Lucas' POV

Today is finally Thursday. Hayden, Nick and I need to talk to Beth about staying with Isla this weekend. Who is Beth? Beth is the caretaker at the foster home that me and my two best friends live at. Hayden, Nick and I met each other in a different foster home while we were in seventh grade. The foster home was in a different state and I wanted to eventually get back to my home state. The foster home we lived in at the time didn't want to foster three teenage boys. They said that we caused too much trouble, but in reality, they like most and prefer younger children. My case manager knew I wanted to go back to my hometown, so she started talking to people there to see if there was a foster home that was willing to take me. When Beth heard my story and found out about Hayden and Nick, she welcomed us with arms wide open. Nick and Hayden were glad to be moving far away from where our previous foster home is, even though that is both of their hometowns, but that is a story for another day. I was just thankful that I would have my two best friends by my side and was able to come back home. This town has always been my home. While I have some sad memories about this town, some of my best memories were made here too.

We've been with Beth for a little over four years now. She is like a mother to me. She'll never replace my mom though. My mom was a great lady, but she became sick. Treatment didn't work, and I lost her at the end of my sixth-grade year. My dad couldn't handle the grief of losing the love of his life. He started drinking, and was in an accident one night. He was killed instantly leaving me with no one in this world until I met Hayden and Nick.

Our new problem is that now that Nick, Hayden and I are eighteen, Beth no longer receives funding from the government to care for us. After we turn eighteen, we are supposed to leave her care, but she received a very large anonymous donation over the summer. She could have used to upgrade the house, but instead used it on me and the guys to be able to keep up living with her for a little while longer. Beth is trying to keep us with her until we can finish our senior year up. While the money is helping her out a ton with our expenses, she is receiving a lot of pressure to let us go so she can accept three other children that need a place to stay. Beth can foster up to six kids, so us staying is taking the spot of three other kids.

This is also part of the reason why the school has given us the title of 'bad boys.' We are not the 'bad boys' that everyone thinks we are. They think we are mysterious, but the truth is we don't want anyone to know that we are in the foster system. We moved here at the beginning of summer before our freshman year. We were hanging out at the beach and kids from the school saw us and rumors started immediately. Some said we were just released from juvie. Others said that we had moved here because we had been expelled from every school in the area that we previously lived. There were rumors that we were in a gang, we killed someone, did drugs, fought, and beat people up just for the fun of it. We should have probably put a stop to the rumors, but we figured it was better to let people think what they want to think than to know the truth. The girls were instantly drawn to us. We would constantly reject them, but they never stopped. Then they started telling each other that we slept with them like it was some prize to hook up with one of us. Sure, we flirt and occasionally we make out with a girl if we're at a party, but I haven't slept with anyone and neither has Nick or Hayden. I have my eyes set on one girl and one girl only, Isla.

"So, who wants to tell Beth that we will be staying with a friend this weekend?" Hayden asks.

"I think Lucas should tell her since it was his idea to stay there all weekend." Nick grins.

"Fine, I'll tell her." I tell them. "It's not like she's going to say no." I hope she won't say no.

We walk inside and our greeted with the wonderful smell of chocolate chip cookies. We walk into the kitchen where Beth and the other three kids who live here are sitting.

"Hi boys." Beth chirps while giving each of us a kiss on the cheek. "You younger ones go upstairs. I need to talk to these three alone." She says as she points to me, Hayden and Nick.

"Did we do something wrong, Beth?" Hayden says, trying to give his best puppy dog face. He always does this when he thinks we're in trouble.

"No, No boys. Have a seat. I just need to talk to you." We give her a worried look. "Boys, it's nothing to worry about. I just wanted to ask a favor of y'all. A young lady called here earlier and wanted to speak to some kids her age about how their life is in foster care and what they think could help improve it. She is writing an essay about it for her college application." We all groan. "Please boys do this for me. The girl seems passionate about this and I already told her yes. I just wish I could remember her name."

"But Beth you know how we feel about talking about this to other people. They just don't understand." Hayden whines.

"Boys, I know but, on the phone, she seemed so different. She doesn't seem like the person to judge. She said she could write her essay on anything, but this is something she really cares about. Please, boys."

We all look at each other and nod in agreement. Beth has done a lot for us and we can't turn her down. "Okay, Beth for you we will do it." I say with a smile.

She runs and hugs each one of us, "Thank you boys! This means a lot to me and this girl."

"You said she was our age? What's her name?" Nick asks.

"She's eighteen and... oh... I forget her name." Beth sheepishly states.

"Umm Beth we also have a favor to ask of you." I rub the back of my neck. "We have a friend that wants us to spend all weekend with them. Would it be okay?" Hopefully she doesn't ask if your friend is a girl.

"Sure, boys as long as you're back here Monday at 5:30pm. That is when the girl who wants to talk to y'all will be here."

"Thanks, Beth." We say in unison.

"Oh my, look at the time. Boys aren't y'all supposed to be going to dinner at Lucas' girlfriend's house?"

The heat creeps up on my cheeks, "She's just a friend, Beth."

"Sure." She says while rolling her eyes. "Hurry up boys get ready. Y'all are going to be late. Wear something nice. I baked cookies for y'all to take. Oh, and Lucas."

"Yes, Beth."

"I bought you some flowers to take to your girlfriend." She says with a big grin.

"Beth, she is not my girlfriend. She's just a friend."

"Oh, but Lucas, you like her, and you are a sweet and caring guy. Just let her know the real you and I'm sure in no time she will like you as much as you like her."

"Thanks, Beth." Too bad I don't like her. I love her.

The boys and I go to our rooms and start to get ready. I'm the first to get done so I sit on my bed and wait for the other two.

There's a knock on my door and then Hayden enters. "You okay, man?" He asks.

"Just a little nervous, I guess. I mean what if her parents don't like me." I sigh. "I know it's not like I'm her boyfriend or anything, but if her parents don't like me then I will never have a chance with her. Not that I have a chance either way, but you know what I mean."

"You need to stop worrying. You're a great guy. I think you do have a chance with her, but you are going to have to take it slow. She hasn't had friends in almost three years, because of Chelsea. You are going to have to gain her trust first and work your way up from there. I see the way she looks at us, at you. She doesn't judge us based on the rumors that everyone spreads about us. She's not afraid of us like most people. I think y'all would be good for each other."

"Thanks, Hayden. Now where is Nick? We are going to be late."

Nick comes running through the door, "Do I look okay?"

"Yes, but why are you worried about what you like, Nick?" Hayden questions while raising his eyebrow.

"Isn't her feisty, little fighter friend going to be there?" Nick smirks.

"Seriously?" I groan. "You're trying to hook up with her friend?"

"No, not hook up. I want her to be mine. I like how she's not afraid to challenge me." Nick says proudly.

"You better not mess this up for me." I point at him. "If you hurt Isla's friend then Isla will want nothing to do with me."

"Scouts honor." Nick says while giving the Vulcan salute from Star Trek. "I have no intention to, nor will I hurt Isla's best friend, Kaira." Hayden and I just look at Nick and then burst out laughing. It's obvious that he's never been a boy scout.

"What?" He whines.

"That's the hand salute from Star Trek, you idiot." I say through laughter.

"Oh, umm. Star Trek's honor then." Nick says sheepishly. All three of us are now rolling on the floor laughing.

Beth comes running into the room. "What in the world is going on here? You're messing up your outfits. Hurry up and get going. You're going to be late." She smiles. "Oh, and have a good time."