𝓿. rough night

written – 12.10.23  |  re-written – 9.5.24

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11TH

RONI SIGHED IN RELIEF AS SHE let her hair out of the uncomfortable hairnet. Roni groaned as she scratched her scalp, euphoria filling her body as her nails trailed around her head. Roni quickly checked her phone before she got on her bike.

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( SENT AT 7:45 PM ) PERSONAL BODYGUARD:

Dad's drinking again. Don't go home.

( SENT AT 7:45 PM ) PERSONAL BODYGUARD:

I'm at Jared's place.

( SENT AT 8:54 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

i just got off work. i'm gonna see if emily is still up.

( SENT AT 9:02 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

emily and sam are out on a date.

( SENT AT 9:03 PM ) PERSONAL BODYGUARD:

Just come to Jared's. You can have the couch.

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( SENT AT 9:04 PM ) RONI:

hey. are you up?

( SENT AT 9:05 PM ) WOLF BOY:

Yeah. Why? What's up?

( SENT AT 9:06 PM ) RONI:

i need a place to stay because emily and sam are having a date night and i'm not going to listen to jared and kim fuck all night.

( SENT AT 9:07 PM ) WOLF BOY:

You know where i live. Knock on the back door.

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( SENT AT 9:08 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

i'm not going to listen to kim and jared fuck all night. i can't drown them out like you do.

( SENT AT 9:08 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

i'm going to embrys. and yes, i'll make him take the floor.

( SENT AT 9:10 PM ) PERSONAL BODYGUARD:

If i find out he did anything he's dead.

( SENT AT 9:11 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

yes i know paulina.

( SENT AT 9:11 PM ) PERSONAL REALITY CHECK:

alright i'm gonna go now because i look like a dumbass just standing here.

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( SENT AT 9:12 PM ) RONI:

leaving now.

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"Thank you," Roni exhaled deeply, feeling the comforting warmth of the interior envelop her chilled skin. A wave of relief washed over her as she stepped inside, grateful for the shelter from the biting cold outside. "I'm really sorry for showing up unannounced like this. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"You're not interrupting at all, don't worry," Embry reassured her, his voice warm and welcoming. "You're always welcome here. If you'd like, you can take a hot shower to warm up properly. I've got some clean clothes you can borrow too - a comfortable shirt and some sweatpants that should fit you." He led her towards his room, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet house.

As they entered Embry's room, Roni found herself pleasantly surprised. Whatever preconceived notions she might have had about a typical teenage boy's room were immediately dispelled. The space before her was a far cry from the stereotypical posters of scantily clad women or scattered magazines of questionable content. Instead, the walls were adorned with an eclectic mix of movie posters, showcasing Embry's taste in cinema. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with an impressive array of volumes that hinted at his intellectual curiosity. What caught Roni's attention most, however, were the numerous framed photographs scattered around the room. Each one captured moments shared with the pack, serving as a testament to the strong bonds of friendship and family that tied them all together.

"Wow!" Roni exclaimed, her eyes widening with delight as she spotted a particular photograph perched atop Embry's dresser. She carefully picked it up, a smile spreading across her face as she examined it closely. "I can't believe you still have this! This is incredible!" The photograph in her hands was a cherished memento from the very first bonfire she had ever attended. Nostalgia washed over her as she realized she couldn't have been more than ten years old when it was taken.

The image captured a moment frozen in time, preserving the essence of their tight-knit group. Jared, Paul, Jacob, and Leah were seated on a sturdy log, their postures relaxed and comfortable. In front of them, seated on the lush grass, were Seth, Roni herself, Embry, and Quil. Each face in the photograph told its own story. Jared and Paul were pulling silly faces, their youthful exuberance evident in their expressions. Embry, always the peacemaker, was flashing a cheerful peace sign at the camera. Leah's face bore her characteristic scowl, a hint of reluctance in her eyes as if she'd rather be anywhere else. Quil and Jacob both sported genuine smiles, their happiness radiating from the photograph. But it was the image of herself and Seth that truly caught Roni's attention. There they were, arms wrapped around each other, their faces lit up with the biggest, most carefree grins imaginable. The innocence and joy of that moment were palpable, even years later.

"I honestly thought this photo had been lost to time," Roni admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "How on earth did you manage to keep it all these years?"

Embry chuckled softly, moving to stand beside her. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, clearly pleased by her reaction. "It wasn't lost at all," he explained, his voice warm with the memory. "I stumbled across it one day while I was flipping through my mom's old photo albums. Couldn't believe my luck when I found it."

Roni's laughter suddenly filled the room, her eyes dancing with mirth as she pointed at the photo. "Oh my goodness, Embry! Look at those braces of yours! They're practically blinding me even now!"

Embry rolled his eyes good-naturedly, a hint of a blush creeping up his neck. "Hey now, you're one to talk!" he retorted playfully, his finger jabbing at the image. "Take a good look at those pigtails of yours. They're practically defying gravity!"

"Oh, come on!" Roni protested, though her wide grin betrayed her amusement. "You can't blame me for those. That was all Sam's doing. I used to beg him to do my hair all the time back then." Her expression softened, a fond smile playing on her lips as she recalled the memory. "Poor guy, he really tried his best. But his hairstyling skills were pretty limited - it was either pigtails or a simple ponytail. Nothing else in his repertoire."

Embry's eyes lit up as an idea struck him. "You know, I think I might have a copy of this photo stashed away somewhere," he mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "If you'd like, I could dig it out and you could keep it. It'd be nice for you to have your own copy of such a great memory."

Roni shook her head, though her appreciation for the offer was evident in her eyes. "That's really sweet of you, Embry, but I'd better not," she declined gently. "Knowing me, I'd probably end up misplacing it somehow. It's safer here with you." She paused for a moment, suddenly aware of her current state. "But speaking of safe places, could you point me in the direction of your shower? I'm starting to realize I smell like a combination of grease and deep-fried fish, which isn't exactly the most pleasant aroma."

Embry let out a hearty laugh at her candid admission. He walked over to his bed, retrieving a neatly folded outfit he had prepared earlier. "No problem at all," he said, handing her the clothes. "The towels are stored in the hall closet, and my bathroom is just across the hall. You can't miss it."

Roni's eyebrow arched in surprise as she accepted the clothes. "Wait a second," she said, a hint of incredulity in her voice. "You have your own bathroom? How did I not know about this luxury?"

Embry shrugged, a slightly sheepish expression crossing his face. "Well, 'bathroom' might be a bit of an exaggeration," he admitted. "It's really just a shower stall and a sink. But yeah, I guess you could say it's my own little space."

"Fair enough," Roni nodded, appreciating his honesty. "Well, I'll go ahead and freshen up then. Thanks again for all this, Embry."

As Roni turned to leave, Embry called out, "No problem at all. While you're in there, I'll start getting my makeshift bed ready out here."

Roni paused in her tracks, turning back to face him with a slightly exasperated expression. "Don't be ridiculous, Embry," she said firmly. "There's no need for you to sleep on the floor. That bed of yours is plenty big enough for both of us to sleep comfortably." Seeing Embry's startled expression, she quickly added, her tone dry and matter-of-fact, "And before you get any ideas, no, I don't have any ulterior motives here. I'm not proposing we do anything other than sleep."

Embry held up his hands defensively, his eyes wide with sincerity. "Whoa, I wasn't thinking anything like that, I swear," he assured her hastily. "I just wanted to make sure you were completely comfortable with the arrangement. Your comfort is my primary concern here."

Roni's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I appreciate that, Embry," she said, her voice warm with gratitude. "And I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't okay with it. Although," she added, a playful glint in her eye, "if you happen to have any extra pillows lying around, I certainly wouldn't say no to those. The more, the merrier when it comes to pillows, right?"

With that, Roni turned and made her way to the bathroom, leaving Embry standing in his room with a mixture of relief and happiness on his face. As the bathroom door clicked shut, a smile spread across Embry's features. We're making progress, he thought to himself, a warm feeling of hope blossoming in his chest. Still smiling, he walked over to his closet, determined to find every spare pillow he owned to ensure Roni had the most comfortable night's sleep possible.