Broken shades (Twilight)(Embry Call)

Shadows of Home

"I feel you in these walls
You're a cold air creepin' in
Chill me to my bones and skin
I heard you down the hall
But it's vacant when I'm lookin' in
Oh, who let you in?
You walk around like you own the place
But you never say anything
I caught you walkin' straight through my walls
Guess it was all my fault
I think I let you in"
-My House- PVRIS

**Chapter 1: Shadows of Home**

Kaya Lahote leaned against the cool metal of her locker, trying to steady her breath. The hallways of La Push High buzzed with the usual morning chatter, but the noise seemed distant, almost muffled. The pain radiating from her ribs made it difficult to focus on anything else. She pulled her oversized hoodie tighter around her, hoping it would somehow shield her from the world around her.

She could feel eyes on her. Not the suspicious kind, but the ones that came from people who cared about her—people like Jake, Quil, and Embry. They were gathered near the entrance, laughing and shoving each other like they always did. Kaya forced a smile when she noticed Embry glance her way. His grin widened, and she quickly turned her gaze to her locker, pretending to search for something inside. Her hands trembled as she grabbed a textbook, the motion causing another sharp pain to shoot through her side. She bit down on her lip, holding back a wince.

The guys had been on her case all week, teasing her about Embry. It was all in good fun, but each joke cut a little deeper than they realized. Because the truth was, Kaya did like Embry. More than she was willing to admit, even to herself. But with everything going on at home, it was the last thing she should be thinking about.

"Hey, Kaya!" Jake's voice boomed down the hallway, causing several heads to turn.

Kaya plastered on a smile and turned to face him. "What's up, Jake?"

"Come on, you're sitting with us today, right?" He threw an arm around her shoulder, his playful energy almost infectious. Almost.

"Yeah, sure," she said, trying to sound casual as she slipped her sunglasses over her eyes. "Just let me get my stuff."

"You okay?" Jake asked, frowning as he looked down at her. "You've been wearing those glasses a lot lately. Is it still those migraines?"

Kaya nodded quickly, grateful that the sunglasses hid the fear in her eyes. "Yeah, they're pretty bad today. The light makes it worse."

Jake's frown deepened, but he didn't push. Instead, he nodded, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"Thanks, Jake," she mumbled, pulling away from him. "I'll be fine."

As Jake rejoined the others, Embry's gaze lingered on her. Kaya could feel the weight of his stare, and it made her want to crawl out of her skin. She had to get out of here, away from the concerned looks and the questions she couldn't answer. She mumbled a quick excuse about needing to go to the bathroom and hurried down the hall, the throbbing in her ribs intensifying with each step.

In the quiet of the girls' bathroom, Kaya leaned over the sink, gripping the edges so hard her knuckles turned white. She could feel her heartbeat in her temples, pounding in rhythm with the pain that seemed to consume her entire body. She lifted her sunglasses and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The bruises were darker today, a sickening mix of purples and blues that spread across her cheekbone and beneath her eye. She hated herself for being so weak, for letting her father do this to her. But she didn't know how to stop it—how to stop him.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Kaya quickly shoved her sunglasses back in place, turning to face whoever had entered. It was just another girl from her class, someone she didn't know well. The girl barely glanced at Kaya as she made her way to a stall, and Kaya let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She needed to get through this day, just like she'd gotten through the others. One step at a time.