Layla going back to school with the Pogues was relatively easy. She didn't necessarily mind the whispers people spoke of her, she'd never been one to feed into in anyways. Though, having a test laid down infront of her the second she walked into first period took her by surprise and set a slight form of anxiety in the bit in her stomach.

"Mr.Sunn, can I borrow Pope for a minute?" A man in a nice suit spoke as he peaked his head into the classroom. Layla glanced up, looking at Pope by her side.

"We're in the middle of a test." their teacher nodded his way. Layla did always like Mr.Sunn, he went easy on her when she'd say or do something that other teachers would truly get her in trouble for.

"I'm from the Vanderhotst Foundation." the well dressed man spoke up yet again, making it clear he hadn't been asking to see Pope, more so demanding.

"Mr.Hayward, it's for you." Mr.Sunn sighed as he encouraged Pope to stand. He gave a slightly worried look toward his friends before walking out of the classroom.

"Miss Winters, is there a problem?" Mr.Sunn spoke up when he saw Layla turned in her chair, speaking to JJ.

"Sorry?" she turned back around quickly with wide eyes.

"A problem, is there one?" be repeated himself with a nod.

"Well, aside from global warming, an over populated earth, too much use of plastic, and tax fraud... no, I don't think." Layla shook her head. A giggle came from the back of the class, making Layla glance over her shoulder at Florence, a redhead girl that had lived on The Cut for some time. Florence was the first girl Layla had kissed, her first almost relationship too. Her heart flipped slightly as she gave her a wave, Layla gave a small smile as she turned back in her seat.

It didn't feel the same.

"Back to work and we'll discuss global warming later." Mr.Sunn nodded, pointing to Laylas test as she nodded and flickered her eyes back down.

Pope hurried back into the classroom, avoiding eye contact as he looked at the trio, holding up a neatly written on envelope.

"Is that the wheat symbol?" Kie asked with a wide eyed look.

"What the f-fu-fudge-fudge!" JJ covered for himself quickly when he spoke too louder, having the rest of the classroom turn back to look his way.

"Is this a game of tag?" JJ asked as the three followed Pope quickly into the library.

"Feels more like hide and seek." Layla spoke, keeping up with Pope as quick as she could, "Pope, your legs are longer then mine, bro."

"Am I gonna have to beat you with your protector? What's going on?" JJ spoke up yet again, zipping Laylas backpack when he noticed she left it open before her.

"Seriously, Pope. You are driving me insane." Kie huffed as they came to a stop suddenly.

"Okay, so that guy was from the scholarship committee. Take a look at this." Pope finally spoke as he inhaled, handing the letter toward JJ, "Read it."

"Out loud." Kie added in.

JJ gave an embarrassed look, "I can't read cursive."

"Is that why you never answered my notes i'd send you in first grade?" Layla asked him with curios eyes.

"No, I didn't answered because I can't read your hand writing for shit." JJ shook his head as he shoved the side of Laylas head.

Kie yanked the letter from him, "Dear Mr.Hayward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence that can exonerate John B. Routledge. It is of vital importance that you come and meet me in person at my office at 27 King Street, Charleston at 8:00 pm sharp tonight. Please come alone. Regards, C. Limbrey."

"Meeting at night? In South Carolina? Alone?" Layla spoke with a odd look, "Sounds like the beginning of a shitty slasher film."

"It's like a eight hour drive plus the ferry." Pope shook his head, "How are we gonna get there tonight?"

"We'd have to leave right now." JJ said as he looked down at Laylas digital, water proof watch that John B got her for her sixteenth birthday.

"Henry is gonna be out all night. He went back to the cabin to grab a few things." Layla spoke as she nodded, "I should be clear to go with you."

"I have a free period." Kie agreed.

"Well, i'm not staying behind." JJ shook his head, looking down at the letter again, "Material evidence. What does that mean?"

"It means she can clear John B." Kie nodded her head.

"And we can bring their asses home!" Layla cheered suddenly, getting shhed by the librarian suddenly as she gave a guilty smile in return.

"Oh, shit. Then we're going to Charleston." JJ spoke just as loud as Layla did, also getting shhed.

"I gotta tell my mom." Kie huffed, "Look, if we get it in time, we are not giving it to Shoupe."

"No duh." JJ commented.

"Hey, what are you gonna do when you see Sarah again?" Pope asked as the trio sat in Hayward's truck, in Kie's drive way.

"I don't know. I don't want to hurt John B if he is still in love with her." Layla said with a slight guilty experience, "I feel bad."

"Look, this isn't the first time you took a girl from John B. He will get over it." JJ waved her off.

"Doesn't make me feel any better, dude." Layla shook her head as she leaned her head back on the seat, "I think i'll be okay seeing Sarah again, I'm not a super emotional person."

Pope gave a scoff, Laylas head turned his way, "What does that mean? Scoffing at me, boy, who do you think you are?"

"You mopped around like a little kid when she got with John B. You are beyond emotional." Pope said as JJ gave a snort, "It was dark."

Layla rose her hands in defense, "Okay, well, hopefully I don't act like a idiot and pretty much dodge her 'I love you' speech."

"Yeah, maybe don't say dido this time." JJ nodded his head, messing with the door.

"Go easy on the truck." Pope said to JJ quickly, "It's already in bad shape."

"And now you're gonna take it to your cousin Jeff's house." JJ nodded his head, "Just gonna get it fixed."

"Crash overnight." the trio said in sync.

"I think i'm rubbing off on you, Pope." JJ hummed with a nod, "Lying to your old man, stealing his truck. Kinda sounds familiar."

Pope sighed, "I say we have about eighteen hours before he looses his shit."

"And what about you? How's your daddy issues playing out in that huge head?" JJ asked as he pushed Laylas heads, Pope giving him a scolded look.

"I don't know, what can I do?" Layla asked with a shrug, "If I drop the lawsuit, I won't be able to stay with Henry anymore. If I keep the lawsuit going, it just adds more stress on me and as shitty as he is, he's still my dad."

"Totally get that." Pope nodded his head, "I miss your mom."

"I miss your mom too, oh my god." JJ nodded his head, "Those little fish sticks she'd make us."

"I miss her too." Layla agreed as she shook her head, "I keep thinking, you know, how she died. I mean, honestly, did any of you suspect depression?"

"Your moms was really happy, but I know depression can be hidden." Pope nodded his head.

"She was always fine to me." JJ shook his head, "I mean, you knew her best."

"And I never once suspected anything like that." Layla shook her head, "It makes me wonder if that's the real reason she killed herself."

Layla rarely likes to talk about her mom. It hurt her and a lot of the time she felt awkward and embarrassed getting emotional infront of the pogues.

"So what are you saying?" Pope asked with his brows frowned.

"Look at your life right now! Look at it!" Kie's father hollered, making the three looked over and seeing Kie and her parents walking out of the house.

JJ climbed out to let Kie in, "It's good to see y'all, Mr and Mrs Carrera."

Layla gave a awkward wave from inside of the truck.

"Hi, um, ma'am, sir. I-I promise to have her back at a reasonable hour and safe." Pope spoke out the window as Layla moved over, letting Kie in with her as she offered her a sip of her lemonade.

"Kiara, listen to me. You wanna go, then you can go. But if you don't come back at a proper time, then don't come back at all!" Anne yelled from the porch. Kie pulled a hurt look across her face.

"She's bluffing." JJ shook his head.

"Shes a bitch is what she is." Layla rolled her eyes, "No offense, Kie."

"My parents are so paranoid of me being a Pogue, like it's the worst thing that could ever happen." Kie spoke as the four sat in the back of Hayward's truck, Layla picking at the ankle bracelet with a seal on it.

"I heard they got good weed at boarding school, though." JJ hummed as he inhaled the joint in his hands.

"I'm not going to boarding school." Kie spoke sternly with a nod, "They're gonna have to kidnap me, tie me up, and throw me into a van."

"Yo, how do you think my dad sent me to the city this summer?" Layla asked with a nod, "I'm just saying."

"Layla, how come you don't have a male you emotionally attach yourself to?" Pope asked with a odd look, making Layla look over at him, "Like JJ and John B do you because they don't have a mom."

"Yo, really?" JJ called as he hoped off the top of Hayward's truck, "Layla is my mom, it's true."

"Yeah, I mean, he's older then me but i'm his mother." Layla confirmed, taking a small inhale of JJ's joint before giving it back.

"I say we cram some herbs in right now." JJ spoke up as he handed it toward Kie, taking a seat by Laylas legs.

"Hey, Kie, you tried to hit John B back on the number yet?" Pope asked, nodding her way.

"Like twenty million times." she said back.

"That's quite a few times." JJ gave a giggle.

"I'm sure they're okay. I mean, they're both tough as hell." Layla spoke, more so in reassurance for herself.

"Some random lady at a hotel keeps answering." Kie shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, until we hear from him again, we gotta try and clear his name." Pope nodded his head.

"I still vote that I can run Rafe over with a golf cart again." Layla said, leaning back. Pope looked over at her with a insane look, "No? Okay, never mind."

Kie stood and held the joint Popes way, "What Pope are you gonna be today?"

"I'm good. Gonna try and focus." Pope spoke in hesitation.

"Good Pope." Kie confirmed as she sat back down, "Boring Pope."

"If I remember clearly, you were just throwing a fit last time he smoked." Layla said, taking the joint and taking a quick inhale, "Nothing boring about wanting to keep a clear mind set, Kiara."

"Mama beer don't play." JJ giggled as Layla jumped off the truck.

"I'm gonna go see if there is anyone worth drawling." Layla said, grabbing her sketch book and heading off.

•

kylie speaks

y'all realize we are
one or two chapters
away... do y'all realize?!?