Making Him Notice

There is always one boy that grabbed my attention each time, and his name is Trent Harver.

He isn't like other guys around the school. He's not like the over confident jerks that prance around in letterman jackets even though he owns one. He is the quiet, smart type but could easily fit in with the 'popular' crowd with his looks and because he plays on Varsity Football.

He can make friends in a second and have any girl he wanted, but he didn't want any girl. Yeah, he would date occasionally, but it would never last very long. His longest relationship was with a brainy girl by the name of Ally Straub, a nice, sweet girl that any guy would be crazy not to want. He had ended it though for some unknown reason.

Me? I'm just known as a shy girl by the name of Laila Stallings. I've had a 'crush' on Trent since I saw him stick up for someone who was being bullied in freshman year. Sad thing is, I'm a junior now.

People who know me well say I live two different lives. One side of me is the smart, shy girl. The other part is the child loving, outgoing girl. And in a way, I suppose it's true. I work after school at the community center at a program called "The place to be after 3". It's for children from kindergarten to 6th grade who take a bus everyday once school is over to the community center to have fun while waiting for their parents to come and take them home.

Then twice a week, I go to the local hospital and spend time talking, reading, and playing with the children who are less fortunate than others.

My Family? Well, I'm an only child and my parents had gotten divorced when I was nine. My mother got full custody of me but I still see my dad occasionally. I also have a small, blackish-brown Yorkshire terrier that goes by the name of Skipper.

A piercing noise cut through my thoughts. I glanced around the room and noticed that the students were packing up their things and started heading out the door. I sighed and did the same. My next class is Pre-Cal and the only reason I'm happy about that is because I'll be able to see Trent. I smiled lightly barely noticing the boy who was coming toward me.

Okay, so what happened next was normal for me. The said boy ran into me and my books scattered everywhere and I fell on my butt, in the middle of the hall I might add. Nothing new, right?

"Oh shit! I am so sorry, I didn't even see you!" I mentally rolled my eyes while my golden blonde hair fell around my face. Does anyone ever see me? I think not. I blinked as a strong pair of arms wrapped around me and lifted me off my feet.

I then looked at the guy and noticed that he was one of Trent's friends. Great.

He had pitch-black hair, bright gray eyes, a nice build, and a smile that could make anyone melt. He scattered around helping me pick up my books.

"No, that's okay. I've got them," I said hesitantly. He finally looked up at me and something flickered in his eyes. After he blinked he smiled.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, "I'm fine. Just fell." I shrugged.

"Then I might point out that you wouldn't have fell if I hadn't ran into you." Blushing, I nodded and took my books from his arms. I shifted me feet.

"Well, umm, I've got to get to my next class." I started toward the E building until someone touched my arm. I whirled around to find the same smile on Trent's friend.

"I never got your name." I looked to the tiled floor.

"It's Laila."

"That's a beautiful name." I blushed once again.

"Thank you."

I blinked at the hand held out to me before taking it, "Mitchell. Nice to meet you." I smiled lightly and nodded. I heard some guys calling Mitchell's name somewhere in the distance and he cleared his throat, "Well, I'll see you around Laila." He gave me another great smile and walked in the direction of hearing his name. I shook my head and headed toward Pre-Cal.

………………………..

His hair was a dark shade of brown and his eyes were hazel. Trent was hard to read in every way. He seemed to always mask his emotions behind his brilliant eyes and it bothered me. I tilted my head to the side and turned my attention back to the whiteboard. The attention didn't last long for I turned my dull brown eyes back to him. Sighing inwardly, I shook my head.

The way he moved was graceful, his eyes concentrated on the paper before him.

Geez. Watching him for a good 50 minutes was a sign that this probably isn't healthy.

Almost right on cue the bell rang signaling lunch. I slowly gathered my things when I noticed Trent walked right past me. Did I mention I loved his smell? I bit my lip and quickly walked out the door.

Half way to my locker I heard my name being called. I turned around only to find my best friend Danielle coming my way. I smiled brightly at her and she returned it.

"Hey."

"Darling, where have been? I tried calling your house yesterday after school and you weren't there. I thought you had Tuesday's off at the day care place."

"I do but they called me earlier saying someone had called in sick and so I went. Sorry, mom didn't tell me you called."

She sighed, "No worries. Come on, those freshman might take our table again." I laughed as she hooked her arm in mine.

I've known Danielle Cravat since the fourth grade and we've been best friends ever since. We are alike in a lot of ways except she doesn't love children as much as I do. According to her, children are 'annoying, noise-making machines that take up your time and money'. That was when I pointed out to her that she was once a little kid; she just smacked me on my head and decided to play dumb.

I chuckled at the memory and she looked at me oddly. I smiled crookedly and she shook her head.

The first thing I see when I enter the cafeteria is a freshman falling flat on his face, his lunch landing on top of him. I then looked around him and see some upperclassman laughing at him.

One of them says, "Opps, did I do that?" They burst into a fit of laughter again while the cafeteria is silent, staring at the poor kid. I shake my head in disgust.

The freshman sits up still on the floor and I notice first that he has a disease that makes him mentally retarded. My feet carry me to the spot where he sat. The kid looks like he is close to tears.

The second thing I notice is that Trent, Mitchell, and a couple of their friends are at the table across from the guys who tripped him, glaring. Trent is standing up but I reach the kid first. I kneel down beside him while he looks at me; I smile while he wipes away the tears on his cheek.

"Are you okay?" He nods slowly in response.

The cafeteria gets a little louder and the laughter seems to stop.

"What's your name?" I ask my while wiping some of his lunch off of his shirt with some napkins Danielle handed to me.

"Garret," his voice is small and weak; I had to lean forward more to hear him.

"I like that name. Is this your first year here?" He nods slowly again.

I gaze around and notice that Trent comes over and gives a 'lecture' to the jerks. I smiled at the sight, then fix my gaze back at the Garret who is examining his nice shirt with a frown on his face.

I sigh, "I hated freshman year." He brings his head up and tilts his head to the side.

"What…what year are you on?" I smile at his question.

"Year 11, I'm a junior. Don't worry. High school gets better."

He shakes his head in response, "Not for me. I've been picked on my whole l-life." At least he is talking to me.

"As I said, don't worry."

He nodded while I got off the floor and helped him up.

"Thank you. My friends are maybe wondering where I am?" I smiled and nod. Picking up my backpack, I pulled out my lunch and gave it to him. He looks at the bag then me.

"Don't worry, take it. You need it more than I do, I'll just buy my lunch." He starts to shake him head but I smile and drop it in his arms. He takes it and smiled weakly.

"Thank y-you." I smile and shoo him away, reminding him his friends are waiting for him. He waves and goes out the door.

I turn back to Danielle who has a smile on her face. She loops her arm through mine again and we walk toward our table.

"You, my best friend in the whole world, are a very sweet person." I laugh at her and shake my head.

I was nearing Trent's table while Mitchell looked up and grinned.

"Laila," he greeted in a husky voice.

I smiled at him, "Hey Mitchell." I then looked to Trent and noticed his eyes were actually on me. Oh god, his eyes; I practically melted there. I looked away as we passed and sat down when we reached our 'table', which was not invaded by freshman today.

I sat opposite of Danielle and noticed she was staring at me with her eyebrow raised.

"Yes?"

"How do you know Mitchell Connors?"

"Funny story actually. He ran into me today in the hall and sent me landing on my butt." She stared at me, mouth gaping.

"You act as if that's a bad thing."

"Did I not mention I was totally embarrassed? I mean that's like the fourth time this month that happened."

"But it's Mitchell Connors. Not only is he hot, he has a nice body." My mouth opened, totally horrified. I stared at my friend while she seemed to be in another world.

My shoulders sagged and I played with the hem of my shirt.

I glanced over to Trent's table and noticed Mitchell was once again looking at me, then I noticed another pair of eyes as well. Trent's eyes, a tiny smile playing on his lips.

…………………..

After the last bell had rung I made my way out to the parking lot.

The autumn air was crisp and refreshing, leaves were littered along the ground.

I made my way over to my white mustang convertible, a present from my dad on my sixteenth birthday. I think I hugged and kissed him for hours but he soon had to leave on a business trip so I luckily had let him go.

I miss my dad a lot. I rarely ever saw him anymore.

I spot Danielle talking to some guy, her hands moving animatedly and she was laughing. When she saw me, she quickly said bye to the guy and made her way over to me.

"Need a ride home, Dani?" She nodded.

"Who was that?" I motioned to the guy that was leaning against the wall, the one she had been talking to. She glanced behind her, a grin spreading on her pink lips.

"Oh him? My lab partner. Nothing more unfortunately." She sighed while I patted her arm.

"All in good time, he seems to be interested anyways. He's staring at you."

"Really," she squealed.

"Of course." She turned around smiling at him, which he returned. "Come on Dani, I've got to get the community center." I dragged her along behind me while she was waving at 'the guy'.

Once I dropped Danielle off at her house, I made my way home to get changed.

I pulled on my navy blue staff shirt and kept on my blue jeans.

…………………….

I stepped into the huge tiled room and was immediately greeted by hugs and 'hellos', but I was looking for one child in particular.

Then I spotted her drawing at one of the blue tables in the back. I smiled and made my way over to her. Her light brown hair made a curtain around her hazel eyes.

When Delia heard someone approach she snapped her head up from her drawing. She immediately ran up from the table and practically tackled me to the floor before I could even blink.

"Well hello to you too Delia."

She giggled and stepped back, "I missed you!"

I chuckled, "You just saw me yesterday hun."

"I know…" There was silence. "Come on I want to show you my picture." She took my hand excitedly and moved me over to the table. When I looked down at her drawing it was labeled her three favorite people, favorite being spelled wrong. I smiled at this.

There were three figures in the picture.

The first was a picture of a tall, browned hair guy; he looked just like Delia so it was obvious he was her brother. Hmmm…

"That's my brother." She talked highly of her brother all the time but she never did mention his name.

"It's great!" She just nodded.

You know, she was actually a great artist when she's only in first grade.

The next picture was of…me?

My honey blonde hair was down to my mid back and my light brown eyes were sparkling in this picture.

She giggled, "And that one is of you."

I grinned down at her while she looked up.

I glanced back at the picture. The next was a picture wasn't finished yet but could make out the head. The hair was gray and the man was small.

She sighed, "And that one is of my grandpa. He's dead though." I looked down at her, my mouth slightly parted.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, it was hardest on my brother. He loved grandpa a lot." She sniffed and then smiled. "Come on, let's go and play a game."

While walking over I told her, "You know, I'd love to meet your brother. Will he ever come and pick you up?" She nibbled her lip in thought.

"I dunno. He has sports practice after school so maybe when there is no more practice?" I smiled and nodded my head.

"Yeah, maybe."

I spent the rest of the afternoon there until every kid was picked up to go home. Then I went home myself.

…………………………

Walking through the front door, I saw the kitchen light was on.

"Mom?"

A woman poked her head out through the kitchen door. Her auburn hair was tied up messily in a bun, which meant only one thing; she was attempting to cook again. I mentally groaned.

"Hello sweetie."

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Nothing," her face was way to innocent for my liking. Suddenly the smoke alarm went off. I gave her a blank look while she hurried back into the kitchen. There were some crashing of pans and strings of curses let out.

I headed for the stairs. When I walked past the kitchen I yelled to my mom, "Okay I'll just be upstairs…err. Have fun."

I shook my head once in my room and turned on the radio. I laid down on my bed and covered my eyes with my arm.

Yeah, it was hardest on my brother. He loved grandpa a lot.

Her brother.

The picture she drew flashed in my mind.

I dunno. He has sports practice after school so maybe when there is no more practice?

You know, that drawing looked oddly like…

I sat up, my eyes wide.

Oh my god.

Delia…Harver?

Trent's little sister


A/n: Okay so here is my newest story on fictionpress. I just came up with the plot and it kind of went from there; i've been plotting it out for a while though. I really hope you enjoyed the first chapter and i'm working on all my other stories right now so don't worry :) I have tomorrow (Vetrans' Day) off from school so maybe i can get some writing in that time. Review please and tell me what you think!

-Lauren