layla looked around at everyone else and saw all the women in nice, high heels. “No,” she whispered. “I’ll be okay, just, if we walk, I may need a hand.”

  Jensen laughed and patted her shoulder. “I’ll be glad to help you out.”

  One of the workers walked up to the stage and grabbed the microphone. “Now everyone, please give a round of applause for the woman of the hour, Miss Rachel Harris!” Everyone cheered as she walked on stage, followed by an awkward looking Spencer.

  Rachel grabbed the microphone and waved. “Thank you all for coming out to celebrate my birthday. I must say, seeing so many people here and just feeling the love you all have, I just know that my 21st year is going to be full of amazing adventures.”

  Samantha snorted and rolled her eyes. “I swear to god, I’m going to hurl,” she muttered.

  “Now,” Rachel smiled while taking a seat on a white tufted chair on the stage. “I will be sitting here and opening a few select presents, but due to the sheer number of gifts, I won’t be able to open everything tonight. But I have so much love for all those who took time out to get me something!”

  “She has a throne? A literal throne.”

  Liam smacked his sister “You’re going to start a fight, shut up.”

  Layla watched Rachel as she opened keys to a car, shopping sprees, tickets to Milan.

  “Hey pretty girl.” Layla jumped as Landon sat next to her.

  “Hey, I didn’t know you were here.”

  Landon chuckled. “Technically, I’m not because I wasn’t invited, but I saw your beautiful self sitting out here, so I wanted to sneak out to say hi to you while the queen was busy on her throne.”

  Layla giggled. “Well, I was about to fall asleep. This is so boring,” she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.

  Spencer looked in the crowd and saw Layla whispering to Landon and then placing her head on his shoulder. Fire coursed through him. Had they not had a discussion last night about this? He continued to glare at the couple, unaware he was being summoned.

  Rachel laughed awkwardly. “Obviously I must be boring someone. Spencer.”

  Spencer jumped and looked at her. “Sorry,” he muttered, and handed her the bag with his gift. “Happy Birthday, Rachel.”

  She looked at the bag on her lap. That was it? He wasn’t going to proclaim his love first? She slowly reached in the bag and pulled out the green box. “Rolex?” she questioned. She looked at him confused before opening the box, expecting it to be a surprise. Her face fell when she saw the yellow gold watch with diamond bezel.

  She looked at all her guests, and then back at Spencer before standing up, “Thank you everyone for the gifts! Now, let’s eat.” She smiled as everyone started moving and talking again. She turned to Spencer and grabbed his wrist, taking him off stage.

  “What is this?” she whispered harshly while shaking the box.

  “It’s a very expensive watch, so could you please stop shaking it?”

  “Where is my engagement ring?”

  Spencer sighed. “Rachel, I wasn’t ready to ask you that question. So, I bought you this.”

  Her mouth dropped. “You spent years trying to get me to go out with you, you used to be head over heels for me, what’s ch… son of a bitch, you having feelings for her, don’t you?” Rachel pointed at Layla who was currently holding tightly onto Jensen as they w
alked over to the buffet.

  Spencer sighed. “I don’t know how to make this any clearer, I do not like Layla. Rachel, I care about you, Layla is literally here because she has nowhere else. I am attracted to you. I do not find Layla the least bit attractive.”

  “Really?” Rachel raised a brow as she watched Layla and Jensen stop moving. It was obvious they heard Spencer who currently had his back to them.

  “Yes, really! Rachel, you have to know that you two don’t compare, you are breathtaking, she is just some homeless girl, she means nothing.”

  Spencer jumped when he heard the gasp. He spun around and saw Jensen and Layla. Layla’s eyes betrayed her as the tears she tried to hold back spilled out. Spencer felt his heart drop, he wanted to say something, but what could he say? He watched as Layla let go of Jensen’s arm and ran towards the house. Spencer went to run after her but Rachel grabbed his arm. “Where are you going?” she smirked.

  “Did you know that she was standing there?”

  Rachel shrugged. “If what you were saying was the truth, what does it matter if she was?” Spencer glared at her and went to leave again. “You go ahead and leave me, Spencer. I’m sure your sweet innocent Lay… La will be able to handle being known as the home wrecker that tore us apart.”

  Spencer stopped walking and turned to look at her. He looked over at the photographers that were taking photos. “You wouldn’t do that to her.” Rachel gave him an are you serious look in return.

  “I would do it in a heartbeat. Comes with dating a girl with a famous daddy, darling. Now, you either put on your best face and be my loving boyfriend, or you go in there and I show the world what a home wrecking whore she really is.”

  Spencer clenched his jaw and looked from the smirking blonde back to the house. He sighed and looked back at her. “Fine,” he muttered, and followed Rachel back to the party.

  Layla made it to her room and collapsed on her bed as she let out a sob. How could she have been so stupid? She knew this was going to happen, but she ignored it and let herself get close to him. She jumped as she heard a knock on the door. “Go away, Spencer!” she yelled.