After Hours

Chapter 10.

Grayson's POV.

   I wake in my bed and look at the clock. It says 7:45. I hope that Ember called in and said that we weren't showing up for work today. Ember's mom has already left for work, so I should probably get going. Ember texted me last night saying that she was staying home from work because she didn't feel good. I told my dad that I was visiting friends and staying the night with my friend. My friend doesn't know of my plan, so lets hope my dad doesn't suspect anything. And normally he doesn't so I should be good.

   I get out of bed and wash my face. I gel up my hair and put on a red t-shirt with some black jeans. I lace on my boots and leave the house quietly. Ember gave me her address last night and it's an hour and 45 minutes from mine. Ember's mom left for work about an hour ago so I really need to hurry.  My phone starts to ring and I answer it without looking at the caller ID.

  "Hello?" I ask.

  "Grayson?" a weak voice asks.

  "Veronica?" I gasp. "How are you?"

  "Not too good. Remember when you said that you would visit me the other day? After work? You never showed up," she whispers.

   I wince. I completely forgot! "I'm sorry, Veronica. I was busy doing...things," I say.

  "You forgot, didn't you?" she asks, pausing to cough.

   I rub my hand on the back of my neck. "Well..." I stutter.

   She doesn't answer and I frown. "I'm really sorry, V." I say.

  "It's ok," she says. "Can you come over today?" she asks.

   I groan silently. "Not today, Veronica. I'm sorry. Maybe tomorrow? After work?" I offer.

  "Why not today?" she asks.

   I bite my lip. "I'm seeing someone today. I can't make it to see you." I say.

  "Who are you seeing?" she asks.

  "Just a friend," I say.

  "Ok. But I have some news to tell you tomorrow," she says.

   My stomach sinks. "Is it good news?" I ask, hopefully.

  "I'll see you tomorrow, ok Grayson?" her voice breaks on the last word.

  "Veronica, are you ok?" I ask, but she hangs up.

   Something in her voice doesn't sound right. The next forty five minutes drag out, but I'm soon pulling up in Ember's driveway. I get out and knock on her door. She opens it, wrapped in a blanket and literally pulls me in.

  "Hey, Ember," I say, regaining my balance.

  "My mom's gonna kill me," she says.

   I frown. "Why?" I ask.

  "Cause I told her I'm not feeling good," she says, making air quotes with her fingers. "she's staying home with me. She's at the store right now and just texted and said she's on her way home." Ember says, rubbing her forehead.

   I run a hand through my hair. "Are you kidding me? I can't stay then!" I say.

   Ember shakes her head. "No, don't leave. I'll hide you, it's fine. I've done this a hundred times," she says, waving her hand at me.

  "How many times?" I ask.

   She bites her lip. "Once. But it doesn't matter. How hard can it be?" she says.

   She rushes me to her room and smiles. "You'll be fine in my closet. It's a walk in, with plenty of space. If you need to use the restroom, text me. I'm in my room a lot since I'm "sick" so you'll be fine. You can be out of the closet if I'm in here, but if I'm not, be in the closet just in case, ok?" she says.

   I laugh. "Ok, then. Are you chilling up here right now, or not?" I ask.

   She nods. "I'll be up here until lunch, which is in 15 minutes. My mom wants me to eat downstairs and not in my bed," she says, rolling her eyes.

   I nod and she cushions herself on the bed, picking up her phone. It gets really awkward, and I feel like she should know about Veronica. I sit on the edge of her bed and clear my throat. She looks up from her phone and smiles.

  "Something on your mind?" she asks.

  "It's actually personal," I say. "About a friend of mine."

   She turns on her phone and leans forward. "I'm all ears."

  "There is this girl I've known. Since I was six, actually. Her name is Veronica and she's sick. Sick with cancer. She's been fighting it for about 4 months now and I'm afraid she doesn't have time left. She lost her siblings to cancer when she was six. They were twins and both got it at the same time in their brain. She asked me to come visit her tomorrow and she might have bad news. I just thought you should know," I say, folding my hands.

   Ember looks very serious. "I'm sorry, Grayson. I can't say I know how you feel going through this. But I'm here for you if you need me."

   I smile, and wipe away a little tear on my cheek. "Thanks."

   She checks her phone and gasps. "She's here!" she screams.

   I laugh as she puts herself in a frail position and puts more white powder to make her face pale. She cocoons herself in blankets and motions for me to hide in the closet.

  "Go, go!" she says.

  "You're taking this really seriously," I say, but head into the closet.

   I sit myself in between two areas of clothes hanging up. I'm glad I brought my earbuds and I place only one in my ear. I turn on some Spotify and make myself comfortable. I hear Ember's mom in her room and I grin.

  "How are you feeling, sweetie," I hear her mom say, in a muffled voice.

   Ember fake coughs and I almost burst out laughing. "I'm feeling bad, mom. I kinda want some soup. Can I have it up here though?" she asks.

   Her mom doesn't answer at once, but I hear her talking shortly after. I can't make out what she says, but my phone dings with a text.

  She's gone. Ur clear. Ember texts.

   I get out of the closet and laugh. She raises her eyebrows. "What?"  she asks.

  "Fake coughing? Wow, Em. Wow," I say.

   Her smile all the sudden fades and I frown. "What's wrong?" I ask.

   She doesn't answer. "What?" I ask.

  "Nothing. My mom's coming with the soup now. Hide in the closet until she leaves."

   I go in, but have a weird feeling in my stomach. I sit down and prop my head up on my elbow. Girls are so difficult.

Hope you liked this chapter!

Thanks for reading!

The picture is of Ember.

Yes, Ember is me in the story cause it's a Fanfiction, but I couldn't get a picture of me and she's way prettier than me lol.