A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (9 page)

              When Karla awoke the next morning she was a little groggy from not getting much sleep. She climbed out of bed and showered the sleep away. Once she was dressed for school in a tunic that matched her eyes and ruby red capri leggings, she headed downstairs for breakfast.

              “Does this look okay?” She asked Leslie as she entered the kitchen.

              Leslie looked up and smiled. “You look gorgeous. Want to know the good thing about having a darker skin tone?”

              “What’s that?”

              “You can wear bold colors and totally rock them.” Leslie said with a smile. “I, on the other hand, could never pull off that outfit.”

              Karla snorted out a laugh as she sat at the bar and started eating her veggie omelet. Leslie was such a good cook. When she was finished she ran upstairs, brushed her teeth, brushed her hair again, grabbed her backpack and phone and headed back down to tell Leslie bye and go wait for the bus. It’d be here in about five minutes.

              “Bye Leslie. I’m going out to wait for the bus. I’ll text you when I get to school.”

              “Be careful honey. I’ll see you when you get home.”

              “See you when I get home.” She said before she headed out the door. The bus was just pulling up when she got to the stop. When she got on she looked around for a second and was about to sit when she heard her name. “Karla. Back here. Come on and sit with us.”

              She looked up to see Callie and Conner waving from the back two seats on the bus. She smiled and walked back to them. Conner smiled as she approached and moved his backpack out of the seat so she could sit down with him.

              When she was seated he smiled at her before Callie jumped into a conversation.

              “OMG! I cannot believe we live in the same neighborhood. Rylee lives a block over and we’ll be picking her up at the next stop. This is so cool. We’re within walking distance from each other”

              “Yeah. Cool.” Karla responded with a distant look in her eyes. They’ve all lived like this their entire lives. There’s no way she’d ever really fit in. She wasn’t giving up though. “I’m glad we get this time before school. I have something to discuss with the three of you and I really didn’t want to wait until lunch.”

              “That sounds ominous Karla. Is something wrong?” Conner asked.

              “Nothing’s wrong exactly. I just need to talk to you all before this afternoon.” Karla smiled at Conner, trying to let him know that everything was okay. When the bus slowed and Rylee stepped on Karla’s smile grew larger.

              “Oh my gosh! Karla! I can’t believe you’re on our bus. We all live close. YAY!”

              Rylee’s exuberance was contagious and all of their faces lit up in huge smiles.

              “Ry, chill a minute. Karla has something she wants to tell us.” Callie hushed Rylee before she could continue.

              “I do have something to tell you guys.” Karla took a deep breath before she continued. “I don’t live with my mom and dad, I don’t even live with a blood relative. I live with Andrew and Leslie Peterson, they’re my foster parents.”

              They were all silent for a minute before Conner spoke. “Callie, we know an Andrew Peterson. He works with dad. Karla, is Andrew a doctor?”

              Karla nodded. “He is and when I told him your names last night he said he knows your dad. They work together at the hospital.”

              “Wow! This is so awesome. We’ve been to your house. Ry, I bet he knows your step-dad too. Our parents are all in the same social circle.”

              “So,” Rylee started then stopped, unsure of how to continue.

              “I know you are all curious about how I ended up in foster care and I promise to tell you, but I can’t right now. It isn’t something I talk about often. All I ask is that you be patient with me.”

              Conner looked her straight in the eyes and smiled. “I will respect your privacy. I promise.”

              “Me too.” Callie agreed instantly.

              “Karla, it doesn’t matter to us that you are in foster care. What matters to us is the person you are.” Rylee said with a smile. “You’re officially in the smart kid’s club. We have to stick together.”

              “Thanks guys. You have no idea how much that means to me. I was so scared that you would all look at me differently. Before you take offense, I’ve never lived anywhere long enough to make friends so this is all new to me.”

              “Okay Karla. We forgive you this time. Don’t let it happen again.” Conner said with mock sternness and smiled to let her know he was joking.

              Karla smiled. “Leslie and Andrew said we could work on the project at the house after school. We have full use of Leslie’s office because she prefers to work at the bar in the kitchen.”

              “That’s awesome. Now Callie and I get to raid your closet.” Rylee said as the bus pulled in front of the school. “You look amazing again today.”

              “Yeah she does.” Conner said with a smile.

              “Okay then.” Callie said with a giggle. “Conner, we need to head to Biology. We’ll see you two in History later.”

              “Yes, have fun in Bio. I have math to absorb.” Rylee said with a shake of her head.

              When Conner and Callie walked away Rylee and Karla walked to Algebra and took their seats. As soon as the door shut Karla was unable to focus on anything but the equations that were written on the white board. Conner’s weird behavior would have to wait to be analyzed.

            
 
Conner and Callie were already in the room when Rylee and Karla made it to History class. Conner looked up and grinned when he heard Karla’s laughter.

              Callie and Rylee had questioned him endlessly on the bus ride home yesterday afternoon, but he hadn’t been able to answer their questions because he didn’t know the answers himself. All he could be certain of was that she had the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen and her smile, though rare, lit up a room.

              He was normally very shy around girls. Being the smart, non-athletic type like he was tended to put him in the friend-zone. Although he’d never seen any girl as anything other than a friend either, until now.

              Yesterday when Rylee had walked up with Karla he’d been intrigued. There was something about her that he hadn’t been able to figure out. He liked her, a lot actually, but it was different from how he liked Rylee. She was like another sister, but he didn’t think he could ever see Karla as a sister.

              The door closed and pulled Conner from his thoughts. He noticed Karla had taken the seat in front of Callie, which was where he’d wanted her to sit so he could look at her without being noticed. He pulled out his notebook and started taking notes on the project they would be working on later today.

              When class ended he walked with the girls to the cafeteria. Once they were all seated Karla started talking. “Leslie is going to be home when we get out of school and needs to know what time you all will be over.”

              “We have to go home first.” Callie said before Conner could speak up and tell Karla they’d walk with her. “Mom wants us to help for a little while before the dinner party.”

              “I have to go home first too. I have some ideas written out, but I left that notebook on my desk.”

              “Okay. That’s fine, but what time do you think you’ll be there? I need to let Leslie know.”

              “We usually get home about four, so how does around five sound?” Callie asked.

              “I can be there sooner. I’m just going to grab my notebook. Jason, my step-brother, will be home, but my mom and Nathan, my step-dad, won’t be yet and I don’t want to deal with him.” Rylee said with a frown.

              “Sounds great. You’re wanting to explore my closet anyway Rylee and this will give you the chance.” Karla noticed Rylee’s frown, but choose not to comment. Rylee had respected her privacy this morning and she returned the favor.

              “How is Jason, Ry?” Conner asked with a grin.

              “Oh he’s fine. Arrogant as ever, but fine.” Rylee responded with a sneer. “I’ll just be glad when he’s back at college next week.”

              Conner and Callie burst out laughing at the look on Rylee’s face. She started laughing with them and soon Karla joined in, even though she didn’t get it the laughter was contagious.

              When the sound of Karla’s laughter hit his ears Conner stopped laughing and looked at her across the table. Her soft, mocha skin seemed to glow and her emerald colored eyes sparkled with glee.

              The lunch bell rang and snapped Conner from his thoughts. They all dumped their trash and walked to Lit class. Karla sat in the seat next to Conner and he had a difficult time focusing on what the teacher said. He knew he’d missed some things that may be important, but right then he really didn’t care. He realized then what was happening. He had his first crush.

              By the end of the day Conner decided that even though he was crushing on Karla he wouldn’t let it mess up the friendship they had quickly formed. She fit into their group like a missing puzzle piece and he wasn’t going to shake things up for them.

              When they got on the bus Conner sat in the same seat he’d sat in that morning and Karla sat beside him. He smiled at her and she dropped her head slightly and looked at him through her lashes as she returned his smile. Callie and Rylee sat in the seat behind them and quickly pulled Karla’s attention away from him with talk of clothes.

              “Does every conversation have to turn to clothing with you two?” Conner asked them with a smile. “I thought the smart girls didn’t care about such nonsense.”

              “Oh we care. We may be smart, but we still have to look cute for the smart boys!” Rylee batted her eyelashes and grinned. “Speaking of cute, smart boys, Callie did you see Chase today? I didn’t see him yesterday, but he sure grew over the summer.”

              Callie grinned at her. “Oh yeah, I saw him. Dang he got tall and he got contacts and he got his braces off. He has always been the cutest boy in our group, but now…WOW!!”

              Karla glanced at Conner with a confused look on her face. “Which one is Chase?”

              “Chase Logan, he’s the tall guy with sandy blond hair who was on our team today in P.E.” Conner answered. He really hoped Karla wasn’t interested in Chase. He’d be a friend and support her if she was, but he really, really hoped she wasn’t.

              “Oh, now I know who he is. He’s the one that got hit with the ball because he wasn’t paying attention. He was watching Callie instead of the ball.” Karla said with a grin.

              Callie’s face turned bright red and she gulped audibly. “Really? He..he.. was watching me?” She stammered.

              “Uh-huh. He couldn’t take his hazel eyes off of you. Am I seriously the only one who saw this?” Karla laughed when they all nodded.

              Rylee stood as the bus pulled to her stop. “We’ll finish this conversation tonight. See you all later.”

              Once she was gone Callie sat back in her seat, lost in thought, and Conner watched Karla as she quietly gathered her things and prepared to get off the bus. When it slowed she stood and smiled at him and Callie. “See you both later,” was all she said before she turned and walked off the bus.

              For the rest of the ride home Conner and Callie were quiet, lost in their own thoughts.

            
 
Karla walked into the house and headed straight to the kitchen. Leslie was at her usual place at the bar and Karla sat down beside her. “I think Conner likes me.”

              “What makes you think that sweetheart?” Leslie asked calmly, when she was anything but calm inside. She was happy and scared at the same time. Karla had just met Conner after all and she was afraid that when he found out Karla’s whole story he’d reject her and she’d lose her friends.

              “He keeps looking at me when he doesn’t think anyone is watching him. What he doesn’t realize is, I’m looking at him too.” Karla admitted. She really liked Conner, but she was terrified too.

              “Karla, I’m sensing that you like him too. Am I right?”

              “Yes I do and that terrifies me. I am so scared that once he finds out everything he’s going to run screaming. Callie and Rylee will most likely stay, but Conner is the one I’m scared will never look at me the same again.”

              “Karla, do you remember what Andrew told you yesterday? If he truly cares about you he’ll stick around no matter what. You are not to blame for the things that happened to you and if he doesn’t see that, if any of them don’t see that, then you don’t need them in your life anyway.”

              “I know that in my heart, but I really want them to accept me once they know.”

              “Me too sweetie. Speaking of your friends, when are they coming over?”

              “Oh, sorry. Rylee will be here anytime now, but Callie and Conner won’t be here until about five.”

              As soon as the words left her mouth the doorbell rang. Karla answered it and Rylee walked in grinning. “Great house.”

              “Thank you.” Leslie said as she walked into the family room. “Andrew and I had it built three years ago. His best friend designed and built it, and I decorated it. I’m glad you like it.”

              “Rylee this is Leslie Peterson, Leslie this is Rylee McNabb.” Karla introduced them. “Leslie is it okay if I show Rylee my room?”

              “It’s your room sweetie. You can show it to anyone, except a boy when you’re unsupervised. We all know how boys are.” Leslie winked at them and smiled before she walked back into the kitchen.

              “Thanks.” Karla yelled to her then she grabbed Rylee’s hand and practically pulled her up the stairs.

              When they walked through the door Rylee gasped audibly. “Wow Karla. This room is awesome.” She walked around a minute. “You have your own bathroom? I may have to move in with you. I share a bathroom with Nathan’s daughters. They’re sixteen and spend hours on their hair and make-up every day. Jess and Jenn are football cheerleaders at school and I’ll point them out to you at the pep-rally Friday.”

              “So you have a step-brother and two step-sisters. Anymore siblings?”

              “I also have a biological brother who is ten and a half-sister who is almost two. My dad was killed is an accident when I was seven and my mom married Nathan when I was eleven. We’re all still adjusting to each other.”

              “Wow, that’s a big family. My father was killed in a car accident when I was six months old. I never knew anything about him until a few weeks ago.” Karla said sadly before she pulled herself up out of the sadness and smiled. “That’s a story for another time. We have about twenty-five minutes before Callie and Conner get here. Want to look in my closet?”

              Rylee laughed “You know I do. Let’s have some fun.”

              Karla opened her closet door and Rylee smiled. “Now I’m really jealous.”

              For the next twenty minutes Rylee tried on Karla’s clothes. They wore the same size so Karla promised Rylee that she could borrow some of them sometime.

              As soon as they started downstairs the doorbell rang. Karla rushed over and opened it. Callie and Conner stood there with identical smiles on their faces. “We’ve been here before.” Callie said as they walked into the kitchen.

              Leslie stood up from her place at the bar when they walked in. “Hello everyone. Will you be staying for dinner?” She asked with a smile. “If so I’m going to order pizza so you won’t have to stop working to eat.”

              “That’d be awesome Mrs. Peterson. I’ll eat anything on my pizza, Callie and Rylee are the picky ones.” Conner said and smirked at his sister and friend.

              Leslie took a minute and just looked at the four teenagers in front of her. She smiled at the thought of really getting to know them all.

              “Leslie, you know Conner and Callie right?” Karla asked as she smiled over Conner’s enthusiasm about having pizza for dinner. She was pretty excited about it herself. She hadn’t had pizza since her last night at Mrs. Jones’ house. At that thought she made a mental note to call Mrs. Jones. She hadn’t spoken with her in a week.

              “Yes. I’ve met them a few times actually. They’ve been to a couple of cook outs here that Andrew has had for the hospital staff. Now, what does everyone want on the pizzas?”

              Once the pizza toppings were decided on they followed Leslie upstairs to her office and started working on their project.