◇The Hybrid◆

chapter 8

"Layla! i'm so glad you're here" Coach Steve says once i enter the gym. "why aren't you in uniform?"

i show him my gauze wrapped finger. "no, no, no, no. Layla! what did you do!?" 

"i got distracted in math class and i accidently stabbed myself with my pencil" i shrug, tired of telling my story.

"and of course you just had to get injured today!"

"i know, i'm sorry"

"we have one of our biggest games tomorrow! we need you! you're our best player!"

"i know" i look down, feeling guilty. "when can i play again?"

"how bad is the wound?"

i unwrap the gauze and show him my stitched purple finger. "goodness gracious child! that's going to take at least two weeks juts for the skin to heal and it's going to take even longer before your doctor lets you get near a ball! we have the championships in three weeks!" he says.

"i can play by then. i'm a quick healer"

he nods, "you better be. we won't even be able to get half of the amount of points without you"

"I'll come back as soon as it heals and i'll practice non-stop once my doctor says the okay"

he nods, "now get out of here. i don't want to see you 'till you get better" he says jokingly.

"yes coach" i smile and walk out of the gym. 

i go back to Derek's giant black truck and open the door. i hear Conner and Derek's laughter. when i climb up into the seat, Derek immediately stops laughing but conner continues to fill the truck with his small yet contagious laughs.

"What's so funny?" i ask my little brother.

"D-dewe-k t-t-old m-me a f-funn-y st-owry" he says in between laughs.

"what was the story about?" 

Conner was about to tell me but Derek spoke first. "it's not important. i was just.. getting to know Conner" 

Conner giggles and Derek winked at him. Conner giggles again and tried to wink back. Derek laughs at the five year old that doesn't quite know how to wink... its more like blink. 

i'm surprised by Derek's laugh. it's not what i expected.

i guess since i've only seen the bad side of him, i didn't know there was a light side too. 

i didn't realize i was staring at him until he looks at me and blushes lightly. 

he looks away and starts the car. Conner cuddles up next to Derek's side and it's the most adorable sight i have ever seen. it also surprises me though. because of my lovely mother he's blocked by walls and doesn't let them down unless he trust you completely. i'm the only one that he's ever cuddled up to like that. 

he still doesn't trust my father completely, i don't either. but he probably had a good reason to leave us.. but no matter how good his reason was to leave, the reason for him to stay will always be greater.

it makes me sad that conner is cuddling up on him like he does to me.. but it also makes me very curious. 

Conner never trusts anyone easily. especially not in the given time i left them alone.

.. it means that Derek is truely a good person. surprisingly.

i hear him scoff and i knew he read my thoughts. 

how does he do that!?

his voice inside my head interupts my thoughts. 'if you would just listen to me you would understand how i can read your mind and do this'

i shake my head. 

'please, Layla. i need you to listen to me' he says. no.. begs.

is he begging?

Derek Black begging? 

hmm. interesting. 

i hope he read my thoughts.

'i can hear everything you're thinking. whether i want to or not. so the answer is yes, i did hear what you thought' his voice says in my head.

i don't want to talk to him alone.. but i really need to know how he talks inside my head and reads my thoughts.. and if i can prevent it.

'nope' 

i'm really starting to get annoyed by his ready mind thingy.

i hear his light laughter in my head. 

'you, my dear. need to go to english class more often' he says. 

'well i wouldn't have to if rude jerks wouldn't talk in my head and cause me to stab myself with my pencil and ruin the next three weeks of my life' i think.

he laughs again. 'sweet heart. i didn't physically put the pencil in you finger. so how is it my fault?'

'i never said it was your fault. but you sure did rush over to see if i was okay' i think with a smirk on my face.

i smile at his loss of words.

before i know it, he's pulling onto the dirt trail i ran away from him. 

"wait, why are you taking us here?" i ask.

"you're going to live here soon enough. i thought you might want to get used to it.. and the people that will be living with us" he says.

"us??"

"yep"

"we'wre movin' in wit Dewrek?" Conner says excitedly and jumps up and down on the seat. 

"no" "yes" me and derek say at the same time.

"no!" i say.

"yes"

"no. there is no way i am letting me and conner move in with a bunch of strangers, including you"

"sorry, princess" he stops the car when we're in front of the house. he turns to me and puts his face close to mine. "but you have no choice" he says with a smirk.

he backs his face away from mine and steps down, out of his truck.

conner screams when derek picks him up and slings him on his shoulder, taking him into the house.

i groan. i hate how derek always gets his way. 

i get out of the truck and follow them into the huge house, not liking what i see the second i step in.