Kaleb's POV

Sleep evades me. I've toss and turn all night. The words from my mother whirling around my head about Layla being so skinny. At dinner last night she only took a few bites before asking to be excuse. In her defense every time she took a bite, she looks like she was in a lot of pain because of the busted lip and bruises on her face. Regret washes over me. Could I have prevented this from happening had I tried to become her friend sooner? Pushing the thoughts away I get up and walk to my bathroom to do my usual routine.

I shouldn't even be up yet, but the girl sleeping across the hall is constantly on my mind like a song playing on repeat. Since everyone should still be asleep, I'll head downstairs and watch tv in the movie room. I soundlessly walk out of my room, and walk down the hallway until I hear crying coming from the room Layla slept in.

My heart drops to the bottom of my chest hearing her cry. I tap on the door lightly to not wake my parents up. Layla doesn't respond so I try tapping on the door once more. Since she still doesn't respond I open the door cautiously. This isn't a normal occurrence, I would normally not just barge into someone's room with out their permission, but circumstances are a little different at the moment.

I smoothly open the door and walk into the darkness of her room. Curled up in a ball with her knees to her stomach is Layla rocking back and forth crying. She is so timid and small. I cautiously walk over to the bed and sit beside her. "Layla, don't cry please." I say wrapping my arm around her. She tenses at first but soon relaxes in my hold and places her head on my shoulder. "Who did this to you?"

She shakes her head. "I fell. I'm really clumsy."

Ever so gently I grab her chin and force her to look at me. "Tell me the truth." I calmly demand.

Tears swell in her eyes. "I can't, Kaleb." She lowers her head to not look at me. "I'm so sorry, but I can't tell you."

"Why? Why, Layla? Why can't you tell me?" I say a little too aggressively. "I want to help you. Can't you see that? I just want to protect you."

"Why do you want to help?" She raises her voice with a hint of anger.

I loudly sigh as I comb my fingers through my hair. "Because I care about you."  Also like you and have had a crush on you since we bumped into each other freshman year, but you don't need to know that yet.

She stares at me in awe for a few seconds before standing up from the bed and pacing the room. "Lies." She hisses. "No one cares for me and no one ever will. Why do you sit there and lie to me? What game are you playing at, Kaleb Knightly? What is your end game? What do you win by lying to me?" Angry tears fall down her face.

Standing up and striding over to her, with both of my hands I grab her arms and make her face me. "There's no game. I really care for you. Please trust me." I say looking deep into her eyes.

Still in my grip she throws her head back and lets out a humorless laugh. "Trust?" She snarls. "Trust leads into nothing but pain. I'm tired of the pain, Kaleb. I've learned my lesson already. Trust causes nothing but heartache and pain." She pulls herself from my grasp. "Physical pain is nothing compared to the emotional pain. I will continue to live my life the way I have been. Do us both a favor and forget about me." She says in a low haunting tone. "Thank you for letting me stay, but I will be on my way now."

I stare at her in disbelief. She starts to open the bedroom door, but I slam it shut and pin her against the door. She is breathing so heavily that can feel her chest rise up and down against mine. Our faces are so close that our noses are touching. There is a strong urge in me to kiss her, but I resist. I don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of her. "If you're so worried about the emotional pain, why would you cause it for me?" Her eyes are glossy as she stares at me. "Don't you see, Layla, I've been intrigued by you since we bumped into each freshman year. I'm sorry it took me this long to approach you, but you have to believe me when I say I won't hurt you. Physically or emotionally." Taking a step back from her, I already miss the closeness. I do like her. Not only do I want to be her friend, I want to be more. But with how broken she is, with how hurt she is, I don't know if she will ever let me.

She's speechless as she looks at me. I want her to say something, but she doesn't. She just stares at me before blinking a few times. She swallows hard and walks back to the bed and sits down. I follow carefully behind her and sit next to her. She doesn't look at me as she plays with her hands in her lap. "Okay, I'll try." She whispers.

"What?"

She takes a deep breath closes her eyes and then releases it, before looking at me. "I... I'll try to trust you."

It takes me a moment before I can process what she just said me. She is going to try to trust me. I can't help but feel the excitement bubble up in me. I pull her into me wrapping my arms in a tight hug around her. "Thank you. " I whisper.

I pull her out the bedroom door and drag her to kitchen with me. I pull out a bar stool for her at the kitchen counter while I start to make breakfast. As a start to heat up the frying pan, the door bell rings. Layla jumps at the sound of the doorbell. "It's okay. It's just Whitney. The three of us are going to miss school and hang out." I say.

Panic washes over Layla's face as she vigorously shakes her head. "I can't. The school will call my home. I'll be in trouble."

Grabbing her hand, I start rubbing circles in it. "No, they won't. My mom already took care of."

"The school won't care. Your mom has no rights over me."

I chuckle. "Trust me, Layla. The school isn't going to call your house. I promise."

"Okay." She whispers fidgets in her seat.

I feel bad that she is worrying. I want her to feel relax in hope that she we tell me who is hurting her. "Layla, Mrs. Graham is my aunt. She knows you're with me and she's not going to allow the school call your house."

Layla gives me the smallest smile. "Thank you."

I turn back to start cooking when I hear footsteps walk into the kitchen. Layla and I both have our back to Whitney, but I'm surprised when I turn around. Standing behind Whitney is Summer, Winter, Daniel, Jake and Connor.

"What are all of y'all doing here?" I ask with a puzzle look.

"You didn't really think you could skip sch-" Connor starts as Layla turns around. "What the hell happened to your face?" He exclaims causing everyone to stare at her.

Layla freezes in shock for a few moments before running upstairs and slamming the guest room door. Angry, I turn and look Connor. "What the fuck man?"

Connor raises both of his hands surrendering. "Dude, I didn't know."

I look at Whitney who has guilt written across her face. "S-Sorry, Kaleb. I thought it would help if she knew we were all here for her. I didn't know she was hurt that badly."

"Fuck." I murmur to myself. "She said she was going to try and trust me, but I don't know if she will now."

Before anyone can say anything else, my mom comes raging into the kitchen. "Kaleb Andrew Knightly, what on God's green earth did you do to that poor girl? She has locked herself in her room crying." My mom was about to say more until she sees everyone staring at her. "What are all of you doing here?"

Whitney steps closer to my mom. "Aunt Abby, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. Kaleb had nothing to do with this. I wasn't thinking straight. I thought that maybe if she saw all of us were here for her, she would feel better, but I guess I was wrong."

My mother sends her best death glare at Whitney. "That you were." She points at Whitney. "Y'all better fix this. That poor girl has been through hell."

"Mom." I groan. "She was opening up to me until this jack ass had to mention her face." I say gesturing at Connor.

He rolls his eyes. "A little warning would have been nice. Dude, it looks like she was hit by a bus."

"Connor Rory O'Bryan." My mom says is a warning tone. "Do not make me call your mother."

Connor turns pale. "I'm sorry Abby, please don't call my mama." We all snicker behind him. His mother is just as small as mine, but those two women can put the fear of God in anyone.

"Everyone out of my kitchen." My mother demands. "I'll call the school and let them know that you're all missing today." She says as she ushers us all out of the kitchen. "Oh, and I'm not serving any of you breakfast if Layla isn't down here to eat." She glares at us.

All my friends' frown, causing me to chuckle. Everyone loves my mom's cooking. Winter walks over to Connor and slaps in on the back of the head. "Great going doofus. I'm hungry. Someone better fix this."

"Kaleb and I will go talk to her." Connor smirks.

"Great." Daniel say sarcastically. "No one is eating today."

"Sit your butt down, Connor." Whitney sasses. She grabs me by the arm and yanks me up. "We will go talk to her. Just don't say anything stupid when we come back." She demands before pulling me up the stairs.

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A/N: Happy Thanksgiving!  ~KarenJ128~