'Son, some dangers are worth the risk.' Plays in my head on repeat. It would be nice to hear from someone in my family. I take one more glance at Layla to make sure she is still sleeping before I make my way over to the payphone. With a shaky hand I pick up the phone and dial the first number that comes to mind. Each ring makes my anxiety spike more and more until I hear a voice.

Kaleb's POV

"Hello?"

"Hey." I say nervously.

"Kaleb?"

"mhmm"

"I-is that really you? I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Whitney. I can't talk long. I just wanted to let you know that we are okay."

"Kaleb, wait."

"Whitney, I really need to go. We can't stay in one place too long without it putting us in danger and-"

"Damnit Kaleb can you listen to me for a damn minute. The two of you need to get home now. Her dad is here for her."

Her dad is there for her? What the fuck? He gave her up. "Why would I care if that fucker is there? Did you forget all of the shit he did to Layla?"

"Kaleb no. Her real dad is here. We found Layla's real dad."

"W-What? But. I. What?"

"We found Layla's real dad. The two of you need to get back here as soon as possible. Once Layla takes a DNA test it will prove that Adam Boswell is her real dad. Her stepdad will have no rights to her."

"I don't understand. I thought her dad was Mr. Davis."

"No, it was all a fabricated lie for her stepdad's gain. The two of you need to get home as soon as possible."

"Y-yeah. We'll head that way n-now." I stutter still trying to wrap my head around the news my cousin just said.

"Kaleb? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just a lot to take in right now and there's other things."

"What other things? What's wrong? Did something happen with Layla?" Whitney says with panic rising in her voice.

"Um. Well you see, she may or may not be pregnant?" My voice squeaks.

"W-What? Are you lying to me? H-how did this happen? And what do you mean may or may not?"

"I think you damn well know how things like that happen, and we don't know because she has been too afraid to take a test. She's late, but it could just be due to stress."

"But y'all have...?"

"Yeah, we have." I say nervously.

"Um okay, well if she is, we'll figure it out. Y'all have choices and-"

"The only choice is we will raise our family together. I love Layla and if she's pregnant, I'll love our baby too."

"I didn't mean it like that, Kaleb, but-"

"But what Whitney?" I can feel myself getting more and more annoyed with this conversation.

"Her real dad doesn't live anywhere near us. I-I don't know what the future holds for the two of you, but we will figure it out."

My grip on the phone tightens as I can feel my anger boil up inside of me. There is never an option where Layla and I get to be together in peace. Her stepdad either finds us, her real dad gets custody or her and she's taken away from me or we continue to live on the run without a chance of a normal life anytime soon. "I'm not losing her Whit. We've come too far for her to be taken away from me. Real dad or not, I don't care."

"Kaleb, this is best for both of you and I'm sure,-" but before I even let her finish her sentence I hang up. I rake my hand through my hair several times before walking back to the truck.

Getting into the truck, I buckle my seatbelt until I'm startled by Layla touching my arm. "Kaleb, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, Layla." I whisper as I backout of the parking spot. We've been here far too long, and it doesn't really matter at the moment where we go as long as we put some distance between us and this place.

"Don't lie to me, Kaleb. You aren't fine." She says softly. "I-I saw you talking to someone on the payphone. Who was it?"

I swallow the lump in my throat as we pull out of the parking lot and turn onto the street. I'm not ready to have this conversation with her yet, but I know I have too. "I'll explain everything, but can we first get away from here?"

"Yeah, we can." Her voice wavers. I know I should just tell her now, but I'm still wrapping my head around the whole situation. Since she still doesn't know anything about my conversation with Whitney, I decide to drive in the direction we were already going in instead of heading in the direction towards my parents' home. I'll drive an hour and the we can find a place where we can talk and make this big decision together.

The hour-long drive is nerve wracking. I know it's eating at her just as much as it's eating at me. Her leg keeps bouncing up and down which is something she only does when she is nervous. She is also strumming her fingers along the side of her door. I hate seeing her worry.

"Hey," I say grabbing her hand in mine. "There's nothing to worry about okay. No matter what happens, we'll be together. I'm not losing you now or ever."

She gives me a small smile before swallowing hard. "I know, Kaleb. I still worry though."

"I know and so do I." I say as I let go of her hand and pull into a small parking lot of a park.

"Why are we here? Are you tired? Do you want me to drive?" Her questions come at me a hundred miles a minute. It's easy to see her anxiety increasing. "Kaleb are you not feeling well? Are you rethinking all of this? Did I do something wrong? It's because I may be pregnant, isn't it?"

"What?!?" I say with a hint of anger in my voice, hurt that it would even cross her mind that I would change my mind about the way I feel about her. She quickly looks away and I know she's hiding tears from me. "Layla don't cry please. I didn't mean to upset you. Please look at me." She slowly faces me, and I quickly wipe the tears from beneath her eyes.

"Sweetheart, I would never change my mind about you. I love you and that's not going to change."

She sighs before relaxing a bit. "I love you too, but what's wrong then?"

I bite my lip for a second trying to figure out the best way to say this. "I talked to Whitney." I blurt out.

"Y-you talked to Whitney? I thought we weren't supposed to make contact. Is something wrong with Whitney or your family? Please tell me my step dad didn't hurt them." She says with tears building in the corner of her eyes again.

"Calm down and let me explain. I called Whitney. I know I wasn't supposed, but I wanted them to know that we are okay for the most part. This has to be hell for them too."

"Of course, it is, Kaleb, but doesn't that put them in danger too? Are they okay though? Did something happen?"

"We never actually talked about my family. Whitney told me other news instead."

"What news, Kaleb? What did Whitney tell you?"

I sigh. How do you tell someone that she's been lied to all of her life? "It was about your father."

Her face goes pale before she gets a look of disgust on her face. "Don't tell me that sorry bastard got out or something."

"No, it's nothing like that."

"Then what is it?" She says with anger lacing her voice.

"They found your real father."

Layla's face goes pale. What do you mean they found my real dad? My real dad is supposed to be rotting away in prison."

"I don't know the details, but that's not your real father. They've found your real father, and they want us to come home. A DNA test will prove that he's your real father and then your step dad loses all rights over you."

Confusion takes over Layla's face. She's speechless for what seems like forever. "There's more to it, isn't there? What is it?"

"Apparently he lives nowhere near my family. You'll be safe, Layla. Your stepdad won't be able to do anything to you, but-" I close my eyes in hope that it will prevent the tears from falling, but it doesn't.

"But?" She whispers.

Opening my eyes, I stare into hers. "I'm an asshole."

"What?" she says, with a puzzled look on her face.

"I'm an asshole, Layla. I'm sorry, but I can't lose you. I'm in love with you and fall more in love with you each and every day. I would rather be on the run for the rest of my life with you, then to go without you for even a day. I know I'm being selfish. I should let you go and be with your dad, but I don't know if I can survive without you."

She pulls her hand out of mine and it causes a pang in my heart. "Kaleb, you are so stupid." She whispers. I look at her in disarray. Stupid? That isn't what I expected. "Do you think I could really just walk away from you? Always wondering what could have been?" She laughs humorlessly. "I'm not going anywhere without you. You have my heart."

"Really?"

She climbs into my lap and kisses me. "Yeah, I love you."

"I love you too." I whisper as I hold her tightly, never wanting to let her go.

She pulls away slightly so she can look me in the eyes. "So, what do we do now?"

"It's your choice, Layla. What do you want to do?"

She smiles at me and kisses my cheek. "Well..."

-------------------------

A/N:  I am trying to get back into writing.  Hopefully the next chapter won't take me too long to write.

~Karen~  Also, follow my community and maybe join as staff.  CLNighters