Broken shades (Twilight)(Embry Call)

The Breaking Point

"Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(I'm about to break)"
-One Step Closer- Linkin Park

**Chapter 5: The Breaking Point**

A few weeks had passed since Jacob told Kayla he couldn't hang out with her anymore. The days blurred together, each one a little more hollow than the last. Kayla went through the motions—school, home, repeat—wearing her usual smile like a mask. She had become an expert at pretending everything was fine, at hiding the cracks that were slowly spreading across her heart.

Embry was still gone. His absence was a gaping wound that refused to heal, a constant reminder that nothing would ever be the same. And now Jacob had distanced himself too, leaving Kayla feeling more alone than ever. But she kept going, forcing herself to stay strong, to keep the pieces of her life from falling apart.

Quil was the last thread connecting her to what once was, and even that was beginning to fray. He still hung out with her, still tried to make her laugh, but Kayla could sense the distance growing between them. He didn't have to say anything—she could see it in the way he hesitated before answering her texts, in the way his eyes lingered on the spots where Embry and Jacob used to stand.

And then, one day, he was gone too.

Kayla stood by the edge of the school parking lot, the sun dipping low in the sky. She had waited for Quil to meet her after class, but he never showed up. She had tried calling him, texting him, but there was no response. The sinking feeling in her stomach told her everything she needed to know.

He was gone. Just like the others.

She walked home in silence, the weight of her loneliness pressing down on her like never before. The world seemed darker now, the colors muted and dull. She felt like a ghost, drifting through her own life without really living it.

When she got home, her father was waiting for her. He had been drinking—she could smell the alcohol on his breath from across the room. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression twisted with anger.

"Where the hell have you been?" he slurred, stumbling toward her.

"I was at school," Kayla replied, keeping her voice calm. She had learned not to provoke him, not to give him any reason to lash out.

"Liar," he spat, grabbing her arm with a bruising grip. "You're just like your brother. Useless. Always running off, leaving me to deal with everything."

Kayla bit her lip, the pain in her arm nothing compared to the hurt his words caused. "I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to pull away. "I didn't mean to upset you."

He shoved her hard, and she stumbled back, hitting the wall with a thud. The impact rattled her, but she stayed silent, knowing that any noise might make things worse. Her father glared at her for a moment longer before turning away, muttering to himself as he staggered toward the kitchen.

Kayla waited until he was gone before letting out a shaky breath. She touched her arm, feeling the bruise that was already forming beneath her skin. It wasn't the first time this had happened, and she knew it wouldn't be the last. But she couldn't let herself think about that now. She had to keep moving, keep pretending that everything was okay.

Because if she stopped, even for a moment, she was afraid she might fall apart completely.

---

Monday morning came too quickly. Kayla stared at herself in the mirror, adjusting her sunglasses to cover the dark circles under her eyes. She had barely slept the night before, the fear of her father's temper keeping her on edge. But she wasn't about to let anyone see how bad things had gotten. She couldn't afford to show weakness.

She made her way to school, her mind heavy with thoughts of Quil's absence. She had no idea where he was, or why he had suddenly stopped talking to her. All she knew was that he was gone, just like the others. She was alone now, truly alone.

As she walked through the school gates, she noticed a commotion near the entrance. A group of students had gathered, whispering excitedly to one another. Kayla's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar figures standing at the center of the crowd—Jacob, Quil, and Embry.

They were back.

Her heart raced as she approached them, her mind buzzing with questions. Where had they been? Why had they all left? But as she drew closer, something in their demeanor made her pause. They looked different—taller, stronger, more intense. And they were surrounded by a strange sense of authority, as if they were no longer just the boys she had grown up with.

Embry's gaze suddenly locked onto her, and Kayla felt her breath catch in her throat. She had always had feelings for him, but she had never dared to hope that he might feel the same. But now, as their eyes met, she saw something flicker in his expression—something she had never seen before.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Kayla's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for... something. She didn't know what, but she felt it in the air between them, something heavy and important. Embry's eyes searched hers, and for an instant, she thought she saw a flash of hope, of relief.

But then his gaze dropped from her sunglasses covered eyes, and everything changed.

The light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by confusion and disappointment. Kayla's heart sank as she watched his expression shift, as if he had expected something to happen and was devastated when it didn't. He looked away, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly, and Kayla felt a cold wave of dread wash over her.

"What's with the shades, Kayla?" Quil asked, his voice light but tinged with concern.

"Just a headache," Kayla lied, forcing a smile. "The light's too bright."

Quil nodded, but his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he didn't quite believe her. Jacob remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, while Embry stood frozen, his jaw clenched as if he was trying to hold back something painful.

"Okay," Quil said after a moment, his tone uneasy. "Just take care of yourself, alright?"

Kayla nodded, trying to keep her smile in place, but the tension in the air was suffocating. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of something terrible.

Without another word, Embry turned and walked away, his movements stiff and robotic. Jacob followed, his expression unreadable, and Quil lingered for a moment before giving Kayla a weak smile and leaving as well.

Kayla stood there, rooted to the spot, her mind reeling. She didn't know what had just happened, but she knew it was bad—really bad. She had never seen Embry look so heartbroken, so defeated. And it was all because of her.

She watched them disappear into the crowd, feeling more alone than ever. The one person she had hoped might understand her, might be there for her, was slipping through her fingers, and she had no idea why.

As she turned and walked away, Kayla felt the weight of her loneliness press down on her like a ton of bricks. She had tried so hard to keep everything together, but it was all falling apart. And for the first time, she didn't know how to fix it.