(More Than) Just Friends.

Chapter Eleven

11

::Kylie's POV::

As school ended, I started to panic. Where was I going to go? My own father had thrown me out and even though Levi was the most understanding person I knew, it was too embarrassing to tell him about any of it.

For the first time, I really worried. Where would I sleep? What would I eat? How would I bathe? The thoughts consumed my mind and amped up my anxiety.

Usually, I had money on my credit cards, but after attempting to get gas this morning, I realized my dad cut me off completely. So I was broke until November ninth of next year when my trust fund kicked in. Great.

I looked at my half full, or now that I thought about it, half empty, gas tank. This definitely wouldn't last me a year and some months. What was I going to do?

As I was deep in thought, someone interrupted me. Knocking echoed through my car and when I looked up, I saw Levi. He gave me a fond-filled smile which almost brightened up my day.

I half smiled and rolled down my window. I really didn't feel like talking because surely he would catch me in a lie, but what choice did I have now? I should have left and parked in another parking lot.

"Hey, what are you still doing here? You're usually the first car pulling out," he joked.

"Oh, I'm leaving now," I said blandly.

"Alright I'll see you later," he said and looked at me suspiciously before leaving.

I cranked my car and pretended that I was leaving until he vanished. Next, I took the key out of the ignition and sighed.

I would tell Levi eventually, but for now, I had other problems to worry about.

::Levi's POV::

I rushed into the school as the full moon was my only light, guiding me up the stairs. Luckily for me, the front doors were unlocked. The janitors must have still been working for the lights to still have been on. Either way, I was happy. I just needed to make it in and then out.

I made my way down the hall and to my locker to get my chemistry book. I had a huge test Monday morning and I knew if I didn't get my book tonight, I would end up not have studying at all over the weekend. There was a version online but I'd forgotten my username and password. I tried calling Kylie to see if she had hers, but for some strange reason, she wasn't answering any of my calls. It had me sort of worried, but I always blew things out of proportion when it came to her. Her phone probably just died or something.

As fast as I had strolled into the building, I was strolling out. I was coming down the steps in front of the school when I noticed something.

It was a car in the student parking lot, the only car to be exact.

I shook my head and turned, heading towards my car. I had quickly forgotten that janitors worked at the school late and they probably parked with the students.

Wait.

I stopped in my tracks and thought.

That car was bright red, wasn't it?

There was only one car that bright. So bright that I could spot it out in the middle of the pitch black night.

"Kylie," I whispered to myself.

I turned around and walked cautiously to the car. It couldn't be her car right? I'd seen her leave earlier today so why would she be back? Despite this fact, I just had to make sure.

When I finally reached that side of the parking lot, I peeped into the window. In the backseat, there Kylie lay. She used her sweatshirt as a blanket and her book bag as a pillow. I could stand there forever watching her sleep. She was so beautiful, but the longer I stared, the more questions arose in my mind.

Why was she sleeping in her car?

"Kylie," I said loudly and tapped on the glass twice in order for her to wake up.

When she got up, she initially looked frightened, but after realizing it was just me, she became embarrassed and ashamed.

She unlocked the doors and I sat next to her.

"Kylie, what's going on?" I asked her, trusting that she wouldn't lie. "Why are you sleeping in your car?"

"My dad found out that," she paused timidly. "That you were over the other night."

"And you're scared to go home?" I asked. "I could go with you and tell him that you were just helping me with a project or something. I mean, I know he's a little off-the-rails sometimes, but what's the most he can do?"

She avoided eye contact with me. "Kick me out," she answered my rhetorical question.

I chuckled. She couldn't be serious. "Your dad wouldn't kick you out. Why would you even think that?"

Her head snapped to me. "No, it's not a possibility. He actually kicked me out."

I looked at her with unbelieving eyes as any drop of humor about this situation was sucked dry. I knew her dad was crazy, but this was insane. Kylie's mom was really his only sanity and he'd lost that many years ago.

This was all my fault. I should've never pushed going over her house. Now she's homeless. Friends went over each other's houses plenty of times, so what was the problem with this? My mind couldn't wrap around the predicament I'd put her in.

Just then my phone rang.

"Answer it," she said.

I stepped out of the car and took a few steps before answering my phone.

After a few minutes of conversation with my mom, I got back into the car.

"You're coming home with me," I said.

"Wait, what?" Ky asked in disbelief.

"You're going to stay with us for a while. I already told my mom," I repeated simply.

"No Levi, no," she said back and shook her head. "This isn't your responsibility. You don't have to take care of m--"

"Hey," I soothed and caressed her face. I could see the worry in her eyes. "I will always take care of you because I care about you so much. You're going to stay with me because I refuse to let anything happen to you. I couldn't bare it, not knowing if you were okay every night," I saw her relax a little. "Alright?" I asked.

She just nodded.

::Tyler's POV::

I unlocked the door and walked into the house as quietly as I could. It was about two in the morning, so I knew my mom and Levi were already asleep and thank god for that. I had a massive headache and I didn't have time from yet another one of their lectures.

I shut the door behind me and made my way through the foyer. Nearly all of the lights were off except for the one in the kitchen.

Between mom and Levi, I was fascinated to see who was up. They couldn't stay up past ten o'clock, so this was extremely intriguing.

I walked into the kitchen and saw someone standing behind the open refrigerator door.

I leaned against the door frame and waited patiently to see who it was.

"Well look who's a night owl after all," I said with a smirk.

The person jumped as the first syllable exited my mouth and now I could see them.

"Kylie," I stated as all the amusement left my face.

She looked surprised to see me, like she didn't even know I was living here again.

"Tyler?"