The View

1

"Kayla come on, it'll be fun." My best friend Sophie said dragging me into the gym for the homecoming game at my new school, Westside.

My name is Kayla Reders. I moved to Omaha after my parents died in a car accident about two months ago. After court dates, I finally got sent here to live with my aunt Nikki, her husband Jay and their kids Abby and AJ.

"Why are we here?" Abby asked squeezing my hand while looking up at me. I shook my head and sat down on the first row of the bleachers where Sophie had taken AJ so he could watch. He loves basketball.

Abby still had her hand in mine and her head leaning on my shoulder. Growing up I was so close to these kids, and the we moved out of Omaha when I was 15, but I'm back now. 18 years old this time.

"YESSS!" AJ screamed as the buzzer went off. Soph had stood up and was high fiving people around her, i remained sitting with Abby.

"Wanna go take a picture with some of the players?" I whispered down to Abby and she smiled. I watched her run into the court, she was the most energetic 5 year old I knew, and AJ was 7. She had tugged on one of the players with dark hair and big dimples. He picked her up in his arm and looked around.

"Where's your mommy sweetie?" He asked and she giggled, nuzzling her head into his neck. He smiled big and locked eyes with me. "Your babysitting the wild ones?" He asked me.

"Yeah! Sorry, she wanted a picture. I mean you got the winning touch down or whatever." I said getting my phone from my back pocket.

"That'd be a basket." He said to me and I shrugged. I snapped a picture of them and by the time he set her down AJ wanted one too. I took a few and grabbed both of their hands, looking around for Sophie. I walked to the bleachers again so they could sit while I watched for her.

The crowd in the gym decreased to about 20 people before I realized Sophie wasn't here anymore. I looked down at Abby and AJ, both laying down, asleep.

"Want help?" I turned and saw the brown haired boy and another tall blond boy. I looked at the kids and nodded. "I'n Sam by the way." He whispered, picking up Abby. The other one picked up AJ and introduced himself as Mike.

I led them to my car and opened the door for them to set the kids in. They each buckled the kids in and quietly shut the door. I walked around the back and leaned against the car.

"Thanks for the help guys." I said as Mike began to walk off, waving goodbye.

"No problem. They're great neighbors." He said and I furrowed my eyebrows. "yeah I know shocker, I live across the street from you. Ha, I see you running sometimes. Not to be creepy or anything." Sam said playing it off cool.

"Well... Okay? I didn't know that but then again I'm not very observant." I said walking towards the drivers car door.

"You should probably go. Nik likes them in bed by 10." Sam said winking and walking off. He gave my aunt a nickname?

Who the hell is this kid?