PURE HONEY | spencer agnew

1.21

   "HEY COURTNEY, IS EVERYTHING okay?"

   She nodded her head no, looking towards the door and pointing a finger, before looking back at Layla. "That guy from a few weeks is back. I think his name was Logan?"

   Layla immediately stood up, almost throwing Spencer's arm off from around her shoulders. She looked to where Courtney just was, and they were right. There stood Logan, trying to get inside but can't because they had the doors closed while they took a break.

   It was almost like all the air just got sucked out of her, the usual easy task of breathing becoming the most difficult thing alive right now. She took a deep breath, letting the oxygen consume her lungs before going to the door and barging outside to meet her brother.

   "I thought I would never get the chance to talk to you. You keep avoiding me or have Indigo come handle your problems." Logan said, a smug look on his face.

   Layla grabbed him by the arm and led him around to the other side of the building, avoiding where there was still a long line of people waiting. She stopped on the side where there was no windows, looking up at her brother.

   "Why do you keep showing up here?" Layla asked, already feeling defeated from the conversation when it hasn't even started yet. "I just don't get it."

   Logan scoffed. "You know, you ruined the whole family. Not even Londyn will talk to mom and dad." He looked angry, and Layla was immediately scared. She knew he would never physically take it out on someone, but verbally he would.

   Layla was taken aback, lowering her head. "Logan, I'm working right now. I don't need to hear this whole thing again. Show up again, and I will be getting a restraining order."

   She began walking back into the store, not wanting to hear another thing from him. But of course, she would never be aloud to get the last word. "You're the reason mom and dad got arrested! You're the reason why Londyn got abused in foster care!"

   Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as the front door of the store slammed behind her. She could feel the eyes on her but she ignored them as she made her way to her office, slamming the door shut behind her.

   Layla sat on the bean bag chair, lazily throwing her head into her hands. She didn't let the tears sill, instead just sitting with her thoughts. Right now she just felt absent from the world.

   The office door opened, but Layla didn't bother seeing who it was. She could see in her peripheral vision Londyn sitting down on the floor in front of her, feeling a hand gently cover the side of her knee.

   "You know it's not your fault, right?" Londyn said, her voice sweet and soft. "You didn't deserve any of that."

   Layla lifted her head up and sighed, nodding at the younger girl sitting in front of her. "I know, I finally came to terms with it. You didn't deserve it either."

   Londyn shrugged. "Just don't let him bother you anymore. Get that restraining order."

   The two sisters looked at each other, before beginning to laugh. It has been an ongoing joke now that Layla was going to get a restraining order just to be safe, and then it never happened. But maybe this time it will.

   The two continued to laugh, Londyn leaned forward into Layla, her hand remaining on her knee as support. A knock interrupted them, although soft laughter continued from both sisters. The door opened, and there stood Indigo.

   "As much as I would love to know whats going on, we're getting kind of busy since they just started back up and we have more customers now." Indigo said, leaving the door open as she walked back out.

   "Alright, let's go." Londyn said while standing up from the floor, holding her hands out to Layla. The older girl gladly took them, being pulled up by her little sister, and the two walked out together.

   Luckily no one seemed to be making awkward eye contact with her after what had happened earlier, and she was very grateful. All four employees were at the registers taking customers and finishing transactions.

   Layla missed the rush of having customers. It was nice to constantly have something to do instead of sitting alone in her thoughts or just being bored because it seemed like the soul of the store had been sucked out. There was an inkling in her heart that was telling her that things would be different after today, and for the better.

   As the day wrapped up, six o'clock rolling around, Ian and Anthony walked up to Layla who was stocking a bookshelf in the back corner of the store. The taller, Anthony, smiled graciously at the girl.

   "We just wanted to thank you for letting us do this here. We all absolutely love the place and plan on coming by more often." Anthony started.

   Ian nodded along with every word his friend said, before tagging on, "Yeah, we wanted to come over and let you know that all the money we made today is for you and the store."

   Layla's jaw dropped, not even able to comprehend the words that just came out of the mans mouth. She was stuck staring at him, not knowing what to do. In the corner of her eye, she could see more of their crew watching, but that didn't matter.

   "This was all Spencer's idea, and it's a great one, really. We know the struggles of owning a business, and after getting to know you today, you deserve this more than anyone." Ian continued on.

   Her eyes welled with tears. "Can I give you a hug?" Layla's voice broke. Ian nodded with a smile, immediately embracing the girl in front of him. "I can't believe this. Are you joking?"

   They mutually pulled away from the hug, seeing the laugh that came from both of them. Anthony nodded his head, letting his laughter die down. "No, it's not a joke. It really is all for you."

   Layla turned and saw Spencer who was standing to the side of the crowd, a huge look of joy crowding his face. She smiled and ran over to him, enveloping him in a huge hug which definitely took him aback, him taking a few steps to brace himself.

   "Thank you. Thank you so much."

   His arms wrapped around her waist even tighter, not letting go just yet. "Any time. You deserve it more than anyone in the world."