Sterling's Daughter

A week later:

Laya followed Zena onto the bus, applying as little pressure as she could on her ankle. It was improving rapidly, but her arm was still in a cast. As soon as she had managed to get herself up the steps, her eyes landed on Will, sitting near the front of the bus. Their eyes met for a split second, and to Laya's astonishment, he sent a small smile in her direction, and she couldn't help but stare.
"Oi!" Zena hissed, elbowing her sharply. "Hurry up and stop gawking!"
Laya flushed and followed her sister past the rows of seats until they found an empty row and sat down.
"Someone caught your eye, huh?" Zena asked with a sly smile. Laya scowled and didn't answer. She looked around for Kirsty, and spotted her friend a few rows behind. Kirsty waved and smiled from where she was seated next to Ty, and Laya waved back. She had been hoping Kirsty would be at school today because she wasn't entirely keen on going back to school without her best friend at her side.
Kirsty caught up to her as they headed inside the school buildings.
"Glad to see you're repairing steadily," she grinned.
"I'm glad to be repairing," Laya managed a smile. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Kirsty nodded. "That's what friends are for, right?"
"Right," Laya felt a stab of guilt, remembering how she'd snapped at Kirsty and the others when they'd paid her a visit. She had refused their help and couldn't help but feel that Kirsty's question had been somewhat pointed. She decided to shrug it off and focused on wording the question that had been burning in her mind and thoughts the entire bus trip.
"Has..." she began, then faltered.
"Has what?" Kirsty prompted, looking curious. Laya took a deep breath.
"Has Will been...different...at school lately?" she blurted. Kirsty frowned.
"How do you mean?" she asked.
"He smiled at me when I got on the bus this morning, and he's never done that," Laya explained.
"Woohoo!" Kirsty teased, giving Laya a gentle punch on the shoulder. "Score one for Laya!"
Laya glared at her.
"I was just asking a question," she defended herself. "It's not like him, that's all."
Kirsty shrugged.
"I'm not sure, we haven't exactly had a lot to do with each other," she said. "I could ask Ty. He has a bit to do with Will."
"Whatever," Laya shrugged, trying to sound disinterested. She hoped Kirsty wouldn't carry on teasing her about him, and she was in luck. The bell rang loudly and they parted ways to go to seperate classes.
As Laya made her way towards her class, a bunch of senior boys bowled their way towards her, taking up the entire hallway. She drew herself up to her full height, carried on walking, and found herself almost flattened by the tallest of the group as he barrelled on past. She crashed into the nearest locker as her books flipped out of her grasp. She glared at their retreating backs as they laughed loudly.
As she bent down to pick up her books, her outstretched fingers brushed against someone elses. She glanced up quickly, and found herself looking into Will's eyes. He was a little too close for comfort, and Laya felt herself realising how drop dead gorgeous he was all over again.
Feeling her cheeks heating rapidly at the contact between them, Laya snatched away her fingers and focused on picking up her books. Will grabbed the last couple as she stood up, and handed them to her. She took them, feeling confused. He was definitely acting a lot...nicer, and she couldn't help but wonder why.
"Thanks," she mumbled, feeling awkward. "Um, I'd better go. Geography's waiting."
"I have that as well," Will said, and Laya remembered that as soon as he said it.
"Great, then," Laya said and began marching towards to classroom. "Let's go."
She dove into the classroom and quickly sat down. Will took a seat on the other side of the room, and Laya felt herself relax a bit.
This guy was making her act like a fool and she wasn't entirely sure why.