IT TOOK a lot to impress Layla. You could preform the most impressive and dangerous stunt successfully and she would most likely shrug it off. That action only would have the person shunned from Seaford and they would never be heard from again.

Ever heard of Dalton Vazquez? Didn't think so.

But on this occasion, Jack Brewer had heavily impressed Layla Beasley.

So much so that she went home that night and sat with the thought.

What did he even do to impress her so?

Well, their was another chance for the kids at the Bobby Wasabi Dojo to earn their belts and Jack was up to bat. He was already a black belt, there was not going up from there, but this could make or break his career.

The guy he was up against hadn't lost in over two years and it was looking pretty bad for Jack in the beginning.

But Jack was pretty good at what he knew best and he won the fight, not with ease, but he won nonetheless.

And Layla was impressed. She stood to her feet to congratulate the boy and his excitement just... took over.

He wrapped her arms around the girl with a wide smile on his face. The hug was pretty tight and Layla hadn't registered that until later that night.

Anyway, Layla squeezed Jack back with just as much force and it didn't ponder on the two of them that the hug lasted a little longer than what a hug should've. A hug between friends that is.

The two of them separated and gave each other an awkward smile and waved each other off.

And they didn't talk about it for days.

In fact, when school started, Layla walked down the steps of Seaford High and paused halfway when she saw Jack and Lorie talking besides the steps.

Lorie laughed and almost speaking too fast to understand, handed Jack the heart shaped balloon and walked off while laughing.

Layla nodded slowly to herself and made her way towards the bottom of the steps where she pressed her back against the railing.

"Do prefer blondes?" Layla asked.

"Brunettes are okay on occasions." He smiled, standing up to stand in front of her, "You really don't like her do you?" He asked.

"What makes you say that?" She asked.

She took her pencil had popped the balloon that Jack had just received.

"And the answer I was looking for was no." Layla smiled and left Jack alone in the hallway with the now sadden balloon.

LATER ON, the group found themselves at the dojo and apparently Jack had a huge announcement to make.

"It's a little crazy, but I just got offered a scholarship to the Otai Academy." Jack smiled.

"So full of pride." Rudy said.

"Isn't the Otai Academy in Japan?" Layla asked.

"What are you saying, Jack?" Eddie questioned.

"I'm moving to Japan."

"Oh no, my legs are going." Rudy muttered and passed out.

And for days, Jack talked about how he was moving to Japan.

"I mean, I leave Friday."

"I was just reading about the Otai Academy." Eddie said, "This brochure says the scholarship is for four years."

"When you come back, we'll be in college." Kim said.

"Wow. you... you're right."

"Man, this place is unbelievable!" Jerry exclaimed, "State of the art training center, outdoor dojo... And the cafeteria has got a make your own waffle station! Shut up!"

"Layla." Milton called, "Everything okay? You haven't said anything since you've got here."

Layla looked and nodded, "I'm good. So good that I'm going to get myself a smoothie."

Layla slipped her shoes on, grabbed her bag, and left the dojo without any questions being asked.

Kim held a tight lip and followed the girl out.

"Layla!" Kim called out, catching up to the girl, "Why'd you leave?"

Layla gently hit Kim's shoulder, "You know exactly why I left."

"Why don't you just tell Jack that you like him? It's pretty obvious that he likes you."

Layla sighed and sat down at one of the tables outside the smoothie shop.

"It takes a lot to impress me. Not everyone can do it, but there's something about Jack that does it."

Kim smiled, "Tell him before he leaves. It's not like he's going to just not go because of you... I mean, unless he does."

"I don't think he would." Layla said, "What guy would do that?"

THE NEXT DAY, Milton's new friend Zane was invited to the dojo to be the "new Jack".

The group taught him the Wasabi Code and he got the hand of it pretty quickly.

"Hey, guys."

The group turned and saw Jack holding his duffel bag by the entrance.

"Hey, Jack." Jerry smiled, "This is Zane. He's the new you."

"Awkward." Milton sang, holding his head down.

"Oh, Jack," Eddie called, "Zane's gonna need your locker."

"Awkwarder." Milton sang under his breath once more.

"Yeah, yeah, that's no problem." Jack said, "I was coming to clean it out anyway."

"He's just a new guy." Layla said, approaching Jack, "Not a replacement."

"We're going to Falafel Phil's with Jack's replacement." Jerry said, and the group, minus Layla left the dojo.

A beat of silence passed the duo until Jack pulled out a polaroid photo out of his locker.

"Look." He smiled, "We took this at the photo booth down at the pier, remember?"

She smiled, "Yeah. I'm surprised you still have it."

"There's four pictures here. You take two and I'll take two?"

"Sure."

Jack ripped the photo down the middle and handed Layla one of the photos.

And finally, the day came. Jack was leaving and the only person not there for his goodbye was Layla.

He'd called, texted, and desperately left a voicemail, and yet, she was no where in sight.

He dragged his belongings out the dojo where he spoke to Rudy and pondered on the thought on if he actually wanted to leave.

In the end, he chose to stay, but before deciding that, he handed Rudy a letter that he said to give to Layla.

"Oh, Layla." Rudy said.

Jack turned and saw Layla and Rudy talk near the dojo.

"Jack wanted me to give you this letter. He said it had some personal thoughts inside."

"Thank you, Rudy." Layla smiled.

From behind, Jack had been making gestures for Rudy not to give Layla the letter, but the damage was done.

Rudy made his way back into the dojo to let the others know that Jack wasn't leaving.

To mention, Zane, Milton's friend, quit the dojo after Milton blamed him on killing some computer friend of his, but that's a whole different story.

Anyway, Layla held Jack's letter in her hand as he rested his hands in his pockets.

"Don't worry." Layla smiled, "I wrote one also. Promise you'll read on the plane. It'll
probably save me some embarrassment."

"I would, but I'm going. I decided to stay."

Layla's smiled slightly shifted into one of embarrassment, "What? That's crazy. I want my letter back."

"Yeah, me too."

The two exchanged letters once more and Layla rocked back and forth on her heels.

"What changed your mind about Japan?"

"I don't know." He smiled, "They might not have any brunette's."

Layla gave him a toothy smile and hit his shoulder.

A very interesting start to an undeniable relationship.

— lucy has something to say !!

imagine if that was the last episode and the show got cancelled like ?????

anyway

bye :))))