Kaleb's POV

True to Whitney's word, she got us all passes to miss sixth period.  Although, being that we all in athletics or cheerleading, we are supposed to have fourth and sixth period off anyways.  We were all gather around one of the round tables in the student council room. Whitney had all our schedules spread across the table and was examining them like she was about to solve a murder case.

"So, what's the plan for making Layla Kaleb's girlfriend?" Connor says. I smack him across the head. "Ouch!" He yelps. "What was that for?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm just trying to be her friend. I never said anything about her being my girlfriend."

"We can all see that you are into her more than just a friend." Summer snickers.

Running my hand through my hair I sigh loudly. "How can I have a crush on her when I don't even know her. I am trying to get to know her so that we can become friends. That is the whole point of all of us meeting here." I gesture towards all of us.

Whitney keeps tapping her pen on the table watching us with amusement as we all bicker about rather, I have a crush on Layla or not. Which I don't. I'm just intrigued by her. After we waste the first twenty minutes of sixth period arguing, Whitney clears her throat to get everyone's attention. "If y'all are through arguing I think I have an idea." Once all our eyes are on Whitney, she continues to tell us her plan. "Okay, so after reviewing Layla's schedule the only classes she still needs to take are English 4, Government and Economic, Spanish 4, and physical education."

"So, she has two off periods?" Jake asks.

"No, she doesn't. She took two extra electives, but I'm going to change her entire schedule."

"What's going through the pretty little mind of yours?" Daniels ask in a flirtatious tone. Sometimes the two of them gross me out.

My cousin points at me. "I'm going to put her in English 4 first period with you. Every year Mr. Samuel make the class write a paper. The paper is supposed to be written with a partner and it is worth forty-five percent of your final grade. Mr. Samuel has always been a cool teacher and let's everyone pick their partners, but you are going to have to talk him into assigning partners and have him partner you and Layla together. That way she will have to spend time with you in and outside of school."

"Great plan except there is one little flaw." I say looking Whitney straight in the eyes. "She always gets out of partner work."

Whitney glares at me before rolling her eyes. "That is why you have to convince Mr. Samuel to not let her get out of it." Mr. Samuel is a cool teacher and he seems to like me. I guess if I can't get him to agree I can always I have my aunt talk to him.

"For second period she will talk Spanish 4 with Connor, Jake and Daniel. Mrs. Rodriguez does a lot of partner and group projects in her class room. So y'all will have to speak to her and make sure that one of y'all are always paired with her."

Whitney then grins at Summer and Winter. "Okay girls, so this is a little unconventional, but I was thinking because she needs a physical education credit and no one in this room is take gym because we earn our credit through cheerleading and the guys earn theirs through athletics that we could add her to the cheer leading team." Summer and Winter look at each other before squealing in excitement.

"That a great idea." Summer cheers.

"But what if she doesn't want to be a cheerleader?" Winter pouts.

"I've already thought of that. If she tries and talk to Ms. Graham, she will be told to come and speak to me, and I will tell her that she has to be on the team. Trust me, she won't argue with me. No one ever does." Whitney smirks. "She will then have first lunch with all of us. If she chooses not to sit in the cafeteria, we will just follow her."

Conner scoffs. "It's that kind of stalkerish?"

"I don't know and don't care. I will use the excuse that since she is now a cheerleader, us cheerleaders eat lunch together. It's not my fault that you jocks think you have to join us." She laughs.

"That's great that you have a way to explain why y'all are following her, but what about me and Kaleb?" Connor ask raising one eyebrow.

"Technically the two of you are both in athletics too." Jake says. "It might just be track, but it's still considered as athletics."

"What do you mean by it's just track?" I growl.

Jake holds his hands up in surrender. "I'm just messing with you. We all know track is important too." He laughs.

"Are y'all done acting like children yet?" Winter scoffs.

"Anyways..." Whitney says getting the attention back on her. "Fifth period we all have government and economics and she will too. She will also have fourth and sixth period off along with us too. I don't know why none of us had those periods off already. Everyone who's in athletics plus cheerleaders and the dance team normally have those two periods off to use for extra practice. I will make sure that all of our schedules are fixed by tomorrow."

Once the bell rings dismissing us from school our friends leave and it's just me and Whitney left. "So, did you get her address?" I pull out my phone and show her the pictures I took of Layla's file.

Whitney frowns as she looks though the pictures. "Her address isn't zoned to this school. She is a transfer student. She is supposed to go to Dover High. Doesn't she walk to school?"

"Yeah, she does." I answer confuse by her question. "What's wrong with her walking?"

"It's almost an hour walk. That means she starts walking to school by six in the morning."

"Really?" There's no way she walks an hour to and from school. "Maybe it's not the right address."

"Well, what are we waiting for then. Let's go find out." Whitney says picking her purse up and heading out the door.

Once we are outside, we decide to take Whitney's car since I drove my bike today. I drive my cousin's car since I don't want her to kill us. She isn't the greatest of drivers. I enter Layla's address into my phone and follow the directions to her house.  It was about a twenty minute car ride. As we turn onto Layla's street, I give my cousin a weird look. "Do you think she really lives here? I mean this is definitely not a safe part of town."

Whitney gulps. "This was the address on her file. Not everyone makes the same amount of money that our family does."

The neighborhood looks very sketchy and run down.  There aren't a lot people outside but the few that are, do not look like the type of people who would be super friendly. "I'm really hoping she doesn't live here." Whitney whispers as we park in front of the address that is on Layla's paperwork. "If she does live here, I hope she doesn't walk to school. It doesn't seem safe."

We get out of the car and walk to the front door of the house that is supposed to be Layla's. The house is run down, and the grass in unkept. Trash litter the lawns and the screen door is hanging off the hinges. I swallow the lump in my throat and knock loudly on the door. After waiting a minute or so I try knocking again when no one answer. "Maybe no one is home." I tell Whitney.

Whitney looks around and points to the older lady next door who is sitting on her porch watching us. "Let's ask her if she knows Layla." I shrug and follow Whitney to neighbor's house. 

"Excuse me." Whitney says sweetly to the older lady.

The lady seems unsure of us and eyes us cautiously. "Yes? You two don't look like y'all belong in these parts."

"We were wondering if you could tell us if our friend lives next door to you. She didn't show up at school today and we just wanted to check up on her. Her name is Layla Davis." Whitney tells her.

The lady looks like she is thinking for a moment before she smiles. "I didn't think that sweet girl had any friends. Yes, that's her house but no one is home."

"By chance do you know where she is at?" I ask.

"I'm not sure where she ran off too. I think her dad had friends over last night. They were very loud, and I know she runs off a lot when his friends are over." She shakes her head sadly. "They aren't the best people to be around. I think they scare her. I've seen her run off crying many times when his friends are over. Poor girl." My cousin and I both look at each other worriedly.

Whitney speaks up. "Do you know if she walks to school?"

The lady makes an angry expression. "Yes, she does. That good for nothing father of hers is too lazy to driver her."

"Thank you for your help." I tell the lady, before grabbing my cousin's arm and ushering her back to the safety of the car.

"By the way my name is Eve. I'm glad Layla has founds some friends. God knows she needs them."

"Thank you, Eve." Whitney says as she waves good bye.

I start the car up and release a breath that I didn't know I was holding on to. Once I drive a little way away from Layla's street, I pull into a parking lot and cut the engine. From what I could tell by just watching Layla the past few years at school I knew that she had to have some problems, but just seeing what I saw today I fear it is a lot worst than I ever expected. I look at my cousin and her eyes are red and puffy with mascara running down her face. "Kaleb, I-I don't even know what to say. I know she is a loner at school and doesn't all have the nicest of things, but I would have never imagined what we just saw." She cries. "I want to help her."

I hug my cousin. "That's what we are going to do. We aren't going to pity her, and she's not going to be a charity case. No one outside of our friends need to know what we say. We are going to stick with our plan and become friends with her. Even if we can't fix things outside of school for her, we will make her school life great. She needs friends. Real friends and that's going to be us. If she wants to confide in us great but let's just support her in whatever way she needs."

Whitney wipes her eyes and nods her head. "Kaleb, can I ask you a question and you answer me honestly?" I nod my head. "Do you have a crush on her?"

I comb my fingers through my messy hair and groan. "Maybe. I've maybe had a crush on her since the day we bumped into each other freshman year." Whitney squeal with excitement, and I give her my best death glare. "Don't you dare tell a single soul though."

"I promise I won't." She says as she pretends to zip her mouth and throw the key away causing me to laugh. "So tomorrow I think you should pick me up by five thirty and then we should drive back over to her place and see if we can 'accidently' catch her walking to school and give her a ride."

"Sounds good to me." I say as I start the car and pull out of the parking lot to head back to school to pick up my motorcycle. I love how my cousin and I can be on the same brain wave. With the two of us and our friends I am hoping we will be able to get Layla to join our little group. Normally, Connor and I wouldn't hang out with Whitney, Summer, Winter, Jake and Daniel at school, but this year I think we can make an exception if me Layla will become friends with all of us.

When we reach the school, I jump out of the car and Whitney takes my place at the wheel. Before she drives off, she tells me she will let everyone know what's going on in our group chat. As soon as I get home, I email Mr. Samuel about the English 4 project and about pairing me up with Layla. Now all I can do is wait for tomorrow and hope for the best.

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A/N: So... This is chapter 3.  I'm not thrilled with it, but it is what it is.  The story will get better though.  Don't give up on it yet please.   Anyways, please comment, vote, add this story to your reading list and follow me.  (Even if this chapter sucked.)  ~KJ <3~