After Hours

Chapter 13.

Ember's POV.

   I keep texting Grayson's phone, begging for an explanation. He won't answer me and I start to worry.

  "What's going on?" Katie asks, almost as worried as me.

  "I don't know. I feel like it's about Veronica, though," I answer.

  "Who?" Katie asks.

   I feel like I can't answer her, it's too personal and I don't know if Grayson wants me to share that with her.

  "It's a friend of his," is all I can think of to answer her.

   She seems to get what I'm trying to say and doesn't ask anything else. It's been almost three and a half hours and my mom isn't back either, which has me worrying too. My phone buzzes, and I jump to see who it is. It's my mom, but I can't help feeling disappointed that it's not Grayson giving me some news on why he isn't home yet. He really needs to get home before my mom does.

  On my way home now sweetie. Should be home in 20. My mom texts. How are you feeling?

  Still don't feel too well. I lie. See you in a bit.

   I look at Grayson and I's texts, hoping to see the three dots come up signaling that he's responding to me. I put my phone down in frustration, when Katie gets up.

  "Where are you going?" I ask.

  "I have to go. My mom needs me. Feel better," she jokes, making me smile.

   I hug her bye and she leaves. A hear a knock on the door and smile. It's too early for my mom to be home, so it must be Grayson. I open the door, and there he is, standing on my porch. His head is hanging, and he's avoiding my eyes. I lift his chin and see his eyes red and puffy. All of the sudden, I hug him. Right on our porch, I pull him towards me and hold him. We stand there for about 5 minutes until he pulls away. I lead him into the house and we go back to my room. He sits on my bed and fingers with the corner of my sheets. I sit down across from him.

  "Are you ok?" I ask in a faint whisper.

   He wipes his nose. He blinks his eyes several times before finally answering. "She's gone." his voice comes out in a scratchy, croaky sound.

   My eyes involuntarily fill with tears. "I'm so sorry."

   He wipes his eyes and sniffs. "It's fine, though. I'm fine."

   I frown. "I don't believe you're fine, Grayson. Don't hide your emotions," I say gently.

  "What else am I suppose to do?" he suddenly shouts. "My best friend is gone and there's nothing I can do to get her back."

   I flinch at the sudden volume of his voice. He seems to notice my tension and softens his face. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

   I nod, but scoot away from her a few inches. I have to remember I only met this boy a few days ago. I hardly know him at all. My phone buzzes and it's my mom.

  "My mom's here," I say.

   He nods and goes into my closet. I lay in a frail position and hear her footsteps coming up the stairs. She opens the door softly and sits on the edge of my bed. I smile weakly and she puts a hand to my forehead.

  "You're fever seems to have gone away," she says. "Or it was never there in the first place." I look at her surprised. She laughs. "I'm not an idiot, Ember. I know you are faking this."

  
How much does she know? Does she know Grayson's here? I shift uncomfortably in my bed. "Yeah, I'm not. Just didn't feel like going to work today," I say, trying to come up with a believable lie. "I'm actually on my...period," I struggle to come up with that one.

   She raises her eyes. "Are you know? I love the fact that you switched to tampons and didn't tell me," she says.

   Ohhh, right. I only use pads and there aren't any of those in the the bathroom trash. TMI, sorry. But it's true!

  "Sorry, I'm not on my period. I just really didn't feel like going to work today," I say, keeping a worried look at my closet.

   My mom smiles and I know I'm not in trouble. "You can't just drop out of work for no reason, though. You have to go back in tomorrow," my mom says.

   I jump from the bed and skip to my dresser. "That's where you're wrong, mam. Tomorrow's Saturday," I say, flashing a smile.

   My mom sighs and gets off my bed. "That's true, but Disneyland is always open. I might call in and make you work tomorrow."

   I nod my head, knowing I'm stuck. "I know. I understand. I'll go into work tomorrow."

   My mom nods and grabs a bag she was holding at her side. "I got something for you."

   I open the bag. Inside is a new pair of jeans, and blue lace shirt, and a floral dress. My mom takes the dress and heads toward my closet, but I spring forward.

  "It's fine, mom. I'll put it away," I scream.

   She looks at me suspiciously, but nods. "Ok. I have some work to do downstairs. Holler if you need me," she says.

   She leaves the room and I sink down against my closet door, breathing heavy. "She's gone," I call to Grayson.

   He comes out of the closet and sits on the floor, back against the closet door. He holds his phone in his hand and has a far away look in his eyes. I sit down next to him and take a peek at his phone. On the wallpaper, is him and I assuming is Veronica. She's laying in the bed, with a weak, but bright smile on her face.

  "Is that her?" I ask quietly.

   He doesn't answer, but nods his head barely. I pry the phone from his hands, and he lets me go through his camera roll. Almost every picture has Veronica in it.

  "You guys were really close, weren't you?" I ask, handing him back his phone.

   He nods, eyes still fixed on nothing in the air between us. I might have only known this boy for a few days, but I hurts me to see him like this. I decide to make a bold move and slide my hand into his. I then, lay my head on his shoulder and we sit there, feeling each others body heat. I feel his shoulders shudder, then feel a tear drip down onto my hand. I snuggle closer to him, and he continues to quietly morn for Veronica.

   I think I love him.

   I think I love the boy I just met.

Thanks for reading!

I promise that I will get back into Disneyland next chapter!!

Thanks for supporting me too! It means a ton!

The picture is of Vanessa.